- Linking
Progressives East and West since 1997
Shops: Is TokyoProgressive becoming Tokyo Regressive?
No at all. We remain as anti-corporate as ever. But real world bills are paid with real world money, and how many of us are willing to forgo money in order to be true to our principles? TokyoProgressive understands that many readers. for various reasons, are goiing to want a order a book or CD or "environmental friendly" product from entities that are both for-profit and non-profit. Many such entities offer a percentage of their profits to the referrer, normally in the range of 5-8 percent of the total price. Why not take it, if the price is not thereby inflated and if you were going to order it anyway?
We have tried in the past to encourage readers to donate in order to cover our hosting expenses, which include the costs we incur in providing free hosting to others with similar ideals. In more than 10 years, that has netted a total of about 200 dollars.
We have gone out of our way to find retailers who offer products TokyoProgressive readers may actuallly want, so you will not find American flags or weapons of mass destruction here. And you still have the opion of donating to us directly via paypal.
Below the shops you will find other community services. Some are free, some are not. We get no money for any of the sites listed on those pages. But if you DO want to spend your money within the progressive community, these are all recommended.
Bookshop, CDs, Fair Trade, Donations, Webhosting
Books
and Fair Trade
Order books, muisc & fair-trade
items
and make a donation to TokyoProgressive
More books and CDS here at these shops. Fair Trade items below
More than only
books. Click on the banner or use the search engine below. Your
purchases result in a donation to TokyoProgressive.
AMAZON SHOP
Use the search engine below.
Your purchases also result in a donation to TokyoProgressive.
One World Projects
Webhosting and related
Grassroots people
depending on other grassroots people; this is the ideal situation.
Sometimes the costs are less, sometimes free, sometimes more. But, again, a circle of caring is in itself a life-giving and sustaining force.
Not that there are not good for-profit alternatives. In this capitalist economy, those who are able to put rice on the table by doing what they enjoy are very lucky, and so we are not going to be dogmatic by saying there is something wrong with paying for good work, even if it is to a non-activivist company. But we hope you will give these people a chance, since community is something central to what TokyoProgressive is about.
TokyoProgressive offers free web hosting to individuals and groups (preferably in Asia) who share our ideals. We have limited space and time, so ideally this would be for people who have low income but who are willing to do the web design themselves (there are many simple tools on the web). We can, of course, provide you with simple design services for free. But content loading and uploading should ideally be done by you. Generally a free website will be hosted at our tokyoprogressive.org.uk domain, rather than our tokyoprogressive.org domain. Of course, if you purchase a domain, you can have that poiint to your site.
An example of a free hosted site: http://gale-sig.org which is also reachable as http://www.tokyoprogressive.org.uk/gale/
We also provide free hosting in the form of a paid subscription that we donate using our own host for tokyoprogressive.org, Electric Embers. The difference is a technical one. Our host for tokyoprogressive.org.uk (acornhost) does not mind our issuing subdomains. Hence the two addresses for the above example. Meanwhile, Electric Embers prefers to have a direct relationship with each user, so we cannot simply piggyback your site on ours. But in both cases we pay and you get a website space for you to add your content.
As noted, this service is limited by budget constraints and by the requirement that we feel your aims are compatible with our own (no bomb-making sites, no racists, something to do with social change, preferably more radical than gradual-reform. We also do not take kindly to "democracy advocates" who condemn, jsutifiably, the human rights record of Myanmar, for example, but who look the other way and pretend not to notice the support the Dalai Lama gets from the CIA.
If interested in applying, contact paul@tokyoprogressive.org for details. Include a description of your aims and what you hope for in the way of a website.
For those with a minimum budget, we recommend our own hosts:
 |
Emma of Oregon
runs this. her normal prices are quite cheap. Her non-profit
prices are even cheaper! And she also does reliable web design TokyoProgressive.org.uk and its subdomains are hsoted here. If you get FREE hosting from us, it will be here. you will deal directly with us. |
 |
Electric
Embers is a workers collective, with outstanding service. if you get a
FREE paid subscription from us, it will be hosted here and you will
deal directly with them after we set it up for you. But if you pay yourself, these people cannot be beat. |
| It is run by
Brian Dominick and friends. (see the Syracuse
collective on the other page). Brian helped to develop the ZNet
website. You can get reasoable hosting coupleed with
numerous
activist tools. And if you need some serious web design, this is a good
place to try. Yes, they offer activist discounts. Like us, they tend to be picky, but if you think your situation deserves consideration, please ask them |
 WebRoo |
| These two
related collectives have been helping us redesign the TokyoProgressive
news system and design. Many media groups use their services, including
some of the IMCs. |
Arts, Poetry, Music Cats
You consider
yourself a progressive, perhaps even a revolutionary, someone
engaged with the world, someone distressed by the horrible things done
in the name of demoracy, yet inspired to do something, however small,
to uproot the trees of evil that have been planted in our midst.What we do with your pocketbooks is perhaps, on the scale of things, the easiest way to effect change.
Of course it is not enough to make lifestyle choices. Lifestyle choices will not stop the killing, will not heal the hurt, will not usher in a new world.
But we all need art, music, books things to sustain us, small reminders that we are not alone, that we are not crazy or deluded because we choose not to avert our eyes from the horrors of capitalism, of war on the poor,on the planet and its inhabitants.
Here are some people doing good things. Some cost money. Others do not. As we try to balance our desire to work for good with the need to work at jobs we perhaps don't like just to put food on our plates, it is easyto feel isoalted. Here is a way to beat back those feelings of isolation. TokyoProgressive does NOT get any money for recommending these services.
The Northland Collective
Poster at left
Give the land back to the people
Bring the people back to the land
The mailman passed but he didn't bring no news
The mailman passed but he didn't bring no news
I'll tell the world he left me with the
Gulf Coast BluesThe devastation of Hurricane Katrina reached far beyond New Orleans. The verse is from a song Bessie Smith recorded. A portion of the proceeds from this poster go to the Southern Partners Fund. Greens and browns with a blud/lilac sky. Laser poster.
In the last 12 months, AK Press published around 20 new titles. In the next year we should be able to publish even more. Right now several exciting projects are nearly ready to be printed: Free Comrades, Terence Kissack’s study of anarchism and the politics of homosexuality from 1895–1917; Possibilities, anarchist anthropologist David Graeber’s collection of essays exploring the nature of social power and the forms that resistance to it have taken, or might take in the future; Born Under a Bad Sky(co-published with Counterpunch), journalist Jeffrey St. Clair’s chilling survey of environmental destruction throughout North America and the responsible parties; A completely revised edition of Clifford Harper's classic Anarchy: A Graphic Guide; revered Glaswegian anarchist activist Stuart Christie’s memoirs, Granny Made Me an Anarchist; and many, many more…
Our regular readers will have noticed that some books announced in last year's catalog have been delayed. Money is tight, and as we do not rely on outside funding, money remains tight while the need for our books is greater than ever. We need your help to make and keep these crucial materials available.
Not only are we financially constrained as to what we can publish, we already have a huge backlog of excellent material we would like to publish sooner, rather than later.
If we had the money, we could publish 60 titles in the coming year. Additional projects currently being worked on include: a new edition of Harry Cleaver’s Reading Capital Politically; the first translation in English (running to eight volumes) of the complete works of Bakunin; Facerias, Antonio Tellez’s biography of the celebrated Spanish anarchist resistance fighter; an edited collection exploring the politics and application of Albert and Hahnel’s parecon model, called Parecon and the Good Society, edited by Chris Spannos; a print version of the indispensable, web-based Anarchist FAQ; David Graeber’s enthnography of the direct-action global justice movement, Deschooling Our Lives, an updated and revised edition of Matt Hern’s collection exploring the politics of schooling; Tom Wetzel’s exploration of anti-capitalist strategy and politics called Workers’ Self-Management and Liberation; and much, much more.
The Friends of AK Press is a way in which you can directly help us to realize these and many more such projects, much faster. Using the form below, Friends pay a minimum (of course, we have no objection to larger sums) of $20 per month, for a minimum three month period, into our AK Press account. Money received goes directly into our publishing. In return, Friends automatically receive (for the duration of their membership), as they appear, one FREE copy of EVERY new AK Press title. Secondly, they are also entitled to a 10% discount on EVERYTHING featured in the AK Press Distribution catalog, on ANY and EVERY order. We also run a scheme where groups or individuals can sponsor a whole book. Please contact us for details.
SONG
Paul Arenson: http://www.zmag.org/zspace/tokyoprogressive
I am a sometimes singer, songwriter, teacher and political activist, born in NY, resident physically in Japan and Boston. Puccini (Yes, I almost became an opera singer) and Seeger were both influences. Also Phil Ochs, Joan Baez...I am not sure how much potato latkes played a part in my early development, but for those who care, I thought I would mention it.
To preview my songs or download some MP３s, go here. You can also buy a CD, which costs more to produce than any money I get back, I reinvest it all back into the TokyoProgressive website, Z Communications, and other progressive initiatives.
On Z Communications, you can listen to my songs for free. Also you can listen at MacJams and Folk Alley
MORE PLACES
Sorry, stuff is all over the place. Here is more:
My poems, and more music can be found here.
And also here:
-->
Italian anti-war song page
1999 page (songs from the 60s to the 90s)
From Scotland, originally did punk, but folkis in the great Celtic tradition. Others that Alistair recommends/:
Davidovics from the USA is one of the most politically sharp and poetically gifted singer/songwriters around today. He and Alistair toured in the States together in 2006 and plan to do a double-header trip around the clubs and festivals of Australia in 2008. Check out his website at www.davidrovics.com and then return to the Promo Gallery here to download the Rovics/Hulett Tour Poster. Email a.hulett@btopenworld.com to book David and Alistair for 2008 in Oz.Phil Snell (mandolin) and Alistair Hulett (vox and guitar) will be working together as much as possible both as a duo and in an 'as yet to be finalised and monikered' 5 piece acoustic band. Rehearsals are well underway, the debut recording is imminent and duo or band bookings are now up for grabs via this website. In the meantime, please give Phil a Friendly Visit in his myspace site at www.myspace.com/philsnellmusic or on his regular home patch at www.philsnell.co.uk
Swarb’s Lazarus is Dave Swarbrick’s new trio featuring Kevin Dempsey and Maartin Allcock along with the great man himself. www.swarbslazarus.com
Nuemmes is a communist street band from Berlin that is guaranteed to liven up any left wing demo anywhere. Thanks for all the support during several tours over your way, lads. www.nuemmes.de
Niamh Parsons along with her partner Graham Dunne form the Irish contingent of The Shamrock Thistle and Rose, featuring Alistair as resident thorn. Niamh has recorded three Hulett songs on her latest album. See Discography for details. www.niamhparsons.com
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan are the other two members of the Shamrock Thistle and Rose show that you’ll find reviewed in the Articles and Interviews section of this site. They have also included one of Ally’s songs on their latest release, making it two covers they’ve recorded so far. www.kerrfagan.com
try also:
Center for Political Song
David Rovics
And these links from David's page
Jim Page - In my humble opinion, the greatest songwriter in the English language.
Christy Moore - As Jim Page says, "probably the best ballad singer on the planet." I agree.
Robb Johnson - Amazing songwriter from Britain. See some interesting pictures from our 2005 US tour.
Attila the Stockbroker - Excellent English commie punk poet and a great guy.
Tracey Curtis - Great songwriter who lives in Wales, also on Irregular Records along with Robb.
Billy Bragg - Great labor-oriented songwriter from England.
Alistair Hulett - Great songwriter and interpreter of trad Scottish music from Glasgow.
Rory McCleod - Fantastic songwriter and rhythm machine from the lovely cluster of villages known as London, who lives in the north of Scotland.
Lars Din - Great songwriter from Gainesville, Florida.
Danny Dolinger - Another fabulous songwriter especially familiar in Earth First! circles.
Silvio Rodriguez - Amazing songwriter from Cuba, one of the fathers of the new song movement.
Duo Negro y Blanco - Like Silvio with harmony. An incredible duo from Bolivia I heard at the Cuba-Venezuela Solidarity tent at the World Social Forum in 2005.
Mat Callahan - Great musician based in Switzerland and author of the fabulous book, The Trouble With Music, on AK Press.
Dope Poet Society - Another fabulous hip hop group from Toronto.
The Nauts - Yet another, from the New York area.
Iron Sheik - Really good Palestinian hip hop artist from Dearborn, Michigan.
Anais Mitchell - Fabulous songwriter from Vermont.
David Ferrard - Very good up-and-coming songwriter from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Citizens Band - Fab, fun political band from Olympia, Washington.
Clan Dyken - Wonderful political hippie jam band from northern California.
Defiance, Ohio - Great punk-folk kind of band from Indiana.
Against Me - Another band like that from Florida.
Michelle Shocked - Rock star.
The Hartbeat Ensemble - Great radical theater group based in Hartford, Connecticut.
Seize The Day - A great, political, inspirational band from Britain.
Chumbawamba - Another fantastic rebel band from Britain.
The Savage Rose - Amazing rock/cabaret band/duo from Denmark.
Armand - The original Dutch hippie singer-songwriter.
The Prince Myshkins - The Washington Squares with radical politics. Brilliant duo from San Diego.
The Therapy Sisters - Austin, Texas' answer to the Prince Myshkins.
Magpie - Wonderful duo from Maryland.
Anne Feeney - Fabulous labor-oriented songwriter from Pittsburgh.
Chris Chandler - Mad and brilliant poet from Georgia (who often performs with Anne Feeney).
Dave Lippman - The original singing CIA agent.
Robert Hoyt - Kick-ass eco-oriented songwriter from Indiana, and a tour rat mentor.
Casey Neill - Another one of them. Plays with a great trio.
Dana Lyons - Yet another.
Darryl Cherney - Yet another. Extremely funny, and with the perspective of an organizer.
Peg Millett - Eco-warrior, pagan priestess, singer and all-around wonderful woman.
Royer's Guitar Machine Band - Eric Royer is the amazing banjo player who you hear on a couple of my CDs. He plays with various other musicians, and also does an incredible one-man band phenomenon which must be seen and heard (he also has great CDs).
The Resophonics - This is Sean Staples' band, which Eric Royer is also in. Sean's going to be the producer of my next CD, and he's a great songwriter and musician.
TV Smith - Really great punk songwriter, former lead singer of the Adverts.
Chris TT - Really good rocking acoustic/electric songwriter from England.
Jan Hammarlund - If Pete Seeger was a Swede from the Castro, this would be him.
Charlie King - Excellent rabble-rousing songwriter from New England.
Pat Humphries - She writes songs that seem to have been written by some great anonymous civil rights marcher decades ago, yet they're current.
Barry Crimmins - Excellent leftist comedian from western New York. Sends out fantastic, regular emails, "Crim Quips." Get on his list!
Rene Hicks - Another excellent progressive comedian, from California.
Will Durst - Another excellent comedian.
Sherry Glaser - Yet another fantastic comedian from California via New York.
Stephan Smith - Really good political rocker/hip hopper from New York City.
Doc Jazz - Doc Jazz is an excellent songwriter and jazz musician. A Palestinian living in the Netherlands, he writes songs in English and in Dutch, many focusing on the Palestinian cause.
Ani DiFranco - She may be famous, but she still kicks ass.
Rich Makin - He writes letters to corporations, gets their responses, and performs it all live. Hilarious stuff.
Paris - Check out "What Would You Do?" from Sonic Jihad.
Bill Oliver - Excellent eco-troubator from Texas, with songs for kids, too.
Amy Martin - Singer-songwriter from Missoula. Check out her song, "It's About Oil."
Reverend Billy - Preaching the gospel of reality.
Pol MacAdaim - Really good folksinger and songwriter from Ireland, reminiscent of Christy Moore.
Steve Earle - Nashville's radical and one of my favorite songwriters.
Bruce Springsteen - Another of my favorite songwriters, from New Jersey.
Peter Siegel - Excellent musician from western Massachusetts, who also has a kids' program.
Richie Stearns - Clawhammer banjo player from Ithaca, New York. Listen to "Baghdad's Children."
Riot Folk - "Making folk a threat again" -- Ryan Harvey, Ethan Miller, Evan Greer and a bunch of other really good youthful songwriters and anarchist zealots, check 'em out.
Donations
If you
donate 1700 yen or more, you can request a free copy of Paul's CD Tofu
SpaghettiSUPPORT TOKYO
PROGRESSIVE
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION IN ANY AMOUNT