slackbastard

Japan July 7th-9th – In the lead up to the G8 Summit in Japan from July 7th through 9th, Japanese authorities have arrested domestic activists and have detained numerous foreign independent media journalists and anti-G8 protesters. At least six independent journalists and ten academics have been detained by Japanese immigration officials in the past weeks, including Andrej Grubacic, professor of sociology at the University of San Francisco. Police arrested eight protesters on June 29, as 1,500 people marched against the G8 Summit in Tokyo’s fashionable fashionable Shibuya and Shinjuku districts. Earlier this month, workers in Kamagasaki clashed with police and security in the face of violent repression and brutality against at least one worker.

Japan’s security budget for the G8 Summit is at least 30 billion yen ($283 million), topping the 113 million euros ($186 million) Germany spent to host the summit of the world’s most powerful “democratic” nations.

[FCUK the G8!]

The G8 Summit will be held in the resort town of Toyako on the northern island of Hokkaido. Japanese activists opposing the summit call it an “arbitrary meeting of governments dominating the global financial market with the World Trade Organization and Free Trade Agreeements”. They object to the fact that developing nations are forced to accept agreements like NAFTA in exchange for ODA (Official Developmental Assistance).

At the local level, they are concerned that in recent years Japanese social welfare has been reduced and the working poor have suffered. Agribusiness, a favorite topic of G8 discussion, runs counter to Japanese tradition of respect for individual farmers. At the same time, the US is urging Japan to re-arm despite having a constitution imposed by US Occupation Forces that calls for Japan to forever remain a peaceful nation.

The US led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are also targets of the G8 protests, and caricatures of President Bush with the theme “Wanted for Murder” were seen in internet video of the demonstrations.

On June 30th, the Counter-G8 International Forum opened in Hokkaido and will conclude on July 1st. Media G8way reports that anti-G8 activists from Japan and across the world came together to strategize on how to resist the G8 and construct alternatives to a system in which “financial crises, food crises and ecological destruction are inherent.”

Meanwhile, organizers continue to prepare protests and demonstrations against the summit. Daily six hour marches are planned from one of the main camps, Toyoura camp, into town, and a major demonstration estimated at 10,000 people is scheduled for July 5 in Sapporo.

No-G8! | Protests ahead of G8 summit in Japan, Julian Ryall, Telegraph.co.uk, July 6, 2008 | G8 summit: Breathtaking venue with no protesters to spoil the view, Justin McCurry, The Guardian, July 5, 2008 (“Huge Japanese security operation to keep anti-globalisation activists far from leaders”) | G-8 summit draws grab-bag of activists, causes / G-8 summit invokes use of journalistic cliches, tropes, Joseph Coleman, AP, July 7, 2008

1) Do you have the guts to answer these Qs?
No.

2) What would you do if meth was legalized?
Go out of business.

3) Abortion: for or against?
Upside-down.

4) Would our country fail with a woman president?
Fingers crossed.

5) Do you believe in the death penalty?
I think you’ll find it’s mandatory.

6) Are you for or against premarital sex?
Sure, although I sometimes like to have dinner first.

7) Do you think same-sex marriage should be legalized?
Honestly honey, as long as it’s followed by a fabulous reception, who cares?

8 ) Do you think it’s wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?
No: I’ve simply run out of room beneath my bed.

9) A 12 year old girl has a baby. Should she keep it?
Not if she can sell it for drugs.

10) Should the alcohol age be lowered to 18?
I’d say $1.50 is about right.

11) Assisted suicide is illegal. Do you agree?
Do I have a choice?

12) Do you believe in spanking your children?
No. Only yours. If they’re cute, female, and 18+.

13) Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Are the police corrupt?

14) A mother is declared innocent after murdering her five children in a temporary insanity case. Opinion?
Your arse does look fat in those jeans.

15) Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
Only this one.

16) Have you ever made out with someone you weren’t dating?
Made out I liked them, yes.

17) Is there a difference between the word ‘best friend’ and ‘friend’?
Is this question ‘stupid’ or ‘fucking stupid’?

18) If your ex came up to you and apologized for something they did wrong, what would you say?
Thank them and thrust their head back into the bucket of water.

19) Do you miss anyone?
Not if I aim properly.

20) What was the highlight of your week?
Something I always look forward to enjoying.

21) Who was the last person who looked at you and smiled?
Wishing they were alive to regret it.

22) Do you have any interesting tattoos/piercings?
Plenty. But only those I collect from others.

23) Are you afraid to grow up?
Explain.

24) Can you count past 100?
No, my mouth is generally too tired by that stage.

25) Any upcoming vacations?
The future is uncertain.

26) Do you care what people think of you?
Other people think?

27) Would you call yourself smart?
I prefer Andy.

28) Do you like to read?
Only between the lines.

29) Is anything wrong?
With your head? It certainly appears so.

30) Do you have a good relationship with your parent(s)?
They’re both unemployed, so we have a lot in common.

31) Name something you CANNOT wait for.
The past.

32) What’s your favourite season?
The last one.

33) Last thing you ate and drank?
The blood and guts of an Englishman.

34) Do you like peanut butter?
We’re not on speaking terms.

35) Who’s making you feel the way you are right now?
The demons in my head.

36) Most visited web page(s)?
Is most likely porn-related.

37) Who will you sleep with tomorrow?
The luckiest woman on the planet.

38) Looking forward to something this weekend?
I wish.

39) How many siblings do you have?
Less than 100, thankfully.

40) Do you have any pets?
Only those I haven’t eaten.

41) What’s your favourite number?
Monica Bellucci’s private line.

42) What are you watching right now?
My life disappearing.