Need your help and support

Hold OnHold On Posts: 80
edited October 2009 in The Porch
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
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • 100 Pacer100 Pacer Toronto, ON Posts: 9,082
    Good luck, Paul,...
    To quote the 10C from Newsletter #8: "Please understand we have a lot of members and it is very hard to please everybody. If you are one of those unhappy people...please call 1-900-IDN-TCAR."

    "Me knowing the truth, I can not concur."

    1996: Toronto - 1998: Chicago, Montreal, Barrie - 2000: Montreal, Toronto - 2002: Seattle X2 (Key Arena) - 2003: Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle (Benaroya Hall) - 2004: Reading, Toledo, Grand Rapids - 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City - 2006: Toronto X2, Albany, Hartford, Grand Rapids, Cleveland - 2007: Chicago (Vic Theatre) - 2008: NYC X2, Hartford, Mansfield X2 - 2009: Toronto, Chicago X2, Seattle X2, Philadelphia X4 - 2010: Columbus, Noblesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford - 2011: Montreal, Toronto X2, Ottawa, Hamilton - 2012: Missoula - 2013: London, Chicago, Buffalo, Hartford - 2014: Detroit, Moline - 2015: NYC (Global Citizen Festival) - 2016: Greenville, Toronto X2, Chicago 1 - 2017: Brooklyn (RRHOF Induction) - 2018: Chicago 1, Boston 1 - 2022: Fresno, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, NYC, Camden - 2023: St. Paul X2, Austin X2 - 2024: Vancouver X2, Portland, Sacramento, Missoula, Noblesville, Philadelphia X2, Baltimore - 2025: Hollywood X2, Atlanta 2, Nashville X2, Pittsburgh X2
  • Hold On wrote:
    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

    Thanks you sir for adding awareness, sounds like an important issue. Hope all works out for you.
    HOB 10.05.2005, E Rutherford 06.03.2006, The Gorge 07.22.2006, Lolla 08.05.2007, West Palm 06.11.2008, Tampa 06.12.2008, Columbia 06.16.2008, EV Memphis 06.20.2009, New Orleans 05.01.2010, Kansas City 05.03.2010
  • doomponydoompony Wellington, NZ Posts: 4,501
    good luck paul! that's just insane.
  • WildsWilds Posts: 4,329
    That is a terrible situation. Paul I hope you and your daughter can be reunited.
  • Paul AndrewsPaul Andrews Posts: 2,489
    Don't count on the Hague Convention.

    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.
  • ClaireackClaireack Posts: 13,561
    Good luck I hope all goes well.

    My thoughts will be with you.
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