Tag: Gangjeong

Jeju Island Anti-Base Activists on US National Speech and Film Tour

If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose / Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing Film and Speech Tour 2015

Hee Eun “Silver” Park and Paco Michelson, peace activists from the Jeju Island Anti-Naval Base struggle will be traveling across the US in March and April to share the story of the struggle through the screening of a new full-length documentary, and speaking about their personal experiences on Jeju Island, Korea.

Since 2007, the people of Gangjeong and their supporters have struggled everyday against state violence, corporate power, war profiteering, and environmental destruction. They have done so nonviolently and passionately. As a result of their work for peace, the tiny village of Gangjeong now has one of the highest “crime” rates in all of South Korea. More than 220,000 police officers (as of 2012) have been stationed in Gangjeong. So far, more than 700 arrests have been made, leading to approx. 200 court cases for more than 650 people, approx. $270,000 in fines levied, and 46 imprisonments. More than 30 internationals have been blacklisted, deported, or denied entry. All for the “crime” of peacefully resisting the construction of a naval base that threatens villagers’ livelihoods, the local ecology, and the peace of northeast Asia.

At some events, Silver and Paco will be presenting the film of Korean director Sung Bong Cho, Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing followed by a Q&A. At others, they will be speaking about the situation and struggle as well as sharing their personal experiences and those of their friends on Jeju, with a presentation titled, If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose.

At all events they will be raising support for legal costs of the activists and villagers of Gangjeong. Many of Gangjeong villagers are farmers whose struggle for justice has meant sacrificing their crops. Many Gangjeong supporters work full-time for the struggle and rely on odd jobs and occasional field labor to survive. The fines are increasing and many people owe thousands of dollars they cannot afford to pay.

Come out to an event in an area near you and hear the story, see the struggle, and donate to the brave peacemakers who are giving everything they can in this fight for justice.

Schedule Overview:

Click on a location to go to that locations section in the list.

March 17-19 – Boston, MA
March 19-21 – Maine
March 21-25 – NYC, NY
March 25 – New Brunswick, NJ
March 26-28 Philadelphia, PA
March 28-30 Washington, DC
March 30-April 4, Los Angeles & San Diego, CA
April 4-9 – San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, CA
April 9-14 Seattle, WA (and Surrounding Area)
April 14-20 – Portland, OR (and Surrounding Area)

Detailed Schedule:

All events listed below are open to the public. There are occasionally non-public events as well, check with your local groups in your area for details on those.

Boston

March 16 (Mon) – March 19 (Thursday)

March 17 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: March 17 (Tue)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: Boston College Korean Students Association
Location: Higgins 310, Boston College (140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut
Hill, MA 02467)
Contact Info: Ramsay Liem (liem@bc.edu / 617-777-5627)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5qHlN

March 18 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 18 (Wed)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: American Friends Service Committee, United for Justice
with Peace
Location: Friends Meeting House (5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA 02138)
Contact Info: Joe Gerson (jgerson@afsc.org), Duncan McFarland
(mcfarland13@gmail.com)
Website: http://masspeaceaction.org/event/jeju-island-gureombi
http://on.fb.me/1B5qWgv

Maine

March 19 (Thursday) – March 21 (Saturday)

March 20 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 20 (Fri)
Time: 7 pm
Organizer: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, PeaceWorks, Maine Veterans For Peace, CodePink Maine, Peace Action Maine
Location: Grace Episcopal Church (1100 Washington St (park in back off Edwards St)
Bath, Maine)
Contact Info: Bruce Gagnon (globalnet@mindspring.com / 443-9502)
Website: http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2015/03/jeju-island-activists-coming-to-maine_10.html

March 21 – Rally at Bath Iron Works

Date: March 21 (Sat)
Time: 11:30 am
Organizer: Peace Works, Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, Smilin’ Trees
Disarmament Farm
Location: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Contact Info: Bruce Gagnon (globalnet@mindspring.com)

NYC

March 21 (Saturday) – March 25 (Wednesday)

March 22 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: March 22 (Sun)
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Organizer: Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Location: The New School, Dorothy Hirshon Suite, Arnhold Hall, (55 West 13th Street, Room I205, New York, NY 10011)
Contact Info: Juyeon (juyeon.jc@gmail.com / 917-656-0156)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5r53r

March 23 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 23 (Mon)
Time: 6:40-9:00 pm
Organizer: Monica Kim
Location: Cantor Film Center (36 E 8th St,Manhattan, NY 10003, bet. Greene St. and University
Place)
Contact Info: Monica Kim (mstarkim@gmail.com / 517-214-8003)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5rcfE

New Brunswick

March 25 (Wednesday)

March 25 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 25 (Wed)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: Graduate Union of Sociology Students
Location: Rutgers University (Davison Hall Room 128, Douglas Campus, 26 Nichol Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901)
Contact Info: Haruki Eda (contact address is deleted by his request)

Philadelphia

March 26 (Thursday) – March 28 (Saturday)

March 26 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: March 26 (Thurs)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Organizer: Philadelphia Committee For Peace and Justice in Asia
Location: Calvary United Methodist Church (815 South 48th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19143)
Contact Info: Hye-Jung Park (hjparkcorea@yahoo.com / 347-283-6065)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5roeO

March 27 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 27 (Fri)
Time: 8 p.m.
Organizer: Circle of Hope Church, Circle of Peacemakers
Location: Circle of Hope Church (2007 Frankford Ave Philadelphia PA 19125)
Contact Info: Joshua Grace (joshua@circleofhope.net / 215 423 2880)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5rsLo

Washington, DC

March 28 (Saturday) – March 30 (Monday)

March 28 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: March 28 (Sat)
Time: 5-8:30 pm
Organizer: Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER)
Location: ANSWER National Office (617 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.20001)
Contact Info: Sarah Sloan (sarahsloan930@yahoo.com / 202-904-7949)
Website: http://on.fb.me/1B5rBhS

March 29 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: March 29 (Sun)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: Coalition of Koreans In the U.S. (희망연대)
Location: William Cho Peace Center (3883 Plaza Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030)
Contact Info: Huk-Kyo Suh (hksuh2003@yahoo.com / 704-314-1489)

LA & San Diego

March 30 (Monday) – April 4 (Saturday)

March 31 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing w/CPT

Date: March 31 (Tues)
Time: 7-9:30 p.m.
Organizer: Reconciliasian / Christian Peacemaker Teams
Location: Casa Robles Missionary Community (6355 Oak Avenue, Temple
City, CA 91780)
Contact Info: Sue Hur (reconciliasian@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/761540473966887/

April 1 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 1 (Wed)
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Organizer: UCSD’s Ethnic Studies Department Colloquium, Program in Transnational Korean Studies, Graduate Division Grad Life and Grad Climate Interns, and Coalition for Critical Asian American Studies
Location: UCSD Cross-Cultural Center – ArtSpace, University of California, San
Diego (9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093)
Contact Info: Esther Choi (estherminchoi@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1566580410258374/

April 2 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 2 (Thurs)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: Nanum Corean Cultural Center (우리문화나눔회), Peace21 (내일을 여는
사람들), Friends of the Progressives (진보의 벗), Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA)
Location: Abundant Life of Korean Church (3020 Wilshire Bl., Los Angeles, CA 90010)
Contact Info: Cheol-Ho Lee (icydewdrop@gmail.com, 424-281-7901), Danny
Park (danny2680@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/942948465728887/

April 3 – Talk and Discussion:If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: April 3 (Fri)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Organizer: SOOBAK (SoCal Organized Oppression Breaking Anti-imperialist
Koreans)
Location: 2936 W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90005
Contact Info: Gonji Jessica Lee (jessica.kang.lee@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/805579472859691/

San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley

April 4 (Saturday) – April 9 (Thursday)

April 5 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: April 5 (Sun)
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Organizer: Code Pink (EB), East Bay Media Center, HOBAK (Hella Organized Bay Area Koreans), Korea Policy Institute, Peaceworkers
Location: Eastside Arts Alliance (2277 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606)
Contact Info: Paul Liem (pliem@mindspring.com, 510-414-5575)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/644421315663973/

April 6 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: April 6 (Mon)
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Organizer: CKS (Commitee Korea Studies) Berkeley
Location: UC Berkeley, 126 Barrows Hall (Berkeley, CA 94720)
Contact Info: CKS (cks.staff@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1404608813189759/

April 7 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 7 (Tues)
Time: 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Organizer: Code Pink (EB), East Bay Media Center, HOBAK (Hella Organized Bay Area Koreans), Korea Policy Institute, Peaceworkers
Location: East Bay Media Center (1939 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704)
Contact Info: Paul Liem (pliem@mindspring.com, 510-414-5575)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/644421315663973/

April 8 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: April 8 (Wed)
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Organizer: The Metta Center, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church (40 5th St, Petaluma, CA 94952)
Contact Info: Michael Nagler (michaeln.nagler72@gmail.com)
Website: http://mettacenter.org/events/speaker-film-tour-long-struggle-peace-jeju-island-korea/

Seattle

April 9 (Thursday) – April 14 (Tuesday)

April 9 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 9 (Thurs)
Time: 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Organizer: SahngNokSoo
Location: Wing Luke Museum (719 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104)
Contact Info: James Keum (keumjames@gmail.com), Christina Seong (christina.seong@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1597467890499723/

April 10 – Film Screening and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 10 (Fri)
Time: 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Organizer: SahngNokSoo
Location: The Hillman City Collaboratory (5623 Rainier Avenue South Seattle, WA 98118)
Contact Info: James Keum (keumjames@gmail.com), Christina Seong (christina.seong@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1597467890499723/

April 11 – Live Music, Film Screening, and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 11 (Sat)
Time: 7 p.m.
Organizer: Seth Martin
Location: The Matrix Coffeehouse (434 NW Prindle St, Chehalis, WA 98532)
Contact Info: Seth Martin (sethpatrickmartin@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/850433715023993/

April 12 – Potluck Dinner, Live Music, Film Screening, and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 12 (Sun)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Organizer: Seattle Catholic Worker, Seth Martin
Location: Seattle Catholic Worker (12914 74th Ave S, Skyway, WA, 98178)
Contact Info: Seth Martin (sethpatrickmartin@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/566047346832246/

April 13 – Potluck Dinner, Live Music, Film Screening, and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 13 (Mon)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Organizer: Tacoma Catholic Worker, Seth Martin
Location: Guadalupe House, Tacoma Catholic Worker (1417 S G St, Tacoma, WA 98405)
Contact Info: Seth Martin (sethpatrickmartin@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/609362585866665/

Portland

April 14 (Sunday) – April 20 (Monday)

April 15 – Potluck Dinner, Live Music, Film Screening, and Q&A: Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing

Date: April 15 (Wed)
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Eloheh Farm
Location: Eloheh Farm (13510 NE Roedel Rd, Newberg, OR 97132)
Contact Info: Seth Martin (sethpatrickmartin@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1557027914580890/

April 16 – Talk and Discussion: If You Don’t Give Up You Can’t Lose

Date: April 16 (Thurs)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Organizer: Lewis and Clark College East Asian Studies Program
Location: Lewis & Clark University, Miller Humanities Building room 102 (0615 SW
Palatine Hill Rd, Portland, OR 97219)
Contact Info: Martin Hart-Landsberg (marty@lclark.edu)

Please come out, invite your friends, and share this to your networks!

February 27, 2015
World Council of Churches Issues Statement Opposing Jeju Naval Base Construction

Last fall, from October 30 until November 8, 2013, The World Council of Churches (WCC) held its every 7-years global assembly in Busan on the southern tip of the mainland of Korea. With the theme of “God of Life, lead us to Justice and Peace”, it was perfectly suited for Gangjeong, and activists and villagers from Gangjeong, as well as nationwide and international supporters attended the assembly, hosting both a workshop on Inter-Island Solidarity and an Exhibition Booth about Gangjeong’s struggle.

At the time, Gangjeong’s struggle was also brought before the assembly as an issue to be discussed in the official statements released each time by the WCC. The public issues committee and the WCC delegates which had the delegated authority to choose which issues would appear in official statements, voted to choose Gangjeong. Gangjeong and its supporters were overjoyed, however due to unresolved issues, there was not time to finish and release the official statement by the end of the assembly and it was pushed back to July 2014 when the WCC central committee would meet again to resolve remaining issues.

Well, finally, from July 2-8, the central committee met in Geneva, Switzerland. There they finished the remaining statements and released them including the one related to Gangjeong. In an official statement entitled, “Statement towards a Nuclear-free World”:

The World Council of Churches central committee, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 2-8 July 2014, therefore calls on member churches and related ministries and networks to:

[…] 8. Oppose the expansion of military bases, nuclear forces and missile defences in Asia or targeting Asia, and raise awareness of public resistance to such military expansion including the new naval base at Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

According to the WCC, they represent over 500 million Christians in more than 110 countries, making them one of the worlds largest religious councils. This clear mandate for its member churches, ministries and networks to oppose the Gangjeong naval base is a major win for the Gangjeong struggle!

Please spread this great news around and encourage those you know in WCC related churches, networks and ministries, to join in this new mandate of the WCC!

August 27, 2014
2014 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace

The official English poster for the 2014 Grand March for Life and Peace

The time for the annual Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace is almost here! From July 29 to August 2, Gangjeong friends and supporters will march across Jeju from Jeju City to Gangjeong. Then in Gangjeong there will be a festival and celebration.

The Grand March is one of the highlights of the year here in Gangjeong. Watch a video from the 2013 Grand March or the human chain around Gureombi following the march. And here are some pictures from the 2012 Grand March.

Join us! Internationals are welcome! See the poster above for details and contact us at gangjeongintl@gmail.com & peace@pspd.org for info! It will be very helpful if you inform your participation to us through email in advance for the logistics purpose though your participation fee can be paid in the march site.

For the international friends who can physically join the march: For more concrete guide, please see the below. Any peace flags and talents that you may bring and share with the marchers would surely encourage the villagers and activists here. Thanks for joining us in march!

For the international friends who cannot physically join the march: Even though you may not be able to physically join the 2014 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace, you may join us by sending us international solidarity messages(up to 100 words)/photos/videos through gangjeongintl@gmail.com by no later than July 23. As in 2012 and 2013, the village international team thankfully receives solidarity messages from the friends in the world upon the 2014 Grand March for Life and Peace which is followed by the Peace for the Sea International Peace Camp(Aug. 3 to 6), and boosted by other campaigns like writing a letter to Pope campaign . All the messages you send will be publicly shared. Please check the solidarity messages collected in 2012 (Click here) and 2013(Click here) . We want to let you know how Kang Dong-Kyun, ex-mayor of the Gangjeong village, has much appreciated all your messages, sitting and reading all the translated messages printed in 20 pages, with awe and gratitude, without moving for a while. None of your messages will go in vain. We also want to display some of your messages with translation in the Village Peace Center where many villagers and activists always gather. Thanks for encouraging us.

………………………………. Guide to 2014 March ……………………………….

1.     Accommodation and meal:

Tent and food are provided during march but you may bring your personal tent and/or sleeping bag(s). Please bring your personal washing tool (tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo, towel etc) , You may also bring jacket, umbrella etc.

2.     Brief schedule July 29 (Tues.):

Please gather across the main gate of the Jeju Island government hall by noon. If you join march in the middle of it, please contact Jungjoo (English,010-8560-3734), Emily (Chinese, 010-6469-9413 ), and Dongseok(Japanese, 010-9334-0933) for information.

Aug. 1 (Fri.):

There will be a Peace Bus in the Jeju airport at 2 pm. The bus directly goes to the village where there will be events (see the below) Once arrived in the village around 5 pm, there will be a Great gathering for people’s talk in the Gangjeong soccer field from 8 to 9 pm. Then movie night after it.

(* 6-7 pm: dinner 7-9 pm: Great gathering for people’s talks (Maningongdonghoe)

9:30 pm ~ : Movie night with Yang Yoon-Mo and Grace)

Aug. 2 (Sat.):

In the morning, there will be various program such as peace mass and human chain. From 7 pm, there will be a Cultural Event for the Stop of the Jeju Naval Base Project and Citizens’ Prayer for Peace in the Gangjeong Soccer Field.

(* 9-11 am: Gangjeong village tour

11 am -12 pm: Life and peace mass

12-1 pm: Human chain, Peace ribbons

1-2 pm: Lunch

2-6 pm: Peace prayer tower building, Peace-Protection Totemic Pole building, Writing wishes, peace prayer ceremony, Ieodo-ro Peace Market, Treasure-search (peace book village team), water play in the Gangjeong stream(watermelon party)

6-7 pm dinner

7-9 pm Cultural Event for the Stop of the Jeju Naval Base Project and for Peace Prayer )

Aug. 3 (Sun.):

   Breakfast together at 8 am. You may join Seeding Flowers, Wish tower-building. The official events end on Aug. 2. Therefore Aug. 3 program is optional.

3.     Schedule in detail

July 29(Tues.): Jeju Island Government Hall-A small park in the Halla University four way intersection- A Funeral House, Hagwi Agricultural Cooperative(Nonghyup)-Youngmowon-Gosungri Sports Field-Hangpaduri July 30(Wed.): Hangpaduri-Yusooamri Small Park-Saemangreu Research and Training Institute-Saebyul Oreum(Oreum-climbing. Please notice that there is no bathroom here)

July 31(Thur.): Saebyul Oreum-Dongkwangri Welfare Hall-Seogwang Elementary School-Deoksou Elementary School-Sanbang Mt. Resting Place-Hwasoon Beach

Aug. 1 (Fri.): Hwasoon Beach-Andeok Valley-A Small Park-Cheonje Fall-International Convention Center-Yakcheon Temple-Gangjeong Soccer Field (Arriving around 5 pm)

4.      Guide on the Peace Bus (At 2 pm, Aug. 1, Jeju Airport): The bus directly goes to the village to join the events that start 7 pm on the day. If you need to use this bus, Please contact gangjeongintl@gmail.com andpeace@pspd.org in advance for the reservation of the bus seats! It is mandatory!

5. Elementary school students For the elementary school students, participation fee is free but a t-shirt should be purchased at the price of 10,000 KRW. Please contact gangjeongintl@gmail.com and peace@pspd.org in advance.

6. Support for the participation fee For the participants who come from the outside of the Jeju and join more than three nights four days, 20,000 KRW of participation fee will be supported.

June 25, 2014
Gangjeong Goes to the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly in Busan, Korea

From October 30 until November 8, The World Council of Churches (WCC) will hold its every 7-years global assembly in Busan on the southern tip of the mainland of Korea.

According to the WCC website:

“The WCC brings together churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 500 million Christians and including most of the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches. At the end of 2012, there were 345 member churches.”

And regarding the assembly:

“The assembly is the highest governing body of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and meets every seven years. It is a moment when the fellowship of member churches comes together as a whole in prayer and celebration.

The assembly has the mandate to review programmes, to issue public statements and determine the overall policies of the WCC, as well as to elect presidents and a Central Committee that oversees the council’s work until the next assembly.

Along with the WCC member churches, partner organizations and other churches have a strong presence at the event. This makes an assembly of the WCC the most diverse Christian gathering of its size in the world. It is a unique opportunity for the churches to deepen their commitment to visible unity and common witness so that world may believe.

The WCC was established at its 1st Assembly in Amsterdam, Netherlands (1948). Since then assemblies have been in held in Evanston, United States (1954); New Delhi, India (1961); Uppsala, Sweden (1968); Nairobi, Kenya (1975); Vancouver, Canada (1983); Canberra, Australia (1991); Harare, Zimbabwe (1998); and Porto Alegre, Brazil (2006).

The theme of the 10th Assembly is: “God of Life, lead us to Justice and Peace” . Which as you can see is a very good theme for a village like Gangjeong, known as the Life and Peace Village, which is struggling for Justice. With this in mind. Gangjeong Village and its supporters will have a presence at this years WCC.

As you can see in the above graphic. There will be both a Madang Workshop and an Exhibition Booth.

Madang Workshop:

The Workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 6 from 2:15-3:45 p.m. It is called, Inter-Island Solidarity for Peace: Establishing Peace Against maritime Militarization.

This is workshop will be a discussion about strategies, failures and successes of anti-militarism and anti-base movements. The main focus is on building a better and stronger network between islands who are suffering similar injustices. Guest speakers will be joining from Jeju, Okinawa, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Lanyu (in Taiwan). We are hoping that many other islanders and people struggling against unwanted military bases and land seizures will join as for the discussion as well.

Exhibition Booth:

We will also have a booth for the duration of the WCC assembly from morning until evening. It is Booth #50. It is in the blue section under the name “Gangjeong Village Association”. There will be pictures, displays, videos, brochures, newsletters, postcards, books, handicrafts, and friendly people.

If you are at the WCC Assembly in Busan, please come by our booth and also think about joining our workshop!

Open Letter to the WCC:

Finally and perhaps most importantly, the Gangjeong Village Association, The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, and The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island have issued an open letter calling for the World Council of Churches to issue a public statement for peace against Asia-Pacific maritime militarisation. The letter is reproduced below and also can be found at this link. Please spread this to anyone you know who might have connections with the WCC or is attending this assembly:

Calling for the Issue of a Public Statement for Peace against Asia-Pacific Maritime Militarization:

“Guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79)

We are writing to urge the delegates of Member Churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to seriously consider issuing a public statement on building peace in the Asia-Pacific against maritime militarization. Today, we are witnessing a rise of militarism under the name of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. Tension between the economic and military expansion of China and the corresponding the U.S. “Asian Pivot” strategy has sparked an escalation in the war-profit industry and an arms race for global military dominance. This has left in its wake conflict and suffering, and the destruction of land, cultures, and traditions across the Asia-Pacific. These false idols of security and economic expansion runs counter to the justice, peace, and life that are the core values of the World Council of Churches and Christians everywhere.

A key example of the impact of this militarization can be seen in Gangjeong Village, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. One of the oldest and most naturally beautiful villages of Jeju, the unique eco-systems of Gangjeong are a showcase of God’s creative spirit, home to numerous endangered species and the world’s largest temperate soft coral forest. Since 2007, without the villagers’ consent, it has become the site of massive naval base construction. If built, the Jeju naval base will be a critical outpost of the ROK-Japan-U.S. maritime military alliance targeting China. As a result, Jeju, ironically known as “the Island of Peace”, will become a primary target, leading to devastating loss of life and destruction.

Dedicated to the care of creation and the spread of life, the struggle against the base in Gangjeong is an open and truly ecumenical/inter-faith resistance for justice. Catholics, Protestants, Quakers, Anabaptists, Buddhists, and Shamanists have come together to create a vital community, marked by vibrant practice of faith and respect for different traditions without dilution or conflict. Despite police crackdowns on religious expression and assembly, Catholic priests hold daily mass in front of the construction site, Protestants have prayer services, and Shamans perform traditional rituals. The ingredients that hold it all together are a steadfast desire for God’s justice, a dream of life together, and a commitment to nonviolent peacemaking. We hope that the struggle against the Jeju naval base construction, which is a microcosm of the maritime militarization of the Asia-Pacific, can be a call to Christians and all people of God to return to the path of peace.

It is now urgent for churches to respond to the escalating maritime militarization and violence in the Asia-Pacific region that runs counter to the call of the people of God to peacemaking. As mentioned in an “Ecumenical Call for Just Peace,” churches should become builders of a culture of peace while recognizing the promise of peace is a core value of all religions. The farmers of Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island are at the forefront of such a faithful realization of the Kingdom of God. Let’s not turn their plowshares into swords.

Therefore, we call upon the World Council of Churches to:

• Issue a public statement at the 10th Assembly of World Council of Churches, formally expressing its grave concern regarding maritime militarization in the Asia-Pacific which is a threat to regional and global just peace;

• Urge the government of the Republic of Korea to stop the Jeju naval base construction and focus on peaceful approaches to cooperation;

• Call upon the government of the Republic of Korea to protect and promote all human rights including the right to peace and environment of the people of Gangjeong Village;

• Appeal to the churches and national ecumenical councils in the region to take serious measures to stop the arms race and make the Pacific the Sea of Peace.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Dong-Kyun Kang / Ms. Young-hee Jeong
Village Mayor / Chairwoman
Gangjeong Village Association / Village Women’s Committee

Mr. Gi-Ryong Hong / Ms. Ri-ri Hong
Co-convenor / Co-convenor
Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island

Mr. Taeho Lee / Ms. Hye-ran Oh
Co-convenor / Co-convenor
National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island

* Contact Details:
Ms. Gayoon Baek, National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island, gayoon@pspd.org
Mr. Paco Michelson, Gangjeong International Team, gangjeongintl@gmail.com

Please spread the word, come join us at the WCC Assembly in Busan, and thanks for your support!

October 30, 2013
Following in Martin’s Footsteps | notonlyformyself

Reblogged with permission from: Following in Martin’s Footsteps | by notonlyformyself *

As my time in Gangjoeng has come to an end I walk away feeling grateful for having had the opportunity to meet people acting from a place of love, not hatred.

Having met the ones who would rather go to prison than compromised their moral beliefs.

Hung out with the SOS team. Frozen kayak rides, stubbornly working as monitors and guardians of the sea, coast line, animal life, corals and sea bed, all deeply affected by the construction.

Been inspired by all these politicians, leaders, villagers, supporter. Activists in different coats.

And yesterday six people from the National assembly(belonging to the Progressive Democratic Party) came to the same gate. Held a press conference. Talked about not being let in to see the base. Despite having their permits in order.

Many big and small efforts.

And all these people have at some point reacted and decided to act. Laws and regulations are made by people. Structures are created but can be changed if needed. Patters of state power can be challenges. Do not obey it you feel you shouldn’t. The pink sign below says just that; sometimes it is your obligation to stand by your beliefs and disobey.

And doing it from a place of love instead of hatred is a good start.

*Reblogged posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Save Jeju Now

January 22, 2013