Henoko Non-Violent Action

Morning prayer at Henoko Camp Schwab.  Sometimes in a heat, sometimes in a rain. Everyday's scene at a Camp Schwab gate. Wish our drumming & chanting soak into their hearts...                     All people are removed by J.P. police for opening the gate for US base construction vehicles.                                                                                               Hundred of trucks line up to enter the US base.                       They are private security company called ALSOK. They are just ordinaｒｙ men from mainland.                     ...

It was about 2 hours People from U.S. shared their experience in Standing Rock ,ND and talked about similarity to Okinawan struggle. At the beginning. Water ceremony was held by Poko from up state NY.                               Each one of U.S. friends talked each experiences. Yuwa from main land Japan talked about what "Peace Walk" means to him and also what "Prayer" means to him. He said it's about "Connection". There are students who goes to base to learn English. For her U.S. base is there since she was born, never thought that it's good or bad. But when she heard a story of one white woman shared her story that her brothers are in a U.S. military and she is hurt from her brothers job that they have been part of killing people in this world, the student started to cry...       She expressed a fear of being taken a video or picture by Japanese police at Henoko.

Water Protectors from NY have come to Henoko to stand in solidarity with the sit-in. Upon learning of the struggle that the people of Okinawa face with the Henoko base construction, several Peace Walkers and Activists were inspired to show their support. We learned of the Military Base issue on a Water Protection Peace Walk between New York and New Jersey raising awareness for the Pilgrim and Algonquin Pipeline Projects. We see the similarities in the struggles of indigenous people within the United States and the people of Okinawa as one struggle for protecting our water and land sovereignty. With prayers and great hope, we bring the spirit of Standing Rock to raise the hopes of the Okinawa People, inspire the youth to speak out , and show respect and compassion for the Marines that find themselves trapped by the choices of government and military powers. A peace walk will take place in June and our prayers will be carried from the Northern to Southern tip of Okinawa as we recall...

90% of Resisters are elders from Okinawa and Main Land. Young ones are rarely address in this struggle. A retired school teacher comes very often as he experienced the battle of Okinawa. Before starting to lift up resisters, police give an announce to move by themselves. Security company called ALSOK covers all around Japan's security guard. However, Okinawa U.S. military base's work is just intense. As those workers are ordinary men, not being trained like police or military. I wonder that how much they understand about what their job brings to Okinawa's future. 20 Concrete mixer trucks and other trucks came into the base this morning. Recently, 3 times a day, the trucks go into the base. Certainly, the construction goes forward day by day. Except Wednesday and Sunday trucks go into. It is depends on the number of the people. 200-300 people can stop the police attack. But, today was only 50 people. ...

5 people from Okinawa came for a peace walk for Native American. University Students from Okinawa who are age of early 20th joinned a Peace Walk called Water Walk for Life which walks beside a proposed route for a oil pipeline where it go through on or under sacred site for Indigenous people called Ramapough-Lenaape. When I compare peace movement or social justice movement between Japan and USA, I see many spiritual or religious people at front-line of the movements in USA but I rarely see in Japan. What is a significance of NoDAPL movement is a changing the consciousness of people that protest to protect. By occupy wall street, many people as well as youth people were awaken and stood up for their right and future. I see the occupy wall street was as more political movement. However, NoDAPL movement which was led by Indigenous people was more spiritual movement. Their highest priority is Prayer. and Respect whoever they are with compassionate behavior. Because we are...