Last week the good people at Japan Today were kind enough to publish a profile piece I wrote on the Equal Marriage Alliance of Japan (EMA Japan for short). Founded in February of this year, EMA Japan is the only NPO advocating solely for legal same-sex marriages in Japan. Unfortunately, same-sex marriage is still illegal in Japan, so EMA are running a petition that aims to put … [Read more...]
REBELDOM 31st EDITION 〜尊芯塾 × DAM (from Palestine) @ Club Metro
This event at Club Metro on Thursday October 9th features the award-winning Slingshot Hip Hop film, a short discussion about current conditions in Gaza & the West Bank, and a rocking live performance by DAM, Palestine's first and foremost hiphop group. Date: Thursday October 9th 2014 Part 1 19:00: Doors Open 19:30 Movie: Slingshot Hip Hop 21:00 -21:30: … [Read more...]
Ant-Nuclear Protest Demo & March in Kyoto; Saturday March 8th
"No one can guarantee the safety of nuclear power stations in an earthquake-prone country. They are unnecessary and have proved to be a disaster. Demonstrate this Saturday in Kyoto against the prospect of nuclear restart? The march begins around 2:45 from Maruyama Park." - Stephen Gill Date: Saturday 8th March 2014 Place: Maruyama Park Schedule: From 12:00 pm - "Free … [Read more...]
Anti-Nuclear Rally, Maruyama Park, Kyoto – Saturday March 9th 2013
The only Japanese nuclear power station to have been restarted since the nuclear disaster of March 2011 is the one at Oi in Fukui, just 60km from Kyoto and only 30km from our drinking water supply, Lake Biwa. (Stephen Gill) There will be a big anti-nuclear rally at Maruyama Park this Saturday (March 9th). As usual with these events it looks very much like it will have a … [Read more...]
AN URGENT APPEAL TO SUPPORT GREEN ACTION JAPAN!
Please donate to Green Action here: http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/entop2/ From Beyond Nuclear: During the critical first days and months of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe in Japan, many of us turned immediately to Aileen Mioko Smith (pictured far left with Sachiko Sato and Kaori Izumi) and her organization, Green Action-Japan. Through her depth of … [Read more...]
This Friday ~ July 20th ~ Join the Growing Protests Against the Nuclear Restarts
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join in Monday's anti-nuclear march here in Kyoto, but with all the musicians and drummers and the likes of Christopher Fryman blowing on his trumpet it looks like it must have been fun! Here's the good word from two friends who were there. Stephen Gill writes, We need more younger people to come and walk against the restart of nuclear power in … [Read more...]
Ohi Nuclear Power Plant ~ Why We Should Be Worried…
Estimated number of people living within 30 kilometers of Fukui’s 14 reactors: 1,249,981 (Fukui Shimbun, Oct. 21, 2011) Distance from the Ohi reactors to central Kyoto city: 60 kilometers The following message is from Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action Japan. Click on the pictures to view a larger image. The red lines on this JPEG photo depict the shattered … [Read more...]
News Roundup: PM Noda Defies Massive Public Opposition to OK Restart of Ohi Reactors / Expert Warns of Active Faults Under Ohi Nuclear Plant
11,000 protestors gathered outside Prime Minister Noda's official residence last night to oppose the restart of the Ohi nuclear reactors in Fukui prefecture. However, none of this was broadcast on Japanese TV. [Source: Fukushima Voice] And today in direct defiance of massive domestic opposition, Prime Minister Noda gave the go-ahead for the reactors to be … [Read more...]
A Call for International Protest & Action: “Don’t restart the Ohi reactors”
Today I am posting an urgent message to the world from a coalition of six groups opposed to the restart of nuclear reactors in Japan. Thank you to Stephen Gill for bringing this to my attention: [UPDATE: Local actions in Tokyo and Osaka are also posted below*] Dear Friends, The Japanese Prime Minister Noda has announced his decision to order the restart two nuclear … [Read more...]
Let’s Dance!
Today our new guest contributor, Sara Ai Coe, introduces a petition to save Japan's dance culture! James Brown once said ‘The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.’ Now there were times when James Brown didn’t make much sense, but with this one, he really hit the spot. A form of release, a form of expression, dancing is a way we shake our daily nags … [Read more...]
“Bye Bye Genpatsu” Anti-Nuke Event & Demo in Kyoto, March 10th
Here's another event I will miss while I'm away oop north. Thanks to Stephen Gill for sending this to me. Bye Bye Genpatsu @ Maruyama Park, Kyoto, Monday March 10th 2012 13:00 Rally at Maruyama Park's outdoor stage (near the famous weeping cherry tree) 13：15 "Attractions" 14：00 Meeting begins 14：45～ Demo begins. The demonstrators will walk from Maruyama … [Read more...]
Translators Needed for Avaaz Website
Kimberlye Kowalczyk says, Avaaz.org, an international online campaigning organization, is looking for 4 or 5 English to Japanese translators for 2 to 3 weeks of work to translate the Avaaz website (www.avaaz.org) into Japanese in November/December. You will be working on a team overseen by an Avaaz staff member. No previous translation work is necessary (although preferred) … [Read more...]
Today’s Anti-Nuclear Protest in Kyoto
Just a few pictures from today's anti-nuclear protest and march in Kyoto. 1,600 people turned out on a blazing hot day to voice their opposition to the continued use of nuclear power and marched, danced, sashayed their way from Maruyama Park to City Hall. I'm glad I took part, but though this was a good turn out for Kyoto, I still wish more people would join in and make some … [Read more...]
Bye-Bye Nuclear Power 9/11
On September 11th, six months from the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, there will be a demonstration in Kyoto calling for the abandonment of nuclear power. The event will begin at 2pm in Maruyama Park. My friend Kawagoe Yoshio recently gave me a flyer for the demo which he had designed himself. I've given a rough translation of the flyer's contents below minus the list … [Read more...]
