Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai's plans for growth in the Tohoku region of Japan, in the Oct. 13 article "A chance to do more than rebuild Tohoku," seem all very positive in theory but it would be regrettable if locally-based fishing cooperatives lost their powers to large international corporations.
Anyway, isn't all a bit academic when we know that the fisheries have been severely depleted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's radiation leaks?
Furthermore, the idea of allowing large chemical factories inter alia to become established there gives cause for concern. What if another large earthquake occurs and chemical spills get added to the insults the region has already had to suffer?
Wouldn't it be better to start with small, locally-based enterprises being nursed back to good health rather than going for bust with growth and money as the main drivers? Isn't that the reason the global economy is in such a bad state?
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.