Renewed threat to whale activists

The letter, delivered by representatives of the Jangsaengpo Development Agency, accuses us of some bizarre things, such as threatening ladies' exercises and scaring teenagers, but mainly of preventing an economic recovery by opposing the research centre (or whalemeat factory) and whale (or whaling) museum. 

The truth is, whaling - especially "scientific" whaling - cannot bring an economic recovery. The research centre and whalemeat factory are not scientific or "environmentally friendly".  The Korean government is misleading the people of Jangsaengpo, risking their future and our activists' safety.

The angry mob that visited us yesterday are not representative of all the views in the area. Many of Ulsan's citizens have been visiting our embassy, drinking tea with our activists, and even cooking meals for the team and offering to wash their clothes! 

Many local children have visited the embassy and watched videos, and even had English lessons in the green dome. 

Obviously, opinions in Ulsan are divided.  But there is a sense of frustration at the government, and at Greenpeace and Korean Federation for Environment Movement (KFEM) for supposedly threatening their optimism of an economic recovery. 

Locals speak of the "good old days" of whaling and eating whale meat.  However, the fact is that Korea's whales are some of the most endangered in the world, and the locals' hope seems to be based on false promises and a nostalgic view of the outdated, unsustainable and internationally condemned practice of commercial whaling.

The Korean government, and the city of Ulsan, need to address the concerns of the Jangsaengpo community and ensure they are given sustainable means of redevelopment.  The local government should also ensure that our activists are not threatened as they struggle to defend Korea's whales for the future.

Translation of Document asking GP and KFEM to withdraw [Greenpeace commentary highlighted]

Statement of Jangsaengpo local people wanting to get rid of obstacle for international event.

Jangsaengpo local people have suffered over the last twenty years of decreasing economical conditions, but now they are expecting IWC and grand opening of whale museum, so we are so excited about our economic recovery and local trading stimulation.

We are preparing facilitation, and making clear the streets and public area to prepare for visit of guests from other countries. We are preparing our revival but Greenpeace, invited by KFEM, have set up a camp on the site of the proposed whale center. They are illegally occupying the place and they are trying to communicate their message, but they are not listening to the local opinions of local people. That's the reason why we make press conference to exclaim our thoughts about Greenpeace occupying the place for research center. [Greenpeace has been entirely open to talking with the local people, and sharing views.]

From the beginning Jangsaengpo people tried to block the entrance of rainbow warrior, and we prepared demonstrations on the water against Greenpeace visit. But since we are facing international event, blocking Greenpeace would be shameful, thats why we didn't do it. So GP and KFEM didn't have any conflict when they came in to Jangsaengpo port, and they had their event, and they then promised to us that they will do their event from 4th April-11th April, then they said they would leave [The Rainbow Warrior left on the 12th April].

But they set up a camp right beside the whale museum, which is whale researching centre. They set up 10 tents and ran a campaign. It's been 50 days so far.

Since they occupied this place it has been a threat to ladies who used to do exercise around this are, and parents who have teenage children cannot let them outside. [This is an odd  observation, since people have continued to exercise on the adjacent vacant lot everyday, and many local people, young and old, regularly come to the Embassy] 

Moreover the company who is contracted to build the whale research center is trying to make car park for oceans day, but GP and KFEM still occupy this space illegally, so they are being an obstacle and it touches the nerves of local people. [Oceans Day takes place on 31 May in Korea, and this is the day that the new museum promoting whaling will be opened.]

Moreover GP and KFEM are still carrying out illegal occupation, but city government and MOMAF of Ulsan are not doing anything about it. So it seems that the government doesn't care about Jangsaengpo local people's opinions; this makes Jangsaengpo people get more angry.

So Jangsaengpo development association, Jangsaengpo senior association, Jangsaengpo young adult association and Jangsaengpo local people can not put up with this situation, so we declare the following:

We ask to GP and KFEM, that the illegally-occupied camp that was set up from April 5th is immediately withdrawn by GP and KFEM.

We are asking the government of Ulsan and MOMAF of Ulsan to process our complaint using official power. We wish to make a complaint about the illegal occupation by GP and KFEM to the government after 30th May at 12pm. In case GP and KFEM do not leave by 6pm on the 26th May, and government do not protect local area people's rights, everything that happens caused by this situation, will be the responsibility of GP and KFEM city of Ulsan and MOMAF of Ulsan's shoulders. [Greenpeace will happily vacate the site immediately, as has already been conveyed, upon assurances from the land owner (MOMAF), and the City of Ulsan, that the whale meat factory will not be built.]

2005 25th May

Jangsaengpo Development Association 
Jangsaengpo Senior Association 
Jangsaengpo Young Adult Association 
Jangsaengpo local people 
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