2007年11月29日 星期四

Activists to hold 'Anti-Global Warming' march

Thursday, November 29, 2007
CNA



TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Large-scale demonstrations and parades aimed at raising public attention of the pollution crisis threatening the survival of the next generation will be held Dec.8 simultaneously in eight cities and counties around the country, organizers said yesterday.



The "Anti-Global Warming" demonstrations are being organized by individual members of the intelligentsia and more than 150 environmental protection groups including the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU), the Society of Wilderness, Homemaker's Union and Foundation, and Taiwan Academy of Ecology, TEPU Secretary-General Ho Tsung-hsun said.



Ho noted that the event is organized out of concern with Taiwan's lack of progress in cutting domestic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), as proven by failed efforts to push for the first-reading of a draft law on greenhouse gas reduction at the legislature.



The event is also aimed at discouraging the private Formosa Plastics Group, a leading plastic manufacturer and petrochemical maker in Taiwan, from carrying out its ambitious plan to construct a new big steel refinery on the island.



If the project is given the green light by the government, it will lead to an increase of Taiwan's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 15 million tons per year, Ho said, adding that such an amount would "help" drive Taiwan up the global ranking of per capita CO2 emissions from its current position at 22nd.



Citing the U.N.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change resolution, Ho said countries around the world are being reminded that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly by the year of 2015 because a global temperature rise of two degrees Celsius could cause disasters threatening the survive of all creature on the planet.



In Taiwan, however, Ho said he feels frustrated after seeing that Taiwan has so far still failed to put forth the legislation regulating carbon reduction.



In this regard, Ho went on, he and another 1,000 intellectuals advocating environmental protection have endorsed a petition asking influential politicians of ruling and opposition parties to bring up concrete policies against global warming.



Starting from Dec. 1, "anti-global warming" protest rallies will be held one after another in the eight cities and counties, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Yulin, Changhua, Taichung and Hualien before the large scale march on Dec. 8.

1 則留言:

匿名 提到...

I don't think either the pan-blue presidential canidate or the pan-green one has expressed any opinion on the new Formosa Plastics plant.