2019/10/11-13 3 Event Weekend

For most people in this world, a 3-day weekend means getting away for travel or some other kind of relaxation.

A 3-day weekend for TNKR means three events in three days!

* Small Group Discussion with a tour group visiting from the USA (October 11)
* Street Festival (October 11-12)
* Korea TESOL's 27th International Conference October 12-13, which raised about 700,000 won for TNKR!

Preparation: TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee and staffers Youngjoo Yoo, Young-A Kwon and Suji Kim got everything prepared.
On-location: Volunteers Sarah Swanner, Mia, Prachi, Clara Park, Alex Kim joined Youngjoo, Eunkoo and Yuna to engage in outreach.

STREET FESTIVAL

TNKR presentation at Korea TESOL

Korea TESOL had a special "KOTESOL GIVES BACK!" panel discussion. TNKR and KUMFA were the organizations invited to participate.

KUMFA started off by talking about the struggles of unwed mothers in South Korea. After that, I briefly introduced TNKR, TNKR Ambassador Yuna Jung then entertained the audience with an uplifting speech, then TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee wrapped things up.

It was great introducing TNKR to the audience, several attendees later visited our booth to donate.

TNKR booth at Korea TESOL

***

There are many great ideas in this world. Many of them don't get done, however, because there is not a person to make them happen, to keep pushing, to overcome questions and possible objections and doubts. An idea may seem to "speak for itself," but ideas don't get implemented on their own.

The man to make KOTESOL Gives Back! possible was Luis Roberto Caballero Orozco! It was his energy and drive that made it happen. He stopped by today to get feedback. It usually doesn't take much to get me complaining, but he had to pushing me to get me to give constructive feedback.

Additionally, posted this morning at the Korea Times, part 3 of the series asking NK refugees about taking photos: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/10/728_276638.html

Wayne Finley writes in the Korea Times.

The International Conference was not just about speeches. There were other events, too, such as KOTESOL Gives Back, a resoundingly successful fundraiser for Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) and Korea Unwed Mothers' Families Association (KUMFA), which raised a whopping 1.3 million Korean won.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/10/162_277267.html

Support TNKR: https://lovetnkr.org/donate/

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

To be a good volunteer, use your brain (Korea Times, December 5, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy hosted by the Association for Economic Evolution. During my speech about American libertarianism since 1940, I discussed my volunteer work for North Korean refugees. After the speech, Jeong approached me, asking how she could help. I gave her the same tough love I give to potential volunteers by asking: “Who are you?” After all, if you are Bill Gates, then open your wallet. If you speak four languages, then help with translation work. So I first stress to potential volunteers: Use your brain. Tell us about your skills and interests so together we can figure out your initial role. Jeong was good-natured about it, rather than c...

Why I won't go to North Korea (Korea Times, December 27, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. “Have you ever been to North Korea?” This is the question I am almost always asked here in South Korea when people learn that I have become an activist for North Korean escapees. My response is curt: “No.” “Do you plan on going?” they ask next. My answer remains the same: “No.” When they start to ask a follow-up question, I cut them off: "No." People are often just trying to make conversation, I know, but I am blunt for a reason: I am not interested in going to North Korea as long as North Koreans are held captive. I could go one day, but for now, I can do without a government-guided tour by " men-stealers and women-whippers ," to borrow a phrase from American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. I don’t mean to criticize people who have gone to North Korea for political, educational, business, religious reasons or just plain curiosity. However, some people push me on the issue, ― and I push back. A good friend wh...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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