Illegal garbage dump project stopped after a 10-year effort

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

3086 Edition

April 18-24, 2011

Headline News



Illegal garbage dump project stopped after a 10-year effort 



Reported by Sam Lee

Written by Lydia Ma



After 10 years of efforts by environmental advocates and local residents, the 
Tainan city government finally revoked Young Yang Environmental Industry 
Corporation’s license to operate a waste disposal facility near Wushantou 
Reservoir. 

Not only did the government base its decision upon a ruling from Tainan 
Superior court, it also concluded that Young Yang Corp. had falsified 
environmental reports to enable its license to be renewed. The controversial 
garbage dumping project located in the outskirts of Tainan was finally shut 
down by the city.

For Fuchiang Presbyterian Church member and environmental activist Chen 
Chiao-hua, this was an encouraging sign that justice still prevailed in 
society. It was also a vindication of sorts for Chen, who was recently beaten 
by two men with sticks as she was getting into her car after work one night.
Upon hearing this news, Chen’s pastor, Rev. Tsai Cheng-tao, said this arduous 
struggle and sweet victory was a timely encouragement for PCT churches to 
persevere in its environmental causes. He hoped it would inspire church members 
to continue raising awareness about the dangers and pitfalls of projects such 
as increasing the use of nuclear energy and building new refineries such as the 
planned Kuokuang Petrochemical Corp.’s plant in Changhua. 

Tsai told Taiwan Church News that he hoped this victory and future efforts 
would bring about a revival or resurrection of sorts for environmental causes. 
”As long as I give it my best shot, maybe God will intervene on humanity’s 
behalf upon seeing how hard some people are working to protect the 
environment,” she added.

On April 12, 2011, newly-elected Tainan Mayor William Lai convened the first 
Environmental Impact Assessment Assembly of his government where the city’s EPA 
Minister Chang Huang-chen announced that since the environmental report by 
Young Yang Corp. was falsified, the EPA must therefore respond by revoking the 
company’s good standing status awarded in May 2010. 

“If it weren’t for Chen Chiao-hua’s efforts, and the efforts of Tungshan 
village farmers in resisting this project throughout the past few years, we 
would never have seen this victorious day when this company’s license was 
finally revoked,” said Tainan city councilor and Tainan Zion Church member Lin 
Yi-chin.

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