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Greenaction Supports Taiwan Communities in Anti-Toxics Struggle! The following is a press release issued April 2 in Taiwan by the Taiwan Environmental Action Network. Greenaction stands in solidarity with their efforts to stop dangerous toxic dumping by Formosa Plastics and other polluters in their country. For more information, contact:
For more information on Taiwan Toxic Waste Dumping, please visit Taiwan Environmental Action Network's website: http://tc.formosa.org/tean |
International Toxic Scandal Continues Taiwan Discovers 169 Illegal Dumpsites of Hazardous Industrial Waste Taipei, Taiwan. 2 April 1999--Taiwanese environmental activists and local residents protested in front of Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency against the recent discovery of 169 illegal dumping of mercury-laced and other kinds of hazardous industrial waste on Taiwan, by Formosa Plastics Corp., and other domestic, and multinational chemical corporations. International environmental justice organizations, including Taiwan Environmental Action Network, Basel Action Network and Greenaction, have joined forces with local groups to denounce the illegal dumping of toxic wastes. Blue Tang Kang Rivers Association and Green Formosa Front initiated a massive campaign to pressure Formosa Plastics to expend the necessary funds to clean up its mess, both in Taiwan and Cambodia, and to pressure Taiwanese government to enforce long-neglected industrial waste-management policies. "The message is that Formosa Plastics must not dump in their neighbors' back yard, including local communities," said Jim Puckett of the Basel Action Network (BAN), an international toxic waste watch dog group. " Formosa Plastics, among others, must be forced to take responsibility." The breaking news of Formosa Plastic's illegal dumping and unethical transport of mercury waste to Cambodia triggered several investigations of waste management practices by Formosa Plastics and like corporations, on Taiwan. In late February, Taiwan EPA announced that there are approximately 160 illegal dumping sites on the island. Experts believe the number is a very conservative estimate. Taiwan produces nearly 1.5 million tons of industrial related waste annually; yet, only 30% of the waste are properly processed before dumping in landfills. The question is what actually happens to the rest of the 70% of the waste? Waste management services that corporations, such as Formosa Plastic hire have a history of improper waste disposal, often in the form of illegal dumping. Up until now, the Taiwanese government has taken little or no action. Finally, the government has appropriated NT$3.5 billion (US$170 million) to be used for the clean-up and disposal of waste at 50 sites. The majority of illegal dumping discovered is in areas of low living standard and often, areas without adequate water supply. Many of these sites are located in close proximity to water resources and farmlands, which greatly threaten local water and food supplies. S.T. Huang of Blue Tang Kang River Association expressed the concern of residents living among toxic waste, "In a way, they are begging just for a voice and listening ears, and, not to mention, relief of their suffering from health threats and freedom from fear. One of the dumpsites is just around the community center; there is no piped water supply and the government purposely chose their village to be a dump site." "We need actions, 'facts', 'objectives', 'milestones' and most of all, people's power," voiced a local Ping Tong resident. Bradley Angel of Greenaction responded, "We stand in solidarity; we hope to be able to help the people of Taiwan in their efforts. We will take action and stop this ongoing environmental injustice."
True peace is not merely the absence of war, but it is the presence of justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. |