Urgent Prayer Request !!!!Rv: KIMJONGILIA Screening, Balloon Launch, North Korea Freedom Week 2010

from Adalberto Santiago

January 29, 2010

Dear Friends:

Please consider these action items and events coming up for the promotion of the freedom, human rights and dignity of the North Korean people.

First, here are some ways that you can mark dictator Kim Jong-il's February 16th birthday:
Screening of the Award Winning documentary KIMJONGILIA in Northern Virginia: Please join the North Korea Freedom Coalition for a free screening on Tuesday, February 16, at 7 pm, of the award winning documentary KIMJONGILIA (Sundance Film Festival 2009) featuring producer and director N.C. Heikin at The Falls Church (in Nicholson Hall), 115 East Fairfax Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046. RSVP on line for the screening at www.nkfreedom.org. For more information, call 703-534-4313.

Flyers in both color and black and white describing the KIMJONGILIA screening are attached in -- please forward these flyers to friends you know in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Support Balloon Launches into North Korea: On February 16, Park Sang Hak and the Fighters for Free North Korea are planning a special balloon launch for Kim Jong il's birthday that will include a message from North Korean defectors and Americans regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. North Koreans have no concept of "human rights" hence the text will include a special introductory message excerpted as follows: "In 1948, the same year that Kim Il Sung came to power, a very important document was adopted by the people of the world. It was called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document was written because of the horrible things that happened during World War II. The people that wrote it believed in God-given rights and that the lack of human rights caused suffering and terrible atrocities. They believed that every human being had value and rights simply by being born, and no leader -- whether a so called "dear" or "great" leader -- could take away those rights...We realize that under Kim Jong-il, North Koreans are denied every single one of these universally accepted rights. North Korea is the only country in the world today that has none of these rights AND North Koreans are the most persecuted and suffering people in the world as a result.....In the countries that have these rights, the people prosper."

In addition to this message, the balloons will also include more AM/FM/Shortwave radios and money to help support the private markets (an economic stimulus project for North Korea!). Funding is needed for these launches especially since a large scale launch is also being planned for North Korea Freedom Week this April. If you are interested in supporting these launches, please email me for details and budget at skswm@aol.com

Attention Americans: Anyone Can Write a Letter from America: This is a project in which any American can take part regularly. We will be producing the sixth recording of Letters from America next week. Please send a message from you to North Koreans (you only need to include your first name and city and state). The letter will be read, translated and broadcast into North Korea by the defectors own radio station, Free North Korea Radio. Please send your letters and note in subject area for Letters from America via email to skswm@aol.com.

Help Rescue North Korean women and children from traffickers in China: Every moment of every day North Koreans in China are in peril, but they have hope because of organizations like 318 Partners, led by American hero and rescuer, Steve Kim. Right now the situation is very difficult and the need is great for support in sheltering several trafficked women and three young children whose parents were repatriated to North Korea. Please consider helping this noble effort, with your tax-deductible contribution to 318 Partners:
http://www.318partners.org/

Visit Robert Park Website: Greg Martin has set up a website for Robert Park who crossed into North Korea on Christmas day to proclaim God's love and to call on the regime to shut down their political prison camps and open their borders. The website is intended to keep people informed on the latest news and information as well as raise awareness of why Robert took this dramatic action and mobilize action and commitment to fulfill his vision of "freedom and life for North Koreans." You can visit his website and leave your own message in support at www.robertparknews.com

Helping North Korean Refugees Resettlement in USA: There are many organizations working to help refugees and they always need volunteers especially to help with tutoring and transportation. In the USA, many refugees who have been resettled are relocating to the New York City metro and the Washington DC metro areas and why? Because of organizations like PSALT located in New Jersey in the NYC metro area and Helping Angels for North Korean Refugees (HANKR) located in Maryland outside the Washington, D.C. metro area. These organizations are focused on helping North Koreans resettle and they need volunteers and support. Please consider contacting Michelle Kim of PSALT at michelle@psaltnk.org or Pastor Heemoon Lee of HANKR at heemoonlee@hotmail.com if you can help. Also, we are trying to obtain a car for HANKR right now and have a commitment of $1000 towards the purchase of a car to help the North Korean Americans get to work and tutoring.

Events coming up in South Korea:

February 25 Rally for Robert Park in Seoul: On Thursday, February 25 Pax Koreana and other South Korean based organizations will be sponsoring a rally for Robert Park. Details will be posted soon at www.paxkor.com.

North Korea Freedom Week April 25-May 1 in Seoul: North Korea Freedom Week, a week to promote the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean people, will be held in Seoul for the first time since this event began in 2004. The North Korean defector NGOs are partnering with the South Korean NGOs to ensure a great week of events. Among the activities will be a major rally, balloon launch, prayer vigil, conference, the North Korea Genocide Exhibit, musical performances, and panel sessions. As always, we want to involve as many individuals and NGOs in the week's activities. Kim Seung Min, director of Free North Korea Radio, has agreed to help coordinate with the NGOs as events are planned. For now, the dates of these major events are confirmed:
North Korea Freedom Week Rally for Wednesday, April 28, 2 pm (host NGO: Dr. Hyunuk Kim and the International Forum for Foreign Policy and National Security)
North Korea Freedom Week Human Rights Conference for Friday, 1-6 pm April 30 (host NGO: Kim Young-il and PSCORE)
North Korea Freedom Week Prayer Vigil for Friday evening, April 30 (host NGO: Professor Yong-Hee Lee and the Esther Prayer Movement)


Warm regards,
Suzanne Scholte