austraLasia #3163
SYM
(KOR) Annual Social Engagement Campaign.
Bernard Lee sdb
SEOUL: 21 November 2012 --
On
the 17th of November, 23 Korean young people who have been
deeply
committed to the Salesian Youth Movement went out to the main
street of
Myeong-dong, the busiest street in Seoul, and conducted the
annual
Social Engagement Campaign under the title of “promotion of
ethical
consumption”.
The SYM youth have been carrying on the Social Engagement
Campaign for
last three years. The purpose of the campaign is to transmit
Gospel
values to society by dealing with significant social issues of
the
time. It was 2009 that the SYM youth made its first move for
the
campaign. There have been different issues the SYM youth dealt
with in
the campaign over the last three years, like the problem of
excessive
competition among students for university entrance
examinations (2009),
the promotion of voter participation for national elections
(2010), and
the high suicide rate of young people (2011). This year, four
different
candidate issues were suggested as the main issue for the
campaign:
“School Violence Prevention”, “the negative influence of the
media on
life and sexuality”, “promotion of ethical consumption” and
“improvement of working conditions for youth workers”. The
supporters
of each issue made a video clip and uploaded it on YouTube for
advertisement. After a certain period of advertising, they
went to
on-line polls to choose the main issue for the campaign and
“promotion
of ethical consumption” won the most votes.
Today, there is a widespread notion that neoliberalism, the
most
powerful economic system in the world today, is widening the
gap
between rich and poor, and exerts evil effects on social
justice. The
primary concern of neoliberalism is to guarantee the freedom
of
individuals and private companies in their pursuit of profits.
It
constantly minimizes the involvement of the government and
prevents the
government from conducting public services which are necessary
for poor
people. The SYM youth understand that the society of this
economic
system is not the society of justice that all Christians
should promote
according to gospel values. The youth found “the ethical
consumption
movement” to be one of the solutions that the people can
practise in
their daily life for the promotion of a more just society.
The SYM youth promote the importance of ethical consumption
and the way
of practising it by posting up and carrying placards and
banners. The
youth danced to “Gangnam Style”, the most popular Korean song
around
the world today to get more attention from the citizens. They
changed
the lyrics of the song and the changed lyrics speak of the
importance
of practising ethical consumption. The youth suggested the
concrete
actions to be taken by the citizens by distributing “the
Resolution
Card” on which ten concrete actions are written. The citizens
were
asked to check the actions that they are able and going to
practice.
The SYM youth recognized there is a way of holiness not only
in church
but also in the street. They have a strong conviction that
they can be
saints by promoting gospel values in society by dealing with
social
issues of our time.