[3080] PCT distributes red envelopes to raise awareness for public properties in peril

PCT distributes red envelopes to raise awareness for public properties in peril

Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

Written by Lydia Ma

Soon after Lunar New Year holidays, PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Huang Che-yen distributed 400 red envelopes traditionally used to wrap cash gifts and placed what resembled two NT$100 bank notes inside each envelope. Upon closer look, the quasi-bank notes listed reasons why Taiwanese should oppose Eastern Development Act.

PCT isn’t alone in opposing this act for environmental activists across Taiwan have also called on legislators to remove all proposed legislations that would lift restrictions on the development of private and public property nationwide, which is the gist of Eastern Development Act.

More than 75 environmental and social organizations gathered in front of the Legislative Yuan on March 3, 2011, to press their demands. Representatives from PCT, Organization of Urban Reforms, Citizen of the Earth Taiwan, and more said many legislators have proposed implementing laws to develop land in Taiwan’s east coast and agricultural areas in Yunlin and Chiayi counties under the banner of development, construction and sustainability. But these laws would essentially legitimize stealing land from the public and giving them to corporations, which would turn public property into private property for corporations to use as desired.

Holding up an oversized NT$100 bank note featuring ROC founder Sun Yat-sen saying “Did I ask you to sell off national land to anyone?”, protesters spoke out against Offshore Islands Development Act and proposed acts for land development in Aborigine areas. They reiterated that these acts that claim to promote “Development, Construction, Sustainability” would actually damage the environment, rob Aborigines of their land, and feed corporate lusts.

Speaking as a Taitung native, Huang said many people from eastern Taiwan are unfamiliar with Eastern Development Act though 87.5% of the land in the east coast belongs to the government and the public. Hoping to raise awareness on this act, he was inspired to distribute red envelopes.

He added that PCT General Assembly would soon schedule an information session near Taitung because a few Christians in the area actually stand to profit from this act despite the fact that it’s a wrong and unrighteous piece of legislation.