As the Diet is preparing to discuss, during its new session, the renewal of Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, the death of Japanese aid worker Ito Kazuya, abducted by armed men in eastern Afghanistan, has revived the debate on Japan's involvement in the country.

Several Japanese NGOs present in Afghanistan have suspended their activities and are considering pulling back, for the security situation does not allow them to carry out their activities. Others are reconsidering their presence in light of Japan's pending decision to dispatch ground forces to Afghanistan to help with reconstruction efforts.

The director of Peshawar-kai, the NGO for which Ito was working, expressed concerns two months ago, when the Japanese government announced it was considering sending ground troops to Afghanistan. In a letter posted on the internet following the death of Ito, Nakamura Tetsu said discussions about sending troops have endangered aid groups on the ground, even those known for opposing the armed intervention in Afghanistan since 2001, as was the case for Peshawar-kai. 

While governments such as in Japan, France and the US are thinking about reinforcing their presence, the Afghan government has requested changes in the terms of engagement defining the international military engagement in Afghanistan following repeated airstrikes on villages that have killed countless civilians.

An increasing number of organizations are calling for international coalition forces to pull out of the country, for military operations have a negative impact on the humanitarian situation and will not bring an end to the conflict in Afghanistan.

On September 21, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) held celebrations for the International Day of Peace around the world.

GPPAC uses the International Day of Peace as a rallying point to raise awareness about the value and necessity of conflict prevention and peacebuilding work.

In Northeast Asia, the common theme was Article 9, and events in Taipei, Tokyo, Ulaanbaatar and Vladivostok ranged from children's celebrations, academic conferences and dance performances.

In Tokyo, the newly released DVD of the Global Article 9 Conference was screened, and young participants in the conference shared how they have been working to promote the ideals of Article 9 in the months passed. This included a powerful performance by the Peace Boat Article 9 Dance Team, who took the dance performed at the Plenary Session to ports visited during the Peace Boat 62nd Global Voyage, sharing the spirit of Article 9 in such varied places as a youth festival in Viet Nam, a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, an environmental event in Iceland and a performance in central New York City.

More information on the dance team can be seen here.

A Japanese version of the Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War official book and DVD have been released in September 2008.

The 240-page book, published by Otsuki Shoten, features all speeches presented at the Plenary Session, and images and records of discussions held throughout the three days.

The 120 minute DVD features a 40 minute summary of the Plenary Session, and a chapter on each of the symposiums and special forums held on the following days.

The book and DVD can be ordered through the Global Article 9 Conference online shop.

At this stage, only Japanese language versions are available - an English version of the book is planned for the fall.