Talking with the Farmers: Preparing for the May Discussion

( picture taken by Jiyoung-it's all her-the translation too!) I borrowed it because I didnt take my currently broken camera~

Yesterday I met for a second time with the farmers at Paldang Organic Farm. My Friend, Jiyoun( I am so thankful for her and her translating help !) and I got up at 6 am and traveled to meet the CEO of Paldang Organic Food, Kim Byung Soo. We interviewed him and several other farmers with several questions. I will post our formal list of questions later. Here is some of the information we learned yesterday.

1.) Why is the government asking you to leave?
~ NUMBER ONE REASON:water pollution: the government is telling the farmers they will pollute the water by staying on their organic
farm.
~Public interest-the government is saying
that people need parks and bike paths and soccer fields in this area.

What the farmers think:
~the nitrate levels (No3)in the water are only 5 or 6 ppm. This is a result of the organic farm.
~Over twenty years ago, the nitrate levels in the water were over three times this quantity, unsuitable for even drinking. So this reason for their relocation is unwarranted.

2.) The governor of Korea is Kim Moon Su? When did he visit to discuss the situation and what did he say?

~He and the President Lee Myung-bak are the movers and shakers of this plan to get rid of Paldang
~ Kim Moon Su has betrayed them, as he now supports Lee Myun Bak’s plan to remove Paldang farmers.
~In 2008, he, ironically enough, proposed with another Paldang farmer, Kim Byung Su, to have the IFOAM Organic World Conference(OWC) here in Paldang in 2011.However, he refused to meet with IFOAM President and VP last year when they came to Paldang. He also refused to meet with the farmers to further discuss the approaching destruction of Paldang.
~He wants to change the location of the 2011 OWC.

3.) What exactly will replace the farm? Why is it a bad idea?
~A park with soccer fields, tennis courts, etc and bike paths
~The famers believe the park will use herbicides and pesticides ,similar to conventional farming practices, and subsequently further polluting the river( NOTE : the IFOAM along with myself believe this as well. There is much evidence to support the notion.)
~They especially don’t see the need for bike paths which are useful in bigger cities anyway
~People may pollute the area as well with garbage

4.) Where are they being asked to go?

~Farmers will get land 1/3 of the size they currently use
~Relocate half -hour away in a mountainous area-virtually unfarmable

~They must wait at least three years to actually use the land( which is not fertile for organic farming)
~They must relocate again after 10 years
~Government has said they will help pay for greenhouses

5.) What have they done so far? What clashes have they had with the government/police

~This is their fourth attempt to save Paldang Organic Village
~10/26 2009- 900 police and 22 people(farmers and consumers) arrested when the construction workers came to measure the land
~2/24 -11 people arrested-à currently on a trial now
~They have been invited to speak with congress but are not allowed to ask questions. They just have to listen to the 4 River Project plan
~ June 2nd- Paldang votes for new mayor-they hope he will help fight with them to protect their land

6.) How Paldang farmers view the 4 Rivers Restoration Project:

*Quick Backround For You! :In 2007, Lee Myun Bak proposed a canal--336-miles long-- connecting Seoul to Busan. Name of project : Pan Korea Waterway . How would the rivers change ? They are constructed to be slow-water canals using locks and dams.)Currently, government says it is absolutely unrelated to the 4 Rivers Project, which is “Green”*

~ Lee Myun-bak is the former Hyundai Construction CEO. They believe he wants to help his construction buddies through the 4 Rover Project
~The Pan Korea Grand Waterway has now become the 4 River Restoration Project with a new, fake ‘green’ name.
~70% if Koreans opposed this plan in 2007.
farmers believe it is a horrible plan and will destroy biodiversity, which is magnificent, in Paldang
~ dredging the river and constructing dams will further destroy biodiversity and create water pollution