TokyoProgressive and Japan Indymedia are waiting for your participation
I maintain the first site and am also a member of the IMC Japan
collective.
(1) TokyoProgressive
http://tokyoprogressive.org
This site has been in existence since 1997 and aims to serve as a bridge
between activists in and out of Japan. It also serves as a resource
for Japan residents,and offers a limited amount of free space to deserving
projects.
(2) IndyMedia Japan
http://japan.indymedia.org
This site has recently gotten off the ground. There is a great need
for independent journalism in this country, as throughout the so-called
"free world". We hope to work with others in Asia, both by helping to develop
other Asian IMCs and by providing a means for people throughout Asia to
cooperate with one another.
Both sites need YOUR participation. We are looking for the following:
(1) Activist news, particularly where there is a Japan-connection, such
as where Japanese companies/the Japanese government are involved. As
well, we hope to promote cooperation between activists and make people aware
of one another's struggles for peace and economic/social justice. News items
that can further this awareness and promote solidarity are also highly welcome.
(2) Original articles by progressive individuals which relate to the concerns
of people living in Japan and Asia or which contribute to solidarity between
people even where the day-to-day concerns may differ.
(3) Links to websites and groups who are working for social justice and
whose work speaks to universal concerns or has some connection to Asia/Japan.
Here are some addresses you may find useful. In many cases it would
be good to send the same information to both websites.
TokyoProgressive Self Publishing
Self publishing (articles, lyrics, poetry, sound and graphics)
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/selfpublishing.html
There are different options for the various contributions.
Links and other communication may be sent to Paul at
paul@tokyoprogressive.org
You can subscribe to the TokyoProgressive newsletter
1-2 times a week(ChocoPaul News) at this addresss:
http://www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=tokyoprogressive
For Indymedia, the way to send an article is to go here:
http://japan.indymedia.org/newswire/index.php?function=publish
Some features common to IndyMedia sites, like the Calendar, are not yet
functional, and the design is currently being tweaked, but the site is up
and working. Your participation is welcome.
There is a general mailing list for volunteers, which you are welcome to
join. Those who can will be able to join specific lists after that in their
area of interest, such as editorial, design, outreach, etc.
First join the main list and introduce yourself:
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-japan
Things of note on TokyoProgressive
The Zeitgeists of Present America
Japanese student, Wakana Yokota, now living in Boston looks at how a climate
of fear was nurtured by the government, and talks about the dehumanization
of the victims of American terrorism by the media, and her feeeling of connectedness
to those around her who refuse to buy the lies sold by the media and the
government. .
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/comments.php?id=P443_0_1_0
This is an example of a self-published article (see above)
She also has a painting of my cat, Chibi:
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/wakana.html
An Introduction to ZNet for Japan-based readers
So much good material comes out of Znet, and a lot of it finds its way
to TokyoProgressive. Here are just SOME of the wonderful features: War and
Terror Pages, Globalization Section, Asia Watch (includes Korea and Japan
watch, Japan Focus, most of Asia), Translations (for example, ZNet Japan),
Instructionals, ZNet Interactive (user posted reports, analyses, reviews,
photos,lyrics, links, quotes, cartoons, and the highly searchable, user friendly
display areas, pen pals facility....
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P434_0_2_0_C
Howard Zinn on Patriotism (My Country: the World)
In this article, history professor Howard Zinn (A people's History of the
United States) asks why "love of country" is distorted to mean "love of
government". He says that "it is the country that is primary -- the people,
the ideals of the sanctity of human life and the promotion of liberty. War
is almost always a breaking of those promises (although one might find rare
instances of true self defense). It does not enable the pursuit of happiness,
but brings despair and grief." In reflecting on the words of Thomas Paine,
he says that Tom Paine "used the word 'patriot' to describe the rebels resisting
imperial rule. He also enlarged the idea of patriotism when he said: 'My
country is the world. My countrymen are mankind'".
Here in Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi and his LDP/reactionary friends push
patriotism in schools and call for the Japanese people to be willing to defend
their nation with their bodies if necessary. They seek to derail democracy
by cutting the heart out of the Constitution (Article 9) and returning Japan
to the pre-war Imperialist model, while suggesting that those of us who march
for peace are unpatriotic. If being unpatriotic means opposing wars for profit
and glory, demanding that the the government respect its own constituition
and create a society where all people are treated with respect, then maybe
it is ok to be unpatriotic.
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P436_0_2_0_C
South Korea and Human Rights in North Korea
On April 16, the U.N. Commission of Human Rights adopted a censure
against North Korea by a vote of 28 to 10, with 14 abstentions. Among the
14 absentees was South Korea. The government's official explanation was
that the South does not want to further alienate the North from the international
community. While they don't want to line up with the EU and the US, which
lambasted the North over human rights at the U.N. session while letting
Russia and China slip on the issue, much of South Korean civil society is
increasingly frustrated with the lack of a comfortable position regarding
the poor human rights situation in the northern half of the peninsula. In
a carefully worded article, Kwon Hyok-chol insists that the time has come
for Korean civil society to take a stand.
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P432_0_2_0_C
Main Links
100s of links to activist sites and references on such issues as Biotechnology,
Disability, Education, Environment, Food, Gender, Globalization....
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/linkblog.php
Selected Stories from the Past
Japanese Education,Japanese Media,Japanese Health and Environment, Japanese
Police and Immigration,Japanese Militarism,Japanese Other, Balkans,East
Timor,Environment,Food,Globalization,Kosovo Law and Human Rights/Justice,Labor,Language
Learning,Latin America Media,Paul's Essays,Peace and War,Third World...
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/link2.html
TokyoProgressive Radio
http://arenson.org/latesttpradio.html
Recent features on IndyMedia Japan
http://japan.indymedia.org/feature/index.php
World Peace Now symposium report
Where to for alternative media in Japan
4/12 demo report and pictures
World Water Forum (Kyoto) promotes globalization
Toyama Prefectural Assembly's anti-war vote
Japan occupation scholars condemn Iraq occupation plans
http://japan.indymedia.org/feature/index.php
Thanks
Paul Arenson
paul@tokyoprogressive.org
tokyoprogressive.org