May 2-8, 2011
Headline News
Anti-nuclear energy demonstrations sprout throughout Taiwan
Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong, Chen Wei-chien
Written by Lydia Ma
On April 30, 2011, anti-nuclear energy rallies were held in throughout Taiwan, including Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taitung. For participants in Taipei, a rally began in the front steps of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall at 13:30 and culminated in front of the Presidential Palace at 17:00.
Two women from Fukushima, Japan addressed the crowd during a presentation after the rally. They talked about the nuclear leak at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant which had yet to be contained and underscored the Japanese government was still uncertain about how to stop the nuclear leak.
Their experience motivated them to come to Taiwan to support this rally and share their story. They said they hoped the next time they came to Taiwan, all nuclear plants here will have been discontinued and disbanded.
“We got a warning from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) telling us that these two women from Japan had tourist visas and shouldn’t be allowed to speak on stage,” said one of the rally’s organizers, National Taipei University Professor Liao Pen-chuan, visibly irritated at such a suggestion. “Nuclear energy is wrong and these women are doing what citizens of the earth ought to do. From MOFA’s response we can see the Ma administration is scared at the mass opposition against nuclear energy. We also know we’re right in demanding that construction of Nuclear Power Plant No.4 be halted, and that Nuclear Power Plants No.1, No.2, and No.3 be disbanded!”
PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang was also invited to speak. Having personally visited Fukushima and seen the fear and worry in residents’ eyes, he said he supported initiatives that’d lead Taiwan to a safer plane and away from nuclear spills.
In Taichung, the same rally took place outside of the Taichung Bishop’s Office and drew hundreds of people from various social organizations. DPP legislator Wong Chin-chu made an appearance to show her support.
The event organized by Taichung diocese included a prayer of repentance, a prayer to do better to protect the environment, and a video about the effects of Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accidents. It concluded with a candlelight music concert and responses from the audience on the issue.
