The wonderful, lovely Spring 2011 LiNK Nomads are doing something amazing! They have taken it upon themselves to make the last 2 weeks of their tour count.
Now before you totally disregard this as just one of those LiNK things that I post... I'd like to share why I care soooo much about this issue, this organization, and this campaign.
People in North Korea are suffering. They have hardly any food or shelter, they essentially have no electricity, running water, or any necessities of life. So they are leaving North Korea in search of food, shelter, and jobs. They risk their lives crossing over the Tumen River into China, a country that doesn't want them. China considers North Koreans to be economic migrants (because they come looking for jobs and food). HOWEVER. North Korea considers leaving the country to be the TREASON, a crime punishable from labor camps, torture, and sometimes even DEATH.
China knows this, and yet, they continue to send North Koreans back to their home country, where they will be punished for leaving. Because of the punishments that they will receive, INTERNATIONAL LAW considers North Koreans who leave to be Refugees Sur Place, meaning they cannot return to their home country.
LiNK exists to help these refugees get out of their situation in China. We identify the most "at-risk" refugees who are in the most danger of being repatriated, get them to Southeast Asia, and then resettle them into South Korea or the United States.
LiNK also helps to amplify the voice of those refugees. In the fall, I toured around the country with 12 other crazy people like myself, living out of a van to share the stories of 5 such North Koreans. We were their voice for 10 weeks. People don't know what is going on, and without grassroots support, nothing will ever get done.
There are now 16 new Nomads traveling around the United States and Canada telling the stories of North Korean refugees. And they are kicking it into high gear for their last two weeks on tour. Their goal is to raise $16,000 in the last 16 days of their tour. That might seem like a lot, but all YOU have to do is donate $10 (or whatever you are able to donate). Every dollar, every penny helps to get them closer to their goal, and helps LiNK to rescue one more person who is in danger (or in this case, 6.4 refugees).
Hopefully you read to the end of this... because now here is the link to start out: http://www.causes.com/causes/609382.
Meet Katie, a West Nomad:
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, August 22, 2010
UPDATE
I recently accepted a position at Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), where I will spend 3 months on the road with an awesome team to educated Americans about the North Korean crisis! I'm super excited & also super nervous. We will be living out of a van and crashing on peoples' floors, couches, or extra beds for a whopping 10 weeks. Yes, I might be crazy, but it is going to be quite an adventure :)
I leave for training at the LiNK headquarters in Torrance, CA (just south of LA) on August 30th, and will be on the road shortly after that! Woah. That's pretty soon :)
And a request...
Since graduation from Cal Lutheran, I have been searching for a job that incorporates my three majors of political science, international studies, and German, as well as my passion for social justice. During my senior year, I was introduced to an international crisis that caught my attention, the North Korean crisis. I was originally researching North Korean nuclear proliferation, and came across the issue of the North Korean refugees.
Not only does the North Korean government limit free speech, assembly, press, and religion, but wrong doers and wrong thinkers are also punished in ways we could never imagine, sometimes even with death. There is also a large amount of people who are malnourished because the government barely rations enough food to keep people alive. This situation is worsened when the North Koreans try to flee their country in search of food and/or freedom, but are not welcomed in neighboring countries and are often killed in the process of making a better life for themselves and their families.
This fall, I have decided to intern with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). On August 30th, I will be moving into a house with all of LiNK’s interns. After a few weeks of training, we will all head out on the road as Nomads to show a film called “Hiding” at various locations around the country to educate people about the North Korean crisis. We will be on the road for 10 weeks.
LiNK is a non-profit and all of the interns are volunteers, so I will not be getting paid. I still have to pay for my food, toiletries, outings, and other bills during my three month adventure. This is why I am writing to you: to ask for your help in making this trip a possibility. I know money is tight for everyone right now, but every little bit helps. If you are unable to help monetarily, that is okay—just keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I travel around the country. If you would like to donate, please make your check payable to LiNK and send it to:
LiNK
1751 Torrance Blvd, Suite L
Torrance, CA 90501
Please be sure to write my full name on the memo line so they can deposit it into my account. Please note that all donations are tax deductible.
Thank you very much for your support. While on the road, I will be keeping a blog at www.kelafry.blogspot.com, please feel free to follow my trip. If you would like to learn more about LiNK and the North Korean crisis, you can visit their website at www.linkglobal.org.
Thanks!
Kelley Fry
I leave for training at the LiNK headquarters in Torrance, CA (just south of LA) on August 30th, and will be on the road shortly after that! Woah. That's pretty soon :)
And a request...
Since graduation from Cal Lutheran, I have been searching for a job that incorporates my three majors of political science, international studies, and German, as well as my passion for social justice. During my senior year, I was introduced to an international crisis that caught my attention, the North Korean crisis. I was originally researching North Korean nuclear proliferation, and came across the issue of the North Korean refugees.
Not only does the North Korean government limit free speech, assembly, press, and religion, but wrong doers and wrong thinkers are also punished in ways we could never imagine, sometimes even with death. There is also a large amount of people who are malnourished because the government barely rations enough food to keep people alive. This situation is worsened when the North Koreans try to flee their country in search of food and/or freedom, but are not welcomed in neighboring countries and are often killed in the process of making a better life for themselves and their families.
This fall, I have decided to intern with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). On August 30th, I will be moving into a house with all of LiNK’s interns. After a few weeks of training, we will all head out on the road as Nomads to show a film called “Hiding” at various locations around the country to educate people about the North Korean crisis. We will be on the road for 10 weeks.
LiNK is a non-profit and all of the interns are volunteers, so I will not be getting paid. I still have to pay for my food, toiletries, outings, and other bills during my three month adventure. This is why I am writing to you: to ask for your help in making this trip a possibility. I know money is tight for everyone right now, but every little bit helps. If you are unable to help monetarily, that is okay—just keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I travel around the country. If you would like to donate, please make your check payable to LiNK and send it to:
LiNK
1751 Torrance Blvd, Suite L
Torrance, CA 90501
Please be sure to write my full name on the memo line so they can deposit it into my account. Please note that all donations are tax deductible.
Thank you very much for your support. While on the road, I will be keeping a blog at www.kelafry.blogspot.com, please feel free to follow my trip. If you would like to learn more about LiNK and the North Korean crisis, you can visit their website at www.linkglobal.org.
Thanks!
Kelley Fry
Friday, May 7, 2010
Reflection on Citizenship & Civic Engagement
This semester, I worked with an organization called Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). In March, I went down to their headquarters in Torrance, CA to volunteer for a day. While there, I emailed and called over 100 of their donors to get their support on the Pepsi Refresh project. This got me involved with my online activism, which was promoting LiNK's cause for the Pepsi Refresh project.
They are looking to win $250,000 to open a house for North Korean refugees who are sent to the United States. Usually, they are spread out throughout the country, with over 90 refugees who basically have not way to contact one another. Instead, LiNK would like to host them in a house in Los Angeles so that they can become more assimilated in American society before they are sent off to fend for themselves. I promoted this idea through this blog and Facebook. I also sent several emails to friends and family who do not have Facebook.
My campus activism was also through LiNK. They came to campus to show a film "Inside North Korea," a National Geographic documentary. About 30 people showed up to learn about life and craziness inside the country. They also sold LiNK apparel with lovely shirts that have great political statements, such as shirts with Kim Jung Il's face, and others that say "Run DMZ" or "Legalize Adoption for children without a country," supporting LiNK's newest cause to adopt North Korean children.
My views on citizenship have not changed much from this class, but it has been very insightful, looking at what can be considered citizenship. I have always thought that it is important to be involved in the community, especially with causes that one is passionate about. I don't think that anyone HAS to participate in community organizations, but I think it helps to feel included in society.
The End. Booyah.
They are looking to win $250,000 to open a house for North Korean refugees who are sent to the United States. Usually, they are spread out throughout the country, with over 90 refugees who basically have not way to contact one another. Instead, LiNK would like to host them in a house in Los Angeles so that they can become more assimilated in American society before they are sent off to fend for themselves. I promoted this idea through this blog and Facebook. I also sent several emails to friends and family who do not have Facebook.
My campus activism was also through LiNK. They came to campus to show a film "Inside North Korea," a National Geographic documentary. About 30 people showed up to learn about life and craziness inside the country. They also sold LiNK apparel with lovely shirts that have great political statements, such as shirts with Kim Jung Il's face, and others that say "Run DMZ" or "Legalize Adoption for children without a country," supporting LiNK's newest cause to adopt North Korean children.
My views on citizenship have not changed much from this class, but it has been very insightful, looking at what can be considered citizenship. I have always thought that it is important to be involved in the community, especially with causes that one is passionate about. I don't think that anyone HAS to participate in community organizations, but I think it helps to feel included in society.
The End. Booyah.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Digital Citizenship
This IS the issue I'm working on. North Koreans do not have access to information communication technology. There has been a recent increase in the number of North Koreans who are able to access technology and information, but it is super dangerous for them to possess any form of communication with the outside world.
The internet is a great way to spread awareness about the issues that North Korea faces, but is not particularly helpful to the North Koreans themselves. TV does not really have an effect on the issue of North Korea either. North Koreans are forced to listen to and watch TV that is all propaganda about their great supreme leader, Kim Jung Il, his father, and his son. We might complain about how biased each news network is here in the US, but at least we have options, and opposing opinions. North Koreans are not even allowed (or capable of) to think about contradicting Kim Jung Il.
The internet is a great way to spread awareness about the issues that North Korea faces, but is not particularly helpful to the North Koreans themselves. TV does not really have an effect on the issue of North Korea either. North Koreans are forced to listen to and watch TV that is all propaganda about their great supreme leader, Kim Jung Il, his father, and his son. We might complain about how biased each news network is here in the US, but at least we have options, and opposing opinions. North Koreans are not even allowed (or capable of) to think about contradicting Kim Jung Il.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
UnCitizenship
Information is the most important thing on the issue of human rights in North Korea. Without anyone being informed of the issue, it is impossible for anyone to address it. The media does not even address this issue. They focus mostly on the nuclear proliferation. Granted, it seems to be a more pressing, threatening issue, but that does not mean that it is the only thing going on in North Korea. Media fragmentation is not the problem-- the media itself is the problem. They have to decide what is news-worthy and what is not, so they focus on what they think will get more attention. Nukes are much more of an audience-catcher than human rights abuses. News about these human rights abuses is hard to get out into the media because there are so few people who are able to represent their issues.
However, there is a bill that was introduced on March 25th of this year that addresses the issue of adopting children who have no country & not legal papers (see Legalize Adoption campaign through LiNK). I'm not sure where that is going, but there is still no media coverage on the issue. No one seems to care that much (except myself and a few other people). The news media probably does not think that it is entertaining enough-- there isn't usually even a mention of it on the ticker at the bottom of the screen.
There is definitely a decline in association with the organization LiNK. They have a program where they automatically charge your credit card $9 each month to donate to their "9 Lives Campaign." You don't even have to write a check each month, so you don't even have to think about it. That is all that these people do, too. When LiNK was doing well in the Pepsi Refresh project the first month (February), people were voting every day because they were excited, and LiNK was doing well. Now that they have not won for 3 months in a row, people are becoming more and more disengaged (including myself, though I hate to admit it). LiNK is in 95th place now, unlike back in February when they were in 4th, or even March when they got 12th place.
I think it is difficult to disagree that what is happening in North Korea is a bad thing. I think the controversy might come in what to do about it. There probably will not be much polarization on the issue of adopting the stateless North Korean children (though that sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it...?). I cannot imagine any arguments that might be used against it, except maybe some sort of fear of North Korean retaliation. I can see where there would be a split in decision-making about what to do about the human rights abuses. I worry that if there is too much polarization, congress will not be able to come up with any sort of policy that will allow us to do anything about the human rights abuses, or anything else that is even remotely involved with North Korea.
However, there is a bill that was introduced on March 25th of this year that addresses the issue of adopting children who have no country & not legal papers (see Legalize Adoption campaign through LiNK). I'm not sure where that is going, but there is still no media coverage on the issue. No one seems to care that much (except myself and a few other people). The news media probably does not think that it is entertaining enough-- there isn't usually even a mention of it on the ticker at the bottom of the screen.
There is definitely a decline in association with the organization LiNK. They have a program where they automatically charge your credit card $9 each month to donate to their "9 Lives Campaign." You don't even have to write a check each month, so you don't even have to think about it. That is all that these people do, too. When LiNK was doing well in the Pepsi Refresh project the first month (February), people were voting every day because they were excited, and LiNK was doing well. Now that they have not won for 3 months in a row, people are becoming more and more disengaged (including myself, though I hate to admit it). LiNK is in 95th place now, unlike back in February when they were in 4th, or even March when they got 12th place.
I think it is difficult to disagree that what is happening in North Korea is a bad thing. I think the controversy might come in what to do about it. There probably will not be much polarization on the issue of adopting the stateless North Korean children (though that sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it...?). I cannot imagine any arguments that might be used against it, except maybe some sort of fear of North Korean retaliation. I can see where there would be a split in decision-making about what to do about the human rights abuses. I worry that if there is too much polarization, congress will not be able to come up with any sort of policy that will allow us to do anything about the human rights abuses, or anything else that is even remotely involved with North Korea.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Citizenship & Public Spheres
I don't know that deliberation on the issue of Human Rights is the best way to go about solving the problems in North Korea. The United Nations has already laid out a plan for what should be done about human rights violations. Even better would be if the North Korean people could be deliberative themselves, so that they could decide what they wanted in their government. Unfortunately, that idea is so far fetched that it seems almost comical. The only person allowed to have any ideas is their supreme leader, Kim Jung Il, and no one is allowed to contradict what he says. Once the human rights crisis is solved, we can start talking about other forms of deliberation.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Citizenship & Deliberation
The issue of North Korea is not a well-known issue here in the United States, outside of their nuclear proliferation. There are very few experts on North Korea itself, and those who are experts are not well-heard in Washington, mostly because there are so few of them and it is not a pressing issue. Knowledge within North Korea (especially of the outside world) is non-existent, even though there have been recent increases in communication through cell phones.
I don't know that public knowledge would help on this issue, since no one really knows anything about it, and it is regarding a completely different set of people who have a different culture and don't necessarily know what they want or need.
I think applying Fung & Wright's model to this issue is extremely difficult because of the lack of information both within North Korea, and coming out of it. No one knows exactly what is going on, even though we have countless stories from refugees. No single person can know every little detail.
I don't know that public knowledge would help on this issue, since no one really knows anything about it, and it is regarding a completely different set of people who have a different culture and don't necessarily know what they want or need.
I think applying Fung & Wright's model to this issue is extremely difficult because of the lack of information both within North Korea, and coming out of it. No one knows exactly what is going on, even though we have countless stories from refugees. No single person can know every little detail.
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