Open Letter to Yoko Ono

My name is Mika Johnson and I am an independent filmmaker.

I write to you, Yoko Ono, and join countless creative individuals promoting Awareness and Peace through their artwork. I look to your humanitarian efforts for inspiration. Your messages encourage me to use my chosen medium for something more than entertaining fodder or meaningless diversion. Your art refuses to submit to cynicism or apathy; and through the example of your work's unrelenting messages of Unity, I hope to answer the call for creative activism.
 
In We Are All Water, you created a poetic statement about the equivalencies between seemingly opposing points. Your message is clear and profound: If we consider the interconnectedness of our lives to our environment, we must inevitably accept responsibility for the successes and misfortunes of all things, all people. And despite our tendencies to alienate ourselves from our neighbors, we may always choose to change our negative ideologies into collective efforts towards compassion. We have the capacity to step outside our ego-centered Selves to become part of the World Community, just as small streams flow toward infinite seas.

I offer my cinematic interpretation of the struggles that I believe my generation, and future generations, will ultimately face. Accompanied by a group of dedicated artists from around the world, we pledge to make a film that addresses many of the important concerns plaguing our spiritual and physical environments. Entitled AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts, our film tells the story of a disillusioned Japanese woman who travels to the United States in search of a new beginning. And while she approaches the country through postcard-perfect images and promises of an American Dream, she quickly falls into a patchwork of conflicting histories and perspectives.

Beginning four years ago as a deeply personal story, inspired chiefly by the experiences of my wife and co-creator, Kaori Mitsushima, the film has now taken on a life of its own; through the spirit of collaboration, the film seeks to Re-Imagine the mythology of America, as the country metaphorically operates as a backdrop to the World's stage. Our protagonist navigates America's rich and troubled history as dreams, memories, and the supernatural coincide. She finds herself on a mission to save life-giving waters - the symbolic representation of humanity's spiritual rebirth.
 
I call out to you, Yoko Ono, and to other indomitable artists around the world: please spread the message of our film, AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. We hope that you will contribute your time, your kind words, your listening ears, or your dollars to our passionate endeavor.

We thank you greatly for taking the time to read this letter.
 
Sincerely,

The Petition Signers