Subject: [cwj 127] Endoresment Request: Let the Future of a Nuclear-free Asia Begin in Taiwan!
From: Corporate Watch in Japanese <cwj@corpwatch.org>
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2000 00:47:36 -0800
Seq: 127
From: "Taiwan Environmental Action Network \(TEAN\)" <tean-mail@uclink4.berkeley.edu> Subject: Urgent! Endoresment Request: Let the Future of a Nuclear-free Asia Begin in Taiwan! Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 00:44:00 -0800 Dear friends, Please help us spread this endorsement request. ************************************* **Urgent! Please send your endorsement to tean-mail@uclink4.berkeley.edu** (Please reply ASAP, preferrably before November 10, 2000!) Let the Future of a Nuclear-free Asia Begin in Taiwan! -- Support the decision to halt Taiwan's 4th Nuclear Power Plant. An unprecedented victory for anti-nuclear groups in Taiwan occurred on October 27, 2000 when the Taiwanese government halted the construction of a fourth nuclear power plant on the island's northeastern coast. However, this victory may be short-lived if the opposition's strong appeal for a recall of the government's decision is realized. An umbrella organization of over 100 NGOs, drawing with them approximately 200,000 supporters will gather in Taipei for an anti-nuclear demonstration on November 12, 2000. The construction of NPP4 on Taiwan is not just a matter of economics, as the opposition would like people to believe. Rather, it is about the lives of millions of people on Taiwan and across Asia. Halting the construction of NPP4 is the first step to curtailing nuclear exportation in Asia. It is about choosing an alternative model of political and economic development. It is about long-run sustainable growth, rather than short-run power supplies that fuel business operations. Taiwan Environmental Action Network (TEAN) appeals to environmental/social justice organizations/ activists around the world to join forces in solidarity with green and anti-nuclear groups in Taiwan to protest against the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 (NPP4). To show your support, simply reply to tean-mail@uclink4.berkeley.edu with the following information Name of Organization: Contact Email: Contact Address: Organizer's Name: Sincerely, Taiwan Environmental Action Network (TEAN) - a project of International Environmental Protection Association - http://tean.formosa.org http://tc.formosa.org/projects/noNuke/statement.htm Contact us at tean-mail@uclink4.berkeley.edu or tean-com@formosa.org ******************************************************************* BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Taiwan: anti-nuclear victory may be recalled An unprecedented victory for anti-nuclear groups in Taiwan occurred in late October 2000 when the Taiwanese government halted the construction of a fourth nuclear power plant on the island's northeastern coast. However, this victory may be short-lived if the opposition's strong appeal for a recall of the government's decision is realized. An umbrella organization of over 100 NGOs, drawing with them approximately 200,000 supporters will gather in Taipei for an anti-nuclear demonstration on November 12, 2000. Proponents of a nuclear-free Taiwan will carry a sunflower, symbolizing solar energy and a smiling face. International Environmental Protection Association-TEAN (Taiwan Environmental Action Network) appeals to environment organizations around the world to join forces in solidarity with green and anti-nuclear groups in Taiwan to protest against the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 (NPP4). The power plant, which will use two Japanese-made advanced boiling water-type reactors, was originally scheduled to begin operation in 2004 and to generate 2,700 megawatts of electricity once fully operative. Corporate conspiracy involves U.S. nuclear industry This is a joint project of General Electrics Corp. along with Japanese corporate giants, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Toshiba. In 1999, Taiwan has three nuclear plants (six reactors); nuclear power accounted for 27 percent of the electricity generated by Taiwan Power Corporation. The aftermath of Chernobyl has taught the West to begin the phase-out of commercial nuclear reactors and other dangerous nuclear technologies. Yet, these same governments, often in partnership with multinational corporations are exporting nuclear technologies abroad, this time to less and newly developed nations. For example, the United States nuclear industry has placed ample pressure on Taiwan's new government popularly elected only in April 2000, to reverse the decision to scrap NPP4. GE has won billions of dollars worth of contracts in the controversial $US 5.6 billion project, and is doing everything it can to keep the project alive. Nuclear threat, not economics Environmental justice is breached with the construction of NPP4. The nuclear waste issue tops our concerns. The consequence of an additional nuclear plant on Taiwan is far more out-reaching than many would expect. A Japanese researcher, Hiro Komura, a professor at Shizuoka University's Department of Engineering conjectured that with prospects slim for the construction of further nuclear power plants in Japan, the nuclear power industry is attempting to survive by exporting plants to other Asian countries, beginning with the construction of NPP4 in Taiwan. The construction of NPP4 on Taiwan is not just a matter of economics, as the opposition would like people to believe. Rather, it is about the lives of millions of people on Taiwan and across Asia. It is about long-run sustainable growth, rather than short-run power supplies that fuel business operations. The Taiwanese populace is concerned about the scarcity of energy sources on Taiwan - many have been persuaded by proponents of nuclear power to believe that without the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4, Taiwan would not be able to sufficiently meet the energy consumption needs of industry and the general public. IEPA-TEAN seeks to dispel such a myth: according to the estimates of Taiwan Power Corporation, Taiwan has reserve power supplies at the rates of 19.2%, 17.7% and 12.5% through years 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. These reserves are in fact greater than reserves of any year in the past decade. (In 1993 reserves were 4.2%; in 1996, 5.6%; and in 1996, 7.7%.) Therefore, even forgoing the construction of NPP4 and in the absence of alternatives, Taiwan will not have to worry about power supplies for at least 7 years to come. If the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 continues, it is estimated to produce a total of 992,500 barrels of low-level radioactive nuclear wastes and 7,313 metric tons of high-level radioactive nuclear wastes, along with Plants Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in forty years' time. The Taiwan government concedes that at the moment there is no viable solution in Taiwan (or elsewhere) to deal with additional hazardous wastes. Viable alternatives exist However, the current Taiwan government is committed to promote alternative measures through the Ministry of Economics in order to provide sustainable electric power for generations to come. The government has already proposed to open up power generation to private operation and to promote liberalization of the industry. Alternative plans will diversify and decrease the risks of supply shortage, benefit regional balance in electric power, increase demand internal to the industry and create employment opportunities. IEPA-TEAN applauds this move to alternative energy sources. History of dumping Taiwan already has a history of haphazard dumping of toxic wastes both on the island and abroad. Taiwan currently stores the nuclear waste already generated on Orchid Island, home to an indigenous minority under grave threat of cultural extinction. Recent attempts at dumping wastes on cash-strapped neighbors like North Korea and the Marshall Islands fortunately have proven unsuccessful. Urban structures built upon cobalt-laden bars still today have people living in them. The source of these bars has yet to be established, but the tragedy shows in the most graphic possible terms how the Taiwan government has failed in its responsibility to properly handle radiation contamination problems. These violations of basic human rights are unacceptable to the international community. The construction of NPP4 would only exacerbate these and like problems of environmental concern. Politics in control, not the environment An environmental concern has turned intensely political. The Kuomintang, the previous authoritarian ruling party now the opposition, has joined forces with other opposition parties to co-opt the current unraveling of events surrounding the construction of NPP4 to fuel political fervor against the newly elected government. The Kuomintang Party, New Party and People First Party not only demand for the recall of the current government's decision to halt the construction of NPP4, but also for the impeachment of the newly elected president and vice president! IEPA-Taiwan condemns such politicking and urges international organizations to join us in support of a nuclear-free Taiwan. Endorse a nuclear-free Taiwan, Asia Let us stand in solidarity with Taiwanese environmental NGOs as they march through downtown Taipei to support the government's decision and counter the opposition's demand for the continual construction of NPP4. The promise of a sustainable nuclear-free Asia begins in Taiwan. ------------------------------------- Corporate Watch in Japanese Transnational Resource and Action Center (TRAC) P.O. Box 29344 San Francisco, CA 94129 USA Tel: 1-415-561-6472 Fax: 1-415-561-6493 Email: cwj@corpwatch.org URL: http://www.corpwatch-jp.org ------------------------------------- ______________________ The Corporate Watch in Japanese http://www.corpwatch.org/japan (CWJ) mailing list is a moderated email list in English designed to connect activists campaigning against Japanese corporations and investments around the world. * To unsubscribe from the CWJ mailing list, send an email to majordomo@jca.apc.org with text "unsubscribe cwj". To subscribe to the CWJ mailing list, send a message to majordomo@jca.apc.org with the text "subscribe cwj" * The CWJ mailing list is NOT intended for wide distribution. 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