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
-------------------------------------
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