The ‘Ewha Anti-War Movement’ plans to highlight the existence and significance of the group to freshmen and students of Ewha during the upcoming year with their active movements. In Choi’s opinion it is not an exaggeration to say that the reason that the United States lost in the Vietnam War is due to anti-war protests. The capacity of the United States military was incomparable to that of the Vietnamese. However, the anti-war protests that were held by Vietnamese people in Vietnam, American soldiers in Vietnam, American citizens in the United States and citizens all over the world also had an impact. “The American military could no longer find a justification to continue the war. Thus, the United States could not make a rapid and prompt decision when they were carrying out the war. The lesson that can be learned here is that the key to ending the ‘war against terror’ is in the hands of people constituting anti-war movements,” said Choi.

 

             Hundreds of people gather in the streets of Jongno, a popular spot for street protests in Seoul. People opposing the dispatching of Korea troops to Iraq and Lebanon pack the streets. Pickets call for withdrawal of the Zaytun units. This is a scene of an anti-war protest in South Korea.

             Among the crowds, a group of determined female students stand out in the front row of the campaign. These students are members of the “Ewha Anti-War Movement,” consisting of members from the Korea Christian Students Associations, “All Together,” and the Student Committee of the Democratic Labor Party.

             The “Ewha Anti-War Movement” holds regular campaigns around campus to attract students’ attention and engage them in the movement’s cause. “During the three years of United States occupation in Iraq, the lives of about 65 thousand Iraqis and three thousand U.S. troops have been lost. However, many Ewha students seem to be unaware of or indifferent to these matters,” said Soh Eun-hwa (Sociology, ‘06), who was the organization’s representative last year.

             An international anti-war union movement is scheduled to be held on March 17 in the heart of Seoul. “It has been four years since the United States invaded Iraq and the movement is to denounce the actions of starting a war,” said Choi Jae-pil (Philosophy, 4), the current representative.   

             The group was established in 2003 as a project to secure world peace. Since that time, the movement has held one-day tea parties, film festivals and fundraisers all in the name of advocating anti-war. “The public opinion for the withdrawal of Zaytun unit has reached over 90 percent. People in many countries, including the United States are holding demonstrations to end war. The ‘Ewha Anti-War Movement’ serves as a regional network of these anti-war movements.” said Choi.

             The ‘Ewha Anti-War Movement’ plans to highlight the existence and significance of the group to freshmen and students of Ewha during the upcoming year with their active movements. In Choi’s opinion it is not an exaggeration to say that the reason that the United States lost in the Vietnam War is due to anti-war protests. The capacity of the United States military was incomparable to that of the Vietnamese. However, the anti-war protests that were held by Vietnamese people in Vietnam, American soldiers in Vietnam, American citizens in the United States and citizens all over the world also had an impact. “The American military could no longer find a justification to continue the war. Thus, the United States could not make a rapid and prompt decision when they were carrying out the war. The lesson that can be learned here is that the key to ending the ‘war against terror’ is in the hands of people constituting anti-war movements,” said Choi.

 

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