Let's get united for survival! ～ 300 gather for Oct. 12 Anti-Poverty National Rally

The 2014 Anti-Poverty National Rally was held on Oct. 12 in Tokyo. The slogan for the rally this year was “Let's get connected for survival!”  The morning program was composed of a get-together for exchanges among affiliate groups of the anti-poverty national network and a film show of “Metro Ladies Blues Part 2” and “Occupy Wall Street 2011.”  In the afternoon, the participants shared views and opinions in a symposium and discussions held in the World Café style that followed. The venue was filled with some 300 people. (By Web Editorial Staff)

The preparatory committee for the Anti-Poverty Network organized the first rally in March, 2007. We organized the Tent City for the Jobless over the new year holidays of 2008-2009 in a park in the central Tokyo. Local branches of the Anti-Poverty Network were established all over the country later on. We realized that the anti-poverty movement was expanding across the country steadily, if not rapidly. We have to make more efforts to move forward. Though media coverage has decreased, it does not mean that the anti-poverty movement has stagnated. The reports presented in the rally clearly showed the expansion of the movement. I was encouraged to hear the enthusiastic discussions today. I felt a little uplifted and, in fact, was near to tears. (Tweets by KAWAZOE Makoto, a caretaker of the Anti-Poverty Network) 

* Photo: The venue was full of enthusiastic participants.

生きぬくためにつながろう！～10.12反貧困全国集会に300人が集う

東京で反貧困ネットワーク準備会が最初に集会を 開い たのは、2007年3月。2008年暮れには、年越し派遣村。その後、全国各地に反貧困ネットワークが結成さ れている。反貧困運動は、ジグザグがありながらも、着実に全国に広がってきているのを実感。次に何をつなげていくのか、ふんばりどこ ろ。その後、マスメディアには取り上げられなくなっていくが、それで全国的にも反貧 困運動が活動が落ち込んだかというとそうではないことが、今日の報告でもあきらかに。反貧困ネットワークがどんどん増えている。全国 のみなさんの熱心な意見交換を聴いて、励まされて、ちょっと元気が出て、涙がちょっ と出そうになる。（河添誠） 　
 ＊写真＝会場いっぱいの参加者で盛り上がる

3 years for justice: Defend the “Tent City”!

The “Occupy the METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)” tent has continued for three years for a nuke-free society. The world’s longest-lasting “Occupy” tent has been a place for free speech for people demanding denuclearization and peace. There have been harassment and intimidation by right wingers, the police and the METI itself, but approximately 800 people came to the tent to reconfirm that they have continued the “Tent City”, which is a symbol against nukes, and will never allow the restart of a nuclear power plant in the future. The gathering was also joined by YOSHIZAWA Masami, who continues to manage a dairy farm in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture despite the danger of exposure, and others from nuclear disaster-stricken areas. The tent has stood for three years in front of the powerful METI. KAMATA Satoshi, a nonfiction writer, called this struggle for democracy a “great and historical struggle”. (MATSUMOTO Chie)

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石の上にも三年～「テントひろば」を守ろう！経産省包囲行動に800人

原発のない社会を求めて経済産業省前に座り込みをはじめてから３年。世界で最長寿のオキュパイテントは、脱原発や平和を求める市民の言論の場となってきた。これまで右翼や警察、そして経産省自体からも妨害があったが、９月１１日の夜、およそ８００人の市民が結集し、脱原発の象徴である「経産省前テントひろば」を守りぬいてきたことと、今後も原発の再稼働を許さないことを再確認した。集会には、福島県浪江町で被爆しながらも牧場経営を続ける吉沢正巳さんほか、原発地域からの参加もあった。石の上にも３年と経産省前に居座ってきた成果は大きい。ルポライターの鎌田慧さんは、非暴力を貫いた民主の抵抗を「偉大な闘い」だと呼んだ。（松元ちえ）
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