CORPORATE CONSOLIDATION APPROVED BY SUPREME COURT

Statement of Ralph Nader on Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission shreds the fabric of our already weakened democracy by allowing corporations to more completely dominate our corrupted electoral process. It is outrageous that corporations already attempt to influence or bribe our political candidates through their political action committees (PACs), which solicit employees and shareholders for donations. With this decision, corporations can now also draw on their corporate treasuries and pour vast amounts of corporate money, through independent expenditures, into the electoral swamp already flooded with corporate campaign PAC contribution dollars.

This corporatist, anti-voter decision is so extreme that it should galvanize a grassroots effort to enact a Constitutional Amendment to once and for all end corporate personhood and curtail the corrosive impact of big money on politics. It is indeed time for a Constitutional amendment to prevent corporate campaign contributions from commercializing our elections and drowning out the civic and political voices and values of citizens and voters. It is way overdue to overthrow “King Corporation” and restore the sovereignty of “We the People”!


For more information or to arrange interviews contact:
Ralph Nader
202-387-8034
January 21, 2010
http://www.nader.org/

THE FUTURE OF WAR

The military industrial complex knows that their plan for endless war is controversial. They are moving to reduce the financial cost of their (per unit) technologies and trying to fight more wars with fewer soldiers. Thus their emphasis on robotic warfare.

What are the moral and ethical questions that arise? We need to start talking about them.....

APPEAL TO STOP NAVY BASE CONSTRUCTION ON JEJU ISLAND

South Korean plainclothes police kicks Gangjeong villagers

Artist rendering of the proposed Navy base at Jeju Island with Aegis destroyers ported there

We, the undersigned global organizations and individuals, call upon the South Korean and US governments to cancel all plans to build a Navy base on Jeju Island. The base will destroy coral reefs that have been listed as world heritage environmental sites by the UNESCO and will destroy the fishing and way of life of the people.

The deployment of naval Aegis destroyers, outfitted with missile defense systems, will be used to surround and provoke China and will make Jeju Island a prime target.

Jeju is called the peace island and must remain free of provocative military bases.

· Lawrence R. Abbott (San Leandro, California, USA)
· Hiromi Abe (Tokyo, Japan)
· Junko Abe (Matsuyama, Japan)
· Sue Ablao (Poulsbo, Washington, USA)
· Ray Acheson (Director, Reaching Critical Will, WILPF, New York, New York, USA)
· Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire (Saintes, France)
· Michael Adler (Gainesville, Florida, USA)
· Ahn, Byung Gil (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Christine Ahn (Korea Policy Institute, San Francisco, California, USA)
· AKBAYAN (People's Action Party List, Philippines)
· Deborah Allen (New York, New York, USA)
· Americans Who Tell the Truth (Brooksville, Maine, USA)
· Glen Anderson (Lacey, Washington, USA)
· Joan Anderson (Canada)
· Kagari Ando (West Vancouver, Canada)
· Anraku,Tomoko (Anti-Nuke Waste Campaign, Chubu, Japan)
· Haruki Aoyama (Chiba, Japan)
· Colin Archer (Secretary-General, International Peace Bureau, Geneva, Switzerland)
· Fumie Arimura (Nipponzan Myohoji, Tokyo, Japan)
· Judith Arnold (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Tomohiko Arimitsu (Photographer, Okinawa, Japan)
· Ilse E. Arndt (Aloha, Oregon, USA)
· Akira Asada (Takarazuka, Japan)
· Yuichi Ashina (Fukushima, Japan)
· Association of the Religious Followers for the Peace of Jeju (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Randy Atkins (Gainesville, Florida, USA)
· Robin Attfield (Professor of Philosophy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK)
· Debbie Atwood (Vice Chair, Brunswick Town Council, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition
· Byungho Bae (Seoul, South Korea)
· Bae, Yu-Mi (Staff, Overseas Ecumenical Relations Department, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic fo Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Bainbridge Island Paddle Society (Bainbridge, Washington, USA)
· Therese Barre (Colombe)
· Mario Basso (Movimento Nodal Molin, Vicenza, Italy)
· Edith Bell (WILPF, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
· L. R. Berger (NE Associate Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, Contoocook, New Hampshire, USA)
· Jean Beringer (Sioux City, Iowa, USA)
· Jennifer Berman (Lafayette, Indiana, USA)
· John Bernard (South Portland, Maine, USA)
· Karen Biesanz (Corning, New York, USA)
· Pat Birnie (WILPF Tucson Branch, Tucson, Arizona, USA)
· Phil Bittle (San Gabriel, California, USA)
· Tim Blanchette (Veterans for Peace, Falmouth, Maine, USA)
· Maureen Block (Bath, Maine, USA)
· Toby Blome (Bay Area CodePink, San Francisco, California, USA)
· Hon. William Boardman (Woodstock, Vermont, USA)
· Mary & Joan Boone (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)
· David Borris (Northbrook, Illinois, USA)
· Muriel Bossier (Seoul, South Korea)
· Helen Boynton (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Barbara Brädefors (Swedish Peace Committee, Stockholm, Sweden)
· Mary D. Branson (Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea)
· Ivan Braun (Bronx, New York, USA)
· Adam Breasley (Melbourne, Australia)
· André Brochu (Malmoe, Sweden)
· Buddhist Peace Solidarity (Korea)
· Bernice Bulgatz (Citizens for Social Responsibility, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA)
· Tim Bullock (New England Peace Pagoda, Leverett, Massachusetts, USA)
· Valentina Buraya (Primorskiy Branch Committee Peace Protecting of Russia, Russia)
· Burnsville and Eagan Peace Vigils (Minnesota, USA)
· Diane Cadonau (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
· Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (Yorkshire, England)
· Michael Canney (Alachua County Green Party, Florida, USA)
· Theresa Carr (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
· Steve Carroll (Portland, Maine, USA)
· Bill & Mary Carry (The Peace and National Priorities Center of Oakland County, Sylvan Lake, Michigan, USA)
· Flolyn Catungal (Philippines)
· Central Alliance for National Self-Reliance and Peaceful Unification (Korea)
· Malcolm J. Chaddock (Veterans For Peace, Poulsbo, Washington, USA)
· Fredy Champagne (Veterans for Peace, Garberville, California, USA)
· David W. & Kathe Chipman (Harpswell, Maine, USA)
· Cho, Dae-Hwan (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Choe, Joon-Soo (General Secretary, Korea Peace Foundation, Seoul, Korea)
· Choe, Sang Cheol (Chief of General Affairs, Workers Institute of Social Science, Korea)
· Cheong, Myung-Duk (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Choi, Eun-A (Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement, and The South Headquarters of Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification, Seoul, Korea)
· Choi, InSoo (Seoul, South Korea)
· Choi, Gwang-Eun (Representative, Socialist Party of Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Choi, Seong-Hwan (Construction worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Sung-Hee Choi (Incheon, Korea)
· Yoonjung Choi (Nautilus ARI, Seoul, South Korea)
· Lynn R. Chong (Common People's Peace Vigil, Plymouth, New Hampshire, USA)
· Christian Meeting for the Peace of the Jeju Island (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Emily Rose Ciscato (Vicenza, Italy)
· Enzo Ciscato (Vicenza, Italy)
· Citizens Network for Ban on Depleted Uranium Weapons (Tokyo, Japan)
· Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace, Inc. (Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines)
· Richard Clement (Veterans for Peace, Pittston, Maine, USA)
· R. Lane Clark (Santa Barbara, California, USA)
· Co- Chairmen’ Council of the Jeju Environmental Movement Association (Jeju Island, Korea)
· CODEPINK Women for Peace (USA)
· Phyllis Coelho (Belfast, Maine, USA)
· Jack & Felice Cohen-Joppa (The Nuclear Resister, Tucson, Arizona, USA)
· Betty Cole (Georgetown, Maine, USA)
· Charlotte Sheasbby-Coleman (Canada)
· Ian Collins (Liberty, Maine, USA)
· Nelson Cone (Veterans for Peace, Port Angeles, Washington, USA)
· Andrés Thomas Conteris (Program on the Americas Director, Nonviolence International, Washington, DC, USA)
· Rev. Bill Coop (Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Georgiann Cooper (PeaceWorks, Freeport, Maine, USA)
· Pauline Cory (Worthing, United Kingdom)
· Council for a Martyr, Yang Yong Chan (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Susan Crane (Jonah House, Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
· Phyllis Creighton (Toronto Raging Grannies, Canada)
· Frances Crowe (Northampton, Massachusetts, USA)
· David Csik (Portland, Oregon, USA)
· Doug Cunningham (Pastor, New Day Church, Bronx, New York, USA)
· Fr. Bob Cushing (Pastor, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Cordele, GA, USA)
· Bob Dale (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Sigrid & Ron Dale (Warren, Michigan, USA)
· Oyunsuren Damdinsuren (Lecturer, National University of Mongolia)
· Dr. Edwin E. Daniel (Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada)
· Stephen Dankowich (Director, Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights, Ontario, Canada)
· Darmstaedter Friedensforum (Darmstadt, Germany)
· Chris Davenport (ACT for the Earth, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
· Michael & Ava DeLorenzo (Harpswell, Maine, USA)
· Lynn DeFilippo (Fairbanks, Alaska, USA)
· Democratic Labor Party (Korea)
· Democratic Labor Party, Jeju Island Regional Branch (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Max M. de Mesa (Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Quezon City, Philippines)
· Christine A. DeTroy (Maine WILPF, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Judith Deutsch (President, Science for Peace, University of Toronto, Canada)
· Michael Diaz (Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Nilda Medina Diaz (Committee For the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Orji Nkemakonam Dickson (President, GOLHD Centre, Nigeria)
· Rainbo Dixon (PhD candidate, School of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia)
· DMZ-Hawai/Aloha 'Aina
· Mike Dodd (St Columbans, Nebraska, USA)
· Alyce Dodge (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)
· Richard Doherty (Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Pete Shimazaki Doktor (Honolulu, Hawai`i)
· Duncan Dow (San Francisco, California, USA)
· Jean Downey (Ten Thousand Things culture of peace blog, Kyoto, Japan)
· Dr. Myagmar Dovcin (Director of Blue Banner, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
· Paul Drinan (Portland, Maine, USA)
· Colleen M. Driscoll (Ph.D, Director, The Kurtz Institute of Peacemaking, Cheshire, Connecticutt, USA)
· Steve Dunn (Bangor, Maine, USA)
· Dr. John P. Dwyer & Dr. Karen N. Dwyer (Pax Christi Naples, Florida)
· Elihu Edelson (WW II veteran, Tyler, TeXas, USA)
· Marjorie Swann Edwin (Santa Cruz, California, USA)
· Akira Egami (Nipponzan Myohoji, Tokyo, Japan)
· Cheryl Eiger (North Bend, Washington, USA)
· Leonard Eiger (Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, North Bend, Washington, USA)
· Maggie Eisner (Bradford, United Kingdom)
· Jenefer Ellingston (Green Party, Washington DC, USA)
· Daniel Ellis (Veterans for Peace, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Dr. Jorge Emmanuel (El Cerrito, California, USA)
· Jean Enriquez (Executive Director, CATW-AP, Philippines)
· Jun Enriquez (Civil Society Organization Forum For Peace, Philippines)
· Skorokhodova Evgeniya (Vladivostok, Russia)
· Corazon Valdez-Fabros (Citizen's Peace Watch, Philippines)
· Family Association for the Democratic Movement (Korea)
· Anna Farkas (U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice, Rome, Italy)
· Fellowship of Reconciliation (Nyack, New York)
· Mike Ferner (President, Veterans For Peace, Toledo, Ohio)
· Chris Fetterly (Prince George, BC, Canada)
· Cynthia Fischer (Director, Center for Environmental Education , West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)
· Richard Fischer (Dubuque Peace, Bernard, Iowa, USA)
· Lotus Yee Fong (San Francisco, California, USA)
· Fredericton Peace Coalition (Canada)
· Friendship and Peace Society (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
· Stacey Fritz (No Nukes North, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA)
· Charles Fry (Moss Point, Mississippi, USA)
· Fumio Fujita (Nipponzan Myohoji, Tokyo, Japan)
· Ronald Fujiyoshi (U.S.-Japan Committee for Racial Justice, Honolulu, Hawai`i)
· Atsushi Fujioka (Kyoto, Japan)
· Manami Fujiwara (Osaka, Japan)
· Patricia Fullenweder (Portland, Oregon, USA)
· Ellen V. Fuller (Assistant Professor, East Asian Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia)
· Fundación de Arte Pictórico Alfonso Arana (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
· Thomas L. Fusco (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Bruce Gagnon (Bath, Maine, USA)
· Ms. Lee M. Gagnon (Walpole, Massachusetts, USA)
· Kathryn Gaianguest (Lamoine, Maine, USA)
· Nancy Galland (Stockton Springs, Maine, USA)
· Vadim Gaponenko (Primorskiy Branch of Russian Peace Foundation, Vladivostok, Russia)
· Lorree Gardener (Olympia, Washington, USA)
· Jay E Garth Jr (Huntington, Texas, USA)
· Lydia Garvey (Clinton, Oklahoma, USA)
· Lorena Garzotto (Vicenza, Italy)
· Alfred J. Geiger (Jacksonville, Florida, USA)
· Wendy Clarissa Geiger (Jacksonville, Florida, USA)
· Gloria C. George (Aloha, Oregon, USA)
· Joseph Gerson (AFSC – Peace and Economic Security Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)
· Anne Gibbons (Bronx, New York, USA)
· Philip Gilligan (Littleborough, United Kingdom)
· Starr C. Gilmartin (Trenton, Maine, USA)
· Eiko Ginoza (Citizens' Network for Biological Diversity in Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan)
· Luke Gizinski (Lewiston, Maine, USA)
· Filson H. Glanz (Durham, New Hampshire, USA)
· Mary Gleysteen (North Kitsap Neighbors for Peace, Kingston, Washington, USA)
· Ted Glick (Peace/Justice/Climate activist, Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA)
· Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
· Ernest Goitein (Atherton, California, USA)
· Iza Gonzales (Malolos City, Philippines)
· Laura L. Good (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Claire Gosselin (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
· Gotjawal Little School (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jill Gough (National Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Cymru)
· Alana Graham (Forest Grove, Oregon, USA)
· Holly Gwinn Graham (Olympia, Washington, USA)
· Rebecca A. Gray (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
· Gray Panthers (Metro Detroit, Michigan, USA)
· Gray Panthers (Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
· Michael Green (Ludlow, United Kingdom)
· Lynne Greenwald (Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, Bremerton, Washington, USA)
· Henriette Groot (PhD, Cayucos, California, USA)
· Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action (Poulsbo, Washington, USA)
· Małgorzata Haładewicz-Grzelak (Opole, Poland)
· Irene E. Guido (No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy)
· Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
· Jean & Joe Gump (Bloomingdale, Michigan, USA)
· Sim Woo Gun (Steering Committee Members’ Association of the Uijungboo School, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Tsuneaki Gunjima (Fukuoka, Japan)
· Samira Gutoc (Lake Lanao protection advocate, Philippines)
· Kevin Haake (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
· Anne Hablas (Fargo, North Dakota, USA)
· Joung, Hai-In (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Incheon, Korea)
· Ellen Haight (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Duane Hall (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Kevin & Maggie Hall (Dunedin, Florida, USA)
· Marcia Halligan (Kickapoo Peace Circle, Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA)
· Han, Jung Ae (The Frontiers, Seoul, South Korea)
· Han, Soohyeon (Tokyo, Japan)
· Han, Sun-Nam (Wind in Peace, Kunsan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea)
· Jane Hanna (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)
· Kyoko Hara (Vancouver, Canada)
· Jenny Hardacre (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
· Clare Hariri (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
· Amy Harlib (New York, New York, USA)
· Jack Harrington (Deer Isle, Maine, USA)
· Margaret Harrington (co-chair, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Dismantle the War Economy Leadership Team, Richford, Vermont, USA)
· Kate Harris (Belfast, Maine, USA)
· Norma J F Harrison (Berkeley, California, USA)
· Headingley Green Party (Headingley, England)
· Health Care Solidarity, Korean Public Service Union, Jeju Headquarter (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Kneath Heard (Seogwipo-Si, Jeju Island, South Korea)
· Andrew Heaslet (Peace Economy Project, St Louis, Missouri, USA)
· Suzanne Hedrick (Pax Christi, Nobleboro, Maine, USA)
· Valerie Heinonen, o.s.u. (Ursulines of Tildonk for Justice and Peace
New York, New York, USA)
· Jenny Heinz (New York, New York, USA)
· Dud Hendrick (Veterans for Peace, Deer Isle, Maine, USA)
· Reiko Hidaka (Oita, Japan)
· Noboru Hidaka (Ageo,Japan)
· Fujioka Hiromi (Dazaifu, Japan)
· Filo Hirota (Rome, Italy)
· John Hock (Forest Grove, Oregon, USA)
· Herbert J. Hoffman (Ogunquit, Maine, USA)
· Hyun Hoheon (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, South Gyunggi branch, Paju, Korea)
· Janet Holden (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
· Boram Hong (Seoguipo, Jeju Island, South Korea)
· Hong, Sung-Hak (Korean Professors Union, Chungjoo, Korea)
· Mari Hoshikawa (Tokyo, Japan)
· Lyn Hovey (Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia)
· Celeste Howard (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
· Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities (Korea)
· Janet Hudgins (Vancouver, Canada)
· Jackie Hudson (Poulsbo, Washington, USA)
· Kimberly Hughes (Co-coordinator, Peace Not War Japan, Tokyo, Japan)
· Kim So Hun (National Visual Artists’ Association, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Hye, Kyoung An (Jejudo, South Korea)
· Bhak Yong Hyun (Co-Representative, Veterans For Peace, South Korea)
· Fourat Idan (Medical student, Bratislava, Slovakia)
· Vicki Impoco (Satellite Beach, Florida, USA)
· Akiko Inari (Kyoto, Japan)
· Takashi Inatsuki (Sayama City, Japan)
· Inc. Child Book, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Individuals For Justice (Portland, Oregon, USA)
· Yuko Inui (Miyagi, Japan)
· Megumi Ishibashi (Chiba, Japan)
· Akiko Ishikawa (Fukuoka, Japan)
· Haruko Ishikawa (Catholic religious, Tokyo, Japan)
· Island Peace & Justice (Deer Isle, Maine, USA)
· Kanji & Simako Ito (Stone Walk Korea, Fukuoka Japan)
· Katsuhisa Itoh (Nagoya, Japan)
· Iwakawa, Yasuhisa (Chiba, Japan)
· Hideo Iwasa ( Kyoto, Japan )
· Helen Jaccard (Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Marshall Jack (Arizona, USA)
· Sally Jacques (Austin, Texas, USA)
· Carol Jahnkow (Executive Director, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, California, USA)
· Fred Jakobcic (Marquette, Michigan, USA)
· Jang, Hyun-Sool (Transportation worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Jang, Kyung Wook (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Linda Jansen (Stand Up Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Japan Anti-War Network
· Jeju 4.3 Research Institute (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Association for Women’s Right (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Island 4.3 People’s Solidarity (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Nohoe Church & Society Council, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju People’s Self-Governing Solidarity (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Solidarity for Participatory Self-Government & Environmental Preservation (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Women’s Association (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeju Young People’s Council for Unification (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jo, Jung Nae (The Frontiers, Seoul, South Korea)
· Chadwick Johnson (Amherst, Massachusetts, USA)
· Paul Johnson (Abermain, NSW, Australia)
· Brian Jones (Swansea CND, Wales)
· Ronald Jones (Solvang, California, USA)
· Joo, Byung-Joon (Chairman, Ohyun-ri Villiage People’s Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields, Paju, Korea)
· Joo, Seol-lak (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Women’s Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Carla Josephson (Stop The War Machine, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA)
· Jung, Ae-Jung (Countermeasure Committee against the Leukemia, Samsung Semiconductor, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Jung, Hye Eun (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Jung, Hyun-Back (Professor, Dept. of History, Sung Kyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim Hyun-Jung (Busan YMCA coordinator, Busan, Korea)
· Jung, Woo-Soo (Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement, Seoul, Korea)
· Masa Kagami (Article 9 Association, Vancouver, Canada)
· Kyle Kajihiro (American Friends Service Committee, Honolulu, Hawaii)
· Ramya Kane (Kerald, India)
· Naoka Kaneko (Japan)
· Kang, Ik-Hyun (herb doctor, Jeonbuk-do, Korea)
· Kang, Jeong-Koo (Co-representative, Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Kang, Sang-Won (Director, Pyeongtaek Peace Center, Pyeongtaek, Korea)
· Ito Kanji (Stone Walk Korea, Fukuoka Japan)
· Sharon Carmin Karasic (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
· Leah R. Karpen (WILPF, Asheville, North Carolina, USA)
· Kazuhiro Kato (Kushima, Japan)
· Fuji Katsuhiko (Nagoya City, Japan)
· Yuko Katsuren (Kumamoto, Japan)
· Hubert Kauffman (Ph.D., Oxford, Maine, USA)
· Masami Kawamura (Director, Citizens' Network for Biological Diversity in Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan)
· Alan F. Kay (St Augustine, Florida, USA)
· Hizumi Kazuo (Tokyo, Japan)
· Benton Kealii Pang (Ph.D., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)
· Celine Keating (New York, New York, USA)
· Kim Yoon Kee (National Visual Artists Association, Seoul, Korea)
· Fritz & Natalie Kempner (Woolwich, Maine, USA)
· Kenko (Musician, Save Awase Association, Okinawa, Japan)
· Randy Kezar (Kingston, New Hampshire, USA)
· Kickapoo Peace Circle (Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA)
· Boong-ang Kim (Tokyo, Japan)
· Daesung Kim (Northridge, California, USA)
· Kim, Dong Won (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Eun (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Kim, Gil-Ja (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Kim, Gui Ok (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Hei-Jeong (staff, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Women’s Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Kim, Ho Hyun (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Hye Soon (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Hyoshin Kim (D.Ed., Academic Manager, Continuing Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)
· Kim, Hyun-Jung (YMCA coordinator, Busan, Korea)
· Kim, Jae-Heyung (Lifepeace Fellowship, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Jae Hyun (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Kim, Ji Young (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Joo-Hee Kim (Seoul, South Korea)
· Kim, Hwan Young (Secretary General, Veterans For Peace, South Korea)
· Kim, Jong-Il (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Executive Chairperson of the Pan-Korean Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Kang Youn (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Incheon, Korea)
· Kim, Kwang-Chang (Service worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Kim, Kwang-Hee (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Kim, Lae-Gon (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Ms. Kim, Mi-Kyun, (Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Myung Sook (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Seong-Hwan (Representative, Samsung General Labor Union,
Incheon, Korea)
· Kim, Sung-Kyun (Citizens’ Campaign for Media Consumer Rights, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Sung-Wook (Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement, Seoul, Korea)
· Kim, Tae-Jin (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Kim, Yeong (Korean resident in Tokyo, Japan)
· Kim, Young-Je (National Director for the Reunification Unit, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Seoul, Korea)
· Beth Kinney (Alamosa, Colorado, USA)
· Jack Kirkwood (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Hiromitsu Kitsu (Nipponzan Myohoji, Tokyo, Japan)
· Margery T. Kivel (Dowagiac, Michigan, USA)
· Ingeborg Kleinhans (Västerås, Sweden)
· Tomoo Kobashigawa (Photographer, Save Awase Association, Okinawa, Japan)
· Koh, Gill-Chun (Tamra Visual Artists' Association, Jeju City, Jeju island, Korea)
· Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement
· Korea Association of Bereaved Families For Democracy (Korea)
· Korea Labor and Society Institute (Korea)
· Korean Catholic Peasants League (Korea)
· Korean Christian Alliance for Social Mission (Korea)
· Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Korean Council for Democratic Martyrs (Korea)
· Korean Democratic Government Workers’ Union (Korea)
· Korean Peasants League (Korea)
· Korean Peasants League, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Korean People’s Artist Federation in Jeju (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (Korea)
· Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Korean University Student Societies’ Association (Korea)
· Korean Women Association (Korea)
· Korean Woman Peasant Association, Jeju Island Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jeanne Koster (Watertown, South Dakota, USA)
· Ku, Joong-Seo (Wind in Peace, Kunsan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea)
· Naoya Kuwae (Okinawa Environment Network, Okinawa, Japan)
· Brenda Kwon (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
· Kwon, Oh-Hun (Chairperson, Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Ariel Ky (Jinan, China)
· Kyoko, Ohno (Ehime, Japan)
· Kim Seo Kyung (National Visual Artists’ Association, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Kuniko Kuroda (Japan)
· Labor Human Rights Center (Korea)
· Ana Lachelier (West Hartford Citizens for Peace and Justice, Connecticut, USA)
· Frances Laing (Chester, England)
· Susan Lannen (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
· Brian Larkin (Trident Ploughshares, Helensburgh, Scotland)
· Barbara Larson (Arizona, USA)
· Dave Laskey (Veteran Against Nuclear Arms, Vancouver, Canada)
· Barbara Laxon (Miramar, Florida, USA)
· Lee, Bong Ju (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Lee, Byung Min (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Lee, Dong-Hee (Construction worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Haengri　(Tokyo, Japan）
· Lee, In-Hwan (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Ji Eun (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Lee, Jung-Tae (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Kwang-Yeol (Supporting Committee for the Restrained Workers, Seoul, Korea)
· Lee, Kyung-Won (The South Headquarters of Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification, Seoul, Korea)
· Lee, Mi-Young (Secretary, Incheon Citizens’ Solidarity, Incheon, Korea)
· Lee, Ou-Back (Railroad worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Seung Mi (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Samsung Lee (Professor, Hallym University, Namyangju City, South Korea)
· Lee, Suk-Jae (Seaport worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Tae-Hwan (Seaport worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Lee, Won Hyung (Seoul, South Korea)
· Lee, Yong Joon (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Lee, Young Soon (Supreme Committee member, Democratic Labor Party, Seoul, Korea)
· Lee, Yu-Kyung (Journalist, Bangkok, Thailand)
· Lee, Yun-Hee (National Council of YMCAs of Korea, Life-Peace Center, Seoul, Korea)
· Lillia Langreck (SSND, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
· Nydia Leaf (New York, New York, USA)
· Haeng Woo Lee (Princeton Junction, New Jersey, USA)
· Louise Legun (Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA)
· Roger Leisner (Radio Free Maine, Augusta, Maine, USA)
· David Lenderts (M.D., Alamosa, Colorado, USA)
· Bob Lezer (Veterans for Peace, Freeport, Maine, USA)
· Lim, Kyung-Ok (Samsung General Labor Union, Incheon, Korea)
· Francine Lindberg (El Prado, New Mexico, USA)
· Ivy Lobato (Belfast, Maine, USA)
· Joyce & Ray Lockard (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
· Paul Lockwood (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
· Loukie Lofchie (Brunwick Peaceworks, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Joe Walsh-Lone (Portland, Oregon, USA)
· Hector L. Lopez (Ponce, Puerto Rico)
· Lewis Lubka (Fargo, North Dakota, USA)
· Nancy Lynch (Santa Barbara, California, USA)
· Eric A. Lynn (Walpole, Massachusetts, USA)
· Peggy Lyons (Floral Park, New York, USA)
· Sarah Roche-Mahdi (Cambridge Massachusetts, USA)
· Yoshikazu Makishi (Okinawa, Japan)
· Naoko Makita (Kyoto, Japan)
· Jeannie Nacpil Manipon (Philippines)
· Sr. Gladys Marhefka (SGM, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA)
· Wanda R. Marin (Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Jonathan Mark (Publisher-Editor, FlybyNews.com, Massachusetts, USA)
· Deb Marshall (Little Deer Isle, Maine, USA)
· Anita Mason (Bristol, United Kingdom)
· Hiromitsu Masuda (Chiba, Japan)
· Ken Masuoka (Tokyo East Timor Association, Tokyo, Japan)
· Jean-Marie Matagne (President of ACDN, Doctor in Philosophy, Saintes, France)
· Hideomi Matsubara (Nagoya, Aichi, Japan)
· Akiro Matsumoto (Professor, St.Thomas University, Osaka, Japan)
· Anne M. Matthes (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
· Jenny Maxwell (West Midlands Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Birmingham, United Kingdom)
· Natasha Mayers (Whitefield, Maine, USA)
· Gunji Mayumi (Yokohama City, Japan)
· Dr. Ross McCluney (Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA)
· Vel McConnell (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)
· Joan McCoy (Home for Peace & Justice, Saginaw, Michigan, USA)
· Laurie McGowan (Mochelle, Nova Scotia, Canada)
· Jo McIntire (Saint Augustine, Florida, USA)
· Betty McLellan (Townsville, Australia)
· Lynn Meadows (Green Party of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
· Nilda Medina (Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Duncan Berman Melville (Scotland)
· Rachael Berman Melville (Artist, USA)
· Helen N. Mendoza (SOLJUSPAX, Philippines)
· Yvonne Mersereau (New Brunswick, Canada)
· Alice Meyer (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Bernie Meyer (Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action & Fellowship of Reconciliation, Olympia, Washington, USA)
· Robert (Tito) Meyer (Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA)
· Dr. Hannah & Denis Middleton (Sydney, Australia)
· James R. Miles (West Palm Beach, Florida, USA)
· Carol Miller (PeaceEconomy, New Mexico, USA)
· Virginia J. Miller (Legislative Coordinator, NM Department of Peace Initiative, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)
· Glen Milner (Seattle, Washington, USA)
· James X. Mitchell (Americans Against the War, Paris, France)
· Vasiliki Mitsiniotou (Greece)
· Nobuko Miyahara (Miyazaki, Japan)
· Mitsuo Miyamura (Fukuoka, Japan)
· Izumi Miyanishi (Mie, Japan)
· Mo, Ji-Hee (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Mo, Sung-Ryong (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Grete Moller (Brondby Strand, Denmark)
· Anne Montgomery (Disarm Now Plowshares group, Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Choi Sa Mook (Co-Representative, Veterans for Peace (Corea), Seoul, Korea)
· Carolyn Moon (Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
· Fr. Moon, Kyu-hyun(Catholic Priest, South Korea)
· Barbara Moore (Big Island Health & Wellness Alliance, Hawaii)
· Damien Moran (Warsaw, Poland)
· Carmelita Morante (Bulacan, Philippines)
· Ayako Morimoto (Japan)
· Hiroko Morimoto (Japan)
· Nao Morimoto (Japan)
· Syu Morimoto (Japan)
· You Morimoto (Japan)
· Haruko Moritaki (NO DU Hiroshima Project, Japan)
· Paul Charbonnet Moulton (Tallahassee, Florida, USA)
· Masumi Mukai (Chiba, Japan)
· Fr. Mun, Jung Hyun (Wind in Peace, Kunsan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea)
· Ma. Divina Munoz (Malolos City, Philippines)
· Na, Yong-Moo (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Katy Nadel (Portland, Oregon, USA)
· Yoshie Nakamura (Tokyo, Japan)
· Yuuko Nakamura (Kunitachi, Japan)
· Ayako Nakanishi (Yokohama, Japan)
· Jeff Nall (Humanists for Peace, Brevard County, Florida, USA)
· Kitazawa Naoko (Tokyo, Japan)
· Na, Soon Suk (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Nebraskans for Peace (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
· Judie Neitge (Mankato, Minnesota, USA)
· Ana Maria R. Nemenzo (WomanHealth Philippines)
· Sarah Nevin (Edgartown, Massachusetts, USA)
· Atsuko Nishimura (Kyoto, Japan)
· Hideki Nitta (Peace Link Hiroshima, Kure, Iwakuni, Japan)
· Masayo Niwa (Tokyo, Japan)
· Sr. Arnold Maria Noel (SSPS, Philippines)
· Noh, Hyun-Ki (Secretary, Civil Council against the Golf Field and for the Incheon Civil Park, Incheon, Korea)
· Noh, Hyuk (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Tamio Nomura (Tokyo, Japan)
· Satoko Norimatsu (Director, Peace Philosophy Centre, Vancouver, Canada)
· Nukewatch (Luck, Wisconsin, USA)
· Max Obuszewski (Baltimore Nonviolence Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
· Nancy O'Byrne (Co-ordinator, Pax Christi Northeast Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, USA)
· Naniki Reyes Ocasio (Orocovis, Boriken, Puerto Rico)
· David Occhiuto (Producer WBAI/Pacifica Radio, New York, New York, USA)
· Eiichiro Ochiai (Vancouver, Canada)
· Tadashi Ogata (Aoba, Japan)
· Takao Ogata (Fukuoka, Japan)
· Oh, Hye Ran (SPARK, Seoul, South Korea)
· Ohashi, Shinji (Shizuoka, Japan)
· Junko Ohkura (Ireland)
· Yutaka Ohno (Kyoto, Japan)
· Natsuko Ohta (Madrid, Spain)
· Ohyun-ri Villiage People’s Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields, Paju, Korea
· Yoshiko Okada (Tokyo, Japan)
· Motoko Okamura (Japan)
· Ms. Michiko Oki (Niiza-shi, Saitama Pref, Japan)
· Reverend Gerald Oleson (O.C.F., Gorham, New Hampshire, USA)
· Jon Olsen (Jefferson, Maine, USA)
· Manuel F. O'Neill (Vermont-Puerto Rico Solidarity Committee, Woodbury, Vermont, USA)
· Yoko Oohara (Oita,Japan)
· Kyouko Oono (Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan)
· Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz (Municipal Legislator, Movimiento de Afiracion Viequense, Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Nana Paldi (Fairbanks, Alaska, USA)
· Jim Palmer (Stetson, Maine, USA)
· Molly Duplisea-Palmer (Stetson, Maine, USA)
· Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), South Korean branch, Korea
· Pan-Korean Association for Reconciliation (Korea)
· Pan-Korean Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields (Seoul, Korea)
· Pan-Korean Democratic Workers’ Council (Korea)
· Pan-Korean Government Workers’ Union, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Pan-Korean Poor People’s Association (Korea)
· Park, Jin-Woo (Suwon, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Park, Seung-Ho (Institute for Democratic Labor In Memory of Jun Tae-Il, Seoul, Korea)
· Park, Sung-Yong (Chairperson, Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea, Seoul, Korea)
· Park, Won-Bae (Construction worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Park, Yoon Kyung (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Lewis E. Patrie, MD (Chair, Western N. C. Physicians for Social Responsibility, Asheville, North Carolina, USA)
· Pat Patterson (Claremont, California, USA)
· Gloria G. Paul (New Brunswick, Canada)
· Rosalie Tyler Paul (Maine Green Party, Georgetown, Maine, USA)
· Terrence Paupp (V-P of North America, International Association of Educators for World Peace, Bend, Oregon, USA)
· Peace Alliance (Winnipeg, Canada)
· Peasants’ Pharmacy (Korea)
· Lindis Percy (Harrogate, England)
· Alberto Peruffo (Vicenza, Italy)
· Anna Polo (Europe for Peace, Italy)
· Sergey Ponomarev (Maritime State University, Russia)
· Jeff Prager (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
· Preparatory Council for the Federation Unification of Our Nation (Korea)
· Rudolf Prevratil (No To Bases civic initiative, Prague, Czech Republic)
· Amy Prosser (Richmond, California, USA)
· Pyon, Eui Sook (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Pyon, Yeon-Shik (Co-representative, Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Bryan Quinlan (Shanghai, China)
· Francis E. Quinn (Bandon, Oregon, USA)
· Robert Rabin (Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Joyce Raby (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
· Carla L. Rael (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)
· J. Narayana Rao (Nagpur, India)
· Elsa Rassbach (Berlin, Germany)
· Doug Rawlings (Veterans for Peace, Chesterville, Maine, USA)
· Phyllis Reames (Portland, Maine, USA)
· Annetta Marie Reams (Vicenza, Italy)
· John Reese (Alcalde, New Mexico, USA)
· Paul & Katja Rehm (Greenville, New York, New York, USA)
· Lawrence Reichard (Bangor, Maine, USA)
· Carla Rensenbrink (Topsham, Maine, USA)
· John Rensenbrink (Green Party, Topsham, Maine, USA)
· Pyo Myung Reol (Executive Representative, Veterans For Peace, South Korea)
· Phil Restino (Central Florida Veterans For Peace, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA)
· Rete Nazionale Disarmiamoli! (Italy)
· Elayne Richard (Fairfield, Maine, USA)
· Rosalie G. Riegle (Evanston, Illinois, USA)
· Tim Rinne (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
· Mariangeles Rivera (Sunbay Yoga, Vieques, Puerto Rico)
· Christine M. Roane (Springfield, Massachusetts, USA)
· Peter & Judy Robbins (Sedgwick, Maine, USA)
· Lori Robertson (Florence, Oregon, USA)
· Ellen R. Robinson (Coordinator, Albuquerque Raging Grannies, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)
· Nora H Rodriguez (Presidio Permanente, No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy)
· Linda Rogers (Llangoed, Ynys Mon, North Wales)
· Rogue Valley Veterans for Peace (Chapter 156, Oregon, USA)
· Roh, Oh-Nam (wood worker, Seoul, Korea)
· Roh, Suk-Soo (Subway worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Mark Roman (Waterville Area Bridges For Peace & Justice, Solon, Maine, USA)
· Chris Rooney (The Christian Radical Blog, Vancouver Catholic Worker, Vancouver BC Canada)
· Loretta Ann Rosales (Philippines)
· Ellen Rosser (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
· Herbert Rothschild Jr. (Talent, Oregon, USA)
· Paula Boyer Rougny (Bangor, Maine, USA)
· Coleen Rowley (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
· Fred Ruch (Melbourne, Florida, USA)
· Christopher C. Rushlau (Portland, Maine, USA)
· Kathleen Russell (Spokane, Washington, USA)
· Mervyn Russell (Oakville Community Centre for Peace , Ecology and Human Rghts, Ontario, Canada)
· June A. Rusten (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
· Ryu, Byung-Gook (Railroad worker, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Ryu, Jung-Sik (Seoul, Korea)
· Kang Sachiko (Ibaraki, Japan)
· Ayako Sadakane (Kamakura, Japan)
· Dr. Ron Saff (Tallahassee, Florida, USA)
· Kazuko Sakamoto (Okinawa, Japan)
· Hisako Sakiyama (Chiba, Japan)
· Mariko Sakurai (Japanese Committee for the Children of Palestine, Tokyo, Japan)
· Antonia Shouse-Salpeter (Ithaca, New York, USA)
· Judith Salzman (Tucson, Arizona, USA)
· Sung Jea Sang (Co-Representative, Veterans For Peace, South Korea)
· Park Sang-Hee (Jeonbuk-do, Korea)
· Baibonn D. Sangid (Young Moro Professionals Network, Philippines)
· Aida F Santos (WEDPRO, Philippines)
· Judith Saryan (Georgetown, Maine, USA)
· Makiko Sato (Oita, Japan)
· Lisa Savage (CODEPINK Maine, Solon, Maine, USA)
· Carolyn S. Scarr (Ecumenical Peace Institute, Berkeley, California, USA)
· Elliot Schloss (New York, New York, USA)
· Gladys Schmitz (SSND, Mankato, Minnesota, USA)
· Lois Schreur (Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
· Sandra Schwartz (Peace Education Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee, San Francisco, California, USA)
· Barbara Calvert Seifred (Vancouver Raging Grannies, Canada)
· Mark Selden (Ithaca, New York, USA)
· Park Seokboon (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Peter Shaw (Veterans For Peace, State College, Pennsylvania, USA)
· Stephen Shaw (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Joanne Sheehan (War Resisters League/New England, Norwich, Connecticut, USA)
· Shin, Kang Hyub (Jeju city, Jeju island, South Korea)
· Robert Shetterly (Brooksville, Maine, USA)
· Fuyu Shimomura (Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Shin, Hyun Boo (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Shin, Hyun-Ik (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Shin, Jung-Hyun (Worker, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Mara Shlackman (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA)
· Rutsuko Shoji (Japan)
· Carlos J. Rodríguez-Sierra (Ph.D., Department of Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
· Tycho Sierra (Budapest, Hungary)
· Song Ha Sik (Co-Representative, Veterans For Peace, South Korea)
· Alice Slater (Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, New York, New York, USA)
· Marcia Slatkin (Shoreham, New York, USA)
· William H. Slavick (Coodinator, Pax Christi Maine, Portland, Maine, USA)
· Clarence A. Smith (Veterans For Peace, South Portland, Maine, USA)
· Gar Smith (Environmentalists Against War, Berkeley, Califonia, USA)
· Kim Doss-Smith (WAMM Director, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
· Noel Smith (Auburn, Maine, USA)
· Robert M. Smith (Brandywine Peace Community, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
· Susi Snyder (Secretary-General, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Geneva, Switzerland)
· Socialist Party of Korea
· Solidarity for the Practice of the South-North Joint Declaration (Korea)
· Solidarity for Practice of the South-North Joint Declaration, Jeju Regional Council (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Jean Sommer (V-P, Performers & Artists for Nuclear Disarmament, Brecksville, Ohio, USA)
· Song, Chang Hak (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Song, Kang Ho (The Frontiers, Seoul, South Korea)
· Soo, Hyun Kown (Graduate Student, South Korea)
· Yim Soonrye (Filmmaker, Kyunggido, Korea)
· Poul Eck Sørensen (The Peace Movement of Esbjerg, Denmark)
· Phoebe Sorgen (BFUU Social Justice Committee, Berkeley, California, USA)
· So, Soo Young (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Dorie Southern (Falls Church, Virginia, USA)
· South Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth (United Kingdom)
· David Sowder(Sarasota, Florida, USA)
· Special Committee for the Island of Peace, Catholic Diocese of Cheju [* same with Jeju] (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Richard Stander (Stockton Springs, Maine, USA)
· Paul Stein (Brookings, South Dakota, USA)
· Jean Stewart (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA)
· Roberta Stewart (Bandon, Oregon, USA)
· Lynn Stiles (Hudson, Colorado, USA)
· Carol Still (Traverse City, Michigan, USA)
· Stop the War Machine (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)
· Elizabeth A. Streeter (Peace Action Maine. Portland, Maine, USA)
· Nancy Strong (Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton, New Jersey, USA)
· Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience (Seoul, Korea)
· Susan P. Stout (Vancouver, Canada)
· Tom Sturtevant (Veterans for Peace, Winthrop, Maine, USA)
· Ryu Jeong Sub (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Incheon, Korea)
· Minoru & Hiroko Suda (Kyoto, Japan)
· Ryuken Sugawara (Chair, Higashi-Nishi Honganji Non-War Peace Joint Activism, Shimane, Japan )
· Koji Sugihara (Tokyo, Japan)
· Yasuo Sugimoto (Okayama, Japan)
· Mitsue Sugiyama (Kashiwa, Japan)
· Mary Beth Sullivan (Bath, Maine, USA)
· Bill Sulzman (Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA)
· Kim Un Sung (Gyunggi-do, Korea)
· Sung, Min-Kyu (Iowa City, Iowa, USA)
· Kenichi Susuda (Motobu, Okinawa, Japan)
· Toshihiko Suzuki (Chiba, Japan)
· David Swanson (After Downing Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA)
· Sachiko Taba (VAWW-NET Japan, Tokyo, Japan)
· Etsumi Taira (Member of Henoko tent-village resisting a new US base, 75 year-old, Okinawa, Japan)
· Sae Takahama (Japan)
· Keiko Takasato (Japan)
· Takao Takeda (Nipponzan Myohoji, Tokyo, Japan)
· Noboru Takeno (Fukuroi City, Japan)
· Kazuhiko Tamaki (Peace Depot Inc., Japan)
· Tsuyoshi Tamashiro (Okinawa, Japan)
· Hitomi Tanaka (Himeji, Japan)
· Izumi Tanaka (Tokyo, Japan)
· Paola Tapparo (Vicenza, Italy)
· Nancy Tate (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)
· Jennifer Louise Teeter (Kyoto, Japan)
· Bob Terpstra (Citizens for Social Responsibility, Delray Beach, Florida, USA)
· Ann-Gwen Theroux (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
· Terao Terumi (Yashio, Japan)
· John Smith Thang (Democracy and Human Right Network, South Korea)
· The Boundary Peace Initiative (Grand Forks, B.C., Canada)
· Ellen Thomas (Proposition One In 2010 Campaign, Washington DC, USA)
· Will Thomas (Veterans for Peace, Auburn, New Hampshire, USA)
· Grace Eiko Thomson (Vancouver, B.C., Canada)
· Brooke Thompson (Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA)
· Don Thompson (Alamosa, Colorado, USA)
· Jon & Margo Thurston (Searsmont, Maine, USA)
· Victoria Tikhonova (Maritime State University, Vladivostok, Russia)
· Georgy D. Toloraya (Professor of International Relations - Korean studies, Institute of Economics of Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia)
· Narumi Tomida (Kyoto, Japan)
· Lorella Tonellotto (Venezia, Italy)
· Aaron Tovish (International Director, 2020 Vision Campaign, Mayors for Peace, Vienna, Austria)
· Marti Townsend (Program Director, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)
· Chikao Toyama (Association of travel learns to Asian history, Tokyo, Japan)
· Kouichi Toyoshima (Prof. of Physics, University of Saga, Japan)
· Kouitirou Toyosima (Osaka, Japan)
· Helen Travis (Sterling, Colorado, USA)
· Tri-Valley CAREs (Livermore, California, USA)
· Fran Truitt (Columbus, Ohio, USA)
· Julia Trujillo (Miami, Florida, USA)
· Janice Tufte (Seattle, Washington, USA)
· Meredith Tupper (Springfield, Virginia, USA)
· Andrew C. Twaddle, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA)
· Hiro Umebayashi (Peacedepot, Japan)
· Unification Square (Korea)
· Shigeko Urasaki (Okinawa, Japan)
· Carol Reilley Urner (National Program Co-Chair, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section)
· Kathy Ushiba (San Jose, California, USA)
· Juha Uski (World without wars and without violence, Roskilde, Denmark)
· Harry van der Linden (Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA)
· Wil Van Natta (Ocean Lifeguard/diver, Reality News Radio, Singer Island, Florida, USA)
· Veterans for Peace (Bandon, Oregon)
· Veterans For Peace (South Korea)
· David Vine (Assistant Professor, American University, Washington DC, USA)
· Peter von Christierson (Port Townsend, Washington, USA)
· V. Gail Vonderweidt (Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA)
· Karen Wainberg (Bath, Maine, USA)
· Jim Walsh (Tucson, Arizona, USA)
· Wang, Yu-Hsuan (The Frontiers, Taipei, Taiwan)
· Marguerite Warner (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)
· Dr. Bill Warrick (Gainesville, Florida, USA)
· Mayumi Washio (Okinawa Environment Network, Okinawa, Japan)
· Hiroko Watanabe (Circle Watching for Peace & All Lives, Fukuoka, Japan)
· Verity Watts (Ossett, United Kingdom)
· Weston A. Watts Jr. (Brunswick, Maine, USA)
· Dr. Dave Webb (Vice-Chair CND, Leeds, England)
· Dr. Carroll Webber, Jr. (Greenville, North Carolina, USA)
· Chris Wells (World Without Wars & Without Violence, New York, New York, USA)
· Margaret Weitzmann (Seedcorn, Potsdam New York, USA)
· Barbara West (Arrowsic, Maine, USA)
· Joseph Whiteman (Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA)
· Bill Wickersham (Adjunct Professor of Peace Studies, University of Missouri-Çolumbia, USA)
· Åke Widfeldt (Tranemo, Sweden)
· Flo Wilder (Hancock, Maine, USA)
· Faith M. Willcox (Westport, Maine, USA)
· Heather Williams (Chester, United Kingdom)
· Mariah Williams (Liberty, Maine, USA)
· Susan Williams (Athens, Illinois, USA)
· Tess Williams (Yeosu, South Korea)
· Leland Wilson (Gold Canyon, Arizona, USA)
· Olive Wilson (Peace Links, Primghar, Iowa, USA)
· David Winter (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)
· Women Against Military Madness (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
· Women In Black (Bainbridge, Washington, USA)
· Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (U.S. Section)
· Peter Woodruff (Arrowsic, Maine, USA)
· Cheong Wooksik (Peace Network, Seoul, Korea)
· Workers Institute of Social Science (Korea)
· Russell Wray (Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats, Hancock, Maine, USA)
· Stephen Wunrow (Korean Quarterly, St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota, USA)
· Fumiko Yamada (Ageo, Japan)
· Kikuko Yamada (Saitama, Japan)
· Ayano & Joho Yamamoto (Osaka,Japan)
· Rie Yamasaki (Higashi-Osaka, Japan)
· Darim Yang (Jeju, Korea)
· Yang, In Chul (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Seoul, Korea)
· Donna Yellen (South Portland, Maine, USA)
· Yeo, Hye-Jung (Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience, Incheon, Korea)
· Yerae Environmental Research Institute (Jeju Island, Korea)
· Tania Yewchuk (Alberta, Canada)
· Rev. Yoon, In-Jung (Incheon Citizens’ Solidarity, Incheon, Korea)
· Yoon, Mi-Kyoung (Publicity Relationship Director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Yeo, Woo-Sung (Special Committee for the Reinstatement of the Laid-off Workers, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korea)
· Lee Myung Yeob (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Incheon, Korea)
· Choi Bock Yeol (Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), South Korean branch, Korea)
· Ji Hye Yoo (Seoul, Korea)
· Gong Tae-Yoon (External Cooperation Department, New Progressive Party, Korea)
· Caite York (Milton-Freewater, Oregon, USA)
· Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (Leeds, England)
· Mutsuko Yoshida (Nagasaki, Japan)
· Takeuchi Yasuto (Nagoya, Japan)
· Hideki Yoshikawa (Secretariat, Citizens' Network for Biological Diversity in Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan)
· You, Young-Jae (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Seoul, Korea)
· Young People and Students’ Solidarity for the Practice of the 615 Joint Declarations (Korea)
· Ryu Ah Young (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Incheon, Korea)
· Yun, Taek Geun (Railroad worker, Vice-President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Busan Regional Council, Busan, Korea)
· Victoria F. Yurchik (Director, Multicultural Exchange Center, Maritime State University, Vladivostok, Russia)
· Ann Zamora (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
· Olola Ann Zamora (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
· Victor Zarougian (Georgetown, Maine, USA)
· Martin Zeilig (Winnipeg, Canada)
· Ron Zucker (San Mateo, California, USA)
· Elke Zwinge-Makamizile (German Peace Council, Berlin, Germany)
· 21st Century Korean University Students’ Association (Korea)

DRONE BANNER DROP AT SMITHSONIAN IN DC

VIDEOS BLACKED OUT - WHY?

Mayor Kang out of jail after two day hunger strike

You will see below that my post of a video from Jeju Island has been blacked out. Reports from South Korea indicate similar stories there.

The web site called No Base Stories of Korea had all of their videos from Jeju blacked out. See it here

It appears that the international protest response to the South Korean government is having an impact. It is obvious that only they, and the U.S. military, would have an interest in removing these videos!

By the way, the mayor of Geongjong, Kang Dong-Kyun, has been released after a couple days of hunger striking in jail.

Keep sending your international solidarity messages to the villagers on Jeju Island. Send to: armha5156@gmail.com

UPDATE TO LOST VIDEO: On 1:00 pm on Thursday the video reappeared after folks in South Korea had begun a media campaign to bring attention to the fact that the videos had been taken down from the Internet

OKINAWA BASE ALSO CAUSES PROTEST

This video is about another controversial military base in the Asian-Pacific. This one is about a U.S. Marine air field that is also now under development in Henoko on Okinawa, Japan.

In this case the air field would extend out into the ocean and destroy coral and habitat of the Dugong sea mammal.

Okinawa is loaded with U.S. military bases already and the people want them all closed.

The similarity to the fight in Okinawa and on Jeju Island is striking. But the real question is why are these bases being built? Is it because of North Korea?

Absolutely not. It is because the U.S. Pentagon is now doubling its military presence in the Asian-Pacific as it attempts to encircle China's coastal region. This aggressive U.S. move for global domination is being resisted by the people in South Korea, Japan, and Guam (where other U.S. bases are being dramatically expanded.

The U.S. base at Futenma is one of 30 bases in Okinawa, an island that makes up only 1% of Japan’s land mass while shouldering the burden of 75% of the U.S. military installations in Japan. That presence includes over 28,000 American troops, rivaling the number deployed to the active war zone of Afghanistan.

In the case of Jeju Island in South Korea it is the South Korean government building the base as a homeport for Aegis destroyers. With full confidence we can say that U.S. Navy Aegis destroyers (made right here in Bath, Maine) will also be ported at the new base on Jeju primarily due to its proximity to Chinese shipping lanes which they use to import 80% of their oil. These Aegis ships carry "missile defense" systems whose job is to take out China's nuclear retaliatory capability after a U.S. first-strike attack. Hard to believe I know, but the Space Command has been annually computer war gaming such an attack in recent years.

U.S. Secretary of War Robert Gates comments were quite revealing last spring when he said, "We're converting more ships to have ballistic missile defense that would help against China."

Put the pieces of the puzzle together and see the writing on the wall.

A second excellent video about U.S. militarism on Okinawa

U.S. HAS MILITARY AGENDA IN HAITI

Just one example of real aid being rejected by the U.S. military that now controls the airport in Haiti:

A Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) cargo plane carrying 12 tons of medical equipment, including drugs, surgical supplies and two dialysis machines, was turned away three times from Port-au-Prince airport since Sunday night despite repeated assurances of its ability to land there. This 12-ton cargo was part of the contents of an earlier plane carrying a total of 40 tons of supplies that was blocked from landing on Sunday morning. Since January 14, MSF has had five planes diverted from the original destination of Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic. These planes carried a total of 85 tons of medical and relief supplies.

See the full article here

The attitude of the U.S. authorities toward Haiti is well illustrated by the following telegram which the U.S. Acting Secretary of the Navy sent on October 2, 1915, to Admiral Caperton, in charge of the forces in Haiti: "Whenever the Haitians wish, you may permit the election of a president to take place. The election of Dartiguenave is preferred by the U.S."

VISIONARY DRAW-A-THON, POETRY READING & POT LUCK SUPPER

SATURDAY, FEB 13
(Snow date Saturday, February 27)
5:00 PM
UCC CHURCH (150 CONGRESS AVE)
BATH

Think that we overspend on the military? Artists and poets are looking for new ways to visualize how we could spend the $2.5 billion that Maine taxpayers’ have spent on war!

Join us for a draw-a-thon/gathering of visionaries, artists, and non-artists in support of the Maine Campaign to Bring Our War $$ Home.

Artists and poets will assemble early on Feb 13 to create images and words showing how we could spend the $2.5 billion of Maine taxpayers’ money that has already been wasted on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

A community potluck dinner will be held after the draw-a-thon, followed by a poetry reading with Betsy Sholl (Maine's poet laureate), Henry Braun, Chris Crittenden, and others, and music by Hana Maris (5-8 PM).

Kenny Cole and Natasha Mayers are organizing this event, along with a new coalition of Maine peace groups called Bring Our War $$ Home.

Participating artists include: Abby Shahn, Alan Crichton, Alison Hildreth, Arthur Fink, Barb Sullivan, Brian Reeves, Bud Swenson, Carolyn Coe, Corliss Chastain, Diane Dahlke, Elizabeth Kelley, Emily Posner, Jean Noon; Joan Braun, Kenny Cole, Lynn Harwood, Martin Steingesser, Natasha Mayers, Nora Tryon, Pat Wheeler, Peter Buotte, Prison Inmates, Rob Shetterly, Robin Brooks, Ronnie Wilson, Shanna Wheelock, and Susan Beebe.

For more info contact: Natasha Mayers at 549-7516 mayersnatasha@gmail.com or Bruce Gagnon at 443-9502 globalnet@mindspring.com

Map to the church here

JEJU PROTEST VIDEO

So far 47 people from the village Gangjeong have been arrested on Jeju Island trying to stop the Navy from beginning construction of the base. All but the mayor, Kang Dong Kyun, have been released. It appears that the South Korean government will try to keep the mayor from being able to lead the protests in the future.

A call has gone out from the villagers for people from around the world to come to Gangjeong to show international solidarity.

According to our South Korean contacts:

In the video, the navy is saying the land has become to be owned, by the Ministry of the National Defense, on Sept. 24 last year and the village people are illegally occupying the land. The village people who have watched all the illegal and improper processing and passing of the bills on the naval base, by the Jeju special government and the Island assembly, in the snatched-way, are strongly protesting, chanting, “Absolutely No Naval Base” .

It is heard that the mayor was blocking the navy and police with his own body behind the fire. And the police, ignoring his safety attacked the mayor. The informant in the village says the mayor must have been greatly wounded during the body struggle.

There are more stories coming about the people who got wounded during the struggle. One man had to get the bandage in his leg.

Even more videos can be seen here

UPDATE ON JEJU ISLAND

The yellow flags made by the village people say 'No Naval Bases'

Your Support Urgently Needed

Situation on Jan. 18, Gangjeong Village, South Korea

Around 5am Monday: 500 police were mobilized with three cranes. Police raided the planned site for the ceremony for starting to work on the naval base [which will be home base for Navy Aegis destroyers of U.S. and South Korea outfitted with "missile defense" systems and used to surround China's coast]. It is in the east side of the village and the village people had been barricading the site with the cars since when the cranes contracted by the navy first entered the site on Jan. 6. About 30 village people succeeded to block it at the time. It is known that the
police harshly acted today, against the people who are mostly in their old ages. The village people laid their bodies on the ground and cried to rather kill all of them. They pushed the old women and men. The police did not even mind women’s underwears were taken off during
the body struggles. The whole story reminds the Pyeongteak when the police attacked the village early in the dawn of May 4, 2006.

Around 6~8pm: About 47 village people including a mayor were taken away to the police station. The police unconditionally took away all
the people if they protested.

8~10:30am: five activists including Secretary Go Yu Gi, and two Catholic fathers were taken away to the police, after the short press interview. The activists strongly protested against the police and were dragged from the cranes they were protesting on the top of them.
All the captured were separately detained in the three police stations of the Jeju Island. Some may be released soon or some may be even restrained. We don’t know yet but the mayor is expected to get the arrest warrant.

Wounded

A 70 year old man is in comma. He hit his head on the stone when he was pushed by a police man. He was protesting against the police who was pushing an old woman.

A Korean Confederation of Trade Union activist, 41 years was carried to the hospital but released hours later.

After 1pm: The remaining village people and the activists continued to confront against the police without the clash,

Currently (at 8pm), about 30~40 people including 20 village people (mostly in their ages of 40~60) and 20 Jeju activists (30~40 years old) are doing the candle light vigil overnight in the confined area. The police blocked the people entering the place. The police are
expected to be mobilized again tomorrow morning. A Jeju activist there says, once they are all taken away by the police tomorrow, they may not be able to enter the area again.

Because of small numbers there, brutal taking away is expected. But she said the protests in front of the area will go on, afterward. It is possible to contact with the people there by phone and all the international message are carried briefly via it. It empowers the people there.

In the area for the planned ceremony, all the barricades of cars by the village people were removed. Wire fence was set up. And the contacted cranes have begun the basic construction process. There are about six cranes in the area for tomorrow’s continued construction.

What you can do:

* Send the strong solidarity message to the village people. Send to armha5156@gmail.com

* Put the pressure to the South Korean government

Prime Minister’s Office
Central Government Complex, 55 Sejong-no, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, Korea (110-760)
Tel: 82-2-2100-2114
webmaster@pmo.go.kr
www.pmo.go.kr

(Find English at the top right)

* Contact the South Korean embassy inside your country to demand a halt to navy base construction

* In the US call the South Korean Consulate in Washington DC

chief of mission: Ambassador YANG Song-chol
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205

* Consider to come to the village and join the struggle. Even if it is a few days, it will be the greatest support to the village people. The Jeju organizations can provide the accommodation place but not airplane fee. The experience of the Vieques will be much help here in Jeju that is an isolated place from the mainland of Korea. More details will be followed later.

Thanks very much.

Sung-Hee Choi
From Korea
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/
(for more photos and video)

Update: 1:30 am, Jan. 19, 2010

Except for 11people, about 36people were released around 1am. The identification of the 11 detained are not yet known. The Secretary, Mr. Go Yu Gi is heard to be released tomorrow after a brief investigation.

All the people who were there for the candle light vigil and the released now gathered together in the village hall. After the brief talk, all is expected to return back home. The village people will discuss about tomorrow’s program there. The struggle will be continued tomorrow.

Village people are so thankful and glad of all the international solidarity messages. Thanks so much for all your messages. Please keep to pressure the South Korean government and/or South Korean embassy in your country to complain about the brutal oppression against the people and the naval base plan. Flooding international pressure is not only the biggest help for the poor people in Gangjeong but also preventing another missile defense system in the world.

CRACKDOWN STARTS ON JEJU ISLAND

This just in from South Korea:

Update: Current situation at 10:30am (Korean time) - Monday

About 500 policemen were mobilized to the village Gangjeong at 5am this morning.

Not only 40 village people including the Mayor, Kang Dong Kyun, and Yang Hong Chan, Chairman of the Committee against the military base, but Go Yu Gi, Secretary of the Pan-Island Committee against the Military Base were captured by the police at 10:20am (Korean time).

In the press interview at 10am, the village people and activists had announced the total struggle to prevent the South Korean navy’s plan to have the ceremony to starting to work on the naval base on Feb. 5, 2010.

About 40 activists including the Catholic fathers and sea-diver women have been protesting sitting in front of the navy-contracted cranes.
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear all,

Many of you would probably know Bruce Gagnon’s international petition against the Jeju naval base construction and have heard about the Gangjeong village people’s struggle against the naval base.

I just got the message from a key activist in the Jeju organization.
He said the police raided the Gangjeong village early this morning in large number.

He got the news at 6:30am this morning in the Jeju city which is about an hour distance by car from the Gangjeong village. As soon as he heard the news from the people in Gangjeong, he is now heading to the village.

According to him, the police captured three people. The mayor is not heard to be among those. We don’t know yet whether people were wounded or not.

The village people and the Jeju organizations were supposed to have the press interview this morning, to announce the organized tent vigil, joined by the activist organizations.

The Gangjeong village people had set up the fence in their village, to prevent the crane cars contracted by the navy. The navy has planned to work on the ceremony of the starting to work on the naval base on Feb. 5 and the crane cars first entered the village on Jan. 6 but at the time the village people blocked it.

The Jeju organizations and village people have appealed the lawsuit against the Jeju special self-government and provincial assembly for improper and illegal processing and enforcing of the Jeju naval base. The case had the high probability of victory for people and the Navy should at least wait for the result.

The people in Gangjeong which is the most beautiful and pristine village in the Jeju island, but faces the horrible missile defense system in their loved village, need your strong support.

Please email to Bruce Gagnon for your sign against the Jeju naval base construction.

Please post in your website his petition.

We need all your strong solidarity messages as well.

I will send you the updated news again as I heard.

Thanks very much,

Sung-Hee Choi
South Korea
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/

REPORT ON CIA DRONE PROTEST TRIP

I love taking the train. The seats are comfortable and I ride in the quiet car. They have electricity so I can plug my laptop in and read my emails and answer them for mailing once I hit the next wireless hotspot.

I spent my two nights in Washington DC at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House where I usually stay during such trips. Longtime friend Art Laffin has lived there for years and when I was organizing big space center protests in Florida he would come and help coordinate our nonviolent civil disobedience actions. Art is a tall guy who played small college basketball and excitedly told me about how his adopted three-year-old son can now dribble the basketball without looking at it. I told Art that on my next trip I hoped Carlos would be the point guard for my hapless Washington Wizard NBA team. (The team’s current star has been in the news recently for taking five handguns into the locker room. He is now facing sentencing after pleading guilty to a felony charge.)

On the train ride home on Sunday it was a reflective cloudy rain soaked day. The stark and barren trees, with patches of snow on the ground, added to this thoughtful mood as I wrote this report.

I was invited by activist Cindy Sheehan to speak at the CIA drone protest held on Saturday afternoon (January 16) outside their Langley, Virginia headquarters. As we arrived we saw big orange barricades all along the road with yellow “crime scene” plastic tape stretched all along the highway and also draped from tree to tree in the narrow spit of woods separating the four-lane road and the CIA fortress. A 50-yard open area was our protest “zone” and was totally encircled by the yellow tape. The clear message to the many cars blasting by us was: “Don’t go near those inside the yellow tape. A crime is now being committed by them.” A massive number of CIA cops and Fairfax County police had us surrounded, even from inside the patch of woods.

Cindy had worked hard in recent weeks to promote the event, primarily by Facebook and regular emails. She told us that her Facebook page was “mysteriously” taken down in the last week creating the impression amongst some that the event had been cancelled. As it turned out just over 100 people showed up for the event. A good percentage of the folks there were the Catholic Worker activists (Witness Against Torture) who have been valiantly continuing their daily “no torture” protests in front of the White House. Dressed in their orange prison garb with black hoods over their heads they were a strong reminder of the CIA directed detentions and interrogations at Guantanamo and other such hell-holes run by the U.S. around the world.

Singer/songwriter David Rovics was there to perform but had to do so without a sound system as it didn’t work. A former FBI agent, turned peace activist after being fired for refusing to investigate hunger-striking veterans protesting U.S. illegal wars in Central America in the 1980’s, told his moving story. Kathy Kelly spoke in her usual animated and heart-rending way about the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who are suffering the reality of drone strikes. Cindy Sheehan told us about the many messages she was getting from Pakistan where people were thrilled to hear that Americans were actually protesting at the CIA’s HQ.

My friend Will Van Natta drove up from southeast Florida for the event. He is a lifeguard in West Palm Beach and in 1997 swam about 20 miles in the ocean to protest the launch of the Cassini plutonium spacecraft. His courageous action was a huge media event and reminded us that if we each just do what we are “good at” then our contributions can be enormous. He has just bought time on a local radio station and will air his own weekly progressive talk show.

When I spoke at the protest I said how glad I was to be there for the first time in my life. The CIA, and their drone attacks, is the symbol of the corporatization and privatization of U.S. war policy. The running of wars has essentially been taken away from a neutered Congress and put into the hands of the secret cabal that now runs our government. We need to shine a light on this.

I also of course talked about how U.S. space technology controls the drones as it does most Pentagon “net centric” war fighting these days. Robotic warfare might be “hands off” and “out of sight-out of mind” but it is still dirty and is killing legions of civilians.

I reminded folks that drone and other robotic devices were ultimately just manifestations of a larger war and domination policy. We need to keep putting in front of the public the big picture and I went on to talk about “security export”, the U.S. role under corporation globalization of the world economy. Endless war is America’s future and social collapse at home will be the end result unless a movement springs up quickly.

On the train ride to DC I began reading a new book called “Democracy’s Prisoner: Eugene V. Debs, The Great War, and The Right to Dissent.”

Debs is my hero in American history. He ran for president five times as a Socialist and the last time, 1920, did so from the Atlanta penitentiary where he was jailed for having spoken out against U.S. participation in World War I. Arrested under the “Sedition Act” Debs and many others were jailed for opposing President Woodrow Wilson’s military draft and his decision to move the U.S. into that bloody war.

I began my CIA protest speech by telling a story from this book. Wilson was elected as the “peace candidate” in 1916 saying that he would keep the U.S. out of the European war. But immediately after the election was over Wilson turned and began a massive national war mobilization and cracked down hard on the large anti-war movement that existed prior to the election.

The book, written by Ernest Freeberg, recounts, “For many, the conflict was still distant and incomprehensible. Christian pacifists, agrarian populists, and many progressive reformers believed that Wilson’s decision to intervene in Europe betrayed the nation’s highest principles, while the Socialists still insisted that the country would be fighting ‘for the interest of financial freebooters [corporations] only.’ Most of the liberal peace organizations either disbanded or supported Wilson’s war to end all wars, but many individuals from those groups dreaded the prospect of having to choose between their country and their conscience.”

One man in the crowd outside the CIA HQ yelled out at this point asking me if I was trying to make a “subtle” comparison to Obama? Of course I was. Obama is now doing what Wilson did during his time in office, neutralize the left and fragment the anti-war movement. We need to learn from these lessons of history.

I ended my talk by sharing the story about our recent launch of the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign in Maine. I said, “In Maine we are calling on our two congresspersons to not only vote against further war spending bills but also become leaders in the House against war. The House is where we might have a slim chance to block any more war funding but we are going to have to first enliven our local communities and states. If we want to stop war then we have to fight to save social progress at home. If we want to ground the drones we have to connect them to the suffering people all over this nation who will increasingly be the brunt of this mad war for corporate control.

“Good luck to you all and get organized.”