Dear Friends,

Much has been made of the resilience and peacefulness of the Japanese people in the wake of the March 11 earthquake-for instance, no official reports of looting during widespread catastrophe in a country of 128 million people.  First-hand reports from friends in Japan offer the same perspective.  Rather than viewing this response as a cultural anomaly, I wonder what we in the US may learn from this example? 

In their 2009 book 'The Spirit Level-Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better authors Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson describe Japan as the most economically equal society among 23 wealthy nations studied.  The richest 20% of the population are less than four times as rich as the poorest 20%.  The consequences, according to their research findings, are improved health outcomes such as obesity and mental illness, teen birth rates, and less violence.  Societies that are more economically equal tend to incarcerate fewer people and treat incarcerated people with more humanity.  Researchers have described Japan's prisons as "havens of tranquility."  In contrast the US had the second highest level of income inequality studied (only Singapore was higher), and some of the worst outcomes in relation to health and violence overall. 

According to a report released by the Economic Policy Institute last month entitled "The State of Working America's Wealth, 2011", authored by Sylvia Allegretto, the nation's income distribution may be quite lopsided, but its wealth distribution is even more so.  The top 1 percent of earners receive about a fifth of all American income; on the other hand, the top 1 percent of Americans by net worth hold about a third of American wealth.

Cities across the US are preparing for major challenges as funding for many programs dries up in the coming months, including job training and placement for youth, and other kinds of support. One almost inevitable result of this reduced support is an increase in the use of mandated services that are not going to be cut: imprisonment and incarceration.

Our collective tendency is to tolerate underlying conditions and vent personal and political aggression on individuals.  A relevant lesson from Kingian nonviolence is the inverse: to create systemic change, respect the individuals while refusing to tolerate underlying conditions. This week, as  many people celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden, this wisdom regarding shifting our attention from individuals to underlying conditions seems more pertinent than ever.  Will bin Laden's death make the world a safer place?  Will the US shift resources to create peace and prosperity at home and abroad in lieu of more warfare?

 With the inspiration of Japan's economic equality and social equanimity before us, perhaps our communities could make headway on many issues by addressing economic inequality.  If decisions and policies were framed with a goal of decreasing economic inequalities, what new answers, even in the midst of current challenges, might we find? 

In peace and hope,

Kit Miller, Director

Our issue this month is dedicated to the Hancock 37. They were arrested while taking part in a peaceful protest at the Hancock Airbase in Syracuse, NY. Among those arrested were recent Distinguished Gandhi Lecturers Kathy Kelly and Ret. Col. Ann Wright.