June 20-26, 2011
Headline News
PCT to host seminar on link between spirituality and creation care
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma
Recent budget allocation to finish the partially completed Nuclear Energy Plant No.4 by the Ma administration has drawn much criticism in many parts of Taiwan. One of the loudest critics of such a decision is the PCT, which opposed nuclear energy and issued a public statement against its use as early as 1992.
The PCT plans to hold a total of 25 seminars across Taiwan in July and August of this year in Hsinchu, Tainan, Taitung, and other areas to educate the public on renewable and alternative energy and pray for Taiwan. The seminars are co-sponsored by the General Assembly, Taiwan Church Press, and New Eyes Television.
The reason Taitung was chosen as the first stop is because it is the government-designated area for nuclear waste disposal in Taiwan. PCT Associate General Secretary Lyim Hong-tiong hopes the keynote speaker, former Department of Health Minister Lin Chun-yi, will enlighten the public to discern what a good and suitable nuclear policy looks like and thus help them understand why the PCT issued “The 1992 Anti-Nuclear Declaration of the PCT”.
As a member of the ecumenical church, there is no doubt that PCT will stand on the side of creation care and renewable energy because this is such an integral part of being a good steward of God, said Lyim. It’s also important to raise public awareness about other sources of energy and then let the public decide whether they’d cast their votes for a presidential candidate or legislator who supported nuclear energy.
Lyim reiterated that 3 of the 4 nuclear plants in Taiwan were located in the densely populated Taipei and Sinbei areas and whether residents of these areas would be able to escape unscathed physically and financially in case of a nuclear meltdown was a serious issue worth pondering in the aftermath of Chernobyl and Fukushima.
PCT Evangelism Committee Secretary Tsai Nan-hsin reminded Christians that besides nurturing their own personal spirituality and sharing the gospel of salvation, Christians should also strive to live lives that exemplify values Jesus would care about. That meant that issues such as concern for social justice issues, reaching out to outcasts, or protecting a country’s sovereignty ought to be instances where Christians would reflect God’s mercy and justice and witness for Christ.
He added that through raising awareness for reasons why nuclear energy is harmful and unsafe, the world may see Christians as role models in environmental protection and become interested in the Christian message.
