Anti-nuclear groups yesterday urged the Legislative Yuan to review part of the state-run Taiwan Power Company's (Taipower) budget proposal, which asked for NT$3.92 billion this year to continue the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant construction project.
Being responsive to demonstrators, the Legislative Yuan's Economics and Energy Committee yesterday decided to freeze the allocation, which was earmarked for Taipower to maintain two reactors at the nuclear plant in the future.
Yesterday morning, dozens of anti-nuclear activists and residents from Kungliao township, Taipei County, where the controversial plant is situated, carried out a sit-in demonstration in front of the Legislative Yuan.
"The ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP], should recall carefully how it opposed the project in the 1990s," said Wu Wen-tung (吳文通), spokesman for the Kungliao-based Yenliao Anti-Nuclear Self-Help Association.
The estimated cost of completing construction of the plant is NT$169.7 billion. In 1994, the Legislative Yuan passed an eight-year proposal by Taipower, which received NT$112.5 billion for construction purposes. At that time, most DPP lawmakers opposed the budget allocation.
Wu stressed that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) promised to hold a referendum on the plant's future. Before the referendum is held, the government should halt the project and stop allocating related budgets, Wu said.
Activists of other environmental groups, including the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union and the Homemakers' Union and Foundation, joined the sit-in.
Activists said that giving taxpayer's money to Taipower was contradictory to the government's goal of turning Taiwan into a nuclear-free homeland.
Meanwhile, at a budget review meeting, DPP Legislator Eugene Jao (
"Before Taipower ensures nuclear safety and a referendum [on the plant's future] is held, I suggest that not a cent more should be allocated for the project," Jao said.
The committee accepted Jao's suggestion, which was supported by some lawmakers. Depending on the result of further negotiations between the parties in March at a legislative assembly meeting, Taipower might this year not receive any money for the project.
According to Yang Jiao-yen (楊嬌豔), a legislative assistant to Jao, Taipower will propose an additional budget of NT$52.3 billion for the plant in the next parliamentary session, but might face similar opposition.
In September, Taipower officials reported to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which supervises state-run companies, saying that the additional NT$52.3 billion is necessary for completing construction of the plant.
According to Taipower, in an ideal situation, the plant will begin operating commercially in July 2006.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS