Pristine Jeju Island, home to one of the world’s largest soft coral reefs, is under threat from plans to build a naval base. Local protesters have been beaten by police, but now the world’s leading environmental organisation, the IUCN, is holding its annual summit there and could turn the tide by speaking out against the destruction. If the IUCN was […]

IUCN leadership refuses to criticize Korea’s destructive naval base that is killing numerous endangered species, and destroying indigenous communities. This stance from IUCN defies its traditional mission, conserving nature and a “just world.” The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest environmental event. Held every four years, the 2012 World Conservation Congress  (WCC) will be held from […]

The Global Campaign to Save Jeju Island is collaborating with Greenpeace International, Endangered Species International, and the Marine and Environmental Research Institute to conduct an independent EIA that can challenge one conducted by the South Korean Navy. Your donation will help us put environmental scientists to work! They will conduct site visits to areas where the three endangered species (frog, […]

On July 5, South Korea’s Supreme Court overturned lower court rulings against the Ministry of National Defense for proceeding with construction of a naval base on Jeju Island without an environmental impact assessment (EIA). It also ruled that the governor of Jeju had the authority to change the designation of absolute preservation areas. This ruling wasn’t just a major blow to residents […]

Open Letter to IUCN

An open letter to the IUCN: Statement to IUCN and WCC    

In this month’s issue: The villagers fight illegal dredging, base pollution destroys crops, and activists point out the irony of IUCN’s choice of Samsung as one of its leading sponsors. Download PDF