By Kim Young
International Editor
mylovelyyoung@hanmail.net

If we review the current formation of university student뭩 service activities, we can find them different from those of the past. It is true that the characters and scales of their service activities and the local inhabitants?attitudes toward the students have become different.
Until a few years ago, the service activities were primarily for farming. However, recent activities are also related to the environmental and ecological activities. It is inspiring that university students are leaders in environmental protection, because the importance of our environment to us is growing.
The places which they choose are the areas with nuclear power plants, too much noisy U. S. Air Force bombing ranges and so on. In these areas, university student activities are not simply for helping farmers but to correct the local environmental problems as well.
Here is a review of this year뭩 activities.
In Young-kwang, the area of nuclear power plants, about 300 activists who are primarily from Yonsei and Korea University participated in environment activities, and in Ul-jin, about 200 students from Sogang and Ewha University were active.
In Seo-san, an area where noise is a public nuisance because of a U.S. Air Force base, Chungnam and Taejeon Industry University students are active; and  in Tae-baek, an area where is objected because of an electric transmission line, 200 students of Sangji and Kangwon University are active; and in Po-cheon, an area where is objected to a waste incinerator construction, 250 students from Seoul and Sookmyung University are active with the local inhabitants.
In these farming communities, university students introduced computer education, environmental protection, farming assistance, medical service, and so on. Furthermore, they took part in sports festivals with the local inhabitants. In the past, the inhabitants didn뭪 really want university students because they couldn뭪 work well. However, the situations have changed gradually.
With this winter vacation ahead, the campaigns for service activities which university student groups and university authorities lead, are at a height.
Of course, you may have your own plans about TOEIC or other various qualifying examinations during this winter vacation. Do you think you might join these kinds of service activities in your spare time?
Here are opportunities to protect local environments and improve the gloomy and depressed atmosphere because of the price collapse of agricultural products.

ryu, seo hyun  ddd@ddd.com

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