Thousands of workers and employers from the plastics industry marched through the streets of Taipei yesterday to demand an immediate halt to a newly implemented environmental policy that limits the use of plastic shopping bags and dinning utensils.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), however, reiterated that the policy would not be overturned.
Waving banners bearing slogans, such as "Abuse of Power," "Policy Won't Help Environmental Protection" and "Help, President A-bian," protesters marched from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial to the Presidential Office via the Legislative Yuan.
They also roared "EPA head, step down!" in a swipe at EPA chief Hau Lung-bin (
The controversial policy bans most stores and restaurants from distributing free plastic bags and utensils.
The demonstration was a follow-up to a Dec. 17 march when thousands of worried plastics-industry workers and their families demonstrated in Taipei to ask for a five-year delay of the ban.
Hau, however, insisted that the policy was to be carried out on schedule. Hau said that the Cabinet would spend about NT$1.58 billion this year to create 8,400 jobs for laid-off plastics-industry workers.
Yesterday, a booth was set up at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial to allow affected workers -- an estimated 50,000 people, according to plastics-industry officials -- to register for job opportunities. However, the EPA's action received little attention from protesters.
TSU legislative caucus convener Liao Ben-yan (廖本煙), one of several opposition legislators who joined the march, said the new policy was conceived too quickly and does not look to the long-term.
"The EPA should be responsible for problems regarding the use of plastic materials because it failed to recycle them properly," Liao said.
Chou Ming-hui (
Protesters said that the image of plastic materials had been blackened because the EPA did not provide the public with correct scientific information.
To increase environmental awareness of the production of plastic materials, protesters distributed three truckloads of plastic dinning utensils to the public in front of the Presidential Office.
Protesters said that some of the materials could actually improve the efficiency of incinerators.
Hau reiterated yesterday that the policy would be carried out thoroughly because recent surveys suggest more than 80 percent of the public are in favor of it.
"The EPA will stick to the policy and not make a U-turn," Hau said at a press conference.
Hau said that the environment would eventually benefit from the policy because the consumption of plastic bags and dining utensils had already been dramatically reduced following the implementation of the policy.
Citing EPA statistics, Hau said that the consumption of plastic bags in Taipei County had dropped by 87 percent, while in Taipei City the figure was down by 97 percent.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old