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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Early Seventies Radical Child Rearing in Tokyo

Hara Kazuo's film "Extreme Private Eros (1974)" was more than an autobiography of both the filmmaker and his protagonist (ex-wife Takeda Miyuki). It was but rather a deep glance to a radical moment in Japanese history were young people in the early seventies explored other possibilities of social life. Questioning the conservative methods of relationship, parenting and especially to giving birth.

The film was shot in 16mm black and white using the Cinema Verite form in documentary filmmaking. Hara simply just followed his new born son and ex-wife Miyuki, who intitiated to propose the project, in documenting her life as a migrant and a single mother in Okinawa. The introduction of the story started with an argument between Miyuki and her female lover Sugako. Then it went to the anthropological observation of japanese sex workers in Okinawa's red light district were American soldiers, mostly black-americans, are the frequent customers.

Soon Miyuki got impregnated by her black American lover who would later abandon her after three weeks. Hara was neutral about it. However, the conflict escalated after the tough pursuit of alternative possibilities was put to a test. Jealousy and various irrationalities came to haunt the filmmaker and his ex-wife.

Miyuki decided to go back in Tokyo and gave birth to an interracial baby at the cramp apartment of the filmmaker in Setagaya. After proving to herself that she can deliver a baby without any professional help from experts, she organised a Commune of women and single mothers who would later provide volunteer child care and midwife help.

The year was 1974 and together Miyuki and Hara remained good friends since then.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

List of Recommended Books for 0-12yr olds

transmission from Anarcist Parenting listserv:

Peace Themes

Our Peaceful Classroom
by Aline D. Wolf

Sitti’s Secrets
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter
by Diane Stanley

Seven Brave Women
by Betsy Hearne

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: an adaptation for children
by Ruth Rocha & Otavio Roth

Cain and Abel: Finding The Fruits of Peace
by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

The Librarian of Basra
by Jeanette Winter

Helping Others, Diversity and Social Justice Issues

Faith The Cow
by Susan Bame Hoover

A Chair for My Mother
by Vera B. Williams

Sister Anne’s Hands
by Marybeth Lorbiecki

Uncle Willie and The Soup Kitchen
by Dyanne DiSalvo-Ryan

Beatrice’s Goat
by Page McBrier

Maria’s Comet
by Deborah Hopkinson

Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride
by Pam Munoz Ryan

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!
by Shana Corey

But God Remembered: Stories Of Women From Creation To The Promised Land
by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Amazing Grace
by Mary Hoffman

Rare Treasures: Mary Anning And Her Remarkable Discoveries
by Don Brown

General Anti-Authoritarian
Yertle the Turtle - Seuss
The Sneetches - Seuss
The Butter Battle Book - Seuss
Anarchist Farm - Jane Doe
Harold and Maude
Table where Rich People Sit - Baylor
Tacky the Penguin - Lester
Araboolies of Liberty Street - Swope
Work, Work, Work - Quinn
Anarchist Stories for Children - DeVoy
Calvin and Hobbes Guide to Life - Banks
Children’s Guide to Nihilism - Aragorn!
Bear and Raccoon Stories - Aragorn!
Anti-Authoritarian ABC’s zine

Insurrection/Creation
Where the Wild Things Are - Sendak
The Secret World of Duvbo - CrimethInc
I’m in Charge of Celebrations - Baylor
Super Cilantro Girl - Herrera
Math Curse - Scieszka
Piggy in the Puddle - Pomerantz
Naughty Parents - Gosney
The Way to Start a Day - Baylor
Uno’s Garden - Base

Direct Action
The Luddites - Liversidge
The Story of John Brown’s Raid - Kent
The Lorax - Seuss
Hoot - Hiaasen
Flush - Hiaasen
The Sheep Look Up - Brunner
Quest for the Faradawn - Ford
Little Squatter’s Handbook - Cordelia and Ziggy
Pom Poko (video)
Missing from Haymerket Square - Robinet
Breaking Free: The Adventures of Tintin - Daniels
Farewell to Shady Glade - Peet

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Anarcha-feminist Child Raising Workshop

held at the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. a lecture/workshop by Kaley

Part 1:
What does Anarcha feminist child raising look like? What is the difference between permissiveness and raising free children? How do anarchists discipline their children? What are the concerns of anarchist/radical parents and how can our child free allies support us

http://www.youtube.com/user/AnarchaLA