Implement Democracy, Stop Nuke 4 Construction -- a statement on my fast

Dear friends and family,

I hope you are well.

For close to thirty years, there have been many disputes and protests surrounding the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant (Nuke 4) in Taiwan. In recent years, more and more people have realized that Taiwan does not lack electricity, and that the construction of Nuke 4 is an unnecessary waste. More importantly, the public realized that the question of whether to build Nuke 4 isn’t just a question of need; it is a choice between life and death.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan shocked the entire world in 2011. Even to this day, the repercussions of the accident continue to spread. Consequently, many developed nations have accelerated their efforts to phase out nuclear power. In Taiwan, also, a growing number of citizens who are concerned about their lives and their land have declared their aspiration to stop using nuclear power. To date, many polls indicate that the majority of Taiwanese people wish to stop the construction of Nuke 4 power plant.

Faced with growing public opposition to nuclear power, the administration refused to listen to public opinions and resolve the controversy. Instead, the administration ignored the safety concerns and damaging environmental effects associated with Nuke 4. It resorted to questionable means and continued to push for the construction and operation of Nuke 4. These actions not only deepened the divide between the government and its people, they also threw Taiwan’s democracy into crisis.

If the government has ways to overrule majority public opinion and use dubious methods to continue building Nuke 4 despite overwhelming support for stopping its construction, then our democratic system of government has ceased to function properly. This dysfunctional democratic government is hence unable to protect us against external aggression, nor is it able to unite its citizens in facing future domestic and international challenges together.

Dear friends, in order to resolve the Nuke 4 conflict, to protect and implement our hard-won democracy, and to push the administration towards respecting the majority will among us, masters of this country, I will begin a fast on April 22nd. I call upon the Taiwanese people to take proactive measures to urge the government to STOP NUKE 4.

I-hsiung Lin
April 15, 2014

1.This letter was drafted on March 16th. The original plan was to release this letter and start the fast on March 24th. However, it was postponed due to the student’s occupation of Legislative Yuan on March 18th.

2.The acts of forcing the construction of Nuke 4 and forcing the passage of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement are both strong-arm government tactics which disregard majority public opinion, national security, and the people’s livelihood. Everyone should use all possible means to resist such undemocratic transgressions. For this reason, I have decided to resume my plan and begin my fast on April 22nd.

Implement Democracy, Stop Nuke 4 Construction