Comments on: Tokyo air pollution victims lawsuit — case draws to a close.

By: Matt Dioguardi

Matt Dioguardi — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:40:06 +0000

Thank you for further commenting. I have changed the title of this entry.

I still have many thoughts in regards to this case, but unfortunately can’t comment right now.

Thank you again for commenting.

By: Clean Air

Clean Air — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:55:59 +0000

Thanks for the response, I appreciate that you have put time & effort into researching this important case. My reply early this morning was indeed a knee-jerk reaction, as I did not understand the question mark in the title. As I re-read your entire entry, I feel I should not have been so quick to click the comment button.

I think this case has a lot of merit, as car companies are closely linked to the government here. It makes sense that they take on a part of the responsibility, as they have never had to pay much taxes or in other ways had to share the burden directly of building hospitals or health care centers (like in South Korea, for examples, where there are Samsung-run clinics and so on). That asthma and other respiraritory health problems are a direct result of car exhaust is well established.

So, I should say thanks for posting this, hope it can make a difference. What I felt uneasy about was your choice of quote - for the victims, this is not the “end”. Sadly, but that is just not the right quote.

By: Matt Dioguardi

Matt Dioguardi — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:13:29 +0000

Today’s title for this entry was, “All’s well that ends well?”

Did you note the question mark? You should infer either sarcasm or skepticism.

Moreover, you fault me for insensitivity. Let me ask you this, can you show me another English blog that has devoted as much space to this topic as I have? Especially an English blog which is primarily dealing with Japan as a whole?

Instead of criticizing *me* as a person, why don’t you comment on the case itself. Do you sincerely believe that that the car companies are liable for the asthma?

I honestly don’t see this. I’m less sure with the case against the government.

Why not comment in a useful way that will inform people about what’s correct in this case?

By: Clean air

Clean air — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:43:43 +0000

All is well? Perhaps a less cynical title would be preferable. The victims may get some (some) money but they still have enormous health problems. You obviously do not have any idea what asthma feels like.