*Since 2005, we have been surveyed on the contamination by harmful heavy metals, especially by lead, in soil, water, and plants of mountains consisting of wastes (illegal disposal of industrial wastes) in Saitama Pref. The 3rd survey aided by Takagi Citizen Fund in 2007 showed similar tendency with the former survey, that is, lead contamination (concentration over 150 mg/kg: The standard of The Soil Contamination Countermeasure Act) of soil of those mountains were found in high rate.

*50 samples of soil, 1 sample of water, and 6 samples of plants (with 1 sample of soil and 2 of plants as control) were analyzed for quantification of lead concentration. It was confirmed that lead contamination of soil of waste mountains existed still in high rate as 37% of those cases, despite it was less than 50% as the rate in the former survey.

*A water sample near by the mountain with contaminated soil showed high concentration of lead over the environmental standard (elution standard 0.01mg/L as reference), and the fact suggested that the spreading of contamination was caused by waste mountains same as the tendency of 1st and 2nd surveys.

*Considering the difference between species and parts, each sample of plants was divided into aerial part and underground part, and lead concentration was quantified. No sample showed contamination (ND: not detected) probably because that they were the plants growing on soil comparatively low level lead concentration.

*Soil samples with heavy lead contamination were quantified also on cadmium, arsenic, chromium6+, and high level contamination was not detected in any samples up to the present (the project aided by SAISAN FUND). However, more research should be held because the samples are too few to evaluate the whole condition of waste mountains.

In the Chikuma river, the water stage of the flood flow is getting higher year by year. As the result, the river bank become dangerous and severe inundation occurs in the tributaries under flood condition. Consequently, the risk potential of inundation in the Nagano and Iiyama basins became higher. In this study we are elucidating the mechanism of the high water stage under flood to contribute to the management of flood risk.

In this study, special attention is paid to three points: first, the effect of Nishiootaki-Dam and other artificial river- improvement works, secondly, the geomorphological characteristics of the river channel in which basin and the narrow river channel appear alternatively, and thirdly, the sediment influx yielded by volcanic and tectonic activities.

For about 20 years after the construction of Nishiootaki-Dam, the river bed would have aggradated due to dam sedimentation. However, as the result of the construction of large number of sabo-dam(debris control dam), sediment influx has decreased drastically and the river bed is now in degrading stage in Iiyama Basin. The river bed change in the Nagano Basin is now under examination.

Accordingly, the main reason of the high water stage of flood would be due to the artificial river improvement in which high banks are constructed and large area of inundation have been lost and channel width is shortened.

This study is not finished. The effect of Nishiootaki-Dam to flood flow, and river sedimentation in the Nagano Basin is now being examined.

IWD Toa Kumamoto Co., Ltd, which is the private industrial waste supplier, has been planning to construct the industrial waste disposal site on the fountainhead of Minamata city. The enterprise has submitted the preparation report of environmental assessment book in February 2007. The spot is the plateau-shaped topography and the enterprise plans to pile up the industrial waste on that top. There are a lot of springs on the lower slope and the residents use spring water as their life water. Around this area, the earth and sand disaster occurs and there are dislocations in the implementation area. Although dangerous factors exist as they are mentioned above, the enterprise concluded in the preparation report that "they were not ground water but surface running water," "according to the structure of the geological feature, there is no danger of the earth and sand disaster," "there is no danger because they are old dislocations," and so on.

To clarify danger of the disposal ground scientifically, we had study program and made some on-site survey of the running direction and slant of the strata with the guidance of the experts. Based on these surveys, we made geological cross section map and photomap. As a result, we found out that there are some strata, which were not mentioned in the geological feature map and IWD Toa's way of understanding of geographic feature is wrong. In the geological map made by the enterprise, it was mentioned that the stratum of the planned site is inclined to the west direction by 10degrees equally. Based on this, the enterprise insists that there is no spring on the east slope. However, we found that the real stratum had been on top of one another complicatedly because volcanic activities made the surface of strata uneven. We also have surveyed quality and quantity of water since last year. Based on the results of our surveys, it is comprehensively proved that spring water of Omori area is underground water containing in the plateau of planned site.

In parallel with the geological survey, cooperating with Minamata citizens' council, we investigated the traffic density of the transportation road, aquatic insects, precious animals, and weather. Regarding the investigation of the hawk eagle of the endangered species, with the cooperation of the members of Wild bird Society Japan, we have been conducting investigation for half a year. About the weather, with the guidance of Mr. Ryuichi Nakata of the Meteorological Agency, we observed the state of the ash scattering and the inversion layer. In addition, we installed three anemometers in April and we are going to observe for a year at the fixed points and would like to clarify the influence of the pollutants though collecting and analyzing data in detail later.

The results of our investigations were reflected by questions to the enterprise at the briefing session and inhabitants' opinion book, and also taken in the opinion book of Mayor of Minamata-city. Moreover, in the public hearing of Kumamoto prefecture in January, a lot of scientific public statements were given based on our findings. As a result, the governor of Kumamoto prefecture sent governor's opinion to IWD Toa Kumamoto co. ltd. in March and demanded that almost al investigation items should be done all over again. It may be said that this is a big result of our activities.

Only few books have ever published on Japanese Pollution Problems in English. The Yusho, an unprecedented human tragedy caused by ingestion of PCBs/PCDFs contaminated oil, is very important Japanese experiences that contain meaningful lessons for people of the world. We have compiled the evidence of the Yusho such as the hearing stories collected from Yusho people, the movement of the victims, about the public funds not awarded to the victims, other complex problems that the left behind victims still suffering from. We translated them into English and distributed hundreds of the booklets on the occasion of International Conference on Dioxin which was held in Tokyo 2007. In the conference, not only the participants from developed countries, but also participants from developing countries like China paid great interest in the booklet. In 2008, ministry of health and welfare of Japan started questionnaire survey on Yusho victims 40 years after the outbreak of an accident. Such study has never conducted in the case of Minamata disease.

We believe that the 40 Years evidence of Yusho, though the information we provided was quite limited, would contribute to the people of the world to avoid unhappy accidents by PCBs/PCDFs like us.

The research activity concerned has been delayed and is currently ongoing. This is because the staff person in charge of the activity in Mekong Watch has been on a prolonged sick leave. In March 2008, we were told by the doctor that it is difficult for the above staff person to return to the office for a while longer. As a result, another staff person of Mekong Watch has been conducting the activity concerned. The content of the research activity is the same as that stated in the grant application. The revised schedule is described below:

March to May, 2008

With the findings of the research activities supported by the Takagi Fund of Citizen Science, we aim to promote and facilitate appropriate decision making by the Japanese government and development agencies through following ways:

Providing information to Japanese government and development agencies

We will deliver the research findings, including the lessons learned and concerns, to Japanese policy makers, such as the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and development agencies, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Japan International Cooperation Agency. By providing citizen's perspectives into the upstream of decision making, we will seek for incorporation of environmental and social consideration and improved information disclosure in development aid projects and plans supported by Japan. Ultimately, our aim is to avoid harms caused by development.

Disseminating information to the general public in Japan

The research findings will be published as a booklet and disseminated widely in Japan. The booklet will also be posted on the Mekong Watch's website. A staff person of a Cambodian NGO will be invited to speak at the seminars in Tokyo and Kansai areas planned for August 2008. Through such information dissemination, we will provide the general public in Japan the insights into the realities of development aid, which is afforded with our tax money, and critical perspective on development aid.

A program of the investigation of volatile organic compound (VOC) in the air by a new method employing a new portable chromatograph type monitor is started, including seminars and measurements. This program is opened to free members who want to examine the air contaminants and to advisers, then the room air and out-door air is continuously observed at each area.

The recorded chromatograph and ratio between the concentration value of the total VOC (TVOC), toluene, ethyl-benzene, xylene, and styrene about three point near major roads are employed as a standard polluting air to consider the air characteristics of each area.

The following results have been observed: The closed room air is deferent by building, but occasionally the value of TVOC exceeded the 400 micro-gram/m of guide line, in the both cases of public buildings and personal houses. The high room contaminant value used to reduce by opening the room to change the air in the room. However, it is more severe problem abut the out-door air. The VOC values were between 20~2000 micro-gram/m at out-door, then in some cases it exceeded even the guide-line of room-air. The VOC concentration and characteristics at out-door were remarkably variable according to times and weather at each area, and materials group of VOC were very different in area by area. Where there was no special problem and along clouded motor-car street, there were mainly motor-car exhausted gas materials, such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, stylene, benzene, and so on. However in other areas, the observed main materials in VOC group were different from them. When the TVOC concentration especially increased in day time, residents felt uncomfortable, and the contaminant souse used to be fined near places, such as a bonfire or a construction work.

In an experience, a high contamination suddenly come, and the chromatogram pattern changed to similar as that of a 3.5km away (Igusa). The VOCs from Igusa would go up to somewhat high air place then cooled, concentrated, moved by a wind, and down to this observed area.

In this examination, those detected materials could not defined at this time, however it could fined those were deferent materials from normally nominated materials. This results suggest that the analytical study to know behavior of all materials existence each area is more important than to precise examination of specified materials, for purpose to hold human health.

Sanbanze Observation Citizens Group was founded in 2002 and has conducted biological survey on and around the oyster reef together with the measurements of the bottom sediment accumulation. The general purpose of survey for year 2007 was to continue ongoing survey from the previous year in order to keep data consistency. However we could not collect sufficient data this year due to the bad weather condition, (couples of typhoon hits and bad weather condition on planned survey date) hence we could not collect enough data for yearly based comparative analysis. As there was so little to report solely on year 2007, we have included data from 2004 for the end of the year report.

Result of heavy metal analysis:

We have collected some oyster flesh and mud from the sea floor of Nekozane estuary on May 13th. The sample was analyzed by Chiba Prefectural Environment Foundation for 12 heavy metals such as Copper, Iron and Cadmium. Level of heavy metals from those samples were slightly higher when compared with the safety consumption guideline made by the National Food Research Institute. The result showed no significant high level of heavy metal content. Any of the PCB, Alkyl mercury, Organic tin compound was not detected from the samples.

Comparative study of Oyster reef in Nekozane estuary and reef in Funabashi:

Oyster reef in Nekozane estuary

Sea floor of Nekozane estuary surrounding oyster reef is soft mud bottom. Two species of endangered mud snails (Iravadia elegantula) and Stenothyra edogawensis is present in the area, also bivalve Trapezium liratum which inhabits in the crevices of oyster reef, and another bivalve mollusk Cyclina sinensis were found in Nekozane oyster reef.

Oyster reef in Funabashi side:

Sea floor surrounding the reef is sandy mud bottom floor (much sandier compared to Nekozane area). Fauna commonly found in Funabashi oyster reef were mainly sandy bottom dwellers such as; Japanese little neck (Ruditapes philippinarum), Cockle (Mactra veneriformis) , Jack knife clam (Solen strictus), gastropods (Reticunassa festiva).

Publication of oyster reef vertical section sampling:

This survey was conducted with Chiba Prefectural Fisheries Research Center and Chiba University's collaborative study (2006 Japanese fiscal year project). We have sampled oyster from different depth under the sea floor, and the age of the oyster reef was estimated from the aerial photograph. Result was published to the Sanbanze Observation Citizens Group member at the end of the year reporting session by Dr. Hisako Ogura.

In April 2005, Chugoku Electric Power Company (CEPC) began boring to conduct a geological survey of the proposed site for the Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Plant, with the aim of obtaining a final construction permit from the national government. We, the Association for the Conservation of Nagashima Island, have been working actively and successfully in the following crucial phases against the destruction of the rich biodiversity of the proposed site. 1) In 2000, we revealed many defects in the environmental impact assessment of CEPC, and caused a one-year delay in the completion of the final report.

2) In 2004, we organized a petition campaign and collected signatures from citizens who were against the decision to sell a shrine property on the proposed site. 3) In 2005, we made it known that CEPC had been secretly discharging polluted water from the bore holes onto the ground, and we succeeded in stopping the work for 3 months. 4) We revealed clearly the breaks in the cement that was supposed to be sealing the boreholes in the sea. 5) In 2006, we presented to the court a great deal of ecological evidence that the forest on the proposed site had once been used for firewood collection, so the local inhabitants should be supported to continue to use it as their common land. Recently, we shed light on the underwater destruction caused by the boring apparatus dragged by a typhoon, and disclosed that CEPC had found a rare Cornirostrid mollusk just beside the proposed reactor No. 1. CEPC has been trying to conceal the discovery. In the fiscal year 2006, we plan to keep watch on CEPC's destruction of the environment and its disregard by the local government in the following three fields: 1) topographical and geological surveys to prove that the proposed site is far from secure for the construction of a nuclear plant, 2) research on the biodiversity in each season (including (a) Cornirostrids, a keystone in gastropod phylogeny, (b) the endangered Black Wood Pigeon, (c) a rare seaweed, Coccophora langsdorfii); 3) the mechanism by which polluted water from the boreholes penetrates the bottom of the seabed through crevices in the ground; and 4) detection of sound waves and vibration of the ground caused by the tunnel making and oscillation probe test of CEPC. Our independent surveys will adequately check whether CEPC tampers with the important data, or carries out operations to cover-up accidents, (which electric power companies have been recently reported to do very well). The local government of Yamaguchi, overwhelmed by the national government's policy of promoting nuclear power plants, has no choice of its own, and is not capable of checking what CEPC has been doing against the rich biodiversity of Nagashima and the Seto Inland Sea. We are afraid that our judicial power is no more independent, and even court decisions may be controlled by today's political circumstances. In spite of such difficulties, we continue to question the responsibility of CEPC and the Yamaguchi Government, and to appeal to public opinion regarding the importance of Nagashima in Japan and worldwide through the following programs: 1) utilization of the communal forest, 2) nature observation seminars, 3) scientific symposia and exhibitions of pictures of Nagashima in many cities, and so on.

The dugong population in Okinawa is in danger of extinction. However, Japanese and local government has not taken the specific measures for conservation of the dugong population. From the perspective that scientific background is necessary for the strategy to protect dugong, we could establish the framework of grassroots survey of dugong's feeding trails to gain an understanding the status of the Okinawan dugong being sited very occasionally by aircrafts.

We could be guided by dugong and sea grass experts of Japan, USA, and Philippines on not only methodology of feeding trail survey but also the policy for dugong conservation and the long monitoring of the trails through on site training and workshop with local citizens. After that, the member has been trying to improve the survey method and data processing, and put the result into the survey manual and dugong conservation guide book. The survey will go on, and the guidebook will be revised, and the survey sometimes will be open to general citizens. Based on the knowledge and experience obtained from the activities, we will advocate the conservation of dugong to governments.

The purpose of this research project is to clarify political socialization of supporters participated in the Sanrizuka Struggle (Anti Narita Airport Movements). The Sanrizuka Struggle is one of the most large-scale protest movements in postwar Japan. Thousands and thousands of citizens who live in remote place rally round the flag as supporters.

In this research project, I will come in for interviews with (ex) supporters of the Sanrizuka Struggle who live in different parts of Japan and overseas. And ask them about

1) what was valuable experiences by support activities in Sanrizuka and 2) how making use of the support experiences in their activities today. Many books on the struggle history have published much, but there are little real images of supporters and what are they doing now in various places. Highlighting the latter is an original point of view of this research project.

In recent years, new airport construction projects and airport expansion plans are proposed domestically and internationally with the advance of globalization. These mega-projects have spurred vehement opposition across much of the globe, and in some placeｓ there are established alliances between local residents and remote supporters. Under the current circumstances, it is significant research to send experiences of supporters participated in the Sanrizuka Struggle to civil society today.

Needless to say, the Sanrizuka Struggle creates long term and indirect effects on social movement sector as well as accomplishment of immediate concerns. The former are extremely important outcomes of the movements. Through the research projects, I will hear voices of people who have empowered by supporting the Sanrizuka Struggle. Moreover, as a native sociologist grew up in movement communities in Sanrizuka, I want to be a mediator who connects external and internal experiences of the movements.

This study aims to provide an ethnographic account of the experiences of the women and the community in livelihood improvement projects in Takeo province, Cambodia. It explores the concept of women's empowerment through the analysis of the ‘process' of its respective ‘changes' that taken place in the course of women's participation in and emergence of, women's community-based organizations.

In Cambodia, particularly in rural society, traditionally practiced code of conduct of men and women are prevailed in current everyday life yet. This code of conduct and the ideology has changed itself with social change and forms the identity of Cambodian. It is important to discuss what empowerment means for women based on understanding of gender perspective and gender relation in Cambodian context. This research analyzes the changes comparing before women's group activities started and current situation and transition of gender perspective by focusing on active women leaders and women's community based organizations as case studies.

Fieldwork began in middle of May. Preparation of undertaking fieldwork in rural area, including Khmer language training and literature review were carried out in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Fieldwork in rural area was begun in June. The activities were located at 4 villages, 2 hours drive from Phnom Penh. While home-staying at families of the study targets, participant observation, including participation to the women's group and farmer association's activities, conducting focus group workshop, individual interviews with stakeholders and any other activities that enable the research to build rapport with the villagers, was carried out.

Primary data obtained from those methods were recorded in forms of field note, recorded voice, and photos. The data was transcribed and translated in details in order to analyze the narrative retrieved from sayings, interviews and speeches. The extracted perspectives and expressions were sorted and organized to understand the elements and the process of the changes, which emerged in the narratives. Through the activities of the women's group, such as saving, agricultural technical supports (rice cultivation, home gardening, animal husbandry, and so forth), women's role as housewives were strengthen and enabled women to contribute more in livelihood. As a result, the changes such as 1) the extent of women's activities expanded from only within household to the society, 2) increased access to information, 3) enhanced confidence, 4) obtained male's support to women's activities and so forth, were extracted from the data. Although there are differences in consciousness of each individual, there are common recognitions among both men and women about the benefits of the activities of women's group. Moreover, the answers to the question comparing the situation of women before the activities started and the current situation, there were some sayings provided by both men and women using the traditional ideology as a symbol to describe the changes. That ideology symbolizes the previous situation by using this saying which used to hinder women's role only within household and undervalued women. And it compares current situation by saying that it is not like that right now. It has very significant meaning as empowerment emphasizes the importance of women recognize internalized oppression and challenge it to bring changes into their lives.

By studying people's experiences in details, understanding that could be obtained from this kind of study has great potential to provide relevant reference to community development. Through this study, it was possible to seek the hypothesis of effective intervention for women's empowerment by analyzing women's experience from gender perspective and putting into writing. Outsider's view or intervention enables to discuss the changes which are not recognized by the stakeholder concerned.

Organic Farming has been widespread in Wayanad District, Kerala, South India, supported by the state government, farmers' self-reliance groups, and NGOs. The purpose of the training is to understand the organic farming method in tropical agricultural system, as well as the current situation of organic agriculture there.

Peppers and coffee are two main cash crops in Wayand, and February is the harvesting time of these crops. Also, Farmers are busy for soil management which is crucial in tropical areas during the dry season.

Briefly speaking, organic agriculture was introduced as a part of farmers' movement in 1990's. The overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides caused serious health disorders for villagers. Moreover, some 5000 farmers only in Wayanad commuted suicide due to the accumulated debt led by the price disorder of crops and the diminution of subsidy by the central government of India. As a response of the devastated situation, the farmers' movement was raised with the slogan of self-reliance, environmental conservation and safety food. In the 2000's, the movement arrived at the second stage as the international organic farming certificate was introduced in India. Some farmers have converted to organic farming for the premium price on the cash crops, not necessarily for the environmental and health awareness.

In addition to the above background, I started to notice more complicated situation over the organic agriculture in the area, through communicating with farmers. For instance, there are economical and agro-biological hurdles to join the certificate program. Farmers have to pay some hundreds rupee per hectare to convert their farms although they can access certain financial support. Besides, the organic certificate program, called Internal Control System, is not for individual farmers but for a farmer's group whose members share similar crops and agro-biological condition. Therefore, if neighbor farmers do not agree with the conversion, the group can not be organized. In the case that even a single farmer use chemical inputs on the shared irrigation network, the certificate can not be provided. Moreover, some farmer's organization accumulated the stock of peppers without paying premium price for farmers, due to lack of connection with foreign organic market.

The training and field visit provided me the in-depth understanding of the contemporary organic farming situation in the area. Agricultural system which can fulfill both economical and environmental sustainability is an urgent assignment not only in India but also all over the world. The further and long term study should be employed as soon as possible.

In this time, the research and training was positioned as preparation for the enrollment to the PhD course of Aalborg University in Denmark and pilot study for my future PhD project after many twists and turns. After the initial host institution canceled me to host, I looked for other possibilities and finally Professor Andrew Jamison of Aalbrog University welcomed me to supervise, and I joined his courses in Aalborg and conducted pilot research for future PhD project in February to March 2008 with the grant. (I will be enrolled in Aalborg University in May 2008)

Attended courses ("Politics of Sustainable Development" and "Theories of Scienes"), I learned the history and principal theory of social science regarding to environment in Europe and America, and I acquired contemporary research style like "Change oriented Research" or "Action oriented Research". And I could join in the information network of the PhD students in Aalborg University, and I have a contact with a student who shares similar theme setting with me, we will collaborate in future.

As a pilot study for the future PhD project, I visited and interviewed Baltic Sea Solutions, which is a regional energy development company in Lolland-Falster in Denmark. Baltic Sea Solutions is a professional in regional energy project development, and their measure was different from typical Danish cooperative. I also visited and interviewed Malmo City Environmental Agency and contact person of the Solar City Malmo. Malmo City is promoting sustainable city development with 100% renewable energy model district or large scale PV and solar thermal installation, and they are realized large part with political initiative.

I view following three points for the future prospects; firstly I make explicit research focus of my PhD project, secondly I follow preceding studies regarding to my focus (especially political sociology regarding to environment), thirdly I collect information of regional energy projects conducted in Europe from the perspective of various regional or political conditions.

The supposed schedule was changed due to the troubles, and there is no output so far, but I'd like to put out the experience and knowledge gained in this research and training as a form of academic paper or presentation in international conference in future. And I also would like to put out "Changes" in actual society with my "Change oriented Research" and "Action oriented Research".