Vision

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。

Thursday, May 15, 2014

2014.5.16 About Living Permaculture (+Current Activities in Tokyo)

updated 6.30.2014 (same as "*New*About" page)

ENGLISH is Below


こんにちは!
ようこそLiving Permacultureへ。
このブログはもともとバイリンガルで
パーマカルチャー生活を発信していたんだけど、
最近は訳すのが間に合わず
英語だけの場合が多くなってしまった。
日本語の文章を書くのが苦手で
全然間に合っていない。

そのかわり、日本でワークショップを
頻繁にやるほかたびたびTUPのブログ
(東京アーバンパーマカルチャー)
日本語の情報を発信したり、
TUPのメーリングリストでも発信している。
メーリングリストに入るには
下のメールを送ってね。
permacultivator(a)gmail.com

前の記事は日本語のが多かったので、
よかったらBullocks Permacultureの
古い記事を見てみたら面白いかも。
パーマカルチャー生活の素晴らしさが
感じられるはずだよ。

一緒に共生社会を創造して行こう。
こんなバーチャルな出会いに感謝。

愛を込めて
共生革命家



Living Permaculture began when I was a intern at the Bullocks Permaculture Homestead (BPH) in 2010. This was my first experience in blogging, and I wanted to both document and spread the fruits of my life as an intern. Check out the Bullocks Permaculture tab for more info. It became sort of a photo-journal. Slowly, I decided my mission was to spread the experience and learning to my people in Japan. After my second year at BPH in 2011 (post-Fukushima nuclear meltdown), I decided to move to Tokyo to be a full-time activist.

TOKYO URBAN PERMACULTURE
The nature of my articles changed to my social-political views and activism. I also started a new blog called Tokyo Urban Permaculture that is written in Japanese with frequent updates about workshops and projects that I am doing in Tokyo and beyond.

TOKYOURBANPERMACULTURE.blogspot.com

I love living off the land, gardening in my boxers or naked, eating fresh food all day, hanging out in nature with friends late into the night. But, I also love trying to change invisible structures (politics, economy, culture, legal systems) that are rapidly destroying our generous host (Earth). My view is that if we don't change cities, the centers of political and economic power, we won't have a chance of survival. Fukushima was the most vibrant organic farming area in Japan and was famous for high quality organic produce. The Fukushima nuclear meltdown wiped them out. Who wants to grow or eat radioactive organic produce? Once a hotspot for alternative farming, now a radioactive hotspot. The power plant was run and regulated by Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) and the national government, who both have their headquarters in Tokyo.

Wallstreet is the same thing. There are less and less places to hide in the world from these political-economic forces that promote climate change, environmental exploitation, and oppression of people all over the world. Some friends say we just need to leave the old system and create better systems while the old paradigm crumbles. Great idea, but then what happens to all those who cannot leave the system and continue to be oppressed? What if the old paradigm crumbles wiping all of us out (e.g. nuclear war, drastic climate change, etc)? It's an ongoing debate and its probably important that we all work on various solutions since we might not ever no the "right" answer.

NOW
So, here I am, doing my activist thing, living in the Matrix. I really enjoy social change work. It's a engaging creative process and a world of possibility. I'm here on earth to serve humanity. There is a powerful force that keeps me doing this work. I've been inspired by so many wonderful change makers, Vandana Shiva, Satish Kumar, Thich Naht Hanh, the Bullocks family, Yoshikazu Kawaguchi, S.N. Goenka, Kumi Naidoo, Joanna Macy, Lynne Twist, and thousands of youth who are driven by passion, hope, and a love for the world.

What could be more exciting than working with these people for the future of humanity?!!!! Yah mun! And it all starts with healing ourselves and learning that we all inter-are. Many of us are wounded healers, finding our way back to our power so we can serve.



HERE ARE some of MY CURRENT PROJECTS (as of May 2014)
I'm always looking for collaborators and supporters!!!
All of these are global movements, I like to be boarder-less.
Contact info below

1. Tokyo Urban Permaculture


The name of my Japanese blog and activities in Tokyo (and beyond). I do workshops on urban permaculture, compassionate communication (NVC), mindful living and meditation, and activism.  The workshops are almost entirely donation based, and my experiment is to see if I can not only survive, but thrive on people's gifts! Besides money, I sometimes I get a CD, fruits, natural farmed rice, help with my blog, etc. I want to live in a gift economy! So, I decided I might as well start. Its all an experiment so I'll keep you updated as things change, but I am confident that the earth and its wonderful inhabitants will support me on my mission to co-create a world of love for all beings.

Below is an English page with more description.

http://tokyourbanpermaculture.blogspot.jp/p/english.html

With over a dozen supporters, we're making Japan's first urban permaculture book. We want it to be visually appealing, easy to understand, practical.......and of course, revolutionary!

Another book was published recently with articles I wrote on the natural farming movement in Japan, chinampa agriculture (Central and South America), and profiles of permaculture farms/movements in Thailand, Orcas Island (WA), and Portland (OR).



See below for more info
http://livingpermaculture.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-sustainability-revolution.html


2. Global Power Shift and Power Shift Japan

"Global Power Shift is the starting point for a new phase in the international climate movement. First, hundreds of climate leaders from around the world gathered in Istanbul to share stories, learn skills, and sharpen strategies. These leaders have now returned to their home countries to spark a wave of convergences, campaigns, and mobilsations for climate action."



I started Power Shift Japan with the twin goals of youth empowerment and climate action. Our current campaign is to create 100% renewable energy powered universities. The university I attended, University of California Santa Cruz, accomplished this in 2006 through strategic student activism. Since Japan is embroiled in a nuclear disaster and climate inaction, I figure this is a fun non confrontational project!

Power Shift Japan (Japanese): http://powershiftjapan.jimdo.com


3. The Future Japan


This is another global climate action youth movement that I am trying to implant and grow in Japan. Its an environmental campaign that doesn't look like one. Mischievous and mysterious.

Here is the video we made (first draft.....we're still working on the music....and my eye makeup thing fell through a hole in my pocket so it took me a while to get it out. not used to acting yet:)



I like the EU version below a lot. So cool!



Homepage: www.thefuture.net 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisthefuturenet
More pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thefuture_net/with/13534071023/


4. Wake Up! Japan


Wake Up is an active global community of young mindfulness practitioners, aged 18-35, inspired by the teachings of Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh. We come together to practice mindfulness in order to take care of ourselves, nourish happiness and
contribute to building a healthier and a more compassionate society.

We want to help our world which is overloaded with intolerance, discrimination, craving, anger and despair. Seeing the environmental degradation caused by our society, we want to live in such a way that our planet Earth can survive for a long time. Practicing mindfulness, concentration and insight, enables us to cultivate tolerance, non-discrimination, understanding and compassion in ourselves and the world."
In Tokyo, we've done a few meditation flash mobs in Harajuku (Tokyo youth fashion center) and a few days of mindfulness at cafes and the park. Currently planning to start working with students at Meiji Gakuin University, and doing evening meditations at a groovy temple in Totsuka (Kanagawa).

Right now we're making a video of it, and hopefully I'll expand the locations of our med mobs. Try it out for yourself! While we wait for that one, here is from my London friends




My TEDx talk on "stopping" where I introduce our first meditation flash mob (same as the pictures above). Right as we were about to meditate police came (probably because I wrote guerrilla mediation in Tokyo everywhere), but instead of reacting, we just sat peacefully. And 30 minutes later, I opened my eyes and they had vanished. Much like many of my daily fears. By the way, this talk was a major stretch for me since I experience intense stage fright. But, I designed in mindful breathing time in my talk so I could really practice what I wanted to share.



After the talk, I was invited to do a guerrilla meditation at the reception of the TEDx event. At the peak of the party when the participants were loudest, merrily drinking and eating, rang the bell and sat with a few others. The mindful energy (and probably shock and curiosity) slowly spread and the entire room went silent. Professors, students, business people, all meditating, many for the first time. I really appreciated the opportunity to practice with an unassuming audience. Also, the afro is key!


There are a bunch of other things I'm doing but these are the main ones (or ones easy to explain). The Nonviolent Communication Leadership ProgramCoaching for Transformation, and applying those for youth and social change agent empowerment (and empowerment). Guerrilla seed planting and gardening are also some of my fun projects. Fukushima is always on my mind, and I'm trying to find a way to contribute positively while protecting my health. There is much suffering there and the meltdown continues.....

Last words
Mindful breathing is probably the most important practice I can share.
I really really highly recommend it.
Imagine if were could enjoy every breath.
Thich Naht Hanh says,
Breath you are alive!


EXTRA
1. My Super Mega Update has more info about these and other projects  (written March 31st, 2014)

Contact: permacultivator(a)gmail.com 

*sometimes I'm overwhelmed with emails so I might not respond immediately or at all. Especially if its inquiries about things I've already posted the answer of on the blog. If its urgent, or you really want to help me, send me a reminder:) Gracias.


Most importantly:

May all beings be happy

May all beings be safe

May all beings be healthy

May all beings live with ease

May I continue to be guided by love

Tokyo Sardine Train 東京の満員電車

I ride trains in Tokyo. Every once in a while, I accidentally end up on one of the sardine trains. Depending on my mood, I either laugh at the absurdity of this reality, or I get stressed out at the dehumanizing experience.

Once in the train you cannot move. If your hand accidently is stuck on someones butt, it stays there. If you move it, it'll be more suspicious. When the door opens, you are violently launched out by the intense current of human beings.

Can you imagine doing this every day?

Wow.








Just had to laugh watching this. My friend does part-time work as a rush hour "pusher-man"

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Lawrence Lessig: Taking back democracy (and capitalism related videos)

アメリカの民主主義を1%から取り返すためには。。。。

Its easy to give up hope with US and global politics, but I really appreciate those who try. They keep me going too. Sometimes I just want to ignore it and move into the forest, grow my food, keep it simple. But, there is a part of me that just get too excited about social change, that believes like many others, we can make change. I actually don't know much about Lawrence, but I'm keeping an eye on what he is doing. Who knows, it might work. Its easy to point out problems but to stand up for a solution, now that takes courage.

There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of Congressional candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens. That's the argument at the core of this blistering talk by legal scholar Lawrence Lessig. With rapid-fire visuals, he shows how the funding process weakens the Republic in the most fundamental way, and issues a rallying bipartisan cry that will resonate with many in the U.S. and beyond.





Kai,

We all know this democracy is in distress. It's time to send an urgent signal that we can fix it.

Today we're launching a SuperPAC to end all SuperPACs. It's called the Citizens SuperPAC, and it's only going to succeed if you support it. The video below will explain the plan, and you can also head over to MayOne.US to learn more.


Mayday PAC Launch from lessig on Vimeo.



America is Owned by Just a Few Men (NOT the Government)
Infographics on the distribution of wealth in America, highlighting both the inequality and the difference between our perception of inequality and the actual numbers. The reality is often not what we think it is.




And while I'm on the lazy youtube/vimeo video preaching, I'll throw one of my favorites in. I think its relevant but not sure how to organize all this info.




Ahhhh....now I'm stuck in the youtube vortex. What is capitalism.....hmmm......Wikipedia or youtube...Ooo this looks interesting.

John Green teaches you about capitalism and socialism in a way that is sure to please commenters from both sides of the debate. Learn how capitalism arose from the industrial revolution, and then gave rise to socialism. Learn about how we got from the British East India Company to iPhones and consumer culture in just a couple of hundred years. Stops along the way include the rise of industrial capitalism, mass production, disgruntled workers, Karl Marx, and the Socialist Beard. The socialist reactions to the ills of capitalism are covered as well, and John discusses some of the ideas of Karl Marx, and how they've been implemented or ignored in various socialist states. Plus, there are robots!




A couple of brain cells mobilized at the last minute for me to put this one up. Synapses in action. The Story of Change followed by The Story of Solutions, all part of the Story of Stuff series.




Ok, so what is your solution that you are living?

Want to share it with me, through a creative youtube video:) 

Monday, May 12, 2014

5/15 & 5/18 【Lynn Twist】Future of Leadership and Change the Dream Symposium



To all those who are interested in leadership and creating a better world in Japan. Lynn Twist will be coming for a Japan tour and I am helping out with two of her events. Its very exciting.


5/15 Future of Leadership: I will be speaking a bit and doing a active listening mini workshop. That will be followed by a panel of "visionary leaders" and world cafe.

5/18 Change the Dream Symposium: I am translating for Lynn and also going to share about Power Shift Japan, our project to empower youth to create 100% renewable energy universities.

See below for details
http://glcafe.asia/?page_id=393

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Weaving the Future, Connecting the Dots, Healing the Past

“The job of our time is to hospice the death of old unsustainable systems and structures and to midwife the birth of new sustainable systems and new ways of being.”
- The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist

We are excited to be part of a consortium of communities promoting Lynne Twist and her inspiring message of sufficiency during her Japan visit, May 9 to May 18, 2014. We are especially grateful for our partnership with DBA…Partners. This newly formed organization has galvanized our community and others to step up and move into action around things that matter to us and our future.

Immerse yourself in an engaging conversation celebrating innovative communities and the power of connections. Explore forms of leadership that emerge through interaction and relationships. Join a diverse group of young leaders, business professionals, social innovators and cultural creatives united by a shared vision of a sustainable future.

Connect in a discovery of our deepest values and resourcefulness through interactive dialogue, panel discussions and intuitive exercises. Communities and individuals will come together to discuss meaningful questions leading to committed action to address the challenges of our time.

This is a unique opportunity to co-develop new approaches to participatory leadership, at all levels: the individual, community, societal, and global.

Speakers and facilitators include: Lynne Twist, William H. Saito, Eisaku Tsumura and Kai Sawyer. To read more about the event visit here.

The Future of Leadership Forum is part of Weaving the Future, Connecting the Dots, Healing the Past. It brings together a consortium of communities promoting Lynne Twist’s inspiring message of sufficiency, resourcefulness and living a life committed to principles.

Lynne Twist is a global visionary, author, speaker, master fundraiser and human rights advocate. She has worked with Mother Theresa, co-created The Hunger Project with Buckminister Fuller and is a co-founder of the Pachimama Alliance. She is coming to Japan to animate the following events centered around co-creating a sustainable future.




TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
May 9, 10, 11 (Fri, Sat, Sun) - Golden Life Program, an Author’s Event
Promotion of Lynne’s award-winning best-seller book: The Soul of Money, in Japanese. Lynne is a featured author and speaker alongside Janet Atwood, Marci Schimof, Phil Towns and Ken Honda. To hear Lynne talk about her book click here.

Produced by Forest Publishing and the Saionji family with consultation by the Goi Peace Foundation.

Keynote Speaker: Green Kumamoto (awarded first Asian Fair Trade City)

Location: Tokyo Big Site, Odaiba


May 12 (Mon) - The Joy of Fundraising
This event is a dialogue with Ken Shibusawa-san, the Director of JFRA, followed by a group discussion about the paradigm shift related to money and fundraising.

Sponsored by the Japan Fundraising Association with support from The Hunger Project.

Lynne talks about her view on money, fundraising and what it means to be a “social prophet” in this inspiring talk with Deepak Chopra.

Location: JP Tower 4F Hall 3, Tokyo Station


May 13 (Tues) - Empowering Women
Afternoon: Round Table Discussion with First Lady Akie Abe. Not open to the public.

Evening: Sofia Century: Unleash Your Inner Power With Nanako Oba, Masaru Emoto, and Lynne Twist.

Location: Nippon Zaidan Hall, Toranomon


May 14 (Wed) - From Global Economy to Responsible Economy
An Invitation to join the Corporate Transformation Movement.

Possible Sponsors and Partners include Patagonia, the Bigger Game, World Shift and CTI.

Location: Shibaura House, Tamachi


May 15 (Thur) - Future of Leadership Forum

Co-create fresh approaches to leadership at an individual, community, societal and global level at this dynamic, interactive, experiential dialogue forum. We will explore the question, “What kind of leadership is required to hospice the death of the old system and midwife the new,?” in 3 modules:

MODULE 1: Where are we now? Community

MODULE 2: Where do we want to go? Connection

MODULE 3: Where do we want to go? Commitment

Produced by Global Leadership Partners Asia. Partners and collaborators include The Bigger Game, Drum Cafe, Miratuku, Social Venture Partners Tokyo, PowerShift, Impact Japan and Core Creations.

Location: JMA


May 16 (Fri) - Living a Committed Life — Change Your World and the world around you by Taking a Stand for your highest values

This public talk by Lynne is a call to all who are called to step up and live a more authentic life. Sponsored by JMA.

To listen to Lynne talk about living a committed life click here.

Location: Yamano Hall, Yoyogi


May 17 (Sat) - Soul of Money Workshop
Transform your relationship with money, life and personal power through a compelling experience of the principle of sufficiency. By looking closely at our own financial “story” and the ways our beliefs have limited and constricted us in our relationship with money, we are empowered to use money as an expression of our highest values and aspirations.

Produced by JMA.

Location: JMA Space, Shibuya


May 18 (Sun) - Change the Dream Symposium
Co-hosted by Lynne Twist–founder of the Pachamama Alliance, and Hide Enomoto of Seven Generation. 7 Generations runs the “Awaken the Dreamer, Changing the Dream,” symposium in Japan. The purpose of this symposium is to “bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet.”

This will be a rare, celebratory edition of the ATD Symposium.

This event is likely to sell out. You can read more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/lynne.twist2014

Location: KFC Hall, Ryogoku

“Together, we are a genius.” – Lynne Twist

_________________________________

Additional information on Lynne Twist:
Lynne Twist, global visionary, author, speaker, master fundraiser, human rights advocate and environmental activist is returning to Japan in May 2014 after more than 20 years absence.

Her book, “The Soul of Money,” speaks to the possibility of creating a new relationship with money, life and personal power based on the principle of sufficiency—freedom from the toxic myths of scarcity: ‘there’s not enough for everyone’, ‘more is better’, and ‘that’s just the way it is…there’s nothing we can do about it.’

Lynne raised over 200 million dollars as Chief Fundraising Officer with The Hunger Project, while traveling the world working to end starvation on the planet. Today her collaboration with the Nobel Women’s Initiative supports the movement to end violence against women everywhere. She is a compelling advocate for grass roots organizations and NPOs working towards environmental and social justice and creating a thriving, sustainable human presence on the planet in harmony with the natural world.

The Pachamama Alliance, co-founded by Lynne, her husband Bill Twist, and Jon Perkins, in partnership with the Achuar tribe in Ecuador, defends the rights of indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest, and also strives to awaken people all over the world to the state affairs on our planet, and the pressing need for everyone to become a change agent, to become part of the solution, through realizing how amazingly resource-full we all are in committed community.

Click here to learn more about Lynne Twist.


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

5/9/14 Wake Up! Tokyo Meditation flashmob 5月9日原宿ストリート坐 en


I want to invite you to a wonderful event on May 9th, an opportunity to connect with personal sustainability and peace within your-self.

My friends and I have organized a series of meditation events, including a meditation retreat from 5/3-6 near mt Fuji. We will have some very relaxed monks and nuns share about sitting, walking, eating, and resting meditation. (let me know if you are interested as the info is in Japanese). I'll be there as a translator and helper.

But, I really want to invite you to 5/9 meditation flash mob and relaxed day in the park.

We will start at the bridge near Harajuku station as you head to Meiji Jingu park.

11:00 - 1130 meditation flash mob




* walk to park

12:30 - 15:00 walking, eating, and resting meditation at Meiji Jingu park.


* head to Totsuka (next to Yokohama)

17:30 A special mediation event inside an eco-temple Zenryouji made by hand with straw-bale and cob.

Address: 
125 Yabechō
Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Japan


What to bring for the day:
-lunch and water
-soft thing to sit on
-hat
-your mind
-donation

Its a lot of fun a really relaxing. If it sounds interesting at all, please come and brings some friends.



Here is an article and some pictures on what it will be like

Flash mob pictures from last year

Here is my TEDx talk on what you can expect (its in the last few minutes)



久しぶりのストリート坐 Zen。
ゲリラ瞑想や瞑想フラッシュモブとも呼んでいる。
しかも、なんと香港からの素敵なお坊さんと余さんと一緒に。
毎年恒例(?)の来日イベントだよ〜

去年やった時の様子 ecocoloより

拡散お願いしまーす!!!

雨の場合は水着で座るよ〜

***5月9日***
<<<原宿橋>>>

スケジュール
11:00〜11:30 瞑想フラッシュモブ
*明治神宮公園へ移動

12:30〜15:00 公園で一日瞑想会
*戸塚のカフェデラテラ(善了寺)へ移動

17:30〜19:00 辻信一も参加の学生向けミニ瞑想ワークショップ@善了寺
その後、辻さんと僕と何かするかも。。。

詳しくはFBページ

またはHP

多くの人特に若者に参加してほしいので
情報の拡散よろしくお願いします!