‘세월호를 잊지않는 애틀란타 사람들의 모임(세사모)’가 주최하는 세월호 도서전 및 바자회가 9월 17일 오전 8시부터 오후 2시까지 둘루스 쇼티호웰공원(2750 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth)에서 열린다.

“도서전 및 바자회 판매 수익은 세월호 소식을 널리 알려온 양심언론매체와 세월호 가족협의회의 기억저장소를 후원하는 데에 사용될 예정이다” 라고 세사모 회원들은 전했다.

2014년 4월 16일 세월호 참사로 304명이 찬 바닷물 속으로 사라진 이후 2년 동안 세월호 미수습자 수습은 시작도 못한 상태다. 진상규명 , 책임자 처벌, 선체의 온전한 인양, 재발방지 대책 등 어느 것 하나 이루어진 것이 없다.

정부는 4.16세월호 참사 진상을 규명하고 안전사회 건설 관련 제도를 개선하며 피해자 지원대책을 점거하는 독립 국가기관인 ‘ 4.16 세월호참사특별조사위원회(특조위) ‘ 활동을 강제 종료시키고, 3차 세월호청문회마저 방해했다. 이에 특조위는 진상규명 조사활동 보장을 위한 단식농성에 돌입했고, 세월호유가족들과 해외동포들이 릴레이 단식을 함께하고 있는 상황이다. 그러나 이런 소식들은 지상파나 주요 미디어들에서는 많이 다루지 않는다. 참사와 대응 기록의 중요성을 느끼며 양심언론과 기억저장소를 후원하기 위해 세사모가 도서전과 바자회를 여는 이유다.

“피해자들이 단식을 해도 내버려두는 사회에서 정의와 상식이 어떻게 자리 잡을 수 있겠는가? 앞으로 참사가 일어나면 누가 도우려 하겠는가? 진실을 알리고 시민들의 관심을 호소하는 자발적인 활동에 참여자들이 늘기를 희망한다 “며 “ 야드세일 전 분야에 걸친 기부물품들은 9월 16일 금요일 오후 5시부터 8시까지 쇼티호웰 공원 액티비티 빌딩에서 수령한다” 고 한 세사모 회원은 말했다. 귀넷타운티 야드세일 행사 관련 문의는 atlantasewol@gmail.com 로 하면 된다.

Yard Sale for a Cause
By Clare S. Richie
The Atlanta chapter of People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry Victims to host a Book Fair and Yard Sale Saturday, September 17, 2016, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Shorty Howell Park’s activity building, 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.
“Funds raised will benefit news outlets that provide unbiased reporting about the Sewol Ferry disaster and the outcry for an independent investigation,” HK Chun, chapter member and Morningside resident, explained.
On April 16, 2014 the Sewol Ferry sank presumably from a sharp course change that caused the portside to sink. Of the 476 passengers, only 172 survived leaving 304 confirmed dead – 250 of whom were Danwon High School students on a field trip.
An expert analysis concluded that the disaster resulted from an irresponsible captain and crew who abandoned their posts and failure of the coastguard and government to respond immediately.
The victims’ families demand a full independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable and for proper safety measures to avoid future tragedies.
The Atlanta chapter stands with the bereaved families, campaigns for the truth of the incident to be revealed, and spreads awareness about the governments brutal treatment of peaceful protestors.
Contact atlantasewol@gmail.com for more information.
아래는 세사모 리플렛과 행사 포스터입니다.

Outline of Sewol Ferry Tragedy

This disaster occurred on April 16th 2014 when the Sewol ferry from Incheon to Jeju Island sank near Jindo. Only 172 of the 476 passengers and crew were rescued, leaving 304 confirmed dead or missing. 324 of the passengers on board were students from Danwon High School bound for a field trip. 250 of them perished. 9 passengers are still missing.

The disaster is believed to have been precipitated by a sharp veering of the vessel brought on by a change of course, which caused the boat to start sinking from portside. An analysis by independent experts concludes that the disaster was entirely man-made as a result of the following:
Irresponsible captain and crew members who abandoned their posts and escaped the ferry after repeatedly telling passengers to stay where they were Delaying the crucial rescue time due to incoherent communication between the crew and the coastguard Failure by the coastguard and government to grasp the magnitude of the situation and respond immediately.

The victims’ families are demanding a full investigation into the root causes of the disaster, many of which are believed to have existed prior to the day of the tragedy. The families wish to see all those who bear responsibility for the grievous loss of life punished appropriately, regardless of status, and for proper safety measures to be put in place to prevent such a tragedy from ever occurring again.
Current standpoint of the families.

Salvaging the Sewol intact had been a key demand of the victims’ families, who hoped that raising the ship would provide more clues about the causes of the tragedy and allow for the search for the 9 missing passengers to be completed. The South Korean government delayed the salvaging of the wreckage until the 1st anniversary of the incident, telling the families that a task force was still assessing the technical feasibility of the operation. It was later revealed that the government had known for a year that the salvage operation should be possible, following the receipt of a report commissioned from TMC, a UK consulting firm, which judged the operation to be viable and detailed a recommended method.

In 2014, the South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, undertook to launch an investigation into the causes of the disaster. The promised investigation has been hampered by politics and disagreements between the families and the government over who should participate in the investigation. The independence of the Special Investigation Committee is being jeopardized by decrees issued by the South Korean government to appoint government officials to key posts on the 17-member investigation committee, which was intended to be independent of any political affiliation. To press the government for an independent inquiry, more than two hundred members of the victims’ families marched 35km (21.7mi) to Seoul from Ansan, the suburb where most of the students of Danwon High School had resided. Many shaved their heads in protest and wore the traditional white garments of mourning.

People in Solidarity with the families of Sewol Ferry Victims

The Sewol Ferry tragedy is a warning not only to South Korea but also the rest of the world of the dangers of neoliberal government policies that promote deregulation and privatization at the cost of public safety.

In South Korea, protests calling for a full independent and transparent inquiry into the tragedy continue. During these peaceful protests, serious human rights violations are being committed by the authorities including: barricading the protestors and using tear gas and water cannons on the crowds. The recent arrest of Lae-goon Park , a human right defender and co-standing steering committee member of the 4.16 Coalition on the Sewol Ferry Disaster, illustrates the growing hostility of the South Korean government.

People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry Victims is a group of individuals who share in the pain of the bereaved families, and campaign for the truth of the Sewol ferry incident to be revealed. The Atlanta chapter began as an online community on May 1, 2014 and currently has 21 active members. We believe that the government, lax safety regulations and slow rescue efforts, all share responsibility for the incident and the loss of life.

People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry Victims is working to spread awareness and inform different ethnic and human rights organizations about the brutal treatment to which peaceful protestors have been subjected at the hands of the government, and works towards the restoration of human rights and protection for all.

People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry Victims, Atlanta Chapter
Action Highlights (Atlanta Chapter)
4.16.2014 Sewol ferry tragedy took place with a total death toll of 304, out of which 250 are students from Danwon High School.
5.11.2014 Memorial protest in downtown Atlanta by CNN Center
6.14.2014 3rd protest in downtown Suwanee, GA
9.20.2014 4th protest and art exhibit “Sewol Owol” by artist Hong Sung Dam
4.16.2015 One-year memorial of the Sewol ferry tragedy at Georgia Institute of Technology along with screening of Diving Bell and art exhibition of Park Ye Seul and Bin Ha Yong
7.12 & 8.13.2014 Family picnics to share the up-to-date news of the issue and show continuous supports for the victims’ families. Launched an awareness ad to join petition in Atlanta Christian Times.
6.20.2015 Multi-family yard sale and book bazzar to continue to support the cause, Norcross, GA. Donation made to unbiased media outlets.
5.18.2014 2nd protest in downtown Atlanta by CNN Center
11.21.2015 Attended the 2015 annual conference in Atlanta of American Academy of Religion and Society in Biblical Literature and participated to raise awareness.
4.16. 2016 Two-year memorial of the Sewol ferry tragedy at Emory University along with screening of “Bad state”
9.17.2016 Yard sale at Shorty Howell Park, Duluth

Sewol Book Fair & Yard Sale
– When: Saturday, September 17, 2016, 8AM-2PM
– Where: Shorty Howell Park activity building
2750 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA
– Purpose: Have community updated on the latest Sewol Ferry issues & drive fundraising through Sewol-ferry-focused book fair & yard sale
– Fund raised through the book fair and yard sale will benefit selected few news outlets that have been reporting on unbiased Sewol Ferry stories.
– Organizer: People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry Victims, Atlanta Chapter
– Questions or Inquiries: atlantasewol@gmail.com
You can also participate proactively!
If you have items to donate, drop off September 16 (Friday) between 5 to 8pm, or just bring them on the day of the yard sale. We’re accepting any yard sale items including small handcrafts, home-made food, farmers’ produces, clothing, shoes, household goods, and you name it. You can locate us at a vendor booth inside the building.