STANDING TOGETHER FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD
2014 NUCLEAR-FREE SUNDAY
This year is the third anniversary of the nuclear disaster at the Fukishima Nuclear Plant which followed the massive earthquake and tsunami. At that time the whole world recognized the dangers of nuclear plants, and in its response, the NCCK executive committee made the decision to every year, name the Sunday before March 11, Nuclear-Free Sunday and call on its members to observe it for the sake of life and the world.
This years’ joint service was held on March 8 at Samcheok City on the eastern seacoast of Gangwon Province. In 1990 the Korean government made a plan to establish a nuclear power plant there. At the time, the citizens took a strong stand against the idea, forcing the government to withdraw it. In 1998 the citizens of Samcheok City erected a monument to commemorate their victory and commit themselves to the ideal of a nuclear-free zone in their city. Last year the NCCK joint worship for Nuclear-free Sunday was held at that site. This year, the joint worship service returned to Samcheok City, for the reason that this year, the government’s Basic Energy Plan, almost certainly includes the resurrection of the Samcheok nuclear power plant. The NCCK Life & Ethics Committee and Gangwon NCC hosted it, along with the Korea Christian Federation for a Nuclear-free World and the East Sea City Christian Association for a Nuclear-free World. As well, participation came from labour organizations from the area, the Gangwon Labour Union, the Steam Powered
Generators Labour Union, the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers Union.
The theme of the worship was: Living Together without Nuclear Energy. Rev. Lee Song Jin, the Chair of the Life and Ethics Committee, preached on Genesis 3:9, “Where are you, Adam?” In this day, the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which we have been warned not to touch, he said, is nuclear power. The question God is asking is, where is the place we people should be as stewards of the created world? It is humanity’s place to be living in harmony with all creatures and the world itself. However, nuclear power is the fruit which, in our eating, drives humanity from the place of harmony.
The whole group joined in the words of a prayer of commitment acknowledging that God’s created world and our very lives are threatened by the dangers of using nuclear power, and asking God to make us sincere stewards who will ensure a beautiful world, living in harmony in accordance with God’s order of creation.
Following the worship, 4 people spoke of their personal experiences in realizing their personal responsibilities in this issue of life. Especially impressive was Park Hanna, a second year student at Gangwon Fine Arts High School. She told about coming to the realization of how dangerous the nuclear industry is, and about the sympathy she has for Japanese youth who are worrying about the effects of radioactivity after the Fukishima plant melt-down, especially for the young woman who are deeply afraid about bearing children. Park has become active in her school speaking about the dangers of nuclear power, and simple actions that youth can do to stand against nuclear power, like saving energy. Park Hanna is also the area president of the national YWCA youth organization called Y-Teen, and about 20 students of that organization attended the worship service with her.
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