Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans) - ecology

U.S. environmentalists urge Obama to halt construction of Marine Base in Okinawa Japan

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:51:17 +0900

Not all of Americans are bad. There are Americans who oppose planned construction of U.S. Marine base in Henoko bay, Okinawa, Japan.

They also oppose Japan's whaling and dolphin hunting. I oppose whaling but not dolphin hunting.

Please read the following news from Mr. Mark J. Palmer, Earth Island.

Kind of good news if it works.

*************************

                 Copyright 2009 Inside Washington Publishers
                             All Rights Reserved
                          Defense Environment Alert

                               December 8, 2009

SECTION: Vol. 17 No. 25

LENGTH: 523 words

HEADLINE: Environmental Coalition Pressures Obama to Revoke Okinawa Airstrip Plan

BODY:

   A major coalition of environmental groups is pressuring the Obama administration to revoke a plan to build a U.S. military airstrip over an ecologically sensitive area in Okinawa that is home to several endangered species, sensing recent political developments may open the door to changes in a U.S.-Japanese agreement to build the facility.

   Led by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), a multitude of environmental groups representing over 10 million Americans, sent a letter to President Obama Dec. 3 calling on him to retract plans to expand a Marine Corps base in northeast Okinawa because it threatens to destroy habitat for coral reef ecosystems and critically endangered species like the Okinawa dugong, a sacred Japanese icon similar to a manatee. A 2006 bilateral agreement between the United States and Japan would relocate a contentious air station from an urban center in Okinawa to Camp Schwab, located in the northern part of the island.
The new facility is known as the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF).

   But high-level talks between the United States and Japan that begun last month signaled the two governments are revisiting the FRF plan, with the new Japanese government, installed in September, having run an election campaign that in part opposed the FRF's siting on Okinawa. Environmentalists saw the changes as a possible opportunity to get the military project moved or scuttled (Defense Environment Alert, Nov. 24).

   The new Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, "is a very promising development on this issue" and environmentalists hope "that between the two governments, that they will realize that the current plan would cause unacceptable environmental impacts and change course," says one environmentalist central to the coalition's effort.

   "The base plan would devastate dugong habitat in Henoko bay and nearby Oura Bay, and would be extremely harmful to turtles, fish, coral, and other marine life," the coalition of environmental groups say in their letter to Obama.

   "The recently elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan have expressed the desire to renegotiate the 2006 agreement and cancel plans to relocate the base. You have the ability and duty to alter the course of this devastating plan, but time is of the essence.

   "We urge you to direct the U.S. secretaries of defense and state to cancel this project immediately." The letter is available on InsideEPA.com.

   In addition to CBD, other groups signing the letter include Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Greenpeace and the Endangered Species Coalition, which represents more than 400 organizations.

   Environmentalists have long litigated against the Marine Corps' plan to create the FRF on Okinawa, citing concerns the facility would harm the habitat of the dugong. The proposed FRF would extend a 1.5-mile long airstrip over the sea, onto offshore seagrass beds that form the dugong's habitat. The FRF plan is part of a larger U.S. restructuring agreement with Japan that includes moving thousands of Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to be based on Guam (see related story).

Trip to Okinawa

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:49:03 +0900

The main purpose was to meet people in Okinawa who confronts most unwanted unwelcome environmentally destructive and dangerous facilities in Okinawa. I joined them. If you want to know the detail, please read this article.

The below is the video clip I made for the summary of my Anti-US base tour.

However, I really enjoyed sightseeing and leisure in Okinawa, too. Swimming in emerald green sea, attending a concert on the beach, eating delicous food, forest trecking and seeing magnificient views of the island. This is the most beautiful island in the world only if the US fucking bases are gotten rid of. See the below video clip. That's fun part of Okinawa trip.

Since the Cold War is over, their presence is useless. Potential threat, China? No. China is world's largest owner of U.S. treasury bonds. They can't confront China because they owe Chinese a lot. All they do in Okinawa or other base towns in Japan is spread pollution disease, killing endangered mammals, commiting crimes such as rape and murder.

What are they doing? Go back where they belong, where they are welcome. Not in Okinawa, Not elsewhere in Japan.

US military is DUGONG KILLER!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:48:00 +0900

In Henoko, Nago-city, Okinawa Prefecture, Southernmost island of Japan, Dugongs lives are endangered by US Marine Base construction.

Negotiation to change the plan is underway between the two governments.

It is in fact, part of US Military Transformation Program which includes relocation of Marines in Futenma. After Futenma is removed, half of the Marines there will be relocated to Guam, the other half will be to Henoko.

But endangered sea mammals, dugongs inhabit in that coastal area. They eat seaweeds in that sea.

The construction of the base will pollute the sea of that area thus kill that endangered species.

You know what! Americans who criticize Japan's whaling and dolphin hunting are killing such beautiful and endangered sea mammals.

The preview of the film portrays their hypocrisy. Not taking on evil act of their own govermnet but accusing us of sea mammal killer.

Japanese goverment and local people in Okinawa don't want that but the U.S. is pressuring to build that.

Don't they think it would cause damage on their country's reputation among Japanese?

Japanese don't like Americans any more and never want to buy things from Americans.

The U.S. base is not defending Japan at all. China is thought to be potential threat, but China lends so much money to their bankrupt economy.

Actually the U.S. needs financial help from Japan, too. Aren't they wise enough to be concerned about Japanese public opinion for their national interest?

Actually it is time Japanese stop being friend with Americans. They are not decent enough to get along with.

Well, I always try to avoid buying goods made in USA or those of American brands except necessary ones like Microsoft.

Since deployment of Nuclear Aircraft Carrier in Yokosuka port, my feeling towards America was really changed.

In fact, I realized that country sucks. I got tired of Hollywood films and pop music. I am more interested in other countries' culture and my own culture, not the one with no substantial tradition and history.

Poor country, even a President receives Nobel Peace Prize, they have to continue spending so much money to kill people and destroy environment. The people there are losing jobs, starving and cannot afford medical expenditure. Young Americans join military to get tuition for college education. Obama never deserves Nobel Peace Prize.

I can never believe I used to live in their country and study there for more than 5 years. That is away in the past.

Here comes White Crusaders again!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:04:00 +0900

American dolphin trainer named Ric O'Barry is taking on Japan's traditional culture.

He loves dolphins so he doesn't like Japanese dolphin hunting in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture.

He came to the town and shoot the scenes of hunting and made documentary film.

Here comes again after whaling in Antarctica. This time within Japan's territory. It seems he and his friends think Japan is part of US territory.

I don't eat dolphin meat. But the localies hunt and eat them for centuries. That is their culture and tradition. Japanese government provides the license to them. It doesn't matter whether their hunting method is cruel or not. We, human eat animal meat in order to survive. You can see as graphic scenes as that in beef processing factories.

Well, I believe such protestants are small portion of all. When I was in the U.S., Americans I met said they don't care about cultural thing. Unless the species is endangered, they don't care who eats what. I think that is the ordinary people's response.

I was against Japan's whaling in Antarctica because it is not worth it. There is not high demand any more and it hurts Australia's tourist business. I never agree with Aussie's idea that whales are cute and intelligent mammals so we shouldn't kill. It can mean you can kill less intelligent animals? Sounds racist.

Is it white Christian ideology that once you believe one thing is good, force others to follow?

Interesting thing is in 19th century westerners came to Japan and Southern Pacific islands and criticized local gay culture as "uncivilized" from their standard. Then the gay culture declined.

Now what are westerners doing about gay issues now?

If Mr. O'Barry really cares about Japan's cute mammals lives being threatened, he should go to Nago city, Okinawa. There are many mammals that are threatened by construction of US Marine base. He doesn't even have to visit Japan, he can go to Washington first. Actually WWF sued US Defense department for that matter. He should forget the dolphins but saves dugongs. Or he wouldn't because dugongs don't do the tricks he teaches?

WWF-Japan leader calls for dugong research by halting USMC training exercises

Dear Dave: I don't buy US goods, either lately. Whaling in Antarctica or dolphin hunting in Taiji are not illegal. Internationally and domestically. Americans are exporting beef with mad cow disease to the world. They let cows eat bones of dead cows, that cause mad cow disease.

I haven't seen the movie. I want to see the movie anyway. Documentary can be biased.

Protest MOX fuels transportation to Japan

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:12:00 +0900

From Cherbourg, France 2 ships that carries very, very hazardous nuclear fuels, so called MOX departed. The ships' destinations are several Japanese ports near nuclear power plants.

That is nothing but bothersome not only to Japan but also France and other nations in the world. From France to Japan the ships would sail on the Atlantic ocean and Pacific oceans. If the MOX fuels got some troubles such as radiation leak, coastal regions near the ships would be affected. The potential regions would include North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. The transported MOX fuels contains 1.4 tons of plutonium that can possibly be converted to nuclear weapons.

If the terrorist attack the ships, what would happen? Is this what people of the world can be happy with?

That MOX fuels are not even welcome by Japanese. Only by people related to nuclear power plant businesses.

The MOX fuels are very inefficient. The current power plants in Japan are not well equipped for MOX fuels.

The use of MOX fuels are not even permitted by local authorities. After the fuels arrived, it would have to wait for years in order to be used in the plants. It may never be used!

People of the world, especially French, Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, and Japanese. Please protest this stupid and dangerous sailing. That is much worse than whaling ship and even nuclear powered aircraft carrier like CVN 73.

Senator McCain said,

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:25:00 +0900

"Look, we've sailed Navy ships around the world for 60 years with nuclear power plants on them. We can store and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, Senator Obama, no problem." concerning energey crisis on last presidential debate.

Yes, he is right. There are 10 nuclear aircraft carriers that belong to the U.S. Navy. One of them is CVN 73, George Washington, which was deployed in Yokosuka city, 20 miles from Japan's capital Tokyo. We don't like it. The ship should go back to its homeland, not the country whose people don't like it much. I hate it. It is dangerous and making me nervous. If it breaks, estimated 1.6 million people would die by leaked radiation.

It should be used for the generation of cities, rather than military purpose. The nuclear powered ship on the sea is very, very dangerous. It costs much more than conventional ship. The reactors should be transformed to fit the plants on the ground.

Although I do not support nuclear power as substitute for oil, it is much better to be used for generation for inland cities .

McCain said "reprocess spent nuclear fuel." That is not practical any more. A lot of countries failed. It costs so much money and pollute the land around the reprocessing factories. However, unspent nuclear fuel inside the ships should be used by stopping the navigation and dismantling the ships. It is time to do that. Use the energey for the daily life not for the military. Let the troops back on the shores.

The U.S. is now in historical financial crisis, they have to reduce military spending dramatically. They cannot afford stationing their troops abroad. Foreign nations including my country are not generous lending their lands for the U.S. military any more.

Whether Obama or McCain becomes president of the U.S., what they have to do is rethink their military policy which has been failing.

No more nuclear ships! Let's make the world safe by abondaning such dangerous ships!

I don't eat poisonous American beef!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:15:00 +0900

Actually, I do not eat beef at all, not even Australian beef.

But American beef is MUST NOT. It is poisoned by mad cow disease.On 23 of April Japanese famous beef rice bowl restaurant franchise, Yoshinoya discovered beef with back-bone imported from Californian beef factory. The backbones are classified as dangerous part that can contain mad cow disease.

American beef import has been restricted since mad cow disease case was reported in the U.S.

Even after the restriction was loosen, a lot of beef with backbones which might contain poisonous disease that can affect human brains were found in the custom checks. Every time that case was reported, the beef import was banned.

The U.S. government insensitively pressured Japanese government to import their poisonous beef whatsoever. Then Japanese government gave in. But the thing is Japanese customers are walking away. Restaurants in Japan advertise that they are not using dangerous American beef. Some supermarkets have stopped selling American beef.

Instead, Australian beef are getting popular because of safety. Australian farmers are not using meat and bone meal to raise their cows. They are using natural grass. Good! The restaurant I often go and eat advertise they use only safe Australian beef. Now they are doing Angus beef steak campaign.

Well, even America tries to threaten Japanese government, people are not that stupid. Not only beef but trust in other American goods is declining.

Remember, we can do boycott campaign of other American goods if we want as long as the U.S. government is insulting us. Just like Chinese are doing to French for Tibet issue. Actually I am doing that to protest America's "Third Atomic Bomb" to our land.

This is the campaign statement.

Stupid America! How ignorant they are! They are not our friends any more.

By the way, I am actually not eating beef at all as previously mentioned. I am becoming vegetarian recently. Not because of religions or love for animals. It is due to health and ecology. Vegetables work fine in my stomach.

Cattle grazing is very harmful to the environment. Amazon forests are disappearing because of grazing. Deforestration and methane breath from cows are causing global warming.

There are estimated 1.5 billions cows on the earth. If the crops for feeding the cows are switched to feed humans, the world starvation problem would be resolved. We are wasting so much food and starving many people in other parts of the world just for the luxury of the good tasting.

It is time we change our lifestyle to save our planet. American lifestyle is most harmful to our planet. Just cut it off!

Answer to Pritcht,

China is not part of Japan, nor Japan is not part of China. Both are separate independent nations. Do more research on the world geographies.

Boycott American goods to protest permanent deployment of USS “George Washington” in Yokosuka base

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:10:00 +0900

The American aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is scheduled to enter and set anchor in Yokosuka base near Tokyo this year in August, uses highly concentrated uranium fuel and is, in a manner of speaking, “a nuclear reactor floating on the sea”. A nuclear power plant generates electricity by creating steam which turns turbines, whereas a nuclear aircraft carrier uses this power to navigate.

While the aircraft carrier is anchored the nuclear reactor is not generating power; during that time however the nuclear reactor must be continuously cooled and if an accident or a disaster such as an earthquake were to render the cooling process impossible, a catastrophe caused by the core melting down is capable of occurring. In such a case, the damage caused would cover the entire national capital region. In addition to a large number of people losing their lives, the region would also likely be transformed into an area similar to Chernobyl , where people will not be able to live for centuries to come. For the people living in the capital region, this cannot be allowed.

The American Navy insists that the aircraft carrier is “safe”, in spite of the fact it won’t release information regarding the structure of the nuclear reactor due to military secrecy. This kind of talk makes complete fools of the Japanese people.

While I was thinking about this, I was casually watching an American movie one day when something occurred to me. The movie was a good one, but I couldn’t help getting irritated by the fact that the country where it was produced was trying to bring a “third atomic bomb” into our country’s capital city. Probably because of this, I stopped enjoying the movie and turned it off halfway through. In addition, I can’t help but detest all things that project the image of America . I once studied in the United States , but even so, when I think of the “American military superpower” insensitively bringing in a nuclear aircraft carrier for its own national interests, I just become disgusted. Of course, the Japanese government who “nobly” accepted this situation is also cowardly and irritating.

I thought about whether there was anything I could do. In Yokosuka signatures are being collected to hold a local referendum. In addition, a lawsuit has been filed requesting the suspension of the dredging work which is being done in the harbor in order for the aircraft carrier to anchor. However, these measures are surely not suitable to overcome what has already been decided between the two countries’ respective governments. However I think there is something that can be done at an individual level, and moreover, which involves a greater number of people: the act of not buying American goods.

Naturally our everyday lives are filled with American goods including computer softwares I am using, yet we must try as hard as we can to not buy them. I have immediately stopped watching American movies. I am going to withdraw my funds from an American capital bank (Shinsei bank owned by Ripplewood), cancel my insurance (Aflac), naturally I’m going to stop eating at fast food restaurants (McDonald’s) and family restaurants (Denny’s), stop going to amusement parks (Disney Land) and do as much as possible from what’s available.

There are some companies who simply borrow American copyrights while conducting their business through Japanese capital; however since they invoke the image of America , they must also become subjects of the boycott. By making this kind of proposal, there will likely be a lot of criticism stating that political and military affairs are being confused with commerce. However if citizens do not display their will through these kinds of means, then there is little chance that they will be able to alter this urgent situation. This is the same as the boycott movement that occurred on Japanese goods amongst Americans who were opposed to the Japanese invasion of China in the lead-up to the Second World War.

As is well known, individuals are free to decide which goods to buy and which goods not to buy. From America’s point of view, economic relations with Japan are more significant than military ones. You could even say that America is quite reliant on good economic relations with Japan . In addition, the Japanese government is paying expenses for the American troops stationed in Japan in what it designates an “omoiyari yosan (Simpathy budget)”, or which the U.S. calls “host nation support”.

I would also like to suggest the following. Since the anxiety caused by the upcoming permanent deployment of the nuclear aircraft carrier is going to lead to emotional distress and pain, citizens should sue the American navy and its affiliates. It’s not a matter of winning the lawsuit or not. This kind of action would be done to show that citizens are making a stand. If it is recognized that a large number of citizens approve of the boycott on American goods, then they will be forced to deal with the issue. A boycott circle should be symbolically created. If the government doesn’t work, individual citizens will likely be able to provide in its stead.

The Cold War is already over, and I do not believe the presence of American troops has the same significance on security that it once did. Recently, troops are only being used for the American militaristic strategy including invasion of Iraq . There is considerable room for negotiation. We individuals, as well as the government, must work on cooling off the “Simpathy budget”.

Nevertheless, many Japanese have remained uninterested even though the thought of their country’s capital city facing the threat of radioactivity should leave them restless. A military ally which is supposed to protect Japan could cause it massive destruction. It’s truly humiliating. In reality, it’s being said that the American government also fears the problem of the Japanese people’s sentiments towards the upcoming deployment of the nuclear aircraft carrier. It’s also being said that the names given to other aircraft carriers could bring back images of the atomic bomb, which is why the USS “George Washington” was chosen.

While I was studying in the United States however, I was told the following by a Afro-American: “Washington was a hypocrite who was advocating liberty while at the same time owning slaves”. This kind of view also exists. The USS George Washington, as well as the soon-to-be decommissioned standard warship USS Kitty Hawk have both borrowed the name of liberty while being used in a hypocritical aggressive war. Let’s stop lending our land out with such ease to the United States . Isn’t it time that we establish the trend of starting to take a greater responsibility for the defense of our own country? Before saying that the government is unreliable, it’s time that individuals think of how their actions are able to change the principles of politics and diplomacy.

The above is translation of this Japanese article posted on Japan's most famous independent citizen media.

The below is related post. Please also read this.

Do not bring third atomic bomb to our capital.

P.S. I urge American people to boycott Toshiba products because the company received orders to build several nuclear power plants on the U.S. soil.

Dear Sea Shepherds and animal loving Americans!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:40:00 +0900

Sea Shepherds came back again and attacked Japanese whaling fleets in Antartic Sea. This time Japanese marine patrol personnel shot at them.

I sent Sea Shepherds the following message by email. This is not only for marine hypocrit group but for animal loving Americans.

From a decent Japanese citizen,

Rather than spending so much money and energy on protecting whales in Antarctica, why don’t you try to protect Dugongs in Okinawa, Japan ’s southernmost island.

Dugong habitat is threatened by your country’s military and our country’s government. New US military base will be constructed near the habitat. San Francisco court ordered your military to review the construction plan due to the violation of the law effective in the U.S.

We normally don’t listen to the hysteric crusaders who want to force their own values on others like Christian missionaries who did that to native Americans. But as for the Dugong case in Okinawa , we would.

We’ve been so angered by your military that rape local women and now threaten the lives of most endangered and beautiful species on earth. Dolphins and whales, there are plenty of them swimming in the oceans. Dugongs are much more endangered.

P.S. Save innocent Iraqi lives being killed by your military! Or are they less important than lives of whales.

By the way, are Sea Shepherd members all vegetarian? Don’t eat cows, pigs and chickens if you think eating animals are so sin.

Did you know grazing cattles is deforesting Amazon forest?

Stop eating hambergers! Eat fish and whales and dophins. They don' t need glazed fields.

Be more smart and scientific rather than being hypocratic!

P.S. If you are really animal rights activisits, stop Rodeo shows, it is hurting cute cows. Don' t say it is your culture! Some culture is not worth going on.

Dear Paikea,

Taking half an hour or 1 minute to kill doesn't make any difference. After all, we are all barbaric in order to survive. Even if you are vegetarian, even plants are living creatures and have emotions, and we are taking lives away from them. But they just stay still. What is arrogant is determine which creature is worth living based on cuteness, or how familiar they are to you.

I don't care how we kill and eat animals because they are just resources to us. All we have to do is keep them sustainable. I don't criticize rodeo in Texas, chicken fighting in Southeast Asia or bullfighting in Spain. It is their cultures and their animals.

Well, Asians should taste better than Caucasions because we are more like herbivorous mammals.

Nuke plants are built on earthquake land

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:40:00 +0900

Japan has many, many earthquakes. As you know what happened in Niigata Prefecture, major earthquake and casualties like that can be seen once or twice every year. It is like annual events of our country. This earthquake caused 10 casualties but the most serious thing in fact is nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-kariwa built in this area caught a fire and was partially destructed. See the pictures.

The plant now stopped the operation for examination. It will take a year to recover and reoperate. But I hope it would not restart operating forever.

Can't believe the plant is on such dangerous area. In fact nowhere in Japan is suitable for the nuclear power plant. Japan is earthquake land.

Proponets of the nuclear energey claim Japan lacks natural resources, so we have no choice but to rely on nuclear energey. About 30% of power comes from nuclear energey. But the risk for the accident is so huge. In fact, we've already had tens of accidents. Several plant workers died. One town was closed for days because of the radiation leak. This time we had small radiation leak to the air and the ocean.

Japan can invent, and develop alternative energey like windpower and solar energey. We have the technology. But politicians are reluctant because they are heavily influenced by major power plant corporations and their union workers. The media is reluctant to report such issues because their major sponsors are power plant corporations. It is like NBC owned by GE.

This is not just Japan's problem. Like Three Mile and Chernobyl, the damage would be worldwide. Even after the accident, many residents living close to the plants are dying every year.

We can develop alternative and safe energey sources and we can even change our lifestyle to reduce our energey consumption.

Tokyo Electric Power Corporation which owns the Kashiwazaki-kariwa plant announced Tokyo will face energey shortage because of the temporary shutdown. The company requests us to save energey to keep up the reduced supply.

As a citizen of Tokyo, I welcome that. If we can go through this year with less energey supply, that proves we do not need the shutdown plant and make this temporary shutdown permanent one. After that, we can make new movement to abondon the nuclear power plants nationwide and then worldwide.

NO MORE NUCLEAR ENERGEY!. This is the way our world should go!