29 May 2010
Why not just shrink rather than relocate?
Japanese loopy PM accepted humiliating agreement from the U.S.
He turned down the proposal of relocating US marine base, Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture to off the island.
However, if this is going to work out as stated in the agreement is uncertain. Okinawans are now very, very angry with the agreement.
So are a lot of Japanese voters. Maybe after July election, he will resign from prime ministerhood.
New government will then have to rethink the agreement.
But the good thing is because of this turmoil, more and more people have become aware that the U.S. military is not defending Japan at all.
It is not the issue of relocation, it is reducing or getting rid of the bases from Japan.
Even relocation site is changed to Guam or Hawaii, there is another problem.
Can't believe that the U.S. military has been messing islands in the Pacific. (Well, Japanese military did so partially.)
I just found very interesting show on the net. The voices from 3 islands in the Pacific.
Stupid, why not the U.S. government spend vast amount of money on poverty, education or environmental protection instead of messing people and environment of the islands or Iraq, or Afghanistan?
10:27 Posted in Ecology, Japan News, Politics, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | Tags: military, okinawa
04 May 2010
Film"Avatar" is like what's happening in Okinawa
James Cameron's world's biggest box hit film after "Titanic". An ex-US Marine man arrived on a planet and joined the native people by getting his brain signals into artificial figure of that native man. His mission was to blend in their community and negotiate with them in order to dig natural resources from their land.
Well, I did not really enjoy it because the story was cliche and animation scenes were not impressive maybe because I did not see 3D version. I watched it on DVD. After an hour, I just skipped chapters. I would rather like to see a full animated version of the film than mixture of real and animation.
The bottom line is that is the America's apology and remource to native Americans, Iraqi, Afghans, and global environmental destruction. But to me it is really hypocritical after years of deception and wrong doings. Isn't that what they talked about 30 years ago after Vietnam war?
Anyway, if they think they have been doing wrong, why not they rethink current destruction of great nature in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan?
It is taking place in the Henoko Sea right next to US marines' Camp Shwab. It was designated as the relocation site for Futenma base in Ginowan city on the same island. The coral sea is just beautiful. To me, it is better than Guam, Hawaii, Cancoon, and Kota Kinabalu.
Endangered marine mammal, dugongs habitat were recognized.
But construction of runway has been planned on that sea for the US marines by Japanese tax payers' money.
Is it for Japan's defense? No. US military deployed in Japan never functioned as Japan's defense. US marines use Japanese facilities for their training and missions. Well, this issue is very complicated. As you learn more about this issue, you can find Japan side has more to blame. In summary Japanese government can let most of US military leave Japan once they decide to do because there is no merit for Japan by the US military presence and the US military has no more strategic interest in Japan since the Cold War era ended.
However, if the US declares to withdraw troops from Japan without any relocation within Japan, this problem can be easily solved.
On May 4 2010, Japan's prime minister Hatoyama Yukio visited Okinawa governor and mayor of Nago city where Camp Shwab is located. Last month he said "destroying the sea by reclaiming is blaspheming the nature" but later he announced the plan to construct runway by QIP (placing sticks on the sea ground to support runway) format. He is crazy. It is just as destructive to the environment as reclaiming.
The Henoko has shrine on the coast. That god made him say that, I believe.
Or the charm I left in the wire on the beach. The wire divides the beach from restricted area. The charm is what I bought at the Admiral Togo Shrine in Tokyo.
However this construction plan will never be done because Okinawans and even the U.S. military oppose this newly fixed plan. Last September Japan experienced the change of governing party, then the relocation plan got on the review. After months of turmoil left distrust to the Japanese government and the U.S..
But I think this is great progress for Japanese to raise awareness that the U.S. military is nothing but trash and Japan has to defend its country all by themselves. Defending such beautiful sea like the below video from invaders.
But interesting history exists in Okinawa. Okinawa used to be an independent kingdom like Hawaii and Guam. But late 19th century Japanese government took over and annexed to the Empire of Japan. After the world war 2, the U.S. military grounded the island and had occupied until 1972. That is why tens of bases are located in Okinawa. The below photo is recreation of palace of what was called the Ryukyu Kingdom. This place is Okinawa's most famous tourist spot, called Shurijo.
16:47 Posted in Ecology, Japan News, Politics, Travel, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | Tags: okinawa, military
02 March 2010
Olympic is nonsense event
Vancouver winter Olympic was over. Frankly, I do not care.
I was never interested in it because I think this event is just nonsense one.
There are many issues related to Olympic games such as doping, commercialism.
But my personal opinion is sports are just for leisure and health. I don't like heroism in it.
In fact, who wins or loses relies on how much money the athletes were invested by their sponsors.
That is why rich nations' athletes can get more medals than others because their sponsors could afford good facilities and coaches to make the athletes medalists. It is never fair games.
I do not like commercialism using athletes' heroic images. They are just good at sports, so what? They are not entertainers.
I want to say "Enjoy sports just for fun, leisure and health." Those who need professional skills for sports are only those who teach people how to do the sports like trainer or instructor.
If someone wants to take advantage of his or her physical advantage, use it for military, fire fighter, coast guard, police, construction work and other professional works which physical strength is vital. The below video shows such people. I like them.
24 January 2010
US military base Relocation Plan was rejected by local citizens
A candidate who opposes US military's relacation of Futenama Marine base in Okinawa to Henoko located on the same island won the mayor election of Nago city which includes Henoko area. Former mayors all agreed the relocation plan. The below photo is Henoko beach. The relocation plan is to landfill beautiful beach and ocean that endangers dugongs and other wild life. More than 30 of new species were found by WWF Japan in this area. Even U.S. environmetalist groups oppose the plan by suing their government. S.F. Federal Court ordered the military to review the plan.
This relocation plan has been controversial since new ruling party took power in September. New ruling party, Democratic Party of Japan announced alternative plan but it has yet reached agreement with the U.S.
This mayor election result proved to be Henoko plan is no longer feasible.
So where would Futenma be relocated to? Well, that is their business, not ours. To Guam where local citizens have no right to choose American President or mainland or reduce the marines.
The U.S. military is useless in this country. It was important during the Cold War era because its presence functioned as deterrent to Soviet Union and we could get financial aid from the U.S. and export Japanese goods to the U.S. market in exchange for providing bases to the U.S. which countered communism.
Now Soviet Union fell down, the Cold War ended. Not just Futenma, Kadena, Yokosuka, Yokota, Atsugi, Zama, Misawa, Iwakuni, Sasebo, all should be gone. We can protect our country ourselves, in fact we have to anyway.
The below photo is sign near the beach that says "Beach is our treasure. Take garbage (and base) to your home. Environment and Sanitation Department of Nago City." (and base) is handwritten.
U.S. military, GO HOME where you belong!!
23:48 Posted in Japan News, Politics, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | Tags: military