Anti-nuclear group meets on Saturday

In a bid to stress how the adoption of nuclear energy would be a hindrance for any country trying to develop a sustainable future, both local and overseas anti-nuclear activists will discuss controversial issues pertaining to nuclear power when the 10th No Nuke Asia Forum (NNAF, 非核亞洲論壇) opens in Taipei on Saturday.

At a press conference yesterday in Taipei, forum organizers said that controversial issues to be discussed include radioactive waste, renewable energy policies, concerns over nuclear safety, the relation between nuclear power plants and terrorism, and others.

In addition, the experiences of anti-nuclear locals of Kungliao township (貢寮) and Taipei County, where the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is located, will also be presented.

According to activists from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU), all forum participants are influential anti-nuclear figures in foreign countries such as Japan, South Korea, Russia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the US, India and Germany.

Activists said that their discussion would include not only the diverse local experiences of these countries, but also global trends that focus on promoting the sustainable development of the planet.

"By talking with other Asian countries at the forum, we hope to come up with our action plans being carried out to phase out nuclear power," NNAF convener Shih Shin-min (施信民) said.

Yang Chao-yueh (楊肇岳) of TEPU said that all participants at the forum demand for transparency of power companies' management, which would be crucial for the public to watch over the essential business.

"The recent scandal at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) highlights the importance of anti-nuclear movement in Japan. Why does Taiwan still want to built its seventh and eighth nuclear reactors?" Yang asked.

There are now two reactors each at three operational nuclear power plants in Taiwan.

Ritsuya Okuno (奧野律也) of the No Nuke Asia Forum in Japan said the scandal was still expanding in Japan, as there were an increasing number of cover-ups pertaining to power companies' failing to replacing damaged core shrouds and other parts.

A shroud is a stainless-steel cylinder made of welded plates that surrounds the core and regulates the flow of cooling water.

According to Okuno, 37 reports of diverse power companies' cover-up had been received. So far, 13 out of 52 reactors in Japan have been shut down due to the scandal.

"I'm afraid that similar things will also occur in Taiwan," Okuno said.

Okuno said Japanese companies involved in the scandal include Hitachi and Toshiba, which are both subcontractors to build the advanced boiling water reactors for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Taiwan.

Tomorrow, former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) will give a speech at the opening ceremony at the forum.

In addition, Minister Without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮) will introduce Taiwan's approach to building a nuclear free country. He will also dialogue with Germany energy policy expert, Christian Matthes, who will introduce Germany's policies to phase out nuclear energy.

On Sunday, activists attending the forum will march to call for a referendum on the future of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.