26개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
MYEONG-DONG ('CAFE MARI') DIARY (#1)
Just in pictures and (mainly) without comments!
Mon., 8.29, 04:00 am:
Wed., 8.31, 03:15 am:
Wed., 8.31, 01:15 pm:
SAVE JEJU ISLAND! NO NAVAL BASE!
Why should you care?
The South Korean Government is constructing a naval base on Jeju Island. Officially named an “Island of Peace” by the late President Roh Moo
Hyun, Jeju was the site of a 1948 massacre in which more than 30,000 civilians were estimated to have been slaughtered during a democratic
uprising.
Located strategically in the Korea Strait, the island’s potential to become a military target in the event of an armed conflict in this tense
region would increase exponentially with the addition of a naval base. The threat this poses to the men, women and children of Jeju Island is
unconscionable, and it can be avoided through halting the base construction.
Since plans for the naval base were announced five years ago, 95% of Jeju residents have voted against the base and used every possible
democratic means to block its construction. Yet their protests have fallen on mostly deaf ears.
Jeju Island is situated in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and covers a lava plateau with a shield volcano at an elevation of 1,950
meters above sea level. The high biological diversity, unique volcanic topography and the culture of Jeju Island attract many tourists.
The home for this proposed military facility is the pristine fishing village of Gangjeong, which is surrounded by three UNESCO sites.
Construction is in the early stages but accelerating daily with the dredging of the island’s seabed and its coral communities currently underway.
Many observers of the region believe that the Jeju Island naval base will serve as a port of call for the U.S. military’s sea-based component of
its ballistic missile defense system. This same technology is also a proven anti-satellite weapon.
This is not only an issue of protecting the environment or preventing military expansion. Human rights and free speech are also at stake.
Villagers have been arrested during nonviolent protests. Police and construction workers have assaulted elderly members of the community, who
represent a large portion of the activists.
Jeju Island is under attack. “Touch not one stone, not one flower,” is its residents’ battle cry. Will you join them?
For more info please check out:
☞ SAVE JEJU ISLAND
Impressions from "Su-hyang", a traditional place right in the middle of Myeong-dong 'redevelopment' area. And of course, like all the other places there, it will be destroyed in the near future (if we can't stop the construction mafia!):
"Ensure by law our right to live/exist!"
The 4th "Hope Bus" Campaign...
...led last weekend about 5000 activists (the organizers expected 10,000) to the S. Korean capital Seoul, and not like in the past to Busan. But the main topic was still the same: supporting the struggle of dismissed Hanjin workers and Kim Jin-suks sit-in strike on the crane No. 85.
Saturday's main protest event in downtown Seoul was opened in the afternoon by a rally of "irregular" workers, but unfortunately only about 100 activists, mainly elderly workers and some activists who are right now fighting in Myeong-dong against their forced eviction attended it.
Later on the main "Hope Bus" protest rally - attended by about 5000 KCTU members, civil right and political activists etc. - ended at 10 pm. During the rally, Japanese comrades delivered their solidarity message to the audience and Kim Jin-suk held a powerful speech by telephone, urging all S. Korean to fight until a just solution for all workers and people in resistance to exploitation and oppression is achieved.
After the rally a protest march to the presidential palace (Blue House) was planned, but the entire area, resp. its exits were blocked thousands of riot cops and nobody was able to leave (or enter) the place.
But finally the masses were able to escape (actually after a very short time/"guerilla" style^^), but hunted by the cops. During the next 30 minutes they were also able to avoid twice blockades by the riot cops and ultimately escaped complete and created in almost the entire downtown area traffic chaos...
But today, during the last "Hope Bus" protest...
...came the government's, i.e. riot cop's vengeance:
Related reports/articles:
☞ 4차 희망버스, “희망버스 기획단장은 이명박과 조남호” (NewsCham, 8.28)
☞ 대통령님, 이 현수막 잘 보이시죠? (OMN, 8.29)
☞ Police fire water cannons at 'Hope Bus' ralliers (Korea Times, 8.28)
☞ Police fire water cannons on pro-union protesters in Seoul (K. Herald, 8.28)
From today's Hankyoreh:
Shadow of homeless eviction
A homeless man sleeps on the steps in front of Seoul Station, while civic organization members and homeless people hold a press conference to protest the state-run railroad operator Korail‘s eviction of homeless people from the station, Aug. 22.
Korail officials drove out dozens of homeless people for the first time around 1:30 a.m. and prevented them from bringing sleeping bags and mattresses as the station re-opened at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. There were reportedly no major physical confrontations between the homeless and Korail officials who expelled them. Korail said it has no choice but to evict them using force due to growing complaints from passengers that homeless people cause inconveniences and even threaten travelers’ safety.
The expelled homeless people from Seoul Station spent the night inside other stations in Seoul.
Civic organizations helping the homeless have undertaken “two days, one night resistance actions” including a culture festival and a forum inside Seoul Station. They have criticized that Korail‘s forced eviction is not fundamental solution, but also would threaten their lives and cause other adverse effects. They said the government should provide a comprehensive package of measures ranging from housing, to employment and healthcare.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/492955.html
Congratulations to the people of Libya. One more crazy dictator down!!
And the next must be Syria, Jemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Iran... (And dont't forget NORTH KOREA!!!)
¡Viva la Revolución!
For more updated news please check out:
☞ Libya Live Blog (Al-Jazeera)
☞ Libya: live updates (Guardian)
The 'fruits' of our last days' 'efforts':
For more info plaese check out: http://cafe.daum.net/mdmari
For more info please check out: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/144786088942866
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