Democrats Abroad in Kansai

By Japanzine Staff

Barack or Hillary? Either way, 2008 is shaping up to be theYear of the Democrats.

But why should Democrats have all the fun? Since the Bushies have mucked things up for the whole world, aren't we ALL glad to see HIM - the man now in-the-running for worst President ever - just go away? Even the Republicans are breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to moving on, as evidenced by their low turnouts (as one t-shirt says: Jan. 19, 2009 -- The End of an Error).

Although most people in the world can only watch this world-cup-of-politics for leader-of-the-free-world (the finals being on election day, Tuesday November 4th), a group of dedicated Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai (DAJK) party activists want to share their celebration of the impending US regime change with everyone else in the world, or at least their own little corner thereof.

To this end, they have organized a series of events designed to open up the USA election fun & excitement to ALL nationalities. In April, the main DAJK event is the International Hanami BYO Picnic, open to all on Sunday April 13th at Osaka-Jo Park, meeting 1pm at Morinomiya Station. Already the Brits, sensing a good excuse to party with their Yank cousins, have pledged to join, as have various other Kansai clubs.

Then on Sun. July 6, an open-to-all Independence Day BBQ is being planned, and finally a culminating Election Day event to celebrate Democratic victories for both President and Congress. Info: DAJK Chair terrandabo@gmail.com

Besides their monthly meetings, and in addition to these special election-year events, DAJK has for years been holding monthly free movie nights in both Osaka (Blarney Stone, Mondays 7pm), and also twice a month now in Kyoto (Falafel Garden, Tuesdays 7pm). Info at kansai-movies@demsjapan.jp for Osaka, orjenise.treuting@gmail.com for Kyoto.

One priority of Democrats Abroad is to help register to vote ALL Americans over 18 who live overseas, regardless of political affiliation, either in person or through their website www.VoteFromAbroad.com in just 6 easy steps.

Also, ALL non-Americans reading this are urged to um,....urge ANY Americans they know to register to vote at this website. Motivation may be achieved by reminding them that people are fighting & dying every day (recently in Burma & Tibet, not to mention elsewhere) for the rights to vote & express the freedoms that they enjoy. Better that Americans living overseas get asked a dozen times if they are registered to vote than that they miss the chance for not knowing.

So, study up on delegates vs. super-delegates if you want, or just come to an event or movie night to meet and discuss politics, but please, at least, help us put the PARTY back in the Democratic Party during 2008 and join DAJK's ongoing year-long celebration of the countdown to Jan. 19, 2009 - the end of the Bush Error!

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Democrats Abroad (DA) FACTOIDS:

*DA was founded in 1964 by 2 guys in London & Paris. It now has thousands of members in 164 countries, with over 30 country committees, including Japan.

*DA won the same status as US state committees, with voting delegates, in 1976. Meanwhile, Republicans Abroad has no state status, and no voting rights.

*DA has 11 votes at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, Aug.25-28.

*DA Japan-Kansai was founded in 1999 by 4 people. It currently has over 100 members.

*DA held the first ever Global Primary this past February, with voting by Internet, fax, and post. 45 people showed up to vote in person at the DAJK Kyoto voting center on Feb. 10, 2008.

*Of the 22,000 + votes cast from Antarctic to Zambia, about half were cast over the Internet.

*The results: Obama beat Clinton 79.3% vs. 17.5% in Japan, and 65.6% vs. 32.7% globally.

*ANY American living abroad can register to vote (regardless of political affiliation) at www.VoteFromAbroad.org (registration deadlines vary by state.)

*ALL Americans living in Japan are invited to join Democrats Abroad Japan at www.demsjapan.jp.

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