G8 2008 - Japan

from email, 10 August 2008: There are many things to say; we cannot express all that is in our hearts in this letter. But for now we can say one thing: thank you for coming to Japan and working hard with us while staying there. The fact that you came means a lot to us. The event has developed a totally new dimension that announces the burgeoning of a planetary movement -- despite difficulties, shortcomings, and failures ­ thanks to your coming and fighting with us as part of one and the same event of the anti-G8 protest 2008. more

from email, 23 April 2008: In Britain today, the role of managing and policing this system to benefit the rich is carried out by the UK Border Agency (formerly known as BIA), an executive agency of the Home Office in the United Kingdom ... London NoBorders is calling for actions against the UK Border Agency. It is time to join forces, for freedom of movement, the freedom to protest and equal rights for all! more

from GiIn, 23 April 2008: Within their security divisions, each prefectural level police department and the Tokyo police maintain Kidotai, special riot units. These units were formed after riots at the Imperial Palace in 1952, to respond quickly and effectively to large public disturbances. They are also used in crowd control during festival periods, at times of natural disaster, and to reinforce regular police when necessary. Full-time riot police can also be augmented by regular police trained in riot duties. Currently, there are 10,000 in the whole riot force. more

from emial, posted 27 March 2008: Giving in to mounting political pressure from prominent human rights activists on the island of Sakhalin, in Moscow, Berlin, New York and Tokyo, the Russian Foreign ministry has finally ended the combined Russian-Japanese deportation arrest of the left anti-G8 activist Martin Krämer on 23rd of March at 2:00 GMT. more

from japan-imc, 19 March 2008: An overview of the relationship between leftists and NGOs. Since the beginning of this year, NGOs, Leftists, trade unions, green political parties etc. have organized several events and networks concerning the G8 meeting. The position of these networks and organizations range widely from those opposing the G8 (mainly the Leftists) to those offering opinions and alternative ways of the G8 (mainly NGOs). more

from email, 21 February 2008: Resisting Free Trade, Militarism and Fighting for Real Solutions to Climate Change +++ We will begin preparations to challenge the G8 Summit beginning March. We invite all of you to come to Japan and join in our international preparatory meeting from March 7-11, 2008, Tokyo. more

from imc-scotland, 21 February 2008: An interview done over e-mail by Indymedia Scotland gives more information about the state of the Japanese G8 mobilization. Another more in-depth audio interview will be done after at the actual presentation itself and posted on Indymedia Scotland +++ EDINBURGH: Monday February 25th @ Forest Cafe. 2 Bristo Place, Edinburgh. 7pm more

from email, 21 February 2008: Latest information on preparatory meetings in Japan in March 2008 +++ Action schedule +++ info for foreigners, immigration +++ convergence centres +++ indymedia spaces +++ contacts for groups +++ mailing lists.  more

from email, 17 March 2008: A symposium was held last weekend at Hokkaido University to highlight the contributions of citizens media to summit reporting and the role of media centers. The event was organized by the G8 Shimin Media Center Pre-Establishment Working Group with cooperation from Hokkaido U faculty and the G8 Media Network and had been announced on the second page of the Hokkaido Shinbun, the major local newspaper.  more

from email, updated 10 March 2008: List of the ongoing No! G8 Action Japan infotour dates for presentation on the mobilisation against the G8 summit in Japan in 2008: 13 Mar. Nijmegen (Netherlands), 13 Mar. (Greece), 14 Mar. Amsterdam (Netherlands), 14 Mar. (Greece), 15 Mar. Antwerp (Belgium), 15.Mar. (Greece), 16 Mar. Liege (Belgium), 16 Mar. (Greece), 18 Mar. Koln (Germany), 18 Mar. Ljubljana (Slovenia), 19 Mar. Freiburg (Germany), 19 Mar. Vicenza (Italy), 21 Mar. Bern (Switzerland), Reithalle, Neubrückstrasse, 21 Mar. Bologna (Italy)... + provisional US dates. more

Articles from external newswires on the G8 summit due to be held in Japan in 2008.

Keywords: G8, Hokkaido, Toya, Sapporo, Heiligendamm. more

from email, 9 January 2008: News from NO! G8 Action Japan regarding the negative campaign towards the anti-G8 movement, which is being labeled as extremists/terrorists by the police and mass media in Japan.

The city of Sapporo has decided not to allow rallies and events during the 2008 G8 summit. Also, Japan's defence ministry is considering the possibility of deploying Patriot-3 missiles around the summit venue.  more

from email, 26 December 2007: "The Japanese government has jumped on the bandwagon of the so-called the "Fight against Terrorism", implementing excessive security against the anti-G8 movement... The police statements and mass-media reports in Japan are as worse as we thought it would be, or maybe even worse than we ever expected it to be, provoking repugnance towards the anti-G8 movement..." more

from email, 7 December 2007: "July 5th 2008 shall be the day of mass rally and demo in Sapporo. We propose to make it the international day of action, calling a simultaneous protest in different cities of the world. During the three days of the Summit we are planning mass direct action at sites near Lake Toya. People are trying to approach the site as close as possible to send their voices..." more

from email, 25 October 2007: "I am just back from a trip to Korea and Japan. No! G8 Action Japan, and two members of the info-tour group from Germany, and I went to Seoul and Tokyo, where we gave presentations in universities and activist spaces and had meetings with various types of activists. Subsequently, the rest of the group extended their itinerary to Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto, and Yokohama, before returning to Tokyo to conclude the tour in Japan..." more