6th Green Corps
Summary of the 6th Green Corps Report
-As one, To a Greener Future!-
The 6th Green Corps? arbor activity in Inner Mongolia, China, marked the second year of the ?Great Green Wall? project which aims to plant a 28km long, 0.5 km deep ?greenbelt? across Kubuqi desert and stop not only the deforestation but Yellow dust storms that torments the Korean peninsula and Japan every Spring. This year also celebrated a year before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and an additional project of building a ?Korea-China Friendship Forest in Beijing was included. 107 Green Corps, including 14 VIPs and 12 staff, visited China during May 10th to 16th, 2007. During the week, some one million trees were planted in an area of 250 hectare area of Kubuqi desert, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Each participant paid the air fare of 300,000 KW.
During a week?s stay from May 10th to 16th, 2007, 107 staff and youths visited Kubuqi desert, Inner Mongolia, and performed various duties as Green Corps. They included building the Korea-China Friendship Forest to combat desertification and yellow dust storms, and also the ?Friendship Forest? in Beijing, to celebrate the capital as an Olympic host of 2008. Also, in regard of the Kyoto Protocol which came to effect since 2005, there were various activities to enhance public awareness of environmental issues, such as a debate forum between the youths of Korea and China. However the activities were not only based on environmental issues. The Green Corps also had plenty of time to rejoice mutual history and culture through visiting historical spots and participating in volunteer acts together, and was able to build a strong, friendly human network.
The 6th Green Corps were selected during January29th- February 18th 2007, by applying through the Future Forest website (www.futureforest.org) and recommendations. Application examiners included the 1st ~ 5th Green Corps, council members and staff of Future Forest. First, 120 students were selected through paper review then the final 60 were finalized after an interview held on February 24th. The characteristics sought after 7th Green Corps of the Future Forest were: Previous leadership experiences in university or extracurricular activities, ability to perform duties in a foreign language (English, Chinese), awareness of environmental, economical, cultural and forestry issues in East-Asia, and previous volunteer experience in various sects.
The delegates attended a workshop on the March 3rd and an inauguration ceremony on the May 5th. The workshop consisted of a series of seminars concerning environment, culture and economic issues of Korea-China. The Green Corps visited China during May 10th to 16th, and the disbanding ceremony was held at 2nd of June 2007, in Sogang University. Every member, staff and participants involved in this project were present as the participants presented their group studies and recordings of their journeys were shown as film.
Future Forest aims to not only provide network within the annual participants but to continue their friendship which would keep the spirit of Future Forest alive. We hope that the Green Corps does not finish their ties as a one-time event but maintain their interest in Korea- China environmental issues by taking part in other programs in the future.
