Text Fwd: Protests Spread in Italy !!

* Text informed by Anna Frakas on Feb. 12, 2011

Infoshop
Protests Spread in Italy with the Support of Anonymous' #OpItaly
Monday, February 07 2011 @ 09:16 AM UTC

Contributed by: Anonymous

People across Italy have been demonstrating for a variety of reasons recently, including a new bill that allows unprecedented censorship of the internet in Italy, as well as the infamous Berlusconi’s latest sex scandal. Wikileaks has recently released a cable which discusses the Internet Bill before the Italian Parliament:

Protests Spread in Italy with the Support of Anonymous' #OpItaly

“We must resist, not as a last act of desperation, but as a first act of creation. We will raise public awareness with DDoS attacks, like we have successfully done in the past. Comparable to a sit-in, DDoS protesters disrupt business or government actions by obstructing the flow of normal traffic, in order to make a political point. Anonymous will fight against censorship and oppression. The truth is too important. I want people to see the truth because without information you cannot make informed decisions as a public.”

-statement from participants in #OpItaly

People across Italy have been demonstrating for a variety of reasons recently, including a new bill that allows unprecedented censorship of the internet in Italy, as well as the infamous Berlusconi’s latest sex scandal. Wikileaks has recently released a cable which discusses the Internet Bill before the Italian Parliament:

“The GOI appears open to discussion of the bill's text. While reaction to the bill has been strong among opposition politicians and telecom professionals, the issue has not made it to the front pages of newspapers so there has been no strong public reation. Despite GOI protestations, the bill is troubling as it appears to have been written to give the government enough leeway to block or censor any Internet content.”

The cable goes on to say:

“Provisions contained in the bill would make Internet service providers (ISPs), and hosting sites such as Blogspot and YouTube, liable for content in the same way a television station is. In the strictest interpretation of the law, the sites and ISPs would have to monitor all content on their sites, content which is uploaded by millions of individual users. This is widely viewed as impossible both in practical and economic terms. The Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) would be responsible for oversight of the law, and some have interpreted the bill as requiring government permission before a video could be uploaded” The cable ends with this telling statement: "In light of its reluctance to take action on this issue in the past, and also given the many commercial advantages that this law appears to give Mediaset and state TV, the GOI (Government of Italy) claim that Internet provisions of this law are aimed at copyright protection alone are suspect.”

Anyone interested can read the full text of the cable here In summary, the Internet Bill gives the Italian government the ability to censor the internet, something they’ve been trying to do for quite a while. In support of the Italian protests Anonymous has launched a new operation, #OpItaly or Operation Italy which is now engaged in Distrubted Denial of Service protest of DDOS protest against the Italian Government website. A statement from participants of #OpItaly lists reasons for the action:

"We will block access to governo.it for the following reasons:

-Public information and censorship: the information is completely manipulated by our Prime Minister who controls all TV channels (like Mediaset) and all the newspapers that now only have a political purpose. In addition, many sites like YouTube are being pressured by the government for the removal of "uncomfortable" material.

-Politics: The present government is ravaging Italy, is not interested in the country but is composed of representatives whose only interest is themselves. -The economy: is in recession, unemployment is rampant, especially among young people;

-Education: education funds were cut in favor of private schools (you mean corporate - private would be home tutoring), also the quality of education is decreasing (that's every where);

- Culture: the funds necessary to preserve the artistic heritage of Italy were cut ;

- Immigration: There are no rules that govern the migration properly.

- Waste management: whole cities are overwhelmed by junk (like Naples).

- Public transport: by cutting budgets, the people who use public transportation every morning - bus, tramway, and subway - face ridiculous scenarios: no lights in the subway, always malfunctioning bus, and tram doors that are jammed shut or stay open while under way, despite security risks.”

Further evidence of the international effect (and affect) of Anonymous:

To speak better to the situation in Italy I interviewed two Italian members of Anonymous, both with very positive opinions of the movement. The first anon saying: “anyway this anonymous group is great, they help Tunisians and Egyptians, and there a lot of riots that will need our attention. The people of the world are gaining a deep consciousness about politics, economics and environmental issues. Anonymous is just a way to speak for the critical mass.” I asked the other anon I interviewed how he found out about anonymous and also about the Italian impression of anonymous. His answers:

“Anon: I had heard talk on the news even though they gave wrong information about Anonymous. Searching online, I arrived at the official site of Anonymous where I learned what Anonymous was. I think in Italy they are not well known as a movement but I think that today’s attack had a lot of publicity.” (speaking of that publicity)

When he asked his opinion on the role of a free internet in movements for social change, he answered: “the internet can put millions of people in contact at a great distance giving them the opportunity to exchange ideas, information and more. Protesting via the internet, this protest can expand beyond national borders for hours. The internet is the only form of free information that exists.” It’s important to see what’s going on here and recognize it. What’s going on now is, issue-driven, but it’s not a single issue. When asked why the Italians are demonstrating, the second anon responded “primarily” due to government censorship of the internet. The first anon when asked listed many reasons for “manifestations” in Italy, “the crazy laws of a crazy premier”, the installation of a nuclear power plant, construction of a new US military base in Vincenza, against pollution and more. He went on to say these are all “little manifestations”.

If those are little, the big manifestation is happening too. One that transcends borders and single issues, one that uses a variety of tactics, one that brings people together. As an anon said: “A lot of people that are now DDOS’ing the Italian government were in channel #opegypt (center anonymous’ operation Egypt).” If there is a single issue that unites these people it is the free internet, and the fight to keep it free. It seems only with truly honest and free communication is it possible to change anything, to even figure what needs to change and what needs to stay, and to figure out the best way to go about it. It is becoming obvious the internet is playing a large part in not only free speech, but the free exchange of ideas. It starts with an honest conversation and a realization that what is, is not what has to be. With that, it goes wherever we need it to go.

Letter Fwd: [Enzo Ciscato] US overseas bases not welcome

* The Below is from Enzo Ciscato, Vicenza, Italy on July 18, 2010. Upon J. D.'s thankful forward of the Texas Insider article on July 14, "Hutchison: Military Construction Program Should be Fiscally Responsible Strategically Sound," he has proposed to write a message to Hutchison from the regions. Thanks very much, Enzo, for sharing!
______________________________________________________________

Dear Senator Hutchison,

we read your speech dtd July 13th expressing your concern about the money
spent for US military bases abroad.

For us, from Europe, it has been truly surprising to see the increase of
military spending with Pres Obama administration.

We fully agree: US troops should return to USA. More jobs could be created
in the nation, a lot of money could be saved and diverted to health,
enviroment and education instead of billions spent around the world.

We are citizens of Vicenza, one of the many cities suffering from the
presence of US military sites.

In addition to the base built in the 50s we have a new base being built on
the opposite side of the town (population 110,000).

The construction of the new/second base started in 2009.
Underneath there is one of the main groundwater resources of Italy.
Thousands of poles (up to 26 mtrs long) have been forced into the ground
to allow this construction with unkwnon damages.

The large majority of the population don't want this new base. Our land is
already full of military sites (mostly US).

Our city, Vicenza, is a UNESCO Heritage site and is being violated by this
military construction located only about 1 mile from the historic center.

It's four years we are protesting against this new base at DAL MOLIN.
We know that our story is very similar to other sites in South Korea,
Japan, Guam, just to mention a few.

About 30% of the running cost of the US bases are on the shoulders of the
hosting nations. We don't want to pay these costs.

Our economical situation is very difficult and these bases are not
bringing any benefit.

We don't want any more US soldiers in our town, in our country.

With your proposals you can make US military families and taxpayers
happier and also millions of people around the world.

Please carry on !

Annetta M Reams and Enzo Ciscato
Vicenza - Italy

Text Fwd: Italian film questions U.S. troop presence [in Vicenza and Okinawa]

* Text sent from J. D. on July 7, 2010
________________________________________________________________

Below is the Youtube Video of Standing Army film documentary (Video URL)



________________________________________________________________

Italian film questions U.S. troop presence

BY SHINYA MINAMISHIMA
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/07/07

ROME--Two young Italian filmmakers have posed an intriguing question in a documentary that focuses on a U.S. Army base in their country and touches on the situation in Okinawa Prefecture.

They sought to find out why U.S. troops continue to be deployed worldwide more than six decades after the end of World War II. The documentary "Standing Army" was completed recently by filmmaker Enrico Parenti, 31, and Thomas Fazi, a 28-year-old researcher and translator. The two were first drawn to the topic of the U.S. armed forces through a January 2007 decision by the Italian government to authorize the expansion of a U.S. Army installation in the city of Vicenza, in northern Italy. The base is the home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a staging area for troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 2,750 U.S. soldiers are assigned to the base. Under the expansion plan, an additional 2,000 troops stationed in Germany were to be transferred to Vicenza by 2012. That would make it the largest U.S. military base in Europe.

The filmmakers set out by interviewing local residents opposed to the expansion. Although an opponent to the plan was elected mayor of Vicenza in April 2008, a plebiscite he initiated against the base issue was crushed by a decision by the Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court. According to an unofficial survey of 25,000 residents by the city government, 95 percent opposed the base expansion. Coupled with the fact that 25 countries around the world, aside from Iraq and Afghanistan, now host units with 100 or more U.S. military personnel, with a total 120,000 servicemen and women scattered worldwide, the base expansion prompted the two to seek answers.

Their theme had a special meaning, particularly as Italians remain ambivalent about the continued U.S. presence after Italian fascist forces were defeated by U.S. and British troops in World War II. Many Italians sided with the Allies as part of the partisan movement. Parenti's mother is a U.S. citizen and his maternal grandfather and uncle fought in the Korean War, while Fazi's mother is British, making the issue especially poignant. Through their work with anti-base activists, Parenti and Fazi learned about a similar situation that has been facing an island halfway around the world.

The two traveled to Okinawa Prefecture to see for themselves the situation surrounding the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the city of Ginowan. There, they watched military aircraft taking off and landing, noting that classes at a nearby school were constantly interrupted because of the roar of the engines. Including news footage of the 2004 helicopter crash at the campus of Okinawa International University near the Futenma airfield, the two sought to better understand the situation facing Okinawan residents.

The film, which has been shown at several events in Europe, was released on DVD in June.

Parenti and Fazi say they are hoping to find people willing to help show the movie and distribute the DVD in Japan.

Those interested can contact the two in English or Italian at (info@standingarmy.it).

Text & Video Fw: April 25th is also the “Liberation day” in Italy

* Image source: No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy

* Image source: No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy

____________________________________________________________________
* Text fw from Enzo Ciscato on April 26, 2010.

Further update from No Dal Molin:

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article917
____________________________________________________________________
* Text fw from Enzo Ciscato on April 25, 2010


'April 25th is the“Liberation day” in Italy, recallling the day when the “Allied Forces” guided by US Army kicked the nazi-fascists out of Italy with the contribution of the Italian Partisan Brigades.

Many Italian Conservatives Forces, Prime Minister included, would like to change the meaning of this day, trying to forget about the great “Partisans” tribute to freedom of Italy from the Fascists.

Every year on the 25th there are commemorations in the main cities with occasional tension feelings between different parties.

Saturday afternoon, No Dal Molin Movement decided to enter (cutting the fence) in a portion of the area of the former civilian small airport named “Dal Molin”, next to area occupied by the construction of the new US base.

Just a few nervous moments with Police forces ended with the agreement to stay “in” till Sunday evening to celebrate the “Liberation” at the Dal Molin.

This is the area where in Sept 2007 we planted about 200 small trees to settle the “Peace Park” and the area where the Italian Gov just authorized a company named ESPERIA, the commercial face of Agusta-Westland (remember Apache and Chinnok ..) to have a space for a new HELIPORT.

It’s clear that a heliport next to the US base can only be the future military heliport.

So, today people of all ages, families and children are having a pic-nic inside the “Peace Park” flying kites say no to the heliport.

The first video and a few pics are available at the link below (more to follow)

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article912




So, we all feel very close to Okinawa and to all of you in any nation and continent.

[...]

Much solidarity to you all.

[...]
Enzo
from No Dal Molin – Vicenza - Italy

Video Fwd: Vicenza update: Actists Cutting the Fense of Base

* Image source: in the same link in the quoted

* Below is from Enzo Ciscato, through group email, on March 29, 2010

"Good afternoon, from a sunny Vicenza.

Here below is the link to the latest news with the work done today to clear the riverbank from the recent fence built by the Constructors of the base, without any permission from the Local Authorities.

The Workers of the “Independent Municipality No Dal Molin” have brought a state of free transit on the public land by the river.

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article874



Presidio Permanente No Dal Molin

Vicenza – Italy

www.nodalmolin.it"

Video Fwd: "Standing Army" _ a new documentary

* Text Fwd by Jean Downy on March 18, 2010

'"Standing Army" -- a new documentary from an Italian and Italian-American director--where citizens are still protesting the expansion of a US military base into the last green space in Vincenza--a World Heritage site. The filmmakers connect the dots between continued U.S. military expansion around the world under which the Obama administration's only change to Bush policies has been acceleration in South America. In Japan and Guam, we see the same bellicose faces who have been pushing for expansion since the 1990's and 2000's under Clinton, Bush--unchanged with Obama.'

Thomas Fazi (28/05/1982) is an Anglo-Italian researcher, translator and interpreter. He collaborates regularly with various Italian publishing houses.

Enrico Parenti (07/12/1978), a former IDEP film student, is an Italian-American free-lance filmmaker. He works regularly as cameraman and editor for various Italian and foreign televisions. He is the author of a short documentary shot in Brazil and currently has a documentary on Ethiopia in post-production. He has worked as director of photography on the documentary GIVING VOICE by Alessandro Fabrizi.'

"Over the course of the last century, the US has silently encircled the world with a web of military bases unlike any other in history. Today, they amount to more than 700, in at least 100 countries. No continent is spared. They are one the most powerful forces at play in the world today, yet one of the less talked-about. They have shaped the lives of millions, yet remain a mystery to most.

Why do countries like Germany, Italy and Japan – more than 60 years after the end of World War II and almost 20 years after the end of the Cold War – still host hundreds of US military bases and tens of thousands of US soldiers?

What role do the bases play in maintaining US hegemony in the world?

How will they shape our future?

Is a global military presence the last resource of an economically-, politically- and culturally-declining empire?

How do the bases impact the lives of local populations and how do these interact with their uniformed neighbours?

We will answer these and other crucial questions both through the words of prominent intellectuals, experts on the subject, political and military leaders, ex-government and CIA officials, philosophers and political activists – some of whom we have already interviewed: Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal, Chalmers Johnson and others – and through the shocking but often inspiring stories of those directly affected by US bases: the citizens of Vicenza, struggling to stop the construction of yet another military base in their hometown; the Diego Garcia islanders, violently expelled from their island in the Indian Ocean to make space for a US military base, and who have been fighting for years to return to their birthplace; the many Japanese women brutalized by US soldiers in Okinawa; the various grassroots movements in Europe and Asia struggling for a base-free world; as well as those living inside the bases: the men and women who are often sent to faraway lands with little or no preparation for what they’ll find there."

[Text & Video Fwd] RESISTANCE TO U.S. BASE IN ITALY

Bruce Gagnon blog
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
RESISTANCE TO U.S. BASE IN ITALY



This is footage from today in Vicenza, Italy, where 50 women and men entered the construction site of the proposed mammoth new US military base in a location called "Dal Molin". They chained themselves to cranes and other machines.

Background: http://afterdowningstreet.org/vicenza

The campaign we need to support: http://www.nodalmolin.it

__________________________________________________________________________

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato and Kyle Kajihiro on Feb. 3

US MILITARY BASE AT “DAL MOLIN” IN VICENZA

50 ACTIVISTS GO INTO THE SITE

AND CHAIN THEMSELVES TO THE CRANES

Fifty women and men of Vicenza entered today in the construction site of the new US military base at Dal Molin and chained themselves to the cranes and the working machineries used to build the foundations of the military installation, and that every day are damaging the “vicentina” groundwater. Recent surveys have produced evidence of unjustified increase of water level in some residential areas.

Today we want set legality as first priority – they declared passing the fence of the site – the construction site must stop in order to defend health, safety and history of the “vicentina” community: groundwater resources and archeological findings must be preserved. Since the early days of this story we stated that this territory has a priceless value for the local community; but, at the same time, it's particulary fragile, delicate, because under the green carpet it preserves one of the essential elements of life, water.

Yesterday they met in an extraordinary assembley open to all the citizens of Vicenza, at the Presidio Permanente (permanent camp). Today (Monday) they will get together for a torchlight march in the streets of the city center in solidarity with the action and with the request to STOP the construction site. A file with a photo service of the condition of the construction site (under water) has been delivered to Mr Variati, Mayor of Vicenza.

You may see immages and video on http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article765


Presidio Permanente No Dal Molin

Vicenza , Italy

[국문 번역:Text Fwd] APPEAL from Vicenza: Let’s defend our HISTORY

* Image source: No DalMolin

* Image source: No DalMolin

* Image source: Wikipedia: Veneto area

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato (enzo(at)ciscatoitaly.com) on Jan. 27, 2010

APPEAL from Vicenza: Let’s defend our HISTORY
비센차로부터의 호소: 우리의 역사를 지킵시다.

To the associations, to the movements, to everyone
연합들, 운동들, 그리고 모든 이들에게

who, in these years, have put effort and struggle to preserve the landscape, the history and the cultural traditions of our territory
근래 풍경, 역사 그리고 우리 영토의 문화적 전통을 보존하기 위하여 노력하고 투쟁한 이들에게

we are asking
우리는 요구합니다

for an extraordinary mobilitation to protect the archaeological findings in the Dal Molin area.
달 몰린 지역의 고고학적 발견들을 보호하기 위해 총동원할 것을

The excavations for the construction of the US military base are actually progressing at full speed and in addition to the destruction of one of the last oasis of green and trees of the city and putting under serious risks our groundwater resources, are now endangering even the finding and the salvage of a new archaeological site on the origin of our “veneto” heritage.
미군 기지 건설을 위한 굴착들이 도시의 녹색들과 나무들의 마지막 오아시스 의 하나를 파괴하기 위해 실제로 전 속도로 진행되고 있으며 우리 지하 자원을 심각한 위협에 처하게 하고 있읍니다. 이 굴착들은 현재 우리 “베네토” 유산의 기원인 새로운 고고학적 장소들의 발굴과 인양도차 위협하고 있읍니다.

The art facts and the findings so far discovered give shape to the existence of a palaeo-veneto village dating back to a period (8000 years b.C.) preceeding of several centuries the one considered as the original first site in Vicenza area.
지금까지 발견된 예술품들을 비롯한 발견물들은 (기원전 8천년) 까지 거슬러 가 고대 베네토 마을의 존재를 형성하고 비센차 지역에서 가장 첫번째 장소로 고려되는 곳보다 서너 세기를 앞선 것입니다.

The risk that all this invaluable heritage will end up buried and destroyed forever under the foundation of a US military outlet is very high !
모든 가치있는 유산들이 미군 기지 배출구 지반 아레 영원히 묻혀지고 파괴되는 것으로 끝날 가능성이 매우 높습니다.

We are simply asking for the formal inspection of the value and consistence of such findings, through the channel and procedure which normally apply to the Italian archaeological sites: that is to stop the works and the intervention of the “Sovraintendenza dei beni Architettonici del Veneto”.
우리는 이탤리 고고학적 장소들에 보통 적용되는 통로와 절차가 여기에도 통해 그러한 발굴들의 가치와 일관성을 위한 공식적인 조사가 있을 것을 단지 요구할 뿐입니다: 이는 “Sovraintendenza dei beni Architettonici del Veneto” 에 대한 작업과 개압을 막기 위함입니다.

we are asking
우리는 요청합니다.

to do this with transparency, making the results of the inspection available to the citizens
투명하게 할 것을, 검사 결과가 시민들에게 활용될 수 있도록

we think
우리는 생각합니다.

that this is a necessary procedure, but we think that without a mobilization of the city even this request will be ignored, as happened before for the denied referendum for the construction of the Dal Molin site and the demand for the investigation on the environmental impact of the new base.
이것이 필요한 절차나 도시의 동원없이는 이 전에 달 몰린 장소 건설을 투표에 부치는 것과 새로운 기지에 대한 환경적 영향에 대한 검사조차 무시되었던 것처럼 이 요청초차 무시될 것이라고 말입니다.

Vicenza cannot forget that in the 70s Querini park, the most beautiful park in town, was saved from cement thanks to the mobilization of the citizens, of the associations and the movements.
비센차는 70년 대 마을에서 가장 아름다운 케리니 공원이 시민들, 연합들과 운동들의 동원 덕분에 시멘트로부터 구해졌다는 것을 잊을 수 없읍니다.

For the Dal Molin matter Vicenza cannot accept to compromise its future, insult its present and destroy its past to do a favour to a foreign power.
달몰린 이슈로 말할 것 같으면 비센차는 외세에 호의를 베풀기 위해 자신의 미래에 타협하고, 현재를 모욕하고 자신의 과거를 파괴할 수 없읍니다.

Your browser may not support display of this image. That’s the reason why we invite everybody, citizens, associations and movements who care for the city and its artistic and environmental heritage, to gather in this fundamental and binding demand for truth.
당신의 브라우저가 이 이미지가 전시되는 것을 지지하지 않을 지 모릅니다. 그 것이 왜 우리가 도시를, 그 예술적, 환경적 유산을 보호하고 모든 이들, 시민들, 연합들, 그리고 운동들을 진실을 위한 이 근본적이고 묶는 요구에 초대하는 이유입니다.

Presidio NoDalMolin, Vicenza, Italy
프레지디오 노 달몰린, 이탤리 비센차
_________________________________________________________________

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato (enzo(at)ciscatoitaly.com) on Jan. 27, 2010
2010년 1월 27일 엔조 치스카토 로부터

Dear Friends,
친구들

Yesterday, at home, we were talking about “could we go to Jeju in person to bring solidarity from Italy ?”
어제 우리는 조국에서 “이탤리로부터 연대를 가져가기 위하여 “직접 제주로 갈 수 있을 것인가?” 라고 토의했읍니다.

As many of you already did, we also expressed our solidarity to the population of Jeju Island Village.
여러분 중의 많은 분들이 그러했듯 우리 역시 제주도 마을 주민들에 연대를 표현했읍니다.

In our case, from Vicenza, Italy, where US Army are building a new (the second in town) military base.
우리 이탤리 비센차의 경우, 미군은 새로운 군사 기지를 짓고 있읍니다. (마을에서 두번째)

Considering the situation in Gangjeong village, we feel to propose to the whole No-Bases network to have one or two people, from all Nations (from USA, from Central and South America, from Euro, Africa, Australia and Asia) to reach Jeju Island within 6-8 days.
강정 마을의 상황을 고려할 때, 우리는 미군 기지 반대를 위한 넷워크의 모든 각 국가 (미국, 중앙 아시아, 남미, 유럽, 아프리카, 호주, 아시아)에서 한 두 사람이 제주도로 6~8일 내 갈 것을 제안할 필요를 느낍니다.

It’s a dream but, if we believe in it, we could make it come true.
꿈이나 우리가 믿는다면 실현되게 할 수 있읍니다.

We personally don’t know if we could make it but we will propose this to the No Dal Molin Movement.
우리는 우리가 그것을 할 수 있을 지 모르나 (이탤리) 노 달 몰린 운동에 이 것을 제안할 수 있읍니다.

There is a big shame going on in Jeju and, unfortunately, in many other parts of the world.
제주와 불행히도 전 세계의 많은 지역에서 커다랗게 수치스러운 일 [제주 경우, 해군 기지 건설 계획을 뜻함]이 일어나고 있읍니다.

We need to express our resistance even when it seems very difficult, almost impossibile.
우리는 매우 어렵고 거의 불가능해 보일 때조차 저항을 표현할 필요가 있읍니다.

You may wish to think about this and express your comments and thoughts.
우리는 이것을 생각하길 원하며 여러분의 언급과 생각들을 표현하길 원할 지 모릅니다.

It could be a sort of “emergency” action to activate reciprocally when a community enter in these hard days.
이것은 이 어려운 시기에 한 공동체가 상호적으로 움직이게 하기 위한 “긴급” 행동의 종류라 할 수 있읍니다.

Probably it could help …
아마도 도울 수 있을 것입니다.

Thank you for reading. Best wishes andlet’s support our Friends in Jeju Island.
읽어 주셔셔 감사합니다. 모두에게 최고의 기원을 보냅니다. 또한 제주도의 우리 친구들을 지지합시다.

Enzo Ciscato엔조 시스카토

Annetta M Reams안네타 M 림스

Emily Rose Ciscato에밀리 로즈 시스카토

No Dal Molin – Vicenza – Italy, 27 Jan 2010 노 달 몰린- 이탤리 비센차, 2010년 1월 27일

[국문 번역] Text Fwd: SOLIDARITY IS IMPORTANT 연대는 중요하다

_____________________________________________________________________
* To see the Last call for the petition and curent petitioners on Jan. 14, please click HERE
* 1월 14일 최종 서명 요청과 현재 서명자들(국문 번역)을 보시기 위해 여기를 클릭
_____________________________________________________________________
* To see the original petition and related press etc. on Jan, 11/12, go to HERE.
*1월 11/12 서명 요청 원문 및 관련 기사등은 여기를 클릭
_____________________________________________________________________
* To See the International Solidarity Messages, Go to HERE
국제 연대의 메시지들을 보기 위해서는 여기를 클릭하실 것
_____________________________________________________________________

[Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun is at the monthly rally by the SPARK (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)
on Jan. 12, 2010. The U.S. Embassy in Korea is shown behind him: Photo by Veterans for Peace of Corea.]
[평통사 (평화와 통일을 여는 사람들)이 2010년 1월 12일 연 월 집회에서 강동균 회장님께서 연설했읍니다.
그 분 뒤에 미 대사관이 보입니다: 사진은 평화 재향 군인회 ]

This is the area where the Navy base would be built to homeport Aegis
destroyers on Jeju Island
이 곳이 이지스 구축함들을 정박할 해군 기지가 세워질 제주도입니다.

[* Artist, Choi Bung-Soo has set up the beautiful sculptures representing the corals, seashells, and water of the Gangjeong sea . The village Gangjeong is called the most beautiful village in the Jeju Island. ]
[* 예술가 최병수님께서는 몇년전에 강정의 산호, 조개, 물을 나타내는 아름다운 조각들을 강정 연안에 세운 바 있읍니다. 강정 마을은 제주도에서 가장 아름다운 마을로 불립니다. ]

Bruce Gagnon blog 브루스 개그논 블로그
Friday, January 15, 2010 2010년 1월 15일, 금요일
SOLIDARITY IS IMPORTANT 연대는 중요하다.

The mayor of Gangjeong village on Jeju Island in South Korea was seen on the mainland in Seoul for a protest last Tuesday. The sign (above) being held by Kang Dong-Kyun reads, "The naval base is not getting along well with the Island of Peace."

지난 화요일 남한 제주도 강정 마을 회장님이 본토 서울에서 시위하는 모습이 보여졌읍니다. 강동균 회장님께서 들고 있는 (위의) 구호는 “해군 기지는 평화의 섬 제주에 어울리지 않는다 입니다.”

Reports about the petition I am now circulating worldwide have been appearing in Jeju media and several strong solidarity messages have been sent to Korea from other places around the world that have, or are now, fighting against similar odds.

제가 현재 전 세계로 돌리고 있는 서명에 대한 기사가 제주 언론에 나타나고 있었고 비슷한 시련에 대항해서 싸웠던, 또는 현재 싸우고 있는 전 세계의 지역들로부터 몇 개의 강한 연대 메시지가 한국으로 갔읍니다.

The folks in Vieques, Puerto Rico have sent solidarity words to Jeju recalling their long effort to stop a US Navy bombing range on their beautiful island. Often the US planes would bomb the coral reefs just off shore of Vieques.

푸에르토리코 비에끄스의 사람들은 그들 아름다운 섬의 미 해군 폭격장을 중단하기 위한 기나긴 노력을 회상하며 제주에 연대의 인사를 보냈읍니다. 미국 비행기는 비에끄스 연안의 바로 앞의 산호초에 폭탄을 가하곤 했읍니다.

The activists in Vicenza, Italy, who are now organizing against a massive expansion of a US military base in their city, have also sent word to Jeju. When people are under the boot of militarism they understand how it feels for others experiencing that same smothering footprint.

그 들 시에서 미군 기지의 거대한 확장에 반대해 싸우는 이탤리 비센차의 활동가들 역시 제주에 인사를 보냈읍니다. 사람들은 군사주의의 발아래에 있을 때 다른 이들이 같은 숨막히는 발자욱을 경험하는 것이 어떠한가를 이해합니다.

The names are still rolling in for my petition. I'm going to give it one more week before submitting my final tally to the South Korean and US governments. If you have yet to add your name and/or organization to the list please do so by sending me an email at: globalnet@mindspring.com. Be sure to give me city/state and country too.

이름들이 아직 제 청원으로 들어오고 있읍니다. 저는 최종 명단 묶음을 남한과 미국 정부들에 제출하기 전 1주일을 더 연장할 생각입니다. [마감: 1월 21일].여러분께서 아직 여러분 이름이나 단체 이름을 리스트에 올리지 않으셨다면 제게 이메일, globalnet@mindspring.com을 보내시길 바랍니다. 시/주[도], 국가도 잊지 마시길.

I am writing this from the train station in Boston on my way south to Washington DC to speak at the Saturday CIA HQ drone protest being organized by Cindy Sheehan. A march from there to the nearby home of former V-P Dick Cheney will follow the protest.

저는 이것을 보스톤에서 남쪽 방향 수도 워싱턴으로 토요일 신디 시핸에 의해 조직된 미 중앙 정보 본부앞 무인 비행기 시위에 연설하기 위해서 가는 기차역에서 쓰고 있읍니다. 시위가 끝난 후에 전 부통령 딕 체니가 사는 근처의 집까지 행진이 있을 것입니다.

_____________________________________________________________________
* Related Korean articles

http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=82550
Environmental Organizations in Various Countries Join the Petition
against the Jeju Naval Base
Jan. 15 (Friday), 2010
Kim Doo-Young (kdy84@mediajeju.com)
해군기지 항의서명에 각국 환경단체 동참
2010년 01월 15일 (금) 12:10:11
김두영 기자 (kdy84@mediajeju.com)


http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=40912
Who Participated in Bruce Gagnon’s Protest Petition?:
The Jeju Solidarity for Participatory Self-Government & Environmental
Preservation Publicized the List of 157… The Signers Would be
Increased
브루스 개그논의 항의서한 연명에는 누가 동참?:
제주참여환경연대, 157명 명단 공개…서명자 더 늘듯
2010년 01월 15일 (금) 12:16:45
고영태 기자 (icarus (at) sisajeju.com)

International Solidarity Messages for the Struggle against the Jeju Naval base Construction

---- Original Message -----
From: Robert Rabin
To: globalnet@mindspring.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:11 AM
Subject: solidarity from Vieques, Puerto Rico

로버트 라빈이 브루스 개그논에게
일시: 2010년 1월 12일
제목: 푸에르 토리코 비에끄 섬으로부터 연대의 인사를

Bruces… warm greetings from the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Please include the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques) en la lista de organizaciones solidarias con el pueblo de Jeju Island/ Gangjeong in their struggle to stop Navy base construction.

브루스…푸에르 토리코 비에크 섬에서 따뜻한 인사를 보냅니다. [서명에] 비에끄 구조 개발 위원회를 포함시켜 주세요. 해군 기지 건설 중단을 위해 투쟁하는 제주도 강정 마을 주민들께 연대를 보냅니다.

We know too well the horrific effects on the environment, culture and people that come from military activities and bases.

우리 역시 군사 활동, 기지등이 환경, 문화, 그리고 인간에 가하는 끔찍한 공포를 너무나 잘 압니다.

In struggle, in solidarity

투쟁으로 연대의 인사를 보냅니다.

Robert Rabin

로버트 라빈

Nilda Medina

닐다 메디나

For the CPRDV (Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques)

비에끄 구조 개발 위원회 Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques 를 대표하여

______________________________________________________________________________________________
* Solidarity message from Ariel Ky (China) to Bruce Gagnon on Jan. 12
중국의 아리엘 기로부터 브루스 개그논에게 보내는 연대 멧시지, 1월 12일
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Click the image for the larger view 이미지를 확대하시면 화면이 크게 보임

"Today there is a court meeting in town and Turi Vaccaro, a peace activist from Sicily, will be under trial because on San Martin day (Nov 11th, the traditional farmers' day for planting seeds) he entered inside the Dal Molin site with Agnese (a member of No Dal Molin movement) to plan seeds as simbolic peace action.

Annetta Marie Reams 안네타 마리 림스
Enzo Ciscato 엔조 치스카토
Emily Rose Ciscato 에밀리 로즈 치스카토
(No Dal Molin - Vicenza, Italy) (노 달 몰린-비센차, 이탤리)"
______________________________________________________________________________________________

* Makiko Sato, Japan on Jan. 17, 2010
* 2010년 1월 17일, 일본 마키코 사또로부터

Click the image for the larger view 이미지를 확대하시면 화면이 크게 보임

“The first round deployment of PAC3 has been completed here.
The next round has been superficially suspended due to lack of finance,
but GSDF will take some measure called 'the remodeling the PAC2' ,
with which they can upgrade them into PAC3 any time they want, I hear (Makiko Sato)”

“PAC3 첫 단계 배치는 이 곳에서 끝났읍니다.
그 다음 단계는 재정 부족으로 표면적이나마 연기되어 왔읍니다.
그러나 일 자위대 욱군은 ‘PAC2 재모델링’ 이라 불리는 방안을 취할 것인데 그들이 원하는 시기에
언제고 PAC3로 엎그레이드 할 수 있다고 저는 듣습니다. (마키코 사토)”

* The above Images and English captions were thankfully provided, with the solidarity messages,
by Makiko Sato on Jan. 17, 2010
* 위의 이미지들과 영어 캡션들은 연대 메시지와 함께 2010년 1월 17일
마키코 사토에 의해 감사히 제공되었읍니다.

Dear peace-loving people in Ganjeong,
강정의 평화를 사랑하는 분들께

I’d like to send my solidarity with your struggle in protecting your peaceful life, ways of living, and the beautiful nature with a lot of precious wildlife in it. I’m strongly against the planned Navy base on Jeju Island, nor any expansion of military bases of any country, anywhere.
저는 여러분의 평화로운 삶, 생활 방식, 그리고 많은 귀중한 야생 동식물이 사는 아름다운 자연을 보호하는 투쟁에 저의 연대를 보내고 싶습니다. 저는 제주도의 계획된 해군 기지뿐만 아니라 어느 곳의, 어느 나라의 군사 기지 확장에도 강하게 반대합니다.

It is said the number of US nuclear-powered submarines’ port-visit to Japan in 2009 was 59 times by 17 different such submarines, with 32 times to Okinawa, 17 times to Yokosuka, and 10 times to Sasebo, Nagasaki. What if an accident happens ? Which country will be to blame? I assume Japan-US Security Treaty will never cover such an accident.
2009년 미국 핵전력 잠수함들의 일본 항구 방문은 17개의 다른 잠수함들에 의해 59 횟수로서 오키나와에 32 횟수, 요코스카에 17횟수, 나가사키 사세보에 10횟수라고 말해집니다. 사고가 일어나면 어떻게 될까요? 어느 나라가 비난 받아야 할까요? 저는 일본-미국 상호 방위 조약이 그러한 사고를 절대로 보상하지 않으리라 봅니다.

Japan has changed itself as a big port, a big sky, a big field for the US military training and operation since the introduction of the New Guideline on Japan-US Defense Cooperation issued in 1997, and then, since the introduction of the MD system in 2003, Japan has become the possible shield if and when the US attacks an Asian country preemptively with any means. Most peaceful people in Japan never agreed to Japan’s becoming such a port, sky, field, nor shield for the US forces. That is why peaceful Japanese never want to see any nature in the Asia-Pacific changed for any war project.
일본은 1997년 일본-미국 방어 협력에 대한 새로운 가이드 라인 소개 이후 미국 군사 훈련과 작전을 위한 큰 항구, 큰 하늘, 큰 장소로 변모했고 그 이후 2003년 미사일 방어망 소개 이후, 일본은 만약에, 또 언제 미국이 어떠한 방법으로라도 한 아시아 국가를 선제 공격한다면 가능한 방패가 되어버렸읍니다. 일본의 대부분의 평화로운 국민들은 일본이 미국을 위한 그러한 항구, 하늘, 평야가 되기를 결코 동의하지 않았읍니다. 그것이 왜 평화로운 일본인들이 아시아 태평양 지역의 어떤 자연도 어떠한 전쟁 프로젝트를 위한 것으로 변하는 것을 원하지 않는 이유입니다.

Most foreign cultures came to Japan through Korea, and as one of your former presidents inspired our Diet members with his remarkable speech, the sea between Korea and Japan is so narrow like a sash that the two peoples can help each other when some emergency happens.
No country can build its desired shied over the narrow ocean with a long history of exchanges in East Asia.
대부분의 외국 문화는 Korea를 거쳐 일본으로 왔고 여러분의 이전 대통령 한 분께서 우리 내각 관료들을 주목할 만한 연설로 고무시켰듯이 한국과 일본 사이 해협은 띠처럼 너무 좁아 어떤 비상 사태가 일어날 때 두 국민은 서로 도울 수 있읍니다.
어떠한 나라도 동아시아 교류의 긴 역사를 갖고 있는 좁은 해협에 탐욕스런 방패를 세울 수 없읍니다.

In solidarity
연대로

Makiko Sato
마키코 사토

* Makiko Sato, an advisory member of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Japan has translated and spread the numerous news in Japanese, on the Koreans’ struggles such as on Yongsan tragedy; for the restrained PKAR activists; on Ohyunri people’s struggle against the expansion of the Mugeonri military training fields; on Koreans’ protests against the dispatch to Afghanistan etc. Makiko has also translated in Japanese and spread the news in Japan on the Gangjeong people’s struggles and Bruce Gagnon’s international solidarity petition against the Jeju naval base. Please see here and here.
우주의 무기와 핵을 반대하는 글로벌 넷워크 일본 자문 위원의 일인인 마키토 사토는 그간 용산 참사, 범민련 구속 활동가 석방, 오현리 주민들의 무건리 훈련장 확장 반대, 한국인 아프가니스탄 파병 반대 시위 등 무수한 한국인들의 투쟁을 번역한 이로서 강정 마을 주민들의 제주 해군 기지 반대 싸움과 브루스 개그논이 이끈 국제 연대 서명을 번역, 일본 전역 자신의 넷워크에 연대 서명 운동을 펼치고 있읍니다. 여기와 여기를 보시길.

Text Fwd: UK-Italy Firm Vying for Korean Attack Chopper Bids

* Image source: same as the link below

'AgustaWestland is bidding for a contract to provide Korea with its T-129 attack helicopters.
The T-129, being developed for the Turkish Army, is an upgraded variant of the Agusta A129 Mangusta
/ Courtesy of AgustaWestland '

Korea Times
UK-Italy Firm Vying for Korean Attack Chopper Bids
By Jung Sung-ki
Korea Times Correspondent

VERGIATE, Italy ― It was a sunny autumn day and the "chop-chop" sound of the rotor blade of a helicopter was heard from the air. A blue and white helicopter was sinking out of the blue sky and approaching the ground.

"That's the helicopter for Samsung," Roberto Caprarella, a media relations official of AgustaWestland, an U.K.-Italy helicopter company, said Nov. 11 while leading a tour of a plant here, located about 45 kilometers northwest of Italy's northern city of Milan.

The helicopter was the first of the two AW139 medium-sized utility helicopters ordered by Samsung Techwin, a defense business arm of Samsung Group, the largest conglomerate in South Korea, Carprella said.

The helicopter, used to transport of Samsung VIPs and top executives, was there for pilot training before final delivery, he said. The other is to be delivered for the first quarter of next year.

The helicopter manufacturer believes the order from Samsung, the world's largest conglomerate, is very symbolic and will help further open the door for the commercial helicopter market in Korea.

"As you know, Samsung is leading commercial variants in Korea, so it's driving the requirements of others," an AgustaWestland official in charge of commercial marketing said, requesting not to be named. "If Samsung is flying the helicopter, others will follow suit. So we expect (Samsung's order) will finally open the door for the commercial market in Korea."

The helicopter firm is in discussions with several other Korean companies to sell its utility helicopters for VIP and corporate transport, the official said.

He expressed hope that his firm will provide utility helicopters to Korean TV broadcasting companies and the government for emergency medical service (EMS).

The standard AW139 configuration provides a 12-passenger seating capacity in a large, unobstructed cabin that offers ease of access and egress via large sliding cabin doors. The number of seats and other interior layout features can be modified in accordance with different missions ranging from offshore transport, search-and-rescue (SAR) and EMS, VIP and corporate transport to law enforcement and homeland security.

The twin-engine helicopter has a top cruising speed of 311 kilometers per hour and a maximum takeoff weight of 14,110 pounds. It has a maximum range of 1,250 kilometers and an endurance of nearly six hours.

Orders for nearly 440 AW139s have been placed by around 120 customers globally, according to the firm.

AgustaWestland helicopters have already been popular among Korean law-enforcement authorities.

Earlier this year, an AW139 helicopter was delivered to the Gangwon Fire Fighting Department. In August, the National Police Agency (NPA) ordered an eight-seat single-engine AW119Ke. The NPA has been flying two AW190 helicopters since 1994.

On Dec. 10, two AW139 helicopters for search-and-rescue missions were delivered to the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), which is considering buying four more units.

The helicopters had been modified to KGC's operational requirements, which include a maximum speed of 304 kilometers per hour and an operational range of 819 kilometers. The KCG models have a seating capacity of 10 and are equipped with a long-range radar and thermal imager system.

Bids for Korea Attack Helicopter

Besides the Korean commercial market, AgustaWestland, owned by Italy's Finmeccanica, is ambitious about entering Korea's burgeoning military helicopter market, which will require more than 250 attack helicopters through the local development of the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) and the AH-X direct purchase plans.

It remains to be seen whether or not both programs will go ahead as originally planned due mainly to budget constraints. But informed sources say Seoul's Ministry of National Defense is in favor of keeping the two alive to create a high/low mix concept.

The ministry believes that operating both heavy AH-X and light KAH attack helicopters will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Army's attack helicopter fleet.

Both the AH-X and KAH programs are aimed at replacing the Army's aging 500MD TOWs and AH-1Ss. About half of the 500MD TOWs will reach their life span of 30 years by 2013, and AH-1S helicopters have also been operated more than 16 years.

Against that backdrop, the AH-X effort calls for buying 36 foreign heavy attack helicopters and the KAH plan requires building about 270 homegrown helicopters in partnership with a foreign manufacturer.

The Defense Acquisition Program is now reexamining the required operational capability (ROC) of the KAH, which had originally called for a light attack version, and is scheduled to finalize the requirements by March.

According to sources, the agency supports the development of a light-weight KAH.

"Regarding the KAH requirements, a consensus has been built among the DAPA, the Army and the JCS that it will be more feasible to keep both the AH-X and KAH programs,'' a military source told The Korea Times. ``The plan has already been reported to Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and presidential aides. It is awaiting approval from President Lee Myung-bak.''

For both the AH-X and KAH initiatives, AgustWestland is offering the T-129 version, currently under development for the Turkish Army. The T-129 is an upgraded variant of the Agusta A129 Mangusta. The T-129 development is led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), with AgustaWestland as the primary partner.

"It depends on the ROC for the KAH, but the T-129 model is very competitive both for the AH-X and KAH," said an AgustaWestland official in charge of marketing in Northeast Asia.

If South Korea buys T-129s for its AH-X needs, the T-129 platform will be used in developing a KAH with cost effectiveness for service, support and training, the official said.

The T-129 could also be retrofitted with Korean equipments developed for the KAH, he said.

Should South Korea select the T-129 for the KAH program, it would help Korea get easier access to the international collaborative program as well as reduce the estimated development time, costs and risks regarding the KAH, he noted, adding the T-129 will also ensure access to export market sales.

The first prototype of the T-129 made its successful first flight in September with four more prototypes scheduled to be built in 2010. Under a 2007 contract, the team of TAI, AgustaWestland and other local subcontractors will produce 50 T-129s with an option for a further 41 aircraft.

TAI is in charge of developing an indigenous mission computer, avionics, weapons systems, self-protection suites and the helmet-mounting cuing systems. Turkey has full marketing and intellectual property rights for the T-129 platform, and there are also no restrictions imposed on it for the export or transfer of the platform to other countries.

Powered by two LHTEC T800 engines, the T-129 has an operational range of 561 kilometers and can cruise at a speed of 269 kilometers per hour. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 11,023 pounds. Weapons systems will include UMTAS locally-developed anti-tank missiles, Stinger AA missiles, a 20mm canon and unguided rockets.

If the KAH's ROC calls for a light attack helicopter, the AW109 light utility helicopter would be a feasible platform, the official said.

"The AW109 offers a low cost alternative for the 'low concept' of the KAH," he said. Among the possible collaborative projects for the AW109 are the design-development of mission weapon systems-avionics, component/sub assembly manufacture, final assembly and in-service support, said the official.

The AW109 is a light-weight, twin engine multipurpose helicopter. It has a maximum speed of 285 kilometers per hour and a ferry range of 964 kilometers. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 5,974 meters. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,283 pounds.

Korea-Turkey Procurement Imbalance

Industrial sources here say possible cooperation between Korea and Turkey over the T-129 program, in particular, will help resolve an imbalance in defense procurement between the two governments.

Ankara is the biggest arms importer for Seoul. Turkey has bought a host of Korean defense systems in recent years. These include the $100 million contract over the K9 155m self-propelled howitzer in 2001 for the Turkish army; the $500 million deal to deliver 55 KT-1 Woongbi basic trainers for the Turkish air force in 2007; and the $400 million contract to help Turkey develop a main battle tank.

Turkey is also considering purchasing Korea's amphibious large-deck landing ships, tank landing ships and K-10 ammunition re-supply vehicles.

During the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition in October, Murad Bayar, undersecretary for defense industries of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, raised this issue when he met his Korean counterpart DAPA Commissioner Byun Moo-keun, according to the sources.

"In a meeting with the DAPA commissioner, Bayar asked Korea to consider buying the T-129 or joining the Turkey-Italy helicopter program," an industry source said on condition of anonymity. "Byun responded he would review the option in a careful manner."

The DAPA, in fact, asked AgustaWestland to provide information on the T-129 for examination earlier this year, according to officials of the procurement agency.

The agency plans to begin exploratory development of the KAH next year with an investment of about 3 billion won ($2.6 million).

The T-129 is expected to compete with the refurbished Apache Longbow helicopters offered by the U.S. Army for the AH-X program. For the KAH, it would compete with Eurocopter, which is developing the Korea Utility Helicopter with Korea Aerospace Industries.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr


* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/12/text-fwd-exclusive-s-korea-plans-to.html
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Text Fwd: [Exclusive] S. Korea Plans to Develop Light Attack Helicopter