Need your help and support
First, I want to say I’ve been an avid lover of Pearl Jam’s music going back to early 1992, when I was living in the Seattle area, and I am a 10 club member. I also know that through the years, Pearl Jam fans are the most actively galvanized and supportive fans I’ve ever seen. I’d like to draw your attention to an important issue that has gained much media exposure this past week, the issue of international child abduction to Japan.
Christopher Savoie currently sits in a Japanese jail today for trying to enforce a US custody order and return his own children to the United States. He is facing up to five years in prison for simply trying to be a loving parent. My own daughter, Erika Toland, was abducted to Japan over 6 years ago, and even two years ago, after my wife died, I still have had no contact with Erika as her only living parent, in spite of my repeated attempts.
Japan is the only G7 country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The United States Department of State is not aware of any case in which a child taken by one parent has been ordered returned to the United States by Japanese courts, even when the left-behind parent has a United States custody decree. Nothing in this world is more important than a parent's love for their child. Equally important is a society's responsibility to allow a child to love and know both of their parents. This is where Japan has failed.
You can see Erika's abduction discussed on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives at
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/congress/ ... id=9005768 and see me discussing Erika's case this past week on CNN at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestof ... d.bars.cnn?
This past Saturday a group of left-behind parents held a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy and candlelight vigil in front of the White House to ask for the release of Christopher Savoy, which was covered by CNN, NBC, CBS, NHK, Tokyo TV, Kyodo Newswire service and others. When introducing Amy Savoie, I announced that I will be flying to Japan on Tuesday, and, as Erika’s sole surviving legal and custodial parent, demand to see Erika and bring Erika Toland home. Will Japan have the humanity to reunite Erika with her sole surviving living parent, or will they even allow me into the country? This remains to be seen.
I will be doing my best to keep everyone updated, and I hope you will spread the word keep watching on my daughter Erika’s facebook page to follow me and Erika on this journey of lawful reunification. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 8937667971
Right now, I have a one-way ticket to Japan, but I sincerely hope to be back home in time for the October 31st show at the spectrum (I have 10 club tickets for that show). What I ask of all Pearl Jam fans is to simply show your typically amazing grass-roots efforts to spread the word of this Human Rights tragedy and help Japan change its current ways. Sincerely, Commander Paul Toland, US Navy
Christopher Savoie currently sits in a Japanese jail today for trying to enforce a US custody order and return his own children to the United States. He is facing up to five years in prison for simply trying to be a loving parent. My own daughter, Erika Toland, was abducted to Japan over 6 years ago, and even two years ago, after my wife died, I still have had no contact with Erika as her only living parent, in spite of my repeated attempts.
Japan is the only G7 country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The United States Department of State is not aware of any case in which a child taken by one parent has been ordered returned to the United States by Japanese courts, even when the left-behind parent has a United States custody decree. Nothing in this world is more important than a parent's love for their child. Equally important is a society's responsibility to allow a child to love and know both of their parents. This is where Japan has failed.
You can see Erika's abduction discussed on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives at
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/congress/ ... id=9005768 and see me discussing Erika's case this past week on CNN at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestof ... d.bars.cnn?
This past Saturday a group of left-behind parents held a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy and candlelight vigil in front of the White House to ask for the release of Christopher Savoy, which was covered by CNN, NBC, CBS, NHK, Tokyo TV, Kyodo Newswire service and others. When introducing Amy Savoie, I announced that I will be flying to Japan on Tuesday, and, as Erika’s sole surviving legal and custodial parent, demand to see Erika and bring Erika Toland home. Will Japan have the humanity to reunite Erika with her sole surviving living parent, or will they even allow me into the country? This remains to be seen.
I will be doing my best to keep everyone updated, and I hope you will spread the word keep watching on my daughter Erika’s facebook page to follow me and Erika on this journey of lawful reunification. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 8937667971
Right now, I have a one-way ticket to Japan, but I sincerely hope to be back home in time for the October 31st show at the spectrum (I have 10 club tickets for that show). What I ask of all Pearl Jam fans is to simply show your typically amazing grass-roots efforts to spread the word of this Human Rights tragedy and help Japan change its current ways. Sincerely, Commander Paul Toland, US Navy
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"Me knowing the truth, I can not concur."
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Thanks you sir for adding awareness, sounds like an important issue. Hope all works out for you.
A friend had it work against her and her kids in the US court system due to a prick of an ex-husband and a malicous US lawyer. They were both Australians living in USA on work visas yet he forced he to return to USA to fight the battle. He controlled the money, she was alone.
Why do adults have to behave like children when it comes to their children?
I wish you all the best.
My thoughts will be with you.