While we’re not sure just how Japan will ignore it, Japan’s vice minister for fisheries has said that if Atlantic bluefin tuna exports are banned at an upcoming CITES-related vote later this month, then Japan would not
comply with the ban. The problem for Japan is that the U.S. has come out in support of the ban, meaning that Japan will not have any major allies when the 175-nation vote comes up in Doha, Qatar.
So what does “not comply” mean? We presume that Japan might try to send its own fishing boats into the Atlantic high seas and see if anyone challenges them. Do we get the sense that the whale hunt confrontation in the Southern Ocean was just Act One for a bigger showdown yet
to come? ** (Source: TT commentary from upi.com)
Event: CitySwitch urban interventions
What: Exhibit
Start Time: Tuesday, February 23 at 5:00pm
End Time: Saturday, February 27 at 8:00pm
Where: Hunter St Mall & Renew HQ 3 Morgan St Newcastle AUSTRALIA
CitySwitch is an international exchange between Japan and Australia, where urban designers, architects and artists workshop ideas over 5 intense days, to collaborate on the creative activation of urban spaces.
23-27 Feb 2010
CitySwitch Lab invites you to downtown Newcastle to collaborate with a team of architects, artists, and designers from across NSW and Japan for the 2nd international workshop on urban revitalisation.
… “We are working on the ground to create four catalytic interventions within downtown Newcastle”
… “Artists, architects, creators, and thinkers of the city are all invited to take part in the workshop”
You can join in on the workshop (each day), come to free lectures (Tues/Weds/Thurs 8pm), or come and view the completed exhibitions/installations/projects (Saturday 27th, from 2pm).
The workshop includes the collaborative design and production of four different urban intervention projects, a series of international lectures, and a range of social events. The workshop culminates in a public show to exhibit, critique and celebrate the works on Saturday the 27th of February.
**International guest creators include: Satoru Yamashiro (Tokyo, Japan), Toshinori Esumi (Izumo, Japan), Jin Hidaka (Japan) and Jun Inokuma (Tokyo, Japan). **
Full details http://cityswitchlab.org/newcastle/index.php
Watch as life-size robotic businessman Miyata Jiro crawls his way commando-style through the Melbourne CBD battlefield like so many before him. Tended to by his lovely nurse artist Momoyo Torimitsu – performances are not to be missed!
12 February 2010, from 6:30pm – beginning at The Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins St, Melbourne
13 February 2010, the Arts Centre Precinct – check out experimenta.org for times!
15 February 2010, Collins Street– check out experimenta.org for times!
Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki are two Japanese activists who have found compelling evidence of corruption within the Japanese whaling program last year. Instead of investigating the whaling industry, Japanese authorities responded by arresting Junichi and Toru. They have been denied their liberty for over 6 months, awaiting trial later this year.
Show solidarity with Junichi and Toru – ask the Japanese Government to free the Tokyo Two and put whaling on trial instead.
SIGN THE PETITION
13th Japanese Film Festival will be delivering another fantastic line-up, bringing about a rhapsody of film festivity to three Australian cities.
Canberra 18, 19, 21, 22 November 2009
Sydney 24 November-1 December
Melbourne 3-8 December
For more information go to http://13th.japanesefilmfestival.net/news.html
