[3086] Illegal garbage dump project stopped after a 10-year effort

Illegal garbage dump project stopped after a 10-year effort

Reported by Sam Lee

Written by Lydia Ma

After 10 years of efforts by environmental advocates and local residents, the Tainan city government finally revoked Young Yang Environmental Industry Corporation’s license to operate a waste disposal facility near Wushantou Reservoir. Not only did the government base its decision upon a ruling from Tainan Superior court, it also concluded that Young Yang Corp. had falsified environmental reports to enable its license to be renewed. The controversial garbage dumping project located in the outskirts of Tainan was finally shut down by the city.

For Fuchiang Presbyterian Church member and environmental activist Chen Chiao-hua, this was an encouraging sign that justice still prevailed in society. It was also a vindication of sorts for Chen, who was recently beaten by two men with sticks as she was getting into her car after work one night.

Upon hearing this news, Chen’s pastor, Rev. Tsai Cheng-tao, said this arduous struggle and sweet victory was a timely encouragement for PCT churches to persevere in its environmental causes. He hoped it would inspire church members to continue raising awareness about the dangers and pitfalls of projects such as increasing the use of nuclear energy and building new refineries such as the planned Kuokuang Petrochemical Corp.’s plant in Changhua.

Tsai told Taiwan Church News that he hoped this victory and future efforts would bring about a revival or resurrection of sorts for environmental causes. ”As long as I give it my best shot, maybe God will intervene on humanity’s behalf upon seeing how hard some people are working to protect the environment,” she added.

On April 12, 2011, newly-elected Tainan Mayor William Lai convened the first Environmental Impact Assessment Assembly of his government where the city’s EPA Minister Chang Huang-chen announced that since the environmental report by Young Yang Corp. was falsified, the EPA must therefore respond by revoking the company’s good standing status awarded in May 2010.

“If it weren’t for Chen Chiao-hua’s efforts, and the efforts of Tungshan village farmers in resisting this project throughout the past few years, we would never have seen this victorious day when this company’s license was finally revoked,” said Tainan city councilor and Tainan Zion Church member Lin Yi-chin.