Hi!

RKK recently featured an extended segment on Rene Saint-Laurent becoming a
member of the volunteer fire department in Minami Aso. It was a very favorable
TV spot. What Rene is doing is an excellent example of how foreigners can
become fully integrated into the local community.

I have the video of the TV spot and can share it with Rene, if he does not have
a copy, or with Rene's friends. If Rene doesn't mine, I might throw it up on
YouTube so that those who are interested can take a look.

Actually, this is an issue of some national as well as local significance. In
other regions of Japan, foreigners who have attempted to join volunteer
firefighting departments have run up against legal barrier. The following Wall
Street Journal article explains how 'a Japanese law that bans foreigners from
all municipal positions that "exercise administrative authority"' prevented
Richard Curtis from helping to put out fires in Kanazawa Japan:

http://tomcoyner.com/Richard%20Curtis%20Has%20Learned%20His%20Services.html

I would write to Rene directly but I'm not sure how to contact him. I hope that
those of you who know him will give him my best and let him know that I can
provided him with the video of his segment, as well as a video about Richard
Curtis that was broadcast on national TV, if he likes.

Kirk--------------------------------------
2010 FIFA World Cup News [Yahoo!Sports/sportsnavi]
http://pr.mail.yahoo.co.jp/southafrica2010/