Korea

Sunday May 28, the Gwangju Center took part in the “Teen Mingling Festival for Life and Peace,” hosted by the Gwangju YMCA. It was possible for us to join this event because the host strongly hoped for our participation.

The festival, held in Rainbow Square at the Gwangju YMCA, provided different cultural activities such as making a “life and peace” tower from disposable cups, creating a flower garden, paper folding, pottery and balloon art. Along with a variety of musical offerings by festival participants, initiates provided free vegetarian food samples, which added to the delightful atmosphere.

Of all the booths, ours was the most connected with the event’s theme, “In Harmony with Life and Peace.” Our booth also drew a great deal of public attention because of its delicious vegetarian food, which appealed to everyone. Many groups of children in the venue that day had the opportunity to learn the close connection between loving the animals and being a vegetarian. One child interested in the vegetarian diet even brought her teacher to our booth. Other participating organizations also showed a big interest in vegetarianism and invited us to future events.

On Saturday June 10, Golden Year 3 (2006), the day before the 2006 Gwangju Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, a celebration performance called “A Joyful Step Toward Unification with Family” was held on the outdoor stage of Gwangju’s Twin-Rocks Lakeside Park. The host, Gwangsangu Youth, invited initiates to be part of this event. The initiates’ booth was popular with youngsters because of its various savory vegetarian dishes. The list of Vegetarian Nobel Peace Laureates and scientists printed on the reverse side of the Alternative Living flyer also drew considerable attention from the public. Through ongoing joint programs with other non-government organizations (NGOs), we were able to obtain great publicity with little effort and were very happy to have an opportunity to spread the good news about the vegetarian diet among youngsters.

Amidst the highly anticipated 2006 World Cup game, the Gwangju Center planned to promote the vegetarian diet among the crowds in the streets of Gwangju City, where many people would be cheering for Korea on June 13 when the match between Korea and Togo took place. Upon learning that there would be a flea market prior to the match at the rear gate of Jeonam University, we contacted the host and notified their planning team of our participation. They not only welcomed us but provided us with desks, chairs and a pavilion.

At 4:00 PM on the day of the World Cup tournament, countless people started to fill the streets. The initiates began distributing vegetarian seaweed-rolls as well as fans printed with Alternative Living and “Support Korea” slogans on both sides. Meanwhile, with the help of CARE (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth), we conducted an animal protection campaign, displaying posters of animal mistreatment.

Reporter videotaping our display about animal welfare.

Many people, especially children, expressed deep concern regarding the mistreatment of animals. Our poster exhibit also drew the attention of students passing by from the veterinary faculty. As time went on, the streets became more and more crowded. The occasion was also covered by many broadcasting stations. One of the stations, KBS, was interested in our vegetarian promotion campaign and asked to interview us. The interview with KBS was televised on June 17, through a program called “Weekly Issues.”

Recently, there was a shocking animal abuse incident in Korea called “Dog Hell.” Fortunately, initiates and members of animal protection organizations jointly saved these leftover dogs. (For more details, please refer to News Magazine #169, Love in Action section.)

Mass-media paying great attention to the photo exhibition

Due to this highly publicized incident, animal welfare has received more attention from people, including politicians. On July 6, a Companion-Animal Protection Photo Exhibition was held in the Members Hall of the Korean National Assembly, hosted by Congressman Gong Sung-Jin and animal protection organizations. It was first time ever to display a photo exhibition about animal welfare in the National Assembly, and it attracted a lot attention and participation. Many politicians, including the Assembly’s Vice-Speaker and other famous celebrities, joined the opening. Koo Jun-Yup, a singer of duo group Clon which has been widely known overseas as Korean Wave, and famous singers Riaa and Hwang Hye-Yung were appointed at the venue to be “Animal Love Ambassadors.” This exhibit was introduced to mass media in Korea as well, thus contributing to more awareness about animal protection.

Politicians viewing animal abuse photos	Seoul initiates providing free vegetarian samples and informative materials to promote vegetarianism

Some participants shed tears at the photos about the cruel abuse of animals. Singer Hwang Hye-Yung said, “I just cannot look at these. Due to too much after-effect, I cannot look at such photos, even on the Internet. We should see dogs and cats as friends. They have a lot of emotion. Except for talking ability, dogs are the same as human.”

Other photos depicted the harmonious co-existence and the love shared by humans and animals. These also made people feel touched and moved.

Seoul initiates also joined this animal protection event and carried out Alternative Living promotion by providing free vegetarian samples, informative materials about vegetarianism, and also by obtaining petition signatures for vegetarianism. One Congressman said, “I tasted soy-meat for the first time. This health-giving food made of soybeans is very healthy, and it’s better than meat. I would like to strongly encourage it.”

Due to recent serious food poisoning incidents involving meat-based meals served to groups of people in schools and companies, fellow initiates made a special information leaflet about the benefits of using vegetarian ingredients for school meals to prevent such ill effects as food poisoning. They provided it to the lawmakers and their assistants, who responded well to this useful information.

Performance by animal protection organizations

At the venue, president of the Korea Vegetarian Association, Lee Won-Bok, expressed his deep gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai regarding the Alternative Living promotion, saying, “I am not initiated, but I am a huge fan of your Association. I always appreciate and respect You. Master Ching Hai and many fellow initiates are doing such great work that no other vegetarian, animal, environmental, spiritual or civil organizations in Korea could do. Moreover, they do it without showing off, for one goal: a world where all beings live well together. I appreciate, respect, and love it so much. The Alternative Living flyer is very well-made. Meat eating, drinking and smoking cause extreme harm, damaging the spirit, mind and body of humans. No other group or organization could do something about this, but The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association is doing it. I thank you for that.”

Like the lucky dogs that were saved from hell that are now living in more heavenly conditions, millions more animals will be saved from hell thanks to the devoted and loving Alternative Living activities carried out by Master Ching Hai and Her worldwide fellow sisters and brothers.

Three subway stations in Busan radiate the Alternative Living message.	More than 400 public notice boards in Busan City have Alternative Living posters posted. Initiates constantly renew the posting license so that the posters are there every month.

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