The Nuclear Waste Dump
It was in 1980 the government of Taiwan build a fish cannery with its own port facilities in the point of Orchid Island. This was supposed to be a project that would be beneficial for the local people as it would provide employment. But soon after its installment, in 1982, Taipower, began shipping nuclear waste barrels from the three nuclear plants in Taiwan. Three story down, it has the capacity to hold upto 100,000 barrels.
This so called safe storage facility has deformed fish and other biological. Some have also reported to see broken barrels being dumped in the hills! These careless activities have led to several cases of cancer with also resulted in deaths. The government has tired its best to bury the bodies before the autopsy could be done and the actual cause of the dame to be proved. As much as 50 newborn babies have been formed with deformities and this shows that the infection from the plan is contagious.
Several protests have been done in the past and youth organizations have bee formed. Tao youth organization was also one of the major anti-nuclear organization in the nation. Due to their efforts, in 1994, there was a ban imposed on the shipment of the nuclear barrels. However, there were already 97,000 barrels in the storage unit. The government has sanctioned $10 million to the Orchid Island community that was effected by the effect of this leftover waste but due to corrupt officials and most of the money does not reach its destined location. The indigenous people not only have to fight for their rights for environmental justice, but also the corrupt governing body that does not allow much reformation to take place. Even though there is some hope, for a major change to be seen in the nuclear safety, changes have to be made in the governing body itself.
It was in 1980 the government of Taiwan build a fish cannery with its own port facilities in the point of Orchid Island. This was supposed to be a project that would be beneficial for the local people as it would provide employment. But soon after its installment, in 1982, Taipower, began shipping nuclear waste barrels from the three nuclear plants in Taiwan. Three story down, it has the capacity to hold upto 100,000 barrels.
This so called safe storage facility has deformed fish and other biological. Some have also reported to see broken barrels being dumped in the hills! These careless activities have led to several cases of cancer with also resulted in deaths. The government has tired its best to bury the bodies before the autopsy could be done and the actual cause of the dame to be proved. As much as 50 newborn babies have been formed with deformities and this shows that the infection from the plan is contagious.
Several protests have been done in the past and youth organizations have bee formed. Tao youth organization was also one of the major anti-nuclear organization in the nation. Due to their efforts, in 1994, there was a ban imposed on the shipment of the nuclear barrels. However, there were already 97,000 barrels in the storage unit. The government has sanctioned $10 million to the Orchid Island community that was effected by the effect of this leftover waste but due to corrupt officials and most of the money does not reach its destined location. The indigenous people not only have to fight for their rights for environmental justice, but also the corrupt governing body that does not allow much reformation to take place. Even though there is some hope, for a major change to be seen in the nuclear safety, changes have to be made in the governing body itself.
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