World Council of Churches Office of Communication
Press Release
150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
E-mail: media


1 December 1999

WCC SUPPORTS MILLENNIUM CYBER CHAIN FOR
PEACE AND REUNIFICATION


The World Council of Churches (WCC) is supporting a "human chain in cyber space" internet campaign which promotes peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula. The campaign, being launched 1 December 1999 and running until 31 January 2000, is an initiative of the South Korean churches and civil organisations, including the Christian Broadcasting System.

Their aim is to make the international community aware of the divisions still facing the Korean Peninsula, and generate a global movement for peace. People all over the world are invited to enter their message for peace on the campaign’s website, and symbolically join a "human cyber chain". Organisers hope that ten million people will join this new style of symbolic action for the reunification of Korea.
Mr Clement John, executive secretary in the WCC International Relations team, explained WCC’s endorsement of this campaign as part of the organisation’s longstanding support and work with these ecumenical partners in efforts towards reconciliation and peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula. John noted that the roots of division of the peninsula came out of cold war politics. "As we enter the next millennium," he said, "it remains a festering wound in the hearts of the Korean people despite the dismantling of the cold war apparatus."

John calls on member churches and ecumenical partners to join the "human chain in cyberspace" as "an expression of solidarity with the people and churches of Korea in their efforts to promote peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula".

For more information contact:
 Karin Achtelstetter, Media Relations Officer
tel.: (+41 22) 791 6153 (office);
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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 337, in more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.