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Showing posts from October, 2014

Casey Lartigue mentioned in Korean-language article about Yeonmi Park

What an honor! I'm mentioned at length in an article about Yeonmi Park in the Chosun-Ilbo , the largest newspaper in South Korea. http://blog.chosun.com/blog.log.view.screen?blogId=486&logId=7581526 박씨는 북한의 실상을 알리기 위해 영어를 공부하기 시작했다. 지난 2009년엔 알파벳만 아는 수준이었지만, 탈북자들에게 영어 교육을 하는 미국인 케이시 라티그를 만난 이후 꾸준히 공부해 지금은 유창하게 영어를 구사한다. 당시 박씨는 미국 드라마인 ‘프렌즈’의 전회를 20번씩 반복해 보는 일도 있었다고 한다. 하루에 9시간 씩 영어를 공부했다. 케이시는 박연미씨 외에도 117명의 탈북자에게 영어를 가르치고 있는데, 박씨는 그 중에서도 가장 성실한 학생이었다고 한다. 박씨는 이후 미국과 코스타리카로 자원 봉사활동도 다녀왔다. Casey Lartigue, with Yeonmi Park, in Hong Kong recording a TV podcast.

Teach North Korean Refugees Project

  On November 1, we will be holding the 20th "Teach North Korean Refugees Project" session. The project launched in March 2013 when Casey Lartigue Jr. and Lee Eunkoo matched 5 North Korean refugees who were teachers in North Korea with 5 English speaking volunteers. The refugees wanted to improve their English in order to improve their chances to become teachers in South Korea. We met at a Toz in Gangnam, matching them. We have directly matched at least 117 NK refugees and 8 South Koreans who assist NK refugees with 164 English speaking volunteers. We have since hosted numerous sessions with a number of themes matching NK refugees with volunteer English speakers: * Staff at NGOs helping NK refugees (to help refugees working at NGOs and also helping NGOs build up their capacity) * special summer or winter study sessions (for students who have more free time during the break, look for another session in late December and early to mid January 2015) * Bring or recommend a

2014-10-24 Talking about everything...except North Korea

Several years ago when I was focused on education reform issues, one of my colleagues mentioned that she had become the "school choice mom." Almost every meeting, discussion, activity became focused on creating education options for children. These days, I have become so focused on North Korean refugee issues that some people don't realize that I had a career and many other interests before this. Yesterday I was reminded of this when I met a friend who is not involved in North Korean issues--and apparently isn't interested either! So we had a funny and delightful conversation about a number of things that had nothing to do with North Korea. I told stories I hadn't thought about in years. I hope the usual people who misread things won't think this means I don't enjoy my activities, because I absolutely do. But this is also why I disagree with some of my fellow activists who complain about people who are not interested in our particular cause. It is also go

2014-10-24 Speech to Teachers/staff at N. Korean refugee schools

I had a great time giving a speech to teachers, staff and others working at North Korean refugee schools. It was an honor considering that I am an educator and activist, not a talking expert, about North Korean refugee issues. Some people want me to talk about their issues, to talk about solutions for all 24 million North Koreans in North Korea, or all 27,000 North Korean refugees in South Korea, reunification, landmines in the DMZ, six-party talks, etc., etc., etc. But I am targeted, focused. Still, the teachers and staff seemed to enjoy my talk today. I let them know that there are a number of non-Koreans who are extremely interested in North Korean refugee issues, and that there are a number of activities going on around me. That was part 1 of my speech. Part 2 was about refugees--not just North Koreans--in the USA. Getting ready for this speech broadened my knowledge. After the speech, we had dinner at the academy. I would have stayed overnight with them but dec

2014-10-22 NK food, "North Korea Today, feat. Casey and Yeonmi"

Before Yeonmi Park began her tour to Europe, we had a fun podcast talking about food in North Korea. She talked about some of the things she  ate when she was there. We had a great time recording the show. "North Korea Today, featuring Casey and Yeonmi" talking about food in North Korea http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zgbwfOA2WpY&list=PL KHYjJkuXjjV9yE4nDN4uPNpluB iRFL_6 [youtube  https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zgbwfOA2WpY%3Flist% 3DPLKHYjJkuXjjV9yE4nDN4uPN pluBiRFL_6&w=854&h=510 ] The show was inspired when we were in Hong Kong and Yeonmi Park saw some type of a fruit/vegetable that she used to eat when she was in North Korea. Thanks to the OTV team: Eunkyoung Kwon, Jin Yang Park and Sunrye Park. And our wonderful volunteers: Soo Kyung Chae (translation), Josh Haney (SNS and iTunes podcast) and Dylan Darimi (research support). North Korea Today playlist. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zgbwfOA2WpY&list=PL KHYjJkuXjjV9yE4nDN4uPNpluB iRFL_6 We're always l

An Ambiguous Man (The Korea Times, October 22, 2014) by Casey Lartigue Jr.

An ambiguous man By Casey Lartigue, Jr. I should expect it, but I occasionally get blind-sided in political discussions: A critic will bring up my race. I'm not saying that race is always irrelevant, but I reject it as a legitimate point in discussions about economic policy or North Korea. In most cases, the people who bring up my race in non-racial discussions are progressives (and usually white, although some blacks join in). It first happened to me in print back in the 1990s when a columnist wrote a three-part series denouncing me as a sellout in response to a commentary I wrote about excessive government spending. Based on my interactions, self-identified libertarians and conservatives will typically ask: "What was said?" Self-identified liberals and progressives will typically ask: "Who said it?" That is, who is the speaker? Who supports her? Is there a corporation/foundation/chaebol in his back

Yeonmi Park Fall 2014 tour (Europe and USA) media roundup

BBC World Service --"21-year-old Yeonmi Park and her epic escape from North Korea" BBC Radio --"Lies cannot last forever"--North Korea defector on her home country Independent (UK) -- "When Silence is not an option" Yeonmi Park profiled by the Independent (UK) Yahoo News --"Escaping North Korea: one refugee's story" Al Jazeera --"A Life in Exile, escaping North Korea"  http://m.aljazeera.com/story/20141015154253291240 Al Jazeera  Facebook page --https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera/posts/10152867626258690 Radio Free Asia --"탈북자 박연미 씨, 유럽서 북 인권 고발" Lollipop --"Pretty law student becomes international celebrity after daring escape from North Korea" Huffington Post --"One Young World Conference That Established The First Rape Clinic In Somalia, Kicks Off In Dublin" One Young World --"Dublin welcomes young leaders from 194 countries to One Young World" Giir

2014-10-15 speech at a girls' high school

Yes, I was like a star. They applauded and cheered my every move. They laughed at my jokes (and they really seemed to understand) Even if I had fallen off the stage, they would have praised me and blamed the stage for moving unexpectedly. I gave a speech about Harvard professor Michael Sandel. I absolutely enjoyed today's speech. My topic wasn't particularly easy, but I could see that their teachers prepared them in advance, then during Q&A they asked some good questions and I recall at least one asked a follow up question. They were sweethearts, of course. They were fighting for the right to sit next to me. They must not have realized that I would have stayed there for hours taking photos with them one by one. If I were a celebrity, I would be the best one ever.

Tourism to North Korea, pro and con

(Malaysia) Yangtze Cruise and Tours Sdn Bhd president Tan Han Soong said contrary to many reports on North Korea, the country had much to offer. “North Korea is a good place to travel and it’s near China, so there are more opportunities. There is no AIDS, no theft and no beggars, and the people are educated. Pyongyang is really beautiful, with many high-rise buildings. In August and September last year, more than 1,000 people (from Malaysia) travelled to North Korea and the feedback has been very good." http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2009%2F3%2F9%2Fcentral%2F3434899 (Hat tip to Kelvin Hew) UN COI findings about North Korea “These crimes against humanity entail extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starva

Yeonmi Park profiled in London Telegraph

Here's a very nice profile of Yeonmi Park in the London Telegraph . ] Yeonmi Park, London Telegraph Escape from North Korea: 'How I escaped horrors of life under Kim Jong-il' Yeonmi Park, a young woman who fled North Korea after seeing friends and family tortured and killed, tells her harrowing story

Mulmangcho FAQ

Every Sunday, a group of volunteers go to Yeouj to teach and mentor some children who escaped from North Korea. You are invited to join us. To do this, please send A)  copy of your resume  or a bio with the B) Application  that we can share with the founder of the school before you help out. BACKGROUND Q: What is the Mulmangcho School? A: It is a small alternative school for young refugees from North Korea. It was opened in September 2012 by Prof. Park Sun-Young. Q: What does "Mulmangcho" mean? A: It means "forget-me-not." Prof. Park says she wants to remind people that we should not forget about North Korean refugees after they have successfully escaped. TEACHING Q: I'm a first-timer. I have no idea what I should prepare. A:   First-timers are not expected to lead a class. It would be great if you could prepare a game or activity that can last 15 to 30 minutes. There are usually at least two or three veteran teachers to lead the clas