SEOUL (UCAN): The Association of Superiors of Korean Catholic Women’s organised an environmental campaign from November 11 to 14 in Sejong to save the environment in the region Catholic Times of Korea reported on November 17.
One of the major concerns is the construction of the Saemangeum International Airport in North Jeolla province, which includees the Sura tidal flat, is one of 10 new airports approved for construction across the country.
Sejong is a special self-governing city and the de facto administrative capital of South Korea.
“Look at the living beings in the Sura tidal flat and listen to their cries. We will stand in solidarity with you until the end through action,” said Sister Sang-Yeon Jan, chairperson of the Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation.
About 40 superiors from 17 religious orders participated in the campaign, accompanied by Father Kang Seung-soo, head of the Ecological Environment Committee in Diocese of Daejeon, and Salesian Father Park Seong-jae.
On the penultimate day of the campaign, the nuns joined demonstrations, picket lines, and a public Mass conducted at the rear gate of the Sejong City Environment Ministry at the city’s government complex.
I felt the need for conversion when I saw [that] the policies focused on unstoppable development and economic growth
Sister Moon Ji-hye
During the Mass, Father Kang remarked that the campaigners were “publicising the path of life that God desires through [their] actions.”
One of the campaigners, Sister Moon Ji-hye, took to the streets after she observed that government policies were only focused on economic development failed to factor in environmental protection .
“I felt the need for conversion when I saw [that] the policies focused on unstoppable development and economic growth,” Sister Moon said.
Saemangeum sits on 400 square kilometres of reclaimed land. The area is home to the world’s longest seawall which measures 33.9 kilometres.
Construction of the new airport is expected to begin in 2023 and finish by the end of 2027.
It is scheduled to be commissioned for operation in 2028.
Campaigners held up placards with the words: ‘Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Environment, face climate collapse,’ and ‘Sura Tidal Flat is alive. Stop genocide and exploitation, protect lives’ during the demonstration.
The campaigners also demonstrated near the coal-powered thermal power plants concentrated on the west coast, such as Dangjin, Taean, and Boryeong, and performed a dance for peace.
As of March 2022, a total of 57 thermal power plants are operating in Korea, and four new coal power plants are under construction in the Gangwon area.
The last stop for the campaigners was the Sura Tidal Flat, the planned site for the new Saemangeum Airport where they prayed for all life living in there.
