wfn.org | Taiwan Student Christian Movement (TSCM) Conference Looks at Nuclear

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Power
Taiwan Church News 2735, 26 July - 1 August 2004
Reported by Yang Shu-hao.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Last week the Higher Education Ministries Committee of the Presbyterian
Church
in Taiwan (PCT) held a summer conference for the Taiwan Student Christian
Movement (TSCM) focused on nuclear energy, nuclear waste, alternative power
generation projects and electricity. The Rev. Yasala Hola, Programme
Secretary
for Higher Education Ministries, said, "No nation in the world has come to
terms with management of nuclear waste. Taiwan's government must look to
environmental protection as this nation researches nuclear power. Only then
can a clean land be left to coming generations."

The main speaker at the event was the Canadian Urban-Rural Mission trainer
Dr.
Ed File. He said that Taiwan's nuclear waste problems can be divided into 3:
a) The Nuclear Waste Dump at Tawu in Taitung County; b) Taiwan's generalized
neglect of the ecological and environmental effects of nuclear waste; and c)
Taiwan's lack of real understanding of nuclear issues.

Using this model he led participants to understand, organize and face nuclear
related questions. First they looked at the problems from several different
sides, including those of government agencies and of residents near to
nuclear
related sites. He then asked the participants to reflect on the problems
based
on the values of Christian faith and reflection before deciding on any
actions
or movements that might be organized.

A movement has sprung up from Paiwan Aboriginals who live on Taiwan's east
coast. The Rev. Sakinu, pastor of Lalurn Presbyterian Church in Taitung
County's Taimali Township said, "Promotion of a non-nuclear Taiwan is
hindered
because local people have a cold attitude towards the prospect. They neither
understand nor recognize the gravity of the problem. The Taiwan Power
Company's propaganda has led residents to believe that all can be managed
properly by corporate interests."  Subsidy payments from the company have
also
bent the popular will. For these reasons he advocates all sorts of
anti-nuclear activities, including co-opting the organizing power of churches
and other grassroots agencies on Taiwan's east coast.

Sakinu says, "If all sorts of agencies join forces, then we can face down the
companies and organizations that we oppose. Beyond that, the churches must
also promote simple lifestyles, spiritual reform so that each one can make an
individual contribution to sustainable development and ecological
cleanliness."

For More Information:  Yasala Hola yasala@mail.pct.org.tw
		    Sakinu lalaurn.church@msa.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw