I maintain the first site and am also a member of the IMC Japan collective.


(1) TokyoProgressive
http://tokyoprogressive.org
This site has been in existence since 1997 and aims to serve as a bridge between activists in and out of Japan.  It also serves as a resource for Japan residents,and offers a limited amount of free space to deserving projects. 


(2) IndyMedia Japan
http://japan.indymedia.org
This site has recently gotten off the ground.  There is a great need for independent journalism in this country, as throughout the so-called "free world". We hope to work with others in Asia, both by helping to develop other Asian IMCs and by providing a means for people throughout Asia to cooperate with one another.

Both sites need YOUR participation.  We are looking for the following:

(1) Activist news, particularly where there is a Japan-connection, such as where Japanese companies/the Japanese government are involved.  As well, we hope to promote cooperation between activists and make people aware of one another's struggles for peace and economic/social justice. News items that can further this awareness and promote solidarity are also highly welcome.

(2) Original articles by progressive individuals which relate to the concerns of people living in Japan and Asia or which contribute to solidarity between people even where the day-to-day concerns may differ.

(3) Links to websites and groups who are working for social justice and whose work speaks to universal concerns or has some connection to Asia/Japan.

Here are some addresses you may find useful.  In many cases it would be good to send the same information to both websites.

TokyoProgressive Self Publishing
Self publishing (articles, lyrics, poetry, sound and graphics)
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/selfpublishing.html
There are different options for the various contributions.

Links and other communication may be sent to Paul at
paul@tokyoprogressive.org

You can subscribe to the TokyoProgressive newsletter
 1-2 times a week(ChocoPaul News) at this addresss:
http://www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=tokyoprogressive



For Indymedia, the way to send an article is to go here:
http://japan.indymedia.org/newswire/index.php?function=publish
Some features common to IndyMedia sites, like the Calendar, are not yet functional, and the design is currently being tweaked, but the site is up and working.  Your participation is welcome.

There is a general mailing list for volunteers, which you are welcome to join. Those who can will be able to join specific lists after that in their area of interest, such as editorial, design, outreach, etc.

First join the main list and introduce yourself:
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-japan



Things of note on TokyoProgressive

The Zeitgeists of Present America
Japanese student, Wakana Yokota, now living in Boston looks at how a climate of fear was nurtured by the government, and talks about the dehumanization of the victims of American terrorism by the media, and her feeeling of connectedness to those around her who refuse to buy the lies sold by the media and the government. .
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/comments.php?id=P443_0_1_0

This is an example of a self-published article (see above)

She also has a painting of my cat, Chibi:
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/wakana.html

An Introduction to ZNet for Japan-based readers
So much good material comes out of Znet, and a lot of it finds its way to TokyoProgressive. Here are just SOME of the wonderful features: War and Terror Pages, Globalization Section, Asia Watch (includes Korea and Japan watch, Japan Focus, most of Asia), Translations (for example, ZNet Japan), Instructionals, ZNet Interactive (user posted reports, analyses, reviews, photos,lyrics, links, quotes, cartoons, and the highly searchable, user friendly display areas, pen pals facility....
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P434_0_2_0_C


Howard Zinn on Patriotism (My Country: the World)
In this article, history professor Howard Zinn (A people's History of the United States) asks why "love of country" is distorted to mean "love of government". He says that "it is the country that is primary -- the people, the ideals of the sanctity of human life and the promotion of liberty. War is almost always a breaking of those promises (although one might find rare instances of true self defense). It does not enable the pursuit of happiness, but brings despair and grief." In reflecting on the words of Thomas Paine, he says that Tom Paine "used the word 'patriot' to describe the rebels resisting imperial rule. He also enlarged the idea of patriotism when he said: 'My country is the world. My countrymen are mankind'".

Here in Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi and his LDP/reactionary friends push patriotism in schools and call for the Japanese people to be willing to defend their nation with their bodies if necessary. They seek to derail democracy by cutting the heart out of the Constitution (Article 9) and returning Japan to the pre-war Imperialist model, while suggesting that those of us who march for peace are unpatriotic. If being unpatriotic means opposing wars for profit and glory, demanding that the the government respect its own constituition and create a society where all people are treated with respect, then maybe it is ok to be unpatriotic.
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P436_0_2_0_C


South Korea and Human Rights in North Korea
 On April 16, the U.N. Commission of Human Rights adopted a censure against North Korea by a vote of 28 to 10, with 14 abstentions. Among the 14 absentees was South Korea. The government's official explanation was that the South does not want to further alienate the North from the international community. While they don't want to line up with the EU and the US, which lambasted the North over human rights at the U.N. session while letting Russia and China slip on the issue, much of South Korean civil society is increasingly frustrated with the lack of a comfortable position regarding the poor human rights situation in the northern half of the peninsula. In a carefully worded article, Kwon Hyok-chol insists that the time has come for Korean civil society to take a stand.
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/tpnews_comments.php?id=P432_0_2_0_C


Main Links
100s of links to activist sites and references on such issues as Biotechnology, Disability, Education, Environment, Food, Gender, Globalization....
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/linkblog.php

Selected Stories from the Past
Japanese Education,Japanese Media,Japanese Health and Environment, Japanese Police and Immigration,Japanese Militarism,Japanese Other, Balkans,East Timor,Environment,Food,Globalization,Kosovo Law and Human Rights/Justice,Labor,Language Learning,Latin America Media,Paul's Essays,Peace and War,Third World...
http://tokyoprogressive.org/news/link2.html

TokyoProgressive Radio
http://arenson.org/latesttpradio.html


Recent features on IndyMedia Japan
http://japan.indymedia.org/feature/index.php
World Peace Now symposium report
Where to for alternative media in Japan
4/12 demo report and pictures
World Water Forum (Kyoto) promotes globalization
Toyama Prefectural Assembly's anti-war vote
Japan occupation scholars condemn Iraq occupation plans
http://japan.indymedia.org/feature/index.php


Thanks

Paul Arenson
paul@tokyoprogressive.org