In 1994, members of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (台灣環保聯盟) compiled a series of articles criticizing Taiwan's existing energy policies in a book titled Nuclear Power Nightmares (核電夢魘), to highlight the dangers of nuclear power plants.
Few would have believed that just six years later, one of the contributing authors would become the most influential governmental official in charge of protecting the environment.
Lin Jun-yi (
The 1994 article written by Lin was called "Incompetent [government] Wants Nuclear Energy -- a comparison between Taiwan's AEC [Atomic Energy Council] and the US' NRC [Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
In the piece, Lin argued the AEC should set stricter regulations than those in the US because of Taiwan's fragile ecological environment, unstable geological structure, high density of population distribution, and dramatic climatic changes.
Regarded by local environmentalists as the "environmental godfather of Taiwan (台灣環境教父)," Lin has been admired both here and abroad for his decade-long contribution toward disseminating ideas on environmental protection and ecological conservation, having served as a research fellow in Asia, US, Europe and Africa.
PRO-ACTIVIST AGENDA
Predictably, some TEPU members welcomed the decision to appoint their long-term battle companion as head the EPA, and said they believe Lin will keep a close eye on the environmental impact of future controversial projects.
Other members, however, expressed doubts that Lin's position at the relatively low key EPA would make much of a difference to the progress of Taiwan's nascent environmental movement.
Moreover, some said they did not think the new DPP-led government would be able to take quick and affirmative action to put a stop to projects already underway, such as the fourth power plant in Kungliao, Taipei county.
"We have not won a final victory in the anti-nuclear battle, although we did help the DPP in winning the presidential election," said former TEPU head, Chang Kuo-lung (張國龍), at a meeting of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (台灣環保聯盟) last weekend.
"As anti-nuclear activists, we will fight for our goals in any case," Chang said, adding that it was largely irrelevant which government held power.
FRIENDS OR FOES?
In reaction to the uncertainties caused by the change in administration, the mood of nuclear campaigners has generally been somber and no clear consensus has emerged on the part of environmental organizations about what stand or actions they will take toward the issues of the day.
Members of other groups were pessimistic about maintaining the kinds of ties established during Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) presidency and are preparing instead for battle.
Still others said the environmental movement would have to send emissaries to the team led by DPP president-elect Chen Shui-bian (
Practically alone among these groups is the TEPU -- formed in 1988, one year after the lifting of martial law -- which already has good relations with the DPP.
In the 1980's environmentalism was just one of many diverse and wide-ranging social reform movements, that were concerned with everything from political democratization to labor rights.
When TEPU activists carried out demonstrations against environmental pollution and on nuclear power issues in the 1980s, they often worked with DPP members, in a bid to spotlight the dysfunctional KMT-dominated government.
Just two decades later several TEPU members have joined government or political parties to pursue their career goals.
KEEPING A DISTANCE
The leaders of many environmental and social protest groups have however opted to stay out of the political limelight.
"I'm not saying the TEPU needs to redefine itself -- we had an ideal sentiment in the old days," said Lai Wei-chieh (
"If activists start to negotiate with the government, it could be harmful to the environmental movement," Lai said, referring to suspicions that some have used the movement as a strategy to build a personal reputation, in order to take up a position in politics.
Some environmentalists have argued that activism is about carrying on with grass-roots activities and continuing to apply pressure on the government.
"Although a diversity of environmental movements in Taiwan has emerged, the bottom line for environmentalists is to keep a proper distance from the government, in order to observe things objectively," said Joyce Fu (伏嘉捷), secretary-general of the Green Formosa Front (GFF 台灣綠色陣線) -- adding that real power comes from the people, rather than prominent positions in the government.
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
UNPRECEDENTED: In addition to the approved recall motions, cases such as Ma Wen-chun’s in Nantou are still under review, while others lack enough signatures The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced yesterday that a recall vote would take place on July 26, after it approved the first batch of recall motions targeting 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安). Taiwan is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of mass recall campaigns, following a civil society push that echoed a call made by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) in January to initiate signature drives aimed at unseating KMT legislators. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), Taiwanese can initiate a recall of district-elected lawmakers by collecting