The Winter Olympics, the Korean Peninsula and Peace
The 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In the midst of growing tensions, the Winter Games will provide a moment of peace on the Korean Peninsula as athletes from across the globe participate in the games.
In the spirit of the Olympics and the spirit of peace, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution for an Olympic truce to provide safe passage for athletes and a cessation of hostilities during the Winter Games. The U.S. and South Korean-led military drills, which would have overlapped with the Olympics, have been postponed. Furthermore, both North and South Korean athletes will be competing as a unified women’s ice hockey team.
To build on the momentum of peace during the Winter Olympics (Feb. 9-25, 2018) and the Paralympics (March 9-18, 2018), consider doing the following:
- Throw a party and watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics on Feb. 9, 2018, at 8 p.m. Eastern time and make it a teaching moment.
- Host a teach-in, webinar or other educational events.
- Use United Methodist resources like, Korea: Peace, Justice and Reunification from the Book of Resolutions, or Peace on the Korean Peninsula, Church and Society’s Faith and Fact Card on the Korean Peninsula
- You can also use the videos and resources from the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Forum Church and Society hosted in 2017.
- Hold a vigil for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- Bishop Hee-Soo Jung created this video inviting people to prayer for the Korean Peninsula.
- The World Council of Churches has more resources for praying for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- Contact your members of Congress at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to stand for diplomacy and peace over war.
- Ask them to support the No Unconstitutional Strike Against North Korea Act, H.R. 4837 in the House and S. 2016 in the Senate.
- And when you call your senators, ask them to also support Preventive Preemptive War in North Korea Act, which restricts funding for military operations in North Korea.
- Write an op-ed or letter to the editor to your local newspaper.
- Plan other engaging and fun, movement-building events around the Winter Olympics. Please share with us by using #UMCJUSTICE #KOREAPEACEUMC on social media.
