US missile defence (missile offence really) has been a cause for concern ever since the idea was put forward in Ronald Reagan’s famous “Star Wars speech” in 1983. Since then it has gone through various forms but always with the same idea of maintaining dominance for the US military on the Earth and in space. Successive presidents have continued with this American dream – turning it into a nightmare for the rest of the world. President Obama is no exception. Despite saying he would “cut investments in unproven missile defense systems” before being elected he has changed and extended the President Bush’s unworkable plans for European bases, got NATO on board and is now planning bases surrounding the Russian border in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and possible roles for Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey and Israel. Little wonder then that Russian President Medvedev has warned of a new arms race and threatened to quit START as a consequence.

And US missile defence is not only causing problems in Europe, the US is selling missile defence systems (Patriot systems) around the world – to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India, wherever they can get the customers - irrespective of the consequences it appears. One of those consequences has just become harsh reality to the people of Jeju Island in South Korea.

President Obama’s new missile defence plans involve the stationing of 38 or so war ships armed with SM-3 missile interceptors (the so-called Aegis systems) in and around the Black Sea and the Pacific. The US is pressing South Korea to build a large naval base on Jeju island to berth some of them. Building this base will destroy the beautiful local environment – including unique coral reefs - and also ruin the lives and livelihoods of local fishermen and others. So it is not surprising that the people do not want the base to be built. South Korea wants Jeju Island to become one of UNESCO's places of World Cultural Heritage but at the same time they want to destroy it by building a military base there – it doesn’t make sense!

They have been campaigning for some time to prevent it and a number of peaceful protestors have been arrested and imprisoned. Among them is Professor Yang Yoon-Mo, who was imprisoned for trying to help build international consciousness and support about the insanity of this Naval base. While in prison he went on hunger strike for 57 days, seriously compromising his health but was released on probation for 2 years at his trial on June 1. Another activist, Sung-Hee Choi, is still in jail and has also been on a hunger strike but ended it on the Professor’s release. She was arrested for holding a banner saying "not one flower, not one stone" and is scheduled for trial on June 10.

For more information see www.space4peace.org

A good article on the conflict: "One Island Village's Struggle for Land, Life,and Peace" at http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/110419andersmulleroneislandvillagesstruggle.html