Thank you/What's the Need Israel Trying to Meet?

Susan Livingstone, co-participant from Leadership program of NVC, really worked wholeheartedly to organize two events that I wanted to do for BayNVC. Thank you Susan and her friends who made these events possible. I think it has had some positive effect.

Below are some photos from Red Victorian where I talked and then played some music with Gen and Shigeko.

In my talk, I touched upon our organic farm, our sustainable simple life, The Department of Peace, Depleted Uranium, Article 9, The War on Terror and 911, Dennis Kucinich and on the need for each of us to be the MEDIA.

BUT......

My happy day suddenly ended with sad news that I need to find out more about. I am asking myself and co-participants of Leadership Program What's the core need of Israel trying to meet by those actions? Security?

Here are some tweets from Twitter:

I can't believe this is happening. Israel opens fire on Gaza flotilla, killing 10. I can't believe this is happening. Israel opens fire on Gaza flotilla, killing 10. http://bit.ly/cBYxEP

＋＋＋ Turkish TV: 10 dead, 60 injured in Israeli attack on Gaza aid boat from Turkey #flotilla ＋＋＋ Al Jazeera English reporting on Gaza Freedom Flotilla http://www.livestation.com/products/32-al_jazeera_en!

I Will be in Bay Area and Speak at Two Events

This is an e-mail I sent out to some of my English speaking friends today. They are mostly working for peace, justice and the environment.
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Greeting from our organic farm of Kamogawa, Japan.
Gen and I are as busy as ever preparing the rice paddy to plant rice in late June as I write this.

I have not seen you for a long time, but I am writing to let you know that Gen and I will be coming to the US at the end of this month, and speaking at two events, Speak for Peace, presented by PANinA.

"Speak for Peace" will be held on May 29 and 30 in SF Bay area and it would be great if you can come. If you can not, would you please pass the information to your friends in the Bay area who may be interested.

Speaking @KPFK

The events include a talk and music, and will be free of charge, but they are meant to be fundraisers for Bay NVC. Check their website to see their meaningful work:
http://www.baynvc.org

And please come to the event and contribute if you are inspired to do so!

I am attending their Leadership Program for this year and NVC (Non Violent Communication) has become something I want every peace worker/activist or anyone working for social change to have an opportunity to learn.

Here is the information of the events, organized by Susan Livingstone and her friends. Susan and I are participants of LP10:
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PANinA presents Speak for Peace to benefit Bay Area Nonviolent Communication (BayNVC). On stage will be Yumi Kikuchi, her partner Gen Morita and her friend Shigeko Suzuki. Yumi will talk aboout her role in building a Culture of Peace and the contribution that BayNVC's 2010 Leadership Program is making to her effectiveness in that work.

"Imagine! Not so long ago, Japan and the United States were at war, and now we are working together to end war!", Yumi says. She will also introduce her special guest Takashi Tanemori, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima. Entertainment will be handled by Yumi's partner Gen, a sixties-style singer-songwriter-guitar player and jazz singer Shigeko.

Gen and I sang at the Peace March in 2003 just before the Iraq war 

You can chose from two dates and venues:

Saturday May 29, 2010, 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. @First Congregational Church of Oakland
http://www.firstoakland.org

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. @the Red Victorian
http://www.redvic.com

As number of seats are limited, R.S.V.P. to SusanL@BayNVC.org

Yumi also will be participating the Sunday morning PEACE CAFE on May 30:
http://www.redvic.com/cafe.html

--------please forward the information to those who may be interested.

So, I hope to see you and your friends at the end of this month!

Peace,

Yumi Kikuchi
founder, Global Peace Campaign
JUMP(Japan United for Ministry of Peace)

p.s. Hot topic in Japan!
Dennis Kucinich has shown his support to local Okinawa residents over the Futenma base, which is great!! Thank you, Dennis and all those who support him.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/546
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-155924-storytopic-53.html