52
3.3.1.2 Economic Growth and Human Health/Rights:
Chisso’s Irresponsibility
One of the reasons why Minamata disease was so widely spread was Chisso’s
irresponsibility. Chisso conducted an experiment called the “cat number 400
experiment” to reveal the cause of the disease by themselves. In this experiment, a
cat that had been given food to which factory effl uent had been added showed
clear symptoms of Minamata disease. This result demonstrated that Chisso’s
discharge was the causative substance in the environment. It indisputably showed
Chisso’s responsibility for the disease, even though the pollutant had not yet
been identifi ed as methyl mercury. However, the results of the experiment were not
published. Chisso placed the highest priorities on earning a profi t. In order to
continue operating the plant, Chisso buried the results of the experiment. Moreover,
when Kumamoto University pointed out that methyl mercury was causing the
disease, Chisso raised questions. It is obvious that Chisso was putting profi ts before
people and ignoring human rights. The most important point here is to let students
think about what they might have done if they had been a researcher or engineer
inside Chisso.
3.3.1.3 Economic Growth and Human Health/Rights: Citizens’ Awareness
We also have to remember that many Minamata citizens supported Chisso, because
Minamata was heavily dependent on Chisso for tax revenue. Without Chisso,
Minamata would have been a small local village in western Japan. Some citizens
considered Minamata disease as someone else’s problem or even as an annoyance.
Others thought that a certain amount of “pollution” must be acceptable in exchange
for prosperity in Minamata. Moreover, to people living in Tokyo, Minamata disease
was an issue occurring far away from them and was not their concern. Many storytellers mention that Minamata disease is a disease of the modern age where people
want too much convenience and too much prosperity based on industry and
technology.
3.3.1.4 Discrimination, the Social Divide, and Environmental Justice
Most of the patients identifi ed in the early stages were fi shermen and their families.
Since fi shermen in Minamata originally came from the Amakusa Islands (on the
other side of the Shiranui Sea), they were considered outsiders and were lower
down in the social hierarchy. This is another reason why the patients faced discrimination. Harada [ 6 ] and Ui [ 7 ] have denied that industrial pollution created “abandoned” victims. Instead, they argue that industrial pollution problems occur where
there are weak people and industrial pollution hits them. Note: today, Minamata
M. Onuki and K.J. An
3.3.1.2 Economic Growth and Human Health/Rights:
Chisso’s Irresponsibility
One of the reasons why Minamata disease was so widely spread was Chisso’s
irresponsibility. Chisso conducted an experiment called the “cat number 400
experiment” to reveal the cause of the disease by themselves. In this experiment, a
cat that had been given food to which factory effl uent had been added showed
clear symptoms of Minamata disease. This result demonstrated that Chisso’s
discharge was the causative substance in the environment. It indisputably showed
Chisso’s responsibility for the disease, even though the pollutant had not yet
been identifi ed as methyl mercury. However, the results of the experiment were not
published. Chisso placed the highest priorities on earning a profi t. In order to
continue operating the plant, Chisso buried the results of the experiment. Moreover,
when Kumamoto University pointed out that methyl mercury was causing the
disease, Chisso raised questions. It is obvious that Chisso was putting profi ts before
people and ignoring human rights. The most important point here is to let students
think about what they might have done if they had been a researcher or engineer
inside Chisso.
3.3.1.3 Economic Growth and Human Health/Rights: Citizens’ Awareness
We also have to remember that many Minamata citizens supported Chisso, because
Minamata was heavily dependent on Chisso for tax revenue. Without Chisso,
Minamata would have been a small local village in western Japan. Some citizens
considered Minamata disease as someone else’s problem or even as an annoyance.
Others thought that a certain amount of “pollution” must be acceptable in exchange
for prosperity in Minamata. Moreover, to people living in Tokyo, Minamata disease
was an issue occurring far away from them and was not their concern. Many storytellers mention that Minamata disease is a disease of the modern age where people
want too much convenience and too much prosperity based on industry and
technology.
3.3.1.4 Discrimination, the Social Divide, and Environmental Justice
Most of the patients identifi ed in the early stages were fi shermen and their families.
Since fi shermen in Minamata originally came from the Amakusa Islands (on the
other side of the Shiranui Sea), they were considered outsiders and were lower
down in the social hierarchy. This is another reason why the patients faced discrimination. Harada [ 6 ] and Ui [ 7 ] have denied that industrial pollution created “abandoned” victims. Instead, they argue that industrial pollution problems occur where
there are weak people and industrial pollution hits them. Note: today, Minamata
M. Onuki and K.J. An