Since the magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Taiwan on Sept. 21, Central Weather Bureau (CWB) personnel have been working day and night to monitor the quake situation and keep a close eye on typhoons that could endanger the lives of disaster victims.
Their efforts are witnessed by all Taiwan citizens. However, according to the Meteorology Act (
That is why the meteorological information collected by air quality monitoring stations under the Environmental Protection Administration is only internally used and not made public.
The same is true with TV stations, notwithstanding weather report anchors. Since the CWB has supreme authority, its personnel have to work hard to offer the most accurate weather reports.
It has been 50 years since the KMT government migrated to Taiwan and 10 years since martial law was lifted. Meteorology information is no longer required to be kept confidential for purposes of national defense. Only one justification remains for the so-called unified weather monitoring and forecasts: to avoid malicious announcements that could lead to social unrest.
In a time of increasing emphasis on social welfare, the government has cut the budget for the bureau, leading to a downsizing of personnel. We can not help but worry about the CWB's capability to maintain good quality weather reports with only a budget of NT$1billion and 600 employees.
Taiwanese society has advanced, and an increased public demand for knowledge has followed. What the people ask is not a rigidly censored, unified information channel, but an in-depth and detailed inquiry service.
Amid these increased expectations, is it possible for the CWB to function efficiently within the confines of the Meteorology Act?
Since the 921 and Chiayi earthquakes, conflicts have increased between the importance of the CWB's earthquake services and the "unified announcement" regulations of the Meteorology Act.
Paradoxical though it may be, although the CWB has undertaken quake reporting for a long time, it has never carried out forecasting stipulated by the Meteorology Act. If Taiwan is hit by another major quake within 100 years, the CWB can only explain why the quake occurs, not offer forecasts to minimize damage from the disaster.
So how can it satisfy the public's expectations?
Scholars in earth sciences who were dissatisfied with the suppression of freedom of speech protested in anger at the illegitimacy of the Meteorology Act. It is absurd for the CWB -- with its limited budget and manpower but unlimited work pressure -- to use absolute authority to strengthen absolute truth.
Moreover, the government wants to increase the country's competitive capability. The Meteorology Act is a martial law for meteorology and earth sciences. How can people expect to acquire the most accurate information in an environment without competition?
The CWB's importance has been clarified since the 921 earthquake, but the legitimacy of the Meteorology Act and the CWB's capability to shoulder responsibility have come into question.
Liu Chung-ming is a professor of atmospheric sciences at National Taiwan University.
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