ごみ

ゴミ収集
飛び乗って
降りて走って
また乗って

これが
なければ

僕らの街は
ゴミ屋敷

ゴミが『ゴミ』と呼ばれるようになったのは
人間が
それを
ゴミと扱ったため

もともと
それは
ゴミではなかった

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

びゅんびゅん

びゅんびゅん
人と出会い

びゅんびゅん
時間が過ぎる

あまりの
早さに

僕は

まるで
行き交う高速新幹線の中で
一瞬感じる

止まっているような
感覚に

襲われる

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

ダイレクトじゃなくても

すべてがダイレクトである必要はない

ただ
そこに
そっと
居て
見ているだけ

それだけで
いいときも

そのほうが
いいときも

ある

そんな気がする

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

きれいなふね

どんなに美しい船だろうが
どんなに人気のある船だろうが

僕は
絶対
乗りたくない

だって
鎖に繋がれた船は
船とは呼べないから

汚くても
誰も乗りたがらない船でも

僕は
鎖がない船で

本当の船旅を
楽しみたい

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

距離

近すぎず
遠すぎず

ちょうどいい距離は
どこだろう

君との関係が
まるで

景色の一部のように
美しくみえるのは

もう動詞が
過去形になっているからだろうか

今
僕は
なにを見て
どこに向かって
歩いているのか

美しい景色を目の前に
思いっきり空気を吸い込んで
やっぱり
僕は

まだ歩く

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

workforce shortage?

For a couple years, many articles on newpapers have spotted on the issue of workforce shortage which soon comes here because of aging population and declining birthrate.

As a resolution, two options have been generally talked, one is hiring foreign workers and the other is making extra position for retired people who still have motivation to continue their work. Well, I'm not an economist or anything, but in my opinion, Japan should more focus on possibilities of women workforce which gets to be enormous power if working environment can be improved in a way they can comfortably work. Stimulating consumption among elderly people is also one of ways to help shrinking economy; however, it's hopeless as long as I see sustainability of pension system almost collapesed allready:(

So....See? look carefully! There is a bunch of middle-aged women who are vigorously working in Japanese society on part-time base as they serve as a mom and a wife at home.

Through working as a sales representative of the drug company, everyday I visit to drugstores from place to place, doing marketing and stuff though, surprisngly enough, I found the fact that so many middle-aged women work energetically, being more knowledgeable than permenent employees usually consists of men and young women.

They are really smart! Yes, they know how to manage housework, and experience enough as a mom, moreover, easily find out what customers think by mom's point of view:)

It's just a thing that there aren't many opportunities for them as a more professional worker and if it's available with a good condition, I guess they might be able to make profit doubled:) Who knows. I believe that middle-aged women workforce have incredible effect on society if it does work in right way!

Though it's a bit different story, in the case of my compnay, there is no women working as a sales representative on permanent base. I'm working on contract base right now, which is valid for three years. In such a big company... no permanent-base women sales representatives.... just so unbelievable:( what the hell is the president thinking....

I guess still many comapny are like this..., and honestly speaking... they are terribly stupid when it comes to management of women:)) We'll see what will happen to them if they keep on doing things unchanged, hahhhaa!


にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

ふと昔の写真を振り返る

自分が今まで撮った写真の中で一番好きなショット。水の中に落ち葉が敷き詰まっていて、さらにそっから水草が生えていて、そのまたさらに大きな木が写りこんでいる。どれが現実に存在するものかが分からない、そんな複雑な画がたまらなくいい。世の中が矛盾で満ち溢れていることに一人間として憤りを覚えることも多いけど、そんな矛盾に満ち溢れた飾らない凄然さが異常に美しく感じられるときがある。


にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

衝動

アクセルを思いっきり踏みたい衝動にかられる
赤信号一歩手前

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

シンプルなのに複雑に聞こえるのはなぜ

this is just awesome...


にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

難民

昨日は東京大学で開催された
JRA（日本難民支援）主催
『変わる日本の難民受け入れと地域社会』
という国際シンポジウムを視聴しに行った。

ゲストとして何人かのアメリカ政府関係者を招き、日本からはNPO、NGO団体、大学関係者などを募り、主な見どころとしては約１時間にわたる彼らによるパネルディスカッションだった。

難民だけでなく移民、外国人労働問題などのトピックもあがり、議題はかなりの広がりを見せていて非常に興味深かった。が、現実の厳しさ、そしてまだまだ具体性が乏しい議論に他の先進国とのあきらかな法的社会基盤の違いを見せつけられた気もした。

たまたま、自分はフィンランドにいる知り合いに難民支援を行っている人がいたため、このようなトピックに関心が目覚めたのだが、普通に暮らしていたらまるで違う世界のことのように聴いていることと思う。

これだけ経済大国と呼ばれる日本が難民に対してこれだけ乏しいサポートしかできていないのは、一国民として非常に憤りを覚える、のは私だけだろうか。

難民だけにとどまらず、移民に対しても、そして障害者や高齢者など、マイノリティの問題としてカテゴライズされて終ってしまう事々がもっと多くの場所で語られ、それが多くの人の関心をよせ、実際に具体化されることを祈りたい。

今の私にできることを考えてみて・・・
とりあえずここのブログに記載することから始めている。

少し古い記事にはなりますが以下は日本の難民の現状に関するJapan Timesから引用です。ご興味のある方はぜひご一読ください。（日本語の記事も探してみましたが、分かりやすく全体を教えてくれるものがなかったのでこれを選びました。英語が難しい方には申し訳ありません。）

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009

Asylum-seekers facing destitution

Long wait for processing, lack of funds forcing many refugees into grim survival game

By SETSUKO KAMIYA

Staff writer

Laurent Kirobi came to Japan from a west African country and is seeking political asylum. Exactly a year has passed since he applied to the Immigration Bureau, but he still hasn't been called for an interview to determine whether he is eligible.

Nothing else to do: Asylum-seekers who have been cut off from government aid while awaiting their interviews watch TV at a temporary shelter set up in Chiba Prefecture by the Japan Association for Refugees in late July. SETSUKO KAMIYA PHOTO

"I don't know why it takes so long," said Kirobi, whose real name is being withheld in light of his delicate situation. His visa already has expired, which is not unusual for asylum-seekers.

After applying for refugee status, Kirobi, who is in his early 30s, sought financial support from the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (RHQ), a Foreign Ministry-affiliated body. As most asylum-seekers are not allowed to work, the humanitarian aid from RHQ is the only means people in his position have to survive.

Kirobi received RHQ support for eight months but his request for a four-month extension was rejected. He was cut off in May.

After April, dozens of asylum-seekers have found themselves in the same situation due to a change in the way the government doles out its limited funds. Priority is given to those considered the neediest.

The triage highlights the jump in asylum-seekers last year, which hit a record high of 1,599, or nearly double the 816 who applied in 2008.

The Foreign Ministry managed to win an increase in the humanitarian aid budget this year but it is still insufficient. While the bureaucrats say they are doing what they can, nongovernment organizations insist they should be doing more.

To deal with the jump in refugees, the NGOs are running a fundraising campaign to help those cut off from government aid. At the same time, they are pushing the government to consider extending the periods of assistance or allowing asylum-seekers to work so they can survive until their interviews.

Without a working permit or friends, Kirobi nearly went homeless after his aid was cut off. He was saved by the Japan Association for Refugees, which provided him emergency shelter in Chiba Prefecture that was set up in July with donations. There are 11 people at the shelter, but JAR says many more potential candidates are likely to surface.

Desperate for a means to live, some asylum-seekers risk their status and look for jobs to support themselves, but Kirobi said he is afraid of doing that. "I don't want to be caught. I just stay and wait," he said.

Nearly half of those seeking shelter in Japan are from Myanmar, where the crackdown by the junta in 2007 increased the flow of refugees. Others include Turkish Kurds and Sri Lankans, but more Africans have been visible since the G8 summit in Hokkaido last year, where Japan voiced strong support for mineral-rich Africa, experts said.

Those working closely with the refugee hopefuls estimate that applicant numbers this year will be similar to last year's.

Seeking asylum in Japan is daunting. Applicants are basically not permitted to work, do not receive health insurance and are ineligible for public assistance.

Instead, the Foreign Ministry funnels financial support to those in dire need via RHQ. Adults receive ¥1,500 a day and children receive ¥750. If housing is needed, a family can receive a maximum of ¥60,000 a month for rent, while singles can get ¥40,000. This is all less than what a Japanese citizen on welfare would get.

The support lasts four months in principle but was being extended by an average of 9.3 months until last year.

According to the ministry, an average of 95 people received support each month in 2007. But in 2008 that jumped to 211.

In December, the ministry saw its ¥65 million refugee support budget run out, three months before the end of the fiscal year. in an emergency move, the ministry got permission from the Finance Ministry and diverted other funds that were not being used at the time to continue supporting the refugees, said Mitsuko Shino, director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Division.

Thus, the actual amount of money spent for the refugee support fund totaled ¥147 million in fiscal 2008, she said.

For fiscal 2009 that began in April, the Foreign Ministry managed to raise the refugee aid budget to ¥190 million, up 67 percent from the previous year, said Shino, who admitted it's still not sufficient for the number of asylum-seekers.

"We had to prioritize those whose lives would be in serious danger if they didn't receive these funds" to keep the aid running within the budget, Shino said.

In April, the ministry set up criteria for handing out aid and put priority on those who are seriously ill, pregnant or caring for a child under 12 months old, children under 15 and people older than 60, and those who had visas when they applied for asylum.

In April, before the new criteria were implemented, 263 people got aid. That dropped to 174 in May, Shino said.

JAR estimates the new criteria will force around 100 more asylum-seekers to be cut off and go homeless any day now.

In late June, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations stated that the Justice Ministry should allow asylum-seekers provisional stay permits so they can work. They also called for legislation allowing all asylum-seekers to work.

But a Justice Ministry official said the government would stick firmly to its current rules.

"We won't change this policy because overstayers may abuse that rule and apply for refugee status with the aim of getting work," said the official, who declined to be named.

She admitted the refugee application process takes an average of one to two years, which has often been criticized as unreasonably long.

"What we must do is speed up the administration process to accept or reject the applications," she said, adding that the ministry has added 10 more employees to help out.

Supporters are skeptical this will help.

"If the government cannot decide whether to give refugee status or not in six months, then that's its responsibility," said Hiroaki Ishii, deputy secretary general of JAR. "They should at least give asylum-seekers working permits."

JAR and other groups, including the Catholic Tokyo International Center and Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees, will continue fundraising efforts until the end of September.

Meanwhile, all Kirobi can do is wait. Unlike many asylum-seekers who end up in detention centers for overstaying their visas, Kirobi somehow escaped that fate. "I hear it's really terrible, so I'm very lucky. It's like God was with me," he said.

But with no money and no job, Kirobi says he feels physical freedom may be the only advantage he has.

"Even if you are outside, when you have nothing, you can't do anything. And you can go crazy," he said.

Those interested in donating to the support fund for asylum-seekers can find the details at www.refugee.or.jp/

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

大家さん

ここ東京。

物凄く色々な刺激物が多い。

常に刺激を求める自分にはぴったりだが、定期的に『我に返る時間』を作らないと欲望に飲みこまれそうで怖い。あれが得られたら次はこれ、その次は・・・ってどんどんどんどん欲が化け物のように膨らむ。

で、
気づけば
全てを自分が築いたような気分になっている。

怖や怖や。
今、
目の前に、
毎日の日常に、
当たり前にあるもの、
人への感謝の気持ちを忘れそうになる。

そんなとき
いいタイミングでいつも現れる
大家さん。

前にも大家さんのことについて書いたことがあったが、推定年齢８０歳以上、能歴４０年のエネルギッシュなおばあちゃまである。（健康志向なのにポテチが好きらしい（笑））私のアパートの隣が大家さんの家で、初めてお会いしたときから何故か意気投合し、たまに私の部屋に遊びに来たり、私が遊びに行ったり。定期的に焼きそばやパン、お菓子などなど、色んなものを持ってきてくれる。

大家さんの口から出る一見たわいもない言葉たちは、
いつもそのあと考えさせられるものが多く、深い。

彼女が言う口癖は

『あたりまえのことに感謝しなきゃね』

『あの人がどうとかこの人がどうとか、そういうことよりも、あなたがあなたらしくありのままを生きることが大切なのよ』

深いわぁ。

こんな偶然にも
こんな素敵なひとに
出会えた私は
間違いなく
幸せ者だろう。

感謝。
感謝。

祖母がなくなったとき
祖母の最後を見届けられなかった後悔があるけれど、
大家さんと出会って
まるで祖母がそこにいるような
不思議な気分になる。

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村

beauty

beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村