Thirteen-year-old environmentalist Jonathan Lee from Ridgeland, Mississippi, unfolded a banner in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in China on Monday Nov. 22 stating, “End the Korean War: sign a peace treaty,” “nuclear free” and “DMZ children’s peace forest” in English and Chinese. Within minutes, Lee and his mother, Melissa Lee, were removed by plainclothes police who waved off crowds of journalists and curious onlookers.
Prior to the protest, in an interview with RT TV, a Russian media outlet broadcasting in English, Lee said he hoped his actions would reach out to the Chinese authorities and “touch them so that they will really consider peace in North and South Korea.” Previously, the teenager had met with a list of high ranking officials, including President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung Pak, to discuss environmental issues.
His plea is to build a forest with chestnut trees in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to be played in by children from both countries. The DMZ is a heavily militarized buffer zone that has cut the peninsula in half since 1953.
“I have to say that no matter how big, how small, what age, it doesn’t matter you know, we can all help. So go out and help,” he said according to NTDTV.
Lee said he was inspired to raise awareness about peace and environmental issues on the peninsula when he met with Kim Dae Jung, former president of South Korea. Lee also established the GoGreen movement in his Mississippi hometown. GoGreen promotes environmental protection by recycling fastfood packages.
In another earlier interview with RT TV, the teenage environmentalist, who was born in South Korea and raised in the US, said he felt a deep connection with South Korea. “I am from Korea, and I’m passionate about it. All the families have been separated for so long, and they want to see each other.”
He said his wish to build the forest on the DMZ is “above politics, above borders, above conflict and about ideology” and “all about giving hope to the children around the world.”
Prior to the protest, in an interview with RT TV, a Russian media outlet broadcasting in English, Lee said he hoped his actions would reach out to the Chinese authorities and “touch them so that they will really consider peace in North and South Korea.” Previously, the teenager had met with a list of high ranking officials, including President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung Pak, to discuss environmental issues.
His plea is to build a forest with chestnut trees in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to be played in by children from both countries. The DMZ is a heavily militarized buffer zone that has cut the peninsula in half since 1953.
“I have to say that no matter how big, how small, what age, it doesn’t matter you know, we can all help. So go out and help,” he said according to NTDTV.
Lee said he was inspired to raise awareness about peace and environmental issues on the peninsula when he met with Kim Dae Jung, former president of South Korea. Lee also established the GoGreen movement in his Mississippi hometown. GoGreen promotes environmental protection by recycling fastfood packages.
In another earlier interview with RT TV, the teenage environmentalist, who was born in South Korea and raised in the US, said he felt a deep connection with South Korea. “I am from Korea, and I’m passionate about it. All the families have been separated for so long, and they want to see each other.”
He said his wish to build the forest on the DMZ is “above politics, above borders, above conflict and about ideology” and “all about giving hope to the children around the world.”
