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Lu readies new group to stop nuclear
plant
By Lee Hsin-fang / Staff Reporter
A group of environmental
activists, accompanied by former vice president Annette Lu, second left,
yesterday hold a press conference to push for a referendum in New Taipei City on
the abolishment of the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
Before the next president enters office,
construction at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be stopped, former vice
president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) told a press conference on Sunday.
“I am prepared to launch the ‘Save Earth, Save Taiwan Association,’” Lu said,
adding that there would be a free showing of the Taiwanese folk opera Peng Lai
Da Xian (蓬萊大仙), performed by the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group on Friday
in front of National Taipei University.
The show would seek to give greater exposure to the “Save Earth, Save Taiwan”
movement, Lu said.
“My current goal is to move toward shutting down the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant
before the next president is voted into office,” Lu said, adding that Taiwan was
capable of developing its industries without nuclear power.
In tandem with pan-green civil servants and other environmental protection
personnel, Lu is pushing for a referendum petition on the closing down of the
Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Gongliao (貢寮), New Taipei City (新北市).
Lu said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should adopt a clear stance on the issue.
“I will definitely pay Ma a visit to discuss the subject of a referendum on
halting the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant,” Lu said.
Responding to claims that any such visit would be intended to force to clarify
his stance on the matter, Lu said Ma happened to be the person who had the most
say, adding that she hoped to visit other influential people once she had
gathered enough support.
Lu said she hoped the referendum would be held only in New Taipei City, adding
that only by halting the project would Taiwan be saved.
Kao Cheng-yan (高成炎), an academic working with Lu, said a petition drive for the
referendum was being held at the Rueifang Railway Station.
The Taiwan Solidarity Union also expressed its willingness to participate in the
petition.
Lu said the Formosa Weekly that she publishes would cease to print for a year so
that she could focus on the campaign.
Asked if Lu was suspending the publication because it is losing money, Lu said
almost everyone who started magazines lose money.
“I’ve sold everything under my name, but I feel proud, because I’ve done all I
could,” Lu said, adding that the Save Earth, Save Taiwan movement also required
money.
“I’m always involved in non-profitable things,” Lu said.
New Taipei City Council DPP caucus convener Chen Shih-jung (陳世榮) said that since
New Taipei City had no legal mechanisms for the holding of referendums, the
caucus would seek cross-party petitions and propose a draft New Taipei City
residents voting self-regulation rule.
DPP New Taipei City Councilor Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠) said that as the proposal was
already supported by more than half the municipality’s councilors, the council
should be able to review the matter when it convenes today.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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