The 2nd New Year’s Day Marathon around the METI – The struggle continues: Anti-nuke tent

On the warm and sunny New Year’s Day, the 2^nd New Year’s Day Marathon around the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) was held. 15 persons including members and supporters of the anti-nuke tent in front of the ministry joined the event.  N ran the longest distance of about 30km (19 miles) with 33 laps in three hours from 11am, followed by K who also participated in this last year with 25 laps (20km, or 13 miles) and M with 15 laps. The marathon was also joined by Fuchigami, the leader of the tent, T, a tent staff, and O who walked rather than running with two laps. All the runners and supporters enjoyed special New Year food, such as amazake (traditional sweet, non-alcohol Japanese drink made from fermented rice), tonjiru miso soup with pork, vegetables and rice cakes, and shiruko sweet red-bean drink, and swore to continue the tent until all the nuclear power plants in Japan are decommissioned. (TAKAHASHI Shuzo)

 元旦に第２回経産省周回マラソン～テント死守語り合う

例年より暖かく、快晴の元日、第２回経産省周回マラソンが開催されました。今年の特徴は、事前宣伝が広がり４名のテント支援者からの参加申し込みと、前日からの泊り込み支援者を含め、１５名の参加者でした。１１時のスタートから終了までの３時間、１４時まで３３周の約３０ｋｍを走りきったＮさんを最高周に、 昨年も参加のＫさんが２０ｋｍを超える２５周、ＫＡさんが２０周、女性参加のＭさんが１５周と、ハイレベルの参加者に渕上テント長や事務方ＴさんやＯ君の２周（ほぼ歩き）ランナーも加わり 、大変盛りあがったマラソンでした。終了後は、甘酒・餅入り豚汁に差し入れのお汁粉を参加者や応援者皆で御馳走になり、今年も全原発が稼働中止まで経済省前テントを死守していくことを語り合いました。（高橋秀三）

Show GOVT, JR Workers’ Determination—21-day Marathon, Hunger Strike End

A 21-day run and hunger strike by three unionists ended on Feb. 16. They demanded the government and Japan Railways Co that they keep jobs by their actions, while not accepting the monetary settlement.

The run and hunger strike were supported not by unions or joint struggle but by 160 individuals. They also submitted their request to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and each JR companies.

“People who didn’t know about our struggle against the National Railways even accompanied me in the run,” said NAKANO Hayato, a former NR worker, at a rally on Feb. 17. “I’d like to cherish this support network to let businesses know not to unfairly lay off workers. I will come back on the 16^th of every month from Shikoku region to run again around the Diet building. This is the determination of workers.” Other workers of former National Railways spoke of their determination to continue their struggle at the rally. (By M) . Photo: Run around the Diet building (NAKANO Hayato, right) 

 労働者の土根性を政府・JRに見せたい！～21日間の国会マラソン・ハンスト終わる 

 「JR不採用問題の終結。金銭解決だけでは納得できない。政府はJR雇用の約束を守れ」と、1月27日から国会マラソン・ハンストで訴えてきた3人の当事者の行動が、2月16日終わった。労組や共闘組織のバックもない個人主体の行動だったが、支援者など延べ160人が参加した。国交省・JR各社への要請も取り組んだ。17日の集約集会で当事者の中野勇人さん（元国労北見闘争団）は、「国鉄闘争を全く知らない人も伴走してくれた。こうした出会いをつなげていきたい。労働者のクビを切ったら大変だということを政府に知らしめたい。今後も毎月16日に、四国から夜行バスで上京して国会マラソンをやるつもりだ。これが労働者の土根性だ」と力強く訴えた。集会では、ほかに元闘争団員の佐久間忠夫・猪股正秀・松崎博巳の各氏が「闘争継続」の決意を語った。（M）　＊写真＝> 国会マラソン（右が中野勇人さん）