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Timothy Woodland
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January 2002:
Help support the will of the people in Okinawa, Japan
Tell the world: "This is Okinawa, Paradise Occupied!"
In response to the "war on terror" and military operations in East Asia which are already underway, the US military and the current administration are planning to increase their military presence throughout Asia. As a result, the plans are underway to build an offshore heliport, despite the objections of the people who live in the area to this proposal.
The Henoko base will be a US military base, slated to house the dubious Osprey program. The devastation to the coral reef and the endangered-status marine animal called the "dugong" will be irreversable and beyond description in mere words. Other concerns include (but are not limited to) the noise and air pollution, the questionable safety record of the Osprey aircraft and the threat it will pose to Okinawan civilians living nearby. Please show your support for this pro-peace mayoral candidate; international response and pressure is one of our only forms of leverage, because the operative partners in the "mutual security pact" are Japan and US, but not Okinawa. Just a short note of solidarity will mean the world to us.
In addition, referendums (official ballot proposals) have been voted on and passed, in numerous villages across the island, as well as in Nago city. Each time, the people voted in favor of reducing or eliminating the US military presence. These demonstrations of opposition to military occupation have been ignored by both the governments of the United States and Japan. Japan also does its best to get its way with promises of government subsidies to Okinawa, which has the highest unemployment rate in Japan and whose industry additionally been suffering since September 11 due to its over-reliance on tourism revenue. The tourism activity has declined considerably due to the presence of 38 Military bases, and the widespread fear that there will be terrorist attacks staged upon the inhabitants of the island. In response to this fear and the resulting losses in revenue, an airline company has commenced a special campaign to reassure terrorists that there will be no such attacks.
Forwarded information from other activists:
Please visit the Peace Loving Okinawa Peace Loving Networker's Syndicate for more information and invite your friends to: and send a message (no matter how short) of solidarity!
Please Circulate Widely!! Ippay Nifay Daybilu (Many thanks)!
more selected writings on the issue of bases:
Article, January 7, 2002: US Base poised to devour reef (Ryukyu Shimpo,Okinawan Newspaper)
Article, December 17, 2001: "Bases less important," notes Seigen Miyazato (Ryukyu Shimpo)
(regardless, US (im)position, opportunism, arrogance and propaganda follows - read on)
Article, January 1, 2002: Okinawa's strategic role rules out change: Baker (Japan Times)
Despite the mass protests against the heliport construction (e.g., village petitions, "human chain" of over 27,500 people surrounding enormous Kadena Airbase, etc.), the governments of US and Japan have unilaterally imposed the construction of a sea-based warplane port (heliport) in a rural, underemployed area (Nago)of northern Okinawa.
Given the almost 10% unemployment in Okinawa (an annexed colony of Japan), some Okinawans have been pressured to reverse the long-standing popular support of demilitarizing Okinawa (e.g., 1996 referendum: only 8.9% of Okinawans supported bases, etc.); and in fact, a majority voted against the heliport construction in a 1997 referendum within the northern district of Okinawa, despite the threats by Japanese government to revoke huge economic packages to the northern region if the vote went against the heliport (which happened). Due to political and economic interests, the current Okinawan governor and mayor of Nago City have offered to accommodate Japanese and US governments by accepting the heliport on conditions (e.g. joint civilian-military use, 15-year military limit, etc.) which have not all been accepted by Japan/US alliance.
One current "strategy" by peace and self-determination advocates in Okinawa, is to support popular city-council and Save the Dugong Foundation member Miyagi Yasuhiro in his bid for mayorship in Nago in the upcoming February 3 election. If elected, Miyagi will reverse the current Nago position in support of the heliport, to the the will of the people- against the heliport. This will not only pose another obstacle for Tokyo and Washington, it will have very positive effects on other elections in Okinawa which will be held this year (including the one of governor of Okinawa in November).
Your message of support or encouragement for him and/or Nago citizens will help. The support, whether moral, political, Spiritual, etc., from outside Nago will inspirit Nago voters to vote their conscience in the face of economic blackmail and pressures. It will remind Nago voters that the ramifications of their vote, are hardly a concern for Nago residents only, but for all humans that embrace sustainable development, self-determination, ecological and cultural preservation, international law (the endangered dugong is protected under int'l law), democratic process, and international peace through demilitarization/disarmament, not warmongering.
nuchi du takara ("life is most precious"- okinawan proverb), pete shimazaki doktor hawai`i okinawa network dok@hawaii.rr.com
updated on June 15, 2002
