Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday called for DPP members to participate in antinuclear demonstrations set to take place across the nation on Saturday.
“Four years ago, we witnessed — along with all of humanity — the price we have to pay for nuclear power. We have also witnessed since then the actions of many countries, who have, after self-reflection, made moves to speed up the development of alternative energy sources and the adjustment of their energy and industry policies, in order to be able to welcome the advent of a non-nuclear homeland sooner,” Tsai said, referring to the nuclear disaster that unfolded in Fukushima, Japan, following a tsunami in 2011. “Among all these actions, the DPP’s ‘2025 nuclear-free homeland’ is one.”
Tsai said that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has failed to pursue the goal of a nuclear-free Taiwan in the past few years, “while South Korea’s capital, Seoul, has launched a policy plan of ‘One Less Nuclear Power Plant’ and in merely two years cut energy consumption equivalent to the electricity generating capacity of a Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.”
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
“There is no reason for Taiwan to lag behind when a city has shown its resolve by carrying out actions,” she said.
Tsai called on the nation to initiate a similar plan and take action now, with the final goal being a nuclear-free Taiwan.
“The DPP is starting from the 13 cities and counties it governs, where energy saving, improving energy efficiency and promoting green energy will be approaches for weaning people from dependence on nuclear power,” she said. “We will also put forward a new energy policy and make progress toward the goal of a 2025 nuclear-free homeland when the party governs the country.”
Saturday’s antinuclear rallies, organized by the National Anti-Nuclear Action Platform, are to take place in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taitung.
“I’m officially issuing a mobilization order to the party for the 314 antinuclear rally, in which the party will be standing with the people of the nation for a future without fear,” Tsai said.
A small number of Taiwanese this year lost their citizenship rights after traveling in China and obtaining a one-time Chinese passport to cross the border into Russia, a source said today. The people signed up through Chinese travel agencies for tours of neighboring Russia with companies claiming they could obtain Russian visas and fast-track border clearance, the source said on condition of anonymity. The travelers were actually issued one-time-use Chinese passports, they said. Taiwanese are prohibited from holding a Chinese passport or household registration. If found to have a Chinese ID, they may lose their resident status under Article 9-1
Taiwanese were praised for their composure after a video filmed by Taiwanese tourists capturing the moment a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Japan’s Aomori Prefecture went viral on social media. The video shows a hotel room shaking violently amid Monday’s quake, with objects falling to the ground. Two Taiwanese began filming with their mobile phones, while two others held the sides of a TV to prevent it from falling. When the shaking stopped, the pair calmly took down the TV and laid it flat on a tatami mat, the video shows. The video also captured the group talking about the safety of their companions bathing
Starting on Jan. 1, YouBike riders must have insurance to use the service, and a six-month trial of NT$5 coupons under certain conditions would be implemented to balance bike shortages, a joint statement from transportation departments across Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan announced yesterday. The rental bike system operator said that coupons would be offered to riders to rent bikes from full stations, for riders who take out an electric-assisted bike from a full station, and for riders who return a bike to an empty station. All riders with YouBike accounts are automatically eligible for the program, and each membership account
US climber Alex Honnold is to attempt to scale Taipei 101 without a rope and harness in a live Netflix special on Jan. 24, the streaming platform announced on Wednesday. Accounting for the time difference, the two-hour broadcast of Honnold’s climb, called Skyscraper Live, is to air on Jan. 23 in the US, Netflix said in a statement. Honnold, 40, was the first person ever to free solo climb the 900m El Capitan rock formation in Yosemite National Park — a feat that was recorded and later made into the 2018 documentary film Free Solo. Netflix previewed Skyscraper Live in October, after videos
RSS