*** PRESS RELEASE ***
Futenma-Henoko Action Network
Tokyo, Japan
March 25, 2005
Futenma-Henoko Action Network (FHAN), an Okinawa-based citizens’ organization, and Television Trust for the Environment (TVE) have agreed to co-fund the production of a documentary for BBC World (the British Broadcasting Corporation’s international news channel).
The progamme, which will be aired as part of the channel’s Earth Report series, will focus on the joint US-Japan project to build a US military air base on Okinawa’s Henoko reef, a world renowned area of biodiversity, and to make Okinawans’ compliance with this project a condition for the eventual closure of Futenma Air Station, a US marine corps air base perilously located in the heart of Ginowan City (pop. 90,000)
About FHAN
FHAN emerged in response to two critical developments in Okinawa in 2004: The crash of a US military helicopter from Futenma Air Station into the campus of Okinawa International University, Ginowan City on August 13, 2004, and the Japan Defense Agency’s construction of drilling platforms in Henoko Bay in December.
The network’s purpose is to protect the natural heritage of Okinawa in general, and the Henoko reef in particular, while ensuring the earliest possible closure of Futenma Air Station.
Background
Opinion polls consistently show that the vast majority of the Okinawan population oppose both the continued presence of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City and the transfer of its functions to any new base in Okinawa, specifically one which is destined to destroy the Henoko reef.
Neverthelesss, the Tokyo government’s disregard of the wishes of the vast majority of Okinawans, typified by its rejection of the results of a 1997 local referendum, in which a majority of residents rejected the Henoko scheme, continues, and neither the US nor Japanese governments have offered any specific assurances that the devastating Henoko project will be scrapped, or that Futenma Air Station will be closed.
Instead Okinawans are being presented with the prospect of living indefinitely under the threat to public safety posed by Futenma Air Station, while being confronted with the destruction of their environmental inheritance.
In order to induce a change in this policy, or at least to bear witness to it, BBC World’s Earth Report team has accepted FHAN’s invitation to make a documentary.
Both TVE and FHAN will make every effort to ensure that the programme records a victory for local democracy and common sense with the dual announcement of the closure of Futenma Air Station and a declaration that the Henoko project has been abandoned.
Even if our efforts fall short of this goal, we will draw courage from the fact that we have succeeded in further drawing the world’s attention to the injustice at the heart of US-Japanese policies towards Okinawa, and the environmental catastrophe awaiting the reef should the Henoko plan be allowed to proceed,
Overview of the Earth Report programme and projected contractual arrangements
Earth Report is the BBC World’s highly acclaimed weekly environmental program. It has a potential global audience of over 700 million viewers. The documentary will be made by Television Trust for the Environment (TVE), a non-profit film production company that makes documentaries for Earth Report. Australian filmmaker Steve Couri has already been appointed to direct the documentary.
As co-producer, FHAN will own the rights to the film, making it possible for the network to distribute it widely to national and local broadcasters, as well as using it as a means of raising awareness of environmental issues more broadly for educational purposes.
Appeal for funds
The projected budget for the documentary is US$50,000, half of which we intend to raise through donations. This will ensure that the production remains independent, and that FHAN retains rights to distribute the programme after it is completed.
Given the critical nature of the Henoko issue, FHAN has set April 30 as its deadline to meet our fundraising goal of US$28,500 (approximately ¥3,000,000 ). We are aiming for slightly more than the estimated $25,000 budget to cover administrative costs. FHAN has raised over ¥750,000 to date.
Filming will begin as soon as the budget is in place, or before should the necessity arise.
FHAN is aiming its campaign at organizations, corporations and individuals who value local democracy, environmental justice, peace and human rights, in order to help make the documentary a reality. Recognizing that the fundraising campaign itself is a powerful educational tool, the Network will especially seek to attract donations from mainland Japan, the US and worldwide as a way of raising awareness of the issue nationally and internationally.
FHAN has established accounts at the following institutions in Japan and the United States:
In Japan: Post Office - 01790-0-60503
Ryukyu Bank, Makiminato Branch, branch code: 326, account no. 391-100
In the US: Citibank, account no. 8882385
We also hope to have an online donation facility available shortly.
Please visit our web site for further information about BBC World, TVE and Earth Report, details of our fundraising progress, financial reports, and formal commitments regarding the film’s production: http://fhan.homestead.com
For more information, contact:
- Peter Simpson, pete@nirai.ne.jp (090-7290-9602)
- Lei Shimamura, simpson@au7.mopera.ne.jp (098-898 9767)
- Kelly Dietz, kld18@cornell.edu (090-6863-0663)
The progamme, which will be aired as part of the channel’s Earth Report series, will focus on the joint US-Japan project to build a US military air base on Okinawa’s Henoko reef, a world renowned area of biodiversity, and to make Okinawans’ compliance with this project a condition for the eventual closure of Futenma Air Station, a US marine corps air base perilously located in the heart of Ginowan City (pop. 90,000)
About FHAN
FHAN emerged in response to two critical developments in Okinawa in 2004: The crash of a US military helicopter from Futenma Air Station into the campus of Okinawa International University, Ginowan City on August 13, 2004, and the Japan Defense Agency’s construction of drilling platforms in Henoko Bay in December.
The network’s purpose is to protect the natural heritage of Okinawa in general, and the Henoko reef in particular, while ensuring the earliest possible closure of Futenma Air Station.
Background
Opinion polls consistently show that the vast majority of the Okinawan population oppose both the continued presence of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City and the transfer of its functions to any new base in Okinawa, specifically one which is destined to destroy the Henoko reef.
Neverthelesss, the Tokyo government’s disregard of the wishes of the vast majority of Okinawans, typified by its rejection of the results of a 1997 local referendum, in which a majority of residents rejected the Henoko scheme, continues, and neither the US nor Japanese governments have offered any specific assurances that the devastating Henoko project will be scrapped, or that Futenma Air Station will be closed.
Instead Okinawans are being presented with the prospect of living indefinitely under the threat to public safety posed by Futenma Air Station, while being confronted with the destruction of their environmental inheritance.
In order to induce a change in this policy, or at least to bear witness to it, BBC World’s Earth Report team has accepted FHAN’s invitation to make a documentary.
Both TVE and FHAN will make every effort to ensure that the programme records a victory for local democracy and common sense with the dual announcement of the closure of Futenma Air Station and a declaration that the Henoko project has been abandoned.
Even if our efforts fall short of this goal, we will draw courage from the fact that we have succeeded in further drawing the world’s attention to the injustice at the heart of US-Japanese policies towards Okinawa, and the environmental catastrophe awaiting the reef should the Henoko plan be allowed to proceed,
Overview of the Earth Report programme and projected contractual arrangements
Earth Report is the BBC World’s highly acclaimed weekly environmental program. It has a potential global audience of over 700 million viewers. The documentary will be made by Television Trust for the Environment (TVE), a non-profit film production company that makes documentaries for Earth Report. Australian filmmaker Steve Couri has already been appointed to direct the documentary.
As co-producer, FHAN will own the rights to the film, making it possible for the network to distribute it widely to national and local broadcasters, as well as using it as a means of raising awareness of environmental issues more broadly for educational purposes.
Appeal for funds
The projected budget for the documentary is US$50,000, half of which we intend to raise through donations. This will ensure that the production remains independent, and that FHAN retains rights to distribute the programme after it is completed.
Given the critical nature of the Henoko issue, FHAN has set April 30 as its deadline to meet our fundraising goal of US$28,500 (approximately ¥3,000,000 ). We are aiming for slightly more than the estimated $25,000 budget to cover administrative costs. FHAN has raised over ¥750,000 to date.
Filming will begin as soon as the budget is in place, or before should the necessity arise.
FHAN is aiming its campaign at organizations, corporations and individuals who value local democracy, environmental justice, peace and human rights, in order to help make the documentary a reality. Recognizing that the fundraising campaign itself is a powerful educational tool, the Network will especially seek to attract donations from mainland Japan, the US and worldwide as a way of raising awareness of the issue nationally and internationally.
FHAN has established accounts at the following institutions in Japan and the United States:
In Japan: Post Office - 01790-0-60503
Ryukyu Bank, Makiminato Branch, branch code: 326, account no. 391-100
In the US: Citibank, account no. 8882385
We also hope to have an online donation facility available shortly.
Please visit our web site for further information about BBC World, TVE and Earth Report, details of our fundraising progress, financial reports, and formal commitments regarding the film’s production: http://fhan.homestead.com
For more information, contact:
- Peter Simpson, pete@nirai.ne.jp (090-7290-9602)
- Lei Shimamura, simpson@au7.mopera.ne.jp (098-898 9767)
- Kelly Dietz, kld18@cornell.edu (090-6863-0663)