Premier Jiang Yi-huah’s (江宜樺) plan to lead journalists to inspect the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Gongliao District (貢寮) tomorrow is merely a political ploy and a waste of time that could further aggravate the controversy over nuclear energy, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.
Following his proposal to defuse the growing controversy over whether to complete or suspend the power plant’s construction through a national referendum, Jiang is scheduled to lead a media tour of the plant and its equipment tomorrow.
The premier is also scheduled to hear a report detailing security inspection plans for the Gongliao plant.
“The Cabinet should direct its focus toward more important issues at a time when the nation is beset with challenges in the areas of education, economy, epidemic prevention, pension reforms and transport infrastructure development,” DPP spokesman Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) told a press conference in Taipei.
“The Cabinet should not let the nation remain entangled in the controversy surrounding the power plant, particularly after a majority of the public has been clearly leaning toward halting the plant’s construction,” Lin added.
The DPP spokeman called on President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration to have the courage to “let go of the power plant.”
Urging Jiang to learn to prioritize and deliberate national affairs thoroughly, Lin said that the public expected the government to address issues concerning the development of the nation, including reforming the state pension system and the 12-year compulsory education program; dealing with rising university tuition fees and the monopolization of the media; tackling delays in the opening of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT line and the Wugu-Yangmei overpass (五楊高架橋); ensuring the effectiveness of pidemic prevention measures; and securing regional trade agreements.
“It will be fairly disappointing if the government sets aside all the aforementioned issues and chooses to devote all its energy and time facilitating the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant,” Lin said.
“Also, what is the point of [Jiang] listening to the report when he has already taken a position [on the nuclear plant]?” Lin asked.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
RSS