Okinawa Today
![Image](http://web.archive.org./web/20210912123543im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-812qQ8YO3YY/VijsjVz2oPI/AAAAAAAAL6A/JM54NmJ0GlQ/s400/12015204_864344543643452_96260999079466449_o.jpg)
I am in Okinawa this week. I'll be speaking at a conference in Ishigaki Island this weekend, but I've spent the past week traveling around doing interviews with various activists involved in the struggle against US bases here. I haven't had much time to write up anything for this blog or elsewhere since I've gotten here as things have been so crazily busy. On Facebook one source of information about Okinawa that I've found very informative is the group Okinawan Independence and Free Ainu. It provides a very intriguing perspective on these two native groups within Japan which the Japanese government and people once sought to erase. These two groups are native to locations which lie at the opposite ends of Japan, but it is heartening to see a group that is seeking to connect their histories and futures. I've included some recent updates from the group below: *********** 181 environmental groups support LewChew (Okinawa) governor Onaga’s revocation of Henok