Minamata

MINIMATA Is a city which is located in Japan off the west coast of the island Kyushu founded in 1965. In 1908 after WWII the Chisso cooperation first opened its factory in Minamata, a poor fishing and farming village. The company had a huge impact to the Minamata society. Having inherited the role of lord from medieval Japan, Chisso was an icon of protection and a provider. The people depended on Chisso. In 1970’s its factory had occupied 68% of the city employing 60% of the city’s workers and had control of 66% of all shipping activity. Chisso in Japanese means nitrogen initially producing fertiliser but later expanded to include the manufacture of petrolchemicals and plastics. in 1932 the expansion of developing other products such as ethanal for products such as plastics, drugs, and perfumes has led to by products of organic mercury to form, methylmercury. The city grew with the expansion of Chisso, creating new jobs and stimulating the economy of the city. Around the time 1950’s people were noting the strange behavior in cats. They were observed to be dancing around in circles and suiciding cats which the people called"cat's-dancing disease". Further strange observations were seen as birds were dropping out the sky. People also started to notice a numbing pain in their hands and legs preventing them to walk and write normally. The disease also had their vision blurred, speech slurred and subjected to involuntary actions. The victims were simply diagnosed with a deterioration of their nervous system. Dead fish was found floating on the water since 1925 and in 1956, the people of Minamata were in panic and fearful because there was not likely explanation to these observations. On the first of May, 1956 The Chisso factory hospital stated that "an unclarified disease of the central nervous system has broken out". A further study into the mysterious disease led by the a university research group gradually determined it came from the shore of the bay. It was at first regarded as an epidemic of food poisoning in their staple diets of seafood but further research suggested that it was caused by the poisoning of the heavy metal mercury. Since 1908 the water was polluted and had damaged the fishing industry around the area. In 5 months it contributed to a death rate of 37%. The government responded by banning the selling of fish but had not banned the consumption of these fish. Since it was their staple diet they still ate fish caught near the bay. This released the government from any responsibility towards the victims. Dr. Hosokawa from the factory hospital had the first reliable evidence that Chisso was responsible for the disease. He performed experiments on cats with ethanol to study their symptoms. Later on in the meeting with Chisso he was forbidden to conduct further medical research into the subject of mercury poisoning and his findings were kept a secret from the public due to his loyalty to the company. From this information the Chisso cooperation decided to draw up contracts with the victims offering compensation. people with ill knowledge of legal contracts and seemingly the desperate who believed they weren’t going to be compensated if it wasn’t settled now were exploited by the cooperation. Though they paid compensation they held no responsibility,"if Chisso Corporation were later proven guilty, the company would not be liable for further compensation". Polluting wastewater had damaged the fisheries around Minamata ever since the opening of the Chisso factory in 1908. The Japanese culture also played a part. As humility and loyalty are virtues by holding Chisso responsible for mercury poisoning would mean that they have violated its responsibility. This resulted in the late protests in 1959. Many people made contracts with Chisso and others were provided compensation for the loss in the fishing industry. Later they installed a water purification device to remove the large concentration of mercury from the water. This was then found out as a lie to trick the public to think that it was actually working when the water purifier did absolutely nothing to remove the mercury. Till today many people are still being compensated for the disaster. Letter 1908- Today Chisso has finally opened. I as the president of the factory cut the ribbon. This is a new era, defined by the beginning of Japan’s success. 1926- The factory is going along fine but we have hit a problem. Our employees and the fisherment have discovered environmental issues due to our plant. But I don’t believe that but in order to encourage peace with our community it was my job to settle the problem so I compensated them about 10 US dollars a month. 1932- I have decided to expand our profits by producing ethanal. Our profits are rising and the economy solely depends on us. 1937-bussiness is going well as usual expect for a few complaints for more compensation. I have noticed a slight stench in the bay nearby. I’ve had nightmares of a terrible death. The same dream over and over again. 1950-last night I was woken by cries. Cries of a mother… 1954- I woke up today to the same sounds of death. Cats were dying, whining. A bird hit my window today and thumped onto the ground. Today I was handed a report. had a crisis meeting with the Chisso officials today. They were observed to be dancing around in circles and suiciding cats which the people called"cat's-dancing disease". Further strange observations were seen as birds were dropping out the sky. People also started to notice a numbing pain in their hands and legs preventing them to walk and write normally. The disease also had their vision blurred, speech slurred and subjected to involuntary actions. The victims were simply diagnosed with a deterioration of their nervous system. Dead fish was found floating on the water since 1925 and in 1956, the people of Minamata were in panic and fearful because there was not likely explanation to these observations. The people depended on Chisso. In 1970’s its factory had occupied 68% of the city employing 60% of the city’s workers and had control of 66% of all shipping activity. 1956  Minamata disease publicly recognized. Cause of disease identified as heavy metal poisoning via the ingestion of fish and shellfish. Chisso's industrial effluents suspected as source of contamination. 1957  Minamata Fishermen's Cooperative calls for end to dumping of industrial wastes in local waters and treatment of wastes before discharge. 1958  Chisso re-routes waste water produced in the acetaldehyde plant from Minamata Bay to a point near the Minamata River estuary. Pollution spreads across a large part of the Shiranui Sea. 1959  Organic mercury is identified as the substance that causes the disease. Fisherman adopt violent tactics in effort to stop dumping of industrial waste and to support demands for reparations. Symptoms of Minamata disease develop in a laboratory cat that was directly administered effluent from Chisso's plant in tests conducted at Chisso's research laboratory, but no official announcement is made. Mimaikin contract (simple expression of sympathy with little financial reimbursement) is concluded between Chisso and families of victims. (Contract later annulled in the First Lawsuit against Chisso, 1969-1973.) 1965  Cases of organic mercury poisoning in humans living in Niigata Prefecture are officially recognized in the so-called second Minamata disease. 1968  Operations at Chisso's acetaldehyde-processing plant cease. The government releases an official judgement that "Chisso (is) the cause." 1969  Victims and families bring civil action against Chisso seeking compensation. This becomes known as the First Lawsuit against Chisso. 1973  First Lawsuit against Chisso is decided in favour of the plaintiffs. An agreement on reparations is concluded between the victims and Chisso, constituting what was to become the retribution system that has continued to operate ever since. 1977  Removal of sludge from Minamata Bay begins. Project completed in 1990. 1980  Victims and families bring civil action against Chisso, the national government, and the Kumamoto prefectural government. This becomes known as the Third Lawsuit. 1987  The Third Lawsuit is decided in favour of the plaintiffs. It cites the national government and Kumamoto prefectural government as negligent about their responsibilities for protecting the public. The defendants (Chisso, Kumamoto prefectural government, national government) appeal against the decision. 1987  The former President of Chisso and the Plant Manager are found guilty of professional negligence leading to involuntary manslaughter. 1992  The Environmental Agency of Japan initiates a comprehensive programme for the relief of Minamata disease. We brought jobs created an economy what have we done wrong'Opening statement Dead fish Compensation Cover up I NEED 3 PGS One on my summary on the events that took place http://archive.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu21le/uu21le05.htm http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/minamata.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease http://www1.american.edu/ted/MINAMATA.HTM Former factory manager Eiichi Nishida admitted that the company put profits ahead of safety, resulting in dangerous working conditions and a lack of care with mercury. Former Chisso President Kiichi Yoshioka admitted that the company promoted a theory of dumped World War II explosives even though it knew it to be unfounded. YOUTUBE Letter conversational To the untutored eye, Chisso might have appeared to have taken some kind of countermeasures against pollution. By the end of 1959 they had completed two waste treatment facilities, neither of which was effective in removing organic mercury compounds dissolved in water. Aware of these shortcomings, the corporation never channelled any waste water from the acetaldehyde process into them. Yet, at the formal opening ceremonies, the President of Chisso made the gesture of drinking a cup of water that had supposedly undergone treatment! It had not, but the prefectural Governor and the other guests believed the ruse. In fact, the fishermen, the residents of Minamata, and onlookers everywhere were brainwashed by an effective but misleading public relations campaign. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease_compensation_agreements_of_1959 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-08-26/features/9003120262_1_chisso-corp-minamata-bay-minamata-disease http://plungepontificates.blogspot.com/2006/05/minamata-disease.html