Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2003

Awards Ceremony to Present the Prime Minister's Commendations on Contributors to Public Safety Tuesday, July 1, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosted a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to commend individuals and organizations who have significantly contributed to public safety for FY 2003. The contributors to public safety are presented to recognize the great achievements for preventing the outbreak of disasters that could threaten the daily life such as industrial disasters, traffic accidents and fires. The awards ceremony is held every year on July 1st, designated as National Public Safety Day. At this year's awards ceremony, 25 individuals and organizations were presented the commendations on their achievements in such areas as traffic safety, school safety, industrial safety, fire prevention, safety in mountains, nuclear safety and bomb disposal of explosive materials. In his address at the ceremony, Prime Minister Koizumi called for cooperation in traffic safety and other areas, saying, "Each year nearly 40,000 lives are lost in traffic accidents, fires and other unexpected accidents. We should be deeply concerned with the fact that more lives are lost here in our peaceful nation than other nations where wars are raging."