I
would like to suggest peace activists consider endorsing these efforts
and create an action in solidarity--- perhaps an informational picket
outside the offices of a member of Congress like Keith Ellison who
Co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus which should come out in
opposition to this Naval Base in South Korea which in reality would just
be adding another U.S. military base to the more than 800 that exist
now while human needs go unmet... I hope everyone will check out the
links at the bottom and consider initiating a solidarity action.
My suggestion for a date of the action would be:
Labor Day, Monday, September 3, 2012
We appeal to you to Join an International Action Week For No Naval Base
2-9 September 2012
We appeal to the people of the world who oppose war and want the world to be a peaceful and sustainable community.
Please take part in an International Solidarity Action (2-9 September
2012) during the World Conservation Congress 2012 which will be held in
Jeju Island.
The 2012 World Conservation Congress, which is an
environmental conference held every 4 years by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is to take place from 6-15 September
in Seogwipo city, Jeju Island. Jeju Island is located in the southern
part of South Korea, adjacent to China, Taiwan, and Japan.
However, in Gangjeong village, which is only 7 km far from the congress
site, construction to build a massive naval base has begun despite the
opposition of a great number of villagers. The total size of the naval
base is 490,000 square meters and it will not only harm the environment
but also ignite military tensions
Gangjeong village in Jeju blessed with a natural environment should be preserved for the future of mankind.
Gangjeong village is a coastal town with a sacred environment and high
value preservation not only in Jeju Island, but also in the world.
The Sea of Gangjeong village is designated as a national cultural
treasure (natural memorial No. 442) by the Korean Cultural Heritage
Administration of Korea and is adjacent to Beom Island, a UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve. Gangjeong village is God’s blessing natural heritage.
The sea of Gangjeong is one of the major habitats of the Indo-Pacific
bottlenose dolphins, one of the species listed by the IUCN. It is
estimated that there are only 114 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in
Korea.
Gangjeong village is located between the two biggest
creeks in Jeju Island and has the biggest freshwater fish habitat on the
island. It provides 70–80% of drinking water to southern residents in
the island. As Jeju Island lacks water due to its porous basaltic land,
this uncommon village is nicknamed as ‘Il-Gangjeong’ which means the
best Gangjeong village. Due to this character, it has been the
‘heartland of agriculture’ from ancient times. Artifacts from
prehistoric times showing the transformation of housing culture have
been also discovered in Gangjeong. For such reasons, Gangjeong was
appointed as a limited development district until the Jeju naval base
construction plan was drafted.
Gureombi rock, located at the
Jeju naval base construction site, is a broad flat rock with 1.2 km in
length and 250m in width and it forms a greatly peculiar bedrock wetland
where spring water comes upward. As Gureombi rock is a part of absolute
preservation area by Jeju local government, it is home to the
Government designated endangered species such as sesarma intermedium,
small round frogs, Jeju saebaengi (native freshwater shrimp of Jeju
Island), and clithon retropietus v. martens.
However, the
Government is unilaterally enforcing the construction of the naval base
without appropriate evaluation and even by easing regulations
expediently or ignoring them illegally. It is clear that the naval base
will not only destroy the environment of the sea of Gangjeong village,
but also cause the serious destruction of the environment of UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve located just 2 km away from the construction site.
There is no doubt that this construction is entirely contrary to the
principals of the World Conservation Congress. The efforts of the South
Korean government and Jeju local government to promote Jeju island as a
world environmental city, while unilaterally enforcing the construction
of the naval base, is deceiving global citizens.
Actions Suggested
1. Please choose at least one day during the International Action Week
(2-9 September 2012) and organize any individual or collective actions
to oppose the Jeju naval base.
2. Please inform the world that
the construction of the naval base in Jeju is fully contrary to the
principal of 2012 World Conservation Congress. Please make calls to the
World Conservation Congress member organizations and member states to
express concerns about the Jeju naval base construction.
3.
Please ask the South Korean government and Jeju local government to stop
building the military base, revoke the naval base project, and make
Jeju Island develop intact as an island of world peace.
4. It
is hypocritical for Samsung, the main contractor of the naval base
project, to support financially the largest environmental event in the
world. Please urge Samsung C&T and Daerim, two main contractors, to
stop constructing naval base in Jeju.
5. To spread this amazing
event widely, please send your endorsement (with your organization’s
name) and your action plans to the Gangjeong international team
(gangjeongintl@gmail.com ) in advance. After your actions, please kindly
send your photos and videos with a simple explanation to the team as
well.
6. There are many events being planned in Jeju Gangjeong
village during the international action week (2-9 September 2012). If
possible, please come to the village and be part of our nonviolent
struggle which has continued over the last 6 years.
We greatly appreciate for your solidarity.
The following groups endorse the action:
National Groups
Gangjeong Village Association
Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 organizations)
Korea Environment NGO Network (36 Korean environmental NGOs)
National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 Korean civil society organizations)
International Groups
Please send your endorsement (organization’s name) and send it to
gangjeongintl@gmail.com . We will collect all international groups’
endorsement and list your names here.
Background
Jeju Island should remain an Island of World Peace, not an outpost of war
In 2005, the South Korean Government declared Jeju Island an Island of
World Peace. At that time, the Government explained that the purpose was
to succeed the spirit of historical summits for diplomacy during the
post-Cold war era – the previous chief secretary of the Soviet union,
Gorbachev’s visit in Jeju island (1991), the establishment of diplomatic
relations between South Korea and Russia (1991), the establishment of
diplomatic relations between South Korea and China (1992) and afterward
the first visit of Jiang Zemin, the previous chief secretary of the
People’s Republic of China, to Jeju island (1995), and cabinet-level
talks between North and South Korea--and to contribute to world peace.
Furthermore, in the Declaration for the Island of World Peace, two
proposals were included. The first was to inherit the three traditions
of Jeju Island (no beggar, no thief, and no gate) and the second was to
recognize the tragic historical 4.3 massacre, which more than one-eighth
of Jeju islanders were massacred in the name of red-hunting.
However, the current naval base construction enforced by the South
Korean Government to militarize Jeju and the East China Sea in the name
of naval security plays a part to threaten peace and prosperity in the
areas. Over the last few years the South Korean government and its Navy
have called themselves sub-partners of the Northeast Naval Strategy led
by the US administration and strengthened the military cooperation among
South Korea, the US, and Japan. The naval base in Jeju will function as
an outpost of this plan. In this naval base, US nuclear-powered
submarine, nuclear aircraft carrier as well as Aegis missile-carrying
warships may berth.
The reason to name Jeju Island as an Island
of World Peace is to make the island a hub of exchange and cooperation
in Northeast Asia and convert the East China Sea into sea of peace and
co-existence. The construction of the naval base is fundamentally
contrary to these visions. Thus, it is crucial to protect the island
from becoming an outpost of warfare. Jeju Island should be developed as a
world peace island.
For more information, please visit:
http://savejejunow.org/
http://www.savejeju.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonavalbase/
https://www.facebook.com/SaveJeju
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj (Korean/ English/ Chinese/ Japanese)
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
globalnet@mindspring.com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)
--
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/