A black-faced spoonbill with its foot cut off flies among a group of other birds in the file photo at right from the Chiku Lagoon in Tainan County.
The photo at right shows what environmentalists call devastation to the habitat and health of black-faced spoonbills, which are now under further threat from the planned Pinnan Industrial Complex (
The photo was released by environmentalists yesterday at the same time the cabinet-level Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission announced the initiation of "Taiwan in a Nut Shell: A Cyber Exhibit," one of a series of 33 exhibits organized by the government to celebrate its environmental protection efforts at the turn of the new millennium.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WANG HUI-CHI
Information is available at http://www.vision2000.org.tw/english/act-01/index.htm.
The exhibit will contain the following sections: Black-faced Spoonbills, People of the Sea, Faces of Urban Life, Taiwan Fine Products, The Energy of Life, Government Publications and Government Initiatives and Results.
Environmentalists yesterday noted the irony of the recent passage of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the controversial Pinnan Industrial Complex project, which they said could destroy the endangered birds' wintering sites at the lagoons, coinciding with the launch of the government's Web site lauding its work to protect the bird.
The Pinnan industrial site has drawn fire from conservation groups, who have said the complex's EIA was hastily approved by a handpicked group of nine members from the Environmental Protection Administration's (環1珓O護署) 29-person EIA review committee.
Environmental protection groups have also pointed to a host of dangers and uncertainties surrounding the development project.
The groups have pointed out that the daily water demand of the industrial complex has been estimated at 190,000 tons, whereas previous estimates of water supplies in the area, have indicated only 80,000 tons per day would be available.
Furthermore, the site is projected to release over 20.7 million tons of carbon dioxide. The amount pushes Taiwan's aggregate carbon dioxide emissions well above standards established by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which Taiwan seeks to observe.
The approved EIA also lacks specific details of lands and other resources set aside by the groups involved in the development to protect the wintering grounds of the black-faced spoonbills.
Su Huan-chih (
"The passage of the EIA was to please certain money cliques and KMT local factions," Su said.
AIR DEFENSE: The Norwegian missile system has proved highly effective in Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the US has recommended it for Taiwan, an expert said The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Taiwan ordered from the US would be installed in strategically important positions in Taipei and New Taipei City to guard the region, the Ministry of National Defense said in statement yesterday. The air defense system would be deployed in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) and New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), the ministry said, adding that the systems could be delivered as soon as the end of this year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has previously said that three NASAMS would be sold to Taiwan. The weapons are part of the 17th US arms sale to
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
REGIONAL PEACE: The US is supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities by providing the nation with defensive arms and services, as it aims to maintain cross-strait stability The US on Friday reiterated its support for Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities in a statement affirming its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. The White House said that Washington has supported Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through a range of security assistance authorities and resources, including the first-ever use of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Taiwan, as well as International Military Education and Training (IMET). US President Joe Biden had identified the Indo-Pacific as the critical region for the future of the US and the world, it said. “In pursuit of regional peace, security and stability, we have reinvested in our defense
CONFLICT RISK: China’s hostile actions toward Taiwan could ‘precipitate a severe cross-strait crisis involving the United States,’ the report said There is a “moderate” likelihood of a cross-strait war this year that could have a “high” impact on US interests, a survey by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations said on Tuesday. “Intensified military and economic pressure by China toward Taiwan” is listed among other “top conflicts to watch in 2025” as a “Tier I (High Priority)” potential war, the think tank’s Center for Preventative Action (CPA) said in a report. China’s hostile actions toward Taiwan could “precipitate a severe cross-strait crisis involving the United States and other countries in the region,” the report said, adding that such a scenario could
RSS