John Ono Lennon, Oct 9, 1940 – Dec 8, 1980

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
No religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Chat with Robin Taubenfeld

Robin visited our home in Kamogawa from Brisbane, Australia where she now campaigns against food irradiation and nuclear development, including uranium mining. She was born in Texas and currently resides in Australia where she loves the nature. I met Robin early this year when we were showing the film 911 In Plane Site in various parts of the east coast of Australia.

How can we help each other to create a peaceful and sustainable planet? She says it starts at home. I think so, too.

Fallujah: Thie Hidden Massacre

Is US media getting a bit better now?
I think so reading this. From NY Times Editorial:

November 29, 2005
New York Times Editorial

Shake and Bake

Let us pause and count the ways the conduct of the war in Iraq has damaged America's image and needlessly endangered the lives of those in the military. First, multilateralism was tossed aside. Then the post-invasion fiasco muddied the reputation of military planners and caused unnecessary casualties. The W.M.D. myth undermined the credibility of United States intelligence and President Bush himself, and the abuse of prisoners stole America's moral high ground.

Now the use of a ghastly weapon called white phosphorus has raised questions about how careful the military has been in avoiding civilian casualties. It has also further tarnished America's credibility on international treaties and the rules of warfare.

White phosphorus, which dates to World War II, should have been banned generations ago. Packed into an artillery shell, it explodes over a battlefield in a white glare that can illuminate an enemy's positions. It also rains balls of flaming chemicals, which cling to anything they touch and burn until their oxygen supply is cut off. They can burn for hours inside a human body.

The United States restricted the use of incendiaries like white phosphorus after Vietnam, and in 1983, an international convention banned its use against civilians. In fact, one of the many crimes ascribed to Saddam Hussein was dropping white phosphorus on Kurdish rebels and civilians in 1991.

But white phosphorus has made an ugly comeback. Italian television reported that American forces used it in Falluja last year against insurgents. At first, the Pentagon said the chemical had been used only to illuminate the battlefield, but had to backpedal when it turned out that one of the Army's own publications talked about using white phosphorus against insurgent positions, a practice well known enough to have one of those unsettling military nicknames: "shake and bake."

The Pentagon says white phosphorus was never aimed at civilians, but there are lingering reports of civilian victims. The military can't say whether the reports are true and does not intend to investigate them, a decision we find difficult to comprehend. Pentagon spokesmen say the Army took "extraordinary measures" to reduce civilian casualties, but they cannot say what those measures were.

They also say that using white phosphorus against military targets is legal. That's true, but the 1983 convention bans its use against "civilians or civilian objects," which would make white phosphorus attacks in urban settings like Falluja highly inappropriate at best. The United States signed that convention, but the portion dealing with incendiary weapons has been awaiting ratification in the Senate.

These are technicalities, in any case. Iraq, where winning over wary civilians is as critical as defeating armed insurgents, is no place to be using a weapon like this. More broadly, American demands for counterproliferation efforts and international arms control ring a bit hollow when the United States refuses to give up white phosphorus, not to mention cluster bombs and land mines.

The United States should be leading the world, not dragging its feet, when it comes to this sort of issue - because it's right and because all of us, including Americans, are safer in a world in which certain forms of conduct are regarded as too inhumane even for war. That is why torture should be banned in American prisons. And it is why the United States should stop using white phosphorus.
-------
For those who has not seen the Italian TV documentary:

Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre
http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm
http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/video.asp

Cheney should resign! from Gordon Kobayashi

I just got the following letter from Gordon Kobayashi. I met Gordon through the Kucinich for President Campaign. I think this letter tells us precisely what's been wrong with USA and White House now. Please join the campaign!
=====
I just sent a personal message to all my representatives in Congress, I hope you will join me!

http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73

Tell Congress to Demand Dick Cheney's Resignation

Dick Cheney is personally to blame for the illegal and disastrous invasion of Iraq. Behind the scenes, Cheney was in charge of the war planning effort. In public, Cheney uttered the Administration's most egregious and bald-faced lies - especially about Iraq's non-existent nuclear program. When his nuclear lies were exposed by Ambassador Joe Wilson, Cheney personally participated in the criminal campaign to destroy Joe Wilson by outing his wife. Cheney refuses to take any responsibility for the war or for his crimes, and his former chief of staff, Scooter Libby, committed perjury and obstruction of justice to keep Cheney fro m being indicted. The United States cannot tolerate a criminal hiding from Justice in the White House. Congress must demand Cheney's immediate resignation.

Thank you

42 years since JFK was assassinated!!

Today, Nov 22, marks 42nd anniversary of John F Kennedy's death. LoveEarth link sent me this and I was again shocked to see the film of how he was killed. It could not have been done by a single person, which still is the official story. It had to be at least three men to shoot him like that. Check it out for yourself.

www.john-f-kennedy.net/abrahamzapruderfilm.htm

The US is a country where someone can kill the most popular president and still can get away with it.

Who really killed the president?
Who really did the 911?

The press is not giving us the real answers!

This site is very helpful and eye opening for many, especially for most of Americans.
Please tell many people to look at the site.

Each one of us MUST become the media when the mass media does not work as it should! The future of the world is at stake, for our children and their children!

♪ Another Hibakusha (radiation victim): Dennis Kyne ♪ - 8 min 53 sec - 2.1MB

Gen is now in San Francisco and just met Dennis Kyne. He is another veteran from the first Gulf War and is suffering from the effects of Depleted Uranium (DU). Dennis was in the US Army for the Desert Storm operation in 1991. He became ill without knowing what the cause was.

http://www.denniskyne.com/

After he met Leuren Moret, an independent scientist who works on
radiation and public health issues with communities around the world, he started learning about DU, especially low level radiation and its affects on human beings.

He now is a great activist, advocating for the medical treatment of all the soldiers suffering from DU by the US government. He is constantly threatened and harrassed, etc, but he will not stop until he gets a positive result for all the people suffering from this deadly banned weapon.

We must stop the use of these illegal DU weapons. For that, working along with soldiers like Dennis and Gerald Matthew is very a important thing.

http://supportthetruth.blogspot.com/

Dennis Kyne with Cindy Sheehan in Crawford Texas. You can see in his hands a copy of the DVD Beyond Treason as Dennis passes it along to Cindy. This award winning documentary has been entered in many film festivals. Dennis is featured in this film which was previewed at Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas. Learn more about the documentary at www.beyondtreason.com

♪ DU and Gerald, Janis and Victoria Matthew! ♪ - 12 min 33 sec - 2.9MB

Today I had an opportunity to meet with Gerald and Janis Matthew and interpreted for them. They are visiting Japan from the US to inform the Japanese public and military of what has happened to him and their daughter after he went to Iraq as a US soldier. He was a driver for US Army carrying destroyed equipment and trucks, mostly of Iraqi origin, that was being moved from southern Iraq to Kuwait.

After he was discharged from the military, his wife got pregnant and their daughter was born missing three fingers on her right hand. He didn’t supect anything till doctor asked him if he was ever exposed to any chemical or radioactive materials. At that time, he had no idea if he had been or not.

However, not long after that he found out about DU (depleted uranium) and from that time on his wife started speaking out! Following her courageous lead, Gerald decided to reveal truth to help save not only his daughter but also all the other children affected by the radiation resulting from DU. He now advocates the total elimination of DU type weapons.

I was very moved by their story, especially when they talked about Victoria who is now 17 months old. It was amazing to see her come to her dad and hold his leg tight whenever he got upset or angry about the situation (especially when people asked questions about her missing fingers or when they stared at her hand out of curiosity). He now has started controlling his anger even though his symptoms are getting worse: his has migraines, swelling of his face and body, burning sensations, numbness, blurred vision, coughing, and more...

Gerard & Janise Matthew at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan on Nov.7 2005 (Photo by Yumi Kikuchi)

He is a fighter, and so is his daughter Victoria, Janise says. She wants her to grow up strong and to overcome the disability she has been born with. Please listen to what they have to say if you can!

They will be speaking at Meiji Gakuin University from 6:45pm to 8:45, on Monday, Nov.7. in Shirogane, Tokyo. Hope you do not miss this opportunity to meet and listen to them.

Late Breaking News!

Nov. 8th, 2005 - The English edition of the Daily Yomiyuri published this article about the Matthew family.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20051108TDY04005.htm

Nov. 22nd, 2005 - The Japan Times published the following story:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/makeprfy.pl5?fl20051120x1.htm

♪ First People’s Summit for Departments of Peace – London, October 19th 2005 ♪ - 8 min 51 sec - 2.1MB

[Podcast information: Recorded in London, UK, on Oct 19th, 2005. Yumi interviewed Dot Maver, Executive Director of The Peace Alliance USA & Diana Basterfield, Co-Founder of the ministry for peace UK at the First People’s Summit for Departments Of Peace]

Here is what we came up with at the end of the 1st International Conference on Departments of Peace in London and I am very happy to share it with you.

Today, we announce the launch of an international initiative for the creation of Departments of Peace in governments throughout the world.

Violence of all kinds is increasing.

There is an urgent need to find responsible solutions, expanding on past and present peace-building successes.

This international initiative will both provide resources and support for existing national Department of Peace campaigns, and assist new ones as they appear in other countries.

While the exact role of the department will differ in each country, its basic functions will be the same.

• To foster a culture of peace;
• To research, articulate and help bring about non-violent solutions to conflicts at all levels; and
• To provide resources for training in peace-building and conflict transformation to people everywhere.

We, the undersigned, joyfully vow to support and encourage each other, to share information, to enrich each other’s experience, to listen to one another and to celebrate our commonalities and differences in our journey together towards a culture of peace.

• Department of Peace, Australia
• Working Group for a Federal Department of Peace, Canada
• Ministry for Peace, United Kingdom
• The Peace Alliance, Campaigning for a US Department of Peace, United States of America
• Delegation from Israel
• Binnie Degli Innocenti, WWGHM, Italy
• Federation of Damanhur, Italy
• Global Peace Campaign, Working for a Ministry of Peace in Japan
• Ank Mesrite, House of Peace, Netherlands
• Paul van Tongeren, European Centre for Conflict Prevention, Netherlands
• Zoughbi Zoughbi, WIAM, Palestinian Conflict Resolution Centre, Palestine
• Romanian Department of Peace Initiative
• Jo Berry, Building Bridges for Peace, United Kingdom
• Rolf C Carriere
• Simonetta Costanzo Pittaluga

Some of the members that participated in the First People‘s Summit for Departments of Peace, London
Please go to http://ministryforpeace.org/ to learn more!

First Meeting for Japan‘s Ministry of Peace

On Monday, Sep 19 2005, we held the first meeting for Japan's Ministry of Peace at Meiji University, Ochanomizu, Tokyo. It was organized mostly by myself. I was not able to publicize the event before I left Japan to attend a related meeting in Washington DC so, I was so surprised to find more than 100 participants from 10 prefectures in Japan attending on the day. People from Okinawa and Nagasaki were among them. They came all the way just for this meeting!

I guess that people wanted to listen to Congresman Dennis Kucinich's speech which was going to be held by international call. Until the day itself I was not sure if it would go well. Thanks to my strong technical supporter Damien Andrews, it went well and we were able to call him from my cell phone and listen to him and ask him questions. He was very supportive and understanding of Japan's Constitution, especially regarding Article 9, which surprised many and made some cry.

After the landslide victory of the LDP, (Liberal Democratic Party, Japan's ruling party) at the last elecction held on Sept. 11, Japan seems to be about to lose Article 9. But I have not given up! We really can not afford to lose this battle against the neo-cons of Japan, who want make Japan an "ordinary nation", by which they mean to make Japan a country that can fight in wars abroad again. We must remain paeceful and I believe there is a way we can contribute the world without using arms or military means.

The agenda of the meeting:
1. Why form The Ministry of Peace now, a report from the US Department of Peace Conference in Washington DC, by Yumi Kikuchi
2. Japan's idea for The Ministry of Peace by Prof. Ryuji Itoh and Mr. Otsuka
3. Dennis Kucinich's introduction video prepared by Mr. Takafumi Tomita
4. Listen and talk to Dennis Kucinich in a telephone-conference, with US Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Yumi Kukuchi and Gen Morita
5. Panel Talk by Prof. Isamu Mamiya (Meiji Univ), Prof. Masaya Kobayashi (Chiba Univ.), moderator: Yumi Kikuchi (Global Peace Campaign)

The date of the next meeting is not set yet but I mean to organize another one by the end of this year and hopefuly to find several prefecture co-ordinators by then. I also started talking to several diet members (members of Congress) to attend the London Summit of the Department of Peace. It will be held from the 18-20 Oct, 2005. If anyone is interested in participating, please contact me by e-mail.

Details can be found at Peace Alliance homepage: www.thepeacealliance.org

Department of Peace

I am going to attend the 3rd Conference of Department of Peace to be held in Washington DC on Sep 10-12. I wrote a short speech of solidarity even though there is very little chance that I can speak at the conference. But I would like you to know such a wonderful initiative is taking place right now in the USA.
Please check the website:
The Peace Alliance and Foundation - Phone: 802-272-5504
www.thepeacealliance.org/

Dear Americans for Peace,

This is the most important conference in all of history. The American people are going to establish a Department of Peace that will spread a culture of peace instead of a culture of war: a new direction that will make non-violence the organizing principle at every level of your government.

Congratulations! What a great idea! I express my support with all my heart.

Coming from Japan, where two atomic bombs were exploded 60 years ago, I know that war is neither sustainable nor healthy for any living thing. In the past, there was a time when Japan was an aggressive empire. At that time Japan didn't care about the suffering of other Asian people! We took the land and the resources of our neighbors and killed many without a second thought.

However, after our defeat in WW2 we wrote a new constitution, a Peace Constitution, which denounced war as means of conflict resolution forever. I am proud of Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution. Thanks to this clause, our Self Defense Forces haven't killed a single person in the 60 years since WW2. Not only that, none of our service men and women have been killed in war. We have never participated in war since Article 9 was made law.

But now our troops have been sent to Iraq, in violation of our Constitution.This is solely because of the strong pressure put upon Japan by the US government. Our Prime Minister Koizumi listens to your president more than to the people of Japan and this is the reason why I am here today.

There is now pressure coming from the USA for Japan to change our peace constitution and to join in the militaristic ways of the US. We do not want to send our forces overseas. They are only for our self defence and should never be sent outside of Japan. Our international contribution can and should only be in the areas of medicine, environment, education, technology and economy.

The world is looking at America to see if she can spread real freedom and democracy for all. Not with guns, but with care, not with fear but with love, for all the people of the earth.

The world is awaiting for such a leader, to stand up in your country and lead the US and the world out of the martial quagmire it is now in.

I would like to tell you that you have such a leader here already! His name is Dennis Kucinich!

I wish to thank Dennis Kucinich and his many supporters for taking the initiative to create the Department of Peace. The impact of the Department of Peace will have for humanity will be without compare. Ending war will create a new era never before seen in the history of this planet.

I am working in Japan to create a Ministry of Peace as well. Let us inspire other countries to join us in this dream for a better world.

I look forward to working with all of you in the coming years until we can make war a thing of the past.

Thank you.

Yumi Kikuchi, Founder, Global Peace Campaign
co-author of the book ‘Dennis Kucinich - President of Peace for America‘ (Published in Japanese)

Introducing Dennis Kucinich

Hi, I just got into LA yesterday, and am getting ready to participate the third Upton Sinclair Freedom of Expression awards honouring Dennis Kucinich, Michio Kaku and John Ross. I came here because I wanted to meet Dennis Kucinich in person and I now have the honor of introducing Dennis to the audience at the ceremony. What an honor! It happened thanks to my dear friend Frank Dorrel who introduced me to the organizer.

Anyone in San Pedro, CA or nearby are welcome to come to the event and meet this wonderful human being who will make you believe that we are here to make peace, not war, and that each one of us has a role to play in creating peace and sustainability on earth.

Dennis Kucinch is a miracle and the true conscience of the USA and I am so greatful to know him. I wish he were the president of the USA right now!

If you would like to watch my interview with Dennis, please go to this page.

Directions to the event are below.

SUNDAY, MAY 15th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM in San Pedro
Events are going on all day starting at 11:00 with book and media fair
(Addicted To War will have a table at this book fair)

Third annual Upton Sinclair Freedom of Expression Awards
May 15, 2005 , 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Honoring Dennis Kucinich, Dr. Michio Kaku,
John Ross of Random Lengths News
and Lauren Coodley with special guests:
Jerry Quickley, Dr. Peter Phillips, The Living Newspaper
Yumi Kikuchi

Awards Ceremony , 5:00 - 7:00 PM
$25. Orchestra
$10. General Admission
$5. Student/Sr.
No one turned away. for info: www.LivingNewspaper.org

WARNER GRAND THEATRE
478 W. 6th Street, San Pedro, CA 90730

A full Sunday of Liberty Hill activities in San Pedro Book & Media Fair
With Authors John Ross, Dr Michio Kaku & Others
11 AM to 3 PM

Department of Peace Forum with Dennis Kucinich 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Please confirm venues, more events and information at:
www.warnergrand.org

====================

Directions:

Take 405 Freeway south to 110 Freeway and exit toward San Pedro, go 8 miles
Turn left on Gaffey Street and go .06 miles
Turn left on 6th Street and go .03 miles to arrive at 478 W. 6th Street in San Pedro

====================

This is what I want to say tomorrow:

Thank you for introducing me. I came here from Japan to once again meet with this amazing and wonderful human being here on earth. I am an author and the translator who translated Addicted To War into Japanese. I also co-authored a book published in Japanese titled 'Dennis Kucinich.' I live in a 200 year old farm house in Japan where we grow most of what we eat organically, even though I was born and raised in the big city of Tokyo.

I used to work for a US bank as a bond trader until I found out that Japanese companies were destroying the tropical rain forests all over the world in 1989. Then I quit the bank and became a full time environmental activist in 1990. Since then I have organized many environmental events, environmental NGOs and started writing books on environmental issues.

After the 911 incidents in NY and Washington DC I got involved with the peace movement. I didn't want any more innocent people to die anymore. So, together with a few friends who share the same thoughts, we started the Global Peace Campaign which then placed peace advertisements in the NY Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times and some other European newspapers in order to stop bombing in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It was just before the US invasion to Iraq in 2003 when I first heard of the Congressman Dennis Kucinch. What we hear from the Japanese media is only the voice of the US President and I wanted to find out if there were any alternative voices. Dennis Kucinich was in the US congress courageously and openly opposing the Iraq war when the majority of American people were still for war.

Everything he was saying made so much sense to me. He was right from the very beginning to declare that this war on Iraq was illegal and immoral and there was no reason to wage war on Iraq. Finally now, many of US citizens are finally agreeing with him. He was way ahead of many of us.

What an honor it is to be able to introduce Congressman Dennis Kucinich to you all. I respect and appreciate him and his work more than anyone else in the world. It was pity he didn't get a democratic nomination in the last presidential election as I think he was the only candidate who was willing to change the US foreign policy, away from war and towards true peace and sustainability.

You know our life is all connected and we live on this fragile planet. We can not afford to scatter toxic chemicals and radioactivity to the environment any more, which is exactly what war does. We must treat each other in the way we want others to treat us. Do not kill people. Do not hurt our sisters and brothers. Do not destroy cities and villages. Instead, let's live together and work at restoring the environment we have already destroyed. This planet Earth is home to all of us and let's start taking good care of it from now on.

Dennis Kucinich hears the crying voices of the many out there, in the US and around the world. He is willing to take risks for what has to be done. He has the vision and the right policies that will bring us true peace and sustainability. I too am eager to hear what he has to say now. Dennis Kucinich, thank you for being here with us today, at this critical moment. Let me introduce Dennis Kucinich.

Click on the picture to see a movie of Yumi interviewing Dennis.

Medicine Wheel Workshop

We will have a workshop from Apr 27 to 29 at the Harmonics Life Center (Kamogawa, Chiba) on the American Indian Medicine Wheel. It will be taught by Daniel Stone Sitting Darby. His profile is at the end of this page. For details and reservations, call Yumi or Gen at the Harmonics Life Center: Tel:04-7097-1011 or send an e-mail to genm@trust.ocn.ne.jp
*Places are limited on a "first come, first served" basis.

What is the Medicine Wheel?

This class will give you the experience of using the Native American Medicine Wheel as a tool in your Daily life, as a tool for answering questions, a tool for experiencing sacred spaces, a place to find peace and harmony anywhere. This is a tradition and a practice that has been used by Native Americans for tens of thousands of years. It is a way of life, a philosophy of life and a way to live life day by day.

Process 1: Over view of Medicine Wheel and all of its different lodges.
Process 2: Learn the Children’s Fire and Men’s Lodge
Process 3: Learn the Peace Chief Lodge and War Chief Lodge
Process 4: Learn the Singer, Medium, &Storytellers Lodge and Women Lodge
Process 5: Learn the Council Lodge and Hunting & Gathering Lodge
Process 6: Learn the Dog Soldiers Lodge and How to setup a Medicine Wheel
Process 7: Learn the Path of Inquiry & to use the Wheel to find Balance in your
life
Process 8: Learn to Walk and Pray withthe Medicine Wheel and more...

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:

The Reverend Daniel Darby has a 20 year history of studying, practicing and teaching various Ceremonies. These studies include Christian, Tibetan, Egyptian and Celtic, as well as Native American practices. He has been a Ceremonialist and Shaman for the last 15 years.

Daniel is an ordained Minister trained at the Healing Light Center Church, as a “hands-on” healer, hypnotherapist, and as a Cherokee Indian Shaman who is walking his path, a Community Pipe carrier. He also runs his own computer business.

If you are interested in a man who is more at home with a headband, T-shirt and Levis than a minister’s collar, you may be interested in this man. He also has an easy going manner, an open heart and a piercing gaze. Helping people find a path to spirit is one of his primary jobs. So if you are searching for spirit that is not in a bottle, come and join us.

A Prayer to the Great Spirit:

I am Grateful to Give
I am Grateful to Do
I am Grateful to Serve
I will go On

My Spirit is Soaring
My Work is Clear
My Joy Overwhelming
Great Spirit has received me

I feel Security in what You will Learn
The Teaching will Dance in You
The Wheel has Revealed its Heart
All Children are Complete
heye hoh

Medicine Wheel Workshop by Danial Darby, Cherokee American Indian

Daniel Darby, a Cherokee American Indian is coming to visit Japan from April 21-May 1. He will be staying with us at Harmonics Life Center and he will be giving a workshop on the Medicine Wheel from April 27 at 1:30 till April 29 at 4:00 pm. If you would like to participate in the workshop, please write to me at yumik@fine.ocn.ne.jp or call me on 0470-97-1011

If you understand the basic principles of the Medicine Wheel it will be easier for you to understand what the role and purpose of yourself is in this life time. The workshop will be held in English with Japanese translation. Lodging at Harmonics Life Center is 5000 yen per night with two organic meals (breakfast and dinner) per day. You can stay elsewhere if you like and come to the workshop each day, or you can stay here at the center. All meals at the Harmonics Life Center are organic, fresh from our garden and mostly vegetarian.

If you would like to have a private session with Daniel, it can be ararnged on April 25, 26, 30. It will be 10,000 yen for a 90 minute session, if you need no translation. With a translator, it will be 15,000 yen.

Only ten people will be accepted for the workshop. Participation is on a first come, first served basis.

Addicted To War : Books to Schools

Great news from Frank Dorrel. I met Frank when Global Peace Campaign was helping with the printing the first edition of Addicted To War. GPC always wanted to send ATW to ALL US schools! This is great news. Thanks, Frank.
PS. Addicted to War is also available in Japanese, Korean and Spanish. You can order the Japanese version from Amazon Japan.

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

ADDICTED to WAR

Books-to-Schools Project

Sponsored by:Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools (CAMS)

Dear Friends & Members of the Peace & Justice Community, Teachers & Students,

We are very excited to inform you about the launching of the “Addicted to War Books-to-Schools Project,” organized by the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools (CAMS). Addicted to War, Why The U.S. Can’t Kick Militarism, written and illustrated by Joel Andreas, is a history of U.S. foreign wars, including the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, presented in comic book format. Over 150,000 copies have been sold & distributed in the United States. ATW is being used in middle school, high school, and college classes all over the country. The primary purpose of this project is to make the book available to high school and middle school teachers and to college professors who want to use the book in their classes, but cannot rely on their school district to buy the book. The project will offer books to teachers and leaders of youth education activities free of charge.

We invite you to make a tax-deductible donation to support the Addicted to War Books-to-Schools Project. All donations will go directly towards supplying books to teachers and other youth educators at the cost of $2.50 per book. In the future, we hope to extend the project to provide books for educational activities among soldiers and sailors in the US military.

Most of us have experienced, as students or teachers, the limited and distorted perspective of United States history that is provided in the great majority of American schools. This is especially true with regard to our country’s history of foreign wars. Addicted to War provides an alternative source that raises serious questions about the causes and consequences of these wars, including their domestic costs. It encourages readers to think critically about U.S. foreign policy and provides background for discussion about current events, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It can also inspire student engagement and activism. The book assembles – in a highly accessible format – information from a wide variety of sources, which are referenced in 161 footnotes. And ATW is endorsed by some of the most well known Peace Activists and anti-war organizations in the United States. You can go to: www.addictedtowar.com to see for yourself.

Ed Sugden and a team of experienced teachers are developing an Addicted to War teachers’ guide, which we will distribute as part of this project. As we initiate this effort, we are seeking to enlist the help of members of the National Coalition of Education Activists, organizations that counter military recruitment in schools, the National Education Association, Rethinking Schools and Teaching For Change Magazine, Veterans For Peace and many regional and local teachers’ unions and student organizations. The author of Addicted to War, Joel Andreas, has generously offered to use his book royalties to help launch and maintain this project. We are grateful for the help of Joel and others who have provided the initial funding.

You can help support the Addicted To War Books-To-Schools Project
by sending a tax-deductible donation to:

CAMS
Arlene Inouye
Coordinator of CAMS
P.O Box 3012
South Pasadena, CA 91031
Phone: 626-799-9118
Email: Aginouye@aol.com
www.militaryfreeschools.org

CAMS is a program of the International Humanities Center, which is exempt from income tax under Section 501 [c] (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you have any questions please contact:
Arlene Inouye, Coordinator of CAMS: aginouye@aol.com

Invitation to the 2005 Tokyo Peace Film Festival

Anyone reading this in and around Tokyo is invited to join us for the 2nd Tokyo Peace Film Festival (TPFF) on April 16 at the Main Hall of National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The nearest station is Sangubashi on the Odakyu line, a 5 minute ride from Shinjuku. Please visit our site to learn more(currently it is only in Japanese): www.peacefilm.net

TPFF was initiated by myself and a few friends. We seek alternatives to war as a way to solve conflicts. We have self financed the event and tickets (@2,500 yen) can be bought from any Ticket PIA outlet or simply send me an e-mail with your address and phone number: yumik@fine.ocn.ne.jp You can send money to us from any Post Office by Yubin Furikae, to the account of: Tokyo Heiwa Eigasai 00140-7-648099. Please write your name and address and the number of tickets you want to purchase.

There are 6 films that will be shown on April 16. Each 2500 yen ticket entitles you to see all 6 films. If you buy 5 tickets you can get five for 10,000 yen, (2,000 yen per person).

The event runs from 10am till 9pm. Some of the films are in English, as noted below.

1. From The Land of Bitter Tears Director: Tomoko Kana
http://kanatomoko.jp.todoke.net

2. The War Which Was Untaught: By Okinawa Director: Jin Takaiwa

Mini concert and lunch (with the directors if you apply in advance)

3. Secret Government - The Crisis of The Constitution (In English)

4. 911 In Plane Site (Some parts in English) Director of Japanese Version: Gen Morita
www.911inplanesite.com

5. Abon - A Small House (In English) Director: Koji Imaizumi
www.ne.jp/asahi/small/home

6. Amandla! (In English) Director: Lee Harsh
www.amandla.info

Lee Hirsch, the director of Amandla! is coming to Japan from the US expecially for the TPFF and you can even have a lunch with him or the other participating directors. Simply let me know who you want to have lunch with. Up to 10 people for each director, by appointment only. Lunch is 1,500 yen

Lee Hirsch, Director of Amandla!

Looking forward to seeing you on April 16!

Greetings from Okinawa!

After traveling through Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Japan (The main island of Honshu), we are finally at our last destination: Okinawa. As you might know, Okinawa has 75% of the US Bases in Japan. It is a small and beautiful place, but the bases and related facilities are everywhere. It reminds me of Oahu Island of Hawaii.

Our purpose here is to show the film, 911 In Plane Site to as many Okinawans and US soldiers as possible. If you live here in Okinawa and want to come to one of our film showings, please call me on 098-886-0604. We will be showing the film on Honto (the main island of Okinawa) almost every day and night until March 17.

If you are American, or a US soldier, you can get a free copy of the DVD: 911 In Plane Site from me. To know more about the film, go to:

www.911inplanesite.com

I am looking for Americans living anywhere in Japan who would like to organize film showings of 911 In Plane Site. If you would like to have a showing or know anyone who would be interested, please give me a call.

Yesterday and today, we went to Nakijin-son where young Japanese are trying to create a sustainable community. Their project is called Shima Project and their website is: www.shimapro.com

They are really enjoying their life, using their talents to the full, being members of the community to help and support each other using their individual skills. I was quite excited to see such Japanese young people with bright eyes and shining smiles. Our next generation is growing up fine. What a good feeling it was to meet such a group of young people.

Better go now. My kids are shouting from the bath room, "Mammy, let's take a bath together (Isshoni ofuro hairo)." See you soon!

Love and Peace,

Yumi

STOP THE AIRBASE and SAVE DUGONGS IN JAPAN!

I am writing this from Okinawa.

I am going to show 911 In Plane Site at Henoko where activists are gathering everyday to stop the drilling. The showing is scheduled on March 13, from 10 to 12am. On the same day there is another showing at the Syuri Komin Kan (Shuri Public Center) from 2 to 4pm in Naha.

Both showings are free of charge, so please come and join us! The ocean is ours and our children‘s, not for a base of killing.

STOP THE AIRBASE and SAVE DUGONGS IN JAPAN!

Thanks.

Yumi
(to contact me call 090-4011-6488)

Photo’s from Iraq - Look at these kids!

It is getting worse in Iraq. The following e-mail came from a friend of mine who has been helping Iraqi children. Take a moment to look at photos here. Why do they have to be suffering? How can we stop this? How can we withdraw all the troops from Iraq?

From: Jamila Takahashi
Date: 2005 Jan30th 2:56:10:JST
Subject: Dar Jamal

Dar Jamal provides us a chance to see what Baghdad is like.

His ever increasing set of photo "albums" and his recently shot photos of kids are here: http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1034431.htm

Some of these are sets about the war, others are of daily life.

Mr Jamal also runs an informative blog which he writes an account a few days a week here: http://dahrjamailiraq.com/weblog

Check these out.

For what it's worth, the likely confirmation of the man who wrote the memos authorizing torture as the Attorney General of the US is putting the US government, not just the Bush administration, in a horrible light here in Ireland (and evidently the rest of Europe).

Call your Senators in the US and urge that Alberto Gonzales not be confirmed. Capitol switchboard: (800) 839-5276 or (800) 648-3516 (toll-free) or (202) 224-3121 (ask for Senator by name) [If an 800 number doesn't work, please tell me.]

Anyone reading this in Australia?

Greeting from Sydney. Yumi, a writer and peace & environmental activist and natural - sustainable life advocator, is now traveling in Australia with her family, Gen, Anna and Manabu. We did one film showing of 911 In Plane Site in a northern part of Sydney at our new friends' house.

Martha and Philip are the brave couple who welcomed us into their home and allowed us to have the film showing and gathering at their place. What nice people they are and how lucky we are to konw them! We never met before, it was just through the internet that we got to know each other. They liked what we have been doing for peace.

I would like to do more film showings in Sydney. We will ge heading north and stopping Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay before going to Brisbane. The only dates which are scheduled for us are Jan 21, 22. We have 6 days before leaving here. I now have mobile, and if you know anyone in Australia who is interested in seeing the film, or havng the DVD or VHS of 911 In Plane Site, please let them know through my blog or homepage address. Or just call me if you are interested.

USA 911 In Plane Site Homepage: http://www.911inplanesite.com
My homepage: http://www.peace2001.org/
My mobile: 04-1674-0870

Yumi

Welcome to my English Blog!

Hi Everyone,

Check back here regularly to view my English blog!

Yumi