[Jeju Update] A French citizen's letter to President Lee Myung-Bak

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RELATED UPDATE COLLECTION

[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since Aug. 24, 2011
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Benj D'Amour wrote the below on July 25, 2011(Via FACEBOOK)


Dear readers, i post a letter addressed to President Lee, that letter has been already sent to many officials and leaders of the World obviously it is open to comments...


Mr President Lee,

As a French citizen, I know that you are in a close relationship with the government of my country, notably on the G20 issue and the development of your nuclear program.

I write to you on behalf of my activists friends, in Korea and around the world, who are peacefully and honestly involved in the Gangjeong issue in Jeju island. We are puzzled by the situation in Jeju.
I wish to awake your heart and your mind, as well as the hearts and minds of the members of your government. You and we activists belong to the same human community.
I wish you to look at the cruelty of the current action in Gangjeong.
Do you remember that President Roh, after his term and before his suicide, did regret to authorize US military expansion on Jeju island?
Are you going to be a President who would leave a legacy of ecological and cultural damage into your country's history?
Can't you feel that allowing to build that naval base will have, on Jeju Island as well as on Asian Peace Process, countless destructive consequences?

We urgently need to dialogue with you and your representatives. Please Mr President, allow us to come to your table and share with you.

From my point of view, it seems like you are allowing military expansion to oppress your citizens who have been living on this island for generations when trauma of 1948 massacre still remains in Jeju people's soul and has to be healed.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to destroy Jeju Island.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to open the way to the loss of precious Jeju's cultural and natural heritage.

Please Mr President Lee, come out and explain to us what are the real motivations for opening a military harbour in Jeju.

Your friend Mikhail Gorbatchev participated in 1991 to the nomination of Jeju as "The Island of World Peace". The project of opening a "United Nation's Peace University" on Jeju is intensely being discussed in Asia.
Now the "New7wonders" election result is approaching.
And next year Jeju will be the host of the IUCN World Conservation Congress which is the world largest and most important conservation event.

Then, I encourage you to think about how it will appear in the mind of the world's population that a military base is under construction on this South Korean Island.
And please consider that a countless number of organizations and people all over the world are aware of the non-democratic means that are used against villagers and activists to impose the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong.

In fact it is a serious sin to prevent future children from visiting and enjoying the pristine beauty of Gureombi rock, an inheritated jewel of our gentle creation.

Don't you think that empowering Jeju to become a model touristic island, as well as an "educative Island for World Peace" is a genius idea?Unfortunately the presence of a military base would ruin the essence of those genuine achievements.

Also I understand your concerns about the national security. However, please make efforts to re-engage a dialogue with North-Korean government on the basis of the 4th of October 2007 declaration. It would be a serious and brave way to drive back your country into a permanent peaceful, politically more independant and prosperous direction. Allowing a military base which cannot protect your country against North-Korea would only escalate provocative tensions, worsening diplomatic relations with your neighbors, and it would dangerously expose Jeju as a war target.

As a peace activist, as a concerned being about the future of humanity and planet Earth, it is with determination that I request you to consider to stop immediately the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong. Also I encourage you to make a clear public appearance stating what is your opinion about building another military base in your country and its consequences for Asian Peace Process.

With my sincere wish for a fairly outstanding course of the remaining 14 months of your fonction, hoping that your presidency will leave a memorable legacy to South-Korea and to the rest of the world.

Protecting life on Earth
Benjamin Monnet
"World Assembly member".
www.savejejuisland.org

PS: I ask you to forgive me if my English way of writting is "Frenchised".

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While some people enjoy life, some other people struggle to make life possibly enjoyable for longer times. Your help is essential, be parents, activists or simply compassionate people. Engage yourself against the militarization of our planet, against the loss of farming values, against the disappearance of our indigenous cultures, against the robotization of Humanity. NO FEAR, JUST LOVE, JUST ACT NOW (Benj D'Amour)

Text Fwd: DEMANDING CONVERSION AT BIW

On May 7 another Aegis destroyer will be "christened" at Bath Iron Works and a protest will be held beginning at 10:00 am

Organizing Notes
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2011/04/demanding-conversion-at-biw.html
Saturday, April 16, 2011
DEMANDING CONVERSION AT BIW



Today was the 6th weekly vigil at Bath Iron Works (BIW) here in Maine during the Lenten season. Organized by the Smiling Trees Disarmament Farm, these weekly vigils have been a mainstay outside the Navy ship yard for many years.


Since our house is so close it is one of the few protests we can actually walk to - a very nice thing for us.


I held a sign today that has a train painted on it by an artist friend and reads "Built in Bath" across the top. As the Saturday shift workers drove by at noon it was clear that many of them understood the message - and many of them agree - that something different could and should be produced at BIW. There is growing support amongst the workers to consider the idea of conversion. But in order to make it happen the workers inside these military production facilities are going to have to become more vocal.


These Aegis destroyers, with so-called "missile defense" systems on-board, are keys to the aggressive Pentagon military strategy that calls for deployments around Russia and China's borders in order to neutralize their nuclear retaliatory forces.


The hard fought struggle now going on at Jeju Island in South Korea against the construction of a Navy base is linked to these Aegis destroyers as the Navy needs more ports of call for the ever-expanding fleet of these ships.


The next "christening" of an Aegis at BIW will be on Saturday, May 7 so we will once again put out the call for peace activists to join us there for a protest of these war ships. Many of Maine's leading politicians, including our new Republican governor, will be on-hand for the event. We will gather at 10:00-11:30 am in order to be there as the thousands of people file into the ship yard to watch the ceremony. We'll hook up a portable sound system and hear speeches from representatives of many peace groups in the state. After it is over we'll hold a pot luck lunch at the Addams-Melman House in Bath.


We'll be talking alot that day about jobs. Studies show that spending $1 billion on military production creates 8,555 jobs. But if that same $1 billion was invested in building rail systems at places like BIW we'd get 19,795 jobs. That's a huge difference and you'd think that the media, unions, politicians, and the public would be all over this little known bit of good news.


People are clamoring for jobs these days. Corporations, despite huge tax cuts, are not investing here in the U.S. because they are attracted to cheaper labor overseas. So if we want more jobs in this country we've got to take our federal tax dollars, that are presently being pissed down the rat hole, and invest them in building rail systems, wind turbines, solar systems back here at home.


This won't happen though unless we demand it and we must do it repeatedly. We'll have another opportunity to do so at BIW on May 7.

Text Fwd: NO MORE FUKUSHIMA: GLOBAL CALL FOR SOLIDARITY ACTIONS AGAINST NUCLEAR PLANTS

* Text sent from Makiko Sato on April 5, 2011

APRIL 10th "NO MORE FUKUSHIMA":
GLOBAL CALL FOR SOLIDARITY ACTIONS AGAINST NUCLEAR PLANTS

We took big risk depending on nuclear energy in exchange for creating unlimited prosperity. Then we are now facing assumed danger. Human being seems to take wrong choice. We have to make sure. No more nuclear plants.


We individuals living in Tokyo are planning an demonstration against nuclear plants on 10th April in Koenji, Tokyo. We also would like to call for global solidarity actions on the same day. We believe that the global response and action will be significant support for all disaster victims and movements against the current nuclear policy in general.


CALL FOR ACTION:
This is a global call for actions on 10th April.
We sincerely hope that you will take any actions, like demonstrations, media actions, street performances or benefit lives, together on that day.
Work with us in solidarity against all nuclear plants worldwide!



PLEASE SEND US:
Plans for actions and Records of actions.
Please send us the texts, documents, footage, images and/or anything else relating to your actoins to:
http://410nonuke.tumblr.com/


PLEASE SPREAD:
to your local Indymedia, Mailing List, Individuals, Facebook and so on.
We are glad if you forward this message.



in strong solidarity,

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
・If you have some friends who reside in Japan who still don't know about this below website of Gernman Weather
Forcaset Bureau, please let them know. This regards simulated radiation dispersion depending on winds direction
from Fukushima Daiichi, every 6 hours for current time till 3 days ahead. Presently radioactive winds cover
half or most of areas of Japan, except for Okinawa. Internal exposure to very low-level radiation,
to thyroids, immune systems, gene, through eating, drinking, inhaling air, is dangerous to minors, infants, fetus,
pregnant women or would-be in middle or long-terms.
http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/generator/DWDWWW/Content/Oeffentlichkeit/KU/KUPK/Homepage/Aktuelles/Sonderbericht__Bild5,templateId=poster,property=poster.gif

・Talk by Dr. Arnest Sternglass regarding radiation and health in Japan, 2006 (with interpretation by Yumi Kikuchi)
http://fujiwaratoshikazu.com/2011disaster

・http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4411946789896689299#
　Nuclear Ginza ( produced by BBC 1995 ) --the reality of risky labor and laborers at nuclear power plants--

Video Fwd: PLEA FROM LOCAL MAYOR NEAR FUKUSHIMA

Organizing Notes Sunday, April 03, 2011 PLEA FROM LOCAL MAYOR NEAR FUKUSHIMA
Message from the Mayor of Minami-Soma City; filmed on March 24, 2011. The mayor talks about how the city lacks supplies and that there is no means to deliver supplies to the citizens stranded at home. See a news article with more info here

Photos Fwd: [March 26] Stop Bombing Libya!

* Image source: Anti-War Peace Solidarity's March 26
protest rally poster 반전 평화 연대(클릭)
Part of the poster contents reads: "What the western countries aim are domination and oil in the middle east and Africa."
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*All the below image source: Cho Sung-Bong, Tongil News, March 26, 20
11 통일 뉴스, 조성봉, 2011년 3월 26일(클릭)

About 200 people protested against the multi-nations' bombing on Libya, in the Boshingak, Seoul, 4pm, March 26, 2011. The protesters denouncing the bombings "not of humanitarian intervention but of another invasive war,' demanded to the western countries to immediately stop those.

Text Fwd: [Korean civic organizations] Joint declaration for recovering Japanese earthquake·nuclear accident, and for society safe from Nuclear

* Image source: Click HERE

On March 28, the Hankyoreh and civic organizations in Korea had an evening event for condolence and solidarity for Japan being in the crisis of nuclear plant explosion in Fukushima, at the Boshingak, Seoul (7pm)

* Image source: Korea Times No to nuclear power plant: Members of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements call for the government to stop expanding nuclear power plants in front of Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral, Seoul, Monday, the 32nd anniversary of the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in the U.S. 03-28-2011 ___________________________________________________ Peace Network

Joint declaration for recovering Japanese earthquake·nuclear accident, and for society safe from Nuclear

Today, we are here, feeling miserable and tragic. The massive earthquake which hit Japan on the last 11th totally changed the lives of Japanese citizens. Official casualties and missing people have reached as many as 20,000 and approximately 400,000 people evacuated their home and are suffering from anxiety in the temporary shelter. We would like to express our condolence to those Japanese who have passed away and are still suffering from the natural disaster. Apart from the problems regarding the past history, we feel sincerely sorry for our neighboring country Japan with which we have a lot of economic and cultural exchanges. Not only the enormous damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the explosion accident of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is also another disaster indeed. As radiation-contaminated materials are spreading even currently, the fear that this accident might develop into an huge nuclear disaster is increasing. We wish this Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant explosions come to settlement as soon as possible so this accident does not have any negative influence on the entire humanity and the nature as well as Japanese citizens. Therefore, Korean civil social groups and parties are planning an aid program for the Japanese earthquake and the nuclear accident. Though our help might be minute, in comparison to the huge scale of the damage, we believe that it would be of a great help if all nations including us cooperate in order to help Japan to overcome the tragic accident. In addition to this, we have also realized the importance of constructing a safety net from the nuclear power. This is because even though natural disasters such as earth quakes are unpredictable and unavoidable, we are able to prevent following explosion of nuclear facilities. Japan has more than twice as many nuclear plants as Korea. However, the number of nuclear plants per unit area is larger in Korea. Moreover, we cannot rule out the possibility that similar disaster recurs in Korea and thus, a shift of the nuclear-oriented energy policy is urgently required. Today, we, civil social groups and parties, declare that we will take wide and diverse joint actions in order to build safe society from nuclear power and to support Japanese people suffering from the earthquake and the nuclear plant explosion. Furthermore, we encourage all Korean citizens to share Japanese people’s sorrow and call upon the shift of a nuclear development policy so this disaster is not to be repeated. Beginning from this declaration, we, civil society, religion groups, and parties, proclaim Joint Action Period for supporting victims of Japanese earthquake and the nuclear accident and for the shift of nuclear development policy, from 28th March, the day of Three Mile Island Nuclear accident to 46th April, the day of Chernobyl accident. As a first action, a memorial event for commemorating the victims and supporting rapid restoration will be held at 7pm, 28th March, the first day of Joint Action Period with the citizens. During this period, joint civil social groups and the press is going to organize a charity fund-raising campaign. Secondly, we will take actions promoting a shift of nuclear plant-expanding policy and security inspection on nuclear generating stations. Though current government is conducting security scrutiny over nuclear plants with civilians, the examination and inspection is highly likely to be unfair since it only includes personnel who would like to maintain or expand nuclear generating stations. Only can this be impartial when civil social groups are included. We call for Joint Civil Inspections. As seen from the disaster in Japan, there is no such a thing as completely safe nuclear plants. Thus, in order to build society free from nuclear disaster, we will lead activities urging government to reexamine nuclear-expanding policy with other parties. Not only this, we will take actions against nuclear-development and -expansion policy with those who are living in the area where nuclear plants are under operation and in candidate areas for new nuclear plants. Civil society of Korean and Japan will cooperate and implement various measures in order to stop the competition of the nuclear power development, and carry out activities to march toward a society without nuclear power. Thirdly, we will organize campaign alerting citizens to notify how dangerous nuclear power is and how closely intertwined it is with our daily lives. In addition to this, we will also implement programs informing emergency behavioral instructions for possible nuclear disaster. Through these actions, we will, with our citizens, make society safe from nuclear power. March 22, 2011. Joint action for supporting victims of Japanese earthquake·nuclear accident, and for shift of nuclear development policy (사)에너지나눔과평화, YWCA, 경주핵안전연대, 기독교환경운동연대, 나눔문화, 녹색교육센터, 녹색교통운동, 녹색연합, 다함께, 문화연대, 민주노동당, 민주당, 민주사회를위한변호사모임, 민주언론시민연합, 보건의료단체연합, 부안시민발전소, 사회당, 사회진보연대, 삼척핵발전소유치백지화위원회, 생명살림연구소, 생태지평, 시민사회단체연대회의, 시민평화포럼, 에너지기후정책연구소, 에너지전환, 에너지정의행동, 여성민우회, 여성환경연대, 영광군농민회, 영덕핵발전소반대 500인결사, 전국민주노동조합총연맹, 전국철거민연합중앙협의회, 진보신당, 참교육학부모회, 참여연대, 초록교육연대, 카톨릭환경연대, 평화네트워크, 한국노동조합총연맹, 한국미래연대, 한국진보연대, 한국YMCA전국연맹, 핵으로부터안전하게살고싶은 울진사람들(핵안사), 환경과공해연구회, 환경을 생각하는 교사모임, 환경재단, 환경운동연합, 환경정의. KYC

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See also Hankyoreh

S.Korea to rank 1st in nuclear plant density by 2024

:Some say the Lee administration’s plans for 34 plants by 2024 are without public consensus

Posted on : Mar.28,2011 14:49 KST

Yonhap News

Seoul to shut problematic nuclear reactors after month-long tests

2011/03/28 17:33 KST

Kyunghyang Shinmun

Nuclear Power: A Turning Point Arrives; The Safety Myth Collapses and Fantasy Turns to Horror

Posted on : 2011-03-28

Poster Fwd: An evening event for condolence and solidarity for Japan

* Poster image source: Peace Network

On March 28, the Hankyoreh and civic organizations in Korea will hold an evening event for condolence and solidarity for Japan, hoping prompt settlement of the problems caused from the Fukushima nuclear plants and non-nuclear safe world in the Boshingak, Seoul (7pm)

Text Fwd: Nuclear disaster: a bitter pill for humankind

Hankyoreh
[Column] Nuclear disaster: a bitter pill for humankind
By Kim Sun-woo, poet and novelist
Posted on : Mar.22,2011
　
My first response to news of the Japanese earthquake was fear and horror. This was followed by pity and distress. There was an old woman who, the moment she was rescued from the scene of the disaster, said, “I’m sorry, I have caused you trouble.” Those words struck against my heart, which had been blocked with such an intense fear, and it was at that point that my tears began to flow. I saw my image reflected back in that old woman. Composure, consideration for others, kindness - all at once she awakened me to all the things I wanted to learn.

It seems that what makes a person cry is another person. In good times and bad, people cry and laugh through people. As individuals who come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing, the greatest asset we could be said to possess is our capacity for love, compassion, and sympathy. I believe this may be the most unyielding strength that has allowed human history to continue on this planet even amid a never-ending stream of disasters both natural and made by humans.

Now we need to take another step forward from this disaster. However unpleasant an experience this enormous disaster has been for all of humankind, I believe now that it could also serve as truly good medicine, depending where we go united in this pain, and how. The time has come for us to put a powerful check on a world environment and human avarice that take us closer to crisis every day. The pain Japan is enduring right now may be the cross that prompts an awakening in humankind. An earthquake, a tsunami, and then a nuclear disaster. This is something that could happen anywhere on Earth. Had it happened in South Korea, we would have suffered even greater devastation, given how ridiculously underprepared we are.
I recall the words of Franz Alt, the ecological economist who asked, “Does there need to be another major nuclear accident for us to change our atomic energy policy?”

Today, in the 21st century, we find ourselves in the midst of tremendous environmental catastrophes, racing toward the crisis of codestruction. Within this troubling ecological crisis, there are places on this planet where people are living next to potential atomic bombs. Yet because they are cheap and convenient right now, we go on about “developing nuclear energy that is absolutely safe no matter what happens,” even going so far as to attach the deceptive descriptor of “green energy.”

It was Japan, in the early spring of 2011, that stripped away all of this fanciful myth amid tremendous suffering. As the scales fell away from our eyes, discussions toward the halting of nuclear development began to ferment in every corner of the world. In point of fact, these discussions should have taken place a long time ago, and nuclear development should have long ago disappeared from the face of the Earth.

Essentially, Fukushima happened because we failed to take any lesson from Chernobyl. If we cannot learn anything from the situation today in Japan, a country that created and fostered the myth of “the world’s best nuclear power plant safety,” where will the next catastrophe strike? Will there be any future left for humankind afterward?

Embarrassingly, the Korean government, amid all of this, has been focused on loudly proclaiming that there is no problem with any of the country’s nuclear power plants and that they are utterly safe. It has announced its intent to spur on the exportation of constructing more nuclear power plants. All around us we see an ignorance that fails to grasp any of the inner meaning for the future in this disaster.

The reason people all of the world are eager to help Japan right now is probably because they sense that the catastrophe is not Japan’s alone. We must turn it into an important turning point. The decision is ours: codestruction or coexistence. One also gets the sense that amid the order of the universe, there are some tormented individuals who are pondering how to awaken an ignorant humankind suffering the profound illness of technology worship and digging its own grave.

It is not about Korea helping Japan, but about humankind helping humankind, and about helping our future selves and other children. One thing exists because of the presence of another - if the latter is annihilated, so too is the former. We are neighbors living right up against one another, linked together on the pale blue dot that is the Earth. We must show our strength. I can see the pure face of hope that comes after a great sadness. Do not forget. Together we can.
　　
The views presented in this column are the writer’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Hankyoreh.

Text Fwd: ‘Comfort women’ launch fundraising efforts for Japan'

After finishing a World Vision education program, “Earthquake Experience, ” children hold banks to collect money for earthquake relief with signs that say, “Friends in Japan: Stay Strong!” at a nursery in Seoul’s Songpa District. (Photo by Shin So-young)


Hankyoreh
‘Comfort women’ launch fundraising efforts for Japan
By Lee Seung-joon
March 19, 2011

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery in Japan (Korean Council) announced Friday that it is beginning efforts to raise funds to help Japanese people who have suffered major damages with last week's earthquake in northeastern Japan.

In its announcement Friday, the association said, “The women who were victims of being drafted into sexual slavery for the Japanese military proposed raising fund for the people who suffered damages in Japan, and since it was proposed by women who, because of their past experiences, know better than anyone about human pain and suffering, we accepted the proposal and decided to begin raising funds.”

“During their Wednesday Demonstration on Mar. 16, the women, unlike their usual practice, held a silent vigil to send thoughts of condolences for the thousands and tens of thousands of victims who lost their lives,” the Korean Council explained. “We hope people will participate and contribute to carrying out their meaningful wish.”

The fundraising effort is to begin in earnest with the regular Wednesday Demonstration on Mar. 23, the 962nd, and will continue for five weeks until Apr. 26.

The Korean Council has held weekly “Wednesday Demonstrations” in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul every week for the nearly twenty years since Jan. 8, 1992, with one exception in 1995 when the Hanshin earthquake struck the city of Kobe. The 961st demonstration on Mar. 16 took the form of a silent

vigil to offer sympathy for the tragedy of the Mar. 11 earthquake.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Text Fwd: Ganbarei, Nippon! Japanese Nuclear Workers Risking Their Lives to Cool the Overheated Nuclear Complex

Scenes of Devastated Reactors. This photo was taken just before the Japanese authorities mobilized helicopters to cool down Fukushima's First Reactor by scattering water. The reactors are heating up because of lack of cool water supplied, thus spreading fears that the reactors might melt down.
Photo by AP, Kyodo, Yonhap News from Okuma
Caption by Seol Wontai

Kyunghyang Daily Newspaper
Ganbarei, Nippon! Japanese Nuclear Workers Risking Their Lives to Cool the Overheated Nuclear Complex
Posted 03 18 11

The situation at Fukushima No. 1 Power Plant is not getting any better. After the No. 1 reactor exploded, the No. 3 followed suit, then the No. 2, and finally even the No. 4.

The cores of reactors 1-3 have already melted down internally, while the water has overheated and evaporated from spent fuel pools at reactors 3 and 4, prompting concerns of full nuclear fission occurring. If cold water cannot be supplied to the reactors and storage pools, exposure to large amounts of radioactive material could cause large numbers of casualties.

The supply of cold water to the reactors, however, which must be done entirely manually due to a lack of electricity, keeps on failing. As time flows by and no solution appears, levels of radiation are rising rapidly around the reactors, threatening the lives of those at work there and of Japanese in general.

Because of the dangerousness of this containment operation, Japanese authorities have withdrawn most of the 800 people working on it, leaving only 70 in place.

This dangerousness is illustrated by the fact that further explosions are possible, and that those working at the site are being exposed to radiation 2.5 times over the permissible level.

Those that remain, however, ignore the danger as they make saving their fellow citizens their top priority. One of those involved sent an email to an American university professor who is a friend of his, saying, "I am ready to die."

These words give a sense of his heroic resolve to prevent a disaster, even if it means sacrificing himself. It has also been reported that 20 people volunteered to take part in the dangerous operation.

One man, who works at a local electricity company and is just six months away from retirement, is said to have been the first to volunteer. He, too, was hesitant at first, but then said, "I made my decision in order to avoid regrets in my life."

His daughter, however, said, "If that is his decision, I think he will have no regrets, even if something should happen. I cried for quite some time as I was so proud of my father." His wife asked him to do his best to end the anxieties of the people of Fukushima.

It has also been reported that three employees of Tohoku Enterprise, who had been withdrawn from the site, despite attempts by their families to dissuade them, went back to the nuclear plant saying that they had to protect their families, their region, and the Japanese people.

Some are also saying that extreme acts of self-sacrifice are inevitable in order to prevent this increasingly serious situation. If this is the case, those taking part in the containment operation can truly be described as a death-defying corps rescuing Japan.

These are truly great Japanese people. Japan can be proud of them. As neighbors of Japan, we Koreans express our respect for them.

Japan is now in a state of great sadness because of the massive disaster that has struck it. But as long as it has the bravery and spirit of self-sacrifice shown by these people, we believe it can overcome the crisis. We wish strength to Japan (Ganbarei, Nippon). (Editorial. Mar 18, 2011)

[Translation] Send the human force and resource mobilized in the Foal Eagle exercise to rescue the Japan from the disaster!

No war exercise against North Korea!
Stop the war exercise and support for the rescue of Japan from the big earthquakes!


* All the image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea,
In front of the United States embassy, Seoul, March 15, 2011
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Upon the horrible three disasters of tsunami, earthquake and nuclear plant explosion in Japan, Yoo Yong-Jae, director of the U.S. military matters, of Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea wrote a column titled, “Send the human force and resource mobilized in the Foal Eagle exercise to rescue the Japan from the disaster." Praising the Japanese citizens’ mature consciousness despite terrible disaster and expressing he and fellow Koreans’ sincerest condolence to the Japanese citizens’ he demanded that the South Korean and United States forces should immediately stop the current Foal Eagle war exercise and should send the human force and resources mobilized in war drill to rescue Japan instead. The below is the hurried partial translation of his article. You can see his original Korean writing here.
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From March 16, the nuclear aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan has been put in the support operation for the disaster of Japan. It was also known that there is the high possibility that part of the US marine force stationing in Okinawa would be mobilized into the rescue operation for the Japan earthquakes so the size of the US military force joining in the Foal Eagle exercise would be more decreased.

However the personnel of the Combined Forces Command explained that “the matter of Ronald Reagan’s participation in the drill is still opaque and other drills will be proceeded as the original schedule.”

At the time when the terrible state of emergency is happening in Japan who is the biggest Asian ally nation of the United States and ‘partner’ of South Korea, with the centurial disaster, it is the urgent situation that needs various supports and rescuing hands. However it looks to be unreasonable that the United States says that she would continue the drill to the end since it has been planned long time ago, like making an executioner’s dance beside the house in mourning.

Further the war exercises that the authorities of South Korea and United States are staging this year have been intensified of their invasive nature against North Korea. The military authorities of South Korea and United States, following their earth-scorching exercise against the initial points of attacks in North Korea, such as with the F-15K or MLRS, in case of North’s attack in the northwestern Island areas, are staging the synchronizing exercises in which they aim to paralyze the North Korean’s war performance ability and her will by precisely attacking 700 target points within 72 hours upon the symptom of North Korean invasion near the cease fire line and to put in the ROK-US combined forces into North Korea upon the timings of the posthumous of Kim Jong-Il, of residents’ uprisings and of outflows of nuclear and weapons of mass destructions.

Even though the ROK and United States quibble that it was for the ‘yearly defense exercise’ while doing such aggressive war drill, that is only a lie for hiding the invasive and illegal natures of the war exercise this time. Because of such war exercise by the ROK and US authority, the militaristic tension in the Korean peninsula is heightened and the dialogue phase that has barely opened after the biggest war crisis is becoming risky as well.

The ROK and US authorities should immediately stop such confrontational and wasteful ROK-US Foal Eagle war exercise in the situation when their ally and partner nation is experiencing the disaster unheard-of before. And under the agreement and negotiation with the Japanese government, they should cooperate to help to build the Japanese people’ will for life, by promptly supporting the resources such as human forces, equipments, foods, medicines and fuel that have been put in into the ROK-US joint drill.

______________________________________________________________

Upon the horrible current disaster in Japan, the victims of the sex slavery by the Japanese force during the Japanese imperialism in Korea from 1910 to 1945 processed their regular Wednesday protest with silence on March 15, praying with consolation and condolence to the Japanese citizens and Korean residents in Japan. The idea had been first initiated by the old women, victims themselves. (Image source: Cho Sung-Bong, Tongil News, March 16, 2011)

Text Fwd:Thanks for your condolences: Gensuikyo calls for donation to victims

* Text fwd from Corazon Valdez Fabros with the below words on March 16, 2011

Friends;

Here is a message from one of our long time partner and network in Japan.
Let's do all we can to support them at these times of difficulties and great need.
I have copied the message below and is self explanatory. Let us highlight this appeal
at every opportunity we will have in the coming days, at interviews, meetings,
forums, study groups, and gatherings, etc. I have no words to express how deeply
we all feel about the situation and we search for ways to be able to express our
thoughts. Amidst all those pain and concerns, I know that we can express our
support and solidarity in a concrete way.

We have called for an emergency meeting tomorrow (March 17 at 2-4pm at
the Office of Focus on the Global South #19 Maginhawa St. Teachers Village, QC)
I know that this is very short notice but do try to join us tomorrow as we try to think of ways
forward on how we can all work together in supporting our brothers and sisters, comrades,
friends and love ones in Japan.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to the Candlelight Vigil on Friday
March 18 starting at 5:00pm at the Quezon Memorial Circle, a forum follows after the vigil.
This is an initiative of our PLM friends supported by an increasing number of organizations,
groups, institutions and friends.
Please visit - - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118416591566053&index=1
for more information and confirmation of your participation.

We look forward to seeing you,

Cora Fabros


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gensuikyo
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Subject: Tks for your condolences: Gensuikyo calls for donation to victims
To: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp


Dear friends,

Thank you very much for your warm messages and support to us. Your messages are of great encouragement to us and all victims of the disaster. We have translated your messages into Japanese and passed them on to the victims and all Japanese people.

The damage caused by earthquakes and subsequent tsunami is so horrible. All buildings were swept away. Thousands of bodies are found every day. The number of those dead and are missing is expected to be more than 11,500. The evacuees have increased more than 450,000. They are forced to stay at shelters with not enough food, water, cloths, oil for heaters and gas for cars, etc.

In addition to that, the frightening accident of Fukushima power plants is threatening the safety of people and their uneasiness is growing.

The municipalities and citizens of the damage struck areas have so far given strong support to our signature campaigns for abolition of nuclear weapons, our peace marches and the World Conference against A and H Bombs. We have to help them when they are suffering.

Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) set up an account and called on Japanese people to donate to help the victimized people and areas.

Postal Money Order
Account No.: 00110-9-1780
Account Name: Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

If you wish to donate or send support to the victims, we can accept your donation at the above account. We will transfer your donation to the victims or/and we will send necessary goods and services to the victimized people and areas.

Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. If there is any questions/requests, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Sincerely,

Yayoi Tsuchida
Assistant Secretary General
=============================================
Japan Council against A & H Bombs (GENSUIKYO)
2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 JAPAN
phone: +81-3-5842-6034
fax: +81-3-5842-6033
Email: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp
URL: http://www.antiatom.org/
=============================================

--
Corazon Valdez Fabros
Stop the War Coalition Philippines
Ph:+63-2-9311153 FAX:+63-2-4330899
CP:+63-917-8871153 Skype: corafabros
Email: corafabros@gmail.com

Small acts, when multipled by millions of people, can transform the world (Howard Zinn)

Text Fwd: PSPD delivers the deepest condolences and solidarity to the Japanese people in catastrophe

* Text fwd from Park Jung-Eun on March 15, 2011

Dear Friends,

I really hope this mail finds you all well.
PSPD(People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) delivers the deepest condolences and solidarity to the people in Japan. We're translating this statement into Japanese version now.
The Korean civil organizations will have a urgent meeting tomorrow to discuss how to deliver our condolences and supports to Japanese society. We sincerely hope our voice could be a bit of consolation.

best regards,

Park Jung Eun
Director, PSPD

---------------------------------------------
15th March, 2011
[PSPD-Seoul]

PSPD delivers the deepest condolences and solidarity to the Japanese people in catastrophe
-urging the South Korean government to review nuclear power plants policies

Japan is overwhelmed with grief over the unprecedented disaster on 11th March. The number of casualties caused by the earthquake and tsunami is uncountable. Cities and villages have gone and sufferers could number in hundreds of thousands. We, PSPD(People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) in South Korea, send the deepest condolences to victims and consolation to the people who have lost loved ones, and believe that the Japanese society will recover and rebuild from the disaster. We fully support and participate in the assistance of the international society and the Korean society for the people in Japan.

Unfortunately, Japanese people are struck with the fear of another disaster. With the possibility of the massive earthquake, the risk of a radiation leak in the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex appears high. Taking preventive measures, its Unit 2 and Unit 4 followed by the explosion occurrence of Unit 1 and Unit 3 exploded and have been releasing radiation. This is a crisis to the people of Japan that is the only one country with the history of radiation exposure, and fear to mankind. Meanwhile, it is a big problem that the Japanese government does not inform people of the situation accurately. Additionally, the experts in the nuclear energy field and the media in South Korea do not take a radiation leak seriously.

We hope that the crisis would not bring a nuclear disaster and there would be no more victims. We send our condolences and solidarity to the people in Japan as they struggle to overcome untold suffering and hardships.

Jongdae Lim
Representative
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

http://www.peoplepower21.org
02 723 5051
Son Yeonu, Peace and International Solidarity Team (PSPD)
http://blog.peoplepower21.org
+82 2 723 5051

--
박정은
참여연대 평화국제팀 팀장
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
http://www.peoplepower21.org
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English
Office 82-2-723-4250
Cell Phone 010-9914-5807

Photos Fwd: No Key Resolve War Exercise

* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, March 8, 2011평화와 통일을 여는 사람들, 2011년 3월 8일
한미연합사 전쟁지휘소 앞 1인시위
Relay one man protest in front of the Combined Forces Command, March 8, 2011

Stop the Key Resolve/ Foal Eagle war exercise aimed at removal of the North Korean regime!
_____________________________________________________
* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea,
평화와 통일을 여는 사람들, 2011년 3월 7일

포천 승진훈련장 정문 앞 반전평화단체 공동 집회대북 침략 실사 격훈련 중단 촉구 평화대회- 2011년 3월 7일 오전 11시~3시 30분, 포천 승진훈련장 앞 -

Stop the real fire exercise against North Korea!: Seungjin training field, Pochun, March 7, 2011

___________________________________________________
* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, March 8, 2011
[3/4] 오사카 미 총영사관 앞 전쟁연습 중단 항의시위
[March 4] Japanese activists' protest to stop war exercise in front of the U.S. Consulate, Osaka, Japan (AWC, Japan)
Japanese language version available in the link




____________________________________

See also
Tongil News 통일 뉴스

Additional force of the U.S. special force arrived for the Key Resolve war exercise on March 8, 2011
키리졸브 연습, 주일미군 특전사 증원군 입국
MASA 협정 의거 대한항공 이용.. 도착시간 두 차례 변경
2011년 03월 08일 (화) 16:04:08
대구=조정훈 기자

Text Fwd: Amnesty International Call for Action

Two Koreas: Movements, Politics, and Social Space on the Korean Peninsula
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Amnesty International Call for Action

Here is an urgent call for action put out by Amnesty International in support of Michel Catuira, current MTU President.

URGENT ACTION

TRADE UNIONIST AT RISK OF FORCED DEPORTATION
Michel Catuira, President of the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU) in South Korea is at risk of being deported. The Korea Immigration Service has told him that he must leave the country by 7 March or he will become undocumented and subject to forcible deportation. Amnesty International believes he has been targeted for his role in the MTU.

As of 7 March 2011, Michel Catuira, a 38-year-old Filipino national and President of the MTU, will be subject to forcible deportation from South Korea. The government of South Korea refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the MTU and has staged a number of crackdowns on its leaders since it was founded in 2005.

The harassment of Michel Catuira began in July 2010. The Ministry of Employment and Labour ordered him and his employer to appear for an interview under suspicion of a false employment relationship. The Ministry did not find any prosecutable violation of labour or immigration law. However, it found that Caturia’s workplace, a shoe factory, had little business. As the main goal of the Employment Permit System (EPS) is to provide foreign labour to companies with labour shortages, the Ministry sent a memo to Michel Catuira’s employer suggesting that they file a change of workplace for him.

In November 2010, Michel Catuira was called to appear before an investigation team of the Korea Immigration Service on “suspicion of violation of the Immigration Control Act in the course of applying for a workplace transfer and with relation to actual performance of work duties at present”. They concluded that he was not working at the shoe factory, thus, the grounds for his work visa was “deceitful”, in breach of article 89.1 of the Immigration Control Act. On 10 February, the immigration authorities cancelled his visa, and on 14 February, he was told that he had until 7 March to leave South Korea.

The MTU has been very vocal during the past few years in favour of the respect, protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers in South Korea. In particular the MTU has spoken out against restrictions placed on migrant workers’ freedom to change workplaces and against immigration raids, which have resulted in arbitrary arrests, collective expulsions and violations of law enforcement procedures, including the excessive use of force.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Korean or your own language, urging the authorities of South Korea to:

Restore Michel Catuira’s visa status and refrain from forcibly deporting him;
Immediately stop all practices which result in obstacles or deterrents to actively participating in trade unions;

Immediately remove obstacles to participating in the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU), in particular by recognizing its status as a legal union in South Korea in line with domestic and international law and standards.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 07 MARCH 2011 TO:
Chief Commissioner of the Korea Immigration Service
SEOK Dong-hyun
Korea Immigration Service
1-19 Gwacheon, NC Building 8th Floor
Byeolyang-dong, Gwacheon
Gyeonggi Province 427-705
Republic of Korea
Fax: +82-2-500-9097/9059
Salutation: Dear Commissioner

Minister of Justice
LEE Kwi-nam
Ministry of Justice
Gwacheon Government Complex
88 Gwanmoon-ro, Gwacheon
Gyeonggi Province 427-720
Republic of Korea
Fax: +82-2-503-3532/7023
Email: webmaster@moj.go.kr
Salutation: Dear Minister

And copies to:
Minister of Employment and Labour
Bahk Jae-wan
Ministry of Employment and Labour
Gwacheon Government Complex
88 Gwanmoon-ro, Gwacheon
Gyeonggi Province 427-718
Republic of Korea
Fax: +82-2-503-6623
Email: molab506@moel.go.kr
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Text Fwd: International Day of Solidarity Action - KCTU protest in front of Egyptial Embassy

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Newsletter
February 8, 2011
International Day of Solidarity Action

“Egyptian People’s Struggle is right!”
“KCTU fully supports the protest of workers and people of Egypt!”

The Egyptian peoples struggle against the 30 year of pro-U.S. dictatorship has been continuing for more than 15 days. On February 8, KCTU joined the "International Day of Solidarity Action" to the Egyptian people's struggle and held a protest action in front of the embassy of Egypt with various social movement organisations. Participants including an Egyptian resident confirmed their solidarity and support to the struggle. KCTU also express its solidarity to the newly established Egyptian Federation for Independent Unions.

“The struggle of Egyptian people reminded me the June Struggle for Democracy in 1987. The people who have suffered from the dictatorship for 30 years is now crying for freedom, rights to work and democracy. KCTU is standing by workers and people in Egypt. We will use every endeavour to support the courageous struggle,” said Jeong Ui-heon, the first vice president of KCTU. Kalhid Ali, an Egyptian participant reported “More than 300 people has died or disappeared since January 25, however Egyptian people are continuing their struggle,” calling for solidarity.

After a series of speeches, Jeong Ui-heon, KCTU first vice president tried to enter the embassy building to present the protest letter to Mr Mohamed Abdelrehim Elzorkany, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt in South Korea. However, the Korean Police blocked his entrance and the Egyptian embassy also rejected to receive the letter. In this situation, vice president Jeong tore up the letter and threw it over the wall of the building, to express his protest against the Mubarak government.

This action will be followed by the 2nd Rally for "Mubarak's Stepping-down and a Free Egypt" on February 11, 3 p.m, in front of the Egyptian embassy.

[Press Statement]

Egyptian People’s Struggle is right!
KCTU fully supports the protest of workers and people of Egypt!

The Egyptian peoples struggle against the 30 year of pro-U.S. dictatorship has been continuing for more than 15 days. On February 8, the day which has been decided as a “Day of Solidarity Action” for Egyptian People by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), its affiliates in 151 countries start their solidarity action including presenting protest letter to the Egyptian embassies. KCTU welcomes the ITUC’s decision and will use every endeavour.

The claims of Egyptian people are right. Their demand for minimum wage and right to work is the same as the demand of the KCTU and Korean workers, and Korean people, who have experienced a series of military dictatorships of Park Jung-hee, Chun Du-hwan, and Noh Tae-woo, fully sympathize their demand for an abolition of the Emergency Laws. The international society already turned its back to the rule of an iron fist of Mubarak and is urging his resignation and transition to the democracy. The United States, which has stood by the anti-democracy of Egyptian governments for the sake of its hegemony, is at a loss which way to go.

KCTU, which has its root in the Gwang-ju People’s Uprising in 1980 and the June Struggle for Democracy and the following Great Struggle of Workers in 1987, is paying special attention to the Egyptian Federation for Independent Unions, which has newly established against the government’s national centre. The Federation has let the general strike and struggled strongly with other organizations including the April 6 Youth Movement and launched in the middle of the ongoing struggle. The federation determined to fight to the end despite the ruling class’s suppression. Their demand for right to work, minimum wage, free education and unemployment compensation, which meet the people’s basic demand of livelihood, is absolutely supported by the people.

Egypt is attracting the world’s attention. We firmly believe that the workers and people in Egypt will win the victory despite of the merciless oppression and sabotage of the Mubarak and the manipulation of the United State. KCTU starts its solidarity and support to the Egyptian people’s struggle with joining the international day of action of ITUC and will continue it until the people win a final victory.

“Transition Now, Respect the Will of the People!”

February 8, 2011
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

[Site Fwd:Ten Thousand Things] Solidarity Appeal against the Illegal Arrest Of 2 Okinawan anti-war Activists

Ten Thousand Things
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Solidarity Appeal against the Illegal Arrest Of 2 Okinawan anti-war Activists


Peaceful Feb 20 protest at U.S. Embassy, Tokyo. Footage of the violent arrest at 4:00.

Two activists have been arrested during a demonstration in front of the US embassy in Tokyo on February 20th. Despite pre-arrangements to hold talks with the embassy, the activists were arrested with no explanation. The footage above shows a police officers using unnecessary force in arresting a submissive activist, one officer grabbing the activist by the hair while lifting him from the protest area to a police vehicle.

An appeal against the injustices on 2.20 by the "Rescue Committee for the Feb. 20 repression in front of the US Embassy in Japan" follows:

We strongly condemn these arbitrary and illegal arrests and demand the immediate release of the 2 activists. This demonstration was against the construction of a heliport that is part of the US military base in Takae, Okinawa. This construction is carried out despite the opposition by the people of Takae town. We had asked for talks with the US embassy which they granted us to be held at 16:00 on Feb.20. The police of Akasaka district agreed to stand nearby the embassy.

When we arrived at the rendez-vous place, the police wouldn't let us go near the embassy, [and] resorted to violence against 2 activists and arrested them. When another activist asked the police on what grounds, the reason for the arrests,they said that" the reason would be given later, after the arrests." This answer is a total denial of rights. A protest is a legitimate and legal right of citizens that the police cannot deny through violence.

After the arrests, the police refused us the request to hold talks at the embassy by asking us threateningly if we wanted to be arrested like the others. The police prevented lawyers to see the arrested activists on the first day. All these acts by the police are illegal. The response of the US embassy is that they had commissioned the talks with the citizens at the Akasaka police district.

It is clear that these arrests are a message from the Japanese and US governments that any opposition to US military bases will be suppressed by force. We condemn the illegal arrests and demand the immediate release of the arrested activists.

February 22nd protests against the arrest and violation of human rights by the Akasaka police department at Kasumigaseki Public Prosecutor's Offices

Information in French： http://d.hatena.ne.jp/ametaiQ/20110224/1298557024

Information in Japanese:　http://d.hatena.ne.jp/ametaiQ/20110220

Demand the release of the activists by calling:

The Akasaka Police Station +81-3475-0110
The US Embassy in Japan +81-3224-5000
The Japan Embassy of your country of resident.
*Send solidarity messages to: ametaiq@gmail.com

- Posted by Jen Teeter

[Text Fwd: PSPD] Open letter to Minister Shri. Jairam Ramesh on the POSCO Project

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
Open letter to Minister Shri. Jairam Ramesh on the POSCO Project

To: Dear. Minister Shri. Jairam Ramesh,
The Ministry of Environment and Forests
From: Korean civil society alliance

Greetings and Peace from the Republic of Korea.

Most of all, Korean civil society has had an interest constantly on the Pohang Steel Company (POSCO)'s project launched in Orissa. We, Nongovernmental Organizations(NGOs) of the Republic of Korea, had visited the State of Orissa, India, and completed to conduct the field research in the year of 2008 and 2010, and also had sent the open letter to the Meena Gupta Committee in September 2010. We are fully understanding of the POSCO's project that was given the procedure of decision making on interruption of land purchase by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India, on 5 August 2010, and waiting with a close attention on the Minister's final decision that are known as scheduled in the end of this January.

We, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Republic of Korea, would like to express our special respect on your sincere efforts to protect environment and human rights of natives in the project region to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Forest Rights Act had been suggested as the right direction to the global community suffering from making a decision between development and villagers' right to livelihood, and the decision on Vedanta was very courageous. All the companies that are trying to invest in India including Korean corporations should respect and follow the message suggested by the Ministry of Environment, India. It is the trustworthy way that makes the sustainable development possible for all the human beings.

We, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Republic of Korea, confirmed that the POSCO project is clearly violated by the Forest Rights Act through the two field research as the Saxena Committee Report and the Meena Gupta Committee Majority Report has been pointed out. The development project proceeding without the legally appropriate procedure must be paid huge cost as an inevitable consequence. Regardless of violation on the Forest Right Act, POSCO and the Orissa government has been persuading the villagers who are strongly against the POSCO project for the last five years until now, however it has been failed. The villagers keep objecting to accept the compensation that POSCO has suggested to them and denying to move their residences.

If you, Minister Shri. Jairam Ramesh, approve the POSCO project even though the existing reports pointed the argumentative points of this POSCO project, your decision would not be supported. Most of all, it must make the villagers who has been suffered from the POSCO project for the last five years very disappointed. Korean civil societies also never want for you to proceed the project without any support. Executing of the project which is lack of legitimacy will face the stronger resistance to the POSCO project, and it will bear the serious human rights abuse related to the project, finally it will seriously hurt both POSCO and Korean civil society.

During such a long time, the experts of the Ministry of Environment and Forests have conducted the research over the POSCO project at the same time gone through the careful analysis procedure. As being well aware of the existing problems of the POSCO project, the Forest Advisory Committee and the Infrastructure and Coastal Zone Sub-committee of the Expert Appraisal Committee also have pointed out those problems.


Korean civil society sincerely hope to end the conflict on the POSCO project and to consider the problems on development, environment, and the human rights abuse of the villagers and to find the alternatives to both the Korean and Indian society which will be definitely affected by the decision of the Ministry of Environment, India. Also, POSCO will have the opportunity to be mature in terms of operating the legitimate project through "the right decision" of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India.

Here, "the right decision" means that everyone agrees and respect at the same time, it is the decision should be based on the truth.

We, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Republic of Korea, believe that you, Minister Shri. Jairam Ramesh, will make the right and rational decision based on the truth and common sense.

28 January 2011

Signed by Korean civil society Alliance, below:
Amnesty International Korea
Catholic Human Rights Committee
Citizen’s Movement for Environmental Justice
Corporate for All
Dasan human rights centre
Korean House for International Solidarity
MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society
Network for Glocal Activism
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
Sarangbang Group for Human Rights


*
openlettertominister.pdf

[Photos Fwd: PSPD] Korean solidarity for people in Egypt

All the image source: People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Jan. 31, 2011

참여 연대, 2011년 1월 31일
The Egypt government should accept people's democratic demands and stop bloody oppression on them.
이집트 정부는 민주화 요구를 받아들이고 유혈 탄압을 중단하라
In front of the Egypt embassy, Seoul, Korea, Jan. 31, 2011
2011년 1월 31일 서울 이집트 대사관 앞

Text Fwd: 1/29 SF Stop KORUS March and Rally-Another NAFTA Type Agreement With Korea

* Text fwd by Steve Zeltzer on Jan. 28, 2011

1/29 SF Stop KORUS March and Rally-Another NAFTA Type Agreement With Korea

From Congresswomen's Pelosi's Home To The Korean Consulate-Stop This Anti-People Trade Deal!
Protest the Korean-US KORUS Free Trade Agreement
Saturday Jan 29, 2011 11:00 AM 2740 Broadway St Assemble
with March To 3500 Clay St. /Laurel St. Korean Consulate
San Francisco

Although Obama promised he would not push another NAFTA
type agreement with South Korea, the recently negotiated
agreement does nothing to defend labor rights in either
Korea or the US. It will allow further outsourcing and more
temporary and part time workers in Korea and the US through
the deregulation of the labor market. In Korea today 50% of
the workers have now been forced into the temporary workforce.
It will also destroy the economic lives of tens of thousands of Korean farmers.
Today in Korea, dozens of trade unionists are also in jail
for labor activity including striking.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_opinion/460093.html
Public workers are also not allowed to unionize and the Teachers Korean Union
KTU was raided by the police for lobbying against legislation that would
hurt education.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/117_67120.html
At the same time this agreement will force privatization of the
Korean national healthcare system in part by forcing high drug
prices on the Korean healthcare system. This is why Pfizer and other big
Pharma multi-nationals have fully backed this agreement along
with other multi-national food and auto companies who will benefit.
We are calling on Congresswomen Pelosi to vote NO on this
agreement. She voted yes on NAFTA and that agreement
has harmed the people of Mexico and the US lowering wages
and destroying communities and jobs. We can't afford more
deregulation, privatization and union busting from KORUS.
http://www.fairtrademinnesota.org/Summary%20of%20Korea%20FTA%20Supplemental%20deal.pdf

This event has been sponsored by California Fair Trade Coalition, United Public Workers For
Action http://www.upwa.info , The No On KORUS Coalition, San Francisco Peace and Freedom Party
For information phone (415)282-1908 or (415)987-4870

San Francisco Labor Council Resolution Opposing Korea-US Free Trade Agreement

1/24/2011

Resolution Opposing the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement
http://sflaborcouncil.org/#sub-fragment-3

Whereas, the proposed KOREA US KORUS Free Trade Agreement will be coming before Congress early this year and,

Whereas, this agreement is modeled on the NAFTA agreement that has led to the loss of jobs for millions of US workers and Mexican workers, privatization, deregulation and repression of unions in Mexico and,

Whereas, this KORUS agreement will also push privatization and deregulation of the US and Korean economy and,

Whereas, dozens of members of the Korean Teachers Union KTU have been jailed for lobbying against legislation in Korea which is illegal under the law and,

Whereas, Korean public workers do not have the right to bargain and strike which are basic labor rights and,

Whereas, as a result of labor deregulation of the Korean economy today nearly 50% of Korean workers are part time and temporary and,

Whereas, the KORUS agreement will also restructure the Korean National Healthcare System resulting in a privatized healthcare system in part by forcing Korean hospitals to purchase high priced medicines from Pfizer and other multi-national Pharma companies that also fight unionization and,

Whereas, there is no serious ability for trade unionists and labor to protect their rights to organize and for democratic union rights within the KORUS agreement and,

Whereas the KORUS agreement is being pushed by major multi-national corporations who have used these Free Trade Agreements FTA to eliminate unions, destroy health and safety protections and pit workers of the US against workers in other countries and,

Whereas, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions KCTU, all Farmers organizations, civil and human rights organizations in Korea are opposing this agreement as well as the AFL-CIO and the KCTU and other civic organizations have a delegation visiting Washington D.C. this week to urge opposition to this agreement,

Therefore be it Resolved the San Francisco Labor Council calls on Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Jackie Speier and US Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer representing San Francisco to publicly oppose this agreement and,

Be it Further Resolved this Council will support and participate in a march to the Korean Consulate at 3500 Clay/Laurel in San Francisco on Saturday January 29 11:00 AM and,

Be it Further Resolved this Council supports a Labor Community Educational conference on “KORUS, Another NAFTA?” on Sunday February 27, 2011 at the University of San
Francisco from 9:00 AM To 5:00 PM sponsored by the California Fair Trade Coalition, UPWA and other organizations and,

Be it Finally Resolved that this Council will send letters to all Congressional and Senate representatives asking them to oppose this KORUS agreement and ask for their concurrence with this action by all affiliated bodies including the California AFL-CIO.

Submitted by Tom Lacey, OPEIU 3, and adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council on January 24, 2011.
Respectfully, Tim Paulson Executive Director
OPEIU3 AFL-CIO 11

Korean Teachers Union KTU
http://english.eduhope.net/
President-elect Lee Myoung-bak's policy proposals threaten education

1. President-elect Lee Myoung-bak has presented his education policies to the media before the National Assembly convenes. Clearly, he is already attempting to direct policy, when the president's office is supposed to follow the direction of the people and their lawmakers. With these policy proposals, he obviously wants to turn the education system into one of competing hagwons, where education operates as a "free market." He intends to erase the one advantage of the CSAT, which is that it allows relatively equal opportunity of access to top universities. High schools are to be ranked by "student performance" levels, and yet more specialist high schools are to be opened.

2. Lee wants students to compete for selection to schools throughout their schooling years, from elementary schools through to universities. At present, students are ranked by schools themselves, and schools are not compared. Lee wants to allow universities to implement their own "ranking criteria" for admissions, such that unversities may soon be examining not only students' elementary and middle school assessments, but the "rank" of the elementary and middle schools that they attended as well!

When universities are given complete freedom in admissions policies, not only will high schools be ranked, but middle and elementary schools will be ranked as well. Soon every school in the country will be in competition. This is not the purpose of an education system.

3. Superintendents plan to implement a national standardized test for middle school students. Soon, education will consist of testing and nothing else. Averages are to be compared, in order to encourage competition among provinces. It is policies like this that Lee supports, and soon superintendents will do anything, even encourage private education, in order to improve these test scores and get themselves re-elected.

4. About the one area that most demands attention from the government, Lee has nothing to say: outside the Seoul-Gyeonggi area, provinces collect 20% less per capita for use in education. Provincial Offices of Education are six trillion won in debt. Lee has refused to address the underfunding of education in the provinces.

5. For Lee, education (and everything else) is business. His plans focus on the appearance of quick results, and they are not up for discussion with stakeholders. If he is allowed to make the radical ideological changes to education that he seeks, Lee will destroy education in Korea. The KTU will not allow this to happen.

english.eduhope.net

KTU submits complaint to ILO

The Korean Teachers Union submitted a complaint to the International Labour Organization this week, charging the government with failing to consult with teacher organizations before implementing important labor reforms, and with attempting to restrain the lawful activities of teacher unions.

The ILO will ask the government to respond to the KTU's complaint in June.

South Korea has not ratified ILO Convention 87, on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, or ILO Convention 98, on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.