The Independent on Sunday 21st October 07
WORDS BY THRELFALL PHOTO BY TOM HELLER

Yoko Ono
ARTIST and MUSICIAN, 74

"I believe . . .

In a place called Nutopia. WasnÕt that great Great when John (Lennon) and I came up with that concept? A country with no physical or racial borders.
Many modern Japanese women
simply donÕt want to get married. ItÕs Not really empowerment, itÕ just a form Of rebelling against historical abuse Because the position of women in Japanese society was so bad for so long. Japanese women were, and still are, The subject of inedible stereo- typing That goes back more than 500 years. My grandmother was one of the first Feminists in Japan.
Good people attract a lot of bad people, Not necessarily good people. The establishment in Japan donÕt invite Me to official functions or reward me With accolades because they are not Very caring towards me. I actually Consider that a healthy situations, as There is still a lot of racism there and The could never handle that I was Married to a westerner. I donÕt Need the establishment\s blessing.
Iceland is a very special place Because it is a pioneer of geo-thermal Energy, which has to be the long- Term solution to our energy needs (If you dig deep enough, every country has pro-thermal energy reserves). That is why I chose a location in Reykjavik for the Imagine Peace Tower; which is Surrounded by

a wishing well to be built there. I was there to ulnveil it on 9 October, which is the birthday of both John and my son Sean. Iraq is a terrible daily tragedy but The Darfur crisis should share the Same level of focus. ThatÕs why I am donating all of the royalties from the Make Some Noise album to Amnesty International, aimed primarily at Raising funds for Darfur. ÒMake Some NoiseÕ, an album of cover versions of John Lennon songs, is oudt now on WEA." at