2011-04-15

4/15

25 years ago I escaped from Chernobyl. Next week I will join my friends facing nuclear disaster in Japan.
Both decisions were about survival.

The first was running away from the unknown consequences of nuclear disasters; the second is understanding that there is nowhere to ‘escape’ to, the consequences of modern humans stupidity in playing with forces beyond their control affects everyone and every living thing on every corner of the globe.
Right now the radiation is flowing into the pacific making its way to our pristine beaches. There has to be a final end to this poisonous result of a culture gone mad. This must be the generation; this must be the time.

My greatest hope is that the people with their eyes open in Japan, those who have been leading the way towards a safe, happy, sustainable future for many years feel charged with a mission to step forth with clarity, compassion and courage, dismantling the old thinking and growing a new culture.

If my visit to Tokyo can help bring encouragement to dismantle these nuclear power plants, these symbols of death and destruction, then this may be the most effective action to safeguard the future of my children and all others.

It is a complex juggle between head and heart, between the collective and the intensely personal. My family is very worried about my decision and asked me to prepare a will. They fear that my children will be left without their Mother. I guess it is that time on the Earth, when people crave protection and safety, but must face the abyss, we simply cannot continue living the way we always have, we must step out of our comfort zone. Mother Earth is shaking us to wake up.
In the meantime, since 3/11, we have still been ‘busy’ here in our forest life, trying not to feel embarrassed about how small our actions seem to be.

Ken, Fumitaka and Yoshiki came to visit and stay with us and we shared our slohas lifestyle with them. They came with me to the school where we kept going with our environmental program, including a ‘Council of All Beings’ performance with the year 2/3 class. Here are some photos that tell the story.


Photos




1) waiting for the rainbow lorikeets





2) the rainbow lorikeets are there


I took Ken, Yoshiki and Fumitaka to the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary, (a place I have been visiting since I was 4 years old) where the rainbow lorikeets bring wonder and joy. Pacha’s face tells me she knows what is to come, while for most of us waiting can be boring…



3) coab iluka



Yani joined his year 2/3 class in the Council of All Beings performance that took place in front of the whole school at assembly. The feedback was fantastic from parents and teachers both. The objective of presenting a new way of learning and teaching about the environment was met…



4) crazy for vegies

I asked the kindy class (5 year olds) what their favourite vegetables were and 3 kids said ‘ice-cream’. So I brought in a range of real vegetables to show them what they were. The teacher couldn’t believe how enthusiastic they were about eating raw broccoli!



5) dusk swim


There is a rainbow in this picture at the Bluff beach where all the kids had a dusk swim.


6) Ken - sazae


Ken showed us Sazae we could find among the rocks. We took them home, said a prayer and cooked them on the fire. We have found another survival food!



7) ollie and kids


Yoshiki and Fumitaka chattered and laughed for 3 hours as we walked on Ollie through the forest meeting birds and kangaroos.


8) peace cranes


Ken, Yoshiki and Fumitaka came with me into the school several times, showing other kids origami. I tried to encourage them to make peace cranes for Japan, but the kids wanted to run around playing soccer!



9) visitors in forest
Yoshiki and Fumitaka on our forest walk.



10) yani dances


The school holidays have now started and the kids are having fun. Dancing is one of their favourite pastimes!

2011-04-14

ポスト311をどうやって生き延びるか

「 どうやって安全に扱うかだれにもわからない、しかも何千、何万年にもわたって、すべての生きものにとって測り知れない危険であり続ける、強毒性の物質を大量につくり、ため込む。どれほどの繁栄もそれを正当化することなどできはしない」 (E.F.シューマッハ―『スモール・イズ・ビューティフル』より)

大惨事をもたらしたあの巨大地震と津波の後、日本と世界の人々が訊いた最初の言葉のひとつは、菅首相の「放射能漏れの報告はない」というものでした。私が本当に心配になったのは、まさにその時です。

私の予感どおり、菅首相が手にしていた情報は間違っていました。原子力安全神話をはびこらせるためにすっかり虚偽体質になっている組織には当たり前の、その場しのぎの嘘だったのです。
私はオーストラリアという、一応は安全な距離を隔てた場所から悲劇の展開を見てきました。菅首相は東京電力の幹部に「どうなっているんだ」と怒鳴る。東電は日本国民に、「放射能によって直ちに被害が出る危険はありません」と言う。南相馬市の市長は訴える。「政府は我々に何も言ってくれない。我々は孤立している。我々を見殺しにする気か」と・・・

そして、日本の庶民たちは言う。「こんな危険な目にあうくらいなら、もっと少ない電気で生きていきたい」と。

私はそこに希望を見るのです。この呟きが食卓での話し合いへとつながり、それが集まって反原発デモの耳をつんざくような大合唱へと育っていくことを。その声はやがて、これまであまりにも長く経済という巨大機械の効率性のために、人間性を犠牲にしてきた権力者たちの耳に届くことでしょう。

もうみんな知っているのです。原子力は安全だというのが嘘だったということ。企業にとっては、政府にとっては、いのちより、経済的利益の方が大事だったのだ、ということ。本当のことを知ることによって、私たちは自由になれるのです。

ある意味では、私たちは長年、この日を迎えるための準備をしてきたのでした。そう、だれもが「生き延びる」ことを選ばねばならなくなる日のために。ナマケモノ倶楽部をつくったのもそのため。「ナマケモノ的に生きる」とは、この地球を壊すことなく生きる術をあみ出し、実践することに他なりません。

では、今、私たちにできることは何でしょう?

・自分の本能を信じること。
・自分の声を見つけること。
・地域・コミュニティとつながること。
・亡くなったいのちを思い、喪に服し、しかし同時に、いのちを祝うこと。

私たちの涙が溢れて、慈愛の海となりますように。私たちの怒りが旧来の搾取のシステムを土台から揺さぶりますように。私たちの愛が、孤立の中で未来への希望を見出せないでいる人々の心に届きますように。そして私たち自身も、よりスローでスモールでシンプルな生き方へと、シフトする勇気を見つけられますように。


アンニャ・ライト
・日本語ブログ「スロー・マザー・ダイアリー」http://anjaslowmotherdiary.blogspot.com/
・アンニャ英語ブログ「Slow, Small, Simple」 http://www.slowsmallsimple.com/

2011-04-12

How to survive "post311"

"No degree of prosperity could justify the accumulation of large amounts of highly toxic substances which nobody knows how to make safe and which remain an intangible danger to the whole of creation for thousands of years". --E.F. Schumacher

Among the very first words the people of Japan and the world heard after the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami were from Prime Minister Kan, ‘there are no reported nuclear leaks’.
That’s when I really started to worry.

Sure enough, the information was false - false reassurance typical of the systemic deceit that has allowed the nuclear myth to flourish.
I listened and watched from this ‘safe’ distance in Australia as the drama continued to unfold: The Prime Minister yells at TEPCO; ‘what the hell is going on’, TEPCO tells the people of Japan: ‘there is no threat of immediate harm caused by radiation’, the Mayor of Minami Soma pleads for help: ‘The government doesn’t tell us anything. We’re isolated. They’re leaving us to die.’

And everyday people of Japan say: ‘I’d rather live with less electricity if it comes with the kind of risk we are seeing now.’

I hope this grows from whispers, to discussions at the dinner table, to ear deafening chants at anti-nuclear rallies to reach the ears of the decision makers who for too long have separated their humanity from the perceived efficiency of the economic machine.
Now everyone knows: The promise that nuclear power was safe was a lie.
Now everyone knows: Profits are more important to companies (who in turn now run governments) than life.
The truth can set us free.
In a way we have been preparing for this time for many years - the moment people clearly see that we must choose survival. We started the Sloth Club to actively envision a way of life that doesn’t destroy the Earth.
So what do we do now?
-Trust your instincts.
-Find your voice.
-Connect with your community.
-Mourn the loss, but celebrate Life.

Now everyone knows: The promise that nuclear power was safe was a lie.
Now everyone knows: Profits are more important to companies (who in turn now run governments) than life.
The truth can set us free.

May our tears flow in a tsunami of compassion, May our fury shake the foundations of the old structures of exploitation, May our love penetrate the hearts of those who feel too isolated and alone to have hope for the future. May we find the courage to shift to a slower, smaller, simpler life.

2011-04-01

3/28和訳

お客さまをお迎えしたり、子どもの世話をしたり、プロジェクトに取り組んだりしながら、毎日が過ぎていきます。でも日本はいつも私の心の中にあります。もし私に何かできることがあれば、どうぞ躊躇せずに言ってください。

今、このようなことを言うのがふさわしいかわからないのですが、ナマケモノ倶楽部の役割は何かということを考えてきました。以前もお話ししたように、最近ヘレナととてもいい話し合いができて、彼女の映画はすばらしいと思ったし、ぜひこれを広めたいと思いました。ただ一番難しいのは、これらのアイディアを、政治的アクションにつなげること。(これはヘレナが一番してほしいと思っていることだと思う。)

私は、できる限りのことをしたいと思っています。
私の想いは、あなたやナマケモノ倶楽部のメンバーみなさんとともあります。

愛をこめて。いのちのために。
アンニャ

■■ナマケモノ倶楽部ができること

ナマケモノ倶楽部は10年以上もの間、永続する文化を学び、ネットワークをつくり、そしてそれを推進してきました。今こそ、ナマケモノ倶楽部とそのメンバーたちは一歩前に進んで、そのアイディア、知恵、今なおすすんでいる大惨事へのこたえとしての勇気や実践的なサポート、救助活動、そして今日本が直面している復興へのチャレンジを提供することができると思います。

これから数ヶ月後、あるいは数年後にナマケモノ倶楽部ができるかもしれないことのいくつかのアイディアを書いておきます。

1)民主主義強化のためのリーダーシップを推進すること。
日本を代表する人々の意思決定は、長期的展望を欠いた危険とリスク(必要のない原発)だらけです。この大災害は、日本の企業、政府、そして市井の人々の間のコミュニケーションの経路がいかにお粗末であったかを示しました。原子力のサイクルを絶つ(アンプラグする)ときがきました。

2)本当に持続可能な未来のモデルとなるような再建を勇気づける。
エコハウジング、非電化製品、地域の木材を使うようにしたり、食べ物、エネルギー、水などを自分たちで調達し、管理できるような、精力的で、活気があって、相互に助け合える、モノじゃなくて、つながりのライフスタイルを提供できるようなコミュニティーをサポートすること。

3)何十年にもわたって研究されてきた持続可能なライフスタイルの情報のネットワークを強化し、普及させること。
それは日本の伝統的な小規模農業システムであったり、パーマカルチャーであったり、シードセイバーズのネットワークであったり、あるいは地域交換システムであったりするかもしれないけれど、その様々なアイディアや実践的な解決策を交換しあったりすること。

4)失われたいのちへの悲しみを抱きながら、いのちあることの喜びや生きているものの果たすべき使命を感じることができるようにすること。キャンドルナイト

5)この大災害は、「生き抜くこと」とは何かを問い直しています。どのくらいの希望、信念、そして情熱をもって私たちはこの困難や限りなく続くチャレンジに向き合い続けなければならないのでしょう。
生き残った人々、そしてこの脅威と危険に対して敏速に対応できた人々にとって(限られた情報の中で、燃える原子炉から逃げたことも含め)次のステップは何でしょう?私たち自身やその他の人々にとって、難しい問題を聞くことができるようなネットワークを構築していきましょう。

【翻訳:和田彩子】

3/28

Everyday life goes on for me, looking after visitors and my kids and projects - but Japan is always in my mind. I would like to be as useful as possible, please don't hesitate to ask/request things of me.

I'm not sure if this is the right kind of tone to take, but I have been thinking about the role that the Sloth Club may be able to play. As I mentioned, I had a good meeting with Helena recently and I like her movie and look forward to promoting it. The tricky part is putting these ideas into political action (which is mostly what Helena seems to be encouraging). I am willing to try to my capacity.

My thoughts are with you and all members of the Sloth Club.

Love, For Life,
anja





*What the Sloth Club Can Do*

The Sloth Club has for over ten years studied, networked and promoted a sustainable culture; now is the time where the Sloth Club and all its members can step forward and offer its ideas, wisdom, encouragement and practical support in response to the ongoing disaster, relief effort and re-building challenge that Japan now faces. Here are a few ideas about the ways I think the Sloth Club may be able to help in the months and years ahead:


1) Provide leadership in empowering democracy. Decision making on behalf of the people of Japan has been full of danger and risk (un-needed nuclear power) with little foresight of long-term consequences. This disaster has shown just how poor communication channels are between corporations, the government and everyday people in Japan. It is time to unplug the nuclear cycle.

2) Encourage a rebuilding effort that models a truly sustainable future; housing that follows ecological design principles, non electric technologies, utilizes domestic plantation timber sources and supports dynamic, resilient and inter-related communities able to set up and manage their own decentralized systems of food, energy and water, promoting a way of life that values connections, not things.


3) Foster and disseminate information about networks that have been studying sustainable lifestyle information for decades; exchanging ideas and practical solutions whether it be Japanese traditional small farming systems permaculture, seedsavers networks, local economy exchange systems, etc.

4) Nurture a meaningful mourning of loss while also encouraging a renewed celebration and commitment to life. Candlenight.

5) This disaster has raised the question of ‘survival’. How much hope, faith and enthusiasm do we have to continue on in the face of suffering and continuing challenges ahead. For those who have survived and who were able to respond immediately to the threat and danger (even by moving away from the burning nuclear reactor while the information given was limited), what is the next step? Let’s provide the supporting network to be able to ask the difficult questions of ourselves and others.