Teachers Making a Positive Influence

By Jim Korea

Teachers from around Korea are gathering to help relief efforts from the oil spill just off South Korea¢s Western coast (Taean, South Chungcheong Province). On Friday morning, December 7th 2007, a Samsung barge rammed into an anchored oil tanker 8km off the Western coast, spilling over 10,000 tons of oil. This is Korea's worst ever oil spill in history.

Without much thought or hesitation, members of the foreign teacher community immediately began organizing efforts to help. As most teachers must travel to the coast by bus, Saturdays and Sundays are the only available times for teachers to assist in the cleanup. However, their efforts will definitely help in the cleanup and at the same time vastly improve the reputation of the foreign teacher community, a reputation that has been tarnished in recent months by the arrest of the pedophile Christopher Neil.


In the proceeding months, teachers will work alongside officials to assist in the coastal relief efforts. The cleanup will likely take decades until the coast returns to pre-spill conditions, but the teacher's efforts will be dually noted.

Foreign groups such a Socius and FLEA have organized previous fundraisers for Korea. For further information please visit http://expathh.wordpress.com/ One can find ways to either donate time or funds through the expat community in Korea.