SHARING THE GIFT

The people, the water, the fish, the coral and the rocks are all connected. All my relations.
Former national legislator helps block the road to the rocky coast
The Navy says the base on Jeju Island will be for warships and tourist ships. Where have you ever seen a secure military base that allows tourists to run around the same piers that Navy ships are docked on? It's public relations.

Matt Hoey reluctantly returns home to Massachusetts today after more than two intense weeks of representing the Global Network in Gangjeong village on Jeju Island. He wrote on Facebook, "It is impossible not to fall in love with this place and the people. Gangjeong village is a very special place. It has changed the way I see the world."

It will take some serious readjusting for Matt when he gets home. Rarely in America do you get to feel the kind of real community and solidarity that he has experienced on Jeju Island. Seldom in America does one get to feel that sense of purpose that he has experienced by living and working with people who are focused on protecting all the life around them.

In America, and even in most parts of South Korea, people have fallen into the capitalistic society trap of chasing money and materialism. A sense of purpose is hard to find. But in Gangjeong village one gets encircled by a love for the land, the water, the fish, the coral, and one another.

Matt has just received a special gift - a life changing gift. His challenge now will be to hold it close to him, to find a way to share it with others, and to keep working to connect the world to that life changing gem called Gangjeong.

The Global Network has been invited by the Gangjeong village leaders to hold our 2012 space organizing conference in their embattled community. We have accepted their invitation. We want to invite each of you to join us on Jeju Island on February 24-26, 2012. Come and be touched by the gift.