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Open Letter to Japan:

The Legend of Hachiko -
"the most faithful dog"
We are a group of people concerned about the fate of the animals
inside the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.

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Send the Japanese Policy Makers an email:

http://www.e-gov.go.jp/link/disaster_en.html#JGA
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OPEN LETTER TO JAPANESE POLICY MAKERS

============================

Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan

Ryu Matsumoto, Minister of the Environment
Godochosha No. 5, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975, Japan
tel: +81-(0)3-3581-3351

moe@env.go.jp

Dear Japanese Policy Makers:

We are writing you regarding the triple catastrophe the Japanese

people have recently suffered: the earthquake, the tsunami, and now
the radiation.

As widely reported in the newspapers and television, the radioactive

exclusion zone was sealed April 21st, 2011, preventing the ongoing
evacuation of Japanese pets (companion animals) and livestock from
the area within the exclusion zone. The official announcement
from CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO is here:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/incident/110421_1100.html

This decision leaves many animals to simply starve or revert to the

wild -- and many animal owners even more distraught since they will
never know the ultimate fate of their pets and livestock. We must
reduce both the human and animal suffering and allow the rescues to
continue. These search and rescue teams are risking their own welfare,
time, and money to evacuate these pets. Let them continue and call
for wider assistance from the international community. The world can
see the damage Japan sustained and is ready to help.

The Legend of Hachiko

Let us not forget the story of the most famous Japanese dog: Hachiko --
"the faithful dog."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D

Hachiko (November 10, 1923–

March 8, 1935), known in
Japanese as "faithful dog
Hachiko" was an Akita dog
born on a farm near the city of
Odate, Akita Prefecture,
remembered for his
remarkable loyalty to his
owner, even many years after
his owner's death.

Hachiko was given away after

his master's death, but he
routinely escaped, returning
again and again to his old
home. Eventually, Hachiko
apparently realized that
Professor Ueno no longer lived
at the house. So he went to
look for his master at the train
station where he had
accompanied him so many
times before. Each day,
Hachiko waited for the return of his owner.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachiko attracted
the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented
the Shibuya train station had seen Hachiko and Professor Ueno
together each day. They brought Hachiko treats and food to nourish
him during his wait.

Just as the Shibuya people did for Hachiko years ago, we too
must also bring nourishment and safety to the animals
abandoned inside the exclusion zone.

Cultural Memories
The Japanese culture is also well known for its humility and
humbleness, its lack of crime, and safety of the citizens. However,
committing these animals to an unknown fate and preventing the safe
and organized rescue of them is viewed as cruelty by those monitoring
the news reports.

Personally, we are surprised by this -- what other culture would make

the most effort to save these animals if not the Japanese? We are also
surprised a "positive injunction" against this government action has
not been filed within your legal system to retain access to the
exclusion zone. Surely it must be illegal to abandon these animals and
prevent any assistance to them?

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the
way its animals are treated” -- Mahatma Gandhi. While no society is
perfect in this respect, we must all work toward improved animal
husbandry to become both better humans and guardians of the earth
and the animals.
WHAT WE ASK OF YOU
* Remember the story of Hachiko the most faithful Japanese
dog!

* Let the legend of Hachiko teach us about loyalty and guide our
future actions!

* Be faithful to the loyal decedents of Hachiko, and to the

abandoned Fukushima animals.

Please immediately reconsider your decision to seal the pets

(companion animals) and livestock inside the exclusion zone.

Allow the continuation of ongoing work conducted by private Animal

Search And Rescue (SAR) teams to bring these animals safely out of
the exclusion zone. Work with groups like The International Fund for
Animal Welfare (IFAW) -- who are bringing together representatives to
find a solution from: Japanese Ministry of Environment, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA): APHIS Animal Care and Wildlife
Services, United States Army Veterinary Corps, veterinary and
toxicology experts, academics, and IFAW 1.

Show the WORLD that despite all the catastrophe and chaos of this
triple event, the Japanese spirit still stands for humanity, and the
reduction of suffering -- be it animal or human:

* Set the standard against which other cultures are measured during
future catastrophic events.

* Use your vast pools of academic knowledge and technical know-how

to solve this problem.

* Rescind your decision to seal these animals inside the zone and
resurrect them from this fate.

We know you can do it, you must simply choose the right path
-- the power is within your hands.

Signed, your friends and supporters in this critical time,

The Hachiko Coalition
Hachiko.Coalition@gmail.com

Watch the Hachiko movie trailer:

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzkCNVlhTIM

1
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_united_states/media_center/press_releases/
4_22_2011_70131.php
Figure 1: Used under "fair use rights" title 17, U. S. Code)

____________________________________

Short list of Non-Profits and NGOs on the ground in Japan that are
taking action and need your support:
http://www.arkbark.net/?q=en/
http://www.afniigata.org/
http://nipponspca.com/
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/

This open letter is not affiliated with any organization, simply a group
of concerned citizens.
Contact
Email: Hachiko.Coalition@gmail.com
Blog: http://hachiko-coalition.tumblr.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/thc.save.fukushima

_____________________________________

Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan

Ryu Matsumoto, Minister of the Environment
Godochosha No. 5, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975, Japan
tel: +81-(0)3-3581-3351
email: moe@env.go.jp
webmail: https://www.env.go.jp/en/moemail
SOURCE: http://www.env.go.jp

Noriyuki Shikata
http://jp.linkedin.com/in/norishikata
Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Relations/Director of Global
Communications, Prime Minister's Office
http://twitter.com/#!/norishikata
Twitter: @norishikata

Prime Minister's Office of Japan

Twitter: @JPN_PMO
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html

John V. Roos
US EMBASSY of Japan
http://japan.usembassy.gov/

Public work, all rights released.

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