TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) canvassed on Wednesday, accompanied by local representatives from the agriculture, fishery, and tourism sectors, urging the public to oppose a referendum on the restart of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant.
Chou said the people of Pingtung cannot live in fear of a nuclear disaster. She called upon all residents to oppose the referendum set for Saturday, per CNA.
"If an accident occurs at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, who will dare eat Pingtung's agricultural and fishery products? Who will want to visit Pingtung?" Chou said agriculture and fishery are the roots of Pingtung's economy, while tourism is the foundation.
Furthermore, Chou said the area has borne the risk of nuclear power for 40 years, and the referendum was made without any safety assessments. She described the referendum as a reckless political maneuver, and as a county magistrate, she must speak for the public, encouraging everyone to vote no.
Hung Ming-tsung (洪銘聰), secretary-general of the Gaoshu Township Farmers' Association, said farmers are dependent on the weather, and the risk of a nuclear incident makes matters worse. He said the Fukushima nuclear disaster not only destroyed farmers' livelihoods but also impacted national food security.
"If Taiwan were to experience a nuclear disaster, it would not just be Pingtung, but all of Taiwan that would be devastated. People would not be able to safely eat their food, let alone export it," said Hung.
Chen Yen-chih (陳彥志), head of Sweet Shrimps, said fishermen rely on the ocean and aquaculture for their livelihoods. If a nuclear disaster occurs, both the ocean and fish ponds will be contaminated, leaving all fish and other aquaculture unable to be sold.
Chen said that restarting the nuclear power plant would put the livelihoods of fishermen, who have lived here for generations, at risk. "We all want healthy food and dining, not the high-risk gamble of the nuclear power plant," said Chen.
Su Yi-ming (蘇一明), founder of Chocolate Faith Worship Center, said the nuclear power plant near Nanwan has affected Kenting's beauty and safety for 40 years.
"If an accident happens at the nuclear power plant, who would dare to bring their children to the beach?" Su said that if tourism is tarnished by a nuclear accident, then the long-term efforts made to promote Pingtung tourism will be wasted.
