Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwiduncan]

First of all, I'm sorry to be flogging a dead horse here, but I really do think Lee Myung Park's grand canal plan is going to be the mistake of a generation. However, given that one of my most recent posts on Daves was about kicking a bunch of Bible Bashers out of my classroom, I can understand that some of the regulars here may think I'm a bit of a hypocrite with my constant w@nking on about environmental issues
I guess the main difference here is that this is an open forum for debate and discussion, rather than a classroom full of captive-audience students.
Anyway, back to the main point. As you all know by now, LMB is determined to press ahead with his plans to turn the Han and Nakdong rivers into a massive canal system. And, following what's been said in the Korean news, despite declining public support dropping and growing opposition, the new government has stated that whilst they will take citizens' opinions and suggestions into account, there is now no backing out of the project.
In fact, the patronising arrogance of the politicians behind the canal plan is now one of the main reasons public opposition is increasing. Some are primarily concerned about water quality, others are worried about the ecosystem and yet others simply believe the canal project will be a waste of money. But frustration at the arrogance of LMB and his supporters in pushing through with the project and in casting any opposition to the canal as simply being 'political' or 'uninformed' seems to be what is fueling a lot of the new opposition.

So please check out the facebook group below if you are interested in learning more about the grand canal plan. The main purpose of setting up the group was to collect together English-language materials about the project (and to occasionally coordinate participating in demonstrations and so on) and if you look on the discussion board and through the photos albums you can learn a lot.

I know a lot of the posters here are a bit cynical about the state of Korean society and the local environment. Some have said, and will continue to say, "it's none of our business", "don't interfere" and "let them f@ck it up, it'll be a giggle". But I for one am sick of sitting on the sidelines slagging off Korea yet doing nothing to help.

Also, as I've suggested in previous posts, if you genuinely support the project, then please give your reasons and evidence.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7935272621

Cheers,

Duncan

[spliff]

They should build 20 of them, IMHO.

[RACETRAITOR]

It would be faster to just sink the entire country under the water.

[kiwiduncan]

[IncognitoHFX]

I can't find it on Facebook.

[kiwiduncan]

[Benicio]

Reminds me of this skit from Saturday Night Live way back.
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88j.phtml
It was John Malkovich as "Johnny Canal"
Set in the post revolutionary period USA where the new government is planning how to set up the new nation. They are on the topic of a national transportation system. In walks Jonny Canal.
Malkovich is dressed like Davy Crockett in animal hide with a coonskin cap and knife in his belt.
He proceeds to tell the committee about his idea of interconnecting towns and cities with a huge system of canals. He pulls out a ridiculous map of the plan that has most of the country's space taken up by canals.
Part of his idea is that the canals would not be connected to each other. Each town would have its own singular canal to each other town. Ridiculous, right?
Well, whenever a committee member asks a question that points out the difficulty in logistics or the sheer ridiculousness of the plan, Johnny gets confused, pulls out his knife and lunges threateningly at the inquisitor, only to be pulled off before killing him. This happens several times.
It was a very strange and silly skit, but perfect for this situation!

[IncognitoHFX]

Okay, I joined. Stole your wall's virginity too.

[anyangoldboy]

This wont apply if you are Korean by why should us foreigners care about what the Korean's do to their own country when it's their's???

[cazador83]

what are the pros and cons to this? why is there even discussion? i dont have a clue what this really means so thats why im asking...

[kiwiduncan]

[itaewonguy]

[Hanson]

With the way the Korean environment is treated in general, I wonder why this plan, in particular, has raised your ire, OP. I'm much more concerned about the other crappy ways the environment gets dumped on here than this canal idea...

[flummuxt]

I'm not against canals, per se. But wouldn't a canal from Seoul to Tokyo make more sense?

[kiwiduncan]