By: me
This week, I have received two different e-mails asking me to raise my modest voice for the fate of Jeju island in the Republic of Korea.
On the one hand, the Korea Tourism Organization asked me to vote for Jeju as an Official Finalist of the 'New7Wonders of Nature'. At the begining, I was quite hesitant to give my voice to the (is)land of wind, women and stones. I mean, in spite of having been designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and a Global Geopark in 2010, Jeju is competing with many other wonderful wonders that are certainly more popular and therefore more prone to be selected. However, I have resolved to support my favorite island and I have therfore voted for Jeju. And I am sure it has great chances to be elected (as UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon, Pyeongchang, Yeosu, etc). Moreover, anybody can vote and I am sure the patriotism of Koreans can make the difference.
On the other hand, I have received quite a surprising petition from Avaaz, asking me to sign in order to save Jeju because ‘the South Korean government is beginning construction of a massive naval base on precious Jeju island and brutally cracking down on peaceful protesters trying to prevent the catastrophe'. So weird … I thought Korea was promoting green growth, peace and so on … And now, I read that not only ‘the South Korean and US governments want to build a massive naval base and launching pad for ballistic missiles’ but also ‘the government has suppressed the story and police are intimidating brave protesters to drop their resistance’.
Ok, I am not that naïve but still, it seems there is some kind of … inconsistency ? How can you promote Jeju as a world heritage and symbol of peace to protect and just consider it as a strategic land to prepare war and violence ?
Well, check the following links provided by Avaaz and just follow your heart while it is still time to make a difference.
This week, I have received two different e-mails asking me to raise my modest voice for the fate of Jeju island in the Republic of Korea.
On the one hand, the Korea Tourism Organization asked me to vote for Jeju as an Official Finalist of the 'New7Wonders of Nature'. At the begining, I was quite hesitant to give my voice to the (is)land of wind, women and stones. I mean, in spite of having been designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and a Global Geopark in 2010, Jeju is competing with many other wonderful wonders that are certainly more popular and therefore more prone to be selected. However, I have resolved to support my favorite island and I have therfore voted for Jeju. And I am sure it has great chances to be elected (as UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon, Pyeongchang, Yeosu, etc). Moreover, anybody can vote and I am sure the patriotism of Koreans can make the difference.
On the other hand, I have received quite a surprising petition from Avaaz, asking me to sign in order to save Jeju because ‘the South Korean government is beginning construction of a massive naval base on precious Jeju island and brutally cracking down on peaceful protesters trying to prevent the catastrophe'. So weird … I thought Korea was promoting green growth, peace and so on … And now, I read that not only ‘the South Korean and US governments want to build a massive naval base and launching pad for ballistic missiles’ but also ‘the government has suppressed the story and police are intimidating brave protesters to drop their resistance’.
Ok, I am not that naïve but still, it seems there is some kind of … inconsistency ? How can you promote Jeju as a world heritage and symbol of peace to protect and just consider it as a strategic land to prepare war and violence ?
Well, check the following links provided by Avaaz and just follow your heart while it is still time to make a difference.
Protests Challenge Naval Base Construction on Jeju Island:
http://japanfocus.org/-Gwisook-Gwon/3560
Postcard from Jeju:
http://www.fpif.org/articles/postcard_fromjeju
Save Jeju Islands:
http://www.savejejuisland.org/Save_Jeju_Island/Welcome.html
Also check:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/08/06/jeju-and-the-unwanted-missiles/
http://japanfocus.org/-Gwisook-Gwon/3560
Postcard from Jeju:
http://www.fpif.org/articles/postcard_fromjeju
Save Jeju Islands:
http://www.savejejuisland.org/Save_Jeju_Island/Welcome.html
Also check:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/08/06/jeju-and-the-unwanted-missiles/
