Civic and social work organizations have issued a "2005 Person Declaration for Healthy Children and a Sustainable Society," and you immediately find yourself agreeing with it, because one feels the many problems there are these days with the physical strength and health of elementary, middle, and high school students. Figures released last month by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development confirm how serious the situation is. Over the past ten years students have become on average 2 to 3 kilometers taller and 2 to 4 kilograms heavier, but their endurance and flexibility has instead worsened. There are problems with their health such as obesity, near-sightedness, tooth decay, skin ailments, and others.
Medical institutions, educational, environmental, and health such as the National Cancer Center, Jeon Gyo Jo, the National Farmers' Association, the National Parents' Association for True Education, the Citizens for Health of Korea, and the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement participated in issuing the declaration. The more than 2,000 signers declared that they are going to "begin fundamental self-reflection and firm action to make a society where life and the ecology is sustained, and where children can grow with healthy bodies and healthy minds. The fact that students' health and physical strength has gone bad is deeply related to our society's structural unhealthiness. That is why they are saying that instead of stopping at trying to improve school lunches, they are also going to pursue "values that place importance on life and the environment" and "fostering agriculture that is environmentally friendly and changing the paradigm of eating."
We think that the sense of the problem and the direction of the campaign is on the right track and should be followed. The question is how to change the atmosphere, so widespread in our society, that is so against life and the environment. We hope the "deep self-reflection and firm action" described in the declaration become the basis for a recovery of the healthiness of the young generation and our society.
The Hankyoreh, 4 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Healthy Children and a Sustainable Society |
