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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Green Action
Last Sunday I attended a Green Action meeting at Falafel Garden and met with their executive director Aileen Mioko Smith. Aileen has been campaigning against the nuclear power industry for two decades, but the disaster in Fukushima has created a seachange in popular attitudes towards nuclear power. An Asahi newspaper survey recently found that three quarters of Japanese people … [Read more...]
Kyoto Professor Negotated Secret nuclear trade-off deal for Okinawa!
Jen L. Teeter writes... According to the original agreement between Japan and the U.S., Okinawa would be reverted to Japan in 1972 without the presences of nuclear weapons. However, behind the scenes, a Kyoto Sangyo professor, Wakaizumi Kei convinced then Prime Minister Sato Eisaku that Okinawa would not be handed over to Japan unless Japan allowed U.S. nukes on Japanese … [Read more...]
Gaza Protest in Kyoto – Sunday 6th June
Just a quickie today. Sean says... There is a protest against Israel's attack on the Freedom Flotilla in Kyoto on 6th June from 6pm at Sanjo Bridge ガザ自由船団」に対するイスラエルの虐殺行為に抗議する緊急行動＠京都 6月6日（日）18：00～約1時間ほど場所：三条大橋上（京 阪「三条」駅下車すぐ） 呼びかけ：さぼて ん企画、つばめクラブ連絡先：090-9981-6608（さぼてん企画） In the news MV Rachel Corrie still heading for Gaza and Israel insisting it will be … [Read more...]
Demo in Kobe For Gaza
Sean sent me this image from this afternoon's demo in Kobe: He also sent me this information about boycotting Israeli goods, and companies that support Israel: BOYCOTT ISRAEL. Another good reason to stop going to Starbucks and visit some decent independant Kyoto cafes instead!! And if you are thinking that boycotts don't have any effect then please read this: Consumer … [Read more...]
