The Problems Of Japan’s Minamata Disease In The Field Of Environment Sociology

Environmental problem is one of the major global problems facing human today.The contradiction between economic development and environmental protection inChina is unusually prominent; the pressure and task of environmental management andimprovement are very heavy. Japan’s economic development and environmentalprotection go in front of China, so we can learn from their experiences and lessons.Post-war Japan created a world economic miracle, but because environmental protectionis out of place, all kinds of public nuisance diseases represented by Minamata diseasewere once very serious, which not only seriously jeopardized the health and familywell-being of local people, but also made Japanese governments and businesses pay avery high price."Minamata disease" evolving from the “Minamata incident "hasbecome the most typical case of public nuisance diseases in the world. The typicalcase in which the environmental problems brought the social problems and thefollowing all kinds of relationships, elements and problems deepen our understandingabout environmental sociology.Standing in the position of “practice” of sociology and using the theories andmethods of sociology, the paper views Japan Minamata disease as a typical “friction“and” conflict” case between human and environment interacting process from theenvironment and social interaction perspective and make examination combined withChina’s mercury pollution. This paper examines the backgrounds, processes andinfluences on local economy and society of Japan Minamata disease in Kumamoto andNiigata, the processes of victims’ appealing and fighting, the responsibilities of relatedparties, the local civilians’ reflections and their effort of reconstructing theenvironment-friendly homes. Through the examinations, the author tries to restore thetrue processes of Minamata disease and reveal deeply the significances of “socialMinamata disease” which the evolution of Minamata disease displayed; points out theresponsibilities of different interest groups and explores the “legacies” that Minamatadisease leaved to Japan form the aspects of law, system and enlightment. In addition,this paper also introduces and analyzes China’s situation of mercury pollution and case;finds out the main problems that exists at present and puts forward the countermeasures.As a try that examines, analyzes and studies Japan Minamata disease from theperspective of environmental sociology, it is hoped that the article can produce a littlewarning roles in our country’s environmental protection.