Bid for Compassion: Marlena's Teaching Fund Teaching NVC

I hope some of you who are reading this live in Bay Area or in California. I want you to support Marlena, a compassionate teacher of NVC.

Marlena is my friend, a co-participant of 2010 Leadership Program of Bay NVC and an assistant of 2011 Leadership Program which both Gen and I participated.

I became aware she had multiple physical difficulties when she laid down during the classes as it was too hard for her to stay sitting straight, which at first was surprising for me as I have never seen people lying down during classes. But I understood her physical condition and soon we come to know each other. I often was moved by how empathic she was when it came to guessing feelings and the needs of another person during LP 2010.

She has been teaching NVC to her group of people who have Chronic Illnesses & Disabilities. But those people can not afford to pay her much as they can not work because of physical or mental condition and they are in poverty.

So, they got creative and they are having online auction to support her financially so that she can continue teaching NVC to those who need it. Please read the story below, and bid if you can.
http://marlenasauction.blogspot.com/

Invitation to Big Island NVC Retreat

After I posted the first draft a few days ago, I got support from my NVC friends and came up with the following. It met my needs for support and clarity. I now think it is ready to go out to the world.

Please share the following if you feel like:

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Sharing NVC from the Inside Out

Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities

An NVC Retreat in Kona, Hawaii with CNVC Certified Trainer François Beausoleil

Feb 2-5, 2012 at Harmonics Life Hawaii (Yumi and Gen’s house)

How motivated are you to share NVC when you’re drained? Often times, just living NVC is hard when our energy is low or when we feel some emptiness inside. And when we feel lonely, it might be even harder.

Now, how does it feel to share (or live) NVC when it springs naturally out of us? When you almost can not contain it? How do people around you react when you talk about NVC from that place, with that energy?

Yes. Inspired, often magnetized.


This retreat will be focused on nurturing the fire inside, as well as offering ways to increase your ability to be of service and have an impact on your communities.



How to share NVC from the inside out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities


In this 4-day retreat you'll:

· Nurture yourself through healthy food, whale-watching, writing NVC-related poetry, and song lyrics. This will provide a solid foundation of wellbeing and inspiration for you to tap in over and over.

· Strengthen your body and spirit with optional private health consultations with Gen & Yumi, who have many years of experience in applying eastern medicine and practices to supporting individual well-being

· Experience healing around what might slow you down in terms of sharing NVC; this will set you up for moving forward doing what you love with greater strength and speed.

· Learn how to create a nurturing circle of intimacy around you, so you can maintain the fire burning inside all year long.

· Learn the golden rules of how to market your NVC offer.

· Learn the main keys to sharing NVC and being sustainable, saving you time and energy as you design your strategies to share NVC.


François Beausoleil,
MBA, Certified Trainer, Center for Nonviolent Communication
Executive Stamina Certified Trainer

-----
To register, send an e-mail to [email protected] with “NVC Retreat Hawaii” in the subject, no later than January 20, 2012. In the email, please provide your name, address, phone number, and your prior experience with NVC.

Required minimum participants: 8 (max: 16)

Fees: there are 3 parts: tuition, meals and accommodation
*We accept payment plan. Please consult with Yumi


• Tuition: $600($500 for early birds:if booked by the end of 2011)

• Meals and drinks: $100 (for all the meals at HLH during the 4 days retreat)
(Breakfast fruits, lunch and dinner are mostly vegetarian with some fish or meat. One traditional Hawaiian meal, with organic/wild pork, will be served during the retreat. Other meal options are available with advance request and possibly additional costs)

• Accommodation: Accommodations are arranged separately.
We recommend the Kona Islander Inn ($60-80/night). Book early for the best rate.
http://www.konaislanderinnhotel.com/
*Note we can host up to two people in our home ($20/night requested). This option is available in order of request.

Pls. send a check payable to Gen Morita to the address below for tuition and meals.
Gen Morita/Hamonics Life Hawaii:
75-286 Hoene Place, Kailua Kona, HI96740
T/F:808-334-9616 [email protected] (Yumi and Gen)

NVC Retreat in Paradise : Hawaii(Big Island)

I am so excited to announce our hosting a NVC (Non Violent Communication) Retreat by Francois Beausoleil in Hawaii (Big Island) . My needs for joy, contribution, connection, learning, growth, challenge, fun and sustainability may be fulfilled!

If you are excited about learning and practicing NVC in Hawaii!, please come!

I enjoy using my energy and time for creating peace and sustainability, and sharing NVC is my favorite way of doing it.

But I never done organizing in English in the USA. I have done a lot of organizing in Japan, and this is my first trial of organizing a NVC retreat in the US.

How challenging! Just making a flyer is hard for me. I do not know how to do that in English!

Thanks to the support of the NVC community, my first draft is shaping up. I would like to put it here now so that you can think about visiting Big Island of Hawaii, learning NVC, eating healthy organic vegetarian food, watching whales and even celebrate my birthday!
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Sharing NVC from the Inside Out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities
An NVC Retreat in Kona, Hawaii with François Beausoleil
Feb 2-5, 2012 at Harmonics Life Hawaii (Yumi and Gen’s house)

From the trainer:

“I don't know if you went through a similar experience, but when I started to learn NVC, I was infused with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. In those days, I was driving 4 to 5 times a week from Montreal to Sherbrooke, a 1.5 hour drive, and I had various passengers carpooling with me to help cover the cost of gas. Almost every ride, I would end up talking, or more like preaching, about NVC.

The key here is the energy and enthusiasm I had. I still do, of course. And a lot of that energy comes from the fire inside. The fire that burns from being in the joy of giving and receiving, and of being sustainable.

This retreat will be focused on nurturing the fire inside, as well as offering ways to drastically increase our ability to be of service and have an impact on our communities.

How to share NVC from the inside out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities

In this 4-day retreat you'll:
• Learn the main keys to share NVC and be sustainable
• Receive detailed guidelines about the best formats to share NVC
• Explore how to create a nurturing circle of intimacy around you
• Experience healing around what might slow you down in terms of sharing NVC
• Learn the golden rules of how to market your NVC business
• Go whale-watching , the best time of the year for it
• Write NVC-inspired song lyrics and poetry on the beach
• Celebrate Yumi's birthday in plentiful, healthy abundance
• Eating organically and locally, with some foods grown right on the premises
• Have options for private health consultation with Gen & Yumi

François Beausoleil,
MBA, Certified Trainer, Center for Nonviolent Communication
Executive Stamina Certified Trainer


To register, send an e-mail to [email protected] with “NVC Retreat Hawaii” in the subject, no later than January 20, 2012. In the email, please provide your name, address, phone number, and your prior experience with NVC.

Required minimum participants: 8 (max: 16)

Fees: there are 3 parts: tuition, meals and accommodation
*We accept payment plan. Please consult.

• Tuition: $600 ($500 for early birds, if paid by the end of 2011)
• Meals and drinks: $100 (for all the meals at HLH during the 4 days retreat)
(Breakfast fruits, lunch and dinner are mostly vegetarian with some fish or meat. One traditional Hawaiian meal, with pork, will be served during the retreat. Other meal options are available with advance request and possibly additional costs)
Pls. send a check payable to Gen Morita to the address below for tuition and meals.
• Accommodation: Accommodations are arranged separately. We recommend the Kona Islander Inn ($60-80/night). Book early for the best rate.
http://www.konaislanderinnhotel.com/
*Note we can host up to two people in our home ($20/night requested). This option is available in order of request.

Hamonics Life Hawaii: 75-286 Hoene Place, Kailua Kona, HI96740
T/F:808-334-9616 [email protected]

The Morning of Oct. 30 in Oakland, Awakening to Living NVC Consciousness

I was crossing the pacific ocean on Hawaiian airline flight 47 to Honolulu as I wrote this. I am so inspired to share what
happened to me that morning on the way to Oakland airport.

From the Quaker Center, where NVC Leadership Program retreat was held for 8 days, Kangs gave me a ride to his apartment in Oakland where I was spending a night. I woke up early that morning around 6 am in his apartment. I noticed I only had less than 4 hours of sleep as I did not go to bed past 2:00am. We had a party at one of the trainer's house with Thai food take out, which I enjoyed so much and I had a conversation with Kangs after we came home until about 1:00am.

After saying good night to Kangs and his roommate, I went to the bedroom I was to sleep and started writing my blog, which I happily report I did that everyday during the retreat (Japanese blog), and then slept.

As I woke up, I was grateful for not only my being alive but also having energy to check my e-mails and even wrote one to this list about the Gems of LP before leaving the apartment.

At 7:30am the alarm went off, which I borrowed from his room mate.

Last night Kangs asked me how long I needed to get ready after waking up. I said, "5 minutes". Then, to be safe, I asked his roommate to set the alarm at 7:30am so that I would have 15 minutes from waking up to leaving.

We talked about how to get to the Oakland airport. I wanted to use public transportation and Kangs and Barbara gave me the information about BART that goes to the airport.

I needed to leave his apartment at 7:45am to catch 8:15am train from MacArther station, which was closest, within 30 minutes' walk. He said he would drive me to the station if he was up, but it did not happen. I was happy Kangs was meeting his need for rest.

We talked about how we wanted to be a "Good Host" and at the same time how he needed sleep. I shared I would use public transportation as much as I could. The reason behind that, which I did not share then, is I am curious to know how people without car travels in any parts of the world I visit. This was my opportunity to learn and experience. I love learning new things.

About 1 minute before leaving, I wrote a thanking note to Kangs on the map he drew last night and left his apartment quietly at 7:15am, with excitement of walking the town I do not know. I had a clear sense of direction to the MacArther BART station from his apartment.

The morning sun was shining just above the roof of the house in his neighborhood and it was so beautiful that I smiled. I felt joy as I started walking the 33rd street to Market street with no one except me on the street. I turned left there, and continued walking to 40th.

I remembered Kang did say, "My neighborhood is not the safest place".

I was curious how safe or unsafe I would feel as I walked.

Approaching the first highway, I noticed a man was sleeping under the bridge. The person was a black man and soon I saw another one, and then another one on the bench in a park. I walked quietly not to wake them up. They had little belongings, most of which I would consider as garbage. I was sad that US, and my country Japan, among the economically richest nations on earth, have people sleeping on the street and I so wanted the world where basic human needs met.

I noticed a black older women walking towards me looking down slowly in her walking device . As we came close, I said "Good morning" to her smiling. She stopped and said "Good Morning" looking at me and smiled back a little bit.

When I came to a big junction, I wanted to make sure if this was the 40th street where I was supposed to turn right. There, I saw another black man waiting for the green traffic light. I approached and asked him, "Is this the way to the BART station?" pointing right. He said "Yes" and I was so relieved and thanked him.

Turning right, I thought the station must be near. According to the map which I did not bring, the BART entrance was along the next highway to the right. So, I looked for the BART sign to the right along the highway, as he said I would see it.

But I could not find the sign.

So, I continued walking, wondering where the BART entrance was, to the next crossing where more buildings and shops were. "That must be the station", I said to myself. There were more people walking, but no BART station.

I stopped walking, looked around and asked another black man walking to my direction, "Where is BART station?". After asking, I noticed that he was talking to someone on the cell phone. In a few second he said "I call you back" and told me "You passed the BART station already" looking at my eyes.

Then he pointed the direction I came from and started walking. I followed him and soon we were walking side by side. I smelled alcohol from him. When we came back to the highway I passed, we turned right crossing the MacArther street, there I saw the BART sign and a structure that looked like a station.

I was relieved when I saw dozens of people coming out of the structure and I was sure this was the station. I was so grateful to the man, who might have been drinking till morning, who accompanied me all the way to the station.

As I thanked him, I noticed the people who came out may have been coming out of 8:15am train which I had planned to take. I may have missed the train, and I knew there was another one in 20 minutes, that would still get me to the Oakland airport in time.

When I was trying to buy the ticket, I did not know how to do so with the credit card (I had little cash left), then, a worker from the station came out and helped me and I got the ticket to Oakland Airport. I asked him if I missed the 8:15 train and he said yes. He asked me where I was going and I said to the Oakland airport. He told me to take the line 2 to Fremont and get off at Colosseum/Oakland Airport, then take AirBart, which was a bus waiting downstairs outside of the station.

When the train came in 15 minutes or so, it passed me. Then I realized it was 3 car train that did not stop where I was waiting on the platform, so I ran to the train. Luckily train did not leave until I was on. In the train, there were mixture of colors of people, but all the people I met on the street were black. The train did not move for another5 minutes or more. I started a bit worried about the time.

I got off at the Colosseum, walked down, got out of the gate, there I saw a bus waiting. "I am almost there" I said to myself.

Got on the bus, I noticed every one in the bus were white men except me. The bus announcement said it will take 12 minutes to the airport.

At the airport terminal, I could not find the Hawaiian airline counter as they were not in the same area as other airlines. I spent another 5 minutes looking for the Hawaiian airline. Finally at the Hawaiian airline counter, the ground staff told me I was too late and the time of checking in had passed already.

To my surprise, I was calm when I heard it. I was already thinking about the next plan.

Then some miracle happened and the Hawaiian airline decided to hold the plane until I was on board. When I was at the security check, it was already 3 minutes to the departure time, which was 9:40am. Passed the security, I ran to the gate 8, accompanied by the staff. I ran as fast as I could and I was so happy I could run like a child.

In my final approach to the aircraft, flight attendants were counting,"5, 4, 3, 2, 1....". I became the last passenger on board and the door was shut upon my boarding.

I walked to my seat, 28G with my heartbeat drumming. I sat down and took "5 deep breath" as written at the door of Kangs' apartment.

And here I am, writing this to meet my need for learning, expression and feedback.

I was so grateful for all the people showed up this morning. Each one I met were helping me one way or another and I am filled with joy and gratitude.

Of course, I felt safe all the time.

Help BayNVC YouTopia grant (and pass it on)!

I got the email below from my NVC teacher Francois Beausoleil and Jared Finkelstein. They are both marvelous communicators and I would love you to support their cause.

It is outdated (vote before Oct 31）, but still, I would like you to know this is happening and they need funding support.

*** PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY ***

Dear Friends,

As some of you may remember, last year at this time BayNVC Collaborative Trainer Jared Finkelstein and myself attempted to win a service grant from Free Range Studios, the same company that produced 'The Story of Stuff,' in the hopes of collaborating with them to produce an animation that would be distributed on the web to increase awareness of NVC around the world.

Thanks to all of your help we ran a very successful campaign and came in a disappointing second place, shy of their final goal by less than 300 people. This year we are full of confidence that with your help we can win this grant!!

We are requesting for the following support:

1 Please vote BEFORE MIDNIGHT (PST) ON OCTOBER 31st.
2. Please encourage no less than 5 people you know who value NVC to vote
3. Please encourage those 5 people to encourage 5 people they know who value NVC to vote.

We are so confident that the global NVC community is large enough to win this grant easily. We are hoping for at least 3000 people to vote. We would love to see the people whose lives have been touched by NVC to use this as an opportunity to show our solidarity, our passion, and our vision. We are so hopeful that a collaboration with Free Range Studios could bring tremendous visibility to the concepts and skills of NVC and contribute powerfully and effectively to all our shared vision of a world where everyone's needs matter.

Thank you for your help; it contributes heartily to our needs for hope, meaning, and purpose in the world.

Sincerely,
Francois Beausoleil
HOW TO VOTE

1. Go to the following link. http://youtopia.freerangeproject.com

2. Click where it says VOTE NOW.

3. On this screen you will be welcomed to Youtopia 2010 and given instructions on how to browse and vote. In the upper right hand corner you will see a SIGN IN button. You will need to click this and sign up in order to vote.

4. The easiest way to sign up is to use either your Facebook or Gmail username and profile if you have one or both of these. Simply click the corresponding icon and a pop up screen will ask you if you wish to authorize that profile. Click 'yes' and you will be signed up and ready to vote.

5. If you do not have a Gmail or Facebook account already, you will need to write in your email address and the display name of your choosing, and click 'sign in.' An email will be sent to your chosen address which you will need to find, open, and click the embedded link to complete sign up.

6. Once you have signed in, look at the list of categories on the right side of the screen, and find the category Peace and Nonviolence. Click it.

7. Our grant proposal is called Conscious Communication for Change. Just to the left of it is a button that says VOTE. Click it and a pop up screen will ask you how many votes you wish to award to our proposal. Please award our proposal all three of your votes.

8. Congratulations, you have successfully supported our grant, thank you! Would you now be willing to find 5 more people and encourage them to do the same...?

NVC: A Communication Enhancing Your Life and Human Relationship

I am delighted to announce the wonderful opportunity for those who live in Bay Area in the USA to get to know NVC.

Some of you know I have been learning NVC and attending Leadership Program offered by Bay NVC to enhance my work further: to create more peaceful, sustainable, just and healthy society that works for all. To make myself more effective in my work, I need to communicate with others in a way that is more connecting, compassionate and transformational than what I am used to.

Here is a fun and meaningful event you can attend to learn a bit more about NVC and get involved: http://www.baynvc.org/calendar/view_entry.php?id=CD3249&date=20101024

One year learning with other NVC practitioners at LP10 (leadership program 2010) has been so helpful to increase my understanding of NVC and I am more comfortable with people who have different ideas and values from mine. I am less defensive when I hear messages of criticism (which is my perception: everyone is only saying either "thank you" or "please" to meet their own needs, according to NVC teaching) that would improve quality of my work dramatically.

Upon going back to Japan, I have a retreat at my 200-year-old farm house called Harmonics Life Center, which is my home, lead by Francois Beausoleil who will be leading the next LP11. I would like to attend the next one if I can afford it (money and time that I can take from my work in Japan).

All the information about the workshops, retreats, talk, events, classes are in the official site of BayNVC:
http://www.baynvc.org/index.php

If you happen to live in BayArea, you are so privileged in my view because you can take NVC courses regularly which I am sure to improve quality of your human relationship to say the least. If you do not know what I am talking about and want to know more about it, here is an introductory course offered by BayNVC:
http://www.baynvc.org/introductory_events.php

Just by reading this page, I feel like moving to Bay AREA!

10-10-10

My friend Rita Marie Jonson sent me the message below about this special day: 2010-10-10. I am posting it here so that you all know about Be Peace. I am currently in the USA (Ben Lomond) learning NVC (Non Violent Communication), which is a component of Be Peace (another part is Heart Math).

I mean to bring Be Peace training to Japan once enough people learn the NVC.
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Dear BePeace friends,

For us, today's date, 10/10/10, is symbolic of a new wave of BePeace expansion. Just think, the number 10 is identified with the concept of multiplication. The fact that there are three "10s" implies that this date is power-packed with evolutionary potential. Since BePeace implementation trainings in Kansas City and Charlotte resulted in contracts with 30 new BePeace trainers, it seems we are in sync with this date and all that it implies for exponential growth. Let's contemplate further what this special date means for us....

Back in 1997, my husband had a dream about us making 10 copies of the English translation of the poem, Rasur. This dream moved me to take a serious look at this inspired poem and I discovered it held the answers to "teaching peace". Suddenly I realized that the number "10" in the dream was telling me to "make copies" of this educational approach to peace; to multiply it exponentially.

A year later, I learned that Roberto Brenes Mesén, the Costa Rican author of the poem Rasur, had the same guidance I did about multiplying the awareness that his poem contained. In his last letter to his daughter, Fresia, who was living in the US, he wrote "Let the poem be known. We will send copies for you to distribute." Over time, I assimilated the principles in his poem Rasur into the practice of BePeace and Rasur Foundation International became the vehicle for multiplying this way of "teaching peace". Now each of you reading this today on 10/10/10 has become a powerful part of making copies. I am so deeply grateful for the many unique ways that you have contributed to BePeace spreading, one heart at a time.

What is the next step forward for our mystical, collective "copy machine"? It is time for me to finish the book that will take this peace teaching more directly to the children; BePeace: Weaving Wisdom and Compassion. My greatest challenge is to withdraw from the expansion that is happening, create a cocoon of peace and write so that the "butterfly" will take flight. In order to do this in a conscious way, two things are needed:
Financial support (almost all our funding has been through trainings I offer and more funding is needed in order to temporarily step out of this role)
All correspondence directed to our Director of Programs, Kelsey Visser: [email protected]
Friends, I have shared how the principles in Rasur evolved into the "know how" of BePeace. We all realize there is more to creating peace in the world than just this practice, yet BePeace can make an awesome difference right now. Would you be willing to make a donation so that BePeace can multiply and empower children in our time? If you feel moved to do that, please click here to donate or mail a check to:

Rasur Foundation International
P.O. Box 150134
Arlington, TX 76015

Will we all look back at 10/10/10 and say "That was the day we aligned with the energy of expansion and we took BePeace to the world"?

♪ Celebrating, Learning and Growing ♪ - 21 min 52 sec - 5.4 MB

I am about to leave for San Francisco Airport. I will be taking a flight back to Japan soon.

I left home, leaving my children for the longest time, 3 weeks. I called them every day but I miss them and I am guessing they miss me, too.

I am finally learning a little bit about NVC because of my participation in the Leadership Training course offered by BayNVC. I feel like I am learning two languages, English and this Non-Violent Communication at the same time.

When I first heard about NVC (it was a long time ago), it did not do anything for me or seem to fit me and my lifestyle in Japan). That was when I listened to Marshall Rosenberg on cassette tape back in 2003. It sounded good, but when I translated the words into Japanese, it all sounded too strange to use practically. So I never did anything with it.

But NVC kept coming back to me.

When I started a campaign to create Ministry of Peace (the equivalent of the Department of Peace in USA), many of the Americans in the movement were practicing NVC. When I attended the 3rd National Department of Peace Conference in Washington DC in 2005, Marshall's book "Speak Peace in the World of Conflict" was given to me. I read some, but I never finished it. (Sorry, Dot!)

On another occasion, when I attended the 2nd Global Alliance Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace in Canada, I met Miki Kashtan, the trainer of this retreat and organizer of the whole LP program this time. When I heard her speak in the conference, I thought, "What is this? She is speaking differently..."

When we organized the 3rd Global Alliance Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace in Japan, Miki Kashtan was the facilitator for all the sessions. At that time I got to know more intimately about NVC.

After that some of my colleagues from JUMP (Japan United for Ministries of Peace) started learning NVC more intensively and I also became more interested.

Now I find myself attending the LP10. Such a thing, a few years ago, was beyond my imagination. It seems like a big leap, an enormous leap. How did I get here?

Time to go to the airport. I will write and reflect more about the retreat when I get home. Please click the title to listen to my podcast. My need of learning and growing was met by this 2nd retreat and I am celebrating!

Come & Join Us for 7th Tokyo Peace Film Festival (Jun 19-20, 2010)!

I am in the redwood forest of Santa Cruz (Ben Lomond) learning a new language called NVC (Non Violent Communication) and this is 4th day of the 2nd retreat. It is a year long program offered by BayNVC and Miki Kashtan and Roxy Manning are our trainers.

I am making a little bit of progress in understanding NVC and excited about using it in my real life back in Japan creating more sustainable and peaceful community.

I was so happy that the Yomiuri Shinbun (a big Japanese daily newspaper) wrote a story about the upcoming Tokyo Peace Film Festival that I shared about that news during the morning community time with my co-participants of the retreat.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tokyo23/news/20100604-OYT8T00087.htm

The 7th Tokyo Peace Film Festival will be on Jun 19 & 20, 2010 in the Main Hall of the Olympic Youth Center (near Sangubashi Station, Odakyu line). This year, we will show 10 films (including my talk and film cuts concerning War and lies and facts surrounding the events of Sept. 11, 2001) and tickets can be purchased from our website (unfortunately, there are no English pages):
http://www.peacefilm.net/home.html

If you have not seen Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story, or Blue Gold, Under Cover in Tibet, Children of 911, and the other movies in the program, this is the chance for you to see them all at a bargain price.

I hope to see you there. If you do not read Japanese, you can order tickets directly to me by e-mail.

Click here to download the full color Japanese flyer that lists the movies and schedule.

Thank you/What's the Need Israel Trying to Meet?

Susan Livingstone, co-participant from Leadership program of NVC, really worked wholeheartedly to organize two events that I wanted to do for BayNVC. Thank you Susan and her friends who made these events possible. I think it has had some positive effect.

Below are some photos from Red Victorian where I talked and then played some music with Gen and Shigeko.

In my talk, I touched upon our organic farm, our sustainable simple life, The Department of Peace, Depleted Uranium, Article 9, The War on Terror and 911, Dennis Kucinich and on the need for each of us to be the MEDIA.

BUT......

My happy day suddenly ended with sad news that I need to find out more about. I am asking myself and co-participants of Leadership Program What's the core need of Israel trying to meet by those actions? Security?

Here are some tweets from Twitter:

I can't believe this is happening. Israel opens fire on Gaza flotilla, killing 10. I can't believe this is happening. Israel opens fire on Gaza flotilla, killing 10. http://bit.ly/cBYxEP

＋＋＋ Turkish TV: 10 dead, 60 injured in Israeli attack on Gaza aid boat from Turkey #flotilla ＋＋＋ Al Jazeera English reporting on Gaza Freedom Flotilla http://www.livestation.com/products/32-al_jazeera_en!

I Will be in Bay Area and Speak at Two Events

This is an e-mail I sent out to some of my English speaking friends today. They are mostly working for peace, justice and the environment.
-----------

Greeting from our organic farm of Kamogawa, Japan.
Gen and I are as busy as ever preparing the rice paddy to plant rice in late June as I write this.

I have not seen you for a long time, but I am writing to let you know that Gen and I will be coming to the US at the end of this month, and speaking at two events, Speak for Peace, presented by PANinA.

"Speak for Peace" will be held on May 29 and 30 in SF Bay area and it would be great if you can come. If you can not, would you please pass the information to your friends in the Bay area who may be interested.

Speaking @KPFK

The events include a talk and music, and will be free of charge, but they are meant to be fundraisers for Bay NVC. Check their website to see their meaningful work:
http://www.baynvc.org

And please come to the event and contribute if you are inspired to do so!

I am attending their Leadership Program for this year and NVC (Non Violent Communication) has become something I want every peace worker/activist or anyone working for social change to have an opportunity to learn.

Here is the information of the events, organized by Susan Livingstone and her friends. Susan and I are participants of LP10:
---------------
PANinA presents Speak for Peace to benefit Bay Area Nonviolent Communication (BayNVC). On stage will be Yumi Kikuchi, her partner Gen Morita and her friend Shigeko Suzuki. Yumi will talk aboout her role in building a Culture of Peace and the contribution that BayNVC's 2010 Leadership Program is making to her effectiveness in that work.

"Imagine! Not so long ago, Japan and the United States were at war, and now we are working together to end war!", Yumi says. She will also introduce her special guest Takashi Tanemori, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima. Entertainment will be handled by Yumi's partner Gen, a sixties-style singer-songwriter-guitar player and jazz singer Shigeko.

Gen and I sang at the Peace March in 2003 just before the Iraq war 

You can chose from two dates and venues:

Saturday May 29, 2010, 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. @First Congregational Church of Oakland
http://www.firstoakland.org

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. @the Red Victorian
http://www.redvic.com

As number of seats are limited, R.S.V.P. to [email protected]

Yumi also will be participating the Sunday morning PEACE CAFE on May 30:
http://www.redvic.com/cafe.html

--------please forward the information to those who may be interested.

So, I hope to see you and your friends at the end of this month!

Peace,

Yumi Kikuchi
founder, Global Peace Campaign
JUMP(Japan United for Ministry of Peace)

p.s. Hot topic in Japan!
Dennis Kucinich has shown his support to local Okinawa residents over the Futenma base, which is great!! Thank you, Dennis and all those who support him.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/546
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-155924-storytopic-53.html

What You Say Next Will Change Your World (Miki), and What You Buy Next Will Change the World (Yumi)!

The first half of the title today come from the Conflict Hotline by Bay NVC with Miki Kashutan as the host. She is currently my trainer of NVC (Non Violent Communication) which I am learning this year. I have become passionate about NVC, a new way of relating people since I attended the Bay NVC Leadership Training.

If you want to learn more about NVC, Miki's blog is a great source - The Fearless Heart: baynvc.blogspot.com
For her TV show - The Conflict Hotline: youtube.com/baynvc

The latter part of the title came strongly to me at 5am this morning. It was SO strong that I had to wake up and write them down: What You Buy Next Will Change the World!

Well, this may be the title of my talk in the US.

Yes, this is essence of what I want to convey to American, Japanese, European or any affluent people in the world today. Our world is made of what we buy. Everything you see in your house exists because you or someone bought it. Without buying, things do not exist, and corporations who make products will not survive if we all stop buying their products.

Think about it. I love this STUFF as I share their humor and message.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/international/

As I live on an organic farm, trying not to pollute water around my home, I now live without using any detergent nor soap. I clean myself, clothes and house using salt, vinegar, baking soda, etc. I use no cosmetics either and I now have better skin than when I was in my 20s.

Anyway, I have to thank Bob (my empathy buddy) who inspired me to this. Bob is helping me to create a fundraising event for Bay NVC in the Bay Area when I return in May. I am asking Bob to find a venue for May 29th and 30th. I will keep you informed once we know what/where/when.

Below is a letter from Miki Kashtan. I am sharing this because I am pretty sure many of you who read my blog are working for PEACE. If so, here is your chance to be more effective in your peace building.
------
IN BRIEF:

I am pleased to tell you that this year we are offering training for trainers in 3 different location: Northern California (July 23-29), Denmark (Aug 20-26), and Upstate New York (Nov 5-10). This training is designed for experienced NVC trainers (certified and others) who have a strong commitment to living and sharing NVC. please pass the word out.

IN DETAIL:

INTERNATIONAL NVC ADVANCED TRAINING FOR TRAINERS

The primary purpose of this intensive training is to provide support in increasing and deepening capacity for living and sharing NVC, especially to offer an opportunity to become proficient with the approach and materials that Inbal and I developed.

This training is likely to focus on the following areas:
- Teaching skills for interdependence
- Teaching about power and power relations
- Advanced empathy skills and teaching empathy skills
- Body-based NVC practices, especially for inner work and self-connection
- Feedback giving and receiving about materials, activities, presentations, etc. we anticipate that everyone will have opportunity to share at least once
- Living in full authenticity and interdependence

We invite you to attend or consider if there is anyone you know who meets these qualifications:

- At least a year of teaching NVC
- Intensive advanced training such as the BayNVC Leadership Program, other advanced yearlong programs, and/or completion of the certification process
- Strong commitment to making the sharing of NVC with others central to one's life

NOTE: All 3 offerings are open to people who are sharing NVC in any capacity, not necessarily through training. If you don't have the level of experience requested but would like to be at this retreat, contact us about options.

Here's what others have said about the first training we offered last September:

"The Training of Trainers with Inbal and Miki had a higher degree of benefit for me and I have shared more usable learning with others than any other training in which I have participated. (At least 45 days in residential trainings alone.) I have been profoundly changed by the learning and experiencing at this training, and I have been empowered by the growth I experience in that few days. More often now I ask for what I want, speak up about what isn't working, ask more clarifying questions about what is happening for others." Jeanne Northsinger

"Training the Trainers from BayNVC created an environment and opportunity for a deepening of my personal and leadership connection with some cutting edge NVC processes that have catapulted the depth and dynamic of the practice groups and workshops I facilitate and co-lead as well as my personal and intimate relationships" Craig Sones-Cornell

"The ToT retreat was one of the most profound personal growth experiences of my life. The deep coaching I received from Miki, Inbal, and the other participants was hugely supportive of my ability to see myself more wholly (my strengths and my edges). I came away with a richer understanding of key aspects of NVC consciousness as well as powerful tools for deeper self-connection, self-integration, and connection with others, which in turn are supporting me in sharing NVC more confidently and effectively. I wouldn't have missed it for the world" Linda Hutchins-Knowles

Costs: tuition is separate from basic expenses and paid separately. we have a policy of not turning anyone away for lack of funds for tuition.

California (July 23-29): camping: $400, shared room: $700. Tuition in addition: $900-$1800. contact [email protected] for more information and to register.

Denmark (Aug 20-26): please visit www.FIVK.dk for full details including costs.

New York (Nov 5-10): shared room: $525, single: $625. Tuition in addition: $800-$1600. Contact [email protected] for more information and to register.

Note about training team: with the uncertainty about Inbal's health, it is unlikely that Inbal will join me at these events. If she is not available, other trainers who have worked closely with us may come instead.

Miki Kashtan
www.baynvc.org

♪ Creating a World Where Everyone's Needs Matter -- Is it a mission impossible? ♪ - 26 min 17 sec - 6.5 MB

Back to Japan. I am writing this in our 200 old farm house where we grow rice, vegetables, as well as fruits and mushrooms organically, and am looking back at the rich experience of my 10 days in the US. Today's podcast was recorded on my last night in the US at Miki Kashtan's house, with Jared as a guest. He has a great passion to teach NVC (Non Violent Communication) in Japan one day. He was an assistant in the NVC retreat and I enjoyed his playfulness and open heart very much.

During this NVC retreat, I witnessed a community that has a different consciousness about human relationships. Those who practice NVC are really trying to create a world where each person's needs matter. It seems to me "a mission impossible", but the trainers were really practicing NVC moment to moment throughout the retreat, which was really amazing and moving!

As Miki says, "What You Say Next Will Change Your World".

For her blog - The Fearless Heart: baynvc.blogspot.com
For her show - The Conflict Hotline: youtube.com/baynvc

One day, I would love to be able to talk like that in my own language and also in English.

On the last night of my trip to the US after the retreat, we saw a beautiful rainbow on the way to Oakland. A rainbow is a good sign, it means hope to me. I felt it was celebrating for all of us who had for the past 9 days worked passionately to create a better world for humanity. Well, I admit we are far from perfect, but every one of us had the clear intention for creating a world that we would like to live in.

Then, that beautiful sunset appeared. Nature is always reminding us what a beautiful place we live in. Soon after the sunset, there came a full moon. I was lost for words and deeply moved by the full moon. It was saying YES! with a big smile.

When I woke up on that day, the following words came to me in English, which was surprising to me (this happens in Japanese usually). I have never written a poem, but I am going to share it with you. This is my first poem in English.

HURT

It's OK to get hurt
It's OK to get beaten up
As long as I have my intentions clear
All I want is peace,
peace in me, peace in you, and peace on earth

I stand up again and again
making a lot of mistakes until I get it
I stand up and do the best I can in that moment
If I fail and create mess, I connect with myself
Deep moment of silence to find the beauty of needs
Then, I am ready to stand up again to give another try

I guess my English is like that of children, but still I would like to express myself in English so that I can reach those of you who may not read Japanese.

♪ Know Talent Show ♪ - 19 min 19 sec - 4.8 MB

Today (Feb 26) was the last night of the NVC Leadership Training that I am attending, and we had "Know Talent Show" (sounds like No Talent Show, but it really means KNOW talent show).

It was an event of songs, dances, skits, story telling and talk show by the participants, assistants and trainers. I had so much fun and laughter that it met my need of joy, aliveness and connection.

I was amazed by some of the hidden talent of the people, especially the act/song by Ken (he normally looks quiet and sober). What a good singer he was! I already am looking forward to 2nd Know Talent Show, which will take place at the end of the next retreat in Jun.

What I did was my podcast I often do with a guest, this time with Miki and with audience. I set the situation that people do not know much about NVC and have an interest in peace making.

Miki and I had such a fun time and deep connection in the show and Ken's translation was marvelous. You can listen to the podcast by clicking the title of this blog. Half of the show is in Japanese as I originally made it for my Japanese audience who read my daily Japanese blog.

ENJOY!