American actor and playwright Jeremy O. Harris was arrested in Japan last month for allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country. Meanwhile, South Australia's transport department faces scrutiny after an advertising regulator ruled that its claims about natural gas being "clean and green" were misleading.

Arrest of Jeremy O. Harris
Jeremy O. Harris, known for his Tony-nominated play "Slave Play," was detained on November 16 at Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan. Customs officials discovered 0.78 grams of MDMA, a synthetic drug, in his tote bag. Harris, 36, was arrested under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Local authorities have initiated formal charging proceedings, with Harris remaining in custody as of the latest reports. He had traveled to Okinawa for sightseeing, arriving from Britain with a layover in Taiwan. Japan's strict drug laws impose severe penalties for possession and smuggling, and the country has a history of high-profile drug arrests involving foreigners.

Misleading Advertising in South Australia
In a separate matter, the South Australian Department for Transport and Infrastructure has agreed to remove advertisements from its buses that falsely claimed "natural gas" was "clean and green." The ads, which have been in circulation since the early 2000s, were challenged by the not-for-profit organization Comms Declare, which argued that such descriptions misled the public about the environmental impact of compressed natural gas (CNG). The Ad Standards panel upheld this complaint, stating that CNG buses, while initially marketed as more environmentally friendly than diesel, do not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel buses. The panel noted that advancements in transport technology have introduced cleaner alternatives such as electric and hydrogen buses.

Environmental Impact of Natural Gas
Comms Declare's founder, Belinda Noble, emphasized that methane, the primary component of natural gas, contributes to climate change and pollution at all stages of its production and use. The organization pointed out that recent studies indicate similar greenhouse gas emissions from CNG and diesel buses. Following the ruling, the South Australian transport department has been directed to address the misleading messaging on its buses, which had previously claimed a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel.

Wrap-up
The arrest of Jeremy O. Harris highlights the strict enforcement of drug laws in Japan, while the ruling against South Australia's misleading gas advertisements underscores the growing scrutiny on environmental claims in advertising. Both cases reflect broader societal concerns regarding legality and environmental responsibility.

Sources
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team