Bush coming to Kyoto, Pt. 2

Hi Nils,

My husband and I are in. Our schedules are quite flexible, but how about we join a group already organizing something – so there is a bigger mass?

Thanks,
Theresa
trimalchio78 AT yahoo DOT com DOT uk

Here are a couple actions planned so far by other Kyoto residents…

Nov. 15 (Tue) 6:30pm
Meet at the radio tower at Maruyama Koen, which is just behind (East) of Yasaka Shrine at the very end of Shijo (marchers will try to make it as close as possible to the Imperial Palace where Bush is staying)

Nov. 16 (Wed) 10:00am
Meet at Demachiyanagi where two rivers converge into Kamogawa (will march towards Imperial Palace). Gathering at Shijo/Kawaramachi after march

I posted this under Nils’ October 18 post on the topic, but I hope he doesn’t mind me posting it again here so as many people as possible see it.

Below are some (long) updates on different actions being planned… Sorry everyone for the length. It seems important to get the word out.

*** Note that there has been a change in the Japanese group protest for Wed, 11/16 from what I posted above. Japanese sponsors of the events at the end are apparently having some difficulties coming to a final agreement with the police, so time, location and route are extremely subject to change. The police are evidently being very wary after the media’s unfair focus on the violent anti-Bush rioting in Argentina (as if the Japanese police aren’t already wary about things…).

Two messages here. The first one (from yesterday, Nov. 7) is the latest message I got from friends involved in organizing one event (afternoon of 11/15). The second, also sent to me Nov. 7, is a few more details about the Japanese protests on both 11/15 and 11/16.

A (long) note to everyone who has expressed interest in protesting Bush’s visit on Nov. 15th up to date. We are planning to protest as a small group in the afternoon of the 15th and then those of us who choose to will join the larger Japanese sponsored demonstration at 6:30pm leaving from Maruyama Koen. (The Japanese groups are apparently having a difficult time coming to an agreement with the police so time and location will not be finalized until the 9th or so.)

It was impossible to get a permit for us to protest anywhere near the Imperial Palace, where Bush will be staying, so I settled for the best location the police would allow. As it stands now, the permit will be for:

a smallish group to demonstrate at the intersection of Shijo and Kawaramachi (in front of Takashimaya department store) from 3-5pm

I will push for more time (2-5pm or so) when I go back on the 9th.

Since we’ll be appealing to the Japanese public, as well as the Japanese and international media, we would like to have prepared placards in addition to any of their own signs people would like to make. My sense is that the prepared placards should say something fairly broad, straightforward and easy to translate into Japanese – while handmade signs could be much more personal and creative. Possibilities for the placards include:

“War is not the answer”
“No illegal war and occupation!”
“Kyoto rejects you, too”

Any other suggestions? Linda [Crawford] has generously offered to get the needed supplies. If people are interested and able, we could meet at 11 or 12 at my house on the morning of the 15th to make signs and placards before heading to Shijo-Kawaramachi. I live in northern Kyoto close to Hachimanmae station on the Eizan Densha (Eiden) line (20 minutes north of Keihan Demachiyanagi station). It’s a bit far, but fairly easy to get to by train. Neither Linda nor I have actually made placards before (have carried many, but…), so if you have any expertise in making them, please let Linda Crawford know (crawford@kta.att.ne.jp).

Please let me (jenise_treuting@yahoo.co.jp) know if you are still planning to join us in the afternoon, if you’ll be bringing any friends (the police want as close to accurate a headcount as possible), any preferences or suggestions regarding placard slogan, and whether you’d like to help make signs or meet later close to Shijo-Kawaramachi.

I will send finalized details for all the protests when I have them, probably at the end of the week.

Thank you all for your willingness to get out on the street.

Bush and Koizumi Meet to Step Up Cooperation in Iraq and Okinawa!
No to US-Japan summit talk!
============================
Protest in Kyoto November 15-16
============================

* Do not allow our leaders to further strengthen the Japanese-U.S. military alliance!
* Stop construction new U.S. base in Henoko, Okinawa!
* Oppose the illegal invasion, war and occupation of Iraq! U.S. army and SDF forces OUT OF IRAQ!
* Oppose the November APEC summit in Busan, South Korea and the December WTO meeting in Hong Kong, which will only further war and poverty!
* People around the world come together to oppose war and neo-liberalism!

Guest speakers:
- Native Taiwanese plaintiffs in lawsuit opposing Prime Minister Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visits
- Committee Against Construction of U.S. Military Base in Henoko

Date: November 15 (Tue); Gather at 6:30pm
Place: Protest march leaves from Maruyama Koen Park radio tower (10 min. walk east of Keihan Shijo station)

Date: November 16 (Wed); Gather at 10:00am
Place: Protest march leaves from Kyoto Education and Cultural Center
(Kyoto- Kyoiku-Bunka Center / 5 min. walk northeast of Keihan
Marutamachi station); followed by protest at Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection

Sponsor: Kansai Committee to Oppose Prime Minister Koizumi-President Bush Meeting
(tel: 0774-43-8721; fax: 0774-44-3102, email:awckyoto@hotmail.com)