South Korea's Big Oil Spill -- How to help
We've all heard about the oil spill that happened in Taean a few days ago. I got an email from the US Embassy tonight telling people how they can help.
Here it is:The Korean government continues to confront a major challenge following the large oil spill off the coast of Taean County. So far more than 9,000 soldiers, policemen, and volunteers have been mobilized to mop up the oil and contain the environmental damage.
Members of the expatriate community who wish to contribute to the effort to combat the oil spill can do so in several ways:
1) Donations of goods: Authorities and volunteers need any of the following items you can donate:
-- used winter clothing
-- old towels or any other old cloth that can help absorb oil
-- personal protective gear such as face masks, rain coats, rubber boots, and gloves.
To send donated goods, address them to:
The County Disaster Relief Center
96, Nammoon-ri, Taean-eup, Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province
Tel: 041-670-2645 through 2653
2) Volunteering:
The Taean County Relief Center is receiving applications from individual volunteers or organizations via telephone (042-670-2645 through 2653) or through its website at www.taean.go.kr.
Applications should be made at least one day in advance so that the relief center can assign volunteers to the most-needed area.
Please note that volunteers are required to bring with them their own protective gear including raincoats, boots, and gloves. Please note also that there is no interpretation service available for foreigners, so a basic command of the Korean language is needed.
3) Donation of Money:
Donations of money to assist in the clean-up operation are being received by the South Choongcheong Provincial Government at the following account:
Nonghyup Bank, Account No.: 471-01-002107, held in the name of: The Governor of South Choongcheong Province.
The U.S. Embassy thanks you for considering these assistance measures.
Socius: Expat helping hands for the oil spill
Here is a NYTimes photo slide show the oil spill: South Korea's Blackened Beaches
Time: Korea's Oil Spill Still Spreading
NYTimes: South Korea Cleans Up Big Oil Spill
There's a group called Expat Helping Hands out of Cheonan/Asan that's coming together to pitch in on the cleanup and make donations to the local community. The guy heading this up is someone I absolutely trust.
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It might be worth getting in touch with them if you're interested in the fact that you're NOT Korean and you want to help getting across. They're not politically motivated, they're compassionately motivated, but I'm sure someone's going to notice that it's a bunch of non-Koreans caring about Koreans and the Korean environment.
I figured something would come out because my first thought was "how can I help?"
ReplyDeleteYou've got a post on your blog too. I just saw it today and I'll link it after I'm done with this. This other link might help others feel like they have choices on HOW they help, so thanks.
ohhh that's where Changmin was, wasn't it? Ok, i shouldn't ask you this since i don't think you will... you know... but whatever. I'm getting even more ... how could i say? excited? well, excited then. I'm getting even more excited with all those posts about your time in Korea. It's really cool. I wonder if it was difficult to learn to live there and learn how to speak korean - probably ^^. I'm almost (or maybe not) finishing reading (not always, i must admit) all the posts. Thanks, it's really cool.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what you're talking about, but you're welcome.
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