260 Memoirs detail Wartime Sex slavery for the Japanese military

Korean human rights activist and survivor Hwang Geum Joo. I took this photo at her place in Seoul in September 2004.

TOKYO, Dec. 20 KYODO NEWS

About 260 memoirs from World War II published between 1990 and 2006 contain specific references to the Japanese military’s wartime brothels in which so-called ”comfort women” were forced to provide sexual services to military personnel, and sexual violence at the battlefront, the Center for Research and Documentation on Japan’s War Responsibility said Sunday.

From Vancouver-based peace activist Satoko Norimatsu’s blog:

According to a Kyodo News Agency report on December 20, 2009, The Center for Research and Documentation on Japan’s War Responsibility (JWRC) discovered that about 260 documents published between 1990 and 2006, including personal notes written by those who experienced war, had concrete descriptions of “comfort stations” installed throughout different parts of Asia, “comfort women,” and other sexual violence in the battlefields. Among those are reports of kempeitai, or military police officers examining “comfort women” and drawings of “comfort stations.”

JWRC went through about 2,000 documents, including battlefield diaries and personal memoirs, stored in the National Diet Library, from March to June this year. These documents were published during 1990’s and after, when the former “comfort women” started to call for apologies and compensation from the Japanese government.

Chuo University Professor Yoshiaki Yoshimi, who examined those documents points out that there are many specific details reported in these documents, including the deep military involvement with the sex slavery system.

Most of the documents with reference to the “comfort women” are personal memoirs, instead of public documents. Yoshimi suspects there was pressure within veterans’ associations for not speaking out about the issue.

The result of this research will be published in the December 2009 and March 2010 issues of “The Report on Japan’s War Responsibility,” the quarterly journal by JWRC.     

I ♥ SW China (part 2)

Here’s a link to photos of my recent trip to SW China:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133840&id=564995302&l=7071843623

Letting Go

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

After two back to back trips to Tokyo and Hong Kong, I am resting and reflecting now. As I let go, and dive into the deep, greater things are unfolding in ways that are beyond my expectations.

Now I’m gearing up for my next trip. I will be in cave mode for the next long while. In a beautiful and peaceful place.

Thank you Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki for giving me two days of interview time. I admire your insights and compassion. And I think you are the Martin Luther King Junior of Japan. While you’re an academic and not as expressive as MLK who was a pastor, but you are fighting for justice and anti-discrimination like MLK did. 

Interesting thing is that you’re from the side of the ‘oppressors’ (the Japanese government refuses to acknowledge crimes against humanity – ie. sex slavery system known as comfort women, biological warfare victims etc - committed before and during WWII) and MLK was a voice for the oppressed. I’m glad that you laughed and smiled when I mentioned that comparison because I hope that deep down you were encouraged about your selfless work.

Two whirlwind trips and so much to process. I am grateful to have met many kindred spirits and new friends these past few weeks. I’ll post photos from Japan later.

Here’s one from my last SW China trip:

Drug addicts live in tents by the river along the Myanmar-China border. Those are used needles on the ground.

I ♥ JAPAN: Tokyo trip November 15 to 22nd

The amazing Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki

It’s been a long time wish of mine to meet and interview Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki.  He’s a true hero. As is Ken Arimitsu, Mina Watanabe and Dr. Etsuro Totsuka who are all working in one way or another to raise the banner of truth in Japan about its war past. Not in a morbid or Japan-bashing way but because they recognize that in order for their country to go forward and to be at peace with its neighbors, former wartime enemies and colonies, that it must deal with war atrocities like Germany has and look at it square in the face.

I get teary-eyed when I think of these Japanese activists who live by their convictions. They’re role models and heroes living by a higher moral standard. Thank you to these Japanese activists. I look forward to spending time with you in Tokyo.

I’ll interview Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki after his talk at the Japanese Diet. After securing this interview, I squealed like a girl (glad no one was around). I ♥ Japan.

Goodnight!

Ellen van der Ploeg (Dutch ‘comfort women’ survivor) has wicked sense of humor

The indomitable and amazing Ms. Ellen van der Ploeg at the Hague, the Netherlands

That's me (right) interviewing Dutch comfort woman survivor Ellen van der Ploeg (left) for print and film

Transcribing interviews

Today I finished typing out my interviews with Ellen that lasted over several days in the Hague, the Netherlands. She is generous of spirit and kind-hearted and not to mention wickedly funny. My time with her was full of easy laughter and warm smiles.

The challenge is how to present her story in the most true-to-Ellen way. I want to honor her story and the trust she gave me to write her narrative.

She’s a courageous woman who wants the world to know the truth of what happened to her during the war. The Japanese government still has not issued a heartfelt apology to her and other survivors of sex slavery. She is not counting on one either (sad, but perhaps the most realistic scenario).

Ellen wants to prevent the enslavement and repeated rape of women from happening again. It’s her lifelong fight to raise her voice in order to stop violence against women and girls in times of war.

On another note, I believe that racial reconciliation is necessary between Japan and the ‘conquered’ countries during the last world war:  Holland, China, Korea, Philippines, Myanmar etc.  Unlike Germany, Japan has not dealt with the war and issues arising out of it, ie atrocities & war crimes. These acts of inhumane cruelty still linger in the memory of these nations and cannot help but impact upcoming generations.

However, the younger generation in Japan is largely unaware of its Imperial military’s history in Asia in that time period. When they learn of the truth, I believe we are one step closer to healing the rift between Japan and the nations that were affected by the Japanese military.

There’s so much more on my mind, but I am feeling under the weather and need to sleep. Goodnight.

I ♥ SW China trip (Part 1): prostitutes, addicts with HIV, AIDS orphans

I'm interviewing Commercial sex workers (CSWs) at the Ruili Women and Children's Center (left - Mr. Bangyuan Wang, of Health Unlimited and I'm sitting next to him in black)The Ruili Women and Children's Center in Ruili city, southern China

Back right - Gyen Nai, 33 years old.

Gyen Nai was shooting up heroin when I began to talk with him with the other Health Unlimited staff members.

The poorest of the poor and the forgotten

My trip to southwest China last week on behalf of a donor was a life transforming one for me. Though I’ve been there twice before, this time, it was different. I can’t put it into words. I spent time with blind people, AIDS orphans, prostitutes, drug addicts with HIV. I fell in love with these people and the region. 

“Prayer begets faith, faith begets love and love begets service of the poor.”

“Today it is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk with them.”

Mother Theresa

A great passion has lodged itself in my heart to do what I can to help channel more resources and mobilise others to go (student volunteers, social entrepreneurs). I want to see that area TRANSFORMED by compassion and strategic services.

I know it will take a lot of work. I’m already behind in my fundraising work for elderly comfort women survivors… I want to raise funds for a holiday trip to the city (these comfort women survivors live in rural areas and this was recommended by lawyer Kang Jian who is in touch with more than 30 of them) and mobilise medical volunteers to provide treatment. These survivors also need art therapy and psycho-social care. If you’d like to help, please send me a message!

Rescuing desperate women

Two prostitutes are in need of help with their children’s high school tuition. These women are in their late 20s or early 30s and they are in sex work in order to cover the room and board costs of their sons’ school fees. We are in touch with a New York foundation to see if they would cover the school costs – however, these women must agree to get out of that line of work.

I also met Lisa Samuelson, a wonderful British woman and the director of an NGO called Eden that serves prostitutes in Kunming by offering a safe house, providing HIV and STI prevention education and a life-changing job program that trains them in jewelry making.

In one of my last blog posts I had mentioned that I wanted to track down an NGO that helps women escape prostitution so that the Burmese prostitutes I had met near the border area last year would have alternative employment. 

Well, BINGO. Eden is the right organization. With local partners, we’re working towards bringing together different NGOs that work with prostitutes in southwest China to learn from Eden’s jewelry business. So far, Eden has been supporting 20 former CSWs who now live with dignity and hope.

Here’s the link to Eden:  http://edenministry.myshopify.com

I’ll write more about my trip and post photos soon.  I will leave you with one more quote by Mother Theresa that I lifted from Heidi Baker’s book Compelled by Love (I wept while reading this book about her work in England’s slums and in Mozambique):

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindess in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. In the slums we are the light of God’s kindness to the poor. To children, to the poor, to all who suffer and are lonely, give always a happy smile – give them not only your care, but also your heart.”

Spending time with AIDS orphans at Mother's Heart homes in SW China (mothersheartchina.org). One of our donors funded the 3 homes for a year.

Me in striped shirt, So Lat (2nd from left), is 22 years old and addicted to heroin. My good friend Bangyuan Wang, program manager for Health Unlimited at far right.

The three guys on the right are with Health Unlimited, a UK-based organization that works with the most marginalised communities in the world.

The young man, second from the right, is a very dynamic outreach worker and the young man behind him is a drug user who helps collect used needles (in exchange for new ones to prevent the spread of HIV).

My good friend Bangyuan Wang, is the program manager of this project (in white T-shirt). He plans to go overseas for graduate study. We are trying to find sponsors and scholarships for him.

He’s an incredible leader and unsung hero who has selflessly worked amongst the poorest places in southwest China near the border. If you’d like to contribute to his tuition fees, please message me and I’ll connect you with Bangyuan.

Shooting alley

We found Lasan (left) on the ground. He had overdosed. Bangyuan Wang, program manager (and unsung hero) is sitting with him.

I’ll write about his story in the next blog post.

HIV/AIDS conference in Yunnan province, China

Wow, the HIV/AIDS conference that I’ve coordinated for 5 NGOs is turning out to be amazingly fruitful!  (a sixth NGO will join tomorrow for the financial and grant management seminar).

Two organizations presented tonight on their HIV prevention education projects, outreach programs to CSWs and migrant construction workers (potential clients of CSWs) and to county level doctors and health professionals. I was duly impressed. I have seen both of these programs in person over the last two years, and they are pioneering and well-run, but tonight, to hear of the tremendous progress and lessons learned has been gratifying to say the least.

I’ll write again soon.

Peace,

Sylvia

Humility is freedom

My reflections after my trip to New York and the United Nations in September where I heard a U.N. staffer mention what Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon values the most in a person:

I believe Humility is the most underrated virtue of all time. But it is one of the most important.

Humility allows us to learn from others and admit our mistakes. Humility steers clear of conflict and sees the best in others. Humility does not self-promote or put others down. Humility lifts others up. It is a peace-maker, a healer.

What if we had more of it in the Middle East peace talks?  In the talks with North Korea? etc. etc.

I deeply admire the obvious humility of Ban Ki-Moon, the UN’s Secretary-General. One UN worker who had chatted with the SG said that Mr. Ban appreciates humility most of all in people. I’ll have to agree.

You’re so humble Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon!

In the west, especially in a marketplace context, it’s a given that you tell people right away what you do, where you work. Self-promotion is de rigueur and helps some make those connections that get them ahead. Interestingly, in China, it’s more subtle. I’ve learned to communicate as the Chinese do and sometimes that includes putting my experience down and lifting up someone else’s expertise. But not in a disingenuous way.

Walking in humility is rather freeing. While planning for an upcoming conference down in southern China, I am multi-tasking like crazy and forgot to email the venue info to an NGO staff who’s presenting. I was gently reminded by Cao Hong, a wonderful friend and highly respected NGO leader to pass on the necessary information. 

I admitted quickly that I had forgotten to do that. There was no other reason. Simply an oversight on my part. That’s not something I would have easily done in the past. I was too much of a perfectionist. I soon realized that that was humility in action. Learning to walk in humility – albeit with clumsy steps - has given me a newfound freedom.

Book Writing Update

I only have a few days to finish three chapters according to my deadline. I plan to send these to a few people to edit. This past week’s writing process has been more agonizing than usual. I went to the gym today, weight lifted (took out my frustrations), and later bought some oranges and apples from an outdoor stand.

I must be more productive in my writing tomorrow! I’m tempted to order a Big Mac from the delivery service (yes there is a McDonald’s delivery service in China!). Is there a proven correlation between consuming fast food and poor writing?

Health Education Project in China

*As of December 22, due to my book writing schedule, I will not be able to carry out this project*

Public Health Project

I am coordinating a pilot test of interactive health education DVDs to be used in the developing world context. Testing and evaluation of the product is necessary before large scale distribution and use.

Thare Machi Education (TME) produced these DVDs and translated them into multiple languages for use in 12 countries. TME will be distributing these DVDs free of charge or at a minimal cost. The DVD set covers 28 community and personal basic health issues including HIV/AIDS, hygiene, immunization, nutrition, etc.

TME is a charity that provides education for women and children in the developing world using modern technology.  www.tme.org.uk 

Thank you Thare Machi Education for investing time and resources into translating the DVDs into Mandarin!  Visual communication is a powerful way to convey vital health information to rural people, many of whom are illiterate.

Some staff of an NGO in southern China regularly use drama in an outdoor variety show to teach villagers about HIV/AIDS (photo below). Some of the villagers I spoke with afterwards said they had learned something new about the spread of the disease.

Stigma hurdle in China

A few villagers expressed that they didn’t realize that one cannot be infected with AIDS by merely shaking hands with someone who is HIV positive. This is a common belief among rural populations, hence there is a lot of stigma and people are afraid to get tested or share publicly if they are infected.

Combating stigma is one of the greatest challenges for non-profits and government service providers working in HIV prevention education in China.

Dai people in a Yunnan province village enjoy the dramas with a HIV prevention message.

My brother’s blog

 

Jae at the Forbidden City in Beijing

My brother Jae is a filmmaker, screenwriter, beats producer, music aficionado, wine expert and blogger. 

He’s also my creative sounding board and best friend.

Look up his cheeky blog. He has written a screenplay on the same theme: 

www.thedoucheguide.com

My musician friend Austin Lee calls Jae’s blog “genius in written form”.

One of my favorite posts: http://www.thedoucheguide.com/2009/08/douchebag-of-week-1.html  The Kanye West entry is funny too.