Representatives of the Magkaisa Junk JPEPA Coalition raises the "Protest Postcard" addressed to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, in front of the Japanese embassy in Manila, after Japanese officials refused to accept the postcard. The "Protest Postcard" symbolizes the groups concern over Japanese toxic waste dumping, and also over the "second-class" treatment the Philippines is getting under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). ©GAIA/Gigie Cruz

The “protest postcard” depicts the piercing gaze of an Asian child, with the cry “Asia is Not Japan’s Toxic Waste Colony, Stop Toxic Trade!” a pointed rebuff to the JPEPA, which is before the Philippine Senate for ratification.

“We are opposed to toxic wastes, and also against JPEPA and the Japanese government’s second class treatment of the Philippines and the Filipinos,” said Merci Ferrer, director of HealthCare Without Harm (Southeast Asia). “If Japan can turn a blind-eye to our concerns in our land, what more when Filipinos are being treated unfairly in Japan? Filipino nurses and caregivers know this, and this is why they are opposed to the JPEPA as well.”

Ms. Ferrer is referring to the position taken by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) opposing the JPEPA as elaborated by Dr. Leah Paquiz in recent statements. The PNA is concerned that Filipino nurses could become "second-class professionals" in Japan as the terms under JPEPA being crafted by Japan’s Ministry of Health and the Japanese Nursing Association require them to work as trainees or nursing aides until they pass the national licensure exam written in Nihongo. The PNA is also concerned over the insecurity of the status of Filipina nurses in Japan under the JPEPA and their vulnerability to the hostility of the Japanese nurses and unscrupulous Japanese entertainment industry.

“The JPEPA is a symptom of the inequitable relationship between Japan and the Philippines,” said Josua Mata, Secretary General of the Alliance for Progressive Labor. “Look at some of the concessions the Philippines has made under the JPEPA and you’ll be stupefied! JPEPA pulls Japan up as it pushes the Philippines down.”

The MJJC points to some of the following facts under JPEPA:

• Bananas, a top Philippine export to Japan, will only gain tariff-free entry in 10 years’ time.
  
  
• Japan’s refusal to lift its quotas on Philippine pineapples, another top export.
  
  
• Japan denied market access to Philippine exports of sardines, mackerel, anchovies and seaweeds, which are commonly harvested by municipal fishers.
  
  
• Japan’s ungainly exemption of 238 tariff lines, while the Philippines only has 6.

“Dumping of Japanese toxic wastes under JPEPA is a legitimate Filipino concern,” said Atty. Richard Gutierrez of the Basel Action Network. “We’ve experienced this first hand in 1999, when we found Japanese toxic wastes in our shores. Filipinos will be treated as second-class only if we allow them to. We urge the Philippine Senate to fight for Filipino dignity and reject the JPEPA along with its toxic provisions.”

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For more information please visit: http://junkjpepa.blogspot.com/

Contact:

Merci Ferrer, HealthCare Without Harm in Manila, Tel. No. +63 920 905 6113, e-mail: merci@hcwh.org.

Josua Mata, Alliance for Progressive Labor in Manila, Tel. No. +63 917 794 2431, e-mail: josua@apl.org.ph

Richard Gutierrez, Basel Action Network, Asia Pacific in Manila at: Tel: +63 917 5067724 e-mail: rgutierrez@ban.org.