The issue of the Fourth Nuclear Power Station has posed a challenge to Taiwan's new government. President-elect Chen Shui-bian (
Although media attention on the Chernobyl accident has flagged away, the after-effects of the incident are just starting to get more and more visible. After seeing reports in the foreign media about the catastrophic after-effects of the Chernobyl incident on public television, we should learn from their mistake.
The tragedy of the Chernobyl accident delivers two warnings to the world. First, 100 percent security at nuclear power plants is a broken myth and the risk of nuclear power must not be underestimated or ignored. Second, nuclear policies made in a dictatorial economic system would be the source of disastrous aftermath.
The former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev once said that he was "kidnapped" by the Chernobyl accident. Ten years after the disaster, Chernobyl "kidnapped" the G7 countries because they agreed to pay the cost of shutting down the Chernobyl reactors but have thus far not fulfilled that promise. The shadow of Chernobyl still lingers around Western countries and its influence has far outweighed that of Three Mile Island accident in the US.
The decision-making patterns in Taiwan's nuclear energy policy has been similar to that of the former Soviet Union and has also been a source of problems. Taiwan's flawed nuclear energy policy has led to an anti-nuclear power movement. Designating April 26 -- the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident -- as Taiwan's anti-nuclear energy day is by no means an emotional repercussion.
The anti-nuclear power movement has been strongly linked to the establishment of Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (台灣環保聯盟). Many members of the DPP's New Tide faction (新潮流系) used to be important activists in Taiwan's anti-nuclear energy movement in its early years. The fact that the DPP had pushed for a referendum on the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant has demonstrated the party's proclivity against nuclear power. By analysing the members of environmental protection groups, we can conclude three factors have given rise to the anti-nuclear energy movement in Taiwan.
The legacy of misinformation
First, the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant has been the product of "fixed policies" during the dictatorial rule of Chiang Kai-shek (
Second, protected by Taiwan's energy policy, Chinese Petroleum Corp (
With biased media reports on this issue, the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant has been regarded as a solution to the electricity shortage and this misleading logic has been taken for granted by the public. The power shortage is due to poor management of energy resources, not the lack of nuclear power plants. The idea of establishing nuclear power plants to relieve a power shortage distorts the truth and this twisted cause and effect has been the most serious problem of our nuclear energy policy. Should Taiwan repeat the same mistake on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant?
Third, Taipower has long been a target of criticism from anti-nuclear energy groups. Its bureaucratic structure and its role in the promotion of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant as both "player and referee" has increased people's suspicion over the safety of nuclear programs. The bureaucratic culture shown by Taipower whenever things go wrong has brought this leader of Taiwan's nuclear power industry under heavy fire from anti-nuclear groups. Moreover, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' bypassing of Taipower's faults has contributed to people's anxiety on nuclear power security.
Fourth nuclear plant is not an individual case
These three factors have not gone away with the weakening of the anti-nuclear power movement now have they been properly addressed. The Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is not just an "individual case." How to best deal with this issue involves the adjustment of the overall structure of the nuclear energy policy.
Media discussion has thus far been focused on the technical side of the issue. Without being informed of the whole picture, poll results continue reflect people's ignorance of the issues, influenced by the KMT government.
As the leader of the new "government of the people," President-elect Chen should have a new way of thinking about our nuclear energy policy. People should be aware of nuclear energy's potential hazards and make a commitment to address the core problem of our nuclear power policy. The Chernobyl nuclear accident told the world that nuclear power is not a safe and cheap source of energy. And as a small island nation, Taiwan cannot bear the consequences of a similar accident.
The public credibility of the new government over this issue and the designing of Taiwan's new efficient energy policy are challenges to Chen's administration and the Taiwanese people. Nevertheless, I believe that Taiwan has the wisdom and ability to build a home free from the threat of nuclear power.
Lin Pi-yao (
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