Human Rights Leaders Protest Abduction of Women in Japan at New York Consulate

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-rights-leaders-protest-abduction-of-women-in-japan-at-new-york-consulate-104814079.html

NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several human rights leaders and Christian pastors, stoked by a recent documentary on Japanese human rights abuses that aired on Korean television station SBS on October 6, held a press briefing today outside Japan's Consulate in New York to proclaim their discontent with the Japanese government.

Dr. Luonne Rouse, United Methodist Church Pastor, delivered remarks. He was supported by Luke Higuchi, president of the Survivors Against Forced Exit, the Rev. Michael Jenkins, chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, and the Rev. Jesse Edwards. Several victims of Japanese abduction and attempted deprogramming attended the event to share their stories and answer questions. Numerous members of the Korean and Japanese media attended.

The documentary titled "Kidnapping and Confinement in the Unification Church – Kiyomi Returns Home After 13 Years" inspired today's protest and detailed the abduction and confinement of several members of the Unification Church, a matter of persecution that occurs daily in Japan at the hands of religious deprogrammers. The documentary has garnered a large amount of attention in Korea and is gaining notoriety within the Korean-American community.

"The Japanese government is turning a blind eye to this persecution," said Dr. Rouse. "It's time to stop the abductions and free the victims. We must protest religious freedom and human rights."

The protest concluded with Dr. Rouse and supporters walking into the Japanese Consulate and hand-delivering a letter directly to an aid of the Honorable Shinichi Nishmiya, the Consulate General. The letter requests a meeting between the Ambassador, human rights leaders, and several of the Japanese victims currently living in the U.S. to share stories of persecution and discuss steps to remedy the current situation.

Over the past 40 years, an estimated 4,300 members of the Unification Church have been subjected to human rights violations of this nature. Between ten to 20 Unification Church members are currently abducted each year in Japan to undergo forced de-conversions.

In the U.S., American citizens are being encouraged to sign a petition encouraging Congress to hold hearings on human rights violations in Japan. Specifically, the hearing would be held by the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, co-chaired by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

For more information on the Japan abduction issue: http://stopjapanabductions.org/

Follow us on Facebook: Stop Japan Abductions

About ICRF

The International Coalition for Religious Freedom is a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin.

SOURCE International Coalition for Religious Freedom

Back to top RELATED LINKS
http://stopjapanabductions.org

Petition to support religios freedom in Japan

Below is the content of an email witch I received via church today:
Stop Japan Abductions !

Petition for Religious Freedom in Japan

Sign our petition and urge Congress to hold hearings before the end of the year about religious and human rights abuses taking place in Japan – one of America’s great trading partners. These hearings should be held by the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, co-chaired by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

Religious freedom is fundamental to the ability of civilized peoples to live together peacefully. Individuals around the world should be able to exercise their inherent right to express their faith and live a life grounded in convictions of their hearts and souls without government coercion or interference.

For too many years, the Japanese government has abused the fundamental principles of religious freedom by turning a blind eye to atrocities against individuals who practice religion not sanctioned by the government. As one of America’s great allies and trading partners, Japan must put an immediate end to religious persecution.

The U.S. State Department’s Religious Freedom Report has published complaints every year since 1999 that Japanese authorities are not enforcing their own laws regarding kidnapping, physical restraint and physical abuse of Unification Church members.

By signing this petition, tell the United States Congress to hold hearings on these religious freedom and human rights violations and hold the country of Japan accountable.

To sign the petition, please click on: http://stopjapanabductions.org

FOREF Europe
Forum Religious Freedom-Europe
Office: Seidengasse 28/4,
1070 Vienna, AUSTRIA
President: Prof. Dr. Christian Bruenner
Secretary General: Peter Zoehrer
Phone: +43 6645238794
Skype: zoehrer7
E-mail: manager@foref.info
Website: http://foref.info
Blog: http://religiousfreedom-europe.blogspot.com/
Facebook-Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101116579943644
ZVR: 429267353

Crossing - LiNK film on North Korean refugees trying to get to China

Crossing - Trailer from LiNK Global on Vimeo.

If you want to see the film, there is a chance. To find a screening near you, click here.

There may not currently be a screening near you - especially if you're outside the U.S. since it looks like right now they are concentrating their efforts on awareness there. This makes sense because currently the United States is still technically at war with North Korean government. This status is one of the reasons why the North Korean people suffer so much. Kim-Jong-Il is insane, more so than his father, and so the North Korean people have no hope at all from him. However, South Korea and it's allies such as the United States do have the power to save the North Korean people. We can and must do something.

However, our governments will not do anything unless we damand it, and we will not be able to demand it with a lound enough voice unless we have millions of people demanding it with the heart of someone who knows the situation there. In order to occomplish this, we have got to spread this movie around not just the United States but the whole world. I urge everyone to try to get a screening near you, even if you're not in the United States.

For information on organising a screening near you, click here.

Here is a list of other ways you can help the North Korean people.

1. Join the Universal Peace Federation in their effort towards Korean Reunification with their North East Asia Peace Initiative.

2. Join LiNK in one of their three projects: The Movement, The Underground, The Transition.

3. Donate directly to LiNK or help rais funds and awareness by shopping at their store and using their products on a daily basis. When you where an I Love North Korea T-Shirt you are sure to get some stares, and an opportunity to explain yourself is a really great personal way to spread awareness.

How far do your donations go? LiNK claims that just 20 USD will provide a child with a month of food, clothing, and childcare, 50 USD provides 6 months of shelter, 100 USD provides 4 months of tuition (not college, but normal elemtry school), 250 USD privides 1 child with food and supplies for 3 months, and 1,000 USD provides 1 child with food and supplies for a whole year. To learn more about donating to LiNK, click here.

4. Reprioratise your finances to include less flashy cell phones and more helping people other than yourself.

I am sure there are other ways you can help if you only look hard enough. One website that I keep finding in searches is Life Funds for North Korean Refugees. Perhaps LFNKR and LiNK should think about linking up - pun intended.

For the fight for Cheon-Il-Guk,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

Important Jan 31st Blessing Announcement from BC's of Facebook

For Second Generation Couples matched by True Parents, Second Generation couples matched by their parents, matched First Generation couples, previously married First Gen. couples, and Ambassadors for Peace who wish to attend the blessing on January 31st 2008 at the Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center in New York City, NY.

For 2nd Generation Couples matched by True Parents only: if an international spouse is unable to enter the USA for the Ceremony, it is permissible to attend with an 8" x 10" photo of your fiance.

All participants in the Blessing are expected to arrive on Thursday evening, Jan. 29th or Friday morning, Jan. 30th, by 8:00am. The exact location for the Friday breakfast and program is still being decided. Friday is an important, required day of orientation and education.

All information you need to know is in the messege below. The message has been edited only slightly, for security reasons.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Facebook
Date: Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 4:13 AM
Subject: "the BCs of Facebook" sent you a message on Facebook...
To: "Christopher D. Osborn"


Bethany Phillips sent a message to the members of the BCs of Facebook.

--------------------
Subject: IMPORTANT BLESSING ANNOUNCEMENT

Hey guys,

Sorry about the spammage, but this one's important and needs to get out ASAP:


From Nari Stephens:

This is the Official Jan 31st Blessing Info Page. It will be updated periodically with more information as the date comes closer for people.

http://familyfed.org/bfd/events/blessing/20090131/info.html

If anyone has any further questions, they can ask:
Nari Stephens as a BFD admin assistant (bfd.usa.admin (at) gmail.com),
BFD Co-director Hiromi Stephens (ommahiromi (at) verizon.net), or
BC Blessing Dept Director Inguk Seo (inguk (at) familyfed.org)

---------------------------------------------

Take care, everyone!  And make it an awesome life!
<3 from your sister,
~Bethany
--------------------

From Bergen, Hordaland, Norge,

Christopher D. Osborn

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

This is the full version of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speach

Today is one of the greatest American holydays, a day where we are encurage to serve others, without conpensation, no matter who they are.  First, here's a link from a post on my other blog which gives advice on how you might like to spend your day today:

http://fipher.blogspot.com/2009/01/fwd-people-need-you-martin-luther-king.html

Next, I'd life to share a song, lyrics provided by k-state.edu:

We Shall Overcome

 

Lyrics derived from Charles Tindley's gospel song "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1900), and opening and closing melody from the 19th-century spiritual "No More Auction Block for Me" (a song that dates to before the Civil War). According to Professor Donnell King of Pellissippi State Technical Community College (in Knoxville, Tenn.), "We Shall Overcome" was adapted from these gospel songs by "Guy Carawan, Candy Carawan, and a couple of other people associated with the Highlander Research and Education Center, currently located near Knoxville, Tennessee. I have in my possession copies of the lyrics that include a brief history of the song, and a notation that royalties from the song go to support the Highlander Center."

 

1.	We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day

CHORUS:

Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day

2.	We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand some day

CHORUS

 

3.	We shall all be free We shall all be free We shall all be free some day

CHORUS

 

4.	We are not afraid We are not afraid We are not afraid some day

CHORUS

 

5.	We are not alone We are not alone We are not alone some day

CHORUS

 

6.	The whole wide world around The whole wide world around The whole wide world around some day

CHORUS

 

7.	We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day

CHORUS

---

SOURCES:

Eileen Southern, The Music of Black Americans: A History, Second Edition (Norton, 1971): 546-47, 159-60. The International Lyrics Server. <http://www.lyrics.ch/query/normal?artist=&album=&song=We+Shall+Overcome>. March 1998. Donnell King, email message, 29 Nov. 1999. For the creation of Cheon-Il-Guk, from Bergen, Hordaland, Norge, Christopher D. Osborn