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The Earth needs help, EPA says

Children yesterday participate in an event in Taipei to launch the Environmental Protection Administration’s Earth Day Web site. PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

The Earth is in trouble and is sending out an SOS to its inhabitants, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.

In the interest of a sustainable planet, the EPA called on the public to reduce global warming by turning off their lights and elevators for one hour on Earth Day, April 22.

At the “Save Our Sky” news conference at Taipei's Fu-shing Elementary School, the EPA organized a series of activities to teach children how to reduce their “carbon footprint.” One of these activities was a skit featuring a Snow White character who admonished children not to use air conditioners unnecessarily or waste food.

“Something like environmental protection can't be put off — if we don't do it today, we won't be able to do it tomorrow,” EPA minister Winston Dang (陳重信) said.

Although Earth Day is only a one-day event, Dang said the EPA hoped it would inspire people to adopt more sustainable practices on a daily basis.

massive saving

“If 20 million Taiwanese turned their lights and elevators off on Earth Day, the nation would reduce its carbon emissions by 5 million kilograms. This is comparable to planting 400,000 trees,” he said.

“Taiwanese account for only 0.35 percent of the global population. However, we are responsible for 1 percent of the world's carbon emissions. This is a sign that our environment isn't in a healthy state,” Dang said.

In an effort to prevent a potential catastrophe, the EPA is pushing for Taiwan to become the first developed country to draw up concrete carbon reduction plans in the form of a “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Draft,” he said.

The EPA also unveiled a new Web site to celebrate Earth Day (www.earthday.com.tw). The Web site provides information on issues such as carbon footprint reduction, energy conservation and recycling.

“Taiwanese are encouraged to log onto the Web site and learn how to use small actions to make major improvements,” Dang said.

Visitors to the Web site can sign a 10-point pledge that includes commitments to drive vehicles less frequently, turn off unnecessary lights and place smaller food orders in restaurants, among other energy-saving measures, he said. On Earth Day, the EPA will announce how many people have signed the pledge.

‘Water White'

Referring to the skit, Dang said: “If we don't start cooling the earth, Snow White may soon become ‘Water White' as a result of global warming. We only have one Earth — we should do our best to preserve it so that we can pass down to our children an Earth that has clean air and water.”
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