My service project will include volunteering with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) in their office in Torrance, CA. I have not been able to set up an exact date yet, however, it will be within the next month. I have been in contact with the organization, and was offered a volunteer position over this weekend, but was unable to go due to prior commitments.
Update 3/4/10:
Megan & I will be traveling down to the LiNK headquarters in Torrance, CA next Thursday, March 11th for the afternoon. They are having a month-long campaign to win a $250,000 grant from Pepsi & need volunteers to help get the word out.
Campus Activism:
Film screening on Thursday, March 18th at 7:00 PM in the Chapel. "Inside North Korea." Presented by LiNK.
Clearly, North Koreans are foreigners here in the United States. The reason that I was originally interested in this issue was because I went to the screening of "Seoul Train," which told the stories of three groups of North Korean refugees fleeing to China and all getting caught in the process. Just seeing the film inspired me to do more. I am probably more interested in this particular issue because I am passionate about international human rights, but seeing the suffering of the North Koreans alone will convince others to care about these people.
I don't believe that racial order has much to do with this issue, at least in relation to the United States. The North Koreans are being persecuted because they are from North Korea, but not because they are Asian, or because they look or act different than anyone else, but because there are political benefits for the Chinese government's relations with North Korea for repatriating the refugees, who they see as illegal immigrants. My campus activism project does not engage the racial order, because it is not an issue on this campus, in the community, or even in the country.
Power has a very important role in campus activism. Showing a film about North Korea does not necessarily directly engage the powers of the US and NK governments, but it does allow for the people (at least of CLU) to get involved. The statement "knowledge is power" can be demonstrated here because the film will inform everyone as to what life is like inside North Korea.
The US government is focusing mostly on North Korea's nuclear proliferation (clearly a more prominent threat than refugees), which makes it difficult for them to see beyond that to the suffering of the North Korean people. Sure, there is food aid going into North Korea, but it is the bare minimum, and sometimes it doesn't even make it to that. The people are suffering greatly, and food aid has been diminishing as a response from the world to North Korea's nuclear activity. It is important for the powers that be to acknowledge the growing challenges that the North Korean people face instead of just focusing on the nuclear proliferation.
Also, check out the Pepsi grant competition: Vote for LiNK to win $250,000 this month! Vote every day until March 31st!
http://www.refresheverything.com/link
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Plans for Campus Activism
CLU has seen a lot of campus activism, recently with the Prop 8 campaign last year. GSA has become more prominent on campus, and Prop 8 really helped to give it a huge leap forward. This type of activism and campaigning was very shocking for some people, especially on such a small campus. Sure, the methods that they used were not as extreme as SDS, but they were effective. They brought awareness to the issue, and they gave a very strong argument for voting "No" on Prop 8. Other groups were also present presenting a strong front for "Yes" on Prop 8 as well. The people involved were extremely passionate about the issue and brought that issue to the attention of the whole campus.
Other issues on CLU's campus, and campuses across the country have seen similar movements over the years. The activists who start the movements are always passionate and wish to share their passions with their peers. SDS used more radical forms of activism, which definitely garnered the attention of their peers. The more radical protests were effective in their own right, but are not the only way to bring attention to an issue. There are many other ways to be an activist on a college campus, including tabling for an issue, handing out fliers, screening informative films/documentaries, and holding peaceful protests or rallies. These forms of activism are probably more effective on the CLU campus than things such as taking over the administration building or (in very extreme cases) blowing up empty buildings.
North Korean refugees, and the issues associated with it (nuclear proliferation, the Korean war, and a crazy dictator), are not very well known issues. Bringing about awareness is one of the most important things that can be done for any issue, especially something sensitive that can majorly affect international relations. SDS used very shocking, radical forms of campus activism. I don't think that it would be possible to have such shocking activism for the issue of human rights in North Korea. A better way to go about it would be to promote more awareness on campus and in the community.
There are a few things that can be done to bring about on campus awareness of the issue of the poor treatment of the North Korean immigrants. Handing out fliers or tabling at the flagpole always garners attention. However, I believe that working with LiNK for this will also be very beneficial. Last semester, we brought LiNK in during the International Relations class to screen a film "Seoul Train," which directly addressed the North Korean refugees attempts to escape North Korea into China, and the failures and hardships that they faced. I believe that this helped our class and those who came just for the film to be more aware of the issue of North Korean refugees.
This might not be the most radical way to bring about awareness, but it is effective. LiNK helps to raise awareness throughout the country with the help of schools, churches, and other organizations who wish to screen the film. They also help the North Korean refugees to escape to safe houses and help them to start new lives in South Korea, the US, or elsewhere. This is made possible by donations, generally given at their film screenings. They take donations, and they also sell T-shirts, that really help to raise awareness. People always ask about special shirts that people wear, so they can take that opportunity to spread the word.
Other issues on CLU's campus, and campuses across the country have seen similar movements over the years. The activists who start the movements are always passionate and wish to share their passions with their peers. SDS used more radical forms of activism, which definitely garnered the attention of their peers. The more radical protests were effective in their own right, but are not the only way to bring attention to an issue. There are many other ways to be an activist on a college campus, including tabling for an issue, handing out fliers, screening informative films/documentaries, and holding peaceful protests or rallies. These forms of activism are probably more effective on the CLU campus than things such as taking over the administration building or (in very extreme cases) blowing up empty buildings.
North Korean refugees, and the issues associated with it (nuclear proliferation, the Korean war, and a crazy dictator), are not very well known issues. Bringing about awareness is one of the most important things that can be done for any issue, especially something sensitive that can majorly affect international relations. SDS used very shocking, radical forms of campus activism. I don't think that it would be possible to have such shocking activism for the issue of human rights in North Korea. A better way to go about it would be to promote more awareness on campus and in the community.
There are a few things that can be done to bring about on campus awareness of the issue of the poor treatment of the North Korean immigrants. Handing out fliers or tabling at the flagpole always garners attention. However, I believe that working with LiNK for this will also be very beneficial. Last semester, we brought LiNK in during the International Relations class to screen a film "Seoul Train," which directly addressed the North Korean refugees attempts to escape North Korea into China, and the failures and hardships that they faced. I believe that this helped our class and those who came just for the film to be more aware of the issue of North Korean refugees.
This might not be the most radical way to bring about awareness, but it is effective. LiNK helps to raise awareness throughout the country with the help of schools, churches, and other organizations who wish to screen the film. They also help the North Korean refugees to escape to safe houses and help them to start new lives in South Korea, the US, or elsewhere. This is made possible by donations, generally given at their film screenings. They take donations, and they also sell T-shirts, that really help to raise awareness. People always ask about special shirts that people wear, so they can take that opportunity to spread the word.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Service & Social Capital
I think the issue of the human rights of North Korean refugees is deeply affected by international social capital. It is difficult for countries to be able to trust each other, since, for the most part, countries are only looking out for themselves and their self-interests. Since North Korea is kind of a taboo country, especially on human rights as well as nuclear proliferation, it is difficult to get many countries to agree on policies regarding human rights.
Volunteering with LiNK will not only help me to understand the issue better, but it will also increase the ability of LiNK to help North Korean refugees. LiNK uses a network of safe houses and contacts to help smuggle the refugees out of North Korea and to help keep them from being deported back to North Korea by the Chinese government. It is important for the refugees to trust the workers from LiNK in order for them to escape safely.
Ignoring the problems of North Korea seems to be a norm throughout the world, however, the refugee and human rights crisis is not something that can be ignored any longer. I think more education about the crisis in North Korea will help to increase the ability of organizations like LiNK to help the people of North Korea. Increased awareness might also bring the issue to national attention, which will make the US government more likely to address the issue.
Volunteering with LiNK will not only help me to understand the issue better, but it will also increase the ability of LiNK to help North Korean refugees. LiNK uses a network of safe houses and contacts to help smuggle the refugees out of North Korea and to help keep them from being deported back to North Korea by the Chinese government. It is important for the refugees to trust the workers from LiNK in order for them to escape safely.
Ignoring the problems of North Korea seems to be a norm throughout the world, however, the refugee and human rights crisis is not something that can be ignored any longer. I think more education about the crisis in North Korea will help to increase the ability of organizations like LiNK to help the people of North Korea. Increased awareness might also bring the issue to national attention, which will make the US government more likely to address the issue.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Service Learning Experience
As I have stated in my previous post, I am extremely interested in working with the non-profit organization Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). They work with North Korean refugees who have escaped from the repressive government there. It is difficult for these refugees to flee the country because of the tight security at the borders, and if they are caught, the consequences are often life imprisonment in the equivalent of Nazi concentration camps. It is virtually impossible for refugees to cross into South Korea, so most of them flee to China. However, the Chinese government considers these refugees as illegal immigrants, and when they are caught, they are sent back to North Korea. The human rights that are being violated in this situation have really torn at me, especially since working with LiNK last semester as a part of the International Relations course.
Not only do I want to help these people as the service learning portion of this class, but I also feel that something needs to be done to help the refugees. LiNK helps the refugees get to the border, across it, and into safe-houses scattered throughout southeast Asia. I don't think that everyone is obligated to participate in service learning projects, but I do believe that if one feels passionately about an issue, they should help to bring awareness to the issue and do what they can to help resolve it. I think that I have a mixed view of citizenship. I believe that people should help out at some point in their lives as more of obligatory thing, but at the same time, no one can be forced into enjoying doing service. Since this is an issue that I care about, I will enjoy the project more, and therefore get more out of it.
Not only do I want to help these people as the service learning portion of this class, but I also feel that something needs to be done to help the refugees. LiNK helps the refugees get to the border, across it, and into safe-houses scattered throughout southeast Asia. I don't think that everyone is obligated to participate in service learning projects, but I do believe that if one feels passionately about an issue, they should help to bring awareness to the issue and do what they can to help resolve it. I think that I have a mixed view of citizenship. I believe that people should help out at some point in their lives as more of obligatory thing, but at the same time, no one can be forced into enjoying doing service. Since this is an issue that I care about, I will enjoy the project more, and therefore get more out of it.
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