Thousands of opponents of nuclear energy from across the nation paraded in the streets of Taipei yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which crippled the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.
“Nuclear go zero — rethink nuclear power” was the main theme of the protest, during which participants urged the public to consider the risks posed by a nuclear disaster, nuclear waste contamination and unlimited demand for electricity.
At 1:46pm (2:46pm in Japan, when the earthquake struck), the crowd held a minute of silence for the victims of the disaster before moving from Longshan Temple MRT Station.
Photo: CNA
Organizers estimated that more than 5,000 people and more than 100 NGOs took part in the rally.
With processional troupes from religious groups leading the parade, protesters held yellow balloons with anti-nuclear slogans, banged on African drums while shouting battle cries and held green paper windmills symbolizing “green” energy as they marched through the streets.
Participants from the Humanistic Education Foundation held black and white portraits of themselves, similar to those used in funeral processions, saying there would be no tomorrow if a nuclear disaster occurred.
Photo: Lin Chia-chi, Taipei Times
“Many people think that the possibility of a nuclear disaster is a distant one ... but actually the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant [in Shihmen District (石門), New Taipei City (新北市)] and the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant [in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里)] are less than 30km away from us, and the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant [in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮)] is only 40km away from the Presidential Office,” Taiwan Environmental Protection Union secretary-general Lee Cho-han (李卓翰) said.
“We are protesting today for the children of today and tomorrow,” Lee said.
A special feature of the parade was the participation of Tao Aborigines from Lanyu, who oppose the dumping of nuclear waste on the island by Taiwan Power Co (Taipower).
“Against nuclear waste, save Lanyu. Against nuclear power, save Taiwan,” the residents of Lanyu shouted, with several people in traditional dress and occasionally performing a ritual to drive evil spirits (nuclear waste) away by shouting in a low-pitched voice.
Sinan Mavivo, an anti-nuclear activist and resident of Lanyu, said that for the past 30 years the children of Lanyu had grown up under the threat of nuclear waste in their homeland, while many people on the island have been diagnosed with cancer that has very likely been caused by radiation from the waste.
“A researcher at Academia Sinica last year confirmed there was radioactive leakage near the nuclear waste storage [facility] on the island,” she said. “But Taipower keeps trying to cover-up the fact and lies about the danger.”
Residents of the island urged the government to remove the nuclear waste immediately to protect their health and suggested that health check-ups be provided for residents.
“If we don’t stop nuclear power today, tomorrow our tears will become a river,” a wheelchair-bound protester from Keelung said.
Simulating a nuclear leak in northern Taiwan for three minutes during the march, the protesters lay down on the bustling streets in front of the Taipei Railway Station while a siren went off. The skit was to show that if there was a real threat, residents would have nowhere to go.
The parade arrived at Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office at about 4:20pm, where musicians played anti-nuclear songs, including The Gift from the Devil by Country Boys (農村武裝青年), while activists shared their opinions with the crowd.
Gongliao Anti-nuclear Self-Help Association chairman Wu Wen-chang (吳文樟) said construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant had been going on for nearly 30 years and cost more than plants in other countries.
“The government should stop throwing money into this money pit and stop the construction of this highly dangerous plant,” he said.
The protesters urged the government and Taiwanese to learn from Japan’s March 11 nuclear disaster and rethink Taiwan’s energy policy for a safe and sustainable future.
Tibetans also took part in the parade to show solidarity with Taiwanese and voice their concerns over China’s nuclear activities in Tibet.
“Of course I should be out here taking part in this demonstration, because the nuclear issue is a global issue, and everyone should be concerned. Although I’m a Tibetan, I live in Taiwan, therefore I should be here with the Taiwanese,” said Tashi Tsering, an -India-born Tibetan. “I think nuclear energy is not safe and the government should always have the people’s safety — not economic growth — as its top priority.”
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Taiwan president Tenzin Chompel said he was concerned about China’s nuclear activities in Tibet.
“I’d also like to express my concerns about China’s dumping of nuclear waste, as well as reported nuclear tests on the Tibetan Plateau,” he said.
Tenzin Chompel was also concerned about the situation in Taiwan.
“I live in Taipei and feel worried about being surrounded by two nuclear power plants,” he said. “Besides, I’d like to condemn the Republic of China government, which dumps nuclear waste on Lanyu [蘭嶼] that belongs to the Tao Aborigines — this is just as irresponsible as the Chinese government’s dumping of nuclear waste in Tibet.”
Additional reporting by Loa Iok-sin
HIGH-RISK GROUP: After the latest outbreak, family members of workers exposed to infection would from tomorrow be eligible for government-funded vaccines The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported four local COVID-19 cases: three family members of an infected worker at a quarantine hotel and a family member of an infected pilot. The new cases bring the number of infections involving China Airlines Ltd (中華航空) pilots and the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport hotel, where many of the airline’s crew members quarantined, to 24. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said three of them are the husband, son and daughter of case No. 1,129, a woman in her 60s, who works at the hotel. The son is in
NEXT STEP? The contract chipmaker said it would decide whether to add more plants based on operation efficiency, cost economics and demand Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is planning to build several more chipmaking fabs in the US state of Arizona beyond the one already planned, three people familiar with the matter said. TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, announced in May last year that it would build a US$12 billion fab in Arizona. The 12-inch wafer fab in Phoenix is expected to start mass production in 2024, the Investment Commission said in December, when it approved the plan. Three sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, said that up
VIRUS CURBS: Visiting people staying at healthcare and long-term care facilities in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan is banned until May 17, the CECC announced The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday banned visits to patients or residents at healthcare and long-term care facilities in three cities until May 17. It also reported six imported cases of COVID-19 and two cases with unclear infection sources. As the number of locally transmitted cases rises, some of whom have visited many places in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan, enhanced disease prevention measures have to be implemented in the three cities, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center. “Visiting people staying at healthcare and long-term care facilities in Taipei, New Taipei City and
TAKING NOTICE: In the first time that G7 foreign ministers have mentioned Taiwan in a joint communique, they called for ‘peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait’ The Presidential Office yesterday thanked the G7 foreign ministers for their strong support of Taiwan after the group in its joint statement on Wednesday called for the nation’s participation in the WHO, and the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The ministers in a communique issued at the end of their three-day meeting declared support for “Taiwan’s meaningful participation” in WHO forums and the World Health Assembly (WHA). “The international community should be able to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan’s successful contribution to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said. The statement included a section
RSS