To help transition Japan to a peace promoting post-carbon country while enjoying every step of the process. 僕のビジョンは、祖国日本で、平和文化を育みポストカーボン（Post-Carbon) 社会を促進してゆく事です。 化石燃料や原子力に頼らず、他国の資源を取らない、自給自足な国へのトランジションを実現させてゆきたいです。
Did you know that Japan is the leading country in denuclearization!
Even more than Germany.
Currently, only 3 out of 54 nukes are operating.
In the next few months Japan will be nuclear energy free for a moment.
The pressure is on the "nuclear village" to restart.
It is truly a pivotal moment in Japan and the world.
Meanwhile the people of Fukushima continue to be neglected.
On Friday, January 27th, the tent occupation in front of METI in Tokyo faces eviction by order of minister Yukio Edano. The eviction order follows a controversial public meeting where government officials met with nuclear industry personnel to discuss nuclear power plant restarts, while attempting to exclude the public from the meeting. Concerned citizens who registered to attend the meeting were forcefully removed and the meeting took place behind closed doors.
The tent occupation in front of METI has lasted over 4 months through the support of women from Fukushima, and many others around Japan who oppose nuclear power. People from all over the world have visited the occupation to show their support and learn about issues surrounding nuclear power post March 11th, including the severe conditions that people in Fukushima continue to face. Currently, women of Fukushima are in the process of a "10 month 10 day" 24-hour sit-in to protest against nuclear power and the government's mismanagement of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster that continues today.
An emergency press conference will be held on January 27th at 1pm at the Japan Federation of Bar Associations’ Building, Room 1006.
(Access: http://www.nichibenren.or.jp/jfba_info/organization/map.html)
This will be followed by a demonstration at the tent occupation from 4pm to 6pm, the hours of the eviction deadline.
Please email, telephone fax minister Edano and METI ( the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) to retract the eviction order.
METI (TEL) +81-3-3501-1609
METI Public Relations (FAX) +81-3-3501-6942
METI Minister Yukio Edano
(TEL) +81-3-3508-7448
(FAX) +81-3-3591-2249
(E-mail) omiya@edano.gr.jp
AVAAZ version:
Dear friends across Japan,
Tomorrow, Minister Edano will evict the brave Fukushima mothers, bowing to nuclear industry pressure to silence their noble cause -- and putting their children's lives at continued risk. But our outcry can compel Minister Edano to stop this shocking action -- send a message now:
It's outrageous! - the Minister of the Economy has just ordered the eviction of the Fukushima mothers peacefully camping outside METI to demand a radiation-free future for their children. We have just 24 hours before police move in to tear down the tents, it's up to us to stop them now!
Minister Edano is bowing to bullying from the powerful nuclear industry -- they are furious that the brave mothers’ hard efforts are working. Their struggle has captured public attention and across the country people are speaking out to end unsafe nuclear energy. But their fight for their children's lives will be crushed unless we now all support these courageous women and stop their eviction.
We have only one day! Let’s flood Mr Edano's inbox with thousands of messages now, calling on him to revoke his eviction order. It's time that our politicians put people and safety before profit.Click to stand with the Fukushima mothers now and help end the nuclear industry’s dirty tactics-- then forward this to everyone:
Something amazing is happening in Japan. Months after the Fukushima disaster, the public is waking up to the fact that nuclear energy is neither safe nor clean. The efforts of these few hundred activists have persistently broken into the media, and created a very real public concern about dangerous radiation levels and what they mean for the future of Japan.
The pressure is working. Right now, there are only 4 nuclear power plants operating in Japan, and at the end of April that number could drop to zero. The powerful nuclear industry is scared, and is now fighting back with all its might -- it knows that the longer the Fukushima mothers camp outside of METI, the more public support they gather. That's whyit's using all of its might to push government allies to end the protest, and return things back to a nuclear friendly normality. But we can’t go back.
On Friday, Tokyo police and METI officials will move in to forcefully remove the protesters.They will threaten them with prison and fines, but they are there peacefully, and legally. Let's come together now as Japanese citizens and urge the government to listen to people, not the clinking of sake cups at nuclear-sponsored dinners. Our action today can protect the democratic right of people to protest and also strengthen the resolve of the brave mothers and activists who are fighting for a safe tomorrow for all of us. There's only 24 hours left, send your message now, and forward this to everyone you know:
The window of opportunity to build a green and clean energy future in Japan is wide open right now. If we stand together, we can keep it open, and it starts now, by protecting the right of the Fukushima mothers to peacefully protest.
With hope,
Iain, Kya, Ben, Alice and the rest of the Avaaz team
This is an emergency update about the eviction order given to the METI tent occupation (aka Occupy Kasumigaseki). There will be a press conference and demonstration on January 27th, the day of eviction. Please see the official website for details.
I've been meaning to write an update about the situation in Japan, and about my trip to Fukushima.
There is just so much going on, and its not an easy subject to write about.
I am in an interesting position where I have access to experts, diverse groups of Japanese activists, some foreign activists, and information in Japanse and English (paints a different picture than what we have here in Japan). Unfortunately, I'm not the best person to digest it all, especially policy related issues. If only I was smarter with more time.... but I guess my role is to connect people and ideas.
My conclusion so far is that the post-Fukushima reality is particularly hard to perceive clearly.
Radiation is not visible, the general public literacy about energy and radiation is extremely low, and corruption in the industry and government seems rampant. Additionally, neither mainstream media nor P2P social media have reliable quality control, so its hard to get a solid footing in the information chaos. Cultural factors also make things quite challenging, as Japanese have a tendency to hide impurities as a duty to society.
One thing I am sure about, we are still in a state of emergency despite the surreal calm. Even in Fukushima city, where we measured 0.6 micro sieverts around the bullet train depot, everything seemed normal. Unless you had a geiger, you wouldn't know that it is not a safe place to be.
Currently, children and families are still unable to evacuate from high-radiation zones, government and industry are pushing for nuclear power plant restarts, and many Japanese and non-Japanese still seem to be in the dark about what is really going on.
Here is something I wrote up a little while ago
1. Brief update on the situation in Japan
Currently, we are still facing a near media blackout on the actual conditions of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and the extent of current radiation contamination in Japan. The media and government have been taking steps to insure that the situation appears under control, and are preparing the way for nuclear power plant restarts. Yet, citizen groups have found radiation contamination in food, house dust, and children's urine samples all the way to Tokyo. No mention is made of the conditions of day laborers who are cleaning the power plants for little money and benefits. Many Fukushima residents are struggling to evacuate as the government will only financially support evacuees from geographical area it deems necessary, and parents must make extremely difficult decisions about subjecting their children to radiation or leaving everything they have and risk financial hardship. Meanwhile, the industry and government are colluding to bailout TEPCO, while gross negligence and corruption in the industry are surfacing. These are some of the key issues affecting Japan.
On the other hand, there has been a surge of activities, such as organized groups of mothers who are fighting for the safety of their children and exposing industry and government lies concerning radiation contamination. There has been an occupation on the property of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) since September 11th, and the occupiers are determined to stay until all nuclear power plants are shutdown. Demonstrations have become common place in a country where such actions have been a rare occurrence. Most nuclear power plants are currently temporarily shutdown for inspections and this is a major opportunity to have a nuclear free Japan.
The global stakes are high as Japan is the best candidate to follow Germany's lead and demonstrate to the world that the people will not tolerate the enormous costs and risks associated with nuclear power. On the other hand, if Japan reemerges as a country that continues to embrace nuclear power despite this tragedy, then that will create a new platform for the global nuclear industries to push their agenda. We are in need of a lot of international support.
2. GREEN ACTION
Green Action is a small organization that has been actively engaging with the various issues associated with nuclear power, from pressuring the government to supporting children stranded in radioactively contaminated regions. We are also a bridge between the West and Japan.
We are in need of more international collaborators in our mission to end nuclear power in Japan and help current and future victims (children). Financial support is greatly needed for increasing staff, conducting training, expanding campaigns, developing outreach media, and helping Fukushima victims neglected by the government. Global strategizing is an area we would like to further develop. International pressure is critical for us, especially as the national media continues their blackout and misinformation campaign.
3. Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World
In collaboration with several organizations we are co-hosting the
Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World on January 14th and 15th, 2012. Below is the press release:
"On January 14-15 (Sat-Sun), the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World will be held at Pacifico Yokohama.
This two-day conference is being organized by a coalition of 6 Japan- based organizations (Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, FoE Japan, Green Action, Greenpeace Japan, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, and Peace Boat), and has been endorsed by many groups around the world including the Nobel Women's Initiative.
Local and international experts as well as ordinary citizens will gather to develop actions to realize a world not dependent upon nuclear power. 10,000 participants, including over 100 from outside Japan, will join the dozens of symposiums, workshops, exhibitions and screenings over two days."
ACTIVISM
So far, I've mainly been engaged with Occupy Kasumigaseki (officially "Keisansho tento hiroba"), the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World organizers, e-shift (an association of various group working to abolish nukes and promote green energy policies), and Green party (still in the making) youth team. Yesterday I met up with an art/designer collective, Sayonara Atom, who have been making really creative products, zines, and designs to help make this movement more fashionable and accessible to the mainstream. One other group I'm hoping to connect more with is Shiroto no Ran, who have been central to the large protests and sound demonstrations. There is a video "Amateur Riot" a few posts back that covers their activities.
During my meeting with them, they introduced me to this very powerful mini-film.
The film is set in post-nuclear Tokyo in a dimension not so distant from ours.
Young salary-man’s morning commute takes a surreal turn....
While doing further research I came across Green Peace's website. They had a groovy timeline so I decided to embed it in this post. Its a bit too much info for me right now, but that seems to be a theme these days.
We need help.
All the help we can get.
This is an international catastrophe and crime scene.
Please put pressure on the "nuclear energy village," an old corrupt network of Japanese industries, government, media, and academics.
The elite, who commit crimes beyond comprehension, are not above the law.
This is a global citizens uprising for sanity and life!
The internet is perhaps the most valuable tool for grassroots democratic movements and cultural innovation today. It is truly a power to the people technology, a major threat to the 1%. In the West we often hear reports on internet censorship in places like China, but it is also something we face and will continue to be challenged in our own countries. Don't take it for granted, democracy means we all take responsibility to protect what we believe in and stop dangerous attempts to consolidate power. There will most likely be an endless attempt to control the internet.
Remember to have hard copies of things you might miss.
And learn how to use a ham radio.
I learned about that at the PNW permaculture convergence 2010.
Opponents include Google, Yahoo!, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, AOL,LinkedIn, eBay, Mozilla Corporation, Roblox, Reddit, Wikipedia and theWikimedia Foundation, in addition to human rights organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the ACLU, and Human Rights Watch.
Its been a while since I mentioned the Bullocks, the roots of this blog.
I started this blog at the beginning of my internship at the Bullocks Permaculture Homestead back in April 2010. It was the best living I have ever experienced. Exceptional landscape, food, education, and most importantly, community. Paradise.
Living in the forest, communal meals, naked gardening, sharing circles, non-stop laughing, and freedom. Just an extremely high quality of living. The Bullocks are very special people.
I looked through all my posts today, 230 of them, and labeled all the posts specific to life at the Bullocks. I cordially invite you to take a look at them, even just this pictures. You might be enticed to venture to the magical permaculture homestead. I know I want to go back...but first its time to take care of family, deal with the Fukushima disaster, and bring democracy to Japan!
at least until I get depressed:)
*I still have several hundred pictures from last year to organise that I'll post up slowly.
Also, I recorded the PDC from last year, so if I can get help, maybe that will bloom into something people can access.
Hey everybody, so I'm finally in Fukushima. I have mixed feelings about it, but I think its important to experience the reality (its not really visually apparent like a war zone). I'm here with a delegation of foreign guests and media, first of its kind, as a pre-conference investigative tour. Hopefully this tour and the conference will have a solid impact on the direction Japan takes, and the rest of the power-hungry world.
Join us in what ways you can.
We can use all the ideas and actions we can get.
This needs to end here and now.
Here is a cool video I came across on the anti-nuclear movement in Japan (in English)
I never thought I'd become a blogger. Especially after going through a rapid process of simplifying my life because of activism-burnout that I experienced in 2006. My email box is still full of over 1000 unopened emails during my UC Santa Cruz organizing days. Its overwhelming to even think about looking through those.
But, what started out as an experiment to explore new technology and poke fun at my primitive self, has now become a regular practice in my daily life. It has been an amazing tool to organise my thoughts, stay connected with friends (since I don't facebook), distribute "valuable" information, and network with people. All without the stress of external deadlines, quality standards, and costs.
This blog started as a way to learn about blogging through posting pictures and my notes from life at the Bullocks Permaculture Homestead. One of my main goals has been to provide more info about permaculture in Japanese. But, I also wanted to spread the love to my non-Japanese readers, as I believe the knowledge and experience at the Bullocks is an invaluable resource for creating a sustainable world.
Now, the blog is a bit of a mess, but a good representation of my cluttery active mind.
I believe the main topics are:
Permaculture, natural farming and sustainable living
Activism
Mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism
Nukes
War and Peace
Systems sciences
Consumer culture and cultural change
Its all related.
Realizing that I still have a lot to learn about blogging, and that this blog was getting a little chaotic, I decided to start new blogs for new projects. Now I have a total of four blogs and I'm cautiously considering another. Here is the critical question, is the blog a tool that I benefit from, or is the tool now controlling my life?
I chose not to own a car, a cell phone (until I moved to Tokyo a couple months ago), a facebook account, etc. because they seemed to be controlling how people around me lived. People talked of how they couldn't imagine life without these tools. But, my life has been great without owning those things. And now that I have a cell phone, I can't quite say if my life is better or worse. It's convenient in some ways, and inconvenient in other ways. But I know I can live without it, and be happy.
I spend a lot of time blogging. And thinking about blogging.
For now, it seems like a good way to use my time and energy,
especially now that I live in the hyper-urban tragedy known as Tokyo.
But, I'm not sure how I would feel if the internet went down,
and if I could no longer access my blog, email, and all the virtual info that I depend on.
Losing access to a "free" internet could happen, and perhaps not too long from now.
This blog, like many others, started out with a thought that I would write a quick article and list my blogs, and here I am 40+ minutes later still typing. Believe it or not, some articles take several hours.
Da Otha Blogz
1. Tokyo Urban Permaculture
This is basically a website for my Tokyo regeneration project. It's primarily in Japanese, but I just added a English page, other pages, and pictures. Initially I was going to try a word.press website but it looked like a little more work than I was prepared to do.
2. Occupy Kasumigaseki Japan
I wanted to create a bilingual site to do outreach for the occupy kasumigaseki movement. It was also an opportunity to explore a new tool, tumblr. I was hoping to get more people involved but it hasn't happened yet. Like blogger, tumblr is really easy to use but quite a different format.
3. Eco Resources Library
I haven't mentioned this blog yet, but it exists. It's a personal data storage site. Sort of like bookmarks, but with more visual info. I just come across an overwhelming amount of cool info and I've been having a hard time keeping track. Some of these resources stay in my inbox and add to the 1700 unopened emails, some become another unapplealing bookmark, and others disappear back into the info abyss. So, I decided to create a virtual data base to organize them quickly and not have to worry about them anymore. That way other people can also benefit. Its a diverse mix of great websites and associated ideas and resources. Many come from the only blog I got tricked into following: http://makewealthhistory.org/ It's really well done, much better than anything I do.
