Abolish War?

Ever heard of Article 9 of Japan's Constitution? Many outside Japan have not, so here is a very good chance to read one of the most inspiring and exciting legal provisions in your life!!

Article 9 says:

1) Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.



Peace Boat, GPPAC and a bunch of other NGOs in Japan are currently shaping up to put on a large scale and ambitious international conference next weekend: 4 - 6 May, 2008 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba (which seats 10,000 people). Speakers are coming from as far afield as Sri Lanka, Ghana, Ecuador, Palestine, Costa Rica...and the keynote speaker is Nobel Prize Laureate, Mairead Maguire.

Please check out the website for details on the conference program, workshops / speakers / live music etc. http://www.whynot9.jp/index_en.html

So many of my friends have been slaving their butts off for months to put this grand event together -- so I wish it will be a great success, and that through this, Article 9 will win lots more hearts and minds around Japan and the world. For the revision of Article 9 is one of the most controversial political issues in this country. For some enlightening reading: check http://www.japanfocus.org/products/details/2175

I had a bit of a chuckle at the cynical comment posted by someone called "Lipscombe" following a short article published in The Japan Times to promote the upcoming conference:

Article 9 conference to be held in Chiba
(Feb 22 2008 - 21:33)

Sounds promising, I hope they do more than make paper cranes and wistful remarks on brotherhood

I really hope that Lipscombe guy/girl bothers to go and check it out for him/herself.