Give Okinawa back to the Japanese

I have sent the email below to the Japanese embassy in Houston and to Ron Paul.
I'm not necessarily a "bleeding heart" sort of guy, but I believe this is the right thing to do as this horrific situation plays out to its bitter end.

Hello—

I have a suggestion, a partial solution for the housing for the thousands of evacuees now living in shelters.

I suggest that Japan ask the US government to formally give back Okinawa.

The bases can remain, perhaps, but the US dependents currently in both base and private housing units could removed themselves within a few months back to the states to free up the housing for the displaced victims.

If not a formal action plan, it can be fulfilled informally by quiet moves. That action, in a small way, would help remedy one part of this huge problem facing Japan today. Certainly, there would be strong reactions from several quarters in the US, but to me, it seems the right thing to do.

I know that Japan would not directly ask for such a gift, but perhaps the concept can be brought forth first by someone in our government here.

I think you have a great idea for these days of chaos and tragedy in Japan.
I honestly believe that Okinawa should be given back to the Japanese people just for sake that it's theirs.
So I'm with you on these one

Nice! You're trying to think of solutions and taking action.

I wonder how feasible your idea is. I personally don't know whether something like this would be considered an option, but I'm really glad somebody is suggesting it.

reply to post by Aliensun


My wife currently lives on okinawa. (Local national) She was telling me that the japanese gov't was already fronting homes for refugees to stay in. Meaning any empty appartments were to be used free of charge for X amount of time.


Another thing Okinawa does belong to Japan and america only leases the land. There is a very strong connection between the americans and okinawans.

Remember the new Japenese PM ran on "removing Americans finally from Okinawa", just like Obama ran on Change.

After he got elected, the Okinawans held hands and made a large ring around the base.
U.S never even flinched and attempts at removing them were shot down. lol.

Anyone remember what I am talking about?.. It was last year?

reply to post by Aliensun


Great Idea!

IRM

Originally posted by CanadianDream420
Remember the new Japenese PM ran on "removing Americans finally from Okinawa", just like Obama ran on Change.

After he got elected, the Okinawans held hands and made a large ring around the base.
U.S never even flinched and attempts at removing them were shot down. lol.

Anyone remember what I am talking about?.. It was last year?

Yes. I mentioned that in my first thread on this subject which is buried on page 2 or 3 somewhere. It was a hot topic that seemed to go in their favor and next thing we knew, the authorities had changed their minds and gave us new lease(s).

Well at the very least, they should attempt to open more space for refugees from the ongoing disasters with haste and full focus.

So yes it's a good idea but despite my general dislike of intervening in other affairs internationally, I would actually ask to keep US military assets in the zone for the time being to assist in disaster relief efforts.

Especially in relation to the nuclear incidents, the US is intimately involved in this you bet. It's their damned responsibility too and their nation is going to be affected drastically.
Also I would beg of more support from China, Russia, UK, France, Germany in aiding to do anything possible to try to put a lid on this thing asap. Ex-Soviet scientists are in short supply but incredible demand imo. We need more of their expert opinions perhaps...

This isn't about Japan anymore by itself, this is about the entire planet. Our nations must act now in focused concentrated effort and Japan must accept this help for their very own island's integrity (Honshu).

And we all need major reviews in the public eye on various pollution related crisis. This isn't the only toxic nightmare brewing that the corporations and governments have cooked up and covered up or downplayed. After awhile it builds up quick. Have you seen the photos of pollution in China?
BP oil spill or Centralia coal mine fires in North America are good examples.
That crazy sludge spill in Hungary last year was class A insane too...

We have already lost way way too much.
It's starting to add up to a major crisis that cannot be covered up any longer.

We need something to give citizens the right to protect their property (backyard) from being damaged by the negligence of corporate/govt malfeasance. We the people have legal rights here to put the smack down and just don't realize it yet.

Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands were returned to Japanese control in 1972. How can we give something back if we already did so over 40 years ago?

en.wikipedia.org...

After a referendum, on May 15, 1972, control of Okinawa was given back to Japan, and USCAR was abolished.

Originally posted by Stalker619
Another thing Okinawa does belong to Japan and america only leases the land. There is a very strong connection between the americans and okinawans.

Those rape cases a few years back sure went a long way to "connection" (i.e. major protests, etc.).
1995: Okinawa rape incident
2008: Another alleged one

reply to post by CanadianDream420


I remember. Due to an increased number of military accidents and subsequent Japanese injuries, some fatal, they wanted the base moved. That was at least one of the reasons.

It stalled pretty quickly as I recall. Reason #1: Can't move it without a place to move to.

reply to post by EnhancedInterrogator


That's nothing.
Have you seen the incident reports from USFK?
They've been on the rise the last few years or so and people in South Korea aren't real happy about it from what I've read.

We officially returned Okinawa to Japan 39 years ago today. However, for many people in Okinawa, the present still feels like an occupation because of the size of the U.S. military force stationed on that Island. There is a lot more to this story than is commonly known. The West often splits countries in an effort to weaken them. For example, Korea and Germany were split after World War II. We also split Japan after World War II by seizing Okinawa and Ogasawara. That held to a concerted effort by Japan to reclaim its territory which involved, among other things, the Vietnam War.

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