Whatever the reasons this movement seems to be gaining ground world wide. China
is calling the protests anti_Capitalist and naming the participants the same.
They have avoided saying that a great part of these demonstrations are not
anti-captalist but rather anti-corporatist and that a great many of the
demonstrators are decidedly anti-corruption and consider that the purpose is to
rid us of government corruption. Obviously that is a condition that is world
wide. Both the right and the left are trying to use this movement to further
their own aims but that probably won't happen.
Tom
Occupy hits East Asia.
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011
As in New York, protesters use chance to attack wide list of issues from
nuclear energy to trade
Hundreds turn out to 'Occupy Tokyo'
By TAKAHIRO FUKADA
Staff writer
The Occupy Wall Street protests spreading across the United States landed in
Tokyo on Saturday, as hundreds of people gathered to protest against corporate
greed and social inequality.
In addition to decrying the widening wealth gap between the nation's haves and
have-nots, demonstrators spoke out on a variety of unrelated topics ranging
from nuclear power to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a free-trade
pact promoted by the U.S.
Marching behind a large "Occupy Tokyo" banner, about 300 protesters proceeded
to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co., owner of the radiation-leaking
Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. "Dissolve Tepco," "Stop nuclear power plants,"
they chanted.
The various signs, written in both Japanese and English, highlighted some of
the issues apparently agitating the public.
"Let's firmly oppose the TPP that only makes 1 percent (of the population)
happy," "No to Radioactivity," "The 1 percent who are stained with their greed
for profits should disappear for the sake of the world's happiness," the
Japanese signs read.
One of the organizers, Mie Yasuda, said many people in Tokyo are indignant
about the way Tepco and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are
handling the nuclear disaster.
Nevertheless, she left the demands to the demonstrators.
"It is fine (to protest about) any absurdity in the world that angers you," she
said Friday.
Kazuko Hirano, an 80-year-old pensioner from Setagaya Ward, said she decided to
participate because she strongly believes Japan should eliminate nuclear
plants.
"(I joined to get) as many people as possible angry about nuclear power plants
and to make demands to the state" to halt them, she said.
Masashi Hayasaki, an employee from Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, decided to
show up because he is concerned about the TPP talks.
Joining the free-trade negotiations will see the country "swallowed by global
capitalism" and "destroy Japanese tradition and culture," he said.
"I just want to tell pedestrians not to be indifferent" to the TPP and nuclear
power plants, he said.
Passers-by had mixed feelings about the protests.
"Although it would be good if (nuclear power plants) did not exist, it is
impossible to make them disappear immediately," said a 23-year-old employee
from Kawasaki who was shopping in the area.
The man, who would only give his last name, Azuma, said one of the key issues
that needs to be resolved is the cost of fully making the conversion from
nuclear power to wind, thermal and other renewable forms of energy.
Another man from Saitama, who came to see what the protest was like, said, "We
should consider" whether to hold onto nuclear power plants.
"Japan is peaceful since people can speak with various opinions," said the man,
52, who declined to be named.
A separate Occupy Tokyo event was also held in the Roppongi district.
>From "The Korea Times".
10-15-2011 12:22
'Occupy Wall Street' protest hits Seoul
A group of activists rallied in the streets of Seoul Saturday to protest what
they called the greed of conglomerates and the widening income gap in Korea,
joining the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that began in the United States.
Despite an autumn downpour, around 250 activists in raincoats gathered in front
of the headquarters of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's
top financial regulator, located in Yeouido, Seoul's main financial district.
The crowd, consisting of civic activists and supporters, carried placards
bearing English messages, including ones that read "I am not your automated
teller machine" and "Taxes to the financial capital, jobs for workers."
The rally was part of two-day "Occupy Seoul" protests being organized by an
association of 30 civic groups on Saturday and Sunday.
Organizers said the rally is aimed at galvanizing "99 percent of Koreans" to
stand up against the superwealthy "1 percent" they see in control and
benefiting from a toxic financial environment, echoing claims by anti-Wall
Street protesters.
"The situation is the same in Korea, where the financial institutions have
speculated to earn high profits in a short time,
creating victims," the group said in a statement. The ralliers demanded
compensation for victims who lost money due to banks' risky business operations.
The group said it also plans to urge the government to strengthen regulations
on financial institutions, create more jobs and curb rampant housing prices and
cut expensive college tuitions.
During a "free speech session," middle-aged female protesters occupied the
entrance to the heavily guarded FSC building, shouting for measures to
compensate individuals who suffered losses from the government's savings bank
suspensions.
Some protesters handed out statements that organizers said they later plan to
share with demonstrators in the U.S.
"We wish to thank you, our American friends, for inspiring us in Korea to speak
up and act to set things right. We want justice. We want our jobs," said the
statement, written in both English and Korean.
"Let's put our voices together and shout at those criminal financial
capitalists who have devastated the whole globe," it said.
The protesters included some foreigners.
"It's amazing to see Koreans fighting for a change, especially when we in our
home have been mobilizing for the same purpose," said Carlos Gomez, a student
from Spain. "The whole impression of this, that we want global change, a better
world, should play a role in reducing economic disparity."
The 22-year-old said he followed the protest via Facebook.
"I've been to the demonstrations in my country and now I'm following them in
Seoul, so it's like all of us are following," he said.
Seoul police warned that they will take stern action against protesters who
violate the law during the rallies, such as those who damage public facilities,
occupy roads and assault police officers.
"We will arrest those who stage illegal protests on the spot and also seek
legal action even after the rally ends," the Seoul Metropolitan Agency said in
a news release.
Criticism has been rising over moves by banks and other financial institutions
to pay massive dividends. According to financial analysts, local banks are
expected to post a record 20 trillion won (US$17 billion) net profit this year
on the back of increased interest income.
Earlier this week, FSC Chairman Kim Seok-dong urged the finance industry to rid
itself of excessive greed and reflect on moral hazard. He suggested that
financial firms should reinforce their public roles instead of simply
maximizing profits. (Yonhap)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/113_96705.html
10-15-2011 12:22
'Occupy Wall Street' protest hits Seoul
A group of activists rallied in the streets of Seoul Saturday to protest what
they called the greed of conglomerates and the widening income gap in Korea,
joining the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that began in the United States.
Despite an autumn downpour, around 250 activists in raincoats gathered in front
of the headquarters of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's
top financial regulator, located in Yeouido, Seoul's main financial district.
The crowd, consisting of civic activists and supporters, carried placards
bearing English messages, including ones that read "I am not your automated
teller machine" and "Taxes to the financial capital, jobs for workers."
The rally was part of two-day "Occupy Seoul" protests being organized by an
association of 30 civic groups on Saturday and Sunday.
Organizers said the rally is aimed at galvanizing "99 percent of Koreans" to
stand up against the superwealthy "1 percent" they see in control and
benefiting from a toxic financial environment, echoing claims by anti-Wall
Street protesters.
"The situation is the same in Korea, where the financial institutions have
speculated to earn high profits in a short time,
creating victims," the group said in a statement. The ralliers demanded
compensation for victims who lost money due to banks' risky business operations.
The group said it also plans to urge the government to strengthen regulations
on financial institutions, create more jobs and curb rampant housing prices and
cut expensive college tuitions.
During a "free speech session," middle-aged female protesters occupied the
entrance to the heavily guarded FSC building, shouting for measures to
compensate individuals who suffered losses from the government's savings bank
suspensions.
Some protesters handed out statements that organizers said they later plan to
share with demonstrators in the U.S.
"We wish to thank you, our American friends, for inspiring us in Korea to speak
up and act to set things right. We want justice. We want our jobs," said the
statement, written in both English and Korean.
"Let's put our voices together and shout at those criminal financial
capitalists who have devastated the whole globe," it said.
The protesters included some foreigners.
"It's amazing to see Koreans fighting for a change, especially when we in our
home have been mobilizing for the same purpose," said Carlos Gomez, a student
from Spain. "The whole impression of this, that we want global change, a better
world, should play a role in reducing economic disparity."
The 22-year-old said he followed the protest via Facebook.
"I've been to the demonstrations in my country and now I'm following them in
Seoul, so it's like all of us are following," he said.
Seoul police warned that they will take stern action against protesters who
violate the law during the rallies, such as those who damage public facilities,
occupy roads and assault police officers.
"We will arrest those who stage illegal protests on the spot and also seek
legal action even after the rally ends," the Seoul Metropolitan Agency said in
a news release.
Criticism has been rising over moves by banks and other financial institutions
to pay massive dividends. According to financial analysts, local banks are
expected to post a record 20 trillion won (US$17 billion) net profit this year
on the back of increased interest income.
Earlier this week, FSC Chairman Kim Seok-dong urged the finance industry to rid
itself of excessive greed and reflect on moral hazard. He suggested that
financial firms should reinforce their public roles instead of simply
maximizing profits. (Yonhap)
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
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Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism
Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
