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UPDATES ON TWITTER: arudoudebito
Hi Blog. I’ve presented at Peace as a Global Language Conferences a few times before, and you might be interested in attending or even presenting something yourself this year! Deadline is fast approaching, however — July 31 for presentations — so download an application form (I’ve applied to show documentary Sour Strawberries) at http://www.pgljapan.org
FYI. Arudou Debito in Sapporo
Just a quick reminder to everyone that the Peace as a Global Language conference will be held at the University of Shimane (Hamada Campus) this year on September 26-27.
| ‘Nurturing Grassroots’ |
Welcome to the website for the 8th Annual Peace as a Global Language Conference. The theme of this year’s conference will be ‘Nurturing Grassroots’. Each year this conference continues to grow and change. We are all very excited to have a new venue for this year’s conference on the Sanin coast. This year the conference will be held at the University of Shimane, in Hamada.PGL conferences began in 2002, and are now an annual event for students, teachers and activists. Whether this will be your first time or your eighth, you are welcome to join us as presenters, participants or conference volunteers. The following issues are among the many that may interest you at this year’s conference:
* This list is by no means exhaustive. If there is another area of importance you wish to see included, please reply to the call for papers and share your ideas. Thank you. |
Full details at http://www.pgljapan.org
ENDS
4 comments on “Peace as a Global Language Conference Shimane Sept 26-7 calls for presentations, deadline July 31”
But let me tell you about the hosting site, The Prefectural University of Shimane. This place attempted to demote and fire two long-term teachers (with Japanese families/kids)in February of 2007. They waited until that month, knowing well that it would be hard/impossible for the teachers to find work for the coming academic year. The Dean at the time lied to one of the teachers, telling him “it is too late to not renew you; it is not socially acceptable to do such a thing”. When one of the teachers refused to accept the illegal termination and waged a labor struggle to keep his job the university bureaucrats used slander in an effort to win, saying the teacher traveled to Thailand while cutting classes. Never mind that the teacher NEVER had set foot in Thailand ever in his life — or any other country during the 5 years of employment. This “university” also replaced the teacher with someone holding only an undergraduate degree with no research background in the field (or any field) to “teach”. There were also anti-Chinese, anti-foreigner graffiti written on whiteboards. This was witnessed by several bureaucrats (who took pictures only after prodding) and by at least one other teacher there. This happened prior to the events, but shows the type of place we are talking about. This place also discriminated against at least one woman — Japanese — who raised issues about why she, with superior qualifications (PhD, research, US education, etc), was being forced to teach more classes than an American who only had an MA and almost no prior teaching experience at the time but who had connections to the head teacher. Others raised issues about how research money/travel money was being used for personal use. Shimane is infamous for its extravagant corruption. Shimane Prefectural University, built by Takeshita-gotten funds, like the infamous “bridge-to-no-where” that can be seen from this so-called university, is a place best avoided. How this conference ended up here is sickening.
Anyone willing to file suit … please contact Debito and let’s get it rolling.
— I have checked the IP of this correspondent and there’s nothing untoward. But we need more evidence to support your claims. Got any? I’ll approve this for now.
I also have a timeline done at the time and my experience is the “evidence” I am willing to stand with in any court, against any wanker from that “university”.
— Then let’s see it, please.
Sure, I will email you it. And send you the Japanese professor’s email address and you can check into it. Above should read 2006, NOT 2007!
— I’d prefer you make the claims here. You started off doing so here. Please continue.
Well, I have made the claims above. I taught there for 5 years, contract renewed every year, told I could stay as long as I liked. From July to February (usually approached in July by head of “English Department” to ask me to renew)I was pushed from one person to the next, lied to and then slandered. The timeline I have contains names aside from others directly involved in the lying/crap treatment. I will send it to you first. Also send the name and email contact of the Japanese professor who was discriminated against and bullied. I won’t put that here without her OK.