‘Imagining a global citizen convention’

Correcting the wrong actions of those in power must be done. They won’t repeat or we won’t repeat the same mistakes. The reason the military gave up on its attempt to mobilize during the Candlelight Revolution in the fall of 2016 was because of the desperate struggle and success of citizens in the 1980s. As depicted in the movie ‘Seoul Spring’, the historical fact that even if a military coup took power, it was ultimately thwarted by the power of the citizens, supported the candlelight revolution seven years ago.

The same goes for the Four Major Rivers. We still have a huge task left to do: ‘Renaturalization of the Four Major Rivers’. If educated people do not try to correct the great mistake made by capital power, the same mistake will be repeated. If the people do not stop the Japanese government from making major errors in judgment, such as the contaminated water issue, greater atrocities could be committed. Japan’s crisis lies here.

Likewise, if the United States is tolerating the Japanese government’s mistakes and misjudging its nuclear policy, citizens around the world should not remain silent. We have no choice but to respond before a bigger mistake is made. This march was also triggered by that sense of crisis.

When we arrived at the park west of Kyoto Station after 4:30 pm on Sunday, August 13th, many citizens had gathered to march. Before leaving, I made the following remarks:

hello. My name is Wonyoung Lee and I walked from Seoul.

As we marched, many citizens who saw the march responded positively. People in the car also wave at us.

For example, elementary school students playing baseball in a village noticed why I, a traveler from Korea, was walking. Children instinctively know what is true. I separated from the kids and walked for a while when one of them came on a bicycle and gave me something to eat. I was impressed. This is a march that even children support.

The international community has been out of order for some time. Currently, strong countries that are supposed to lead the global community are not playing their role properly. Although mankind has established the UN, it is not yet performing its role properly. Since when did the IAEA, the Atomic Energy Agency, act as our master? Both the US and the UN are just acting as bystanders. We cannot leave the fate of the Earth to them.

Now, the owners of the global village must step forward and correct the problems. The people must take action. This Korean-Japanese citizen walking march is one of those efforts. Kyoto is the bastion of Japanese conscience. I have high expectations for the citizens of Kyoto. International people’s solidarity Kyoto will play an important role in the process of advancing international people’s solidarity in earnest.

Now is the time to show the way through action. We must come together and take action to thwart the Japanese government.

I will shout out the slogan I shouted while walking.

Let’s shout together.
Osensui Nagasuna! (Don’t spill the contaminated water)

About 100 people march through downtown Kyoto for about two hours. The response from citizens on the streets was surprising. In particular, many foreign tourists do not hesitate to give a thumbs up. Throughout the march, we march as if waving to the cheering audience at the Olympic Stadium. At the request of the organizers, I spoke occasionally during the march, and Nagaya-san interpreted on the spot, and my remarks echoed through the streets. Then, there was a positive response from citizens for each of my remarks. It was a fun and surprising experience.

The following video briefly captures the back of the procession as about 100 citizens arrive at Kyoto City Hall after marching through the city for about two hours.

As I finished in the large square in front of Kyoto City Hall, I imagined one important possibility. It is a possibility that a ‘global citizens’ convention’ can be held in Kyoto. This possibility came to mind along with the enthusiastic reactions of foreigners I saw at the Kyoto street march.

This march reminded me of the advantages of Kyoto, which is the place that created the international convention called the ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and is also a tourist attraction that attracts the attention of people around the world.

I imagine it like this: If such a ‘world citizens’ convention’ were held here, it would be possible to adopt a declaration of global residents opposing the dumping of nuclear contaminated water on the spot, and furthermore, to make that will known to the global community and the international community.

I think back on what he said.

“Natural disasters comes when you forget. Manmade disasters comes when you are deceived. We are not deceived by the unscientific and inhumane sophistry of the government or Tokyo Electric Power Company.”

Edited by: Kim Mi-kyung, Editorial Member
Written by Wonyoung Lee leewysu@gmail.com
Translation Yoonhwa Cha

Categories: Korean-Japanese citizen walking march