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At the clinic this morning, one of the English conversation group’s was what chinese character would you choose to sum up this year? I chose the kanji for hope: 望. Barack Obama winning the American Presidency this week has given me hope. It’s the first really good news I can remember hearing for the last eight years. I was so happy I couldn’t even bring myself to blog about it for the last couple of days. The world just seems like such a better place knowing that the moronic Bush years are on their way out and somebody with intelligence and eloquence is on his way in.

Not that I am under any illusions that Obama will be anywhere near as progressive as I would wish him to be. But he is certainly a step in the right direction. And maybe if everyone who voted for change keeps pressuring for change, then we can keep on stepping that way. Writer Charlie Stross has a list up on his blog of the kind of changes he would like to see: LINK

And here’s a list of Obama’s actual campaign promises:

* Reduce the US’s carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a binding global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol
* Withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months and keep no permanent bases in the country
* Establish a clear goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons across the globe
* Close the Guantanamo Bay detention center
* Double US aid to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses and Malaria
* Open diplomatic talks with countries like Iran and Syria, to pursue peaceful resolution of tensions
* De-politicize military intelligence to avoid ever repeating the kind of manipulation that led the US into Iraq
* Launch a major diplomatic effort to stop the killings in Darfur
* Only negotiate new trade agreements that contain labor and environmental protections
* Invest $150 billion over ten years to support renewable energy and get 1 million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015 LINK to barackobama.com (via avaaz.org)

Now they don’t look too bad now, do they? Hopefully, if, during the remainder of his term, Bush can restrain himself from destroying the world entire in one last cataclysmic burst of incompetence, we can then see just how Obama keeps his promises. And here’s a couple of outstanding headlines from The Onion to help keep us from entering into a new era of smug self-satisfaction:

Nation Finally Shitty Enough To Make Social Progress

Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job

Now for some happy music from Michael Franti:

Download the full album: All Rebel Rockers or order the album on CD from amazon JAPAN USA UK

Just a quick word from Avaaz.org:

The global financial crisis is spilling over into our lives, threatening jobs, savings, pensions and public services everywhere — worldwide recession could be next, while the public bears the cost. It’s time for citizens around the world to raise our voices and demand that the fundamental causes of this crisis are addressed — we need tough rules to stop the financiers’ folly, and a new framework that better serves the public interest.

Our campaign will be delivered by Denmark’s former prime minister to European leaders next Tuesday, then to US and world leaders as they grapple with this crisis: sign the petition and spread the word! LINK

Here’s this month’s message from Hozouji. I’m sorry it’s a little tardy. I’ve been a tad busy with marking.

And here it is in romaji and then my translation:

subete ga
warikerenu
tokoro ni
jinsei no
myoumi ga aru

Not everything
can be broken down
into simple solutions,
and therein lies
life’s beauty.

Hmm… Seems a bit top-heavy. Oh, well…

Update: There’s a slightly revised version plus Masaya Kanzaki’s commentary up here: LINK

Zimbabwe

Here’s the latest campaign from avaaz.org for Zimbabwe:

…against the odds, hope survives. Amidst growing international pressure, Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party and the opposition have entered private talks. A unity government may be possible yet.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously held on Monday that free and fair elections are now impossible in Zimbabwe. The UN Secretary-General spoke out. But it is African leaders, most of all Thabo Mbeki, who hold the key. Even Mugabe cannot cling to power without their cooperation. Today, we’re launching an emergency campaign, petitioning these leaders to call an immediate summit, isolate Mugabe, and broker a legitimate government for Zimbabwe. Our call will be published in big newspaper advertisements in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique this week — click here to see the ads and endorse their message:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/5.php?cl=100616919

Zimbabwe’s neighbours supply its electricity and goods, and control the borders. Many Southern African leaders are already calling for the postponement of the election — but there’s a real danger that they will end up accepting this charade. This would be a grave miscalculation: if Mugabe succeeds in his de facto coup, Zimbabwe’s implosion will accelerate, and chaos could spread throughout the region.

So our campaign will publicly name those African leaders who hold Mugabe’s last remaining lifeline. If these leaders step up strongly now, they can convince enough of Mugabe’s officials that change is coming one way or another — and set the stage for Morgan Tsvangirai to lead a unity government to Zimbabwe back together…

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/5.php?cl=100616919

Ha ha. I was going to write about Edgar Allan Poe’s wacky little novel “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket” today, as I just finished it last night. However, I fear I am too weary for literary criticism, so I’ll just post a few links and offer some lame meanderings on gender issues instead.

Since yesterday there have been a heap of articles on Google News about gay marriages in California. The very same day I spotted this article on the BBC website about “gay brain differences“. It seems brain scans have shown that gay people have brains shaped very much like people of the opposite sex (i.e. gay men’s brains are shaped like heterosexual women’s brains and lesbian brains are shaped like the brains of men). Nothing too surprising there really, (and I wonder why nobody thought of doing this before…) but it does offer proof that, as one scientist put it “there is no argument any more – if you are gay, you are born gay”. In other words, it’s COMPLETELY NATURAL TO BE GAY. Of course those of us living in the 21st century knew that already, but sadly there are still those who have a problem with our queer bretheren (and sisteren). Here’s a short video about the marriages in California. It’s worth watching till the end for an appearance by Star Trek’s Mr Sulu: George Takei, who is going to marry his long-term partner Brad Altman, and looks really super pleased about it. Actually, the infectiously cheesy grins on their faces are really something to behold. Truly a happy couple. I hope they both live long and prosper.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://uk.youtube.com/v/bK3Wbyr6hr0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

“It’s about love“. Now, who could argue with that?

Meanwhile back in Japan: Sega creates robot girlfriend. Now, what’s that about?

Here’s the latest campaign from avaaz.org:
Two weeks of global climate negotiations have just wrapped up — with no real progress. The rich nations are the culprits, refusing to take the lead and commit to emissions cuts that will bring the rest of the world onboard. Our best hope: within weeks, those rich country leaders will gather at the G8 summit chaired by Japan. If Japan’s Prime Minister offers bold leadership, the G8 summit could be a breakthrough. But, so far, he is pushing in the wrong direction. So it’s up to us. Next Wednesday, June 18, we will hand-deliver our new climate petition to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. If we can muster 250,000 voices in a few short days, we can sound a global alarm on climate that Fukuda and the other G8 leaders cannot ignore. Sign the petition and forward this message to friends:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_climate_wakeup/13.php?cl=97550397

The Sun Always Shines On Your Greens

There’s yet another post up on Deep Kyoto tonight of vegan & organic restaurant Hale ～晴れ～ which means “sunny”. Hmm. I’m sensing a trend for “sunny” organic restaurants here; Sunny Place, Sunshine Cafe…Now here’s a bunch of Japan related links so I can avoid actually writing anything.

Burakumin Photographs by Masaru Goto

http://www.globalcompassion.com/ has an exhibition of photos by Masaru Goto of Burakumin:

The Burakumin are a nearly invisible (yet identifiable) group of Japanese people. They are the remnant of a caste system that formally passed away long ago. Their ancestors were the untouchables. Despite being racially and ethnically Japanese through and through, the Burakumin still face discrimination and struggle together under the weight of their shared history. (Quoted from globalcompassion.com)

The photographs, a series of portraits, are colorful and reveal a remarkable zest for life in each of the participants (like the guy who says he wants to die shouting “Whoo!”). Each picture is followed by a short account of each persons experiences. I found bamboo artisan Keigin Ishida’s story of his relationship with his father especially touching. LINK TO MASARU GOTO’S EXHIBITION

Whale Meat SCANDAL!!!

Recently, Greenpeace have been making a big hullabaloo about Japanese whalers filching whale meat at the tax-payers expense. Now the news has gone global. Here’s a link to the BBC article: LINK And here’s what Greenpeace have to say about it:
We did it! Within 72 hours of our exposé of corruption in the whaling industry and embezzlement of whale meat, 40,000 Greenpeace supporters wrote to Japanese officials demanding an investigation.Despite denials from the company that runs the whaling ship that the stolen whale meat was just “souvenirs” the Tokyo public prosecutor’s office agreed there were grounds for an investigation. It’s working!
By law, the sale of whale meat outside the official “scientific whaling” programmme is not supposed to happen — all proceeds are supposed to offset the taxpayer-subsidized whaling. This means the entire whaling programme is illegal and needs to have its permits revoked and subsidies cancelled — let’s get 80,000 messages in the NEXT 72 hours demanding that! LINK TO GREENPEACE CAMPAIGN

Don’t Read This if You’re Eating

I wonder why it is, that despite broadly agreeing with pretty much everything Greenpeace stands for, I find myself increasingly irritated by them and reluctant to post links to their campaigns. Ah, I know. It’s because of ridiculous videos like this. What genius came up with the idea of “average Joe vomiting off the back of a ship” as a marketing campaign? How is that appealing? Really? Ah, oh well…

Speaking of vomit, this article isn’t particularly enlightening but the headline kind of grabbed me: 54 sickened at hospital after farmer’s chemical-fuelled vomit generates toxic gas. Wow, eh?

お久しぶり。I’ve been somewhat tied up with this and then but will write a proper blog post soon. In the meantime, this seemed important, so up it goes – the recent campaign from avaaz.org.

After decades of repression under Chinese rule, the Tibetan people’s frustrations have burst onto the streets in protests and riots. With the spotlight of the upcoming Olympic Games now on China, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change.

The Chinese government has said that the protesters who have not yet surrendered “will be punished”. Its leaders are right now considering a crucial choice between escalating brutality or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.

We can affect this historic choice–China does care about its international reputation. China’s President Hu Jintao needs to hear that the ‘Made in China’ brand and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing can succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention–and we need it in the next 48 hours.

The Tibetan Nobel peace prize winner and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world’s people to support him. Click below now to sign the petition–and tell absolutely everyone you can right away–our goal is 1 million voices united for Tibet:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/2.php

China’s economy is totally dependent on “Made in China” exports that we all buy, and the government is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new China, respected as a leading world power. China is also a very diverse country with a brutal past and has reason to be concerned about its stability — some of Tibet’s rioters killed innocent people. But President Hu must recognize that the greatest danger to Chinese stability and development comes from hardliners who advocate escalating repression, not from Tibetans who seek dialogue and reform.

We will deliver our petition directly to Chinese officials in London, New York, and Beijing, but it must be a massive number before we deliver the petition. Please forward this email to your address book with a note explaining to your friends why this is important, or use our tell-a-friend tool to email your address book–it will come up after you sign the petition.

The Tibetan people have suffered quietly for decades. It is finally their moment to speak–we must help them be heard.

Here are some links with more information on the Tibetan protests and the Chinese response:
BBC News: UN Calls for Restraint in Tibet
Human Right Watch: China Restrain from Violently Attacking Protestors
Associated Press: Tibet Unrest Sparks Global Reaction
New York Times: China Takes Steps to Thwart Reporting on Tibet Protests

Z-com is looking for donations of as little as $１ a month to support it’s upkeep. Here’s David Cromwell (of Medialens) on why it’s important:

Z Communications is quite simply one of the best resources in the world for anyone concerned about justice, peace, compassion, the environment and humanity. Educate and empower yourself, counter state-government propaganda, join with others and become part of a revolution in grassroots awareness and activism. Please support ZNet wholeheartedly!

And here’s a few words from Michael Albert:

You can become a Z sustainer for as little as $1 a month. The premiums you receive even at that low donor level are extensive and worth many times the donation amount. But mostly, by becoming a sustainer you will help make the site something more than it would otherwise be. …There are many of you who cannot afford even $1 a month. We know that. We don’t even want you to try. The idea is not to extract your needed funds. We hope you will give us some time, instead, some writing, instead, some word of mouth, instead. That would be incredibly valuable! There are tens of thousands of you, however, for whom $1 a month, and in fact $3, $5, or even $10 a month, would not even be noticed, financially. And the truth is, we also want your time, writing, and word of mouth, but, beyond that, your money is the money we want… ZCom is now an incredibly complex and massive operation – and there are virtually no limits on further growth, assuming you step up to help. Are you going to use ZCom? To really use it? We very much hope so. That is why we built it. But, are you going to also contribute to it, with a little of your insight and also a little of your money? Again, we hope so. That is why we built it. That is why it awaits you at http://www.zcommunications.org

This news from Avaaz:

Huge news out of Japan: a top newspaper is reporting a major shift in climate policy, and citing Avaaz members as one of the reasons why!

The paper reports that at a critical, high-level meeting on global warming, the Environment Minister held up Avaaz’s “Titanic” newspaper ad from the Bali summit–showing Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, with Bush, steering towards climate disaster… along with a call for tough 2020 emissions targets, signed by 90,000 Avaaz members.

“The world sees Japan as a force resisting change! Are we okay with this?” the minister asked. The Chief Cabinet Minister suggested setting a target. Days later, Prime Minister Fukuda announced his decision: at last, Japan would set a 2020 emissions target!

This is a genuine victory. Japan is a huge polluter, a key Bush ally, and host of this summer’s crucial G8 summit. Congratulations to everyone for the positive role we all played!

LINK to a scan of the Asahi Shimbun article.
LINK to Avaaz crisis fundraiser.

The videoegg video in the last post wasn’t working so well so I’ve switched it for a youtube one. Check it out if the will inclines you. Now for today’s avaaz campaign:

The people of Gaza are being squeezed to death. This week’s blackouts have finally reached the attention of the world — and the international community could help end the blockade. Our obligation is clear. This isn’t about Israel vs Palestine or Hamas vs Fatah: this is about 1.5 million human beings locked up in the biggest prison on earth. The siege of Gaza is a collective punishment violating international law, and far from ensuring Israel’s security, it is only stoking rage and desperation.

The humanitarian crisis of sealed-off Gaza is only getting worse, and a rain of missiles is falling. No genuine peace talks will be possible while the siege continues. In the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006, we saw how global pressure and assistance can help stop a crisis and protect civilians from harm — we cannot stay silent about the crisis in Gaza. Please add your name now at the link above, and forward this message widely.

Here are some more relevant links:

Associated Press article including Red Cross report

Former Clinton official calls for ceasefire, ending siege

UN reports on the humanitarian crisis, including background to the blackouts

Deepening medical crisis in Gaza (UN)