International Petition to Protect the Dugong in Okinawa 　　There are approximately 100,000 dugong (a species of ocean-inhabiting mammals) living on our planet earth. Spread out between the western part of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, their area of habitation is bordered by Australia to the south and Japan's furthest southwesterly island of Okinawa to the north. In the Indian Ocean, they stretch as far as Mozambique on Africa's eastern coast. Sadly, however, these gentle-natured animals - who eat seagrass and share ancestors with the elephant - are decreasing in number. The Okinawan dugong, in particular, number so few as to once have actually been thought to be extinct. They were formerly spotted around Amami Island and various coastal regions of the Ryukyu Island chain. Due to such factors as worsening ocean conditions and entrapment within fishing nets, however, their estimated numbers have shrunk to between a mere ten and fifty total in the Okinawan eastern seacoast region. The next area of dugong habitation closest to Okinawa is the Philippines, lying 1000 km to the south. In Taiwan, the animal has already been extinct since the 1960's. Moreover, although officially designated in Japan as a natural monument, the rare "northernmost dugong" has yet to receive any type of actual protection to ensure its continued existence. 　　In 1972, 27 years following the end of World War II, Okinawa was returned to Japan after a period of U.S. rule. However, in accordance with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (=the military alliance of Japan and U.S.), 75% of all U.S. bases in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa. As a result, the residents of Okinawa have been continually suffering under these bases; and Okinawa's natural environment is being destroyed by nonstop military training exercises. This is not all, however. The sudden and dramatic increase in economic development following Okinawa's return to Japan has resulted in extreme contamination of Okinawa's waters, which has in turn restricted the dugong's habitat. Moreover, those dugongs that managed to survive thusfar are now facing new disasters that are threatening to root out their very existence. 　　On July 29, 2002, the Japanese government officialized plans to construct a substitute facility of the Futenma U.S. marine airbase airport, which is presently located in the central Okinawan city of Ginowan. The proposed new facility lies off the eastern coast of a village called Henoko, which is located in the Yambaru region on the northern part of the same island. The site is directly atop a coral reef, which is also the precise area where the remaining dugongs have most recently been spotted. Seagrass such as the "Ryukyu Amamo(Cymodocea serrulata)" that the dugong feed upon are found throughout the Henoko coastal reef area, which is truly the one place where the northernmost dugong may live in peace. This giant military airport facility - 2500 meters long, 1730 meters wide, and 184 hectares (including a 2000 meter runway) will consume massive amounts of earth, sand and stone - and in turn pollute the waters surrounding the reef, while simultaneously destroying the nearby delicate ecosystem that had been so gradually created over time. Furthermore, the noise pollution that will occur during the long period of construction of this facility will effectively drive away - and thereby cause the extinction of - the northernmost dugong, which is an internationally protected animal. 　　International environmental institutions, including nature preservation organizations in Japan such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and United Nations Environmental Programme　(UNEP), have been expressing their deep misgivings and anxiety to the Japanese government with regard to the construction of this military facility and its impact upon the survival of the dugong. The government, however, has yet to implement any effective policy to ensure the preservation of this animal. 　　We, the below signatories, as citizens of this earth who have come together as one, urge the government of Japan with regard to the following: *Please withdraw the existing plans to construct a U.S. military base facility, that will destroy the habitat of the northernmost dugong. *Please immediately implement a policy addressed at fulfilling the responsibility of the Japanese government to protect the dugong in Okinawa. Addressed on (date) to Mr. Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister of Japan

This petition is appealed by Kenjo Anzai（Resident Priest of Shinsyu Otani-ha Sennnenn-ji Buddhist Temple）, Moriteru Arasaki（Professor of Okinawa University） Eiko Asato（Freelance Writer）, Tohru Ikushima（Secretary General of the Association To Protect Shiraho Coral Reef） Keiko Itokazu（Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Member）, Taro Hosokawa（Dugong Network Okinawa）, Shokichi Kina（Musician） Chikashi Kinjo（Lawyer）, Tadashi Koshiishi（Presidency of Econet･Chura, Merchant）, C. Douglas Lummis（Political scientist） Ryuichi Matsushita（Writer）, Ichiro Nishio（RAPAC, Priest）, Keiko Ochiai（Writer, Presidency of the Bookstore for Children "Crayon House"） Itsuko Okabe (Essayist）, Kenichi Otsu（General Secretary of National Christian Council in Japan）, Ai Saotome（Motion Picture Producer） Shin Sugok（Human Resource Cultivation Consultant）, Seiichi Shirayanagi（Catholic Cardinal）, Masako Suzuki（Representative of Association to Protect Northernmost Dugong）, Osamu Taira（Priest of United Church of Christ of Japan）, Suzuyo Takasato（Naha city council member）, Takao Takeda（Buddhist Monk of Nipponzan Myohoji Temple）, Nobuo Takeshita（Management Committee of Association to Protect Northernmost Dugong）, Seishuu Tanahara（Dugong Network Okinawa, Diver） Jun Ui（Caretaker of Okinawa Environment Network, Professor of Okinawa University） Etsuko Urashima（Save the Dugong Foundation, Freelance Writer）, Reiko Yukawa（Music Columnist, Songwriter） Keifuku Janamoto (Dugong Network Okinawa, Playwright)