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Women's hotline - updates

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女性の人権ホットライン Did you know this past week was a week to raise awareness about abuse? The websites highlight domestic violence and stalkers abut about wage equity, sexism and other actual women's rights? Nov 15- Nov 21, Daily 8:30am-7:00pm   TEL: 0570-070-810 It just seems sad that this gets attention only get one week a year! Get more information about local numbers to call: http://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken108.html Here is a chart with what women called about last year and 6 years ago as well: women called in about more than violence: discriminatory practices and behaviour, porn and prostitution related issues and sexual harassment:

Equality Now Women’s Action 33.1:Rape simulation games

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Nov 14, 2009 Pres Obama in Japan

Nov 14 President Obama Tokyo pix

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This was an exciting day. yes i want him ot go more to the left and do the right thing for the country and the world... but it was great to see him in person. more motivated to fight for social change. community organizers of the world => keep rockin' it!

Japan women's rights hotline 2009

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女性の人権ホットライン Nov 15- Nov 21 Daily 8:30am-7:00pm     TEL: 0570-070-810 * i know this is a week to raise awareness about abuse fo women's rights. seems sad one week a year!

Nov 14, 2009 Pres Obama in Japan

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A group of us were lucky not only the see and hear pres. Obama in person today but we also got great seats. thanks to both people at the embassy and Mike getting there at 6am! We were moved and inspired by Pres. Obama today - he is terribly charismatic and shines most when he smiles. It is great to have someone with a community organizer background in the WH. It is up to us to move him to take the actions we want. There is so much to do to make the world a better place. I still have not downloaded my pix but here are a few. thie first one by John H and the second by Greg I. Many more pix and vids have been posted on FB but for those of you not on FB --- here you go! Vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMb3VZmfJCI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4ZWNEXbug Look for the crazy people standing up right away - that is how close we were: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ2DtAV-KXA

guns and friends

one of the reasons i stopped posting is my strong feelings about things and the scary reactions i get. yes this is not a high hit blog but there are scary people in the world and as long as they do not know me i guess i am okay. tonight i have 2 notes - 1 good - 1 bad, not really bad! the good i will have time to post when more later about but FINALLY Lindsey Ann Hawker's killer has been not on.ly spotted but found and arrested. SEE! you can make a difference by looking around you and making a simple call. if it was your mom, your sister, your lover - would you not want someone to make that call and say hey i think i saw XXXX. on the big bad note - an old (none older than I!) dear friend sent a short note on FB that her ex- (crazy controlling nutty - my words - not hers ) husband is getting a gun - no excuse me - a pistol permit. what is the bloody difference? well i looked it up and it means you need to tell people liberal stuff like "guns have not proved to reduce crime...

Lindsay Ann Hawker murder: prime suspect arrested

Thank god the guy was found ... just hope that other women's families can have peace. The family worked hard to push the police to act and to educate the public. Their efforts paid off. i only hope the police do not bungle it from now! http://www.lindsayannhawker.com/index.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFdUmsJg9AA

Honiefaith => a play and a real person.

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Watching the play Honiefaith last week disturbed me a lot. Stories about violence against women disturb me --- but this show is based on a real case. The show blurb: * When a Filipino hostess' dismembered body is discovered in a Tokyo coin locker, Manila newspaper reporter Victor Balmori is dispatched to Japan. Balmori is looking for a story, he finds a nightmare.* For the most recent article bout the case in English: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090724a9.html for the news report on the real case http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol97xNKwxSM There are many implications to this and other social issues to deal with --- of course: if she was white if she was a 23 year old English teacher if she had parents who had the money to come to Japan to make media event ... well things would have been different. Think about it. http://www.stippy.com/japan-news-and-media/chopped-up-filipina-body-found-in-tokyo-coin-locker/

Nov 11 Seminar => What’s needed to end world poverty? Your voice!

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Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 19:00 – 20:45 International Development Seminar #3: What’s needed to end world poverty? Your voice! Seminar contents: Introduction to poverty in the world today, the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and how you can get involved. (In Japanese) Featuring: Masaki Inaba, Executive Director, GCAP Japan, Facilitator: Sarajean Rossitto Location: Tsuda College Sendagaya Campus, Tsuda Hall in front of Sendagaya Station http://osc.tsuda.ac.jp/access.html Fee: None it’s Free! Limited to 50 people only up sign up to day! To sign up, visit: https://secure.chat-jp.com/users/osctsuda/seminar/seminar.html
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Run For The Cure /Walk for Life 2009 pix courtesy of Kathy A record number of people joined 1500+wow wee!

issues that bug me #1

kiddie porn and prostitution Although the bill may seem straightforward, the issue of possession criminalization is still contentious in Japan as there is concern about infringement of freedom of speech. Should the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prevention Law be passed as yet another law without remedy or penalty or enforcement mechanisms it may be proof that change may only be a facade and not of actual change. Find out more about the issues: www.nichibenren.or.jp/en/activities/statements/data/INT03_09_PS.pdf http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail_main?id=100&vm=&re= http://www.interpol.int/public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/csaJapan.asp

Some factors about what might determine actual policy change under the new J Govt

There are diverse factors, external, internal, structural and social, that will influence the development of human rights policy and behavior. The DPJ Manifesto prioritizes a shift in the power of balance between lawmakers and bureaucrats. The purpose would be to have lawmakers take both more responsibility and have more power over policy, whereas currently bureaucrats have strong power over the contents of bills and processes. This change may enable more policy transformation if the new lawmakers are up to the task. Since ministry bureaucrats have been in place over 10, 20 or more years and have weathered leader changes over the years, this power shift will be neither easy not swift. The DPJ and its coalition partners include people from a wide spectrum for far right to far left. Although they were aligned in their opposition to the LDP, it does not mean they are in agreement on rights issues or policies Under a DPJ-lead government, there is more space for civil society to have influe...

Some notes on women in US politics

Today although more than 90% are open to a female candidate Factors that lead to her defeat 1. Rules favor men => did not win as many d 2. In the beginning Hill’s message was not a clear Clear winner, not inviting people into 3. Gender bias in the media => commentary throughout the campaign (tear, tough, pms, passionate…) 4. Clinton had been on the stage for a long time – 16 years We question our selves as women We need to challenge our selves more – be willing to aim as high as men – being more assertive, without fear Afraid to speak out, let someone else do that Need to have more women framing the debate Not just reactive Rarely do we see female legislators making the Sunday rounds What sets the glass ceiling level? Does women’s confidence set the glass ceiling level? Easier to not take responsibility? Palmer Why is it taking so long for women to be integrated into position of power in the US G? Given current trends women will have 50% by this year 2071 H of Rep 2100 senate US ...

Some notes from Sept 4 Donna Brazile talk

Donna Brazil's recipe for success => women can break through the glass ceiling! 1. break old patterns that hold us back 2. go beyond our circumstances 3. never accepts no => no I can’t is old school believe in hope 4. women are the majority => time to use our power 5. know our capacity SW 6. build networks 7. we can remake the world => you need to believe it first And we need to Work for us to do right here where we live => right here right now Educate women Build a bridge for women and girls Women need to support women

30 seconds for breast cancer

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle). Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site => Pass it along to people you know. http://www. thebreastcancersite.com/

U.N. panel raps Japan on women's issues

In the sixth periodic review, the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) criticized the Japanese Government for the lack of progress. Signatories to the Convention are required to address discriminative laws and practices but the committee has found that gender bias still remains problematic. no surprise here! Get more info: From the UN http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/wom1742.doc.htm From Asia Japan Women's Resource Center http://www.ajwrc.org/eng/modules/bulletin/index.php?page=article&storyid=83 From the various news outlets in English http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200907250066.html http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090730TDY04302.htm http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090821a2.html

What to do with your 12,000 "tax gift" from the the Government

I recently read in the Asahi about the nonprofit organization sodateage net 育て上げネット。 in Japanese http://www.asahi.com/job/news/TKY200907230057.html in English http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200908190089.html http://ameblo.jp/rs4yp/theme-10014059936.html they have a number of useful programs for youth that are out of work and looking for jobs. they do career counseling, training for interviews and rent interview clothing. http://www.sodateage.net/index.html they have a campaign to get 1000 suit by the end of the year. but they need not only suits but white shirts, blouses, belts, and business shoes. Get more info about Recycled-Suits for Youth Project http://ameblo.jp/rs4yp/theme-10014059936.html Also - you can just become a member .... use that 12,000yen the government gave you to better the economy by contributing it to those in the most need. http://www.sodateage.net/support/index.html

Japan Fundraising Association

Get more information abotu the Japan Fundraising Association here: http://blog.canpan.info/jfa/category_7/

Back to blogging

i have gotten off of blogging for a while as i was overwhlemed just by being online so much. i am also updating all my pages .... hope this will be easier to manage.