Religions in S.Korea unite to protect environment

(July 21,2010) In South Korea, Religions are united to protect the environment against a project backed by the government. Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists are working together to stop the “Four Major Rivers Project promoted by the government of President Lee Myung-bak. They say the scheme could destroy the ecosystem of the country’s major river systems.
Following the first public protests, inter-faith coalitions have organised an array of events, including public masses, worship activities and purification ceremonies. At a mass held in Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral on Monday, some 2,000 priests and believers got together to unanimously call for an end to the project. Recently, priests and believers met in Yangpyeong County, near one of the rivers involved in the grand scheme, for a night vigil. The government responded by deploying thousands of anti-riot police.
The government project includes a series of works that would affect the country’s four largest river systems. Critics say the project would threaten the country’s drinking water and environmental balance. For the government, it would be instead a unique way to free the country’s highways from excess lorry traffic and would breathe new life into its tourist sector. So far, the government has allocated US$ 18 billion for the project. Opponents say the money is wasted.