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© 2011 AFPOkinawa noise pollution trial begins with 22,000 plaintiffs
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© 2011 AFP
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NetNinja
You see this? Here's the real motivation behind all those Okinawa protests. MONEY.
You want to get paid for hearing a little noise. There's a lot of noise that people live with, if these people can get paid then anybody can get paid.
They can't even prove that this noise has caused any damage to their ears. It's noise. We know you don't like it. It doesn't harm you though. It's not going to kill you. You aren't special. Seems like those people down in Okinawa are children. They got huge Ego's, conceited and vain if they expect to get paid for a little noise.
YuriOtani
NetNinja, it is annoying and that should mean something. The GOJ is spineless as usual except against its own citizens.
nath
If somebody constantly flew a jet over my house I'd be peeved too.
Riffraff
was it ever about anything else?
smithinjapan
YuriOtani: "NetNinja, it is annoying and that should mean something. The GOJ is spineless as usual except against its own citizens."
Sadly, since the Japanese government keeps trying to renege on agreements in order to score political points with a few angry Okinawans (who would complain once the troops were gone and lose a lot of their businesses in the area) it looks like the US has more or less decided it's not feasible or worth the bother to relocate -- so they'll stay just where they are unless Japan's honors its promises.
Okinawamike
The second Kadena suit came after the government paid $814 million to install soundproofing in 59000 homes near air bases in Okinawa.
What about the millions of yen that were given to home owners to sound proof their houses? Windows and doors. From what I heard, the money was spent on renovating the kitchen and new cars.
Round 3 of 100, I guess it is time for a new car?
Serrano
When's the yellow sand blowing in from China trial going to start?
Hide Suzuki
NetNinja, trust me, those Okinawan people aren't as greedy as your typical fellow americans, but I guess nobody is... Is it asking too much to want a quiet morning and night ?
Christina O'Neill
22000 people is a sizable number of protesters in regard to noise pollution. Too many to be ignored, surely a compromise can be reached with practice flights operating in more sociable hours
issa1
China appreciates the stupidity of the okinawans!!!
noriyosan73
"Yankees Come Home" is the writing on the wall for American taxpayers. Japan needs to pay attention to the Republican party debates. This theme is repeated and the election is in November 2012. Cuts in defense spending WILL occur, and it is likely that Korea, Japan and Germany are likely to be first.
Scrote
Anyone who moved to the area after the base was built should not be eligible for compensation. Nor should anyone who received any of the earlier payments.
Riffraff
Flying hours are restricted to 6 AM to 10PM. The fighters fly twice each day in groups of 10/12 which take off and go to a training area approximately 150 miles out in the ocean then return and land. There are several cargo, AWAC and tanker aircraft that take off and land during the day. One end of Kadena's runway is over the ocean, the other is over a moderately populated section of the island. Since the fighters take off in a group and leave, and the remaining heavy aircraft are scattered throughout a day, I estimate there are an average of 2-3 noise peaks per hour and those last less than a minute per incident. The heavy aircraft have newer and quieter engines and are few in number so their noise impact is minimal. The JOG pays for installation of air conditioning and double soundproof windows to housing and business within X miles of the noise pattern. It also pays for the upgrade/replacement of these items on a reoccurring schedule.
Riffraff
Flying hours are restricted to 6 AM to 10PM. The fighters fly twice each day in groups of 10/12 which take off and go to a training area approximately 150 miles out in the ocean then return and land. There are several cargo, AWAC and tanker aircraft that take off and land during the day. One end of Kadena's runway is over the ocean, the other is over a moderately populated section of the island. Since the fighters take off in a group and leave, and the remaining heavy aircraft are scattered throughout a day, I estimate there are an average of 2-3 noise peaks per hour and those last less than a minute per incident. The heavy aircraft have newer and quieter engines and are few in number so their noise impact is minimal. The JOG pays for installation of air conditioning and double soundproof windows to housing and business within X miles of the noise pattern. It also pays for the upgrade/replacement of these items on a reoccurring schedule.
cleo
In Japan? On Japanese soil? Japanese air space? What a disgrace.
Paying to soundproof people's houses may help a little, but people don't spend all their time inside their houses. Walking round the southern part of the Okinawa main island is like being in a war zone, jets flying low overhead at alarming frequency. If we can't get rid of the bases from Okinawa, at least put them in 'holding' mode and let all the noisy flying and live ammunition exercises take place in America somewhere.
NetNinja
Yuri, with all due respect to you as a person. I know the noise is bothersome. NO one, absolutely no one is going to deny that. It's a necessary evil though.
It's not like the bosozoku rolling late night through your neighborhood. I'd like to practice my javelin throw when those go by to see if I can get it through their spokes cause the police don't do jack (cough).
Come on Yuri, use your imagination just a bit. Lets have a good laugh together. Imagine me walking into my local police station. Excuse Lt Suzuki. I live in blah blah blah area and it's noisy at night. I want 44.6 billion yen ($580 million) for my trouble.
You know what they would do right? Honestly, just like we're in our living room chatting. You know what they would do, don't you?
They would laugh their £$"~ing (cough) off. I'm talking ROFLMAO!!! They probably arrest ME!!!. Lt Suzuki: Shoganai - Now GTFO of my office!!!
44.6 billion yen ($580 million)!!! Who do you think you are?
Seriously, fellow readers, I had this problem. I used to live next to a busy main road. Bosuzoku rolled out EVERY night. The SOLUTION was simple. I moved.
Those people in Okinawa can move too.
paulinusa
When I'm on the trains I notice houses sitting almost on top of the tracks. Do these residents sue the train companies or the government for noise?
Godan
But Paulinusa, that is "Japanese" noise. Don't you know there is a difference between that and "American" noise?
globalwatcher
@noriyosan73
Many US posts in Germany and Italy are on the way to be closed down already. FYI
Riffraff
Simple, just hold an island wide referendum vote on whether the bases stay or go and abide by the outcome. This is the solution most feared by the anti-base, anti-American drum beaters. They have a very, very good chance of losing when the local populous comes to realize the real economic impact. Currently it’s not about what the majority of people of Okinawa want, it is about what the vocal minority radical crowd wants. Since the political status quo is funded by this crowd and bashing the bases is a safe and politically correct target (no Japanese lose face), the local politicians climbed on the band wagon for a free ride and were quickly ensnared in a net where it is impossible to get elected governor unless you are anti-base. Do I think the bases should be moved/eliminated? It should be up to the Okinawa people, not the Japanese or the Americans.
Peter McIver
Yep, totally agree, it was it's own kingdom 150 years ago remember
Peter McIver
the whole house shakes man... it's a wee bit different to the nijuu's trying to be cool
Peter McIver
and it's like rain fade, it goes pixelated then goes back to normal
Piltdown Man
Many American overseas bases are likely close in the coming decade(s), and the efforts of Okinawan protestors/litigants are most certainly accelerating the process of getting the Okinawan base short-listed for closure.
It would be in America's best interest to get out of Okinawa. The taxpayers would save money, and American men and women serving in Okinawa would no longer have to live away from friends and family back home. Also, those serving in Okinawa are productive men and women who have sophisticated skills and training that can be contributed to energizing the American economy—in America.
Conversely, although welcomed by some in Okinawa, a base pull-out will certainly inflict hardship on the many local families who generate income from the base. Most there would lose more than they would gain as a result of base closure.
I live close to an American base, and personally I feel safer with it here, and welcome the presence of the men and women in uniform and their families. Immediately after the nuclear crisis, for instance, I considered the base a safe haven to turn to if nuclear fallout triggered impeding danger and wide-spread panic. Unfortunately for me, though, public outrage in the U.S. over public finances could mean that the base in my area could also fall prey to the budgetary chopping block.
smithinjapan
NetNinja: "You know what they would do right? Honestly, just like we're in our living room chatting. You know what they would do, don't you?"
Actually, they wouldn't laugh and tell you to GTFO, they would become all serious and ask you for your ID, bicycle license proof, and try to find a way to turn the tables and charge YOU with something so you'll drop it and they can avoid doing any work.
The 'funny' part of this is that while Yuri and others become more and more adamant that the US are not needed and should leave, the number of Japanese (in Okinawa as well!) who support their presence is on the rise (thanks to Chinese incursions and Russian military build-ups).
The meddling, back-pedalling, and reneging on promises is simply going to end up in more grief for the Okinawans.
societymike
Netninja, you are really out of touch with this situation. I've been in Japan over 12yrs, most of it in Okinawa, and the fighters and other aircraft are REALY REALLY loud, you can not fathom how loud until you live there and see it first hand. Many who are complaining, have lived in the same spot for generations. Move you say? (a simple solution?) It's an ISLAND! Not a huge choice of jobs in the area, so work in the same place and live in a different place? Woops... so many bases (like Futenma) are smack in the middle of the way, so no easy highway routes around them. I've known the Okinawan people for a long time, and "greedy" is NOT ever a word that comes to mind to describe them. Even though there are "quiet hours" as posted by Riffraff, they can get waivers and pay the $10,000 fine and fly during quiet hours, which many of the large cargo aircraft do every day. The Navy who go there and practice have jets which are 3 times as loud as the Air Force jets, so they are some of the biggest noise polluters. Even in nice peacful tourist areas, when a jet comes in, they are so low and loud, everyone stops what they are doing to cover their ears. It really is that bad. It's not ALWAYS about money. The biggest point is bringing the problem back to light, not letting anyone forget, compound that with other issues surrounding the bases, and it helps the "cause". Yes, the Government helped pay before for sound proofing homes within a certain distance of the air base, and this helped a lot, but it was not enough to cover all the homes in the area. My home was one of those within the radius, it really did help quite a bit, it also reduced my utility bills by nearly half.
cmeandu09
So money was already given out and they are not flying past the times that were stated. I don't understand why this is coming up again. I mean can I sue the moped drivers that make it impossible to go to sleep at night?
societymike
@ cmeanu0 The "money" wasn't "given out". It was allocated to local city offices which paid contractors to do the sound proofing work on homes, but it didn't cover even half of the effected areas/homes and didn't cover schools or business. Also, this was way back in 2007. Supposedly, the following years were supposed to see the continuation of the sound proofing, but there was no more money.
The "quiet hours" times mentioned above, have been in place for many years, since the 90's at least. However, the planes fly during those times anyway on nearly a daily basis, they just pay a fine to the Japanese Government to do so.The only exception to the fine/hours is emergency.
NetNinja
SmithinJapan - Very few people make me laugh so hard. That hit the spot. I agree with you. They'd try to turn the tables on me.
Very funny indeed and probably much much more accurate.
NetNinja
Societymike - Thank you for your post. Just wanted to let you know that I agree with you about the noise. You're right. I personally have been on the crows nest of an American Navy Aircraft carrier. I've been right next to them when they do night ops and day ops.
I know we all don't know each other but let me tell you. I'm 18 years here in Japan. I've been there, done that, seen this, seen that. I know they are loud. My heart goes out to them but not my tax money, from either country.
I was listening to Eagle 8.10 I listen quite often actually. They were on the radio just the other day talking about Operation Tomodachi. Then I heard a very interesting fact that can easily be verified. Aside from DoD personnel Approximately 25,000 jobs exist due to the presence of American military bases.
25,000 jobs!!! A simple thank you from the Okinawans would suffice.
the_sicilian
Society Mike: You make it sound like there are so many flights that you can't think straight. Hmm, I live near the Futenma flight line and it's not that bad.
And for all those posting about the flight: It's the sound of being free. Get over it.
wolfbiscuits
I hear the Chinese have very quiet military aircraft. I'm sure they would be pleased to house them in Okinawa if there is an opportunity.
yokomoc
They have a cheek. If you want noise pollution take a walk down Kokusai Dori in Naha on a summer's night.
Jared Norman
the f-18 are loud, i understand their complant
nath
I live right near kedena in sunabe, it's loud... because I work 9 to 5 I don't hear it but if your old or unemployed its not a fun sound to listen too. The weekend.. if your at baba park on the weekends, the only family park in the sunabe area, you see and hear the death machines aka F- whatever, landing here and there. Its ruins the peaceful mood on such a cool tropical island. As well.. futenma... futenma is the suckiest of them all. I have to stop my class just for the plane to cool its jets so that the kids can hear me. Futenma had a helicopter I believe in 2003 crash into the okinawa university. Thank lordy it was a Sunday.. gods day. Futenma, Ginowan City is so densely populated that if a plane or helicopter was to lose control which as I said has already happened it would seriously kill people because the area is not some sort of backwoods farm area which landing strips are usually located. Yea yea ye okinawa people want $, want $ $$$, blah blah blah, last I checked okinawa has the highest unemployment rate along, lowest salary ( thats why we have the most call centers) and in the public sector... The most amount of ME... temporary staff workers... which is a special term for which prefectures dont really have to take care of you that much with any sort of benefits along with you having a job for a one year contract... If Okinawa people are getting something it ain't that much. Also they have to deal with yankee doodles customers... eerrrrr. there's a hole in my money... super dummies right off the boat from America. The worst.
nath
People who have lived in their current homes since before the air bases opened, and who are affected by the noise, should be relocated at government expense to another part of the island, their choice. They have every right to quiet.
People who have moved into the affected area (or from one house to another within the affected area) at any time after the air bases opened can shut the $#@!^@ up. They are doing nothing but participating in extortion.
Bosozuku and loudspeaker-van right wingers are worse.
Elbuda Mexicano
I also agree, about these idiot bosozuku and right wingers in their loudspeakers, would be nice to just rev up the engines on some of these jet fighters say at 2 am?? Or 3am?? just to give these silly fools a taste of their own medicine, mind you I hate the sound of jets, helicopters etc...flying over my home here in Tokyo that may resemble Okinawa, because a few times a month it looks like WW3 is about to start, I have counted at least 30 helicopters flying in formation from Yokota AFB out to Kanagawa at one time! These stupid helicopters are so loud, different from jet fighters, and their blades cut threw the air making the windows in my home see like they are going to EXPLODE! So I would like to also rev up some helicopter engines at some of these US generals homes at 2 am too!
Fadamor
If all they want is peace and quiet, then WHY ARE THEY LIVING NEXT TO A MILITARY AIR BASE?!? As for a two year old being scared by the noise, they're scared of thunder too, but I don't see any trials by Okinawa attempting to ban thunderstorms in the early mornings and evenings.
Elbuda, that picture is a character from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" named... (you guessed it) Riffraff. He's actually Richard O'Brien
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O%27Brien
the writer of the "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" musical.sfjp330
Great opportunity for the U.S. to reduce this expensive commitment in Japan that just stretches to thin. There is no need for U.S. to protect Japan. They can protect themselves. Why should U.S. drain treasury and overstretch military protecting societies who spend far less on their defense than U.S. spend on their defense. It makes no sense. How memory is so short sighted by the Japanese and how unappreciated the U.S. forces are. Less than two years ago, Hatoyama's government wanted U.S. military outside of Okinawa. They were against having any U.S. troops in Japan. Slightly over a year ago, thousands of labor unionists, pacifists, environmentalists, students and residents marched through central Tokyo and Okinawa, yelling slogans and calling for an end to the U.S. troop presence. Then, PM Hatoyama has repeatedly postponed his decision on the pact with members of his own government divided on how to proceed. Hatoyama wanted new directions in the relations with U.S. Japan said "We don't need Futenma base", and "We refuse new Henoko base'. Most Japanese people and their goverment wanted the base moved out of Japan entirely. This is the right time for U.S. to leave Japan and let them handle their defense alone.
the_sicilian
sfjp: There wasn't a march of "thousands" down here. nothing like hyperbole being used as a fact in an argument. And didn't a recent poll in mainland have more than 50% support for US troops in Japan?
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japanese-support-for-u-s-bases-grows-poll
(expired article, but you get the idea)
I get that they are loud, crazy loud. If Futenma flight ops are moved to Henoko then that noise is over water and not a big deal. But I don't see anything happening, status quo for a long time. Sorry.
grafton
Why are these people living near an air base? Because it is and has been their home for longer than there has been an airbase. The people were there first.
The bases are not there to defend Japan, they are there as a first line of defence for the US. And if it ever did come down to a shooting war with China they would be destroyed on the first day. A defence again NK? Never going to happen.
These bases are used as training bases because there is next nothing else for them to do. So fine, if the US really wants to keep their bases, do so. But move all the flight training back the states. There is no need for it to be taking place from anywhere in Japan. A semi mothballed base that can be activated in a short time and no local noise. Is that really so difficult?
Brian Sutton
What are you talking about when you say "The bases are not there to defend Japan, they are there as a first line of defence for the US. And if it ever did come down to a shooting war with China they would be destroyed on the first day." We are here to protect Japan and of course other US interests (Japan is one of them). Remember when North Korea launched that missile (that didn't really make it to space? The US bases where on high alert as with the Japan military. In mainland japan, the Japanese military used the AMERICAN ANTI_MISSILE SYSTEM to protect Tokyo and other big cities. Oh and the same missile system was tracking the missile that is on Kadena. Oh but wait.... you say they are not here to protect Japan... get your facts straight..
noriyosan73
The "Occupy Wall Street" and other political groups, including people in the Democratic Party, have the same message: The American taxpayer can no longer continue to have the striped shirt and whistle (sports fan get it) personnel in the world. Yes, military bases are closing in Europe, and it won't be long before Korea and Japan experience the same down-sizing. It doesn't take a lot of property to launch drones that can be flown by desk jockies anywhere in the world. War is at the speed of light, not the speed of some ancient propeller driven aircraft.
tmarie
“Rather than hearing blasts of jets, I wish I could live a quiet life in which I can hear singing of insects,” she said.
Perhaps she could take a lot at the rest of Japan and realise that most schools don't get this - except for those in the inaka.
The base was there waaaaaay before these people - a picture of what the base was like when it first was built shows no houses in the area. THEY built them. THEY shouldn't be complaining. As others said, they just want money.
Papa_will_preach
The U.S. military and government will say there is nothing they can do because of Tokyo. Tokyo will say there is nothing they can do because of the U.S. military and government.
Some Okinawans might them if they leave. Fine. Better to be missed than hated.
Fact: The U.S. military controls 85 percent of the land of the town of Kadena. Fact: When the Americans took the airbase from the Japanese, it was just a 4,600 foot runway which has since grown to a montrous sized base.
It sounds like you expect some of these people to not only predict that the Americans would never leave, but to also predict jet aircraft and the noise that comes with them. Further, you expect the town to grow on only 15 percent of its own land, or the residents should move to another town, as if selling a home in a sea of noise pollution is a profitable proposition!
Only? Only? How do you know what they only want? Did you ever think they are going for what they are most likely to receive? What good would it do them to hunger strike and demand their land back? Or to beg with hat in hand for peace and quiet? With money they can at least feel compensated for inconvenience. I seriously doubt that if you had the fighter jets of a foreign nation screaming overhead day in and day out in the town of your birth, you would have nothing to say, and would not like a nice payout in lieu of pie in the sky.
tmarie
Papa, who built up the towns and who moved in for the work? The locals. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Bases increase in size, indeed but the sound of the planes doesn't get louder. Just more frequent. If they don't like the sound of one plane, they aren't going to like the sound of a few hundred. Don't like the sound of one? Don't settle in the area.
Demand their land back??? Do you mean from Japan? If you really want to go down that path, feel free. Thing is, Okinawa wouldn't have the standard of living it does today if it wasn't for the Japanese and the Americans. Indeed some things are getting worse due to both but if you want to start claims of "giving land back" you need to take a look at the big picture, not the small base issue.
And if I had fighter jets screaming over my head... again assumptions that I didn't grow up near them. Personally I love the sound of fighters (f-18, f-15s are my fav) and other planes. You live in an area long enough with them around, you don't notice the sound of them. Or at least, that is my experience. I have lived at the end of runways and flight paths pretty much all my life - except here in Japan - and I miss the planes.
Again, all about the money.
Papa_will_preach
That argument does not work for the people born there.
Life is not all about money. That is what I see in the big picture. Besides, without those damn bases and noise, tourism might boom. They will survive without the bases in any case. Watch them.
You don't know me. I am not like I was, but I used to be extremely sensitive to noise. I once woke up at the sound of a slight scrapping noise and knew what it was fast enough to put my hands up and catch the broken door before it hit me. It had been broken a while, but never fell before or since. Once in a group of yapping people on a dark uninhabited mountaintop, I said "Somebody is coming". Everyone went quiet. Waited a few seconds. No one. A minute later, someone came.
I have lived near roosters in several places in Japan. Some told me I would get used to them. I never did. The most amazing part is that no rooster died at my hands. Fighter jets? I think I would definitely go postal.
Back off, sit down, slow down and think. You don't know these people and you don't read minds. For some it probably is about the money. But to casually dismiss other options in the minds of other people is self-righteous in the extreme. To help you out, imagine your baby being awoken from their daily naps by that noise. I am greatful my house is quiet and my baby can get his sleep. He is awful crabby when he doesn't, but is a very happy and pleasant baby when well rested. This would be a miserable house next to a base, and I should not have to suffer one in this place I moved which has none now. Nor should one be allowed to come and force me to move unless they want pay twice the market value of my land to cover my moving expenses and inconvenience.
tmarie
You don't know these people and you don't read minds.
Neither do you.
Daily naps?? Oh please.
Born there? Perhaps they could take the issue up with their family then who built their houses next to the base as the base didn't build next to their houses.
You're right. Life isn't about money. So perhaps these people move away and spend their money on a new place?
Yubaru
To the folks commenting that the people lived there first, ya'll are smoking something if you think that's true. The area around both Kadena and Futenma were farmer's fields. There is a very, very, very, small percentage of locals that lived in those areas prior to the bases being built and upgraded.
One poster comment that the government should pay for relocation of residents that lived there prior to the era of jets, and I agree, the rest however made their choice to live in those areas knowing fully well that the bases were in their neighborhoods. They had a choice and made it. While this may not be a popular belief it is a fact!
Yeah it's noisy, and yeah there is the Kadena and Futenma "pause". It isnt the sound of freedom either, it's the sound and constant reminder of an occupier who became an ally. Both the American and Japanese governments have done a piss poor job of educating the population regarding the necessities of having the bases in Okinawa and there in lies one of the biggest mistakes made in the relations between Japan, Okinawa and the US Military.
Papa_will_preach
That would not be an education. That would be a brainwashing. The bases are not necessary and they sure are not necessary in Okinawa. They could be in Hokkaido. Or Shikoku. I think the Americans just enjoy having a base in a place that is almost a tropical paradise. Its not a paradise now because of jets screaming overhead.
I don't think anyone knew back in the 50s even that the bases would still be there in 2011. Yankee went home after WWI. One might well have thought he would after WWII too.
Yubaru
@Papa, Okinawa has been a pawn throughout history. First with the Chinese, then the Japanese, and now the US. It is in a strategic location and provides training facilities that the US Military can not get (currently) anywhere else in the world. Oh and it has nothing to do with Okinawa being a tropical paradise, not even close on that account. The island has become a concrete jungle with the exception of the undeveloped areas on the island.
But since the island and it's people are now a part of Japan, it too has a responsibility for the defense of Japan as well. Yes the bases should be realigned, but totally removing them would not be the strategically smart thing to do either, for both Japan and the rest of the regions sake as well.
Tom DeMicke
"Yawn" ... same ol si different day/year.