Category Archives: Savejejunow
Spirit of Gangjeong New Episode
This episode has photos from today’s over-the-top police assault on the Village of Gangjeong to dismantle a Peace Tent and tower. An update on the progress of the base construction and Joyakgol screening The Ghosts of Jeju around S. Korea.
Also a commentary on the state of US aggression around the globe.
The Ghosts of Jeju: Huge Success at Okinawa University
On November 18, The Ghosts of Jeju was screened at Okinawa University. More than 100 people attended and it left people in tears.
Not a day goes by that I am not humbled by how people the world over have received this film. It is now available in Korean, Japanese, and French with subtitles. The Spanish and Russian translations are underway…all tedious work done by volunteers who have been moved by the Story of Jeju.
Here’s a rather lengthy comment from Natsuhiko Watase, a Japanese non-fiction writer after viewing The Ghosts of Jeju at Okinawa University. There were over 100 people in attendance.
Thank you for the last evening.
I am glad that I made it.
Ms. Shiroma (the organizer/local activist) asked me to send my thoughts to you, which I did to FB but I am copying and pasting it here in e-mail.
I saw a documentary film “the Ghost of Jeju”
Post film talk session surrounding Rachel Clark who had introduced this film, was good thing to participate. For the sake of the US military industry, they make bases and start wars!
Wars kill innocent people in a huge scale, construction of bases violates human rights of local residents, and destroy their precious nature. This film conveys this message very well.
At the Sakurazaka Theater, I have seen “the Crombie” which deals with people who oppose the construction of the naval base in Jeju (in a different way). Tonight’s experience further deepened my understanding.
Some images overlapped with “the Targeted Village” by Chie Miami and “the Pressured to Kill in the Ocean” by Yukihisa Fujimoto and Asako Kageyama, in terms of irrational.
Not only Takae, Oura Bay in Henoko, this Gunjung village in Jeju Island became a precious place of mine as of today.
When I actually visit there, such romanticism will be totally destroyed by its harsh reality. At least my biggest gain from tonight’s film viewing was that I clearly linked Okinawa and Juju Island.
I had to leave before the end of talk session. Rachel, Kimiko, Ms. Shiroma who invited me, and all the participants, thank you very much.
I wish as many people can watch this film.
The Ghosts of Jeju World-wide
Happening this weekend, November 1-2 in Seoul, South Korea. The Ghosts of Jeju is being screened twice, presented by Joyakgol, Sister Stella, and Jesuit Brother Park.
Joyakgol says that it is being very well received by young and old alike. For most it is a “crash course” in the 4.3 massacre event, and an “eye-opener” about the US imperial advance on Jeju and the Pacific.
Thanks to Joyakgol, whom many of you will remember when he traveled with me on a 13 city tour with the film beginning with the Chicago Peace on Earth Film Festival, who finished the Korean version with subtitles and is screening it all over South Korea.
I am so gratified that Korean people here in America have welcomed the film and thank me for telling their story. I can only hope that people all over South Korea are moved and informed by The Ghosts of Jeju, and that they take responsibility for the deeds of their government.
The reaction seems to be the same around the world where it has been seen in 14 countries that I know about. Even more gratifying is the offer by volunteers to translate it into Japanese, French, Spanish, and Russian.
Without the financial support of so many of you, this would not be happening. I hope you realize that your contributions have helped to tell this important story all over the world.
After seeing the film, people always ask “what can we do to help.” Among the many things people can do, the most effective have been to purchase copies of the film and share it widely and to contribute so that I can continue this important work.
As I say in the film, “with knowledge comes responsibility, the least we can do is amplify the voices of Gangjeong.”
Taking on Capitalism and Militarism in the Pacific
I have already received $2,500 as a result of the Indiegogo funding campaign which ends on July 10. Thanks to all of you who contributed. But, that is a little less than 30% of what it will take to travel to the islands of the Pacific.
I need to raise $10,000 by May of 2015 when I plan to go to Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, Guam and the Philippines to film American bases and the contamination and destruction of the environment, the displacement of indigenous people, and the violation of human rights, all directly caused by America’s militarism and imperial advance in the Pacific. I also want to film the large, popular uprisings against America’s presence on each of those islands, as well as ask people why they are protesting and what they hope to accomplish.
This is a 5 minute video explaining more about the messages that will make up this film. Please take a moment to watch it even if you have already contributed, and please share it with friends on social media.
Peace on Earth Film Festival & West Coast Tour
March 5 Screening at University of Chicago
March 6-9 Chicago Peace on Earth Film Festival – Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater
March 8 – The Ghosts of Jeju screening – Noon –Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater
March 12 – Fresno Center for Nonviolence Noon and 7 pm
March 13 – Sonoma County Art Museum – 7 pm Univ. of San Francisco at Santa Rosa
March 14-16 – Annual Meeting of The Global Network
March 14 Screening – The Ghosts of Jeju 8:00 -9:30 PM
March 18 – 7 PM East Bay Media Center 1939 Addison Street, Berkeley
March 19 – Won Buddhist Temple 400 Shatto Pl, LA, 7 PM
March 20 – 7 PM – San Diego Peace Resource Center of San Diego 3850 Westgate Place
March 21 – 1-3 P – UCLA – UCLA 11379 Bunche Hall
March 24 – Tucson – 6:30 PM Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church – 1300 North Greasewood – Theology Uncorked
March 25 – 6 PM Phoenix Public Library Mesquite Branch 4525 E. Paradise Village Parkway N
March 28 – 6 PM – Taos, New Mexico – Kit Carson Electric Board Room 118 Cruz Alta Road
March 29 – 6 PM – Albuquerque Center For Peace and Justice 202 Harvard St. NE
March 30 – April 3 – Austin, Texas
This Kind of Review Makes It All Worthwhile
Hi, Holly,
After seeing the film (The Ghosts of Jeju) on Weds., I was too emotional to have comments. I don’t want you to think I was untouched by what I saw. I’ll pass on a comment I made to a friend after I arrived home. Thank you for doing your part, always. Peace and Love, Kathy
I’ve just come from a heart-rending viewing of a finely made film of the destruction and valiant protest on the Korean island of Jeju. Once a paradise of unspoiled, vibrant ocean, sacred rocks and waterfalls, an agricultural and fishing community a mere 35 x 45 miles in size, it was first attacked and destroyed during the Korean war. The residents are South Koreans, but our government ordered them destroyed and they were, by the thousands.
The continued systematic destruction of this little paradise is now being perpetrated so the US can add to their legion of bases around the world…way over 1,160 bases, worldwide, all shoving indigenous populations off, destroying their environment and homes.
The bravery and refusal to give up shown by the natives and those who come in as peace activists from many countries is beyond astounding.
After thousands were massacred by the Korean and American armies, survivors are iron-tough and willing to put their lives on the line.
My good friend Holly Graham wrote and performed a lovely song of peace for the movie and the showing tonight was hosted by her, alone. Sadly, few people responded to her invitation.
It’s now up to the few of us who did respond to do something for the good people of Jeju.
The last shred of respect I’ve clung to for the US government is gone. It would’ve taken much less than what I’ve seen tonight to free me from my self-deception.
PS After I read some of the literature, Holly, I told her about how 60% of our national budget goes to the military, leaving 10% and less for everything else. And, that a mere dot on a line graph goes to our food safety. (Going to a supermarket is like walking between two walls of poison…and it’s what most of our children are growing up on.)
The Ghosts of Jeju Needs Your Help to Carry On
January 29, 2014
It is somewhat embarrassing for me to ask for financial help to keep the story of Jeju and Gangjeong Village alive, but without your help I will not be able to continue.
Many of you contributed in 2012 which enabled the trip to Jeju and the making of The Ghosts of Jeju. Without your help, the film would never have happened. People around the world and in the U.S. would not know about this important story and the untold history of the U.S. in Korea from WWII to the present day.
Over the past year, I have been able to present the film to various groups and universities from Maine to California where it has been highly acclaimed. I have been able to do this by selling copies of the film and accepting donations along the way just to cover the costs of travel. Many good people have hosted me and passed me on to others. I thank them all for their help and friendship.
Just this week The Ghosts of Jeju was named an official selection of the Peace on Earth Film Festival in Chicago. After four days at the festival (March 6-9), Professor Bruce Cumings will host the film at the University of Chicago.
The exposure of this important story does not end in Chicago. The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space will screen the film at its annual meeting the following week in Santa Barbara, California.
The day before the meeting in Santa Barbara, the Sonoma County Museum in Santa Rosa has invited me to present the film as part of an exhibit about the April 3rd Massacre on Jeju, though they are not able to defray travel expenses.
I have also been invited to present the film in L.A., San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Taos, and Austin that I would like to do immediately after the Global Network meeting.
Beginning with the Peace on Earth Film Festival and continuing on to the West Coast, the Untold History of the United States in Korea and the ongoing military march to dominate the planet will receive the greatest exposure to date and significantly amplify the voices of Gangjeong and peace activists all over the world, but without your help I will not be able to go to Chicago or to begin this tour.
Readers of my emails and blog know that Pope Francis will visit South Korea in August. At the request of the people of Gangjeong and Jeju, I wrote a letter to Pope Francis and sent him a copy of The Ghosts of Jeju. Right now, there is no more important place in the world for Pope Francis to go to promote peace on earth than Jeju, The Island of World Peace. A visit by the Pope would galvanize the international peace movement and attract the attention of the international media that up until now have ignored the situation on Jeju and the anti-base movement world-wide.
I have exhausted my savings making the film and presenting it, and must turn to you for help to keep this important story alive. Please do what you can.
You can contribute in one of three ways:
- Checks made out to Regis Tremblay
209 River Rd – Woolwich, Maine 04579
Or online
- donations to the Global Network at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/Space4Peace
In the Special Purpose box for your donation, type in “Ghosts of Jeju.” Your contribution will be tax deductible.
or
- you can purchase a copy of the film, here:
www.theghostofjeju.wpengine.com
Your financial contributions will make a significant difference in the world-wide struggle against war, militarism, the desecration of the environment, and the abuse of human rights.
My very deep and sincere thanks for your continuing interest and support,
Regis
The Spirit of Christmas: Gangjeong Style
Christmas in Gangjeong, and still the construction of the massive naval base to accommodate America’s “Pivot to Asia” continues without a break. And, today, as they do everyday, the priests, nuns, villagers and their supporters celebrate mass and pray for peace.
Today, Bishop Peter Kang, the Bishop of Jeju, came to Gangjeong to celebrate Christmas mass at the gate of the base in freezing weather.
Photos by Choe Hye-young and Rom
Grace Kim is a Korean, who went abroad at quite an early age. She went to high school and college in the US and has been living in Berlin for the last 5 years studying Visual and Media Anthropology at Freie University. Grace is in Gangjeong for three months keeping a daily video diary as she conducts her research.
When I went to Gangjeong, I learned that each of us has a voice and that with knowledge comes responsibility. The least we can do is to amplify the voices of Gangjeong and do what we can to bring justice and peace to our world.
I wanted to share this wonderful video Grace posted today, Christmas 2013. It clearly demonstrates the indomitable spirit of the people of Gangjeong in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, and yet the villagers and their supporters who come from Jeju, the mainland, and around the world have found their own voices and are doing their part to amplify the message of Gangjeong: Peace on Earth!
The Spirit of Gangjeong #2
In this edition of The Spirit of Gangjeong I bring you the latest news from the village: prisoners released from jail, those still in jail, the fraudulent Rep. of Korea national election and subsequent demands by the Catholic priests association for Pres. Park to resign, and the creative new protest taking place in Gangjeong.