wfn.org | TCN: Referendum on building casinos in Penghu Island set for September 26

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3001 Edition

>August 31~September 6, 2009

Referendum on building casinos in Penghu Island set for September  26

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

Penghu County government has decided to hold a referendum on  September

26th on whether or not to build casinos on the island. Taiwan  Anti-Gambling

Alliance held a press conference on August 31st to emphasize its  opposition to

legalized gambling and promote participation in anti-gambling  demonstrations

>scheduled on September 25th.

Renowned Taiwanese film director, Hou Shiau-Shian, revealed he had  been

addicted to gambling when he was young and berated politicians for

compromising the well-being of Penghu residents for their own  personal gain. He

also offered this advice to residents, “Don’t lose your  mind. Don’t build a casino

>in your backyard!”

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) Associate General Secretary  Kho Sing-

doh urged Penghu residents to cast a decisive vote against  gambling on

September 26th and win this battle between good and evil.

Several social organizations, DPP party members, and PCT leaders  were

present during the press conference and criticized Penghu County  government

for issuing misleading reports to the public about the benefits of  opening

casinos, which significantly boosted support for building casinos.

Penghu County reported that if the referendum passes, the island  will attract 5

million visitors every year, and every resident will have a job,  more benefits, and

reap unimaginable profits. Anti-gambling organizations lashed back  at local

officials for uttering such lies and creating such deceptions.

Penghu Anti-Gambling Alliance has already distributed pamphlets to  local

residents using Macao and a few U.S. cities that operate casinos  as case

studies. According to these pamphlets, reports confirm that  profits made by local

businesses declined significantly after casinos moved into these  cities.

Furthermore, it is imperative to oppose casinos to protect  children and prevent

>them from developing gambling addictions.

The alliance is convinced that Penghu’s beauty should be used  to develop

tourism instead of casinos, and building an aquatic center or a  tourist attraction

based on marine life is highly feasible. Therefore, residents must  not be

>deceived by politicians.

Hou Shiau-Shian shared that he was addicted to gambling from a  young age and

at one time even stole money from his grandmother and brother to  gamble. He

had also stolen bankbooks from home to withdraw money to support  his

addiction. It was because of his father’s rebukes and his  family’s support that he

was able to break free from addiction. As a former addict, he  urged listeners to

be careful, “Penghu residents, don’t be crazy.  Don’t set up a casino in your

>backyard.”

Kho reiterated PCT’s stand against building casinos and said  the referendum on

the 26th would be a showdown between good and evil. He urged  residents to

protect Penghu’s pristine environment by casting their vote  against legalization of

gambling and added that PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang would  write a

personal letter to Penghu pastors and PCT members shortly to  encourage them

to stand firm in their spiritual convictions and oppose gambling.

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