David Howell - The Japan Times

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David Howell

For David Howell's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

COMMENTARY

Nov 26, 2007

U.K. liberties versus security

LONDON — The director general of the British Security Services (MI5) has been telling the world that there are at least 2,000 people inside Britain who are involved in terrorism-related activities, and there may be many more. Or to put it crudely, there are at least 2,000 individuals bent on killing...

COMMENTARY

Nov 3, 2007

End of the United Kingdom?

LONDON — Is Scotland on the way to separating from England, turning the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland into something different, maybe a federal kingdom?

COMMENTARY

Oct 26, 2007

Limits of EU centralization

LONDON — In Lisbon, yet another European Union Treaty has been signed, this one purporting to replace all previous treaties and to give Europe the pattern of governance it needs to meet the future.

COMMENTARY

Oct 9, 2007

The vanity in 'green' virtues

LONDON — When it comes to energy efficiency and a greener future, Japan has got itself very well-organized these days — some would even say over-organized.

COMMENTARY

Sep 27, 2007

Crunch: a question of trust

LONDON — Financial markets all round the world, from New York to London to Tokyo, have been rattled by the recent squeeze on credit and lending, which originated in the United States. All kinds of lessons have been drawn from the experience, many of which boil down to the simple adage that dubious...

COMMENTARY

Sep 13, 2007

Europe's quarreling crew

LONDON — The European Union is again entering stormy seas. Like a ship with a mutinous crew it is drifting dangerously while above and below decks arguments rage about how Europe should be run. The EU has weathered past crises and often emerged stronger, but this time the rocks ahead are very large,...

COMMENTARY

Aug 30, 2007

Happiness can't be legislated

LONDON — The question is topical because economists and other experts are increasingly doubting whether existing policies, such as steps to increase economic growth, really add to people's welfare and contentment.

COMMENTARY

Jun 27, 2007

Battle for the European Union's identity

LONDON -- The latest battle of Brussels is over and news of the outcome is circulating through the capitals of the European Union. But unlike the ferocious battles of past centuries on European soil, this appears to be an engagement that everyone has won.

COMMENTARY

May 26, 2007

Gordon Brown too arrogant?

LONDON — The new tenant of Number 10 Downing Street is now all set to move in. With remarkable ease the new British prime minister, Gordon Brown, replaces the old one, Tony Blair, and life goes on in Britain as before.

COMMENTARY

May 14, 2007

Cherry-picking an identity

LONDON — Political leaders nowadays are fond of talking about national identity and culture, but do we know what they mean by either identity or culture, and do they know themselves what they mean?

COMMENTARY

Apr 27, 2007

America the not so beautiful

COMMENTARY

Apr 5, 2007

Giving soft power some teeth

LONDON -- "Speak softly and carry a big stick" -- that was the advice of ebullient U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the early part of the 20th century. It may still have some relevance today.

COMMENTARY

Mar 21, 2007

Crusading to cut carbon emissions

LONDON -- The obvious route is not always the best one. Throughout Europe the governments and political parties, as well as the central European Union Commission in Brussels, are all vying with each other to prove who is the greenest. The simplest way of doing this is to produce ever more ambitious plans...

COMMENTARY

Mar 8, 2007

Mideast's new tower of Babel

LONDON -- The turnaround in U.S. policy on Iraq is truly breathtaking. From firmly refusing to talk to Iraq's awkward neighbors, namely Iran and Syria, the Bush administration has suddenly changed its tack. It seems that talking to them -- without of course necessarily agreeing with them -- is now acceptable,...

COMMENTARY

Feb 23, 2007

Airports foretell the future

LONDON -- It is at airports that one can tell that most of East Asia is merging into one gigantic business and market entity, a crisscrossed latticework flow of people, goods, ideas, lifestyles, relationships -- of such size, speed and intensity that it is beyond the power of any governments to check...

COMMENTARY

Feb 8, 2007

Tony Blair's inglorious end

LONDON -- It is becoming impossible not to feel sorry for Tony Blair, Britain's departing prime minister.

COMMENTARY

Feb 3, 2007

Misplaced effort to cut carbon

LONDON -- Huge gales have been sweeping Britain, while temperatures have soared, leaving spring plants sprouting long before they should and wildlife bewildered. Its all part of global warming -- or so many people assert. Whether they are right will be impossible to judge for many years to come. Maybe...

COMMENTARY

Jan 11, 2007

Britain's nuclear dilemma

LONDON -- The issue of an independent nuclear deterrent has now once again become a prime topic of debate in Britain.

COMMENTARY

Dec 28, 2006

Turkey's gaze is shifting East

LONDON -- The ambiguous attitude of Western European countries toward Turkish entry into full membership of the European Union has produced a flood of comments, as well as a good deal of anger and confusion in Turkey.

COMMENTARY

Dec 14, 2006

Is U.S. set to lose Britain?

LONDON -- U.S. President George W. Bush must have drawn some comfort from having British Prime Minister Tony Blair stand beside him at the White House in Washington the other day. At least there was one friend left who was prepared to stick by him as the Iraq situation worsened.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.

How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan

By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

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