To: aml@jca.apc.org, keystone@jca.apc.org, pmn@jca.apc.org
Subject: [keystone 2785] Red Card Movement in Okinawa (English version)
From: toshimaru ogura <ogr@nsknet.or.jp>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 19:36:12 +0900
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小倉です。沖縄の「レッドカード運動」の英語のアピールです。英語圏のML等
をご存じであれば転載等をよろしく。
一部文字化けがあります。また、機種依存による文字化けと思われるところを
削除しました。(内容には関わりのないところだと思います)

========================
From: "REDCARD MOVEMENT" <redcard2usbase@hotmail.com>
To: hiroes@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 06:18:32 GMT

Dear Friends,

I am a researcher at Ota Peace Research Institute in Okinawa, Japan, under
the former Governor of Okinawa, Prof. Masahide Ota.
Please allow me to send the message below in order to appeal the U.S.
military base in Okinawa during G8-Summitt.
I am asking you to send this e-mail to all the NGO, media, and your friends
around the world.  Link free homepage is also available.  Please visit:

http://www.cosmos.ne.jp/~usanc/

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at:

FAX:  81-98-884-2238
EMAIL: redcard2usbase@hotmail.com
CELL:  81-070-5816-7115

Sincerely,

Hiroe Shimabukuro
Researcher
Ota Peace Research Institute

Red Card Movement

WHAT IS THE RED CARD MOVEMENT?

It is a movement to show rejection of the U.S. military base presence in
Okinawa.  We are seeking to make the U.S. and Japanese governments, along
with the rest of the world, aware of our desire.  Because the G8 Summit will
be taking place in Okinawa from July 21-23, the world media will be present
on our island at that time.  Since it is a rare occasion that such an
important gathering will be held on Okinawa, we have chosen our movement to
coincide with the arrival of leaders and press from around the world.  We
will show our rejection of the U.S. military base presence in Okinawa by
showing a red card and the red color during the Summit.

However, we must clarify that this movement is not against the United States
nor against the G8 Summit.  Furthermore, the Red Card Movement is not
affiliated with any particular organization, group, religion or ideology; it
is open to anyone who wishes to show their rejection of the U.S. military
base presence in Okinawa.

WHAT IS A RED CARD?

In soccer, when a referee shows a red card to a player, the player must exit
the field immediately; there is no discussion or arguing.  That is to say, a
red card is the last resort of the referee to remove a player whose actions
merit punishment.  It also demonstrates the absolute power in some
circumstances the referee holds, and must retain, over the players.

In that manner, we Okinawans, who have traditionally exercised very little
power over our own destinies, will assume the role of the referee and show a
red card to the U.S. military base presence.  This means that any showing of
the color red will be included in demonstrating our rejection of the U.S.
base presence.

Examples of red colored items include:
Ribbons, badges, posters, stickers or fliers that may be placed on your
house, door, car (car antenna) or other buildings.
Neckties, T-shirts, badge, cloths or other accent that may be worn.

WHEN IS THE RED CARD MOVEMENT?

Since this movement is entirely voluntary, anyone and any group may join at
any time, even starting now.  However, we place emphasis on the G8 Summit
period (July 20-24) and especially the day of the Human Chain (July 20) when
the largest U.S. airbase in Asia will be completely surrounded by human
beings.

WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE?

No more weapons;
No more military crashes;
No more military accidents;
No more GI crimes;
No more GI rapes;
No more misery;
No more US imperialism;
No more environmental destruction;
No more PCB;
No more fires;
No more noise pollution;
No more unnecessary conflicts;
No more dollars;
No more sacrifice;
No more inequalities;
No more fear;
No more oppression;
No more US bases!

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

We are not asking for money; we simply ask that you be creative and spread
the idea of the Red Card Movement to everyone you know.

Examples:
Send email, fax or phone your friends and tell them about the Red Card
Movement.
Create your own poster, ribbon, flier or other red article, proudly wear
them and give them to others.
Introduce the idea on a website.
Introduce the idea to any kind of group or organization that you are
involved in.
Spread the idea to the media.

If you are interested, please send us your contact information (especially
email address) and we will gladly keep you informed and up-to-date on the
Red Card Movement.  Of course, any information you give us will be
confidential and not used to any other purpose than to contact you with
updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
Hiroe

FAX:  81-98-884-2238
EMAIL: redcard2usbase@hotmail.com
CELL: 81-070-5816-7115

OKINAWA HISTORY

Okinawa is made up of 1.3 million people residing on about 160 islands
located to the southwest of mainland Japan.  The early US explorers labeled
 Okinawa as the "Keystone of the Pacific" since Taipei, Shanghai, Hong
Kong, Seoul, Manila, and Tokyo all lie within a 1500 km radius of the
islands.
Okinawa was once an independent nation known as the Ryukyu Kingdom.  Trade
with China and other Southeast Asian countries made her prosper in 14th
century.  However, in 1609 Okinawa was conquered by force and occupied by
the Japanese clan Satsuma.  In 1879 the islands were officially recognized
as the Japanese prefecture, Okinawa.

Battle of Okinawa

In 1944, Okinawa was the only Japanese battlefield during World War II, and
was also the site of the last ground battle of the Pacific Front.  During
the Battle of Okinawa, as it would later be known, 140,000 Okinawans were
killed, along with 14,005 American and 74,796 mainland Japanese soldiers.
The islands lost nearly 1/3 of their population and, at the close of the
battle, came under the control of the U.S. military.  In 1951, when the San
Francisco Peace Treaty was officially recognized, Okinawa legally became a
possession of the United States.
In 1972, control of Okinawa was reverted to Japan, where it has remained
ever since.  Nevertheless, even after the islands were reinstated as a
Japanese prefecture, U.S. military presence was acknowledged and suggested
by the both Japanese and the U.S. government.

U.S. MILITARY BASES AND OKINAWA

Okinawa makes up just 0.6% of Japan's total land mass, yet 75% of all U.S.
military bases in Japan are in Okinawa.  Currently, the bases occupy 19% of
the capital island of Okinawa, an island 65 miles long with an average width
of 7 miles and populated by 1.04 million.  Okinawa's population density is
about 578 people per square km (Japan's average is 335 people per square km;
the U.S.' is only 30).  Even after reversion to Japanese control in 1972,
only 17% of the Okinawan land originally taken by the U.S. bases has been
returned.  In contrast, 60% of the land of mainland Japan was returned.

The U.S. military base presence in Japan is justified by the Japan-U.S.
Security Treaty; however, there is no stipulation that the majority of the
bases must be located in Okinawa.  Furthermore, the bases are protected by
the Status of Forces Agreement, which for example, forbids the Japanese or
Okinawan governments from inspecting the bases for environmental violations
or from prosecuting American soldiers for crimes against Okinawans.

Facts:

There are 38 U.S. military facilities in Okinawa.
There are 48,626 military personnel (More than half of all U.S. military
personnel in Japan).
23,759 hectares of Okinawa prefecture is controlled by U.S. bases.
Six Okinawan cities are 40% occupied by U.S. bases.
Among the worst is Kadena Town, of which 83% is home to the largest U.S.
airbase in the Far East.
Since the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in 1972, approximately 5,000 crimes
have been committed by U.S. military personnel.

http://www.cosmos.ne.jp/~usanc/

========================
転載終り

((((((((((^0^))))))))))
toshimaru ogura
ogr@nsknet.or.jp
http://www.jca.apc.org/~toshi
((((((((((^0^))))))))))



 
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