An environment is a complex of surrounding circumstances, conditions, or influences in which a thing is situated or is developed, or in which a person or organism lives, modifying and determining its life or character.

• In biology, ecology, and environmental science, an environment is the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that surround and act upon an organism or ecosystem.

• The natural environment is such an environment that is relatively unaffected by human activity.
  • environmentalism is a concern with the preservation of the natural environment, especially from human pollution, and the ethics and politics associated with this.

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The Japan Times: News & Business

A secret kind of control
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:10:00 -0500
The Defense Ministry on Oct. 2 dismissed a 50-year-old colonel of the Air Self-Defense Force for allegedly passing a "defense secret" to a Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reporter more than three years ago. The information was about a Chinese submarine that had surfaced in the South China Sea and was adrift. The investigative unit of the Self-Defense Forces sent allegations against the officer to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office some six months ago, but the office has not yet taken any action. It is extraordinary that the investigative unit, which is directly under the defense minister's control, made efforts to pinpoint a news source who provided the recipient with the information... Read the full story
Combating the piracy plague
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:11:00 -0500
SINGAPORE — The confrontation between foreign warships and well-armed pirates off the coast of lawless Somalia is a dramatic reminder to Asia of the importance of safeguarding busy channels used by international shipping. This is particularly the case for the straits of Malacca and Singapore. This is the shortest sea route between the energy-rich Persian Gulf and voracious energy consumers in Northeast Asia, especially Japan, China and South Korea, which depend heavily on oil imported from the Middle East. Yet, the deteriorating situation off the Horn of Africa and potential threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf contrast starkly with the improved security in previously pirate-prone... Read the full story
Credit bureau to get student-loan delinquent list
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:12:00 -0500
A student loan provider under the wing of the education ministry plans to report delinquent borrowers to a bureau that logs consumer credit histories, a move that may make it difficult for them to access bank loans or use credit cards, sources said Friday. To stem the growing number of overdue payments, the Japan Student Services Organization plans by year's end to join the bureau, which counts around 1,400 banks and other financial institutions among its members, according to the sources. Read the full story
Adequate capital base vital to stability: BOJ chief
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:13:00 -0500
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said Thursday it is vital for financial institutions to keep adequate capital bases for their smooth financial intermediation, alluding to the need for the U.S. to use public money to recapitalize its ailing financial bodies. "Smooth financial intermediation is indispensable for economic growth. If the self-owned capital of financial bodies is insufficient, those entities will not be able to take risks," Shirakawa told reporters in Washington. Read the full story
Nuke plant garbage room smokes up
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:14:00 -0500
MITO, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Smoke filled a solid waste disposal facility Friday morning at a nuclear power station in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, but no radioactive leakage, injuries or environmental damage have been reported, according to the operator and local government officials. The electric power generation operations of the nuclear reactor at the Tokai No. 2 Power Station are continuing despite the incident, which occurred around 6:35 a.m., operator Japan Atomic Power Co. said. Read the full story
BOJ injects record ¥4.5 trillion
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 -0500
The Bank of Japan injected ¥4.5 trillion into the Tokyo money market Friday, the biggest-ever amount in a single-day operation. The injection of liquidity marked the 18th straight business day of emergency operations by the BOJ in an effort to facilitate interbank borrowing amid financial market turmoil. Read the full story

Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Top in Category › China Airlines takes MOS burgers to the skies
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:54:00 +0100
In order to provide more meal choices to passengers, China Airlines added another tasty treat to its in-flight menus this month, when MOS Rice Burgers…
Entertainment › Maki Horikita looking for boyfriend as she celebrates 20th birthday
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:05:00 +0100
Popular actress Maki Horikita this week was given a “20th Birthday Memorial and Appreciation Party” at a hotel in Tokyo. About 250 media people were…
Business › Daiei net profit plunges 92.7% in March-August
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:44:00 +0100
Daiei Inc said Friday its consolidated net profit shrank 92.7% in its fiscal first half as the partial sale of a credit card arm weighed…
Business › H2O Retailing, Takashimaya to partner
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:43:00 +0100
Two department store operators, H2O Retailing Corp and Takashimaya Co, said Friday they have decided to forge a business and capital alliance with an eye…
Sports › F-1 teams want races back in North America
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:10:00 +0100
Angered by the decision to drop the Canada Grand Prix from the Formula One calendar, teams said Friday that they wanted not one but up…
Politics › Antiterror refueling debate starts, lower house passage eyed Oct 21
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:09:00 +0100
A House of Representatives committee started deliberations Friday on a bill for Japan to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean next year to…

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