The Age of Stupid

I've just come home after going out to see the global premiere screening of "The Age of Stupid". And I was pretty speechless afterwards.

Here's the synopsis:
'The Age of Stupid' is the new cinema documentary from the Director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day in September'. This enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?

It was the kind of film that you instantly feel like making all your family and friends sit down and watch. Urgently. It also made me feel somewhat smug & relieved about my choices to be vegetarian, ride a bike, live in a tiny compact apartment close to everything, buy from thrift stores, and not own a car...Ah, my smugometer levels rising.

But it also made me feel really really crapola about all the dozens and dozens of flights I've taken over the years, the abundance of electronic gadgetry that we own and have come to rely on (should I have not felt a twinge of guilt for checking the length of the film on my iphone before the film started?), and the fact we chose to have an international wedding earlier this year and spewed forth huge carbon emissions by asking people to fly great distances to be there..

{Now I want to go out and plant a forest full of trees to make a new carbon sink somewhere. Yes I should...and I will. Remind me to join Big Al's next Land Care planting session. And ensure that the 80 native trees that Ben and I earmarked for Wairakei Terraces actually get planted some day soon.}

But seriously, it just served to remind me -- in a VERY compelling way, the kind that slaps you in the face and stings with bleeding obviousness -- that we can't afford to be stupid about climate change. It's goddamn scary stuff.

The film also had the effect of pinching me on the arm as if to say - hey you, don't spend all your time focusing on narrow academic stuff like debating theories of civilian protection, working on edited volumes on human rights violations that take 2 years to produce, and writing policy briefs about democratic consolidation or refugee resettlement that will probably have hardly any impact on anyone....because the Real Story of our times is that Peace and Security desperately needs to be more closely linked to Environment and Climate Change issues. And there are not enough people out there proactively making those links, and bringing those specialists, thinkers and policy-makers together.

Peace AND Sustainability. Now I've just got to figure out how exactly I can make a difference...

I don't suppose the fact that I practically growled at the woman behind the shop register tonight for wrapping my 4 pieces of fruit in 2 plastic bags and then binning them when I told her I didn't need a bag is a particularly good way of starting. No points for peacebuilding there.

For the time being, here's how we can be NOT STUPID.
http://www.notstupid.org

Why don't Japanese people eat bent cucumbers?

Irregularity issues: Vegetable Equality's CEO, Mitsuko Mori, holds a box of "irregular" organic vegetables. MELINDA JOE PHOTO

Why don't we eat bent cucumbers?

By MELINDA JOE

Special to The Japan Times

An aging agricultural workforce, a food self-sufficiency rate below 40 percent and the constant threat of environmental damage: How can tiny vegetable distribution companies in Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, tackle the issues facing Japan's farming industry?

Finance to farming: Setsuo Nakagoshi, a former financial securities specialist, holds up an organic okra from his Watashi no Hata farm. MELINDA JOE PHOTO

The answer, according to Setsuo Nakagoshi, is one organic tomato at a time. Nakagoshi's company, Watashi no Hata (My Field), is one of several organic grocery delivery services who are trying to make a change. A former financial securities specialist, he spent eight years in the industry before trading in tailored suits for the jeans and rubber boots he wears around his small farm.

Nakagoshi started farming three years ago and currently supplies organic vegetables to restaurants and residents in the Nagareyama area.

Standing among the chest-high stalks of taro root plants in his 2,000-sq.-meter field, Nakagoshi explains that it was the lack of interest in agriculture expressed by young people that initially led him to get involved in farming.

"Young people don't even see farming as an alternative," he says. "They think that working for a big company after college is the only career possible for them."

A big part of the problem, he insists, is profitability. The work is long and difficult but the margins are slim. Moreover, strict regulations on the size and appearance of vegetables translate into huge losses for farmers.

Nakagoshi claims that standards set by JA Zennoh, the organization responsible for the marketing and quality control of products from 1,173 agricultural cooperatives in Japan, are often based on the size of the box or plastic bags that they provide.

"Take cucumbers for example. They have a special box for them and if your cucumber is too big or too small, it is classified as irregular and priced low. Of course, if it isn't straight enough, it's considered irregular as well," he says.

Some of these "irregular" vegetables are simply thrown away. It's a serious problem, and Nakagoshi has recently teamed up with a new company named Vegetable Equality to spread awareness of agricultural waste.

Vegetable Equality's CEO, Mitsuko Mori, stumbled on the issue in 2008 while visiting potential food suppliers. During a warehouse tour, Mori noticed boxes piled high with broccoli. When she asked the farmer about them, he replied that he'd have to throw them out because of their size: The diameter of each was five centimeters too wide.

"I visited numerous farmers and noticed all of them shared a similar problem," she says. "My immediate goal is to bring irregular vegetables to the market and change industry and consumer habits."

In a June appearance on NHK's "Purofesshonaru Shigoto no Ryugi" ("Professional Job Style"), Hiroichi Kikuchi, head of agricultural business firm Wakyoen, stated that approximately 40 percent of total vegetable production is wasted due to irregular shape or size. This amounts to roughly five million tons of produce.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries recently announced that JA Zennoh was considering easing restrictions on irregular vegetables, but both Mori and Nakagoshi doubt this will have any long-term effect.

"They're only doing it in response to the rising price of fresh produce caused by the typhoons this summer," says Nakagoshi. "The real problem lies in industry and consumer habits. Right now, people are used to the idea that irregular vegetables should be priced low."

Mori works with 50 farmers in Chiba Prefecture. Her company plans to begin a delivery service to central Tokyo this fall, and as part of their educational outreach program they will give lectures on irregular vegetables and organic farming at elementary schools in the capital. L ike Nakagoshi, Mori started out in finance. While working as a foreign-exchange analyst for Deutsche Bank in Tokyo, she took a part-time job at a high-end supermarket to learn about the food business. Though her work schedule was exhausting, Mori finds her new venture much more challenging.

"Compared to what I'm doing now, finance was a cushy job," she laughs.

Starting a new business, particularly in a niche industry such as organic home-delivery, seems risky given the current economic climate. However, it may not be as crazy as it sounds. According to a study conducted by Yano Research, home deliveries increased by 4 percent between 2007 and 2008, with consumers' preference for organic produce increasing in online purchases by 2.6 percent.

Concerns over food safety have fueled the trend. Shigetoshi Suzue, a spokesperson for the popular cooperative Pal System, remarked that the number of consumers opting for domestically produced fruits and vegetables is increasing. The co-op, which provides service to over a million households nationwide, sells both organic and nonorganic produce. With the exception of items like avocados and kiwis, almost all of the fruits and vegetables are from Japan.

A number of today's successful organic delivery services, such as Daichi wo Mamoru Kai (Association to Preserve the Earth) and Radish Boya, started out as small, grassroots organizations. Daichi wo Mamoru Kai began as an NGO in 1975 and established the first organic-food distribution business in 1977.

"Thirty five years ago, no one was selling organic," says Daichi representative Yukie Ohno. "The organic movement now is still small but it's growing. I think we've played a major role in that. These days, even regular people, not only those interested in environmentalism, know about natural foods."

Daichi started with farmers markets in downtown Tokyo. The company now delivers to 91,000 households, 95 percent of which are in the Kanto region, and 80 percent of their produce is completely pesticide-free, with everything but bananas grown domestically.

The organization has also been active in the environmental movement. In 2003, together with environmental group the Sloth Club, they launched Japan's first Candle Night, a two-hour voluntary blackout to highlight energy concerns, held annually on the summer solstice. In 2005, Daichi initiated a food-mileage campaign to shed light on the energy consumption and carbon emissions of imported foods. Their latest project, called Tabemamo (an abbreviation of tabete-mamoru, or "preservation through eating"), seeks to preserve seed diversity by encouraging consumers to eat locally grown produce.

Daichi's founders were in their 20s when they started the business. Likewise, Mitsuko Mori is a young entrepreneur and, at age 25, she has big plans for Vegetable Equality. She hopes that her efforts will eventually reduce agricultural waste in Japan by half.

"I know it's ambitious," she says with a smile, "but I think we can do it."

The Japan Times: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

Joh's Handy Baby Links

ECO
Sustainable Baby http://sustainable-baby.blogspot.com
Eco Toys http://www.ecotoys.com.au
Baby Eco Store http://www.babyecostore.com.au
Ecodirect http://www.ecodirect.com.au
Nature Baby http://www.naturebaby.co.nz
Laundry http://www.soapinanutshell.com.au or http://www.greenandnutty.com.au

MODERN CLOTH NAPPIES
Parenting By Nature http://www.parentingbynature.com/cloth_diapering_101.php
Diaper Pin http://www.diaperpin.com
Zappy Nappy http://www.globalstore.com.au/zappynappy.htm
Cleverpants http://www.cleverpants.com.au
Wee Wuns http://www.theweewuns.au.com
Modern cloth nappies http://www.cuddlemonkey.com.au
Cloth Nappies - Baby Beehinds http://www.babybeehinds.com.au/store/pc/Home-d40.htm
The Nappy Network http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz
Dressmaking pattern for newborn nappies http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/images/shars_newborn_fitted.pdf
Green Kids http://www.greenkids.com.au
Bambooty http://www.bambooty.com.au

BABY SHOPS IN SYDNEY
Bubs Baby Shops - Auburn http://www.bubs.com.au
Baby Business http://www.babybusiness.com.au

BREASTFEEDING
My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow
http://www.aabreastfeeding.com/My%20Breast%20Friend%20Pillow/my-breast-friend-pillow.htm
Australian Breastfeeding Association http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au
La Leche League http://www.llli.org
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding http://store.llli.org/public/profile/201

STROLLERS & SLINGS
Stroller Survey http://babybuggy.com.au
Stroller Blog
Slingmeet http://www.slingmeet.co.uk

CONSUMER SURVEYS & REPORTS
Choice http://www.choice.com.au

HEALTH & BIRTH
RPA Hospital http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/W&B/default.htm
Natural Parenting in Sydney http://www.npsydney.com.au/pregnancy
Calm Birth http://calmbirth.com.au
Birth Right, Darling St Rozelle http://www.birthright.com.au/home
S.I.D.S. http://ww.sidsandkids.org
Birth.com.au http://www.birth.com.au
National Health and Medical Research Council www.health.gov.au/nhmrc
Hypnobirthing http://www.hypnobirthing.com

BABY GUIDES & BOOKS
Australian Baby guide www.cuddlemonkey.com.au
Baby Centre Australia http://www.babycenter.com.au

PODCASTS
Pregtastic http://www.pregtastic.com
Mommy's Milk and More http://www.mommysmilkandmore.com
Bounty Pregnancy podcast http://www.bounty.com/podcasts/pregnancy

GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Family Assistance Office http://www.familyassist.gov.au
Family Assistance Guide http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/guides_acts/fag/fag-rn.html
Raising Children http://raisingchildren.net.au
Early Childhood Education http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Pages/default.aspx
Playgroups http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/progserv/pages/parenting-playgroups.aspx
DoCS Parenting http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/parents_carers_and_families/parenting.html
NSW Health Parenting http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/topics/pregnancy_parenting.asp

INFO FOR DADS
Being Dad http://www.beingdad.com.au
Daddy Types http://daddytypes.com

SECOND HAND
Baby & Kids Market http://www.babykidsmarket.com.au
Buy for Baby http://www.buyforbaby.com.au
2nd hand Round & Round http://www.roundnround.com.au/index.php

RENTAL
ABC Nursery Hire http://www.abcnurseryhire.com
Babytime Nursery Hire http://www.babytimenurseryhire.com.au
Hire for Baby http://www.hireforbaby.com

Death

The mother of one of my closest friends here in Japan passed away last week, aged 56. I went to pay my respects to her by visiting the family home 2 days after her passing. Ben & I will attend the Buddhist funeral in a few days time - I think it's to be held at a funeral parlour.

M, the mother of my friend R, was a very courageous and inspiring person. She battled breast cancer for 8 years, defied the odds many times, and spent the last few months of her life making peace with the inevitable. She was amazing in so many ways -- graceful, elegant and classically beautiful. But more importantly, she was such a wonderful mother, role model and confidante to R. Their relationship seemed so intimate and caring, more like sisters than mother and daughter. And everyone loved and admired M very much - she attracted so much positive energy, and was surrounded by loving family and friends whenever I met her. In particular I recall when R invited me to Suntory Hall to see her mother sing in the choir (Faure's Requiem) and the wave of friends that came to congratulate her afterwards.

When my Mum came to visit Japan in 2004, the four of us went on a mother/daughter trip to Hakone and stayed in a traditional ryokan (japanese inn), that M had arranged through one of her friends. I remember it being such a relaxing and fun time, lots of laughs and girly chats especially while plunged in the onsen (hot springs). Even though there was a language barrier between M and my own Mum, and an age gap of 15 years, they got along so well. I recall M's enthusiasm to show my Mum lots of interesting things during her short visit to Japan, including traditional Japanese cuisine, and the ritual of boiling eggs in a natural hot spring. I'll have to dig up those photos and send a copy to R.

Talking with R on Saturday about her mother's passing, and the days and even moments leading up to it and immediately afterwards when trying to process what's just happened...brought back a flood of memories of when Dad died. This month marks 8 years since he died (28 Sep 2001). In some ways, it feels like just a short time ago because the pain of the loss and the profound sense of sadness are etched so sharply in my heart and mind. And yet...it's scary to think that EIGHT full years have already passed, and my memories of that time have become somewhat foggy - even though I never wished them to be.

I realised that seeing M - in her very real state of rigour mortis - lying peacefully in her living room at home that day, surrounded by family, beautiful white flowers and everything familiar, and being visited by all who loved her the ensuing three days, was such a natural thing. She was only the 4th corpse that I've seen in my life...the other 3 were my grandfather (Sep 1999), grandmother (Nov 2007) and father...and obviously only because they are immediate family whom I had intimate contact with.

Why is it that in Australia and many other western countries we're so awfully squeamish about death? It's such a rarity to view, let alone touch, a deceased person up close. There's always such a fuss made about whether the casket will be opened or closed, and whether to look or not. I think it's a great shame that we don't try to embrace death for what it is: an undeniable part of human existence and something completely natural that shouldn't be hidden, gentrified or sanitised.

I know that when I die, I would like for all who will miss me to be able to say goodbye to me in the physical form.

Pacific Tuna and the Deep Blue

Here's an issue that I feel really passionate about: the ecological state of our oceans. Having lived in a seafood supermarket for the past 7 years (ie. Japan), it's so easy to think that there is an abundance of everything from the sea. And that it's our god-given right to eat whatever we want, when we want, and at a cheap price too. The level of consumer awareness about sustainably harvested seafood is still woeful, although organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and their eco-labelling efforts are make tiny inroads into the consciousness of the Suzukis and Satos of this country.

I've been a supporter of Greenpeace for a number of years, and am grateful that they are really consistent when it comes to "defending our oceans." They're no one-cause show. ie. only anti-whaling.

Belly Wriggles at 20 weeks

About a week ago I was lying in bed - awake at around 6am wondering whether I might be starting to feel the baby move. (all the websites say you'll probably start to feeling something between 18 - 20 weeks if it's your first one so I'd been hanging out for the big day).

But as I lay there, I convinced myself that it was more likely that I was simply hungry -- given my rather voracious appetite and desire to eat every few hours.

But within a day or two, there was no mistaking it. Friends had described the first foetal movements to me like a "pop", a "shudder", "butterfly wings" or even a similar feeling to when you poke your tongue against your cheek...but it was really none of these. More like a wee wriggly thing inside me. Alien-esque! But at the same time, very comforting and nice to finally feel the little banana-sized bubba -- after months of not being able to feel anything (except nausea)!

Thankfully, I've been sleeping like a log. That is, when I'm not otherwise up and about for middle-of-the-night trips to the loo (anywhere between 2 and 5 times). I've never been partial to a Nanna-Nap, not like Benjamin who adores the post-lunch siesta. So if I get around 8 to 9 (!) hours of sleep a night, then I'm pretty charged for the rest of the day. After all those seemingly endless weeks of nausea, I'm really grateful that this middle trimester really is proving to be a vibrant and active one.

Swam at the pool again last night -- though having taken a break for 2 weeks, I was ridiculously slow and felt like a bit of a barrel in the water -- and kept getting overtaken by two little brothers around 8 and 10 years old.

Still riding my bike to and from work, and around the neighbourhood. I'm probably the only pregnant woman in Tokyo riding a bike given what a big No-No it is. I'm wonder if I'll start receiving some disapproving frowns once my belly gets even bigger -- but at the moment I feel pretty well-balanced, confident and alert. Not to mention that I'm not riding on the roads at all...just through the park, and on the footpath.

16 weeks and counting

It's been a pretty exciting ride so far...being pregnant that is.

After the double positive pharmacy-bought tests on 18 May, followed by an ultrasound confirmation a few days later (at 5 weeks, 4 days) and then roughly 2 months of seeing my dinner at least twice each night ie. "evening sickness" made better by an abundance of rice cakes or vita-weets with promite, I've finally arrived at the so-called Honeymoon trimester. And what a relief that is!

I've got my Genki back. Swimming at the pool a few times a week - albeit much more slowly & cautiously than ever before. But I LOVE IT!! Just the sound of breathing and bubble blowing puts me into a slightly meditative state. It's kind of irrational but I have this remote fear that anyone doing breaststroke poses a threat to my tummy lest they KICK me there by accident -- something that's highly unlikely, I know, but it makes me swim double Skinnily whenever I cross a breast-stroker. Why more pregnant women don't swim in this country I'll never know. I've hardly got a belly yet, so I don't think anyone really suspects I'm preggaz (probably just a bit porky) but once I do, I wonder whether I'll attract much attention from people at the pool....who probably think it's unusual to swim while pregnant.

The first Japanese obstetrician I went to see back in May, told me "No bicycles. No sex." These were her only 2 pieces of advice, upon confirming that I was pregnant. Codswallup I say. I've been riding my bike (slowly like an elderly woman) through the park and down the footpath. Not on the road. Everyone I meet and every book I consult demands that I don't ride a (moving) bike, but I can't stand having to take 2 trains, spend $40 a week on transport and double the time to get to work...when it could be free & a chance to exercise & think! Is this reckless? I don't think so. Even when I listen to my ipod while cycling? Ahhh...but I'm going SOOOO slowly.

My darling friend and Kundalini yoga instructing buddy Aleta recommended a prenatal yoga DVD which arrived in the post from the US last week. I gave it a crack on Sunday and it was amazing. Besides the fact that I'm about as limber as an old piece of wood -- at least that's what my hamstrings feel like -- I really enjoyed the session. It was not only a lesson in physical movement, but also spiritual and emotional ideas and thoughts. And enabled me to start to feel a new and somewhat profound connection with the little living one inside me....

Towards the end, this beautiful song was sung. It's an old Irish blessing, but performed by the Kundalini musician & peace activist Snatam Kaur. So moving my eyes started welling up with tears --- a feeling of Intimacy and Joy and recognition that something very Special is happening now. Or was it just my hormones making me cry at the drop of a hat?

Our wedding ceremony video

On May 15th 2008, Greenpeace Japan used undercover investigators and the testimony of informers to expose that large amounts of prime cut whale meat were being smuggled from the whaling ship Nisshin Maru disguised as personal baggage, labeled "cardboard" or "salted stuff" and addressed to the private homes of crewmembers. Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki intercepted one box out of four sent to one address, discovered it contained whale meat valued at up to US$3,000, and took it to the Tokyo public prosecutor.

Their public press conference drew national attention in Japan, and a promise by the public prosecutor to "fully investigate" the charges.

Instead, Junich Sato and Toru Suzuki were arrested for stealing the box of whale meat, and the scandal investigation was dropped by the Tokyo public prosecutor's office the same day; it was clear that the two events were connected, just as it is clear that both were politically motivated. Although Junichi and Toru had provided full cooperation to the police, it took some five weeks to make the arrests, and when they did, more than 40 officers raided the Greenpeace Japan office, with the media tipped off by police beforehand. The Greenpeace activists learned of their imminent arrest from the TV news the same day the embezzlement case was dropped.

Source: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/whaling/ending-japanese-whaling/arrest-me-japan

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/09/japan-whale-hunting

If defending whales is a crime, arrest me

If Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki have committed a crime by opposing the scandal and corruption of the Japanese whaling programme, you must arrest me for assisting them.

All of us who have supported efforts to save the whales with time, money, or by lending our name to letter writing campaigns, petitions, virtual marches, or e-cards are complicit in Junichi and Toru's actions.

If you are going to start rounding up political prisoners for the crime of defending whales, you will need to arrest a great many people around the world.

Your full name

Country of residence

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008

End the violence against women and girls

By JOHANNA STRATTON

NEW YORK — The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was commemorated Nov. 25, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is spearheading a global campaign, "UNiTE to end violence against women."

In tandem with this, celebrity Nicole Kidman, in her role as Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), has been promoting an Internet-based global advocacy campaign for the past year with the slogan "Say NO to violence against women." A week ago she presented more than 5 million signatures to the secretary general, reaffirming the need to treat this issue as a global priority.

There is no denying the gravity of the problem of violence against women, or VAW, as it has come to be known. Global statistics tell us that at least one of every three women, whether they live in Japan, Peru or Mozambique, is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

According to World Bank data, women aged 15 to 44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria.

And in situations of armed conflict, rape and sexual abuse are no longer documented as simply byproducts, but as intentional military tactics used to humiliate, dominate and create fear in civilian communities.

Irrespective of country, religion or culture, violence against women continues to rear its ugly head with undiminished force around the world.

Forging a way forward to deal with this pervasive form of terror is not simple, but here are three points worth passing on: Let's recognize violence against women as more than a human rights issue or a criminal justice issue. It impacts health, family stability, and the well-being of children. It affects income generation and local economies; and it breeds hatred, distrust and long-lasting divisions between communities.

The unresolved legacy of Japan's military sexual slavery during the Pacific War is a case in point, as it remains a thorn in Japan's side with respect to its East Asian neighbors. For 18 years and counting, the former "comfort women" and their supporters have turned out for their weekly Wednesday Demonstrations in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul in the expectation of achieving justice for past wrongdoings. Time is not necessarily a great healer.

The cooperation and leadership of men is absolutely essential to preventing and reducing acts of violence against women. This should not surprise, given that men occupy the vast majority of positions of power and influence in public, corporate and religious life worldwide.

Even if all the females on Earth — some 3.3 billion — were to hypothetically sign on to the U.N. petition, it would signal that we were only halfway there numerically speaking, and much further behind in a practical sense.

Encouraging discussions within families, and awareness-raising in schools for young boys and girls, are key steps to help lift the taboo against talking about the abuse of women. Developing more widespread, culturally sensitive strategies that engage men "to end men's violence against women" such as The White Ribbon Campaign, is another practical measure.

There is an urgent need to strengthen data collection to inform policy. If we want our leaders to commit the kind of political will that this problem demands, resources should be better allocated to produce more comprehensive research and statistical capacity. It is crucial we create a supportive environment so that leaders make good on policy commitments.

Today, the silent war on women and girls is being covered up and tacitly condoned. This is another kind of inconvenient truth about human existence in the 21st century. We should all take responsibility and act to make sure that both men and women have the right to live free of violence and fear.

Johanna Stratton is academic program associate at the Peace & Governance Program in United Nations University.

E-mail: Stratton@hq.unu.edu
For related information go to:
endviolence.un.org
www.saynotoviolence.org
www.whiteribbon.ca

The Japan Times: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008

Furry Facts

We've been thinking seriously about owning a pet for a good 6 months now. On weekends we can be seen hanging over the fence of Yoyogi Park's leash-free zone, except the only ones salivating are us...because we're so desperate for our own pooch. We're kind of pathetic...a childless, dogless couple in their 30s with more than a tad of "cluckiness". haha!

Well, we've come to realise that it wouldn't be fair to have a dog, given we haven't got an outdoor space, just 2 puny little balconies...so we've been investigating the possibility of getting a cat from an animal refuge, such as ARK . I've been reading their website and learning about the ugly underworld of pet breeding . One of the most disturbing trends in Japan, and one that is encouraged by some pet stores, is the idea of trading your old, hagged-looking dog or cat in for a nice, fresh-faced one, as is mentioned in the article under Animal Welfare/Background/The Pet Shop business. Mottainai desho. Or more like HIDOIIIIIIII.

huh? As if pets were disposable, like...chopsticks. Well here's some news! Not even chopsticks should be disposable, dammit. I'm calling for all round, lower consumption. Disposible is dead okay. Sustainable and lifelong is the new in.

Fact:

Over 400,000 dogs and 300,000 cats are gassed in the hokensho (animal pound run by Dept of Health) of Japan every year.
Over 73,000 pet dogs and 13,500 pet cats are used in laboratory experiments.

"The pet shop business [in Japan] operates on a 10-20 % turnover, that is to say, they make a profit from selling about 10-20% while the remaining 80-90% [of animals] that are unsellable are 'disposed of' (gassed or used for experimentation).

Source: ARK

"Hardcore Sitting" - Extreme Wheelchair

This 16 year old guy with spina bifida has to be one of the most impressive people coming out of Las Vegas that I've ever heard of. And he's a far cry from anything to do with casinos.

I like his tenacity and boldness. At the end, he says "When other kids in wheelchairs see me doing what I do, I'd just like to be able to inspire them to ...just get out of the house, because those video games are death."

Watching him pull those kind of stunts makes it kind of strange to call him "disabled"... if anything he's got amazing athletic ability and talent.

Karaoke Creatures of the Night

Karaoke Loving from Johanna Stratton on Vimeo.

Five of us crammed into Shibuya's tiniest Karaoke booth for a Friday night sweaty session of karaoke Tokyo style -- we relived the 80s, and even a bit of the 70s and 90s. There was a sprinkling of Tagalog tunes and Japanese melodies but the theme of the night seemed to be tragically soppy love songs, like this one...

I'm so glad (and the rest of the world probably is too) that my goddamn awful voice was not captured on video -;)

Ben and Mark -- on the other hand -- they're absolute karaoke beasts. Get a load of those facial expressions, that heart and soul. And you can see that we were only drinking water to fire us up. Who would have thought that Ben was allegedly allergic to karaoke until fairly recently!

Ethiopian Dance Fever

Ethiopian Dance Fever from Johanna Stratton on Vimeo.

It was looking to be a pretty quiet Saturday night at home when we suddenly remembered that we'd been given free tickets to the Annual Ethiopia-Japan Friendship Night. Mm mmmmmh -- free food and exciting "exotic" entertainment. Woo hoo! We jumped on our bikes around 7.30pm, first time to put on the woollies and gloves b/c it's getting down to a chilly 12 degrees now, and haphazardly made our way to Hiro via a ridiculously crowded Hachiko Square in Shibuya in about 45 minutes.

We were running a bit late, and all the yummy Injera and traditional food of Ethiopia had already been devoured by the 400+ people jammed into the room...just a bunch of boiled eggs & spicy rice left. But we hadn't really come for the eggs, so we checked out the dance moves, the costumes, and the band. They were smokin hot and the audience was loving it!

Don't try these dance moves at home kiddies. Looks like it takes a lot of neck stretching and years of practice to perfect these kinds of moves.

Chinlon チンロン

Director / Editor: Megumi Nishikura

"Chinlon" is a combination of sport and dance, a team sport with no opposing team. In essence chinlon is non-competitive, yet it’s as demanding as the most competitive ball games. The focus is not on winning or losing, but how beautifully one plays the game. (Wikipedia -- you guessed it)

Following the dramatic crackdown of anti-government protestors in October 2007, I had the idea of wanting to use something visually interesting and unusual to draw people's attention to the issue of Burma. Not in a dogmatic or preachy way (eg. some lectures or editorials), and certainly not in an annoying or brash way (eg. some public protests)...I wanted a use a non-confrontaional but fun & engaging way to interact with people on the street.

My idea: streetsport + politics

So another Burmaphile friend and I met with Burmese community members here in Tokyo and got together a small group of people who could play the traditional Burmese sport of Chinlon. Using that as our visual / physical hook, we combined it with a random public photo-taking session that was inspired by the web movement of www.dontforgetburma.org and the chance to chat one-on-one with those who were interested in learning more, and hit the well-trod pavements just beside Harajuku station on a sunny Sunday.

Thanks to the talents of photographer friend Zare and filmmaker friend Megumi, we've got the above images to share with you.

The Egg of the Sun

What the heck?! A mango for 30,000 yen ?? ($285)....yes, and in my local food center too (Lon Lon のデパチカ in Kichijoji).

Ah-hah! But not just any ole mango. This is a Miyazaki Mango --- otherwise known by their producers as "the egg of the sun" 太陽のタマゴ-- for better or worse. I guess this sounds more appealing in Japanese.

I thought that such fruity prices were urban myths these days, and that such kudamono extravagance ended with the bubble bursting in the late 1980s but NO! Even after all these years in Japan, I am shocked to find a piece of fruit from Miyazaki prefecture that surely has a shelf life of no more than a few days, for the same amount of money that some people earn in a year? Insane.

My disbelief (okay, maybe I've had my head stuck in the proverbial fruitarian sand) led me to google "miyazaki mango" and as half-expected, I found even more exorbitantly priced fruitiness. Last month, a pair of miyazaki mangoes sold for 200,000 yen ($1902).

Obviously if someone served it up infront of me, I'd relish the chance to try it but goddamn, it definitely makes me think...Only in Japan [are people so accepting of these kinds of prices, and view them as something amazing and special, rather than craaaaazy and bizarre].

I'm going to keep my eye out for more pricey produce...stay tuned. Wait till I find those fancy musk melons that everyone talks about...

Talent Night

It's coming up... my next event to raise funds and awareness about the situation in Burma.

Next Monday 2 June, we're holding the first ever REAL PEOPLE'S TALENT CONTEST in Tokyo -- at least the first one I've ever heard of since I've been in Japan.

18 acts -- just 5 minutes each.

Show us your talent

Sing / Dance / Improvise / Act / Paint / Magic / Comedy / Talk / Juggle / Yoga / Capoeria / Poetry / Dodgy party tricks involving alcohol, matchsticks, cucumbers...whatever!

Anyone with a bit of TALENT is welcome to come and have their moment of fame onstage. And all for a very good cause.

Hosted by the highly entertaining Mr Joel "Fukutani" Challender and Mr Scott "Noo Noo" Lawson.

Ring 090-6133-2366 or johanna@benkemp.co.nz
to enter or get more details.

1st Prize : Lumix digital camera valued at 30,000 Yen.
Other great prizes too !

All funds raised go to relief aid in Burma via SAVE THE CHILDREN
www.savethechildren.org

DOORS OPEN: 6pm
START: 7pm

Door charge: 1500 Yen (1 drink)

BBQ & Parties 4 Peace Fundraiser for Burma

P4P - Parties 4 Peace & S.O.S
Presents: Sounds On Sunday S.O.S.
5.25 SUNDAY
@ Oath in Shibuya [ 4 pm - 11pm ] 1000 YEN

Techno / Minimal / Electro Beats

FEATURING DJs
Anthony Mansfield (Hector Works - San Francisco)
Groove Patrol [Two Dogs]
Radarboy (Radarpop)
Tazzy [Rhythm Odyssey]
Keisho Kikuchi [Kamui Recordings]
Jasmine Jordan [ABCDGCDB]

PARTIES 4 PEACE is organizing a vegetarian and organic BBQ at the Sounds on Sunday party this weekend - May 25th! Come show your support for Burma and make your own veggie kebab! We will be cooking out from 4 - 11 pm at Oath in Aoyama.

BBQ Provided by Alishan Foods & Second Harvest
*all Organic and Vegetarian Foods*
www.alishan-organic-center.com
www.2hj.org

PARTIES 4 PEACE "Kitchen"
* all funds go to support aid relief in Burma
www.savethechildren.org

Save the Children currently operates programs in all five of the most-affected regions and has worked in Burma / Myanmar since 1995. They have over 500 staff on location in 35 offices, and are one of the largest nongovernmental organizations at work in Burma. The agency implements programs focused on early childhood care and development, child survival and child protection.

"To date, Save the Children has reached 160,632 people in Myanmar (including more than 50,000 children) with food, water, shelter materials, household supplies and oral-rehydration salts to treat diarrhea. Survivors receiving assistance include nearly 90,000 people in the Yangon area, more than 56,000 in the western Delta and more than 15,000 in the country's eastern Delta region. Save the Children, which has been working in Myanmar for 13 years, has programs in the five most devastated districts.

While assistance is reaching many children and families in need, thousands of lives are still at risk. The cyclone has left more than 1 million people homeless and destroyed thousands of homes and schools. Humanitarian agencies are expressing concern about an impending hungry season, as the rice planting that normally begins in June may be hampered by lack of tools and supplies, as well as by land made less arable by an influx of salt water from the storm surge. Even before the disaster, an estimated 30 percent of children in the region suffered from chronic malnutrition, according to health experts. " per Save the Children website 23 May 2008

ACCESS:
Oath in Aoyama
MAP: www.aoyama-oath.com/map.html

What if this woman were your mother?

Reporter witnesses survivor dying from lack of help

Breaking News: A DVB journalist witnessed a cyclone victim on the roadside in the delta region on 7 May 2008 who was close to death due to a lack of immediate assistance.

She hasn't eaten any food, and has only drunk some water given to her by people passin

g through the area. She was seen on the roadside between Kawhmu and Kongyangon Township, about 50 miles north-west of Rangoon. The woman came from a seaside village near Kongyangon and survived the deadly cyclone, but all her family members were believed to be dead. Her neighbours carried her this far but could not take her all the way to a safe place as they were also weak and sick, according to people around the woman at that time. It should not be difficult for the government to get help here, just one and half hour’s drive from Rangoon.

Yet our journalist has met dozens of cyclone survivors in the delta region from Kongyangon, Dedaye, Pyapon, Ohnbin and Bogale but none of them have received any assistance from the government or from aid agencies. One man from Kongyangon told him, "We can survive now by sharing food with each other but we won't be able to hold on for many more days." This was said on 6 May.

Reporting by Aye Chan Naing

Shocking reality

I know that these sorts of photos will really upset some people...

But the way I see it, it is better to see the grim reality (or even this tiny snippet of it) in order to try and understand what's going on in another part of the world...than live in a censored comfort zone. That's why I give full credit to magazines like DAYS JAPAN because they consciously work to show people an alternative reality...even if it makes viewers uncomfortable.

The below photos were probably taken yesterday (Thu 7 May) and show the bodies of victims from Cyclone Nargis in southern Burma, around the Irrawaddy River delta area. I was sent them by Burmese friends today.

johanna kemp stratton