Taiwan moving toward nuclear-free homeland: official

[bananas]

Source: Central News Agency

Taiwan's government responded to an anti-nuclear rally Saturday by defending the need for nuclear power and reiterating that establishing a nuclear-free homeland is the country's eventual goal.

As protesters called for the halt of the controversial fourth nuclear power plant project, Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said nuclear energy could not be immediately abandoned if Taiwan hopes to maintain a steady supply of electricity.

<snip>

Thousands of protesters marching in Taipei unfurled banners reading "Against nuclear power -- no more Fukushima," "I am a human being, and I am against nuclear power," and "I love Taiwan, no nuclear disasters."

Joined by people gathering at three spots -- the plaza in front of Wellcome Supermarket in Daan District, the intersection of Linsen North Rd. and Nanjing East Rd., and National Taiwan University's main entrance -- the three-hour march finished at 5 p.m. in front of the Presidential Office.

It was to be followed by a vigil scheduled to last until 9:30 p.m.

The campaign, which was also supported by rallies in Taichung, Kaohsiung, Taitung and other parts of the country, was aimed at pushing the government to make a commitment to a no-nuke homeland, said Tsui Su-hsin, secretary-general of Green Citizen Action's Alliance, one of the participating NGOs.

<snip>

Read more: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201403080025.aspx

[Cal33]

1. I believe the people of Taiwan are right. Their island lies on the Tropic of Cancer. They

will have no problem generating more than enough fuel-free energy from the sun and wind alone.
Why not concentrate on that? Does anyone know what's eating their government leaders?

[bemildred]

2. Solar and wind are not centrailzed.

They don't create monopolistic structures. No big money and big political pull in them. There is a big solar plant out in the Mojave, but they are saying it's the last. The future is solar on the roof, having your own windmill again, mini-hydro.

So there is no big money river you can dip your bucket in, no slush, no political power. Joe Sixpack runs off his solar panels and pays a little extra or makes a little bit, and that's it. So not much cash in it, once you have it. And it's always about cash. The power companies hate it too, for the same reason, they become less important, get much less cash.

For the man in the paddock, whose duty it is to sweep up manure, the supreme terror is the possibility of a world without horses.

-- Henry Miller in Tropic of Cancer"

[Cal33]

3. It might be a good opportunity for smaller companies to manufacture these gadgets. And this

applies to every nation around the world, especially the warmer ones.

[bemildred]

5. Yes. I believe that is happening. Elsewhere. Edit: and rooftop solar seems to be taking off here. nt

[madokie]

4. I was reading an article in the Tulsa World newspaper

yesterday morning that said Oklahoma is now getting 15 percent of our electric from Wind.
No nukes for me

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, all along the interstate, big wind farms. Why be dependent? nt

[Cal33]

7. If we had started 40 years ago, we'd have been totally independent of oil, gas and coal

by now, and our present global warming would never have taken place. But this is exactly
what these big corporations are fighting against -- and they have been winning the fight
so far. They welcome the worldwide pain and suffering, as long as there is profit in it for
them. To hell with the rest of the world as long as these miserable excuses for human
beings can get the money, and the power that goes with the money.

[love_katz]

8. ^^^This^^^

Word.