[E-rundbrief] Info 1139 - Successful protests at Jeju Island, S. Korea

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1139 - Paco (Jeju Island, South Korea): Great News 
 From Jeju Island, South Korea - Successful protest-actions at the 
IUCN WCC -conference.

Bad Ischl, 11.9.2012

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Great News From Jeju Island, South Korea

Here is something to hearten us all - the power of nonviolent protest 
and keeping going, love Angie (Zelter).


Great News From Jeju


Paco writes from Jeju Island, South Korea:

     Basically things are going super well! Our presence at the IUCN 
(*) WCC grows every day. Today many villagers and activists were both 
inside and out, dancing, talking, handing out information, inviting to 
tours, singing, etc. Everyone knows about Gangjeong, what has happened 
to us, and what is happening. Today I didn't meet a single person who 
hadn't heard of it, and 95% of the people I met were totally in 
support us, loved our resolution, our actions, and our talks. We 
barely gave out any of our newsletters today because almost everyone 
already read it!

     Inside the WCC there were several great Gangjeong related talks 
and a press conference as well as a short Gangjeong traditional folk 
performance and short talk by Mayor Kang in the 3,000 seat Tamna Hall. 
It wasn't full of course, but there was a good crowd. We also got our 
revenge about blocking our booth and just set one up ourselves inside 
the main hall. Muc
     h better position than the regular booths and totally free! After 
so much bad press, the police at the WCC are very careful with us.

     Meanwhile back in Gangjeong the police are not careful with us 
and attacked the gate protesters 5 times today. There weren't many 
people because many people were at the IUCN. This new shipment of 
police (they change every 2 weeks or so) is from Seoul and they are 
very rude, violent, and rough. They especially don't like cameras and 
hit several peoples cameras and also aggressively blocked people who 
were not doing anything except taking pictures.

     Tomorrow is another huge day, mostly in the village. a lot of 
people are coming to join another eco-cide tour of land and sea of 
Gangjeong. Also the IUCN has arranged for 100 of their top people to 
come to the village from 2-4 pm and have a meeting with the villagers. 
Don't really know what its all about, perhaps just a good will visit, 
hopefully nothing worse/sinister, hopefully something more supportive. 
Who knows what the police will do but probably they will hide again 
since so many visitors are coming.

     The navy and ministry of defense are very scared of all the 
support and attention we are getting and are issuing several sudden 
and silly statements as well as suddenly publishing a poorly made 
English/Korean booklet about the naval base, which they are giving out 
at the WCC. It offers zero evidence for their absurd claims and 
sometimes even accidentally supports us.

     Well once again, I guess not so short. Everyone is feeling very 
great about the all the support we've gotten. Everyone is also very 
tired from non-stop work in both the village and the convention 
center. The resolution was handed in. Now we wait to see if it is 
accepted and will go to voting.

     Thanks for all your support! Keep up your great solidarity 
actions and spreading the word, and prayer, and general awesomeness!

     We can do! Let's totally revoke the naval base!

     Check our web site at http://savejejunow.org/

(*) IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural 
Resources, http://www.iucn.org/

-- 

Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Salzkammergut,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX

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Ausgezeichnet mit dem (österr.) "Journalismus-Preis von unten 2010"

Honoured by the (Austrian) "Journalism-Award from below 2010"