English Posts — 국제전략센터/The International Strategy Center

The Climate crisis “agenda”, “keeping” is needed

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland, ended on November 13. The meeting, which began on October 31 and lasted for about two weeks, was a meeting where countries gathered and discussed how to "keep" the Earth's temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Ahead of the COP26, or during the course of the COP26, agendas on how much carbon emissions should be reduced and how to reduce them were at least mentioned and made the most important headlines.

However, it has only been a week since COP26 ended, and news about the climate crisis is hard to find. However, even at this time, the climate crisis is ongoing everywhere. Then, why does the agenda of the climate crisis disappear without being "keeped"?

International Strategy CenterNovember 25, 2021COP26, Climate crisis

“We Are Chun Tae-il!” - South Korean Workers Struggle Continues

It is a cloudy afternoon on November 13.

A young man steps out into the streets of Seoul, holding a copy of the south Korean labor laws. Gasoline fire consumes his body with every step. With labor movements suffocated by the regime, this is his last declaration against inhuman exploitation.

“We are not machines,” he cries through the flames. “Do not let my death be in vain!”

His name is Chun Tae-il.

International Strategy CenterNovember 25, 2021labor, Jeon Tae-il

A World without Hunger

It is not overpopulation that causes hunger as is often argued, but rather inequality and a profit-driven, agribusiness-dominated food system in which the basic material need for food for hundreds of millions of people – at minimum – is sacrificed to quench the hunger for profit of the few.

[Progressive Forum] Afghanistan: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

On October 7th, at 7pm, the International Strategy Center welcomed Vijay Prashad to the Progressive Forum monthly series. Vijay Prashad -- author, journalist, international solidarity activist, and director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research -- educated and engaged with us about Afghanistan's past, present, and future.

COVID-19 in the Two Koreas

A few countries have done relatively well in responding to COVID-19, and they all approach health care and public health very differently from the United States, even if their economies are capitalist. I focus now on one of those countries that I know best: South Korea. I then move the focus to that other mysterious, noncapitalist country on the same peninsula: North Korea.

Information DeckInternational Strategy CenterOctober 5, 2021COVID-19, South Korea, North Korea

[ISC online event] #Let Cuba Live

On August 22nd, the International Strategy Center held the online event, #LetCubaLive, with Ricardo Huaimachi in attendance. Interested in a more comprehensive understanding of Cuba that goes beyond the distorted mainstream media coverage, we discussed the historical context of the July 11th anti-government demonstration, Cuba's COVID19 response, and the status of Cuban socialism and democracy. The ISC plans on continuing exchanges like this in the future, as well as furthering our solidarity work with Cuba.

Solidarity ActivitiesInternational Strategy CenterAugust 23, 2021Cuba, Cuban revolution

Housing is Devouring Our Homes: Lessons From Abroad

Today, all over the world, housing is devouring our homes. More specifically, the real estate market is converting homes into housing to be sold and speculated at a profit, pricing out tenants, driving out residents, and stripping people of access to dignified and adequate shelter.

International Strategy CenterJuly 22, 2021housing, home, real estate, commodification

As they went ahead, the living now follow!

The lesson here is twofold. The first is that our struggle, wherever we are, is one. All across the world, we fight the same battle against the forces of power and violence that seek to rob us of our freedom and dignity as human beings. The bullets that murdered the Gwangju citizens, and the bullets that today murder Palestinians, are exactly the same down to the millimeter. Racial and sexual discriminations, imperialism, capitalism, are many heads of the same beast. The second is that our memories give us strength. To forget is to give up, and to give up is to fail. Without remembering our yesterday, we cannot organize today, and we cannot win tomorrow.

As a Progressive, I Voted for Biden, Though He’s Not the Answer

Joe Biden was recently elected president of the US. He was elected riding on a wave of anti-Trumpism. Yet, while different from Trump, Biden's political career, rhetoric, and transition team indicate no fundamental shift from Trump's policies. Few progressives and leftists actually expected him to. They still voted and mobilized for him. This article explores: why leftists and progressives mobilized for Biden; what's next when he takes office; and how to form and strengthen an independent US left movement in the process.

International Strategy CenterDecember 4, 2020

14th Seoul Women's Culture Festival

We participated in the annual Seoul Women's Culture Festival, organized by the Seoul Women's Association. This year's 14th festival was co-hosted by the International Strategy Center. This year’s festival theme was sexuality education which has been cited as a fundamental solution to gender discrimination and sexual violence. It was a time to explore and discuss the reality of sexuality education in Korea, examples of overseas sexuality education, and how to move forward toward equality and a safer society for all.

[Survey Report] UN Comprehensive Sexuality Guidelines and Cases from Abroad: Sexuality Education for a Better World

On November 21, the International Strategy Center co-hosted the 14th Seoul Women's Culture Festival with the Seoul Women's Association. The festival was held under the theme of sexuality education, and the ISC’s Research Team compiled the UN comprehensive sexuality education guidelines and investigated and studied overseas sexualisty education cases.

Research PaperInternational Strategy CenterDecember 3, 2020Feminism, SWA, Sexuality Eduction, CSE

[Contents Team] Lecture on 2020 Feminist Debates in Korea

On September 27, the International Strategy Center hosted a lecture on 2020 Feminist Debates in Korea with Ji-Ah Park. She is the head of the Seoul Women’s Association Gender Equality Education Center. The lecture kicked off this year's International Strategy Center feminism study, discussion, knowledge exchange, and event series. Together with the Seoul Women's Association, the International Strategy Center is preparing further lectures, educational opportunities, and festivals in order to work toward our dreams of a society of gender equality, free of discrimination.

[Contents Team] Community Organizing Across Borders

On Sunday, August 9th, we held a “Community Organizing Across Borders” with the International Strategy Center Content Team and Yeongdeungpo Citizen's Alliance P+ (People). We had planned a video conference with Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson, but due to local circumstances with BLM and the general strikes, the video conference was put off. Instead, the International Strategy Center watched a documentary on the Jackson Cooperative, held a discussion and research presentation on the history, and activities of Cooperation Jackson. Through discussion, we explored what we could learn from Cooperation Jackson for our own local movements. We will continue our solidarity activities through sharing translated texts, volunteer activities, lectures and discussions. Please feel free to reach out if you're interested or have any questions!

A press conference in front of the Israeli Embassy in the Republic of Korea

July 1st, the ISC participated in a press conference in front of the Israeli Embassy in the Republic of Korea calling for the abolishment of Israeli plans to annex the West Bank.

Solidarity ActivitiesInternational Strategy CenterJuly 1, 2020palestine, israel

Solidarity Statement With #BlackLivesMatter

The International Strategy Center stands in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives Matter and the struggle to defund the police and fund community protection programs, teachers, hospitals, and jobs instead. #Blacklivesmatter #Defundthepolice

Solidarity ActivitiesInternational Strategy CenterJune 30, 2020BalckLivesMatter, USA

Contents Team's alley cleanup volunteer activity with Yeongdeungpo Citizen's Alliance

On June 27th, the International Strategy Center 's Contents Team participated in an alley cleanup volunteering activity lead by Yeongdeungpo Citizen's Alliance -- People (P+). As we cleaned the streets of everything from cigarettes to large dumping piles, we greeted local residents & merchants, while learning about the social engagement activities of P+. Activities like this aren't just about trash pickup; they are about building a community network and support system so that individual's struggles can become community struggles to work on and solve together. (This street cleanup will be a monthly event so let us know if you are interested in joining us.) At the end of July, the International Strategy Center and the Yeongdeungpo Citizen's Alliance -- People (P+) will also do a video conference with a similar community network in America. We are very excited to learn and get inspired.

May's Contents Team Meeting

On May 30th, ISC's Content Team had an online meeting with the co-president of Yongsan's Citizen's Alliance, Oh Jangrok. We talked about what the Community Organizing is and how we can take part. The ISC is currently studying community organizing examples from US, India and Brazil.

April's Contents Team Meeting

The recent International Strategy Center 's contents team meeting was an exciting step toward this year's article and video production goals. Through research, group discussions, interviews, exchanges with the Korean social movement and ISC's 200+ article experience, we are getting ready!

International Strategy CenterApril 25, 2020contents, research, discussion, Korean social movement

A People's History of Samsung's Rise: Korean Workers Make a Last Stand for Justice

Gangnam is the beating heart of South Korean capitalism and in a country that South Koreans sometimes wryfully call “Samsung Korea,” Samsung’s massive skyscraper complex is, naturally, at its center. Beneath the shade of its towers in the middle of a Gangnam intersection one worker stands on top of a CCTV tower, defiant, for over 250 days. Another sits inside an occupation tent.

Solidarity ActivitiesInternational Strategy CenterApril 20, 2020Gangnam, South Korea, Protest

Feminism Panel with Nicaraguan Ambassador, Wendy Palma, and the Seoul Women's Association

On Jan. 12th, 2020, the ISC and Seoul Women’s Association organized a panel and discussion to bring voices together to compare and contrast different realities of feminism around the world in the contexts of culture, policy, and other social movements.

International Strategy CenterJanuary 12, 2020