GIC Events
"Practicing Solidarity in Jeju"
- Name
- GIC
- Date
- 2019-04-20
- Views
- 1953 회
▶ Date: April 6, 2019
▶ Title: Practicing Solidarity in Jeju
▶ Speaker: Kaia Vereide
▶ Review: BAE Do Hyeop (GIC Volunteer)
These days, tens of thousands of news items
are flooded every day. Just as breaking news from yesterday is fading from the
memory of people living today, it is not awkward at all for us to forget what
happened in Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island. How much do you remember about
Gangjeong Village? Destruction of Kurumbi rocks, fierce confrontation between
demonstrators and police, fear of arms race that would spread from the
construction of naval base, marine being blamed in a truck; people would remember
at least some moments of what happened. After a long time since the news went
up and down, the naval base was eventually completed in Gangjeong Village.
So
far, the demonstrators are holding campaign and bowing a hundred times every
Saturday. I know the majority of people are not satisfied with the result, but why
are they still doing it for? I could hear the reason from Kaia Vereide from
America has lived for 6 years in Gangjeong Village.
Kaia
became interested in international affairs in her high school days through an
event commemorating the massacre of Darfur, South Sudan. She got appalled by
the fact that such thing happened even now in 21st century. While agonizing
over what she could do other than pray for them, she decided to study
international studies and has since campaigned for peace through various NGOs,
including anti-death penalty rallies and anti-military support from the U.S.
military dictatorship in South America.
While working through various institutions, she
came to Gangjeong Village with a group called Frontiers. The organization is for
educational activities for countries with conflicts and has a hub for activists
in Gangjeong. Kaia said she was interested in the history of Jeju Island of
numerous foreign along with the Jeju 4.3 incident, and could not understand how
to overcome its history and build a naval base there that had been reborn as an
island of peace by hosting a pleasant natural environment and various
international conferences or events.
After all, the naval base was built, but
the reason why Kaia is still a hundred times ahead of him was that the people
who were with him were good and that they should learn their commitment to
peace and how to carry it through. Now, Kang's rally is not just for Kang. The
move was taken a step further as an event to pray for peace in all parts of the
world in conjunction with the peace movement for other disputed areas. Kaia is
continuing a number of activities, including conducting peace classes as well
as rallies. With the belief that these efforts are the beginning of a more
peaceful world.
Who
keeps peace? Superman? Police? How should peace be kept? By being stronger than
others? By putting down all the weapons all together? Then, what is peace?
Everyone answers to this question differently. And I also find it is difficult
to answer the above questions clearly. But I believe that at least to the
extent of protecting my loved ones from immediate threats is to keep 'our'
peace.
I don't know even now while I'm studying in
college, but Kaia insists on putting down the weapons firmly. She responded by
doing what she believed. Regardless of right or wrong, the image of someone dedicates
his or her life to the values for all is truly noble. Isn't that why all saints
are being respected? Although she did not mark as great as historic people yet,
I would dare to say that Kaia's life was never been futile in any aspect. I
hope that the sweat of her and her colleagues to spread in the hearts of all
those who look forward to peace.
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