Fwd by Antonio M. Claparols on Oct. 2, 2012)
See his another writing forwarded on Sept. 26, here.
JEJU, THE ISLAND OF PEACE UNDER SIEGE
By Antonio M. Claparols
As of this writing, the 5th World Conservation Congress has gone to a close.
It was held in the naturally beautiful and culturally-rich Jeju Island – known as the“Island of Peace,” which is a special autonomous province of South Korea.
During the said Congress, in the said Congress, many issues were taken up on the state of the planet
However, it turned out that the venue itself became one of the most controversial issues.
The reason behind the controversy was Motion 181 which calls for the protection of the people in Gangjeong , a 400-year-old fishing and farming village in the island. Its gentle people have lived in harmony with nature.
Jeju has been in harmony with nature for thousands of years.
Motion 181 centers against a planned construction of a naval base in Jeju Island .
The peaceful island is deemed to be geographically- strategic being surrounded by China, North Korea, Russia and Japan.
This island is a World Heritage site and a biosphere- reserved by UNESCO. It is also protected by international law.
Reportedly,the base site has “the cleanest water on the island and the world’s finest lava tube cave system. Endangered soft-coral reefs offshore will be destroyed when the seabed is dredged to get U.S. warships into the port.”
Definitely, building of the U.S. naval base will impact the island and the people.
Any EIA-Environmental Impact Assessment will show the devastating effects of having a Naval base in Jeju.
Those behind the military strategy are either unaware of the social and environmental impacts of their military naval base, or they do know yet consider these as just a piece of historical information not deserving any priority!
This attitude surrounding Motion 181 prompted the contact groups to meet with the villagers and they collectively rallied peacefully outside the Congress Halls while the motion was put to a vote in the plenary.
The government House had more abstentions and ‘’No” votes were gained more than the “Yes” votes.
The NGO House voted strongly for the Motion and against the U.S. naval base.
If this is how we will endeavour to save the environment, then our planet and people can only expect a bleak future for us all.
We were also surprised on how little concern was given to protect our marine environment specifically our oceans, considered the “ lungs of the planet."
Only 1.6 percent is protected, but the threatening issues of plans to mine the oceans were not even delved on!
Already the world is suffering from drought, typhoons, floods, shortages in food and water, extinction of species, poverty and biodiversity destruction.
Aren’t these enough to jolt the leaders to their senses ?
The planet cannot sustain the present development model and the end of the line is near.
We need a massive transformation and we did not see that in the Congress in Jeju.
We must be more vigilant in our efforts to conserve our people and planet or face the consequences of calamities that will mean the end of our race and cultures.
The world must keep an eye on how an environmental asset like Jeju Island is now being compelled to be a collateral to military progress.
Let Jeju Island be freed from being an Island of Peace under siege.
Antonio M. Claparols
President
Ecological Society of the Philippines
IUCN-Member
IUCN-CEESP
Makati City
Philippines
Email-jamc@mozcom.com
Photos by Cho Sung-Bong on Sept. 15 at http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GdUL/227
A photo from the site of Antonio M. Claparols
Photos by Cho Sung-Bong on Sept. 15 at http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GdUL/227