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Groups promote
nuclear-free homeland
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
As the second anniversary of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster
approaches, several civic groups have begun planning a series of anti-nuclear
events, while legislators and political figures are getting ready to discuss the
issue.
Flags printed with the shape of Taiwan that read “No nukes, No more Fukushima”
have been hung in front of several coffee shops, stores and houses, showing the
owners’ stance against nuclear power.
The flag initiative was started by a coffee shop owner in Taipei, by hanging the
flags in several coffee shops on the same day as a silent demonstration of the
owners’ anti-nuclear ideals, and the project later spread across the nation to
include other stores and individuals.
The Green Citizen Action Alliance (GCAA) said that more than 4,000 flags have
been sold, and many people have brought the flags to various locations to take
photographs, such as on top of mountains or during dives in the ocean.
In addition, a nuclear power abolition demonstration held by various civic
groups across the nation is planned for March 9, in Taipei, Greater Taichung,
Greater Kaohsiung and Taitung.
GCAA coordinator Wang Shun-wei (王舜薇) said the parades will be formed by local
civic groups, using various methods and visual designs to express the public’s
opposition to nuclear power.
In addition, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said that it will
make a draft law on the promotion of a nuclear-free homeland a priority bill for
review in the next legislative session, while the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
caucus said the Cabinet and the legislature have to improve negotiations.
In the previous legislative session, a proposal by the DPP to cut off extra
funds for the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant — the Longmen (龍門)
plant in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Gongliao District (貢寮) — was not approved by
the legislature, losing by two votes.
DPP Legislator Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) said the government should at least allow
residents living near the plant to vote via referendum on whether the plant
should be put into operation, but enacting the law would be an effective and
direct way to stop the plant’s commercial operation.
KMT caucus whip Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) said the party also recognized the ideal of
a nuclear-free homeland, but political parties must face the practical issues of
resources, and the public may not be able to accept increased electricity prices
or regulated power usage, so everyone should discuss nuclear policies
rationally.
Moreover, former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday that the
public thinks the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is unsuitable for operating in
Taiwan and hopes the nation can become a nuclear-free homeland.
If the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant begins commercial operations, it is expected
to run for decades, so it would not be a good start for achieving a nuclear-free
Taiwan, she added.
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