JAPAN MEETING TO BUILD ARTICLE 9

Heading over the ocean on an endless flight of sunlight. Only ten hours or so they say. Endless movies on-demand on this delightful Singapore Airlines where they ooze joyous service. LA was a whirlwind of preparation and catching up on the sleep I had missed for days. So much strategy spinning in my head on how to be more effective in this international peace work. How to really restore the dream of peace that emerged from the ashes of two world wars, but was put on the back burner to geo-political conflict, greed and the military/industrial “complex.” Those who could have led, fell far below the essence of being human, while turning a blind eye to the cruel and destructive means taken to achieve foggy ends. The resulting silent complacency settled in on our shores and peace was lost in the battle at home and broad between us and them. .

I am heading to Japan where one of the most important struggles today is being waged - to save Article Nine of their peace constitution. No Japanese soldier has killed or been killed by others since 1945 and this clause prohibits such action by law. A sleeping military giant is poised to join the world of preemptive war and overseas militarism. I just shared through email with some Japanese lawyers and activists my short film on Article 9 and they are very excited about it. One wrote to me yesterday and in just a few words reminded why this work is so inspiring:

Dear Eric
Thank you very much for making the film. I have watched it and I appreciate your solidarity with our struggles to maintain Article Nine. The film is quite enlightening explaining comprehensively the most current situation of the provision. I think the film is very useful to educate not only foreign people but the Japanese people. I will make the committee of the foreign affairs of the JLAF to discuss how to utilize the film.
Your friend in solidarity
Akio Sugeno

The film is called simply Japan’s Article 9: The Path to Peace. Still tweaking the images and the sound but go and watch it...only 29 minutes (For those who are used to sitting through 118 minutes of Committing Poetry - www.commttingpoetry.com ). Watch it at http://vimeo.com/4641518 and you will understand why I am going to Japan
...and why we all should shine our light on the hope it represents and the vote by 2010 that seeks to repeal peace.

Pass it on to others. Write Obama to reverse Bush position of seeking Japan to drop Article 9.

Off the plane and meeting with Osamu Niikira and Jun Sasamoto of the Japan Lawyers International Solidarity Association (JALISA).
Spoke of their plan to get all nations to consider peace constitutions. Next big Article 9 meeting in Costa Rica in July.