September 12-18, 2011
Headline News
Spiritual and experiential lessons highlight PCT prayer meeting for Alangyi
Reported by Sam Lee
Written by Lydia Ma
PCT General Assembly organized at prayer meeting in Alangyi on September 10, 2011. The prayer meeting was part of a church-wide prayer movement called “Lift up my eyes to the hills”. Despite blistering hot temperatures, more than 100 people participated in this prayer meeting that included a prayer walk and an exploratory tour of Alangyi.
The event, which featured PCT Associate General Secretary Lyim Hong-tiong as the main speaker, was a classic example of PCT living out its statement of faith, which emphasizes on creation care. Lyim spoke about his thoughts and feelings when he trekked across Alangyi.
Alangyi is a 12 km trail situated between Pingtung County and Taitung County and is considered Taiwan’s last remaining natural coastline. But for some time, the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) has been wanting to finish a highway network traversing the southern and eastern coasts of Taiwan. This highway known as Provincial Highway 26 – and dubbed “Nuclear Wastes Expressway” because of two nuclear disposal plants built by it – has so far been stalled because of a temporary nature reserve designation status placed on Alangyi.
The designation status expired in July 2011 when petitions to extend it didn’t pass the required signature threshold, and there were concerns that plans to complete Provincial Highway 26 would resume immediately. Luckily, Pingtung County extended Alangyi’s “Temporary Natural Reserve” status to January 31, 2012 by early August. This extension will at least keep the trail intact for a few more months.
Along with other civil society organizations, PCT was present and active all throughout the ordeal to preserve Alangyi pristine coastline. Though a reprieve has been granted, efforts continue to permanently preserve this trail.
As a means to raise awareness, PCT leaders organized a prayer meeting there recently so that people would see and experience for themselves the beauty and ecological diversity of Alangyi where rare creatures and plants call home.
Part of the day’s activities included trekking along the Alangyi Trail and a stretch of it was a steep hill that could only be crossed using ropes. Despite the challenge, participants young and old were undaunted and plowed on – including 72 year old Huang Cheng-nan, an elder from Kengsheng Presbyterian Church in Taitung.
“I come from Taitung and this is my first time in Alangyi,” Huang said. “It’s really beautiful. We must preserve this place… we mustn’t allow it to be destroyed.”
