Here's some great news in the campaign to save the Saemangeum tidal flats in South Korea. The message below is from Nial Moores, an ornithologist who has published much research on the migratory birds that depend on Saemangeium as a major stop-over site. Note that the Korean campaigners think lots more international pressure is needed to convince Korean government officials to abandon the sea wall construction for good. If you haven't yet written to Korean president Roh, please see our action alert (with inspiring photos of the Korean campaign), and write your letter today. To all who have sent letters already: THANKS!
*************************** Dear all, HUGENEWS!
Today, July 15th, a mid-level court made a historic ruling on a case brought by the leaders of South Korea's environmental groups and local citizens: the Saemangeum project must stop, effective immediately. The court apparently ruled that water in the proposed huge reclamation reservoirs will be of too low quality for agricultural use - rendering the project's meaning illegitimate and the costs required to clean it up far in excess of those claimed by the government. The Ministry of Agriculture has already announced that it will appeal the ruling.
The decision is a historic one, as it offers a real chance to stop finally this most destructive of projects. Showing respect for historical precendents (e.g. the Shihwa reclamation project which was completed in 1994 but cannot be used for agriculture because of water pollution), the court's decision revealed the independence of the judiciary and the determination of the environmental movement in South Korea: especially admirable when South Korea's short history as a democracy (a mere 15 years) is considered.
International opposition needs to continue and strengthen: to weaken the Ministry of Agriculture's resolve, and to convince the government to take advantage of this historic ruling.
Thank you everybody for you continuing efforts,
Nial Moores Research Fellow and Lecturer, NGO Studies, Sungkonghue University, Seoul Wetlands and Birds Conservation Specialist South Korea, and East Asia
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