Environmental Organizations and Progressive Party “New Airport = Four Rivers, Withdraw the Special Law”

While the National Assembly’s Land Transport Committee is in the process of dealing with the special bill of Gadeokdo New Airport, the progressive party and environmental groups acted against it. These groups are opposed to all new airports reversing the climate crisis.

[#국회 앞] Climate Crisis Emergency Action “Special Law Accelerates Climate Crisis”

On the morning of the 17th, press conferences were held simultaneously in Seoul and Busan calling for the suspension of the new airport. The climate crisis emergency action consisting of environmental groups and the Progressive Party all over the country held a press conference in front of the National Assembly and insisted that “all new airport special bills that accelerate the climate crisis and undermine democratic legitimacy must be withdrawn.”

Currently, two bills related to Gadeokdo new airport are proposed in the National Assembly. 138 members of the Democratic Party, including Rep. Han Han-ae, jointly proposed the’Special Act to Promote the Construction of New Airports in Gaduk Island’, saying, “It is essential to build a gateway airport for win-win development.”

In addition, 15 people, including Rep. Park Soo-young, have initiated the’Busan Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act’. These bills are undergoing a parliamentary review process. The National Assembly plans to resolve the bill at the 4th plenary meeting of the National Land Commission on the 19th, and deal with it at the plenary meeting on the 26th.

Responding to this, the climate crisis and emergency action said, “No one can deny that the multiple Gadeok New Airport special bills being discussed are irrational due to the political calculation aimed at the Busan by-election in April, no matter what explanations and excuses are added.” At the same time, he criticized, “We are exempting the preliminary feasibility study for huge national projects of around 10 trillion won that will affect the society, economy, and climate crisis, and are letting the people take the risks.”

Justice Party lawmaker Shim Sang-jeong, who participated in the field, said, “The new airport on Gadeokdo Island, which causes climate disaster, is a self-contained airport that only causes inconvenience,” and “it should be stopped immediately.” After reading the press conference, the participants even showed a performance in which the new airport on Gadeok Island was submerged due to the rise in sea level due to the climate crisis.

[#부산 민주당 앞] New Airport anti-Busan action “Carbon neutral retrograde”

Busan’s action against the new airport, organized by environmental groups and progressive parties in Busan, also visited the Busan City Hall of the Democratic Party at a similar perspective. The action against the new airport in Busan said, “In addition to the ruling party that passed the climate emergency resolution while talking about the Green New Deal and carbon neutrality, both parties, including the ruling party, are trying to promote the new airport in Gaduk by initiating a special law.” Attitudes are contradictions themselves.

The Youth Climate Fighter Corps with a climate crisis picket pointed out that “Now that the response to the climate crisis is urgent, both the opposition and the opposition parties are promoting the aviation industry, which accounts for a huge portion of greenhouse gas emissions. This is an extremely anachronistic idea.”

The Busan Christian Church Council’s environmental committee chairman and the senior pastor of Busan Samter Church, who served as the permanent representative of the post-nuclear Busan Citizens’ Solidarity, also criticized the new airport for the Four Rivers project. Pastor Park said, “It is not different from the Four Major Rivers project undertaken by the Lee Myung-bak administration,” and argued, “It is almost obvious that it will destroy the ecosystem and accelerate the climate crisis.” He feared, “But the politicians are agitating as if only the construction of Gaduk New Airport will bring us happiness.”

The action against the new airport in Busan will be followed by a one-man demonstration at the same place until the 26th, condemning the special law. Gang Eon-ju, an activist for the Busan Energy Justice Action, said, “Air transportation is the most carbon-emitting means of public transportation, and new airports are being promoted in Jeju, Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Seosan, and Ulleung. We do not consider reversing the climate crisis and the full supply of civil engineering forces. I won’t.”