Japanese message of support for Aldermaston Big Blockade

The following message was sent by Dr Rebecca Johnson of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy and one of the Faslane 365 organisers:

Dear Big Blockaders,

Below is a letter of solidarity from some Japanese activists that I had spoken to during my meetings in Hiroshima and Tokyo in August.

As I'm in New York at UN meetings, I also have to wish you strength, nonviolent power, fun and effective blockading for tomorrow morning.

Love, peace and action,
rebecca


Please find below a "letter of solidarity" from my colleagues and myself, who are members of Japan Association of International Relations and/or Peace Studies Association of Japan.
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> I wish you great success of the Big Blockade. Please take care!
> In peace,
> Taka
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> Takao Takahara, Professor of International Politics and Peace Research Faculty of International Studies, Meiji-Gakuin University Kamikurata 1518, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan 244-8539 Tel: +81-45-863-2224 Fax: +81-45-863-2265 E-mail: taka [at] k.meijigakuin.ac.jp (or: ttmgu [at] hotmail.com)
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> October 27, 2009
> "A letter of solidarity to the people gathering at Aldermaston"
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> As citizens and members of academia residing in a country where survivors from the two atomic bombings strenuously continue to plea for elimination of nuclear weapons, we respectfully express our support for the people of Britain who will be at Aldermaston on Monday, October 27.
> Let's work together to assure that tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never be repeated anywhere on this planet. Nuclear weapons are illegal and immoral, as Sir Joseph Rotblat, the Nobel Peace Laureate of 2005, declared.
> We regret that there still exist over 26,000 nuclear warheads, among which about 2,000 are said to be at hair-trigger alert. This is unbearable.
> We look forward to seeing Great Britain take back the decision to renew Trident, and assume the honorable role of becoming the first among the permanent members of the UN Security Council to discard nuclear arsenals.
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> With best and warm regards,
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> Seiji Endo, Seikei University
> Kiyoko Furusawa, Tokyo Women's Christian University
> Yasushi Ikeo, Kyoto Seika University
> Kumi Masuyama, Peace Studies Association of Japan
> Takako Nabeshima, Hokkaido University
> Shiho Nakazawa, Bunka Women's University
> Gen Nogami, Tsukuba University
> Tsutomu Nomita, Peace Studies Association of Japan
> Takahiro Nozaki, Chubu University
> Hidetsugu Odawara, Peace Studies Association of Japan
> Atsushi Shibasaki, Komazawa University
> Satoshi Shinden, University of Tokyo
> Akiko Sugiki, Kobe-Gakuin University
> Hiroko Takahashi, Hiroshima City University
> Takao Takahara, Meiji-Gakuin University
> Kayoko Teshigawara, Ferris Women's University
> Shinichiro Tsukada, Peace Depot
> Haruo Yamaguchi, Kobe University
> Masaki Yokoyama, Ferris Women's University
> Ryo Yoshida, University of Tokyo
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>
=========================================
Dr Rebecca E. Johnson
Executive Director,
The Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
24 Colvestone Crescent,
London E8 2LH, England
web: <>
tel +44 (0) 20 7503 8857
Cellphone +44 (0) 773 336 0955
>

Christian CND overnight vigil and daytime procession

http://ccnd.gn.apc.org/events.html

26 – 27 October: Bell, Book and Candle. CCND supporting Trident Ploughshares’ ‘Big Blockade’. There will be an all-night vigil on Sunday 26th October at Tadley Gate, from 9pm until 7am on Monday 27th October.

At 7am there will be a procession round the base starting with a short liturgy. Bring bells, Scripture quotes on placards or Bibles, etc and candles or lanterns. At each gate there will be a stop for a rest and a liturgy so people can join at any time during the procession. Should finish at about 4pm with final prayers.

The idea is to support the blockade with a Ring of Prayer and to provide an alternative witness for those not wishing to take part in possibly arrestable actions. If you are coming for the prayer procession (or indeed, the blockade) and need accommodation see below for 27^th October.

Leaflet (PDF document) Notes and timetable (Word doc)

A message of support from the Rt Revd the Bishop of Reading, Stephen Cottrell:

“How can we tell others not to possess something we are so keen not only to keep but also to upgrade? While the world needs investment to build a sustainable future we invest in bombs which only bring further instability to an already unstable world. The peace the world longs for can only be found beyond the futility of the arms race and in particular the horrors and waste of nuclear weapons. As the Anglican bishop serving Berkshire I look forward to the day when Aldermaston leads the world: not in making bombs but in decommissioning them; and I am happy to offer my support and prayers to all people of good will who want to build a sustainable world without the terror of nuclear arms.”

A message of support from the Very Reverend John A.R. Methuen, formerly Dean of Ripon:

"I have been involved with the anti-nuclear movement for many years and am now a member of the National Executive of Christian CND. I believe strongly that the various ills and woes of the world are all interlinked, so I am equally concerned about Greenpeace, War on Want, Christian Aid, World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International and similar organizations because they all contribute to the peace movement and need to be seen as all part of a bigger picture. The cause against Trident replacement in particular and nuclear weapons generally seems to me to be unassailable and I gladly give my support to you and all those who are struggling for a better, more peaceful, more just and more secure world. With all my very best wishes and prayers."