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Review The government should accept the proposal of 'President's Advisory Sustainable Development Committee' that demanded suspension of the Saemankeum reclamation project. The Life and Peace Alliance for the Saemankeum Tidal Flat (Saemamkeum Alliance), representative, Father Kyuhyun Moon, who is on a 5 day hunger strike, believes that the government should accept the advice of the 'President's Advisory Sustainable Development Committee' on the Saemankeum project which was reported to President, Kim Daejeung yesterday and released to the press today. The committee supports the opinion of many experts and environmental groups who have been against the Saemankeum project. Those who are undertaking this project are under-estimating the value of tidal flat ecosystem and potential damage to water quality. Therefore, the committee suggests a suspension of the project. The Saemankeum Alliance asks President Kim Daejung to accept the advice of the Sustainable Development Committee and halt the Saemankeum project. We believe that the continuation of the Saemankeum project will result in social conflict because of the general population's concern over the ecological damage. The benefits of Saemankeum project are far out weighted by the cost to the environment and the local community. The arguments for the project based on food security, value of tidal flat, water policy, and economic estimation have proved to be unfounded. The announcement by the Sustainable Development Committee is only confirms this. The government, leading political parties, and President Kim DaeJung should not push the project. We are opposed to the Saemankeum project that has been pursued by parts government including the prime minister's office through the 'agreement of national policy' or 'water policy adjustment committee'. March 22, 2001
1. Activities against Saemangum Reclamation Project
2. Joint Statement by Religious Leaders The government is pushing for the Saemangum reclamation project. Government officials are talking about new land and a new future, even though they are causing a lot of things to die. We, leaders from various religions, are in despair because we understand that the government's move to create new farmland at the expense of precious wetlands is just a delusion. For what purpose is the government ignoring and sacrificing the economic value and lives of the wetlands in the Saemangum region? Why does the government pay no attention to the opinions of related government ministries, such as the Maritime-Fisheries Ministry and Environment Ministry? Why does the government push for the Saemangum project, which will be another "Shiwha Lake"? The history of reclamation in Korea is riddled with a plethora of failures. For example, Shiwha Lake became 'a lake of death' ten years after the government had taken steps towards changing it into a freshwater reservoir. Reclaimed land near the Youngsan River is also beginning to be covered with dirty and rotten water. If the government pushes ahead with the Saemangum Reclamation Project, it will not resolve problems caused by its unsuccessful reclamation projects in the past. It will repeat them. In addition, the government will be castigated for holding 'a festival against efficiency, life, and peace'. It is deplorable that the government doesn't realize that proceeding with the project is not different from waging a war against life and peace. Additionally, the project will endanger the national economy by wasting a huge amount of tax revenue. Meanwhile, the Saemangum Reclamation Project is reflecting how hypocritical and misleading Korean politicians are. We share the understanding that politicians' interests involve in the project and that they are wasting trillions of won on the project even though no-one claims responsibility for it. Therefore, the question over whether to continue the project or not is one which all the people in the country should resolve. By resolving this issue, Koreans can take a step forward towards improving the government's irrational and undemocratic decision-making process and breaking a vicious cycle of failed policies and wasted tax. We want officials at the Prime Minister Office and the Cholla-pukdo provincial government to be aware that they are in danger of creating 'a second Shiwha Lake' because they have not learned anything from the failure of the lake reclamation and intend to push for the Saemangum project. We lay strong emphasis on what the government could do, instead of destroying invaluable wetlands. The outcome of the reclamation will be 'another Shiwha Lake' or the collapse of the national economy. Today, we declare the Saemangum wetlands a church and Buddhist sanctum of ours, and 'a holy place of the 21th century'. March 14, 2001 Press conference Organizer: Life and peace network protesting Saemangeum reclamation project Title: Protesting Water Commission on Protection of the Quality and Supply of Fresh Water Resources under the Office of Prime Minister and Ministry of Environment who reject the publicizing of the report on the Saemanguem project submitted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries When: March 2, 2001 1. Time Schedule
1. Background The project is underway with debate among locals, environmental NGOs, local government, and religious groups. The main points of the debate are destruction of ocean ecosystem that is not recoverable and restorable, and water quality in the sea area and the fresh water lake. Therefore, we, Ministry would like to represent our point of view. 2. Things lost because of the project 2-1 Ecosystem Lost area: 20.800 ha (8% of the nation's tidal flat): This area is composed of sand and clay that is suitable for the spawning and habitation of the sea marine resources. The current ecosystem of the river mouth is still stable, even though the reclamation project has already begun and water quality is fine (1.44 ppm) Loss of spawning, birth, and breeding places of sea marine resources: We expect over 50% of white shell production will disappear. The white shell from this tidal flat is special and unique seafood in Korea. This natural nursery cannot be replaced with nurseries nearby the costal zone. Disappearance of unique, last, and full size river mouth ecosystem, except for river mouth of the Han River: This area has abundant mineral and organic resources because of the brackish water. The value of the river mouth is 22,800$/ha/y and the general tidal flat is 9,990$/ha/y (reported by Nature May 1997). Loss of natural purification function for pollutants: the natural filtering system is superior to the artificial sewage system at Iksan and Junju, especially to filter heavy metals, such as copper and lead. Loss of important habitat for endangered bird species: Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis (Linnaeus) (2,145, 10% of the world population), Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (250, 5% of the world population), Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer (Nordmann) (43, 4.3% of the world population). The East Asia and Pacific Shorebirds Network designated the Dongjin river mouth as an important tidal flat for shorebirds flyway. 2-2. Water Quality Water pollution of fresh water lake: According to the Ministry of Environment, the annual quality of the Dongjin River's water is expected to be 4th grade, but the Mankyung River, has considerable difficulty in controlling its quality. Moreover, if more pollution occurs in this area, it will become like Sihwa Lake (government reclaimed tidal flat in the western costal zone in 1987 and made an artificial polluted fresh water lake in 1997, but the government evaluated and admitted this is the totally failed project on March 2001). Water pollution of the costal zone: According to the Co-investigation team on the Saemangeum Project, water pollution will get worse, even though freshwater entering the Saemangeum artificial lake meets the COD 8 ppm target quality for Saemanguem lake. We expect 2.9% of the west costal zone ecosystem will be devastated. Increased sediments will result from declining water flow speed, more suspended matters will subside, and the growth rate of reddish brown microorganisms will increase. Consequently, the reddish brown microorganism population and overall water contamination will increase. 3. The reason for preservation 3-1. Debates on the value of wetlands among related Ministries, Institutions and People. Evaluation of
the tidal flats by the Co- investigation team on the Saemangeum project
Survey report on value comparing between tidal flat and farmland
In conclusion, the results from the two Research Institutes are so different that we cannot pursue this project. Internationally, protection of wetland ecosystems, including tidal flats, is increasing in these days too. We expect this area will be a much more valuable area for future generations, if we protect it. So, we would like to suggest the government suspend this project. Statement by Professors Protesting the Saemangeum Project Harsh controversy has surrounded the Saemangeum Reclamation national development project for some time. Recently, the Ministry of Environment reported that even if all proposed water quality control measures are implemented, water quality will fall to the fifth-class water once the project begins. If the reclamation project is completed, water quality control of the Saemangeum lake would be virtually impossible. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries has also suggested that due to a decrease in marine life, a loss of a natural habitat for birds, the deterioration of seawater and the occurence of red tide, the seawall needs to be reinforced and the reclamation project suspended. Citizens, environmental organizations, members of the religious community, academic groups and government departments have all indicated with one voice that the Saemangeum project has gone wrong. We professors, too, are very anxious about the government's attempt to push ahead with the reclamation project without regard for regular and reasonable procedures. A report by a joint research group of several economists on the economic effects of the reclamation project pointed out that the government's figures were full of miscalculations, exaggerations and outright mistakes. The Ministry of Agriculture's claim that the Saemangeum project is economically efficient is outrageous. Our ecosystem, formed over millions of years, is fundamental in sustaining the life of everything on earth. It is vulnerable to even small assaults, which can later turn into disasters for human beings and nature. The tidal flats in Saemangeum will be rendered useless and only a place for rapid development due to our past ignorance. However, scientific research has proven the tidal flats essential to the whole ecosystem, a treasure house of marine resources that helps eliminate pollutants from the land and prevents natural disasters. The Saemangeum tidal flats are especially well known for their environmental benefits in the world. We should not repeat past mistakes of absurd large-scale projects that led to enormous social losses, a waste of taxpayers' money and a split in public opinion. It's time to give up this infeasible reclamation project and never look back. The government should seriously consider improving the existing seawall and delivering the development that North Cholla residents desire. We cannot wipe away our suspicion that the Saemangeum project is being used only for political purposes, especially when we hear the dogmatic assertion by the Prime Minister that he will complete it by any means, and that all criticisms of the project are a plot. Likewise, we can't help but be sceptical about the administrative ability of the current government and doubt it is based on rational judgement. We sincerely hope the government learns a lesson from its previous self-righteous administration that led to a failure of the Shiwa lake and a crisis in medical insurance. We professors now declare the following to prevent our government's destruction of our invaluable ecosystem, which has sustained life for thousand of years and should be preserved for the future:
The KFEM criticizes the agreement reached at a National Affairs Council meeting between the MDP and the ULD The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) has expressed concern over the report that the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) held a National Affairs Council meeting to conclude an agreement to support the government's policies on the Saemangum Reclamation Project. Both the Environment Ministry and the Maritime-Fishery Ministry oppose the Saemangum project, and because of their opposition, the government has not yet formulated its position on the project. In addition, most Korean people strongly object to the project. Therefore, neither the MDP or the ULD have the authority to make any decision on the Saemangum project. Despite the opposition from the ministries and people, the MDP and the ULD are attempting to push ahead with the project, despite the proof of the harm it will cause to the nation's economy as well as the environment. Their attempts just serve their political interests and should be abandoned if they are to act responsibly. For these reasons, KFEM calls on both parties to pay attention to the opinions of the Korean people and relevant ministries and to immediately stop the Saemangum Reclamation Project. March 13, 2000
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