Fwd: [June 28] SKY ACT_ SKY Collective Action Founding Declaration

[아름드리 나무]

( Photo by Fielding Hong )

SKY ACT_ SKY Collective Action Founding Declaration

(Translated by Fielding Hong)

Workers are the sky. Kureombi is the sky. Forced evictees are the sky.

We hereby initiate the Ssangyong – Kangjeong – Yongsan – SKY Collective Action.

Ssangyong! Kangjeong! Yongsan!

These names alone pierce the heart of the people. Our collective heart burns for these

lives.

In the name of economic growth and development - in the name of national security

– the lives and voices of those affected by these tragedies have been systematically

ignored by the State; their livelihoods stolen and their right to security threatened. The

tyranny of capital and state violence is killing the downtrodden of the world.

Those suffering this agony and injustice belong to our generation. Their suffering is our

suffering. Their peace is our peace.

In the name of the lives being extinguished, we declare here and now, this gathering of

the people.

Workers are the sky! Kureombi is the sky! Forced evictees are the sky! We are the sky!

All life is the sky!

The SKY ACT affirms solidarity and promotes collective action to address injustices

currently suffered by the people. We come together in solidarity demanding: (1) the

reinstatement of laid-off workers of the Ssangyong car company; (2) an immediate halt

to the naval base construction in the village of Kangjeong on Jeju Island; and (3) full

disclosure and a close examination of the facts of the Yongsan Tragedy. Using the first

letters of Ssangyong, Kangjeong, and Yongsan to form the name of the SKY ACT, We

hereby christen this collective movement.

Ssangyong, Kangjeong, and Yongsan are symbolic representations of the tyranny of

capital and state violence in the Republic of Korea and especially during the era presided

over by the Lee, Myeong Bak administration. Furthermore, despite the inauguration

of the 19th National Assembly and the upcoming presidential election, the legislature,

as a representative of the people’s will, has not provided any course of action to rectify

these injustices.

Therefore, stemming from this site of anguish, the people through their own will and

power come together in solidarity to form the SKY Collective Action. In order to live

together on this land, the people come together of their own accord in collective action

to realize this simple desire. In order to survive this brutal era, the people join together

in times of joy and in sorrow – in times of happiness and in times of rage. We come

together to find a solution to these crises. We will achieve this in joyful solidarity.

We will sing together and dance together. Starting from Ssangyong, Kangjeong, and

Yongsan, we will join together to fight injustice across all of Korea.

We appeal to citizens from all walks of life to join in joyous, warm-hearted, humble and

courageous solidarity.

Workers are the sky! Kureombi is the sky! Forced evictees are the sky! We are the sky!

All life is the sky!

Rise up you who are downtrodden! Rise up you who are downhearted! Rise up now!

This twisted world, this upside down reality, let us work together to restore the balance.

June 28, 2012

All those present at the founding assembly of the Ssangyong-Kangjeong-Yongsan

Collective Action_SKY ACT

Photos by Seo Kyung-Ryeol