SAVE THE CHANGHUA COAST: We need 1000 people to help make a statement that we care about the environment

The Changhua County Environmental Protection Alliance need 1000 people to help make a statement that we care about the environment. On Sunday, October 25, 2009 people will be coming together to show that they want to Save the Changhua Coast. Please join us and show that we care about the Changhua Coast.


SAVE THE CHANGHUA COAST

Time: Oct. 25 (Sun) 9:30am-8pm
Place: Fangyuan Township, County Route 17, turn west at km marker 55 (芳苑鄉 省道17 號55 公里處轉向西)
Transportation: Free bus service to and from Changhua Train Station is available. A bus will leave the station at 8:30am sharp. The return bus leaves from the coast at 5pm.

ACTIVITY: We are inviting you to help SAVE THE CHANGHUA COAST. In an effort to raise awareness that we as a society must preserve this area, environmental groups are joining forces for a day of activities on Sunday, October 25. The main event is a group action and photo shoot, for which we need 1000 people from 10:30-11:30am. Some will hold white umbrellas and form the shape of a dolphin, while others will hold red umbrellas to spell out “S.O.S.” In addition, there will be a full day of musical performances, storytelling, ecological tours of the area, oxcart rides, films and other entertainments. Both lunch and dinner will be provided, including vegetarian meals.

BACKGROUND: The Changhua Coast has Taiwan’s largest area of mud flats, which present a valuable ecosystem home to plants and animals both on land and in the ocean. The waters off Changhua County are notably a valuable habitat for a critically endangered population of humpback dolphins, who tend to live in shallow waters within 8km of the shoreline. The dolphins and the rest of this coastal ecosystem are threatened by pollution from the China Petroleum Corp.’s (CPC) naphtha cracker plant and a development plan for a large industrial zone called the Central Taiwan Science Park.

Changhua County Tourism Bureau refused to support this event because it involved criticism of China Petroleum Corporation and the development plans for a sprawling industrial zone to be called the Central Taiwan Science Park. In this regard, we can only ask, is this a government concerned for the majority of Taiwan’s citizens, or only for a minority which controls large business interests?

Register to participate:
Online: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGlYdjFuTHR4VzNUU1dueU9fUUVLQUE6MA
Email: tepu.cd@msa.hinet.net or 7626609@gmail.com
Phone: Ms. Shi 0911-761-839 or Mr. Liao 0919-524-911

General Contact Information:
Changhua County Environmental Protection Alliance
Tel: 04-7626609
Address: 4F #5 Minzu Rd., Lane 15, Changhua City 500
Email: tepu.cd@msa.hinet.net or 7626609@gmail.com
Web Site: http://tepucd.moc.tw/


Update:

Photo showing the 1300 people at the event. Photo from the Chinese language Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Blog.





Also see:
Leave Taiwan's future a clean Chuoshui River

Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park; Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Update: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Extinction Guaranteed by Ma and Wu’s Cat in the Hat Economics?

Black Friday for Erlin - The EPA once again strikes a blow against the environment

The saga of the CTSP Erlin Science Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Project

Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction

The Taiwan Pink Dolphins make it into Time !

A Taiwan Pink Dolphin mother-and-calf pair: the original transect lines ran directly through critically endangered humpback dolphin habitat.


The Taiwan Pink Dolphins have made it into Time.com, the online version of Time Magazine. An article titled Is Ocean Seismic Testing Endangering the Dolphins? looks at the issue of ocean seismic testing and its impact on marine life. It is encouraging to see that the critically endangered Taiwan Pink Dolphins are making international news. However, some environmentalists here in Taiwan are disappointed at how the article seems to pitch the plight of the dolphins against the needs of humanity with regards to understanding earthquakes and sets it against the backdrop of the tragic September 1999 earthquake known as the 921 Quake in Taiwan and called the Chichi earthquake in the article. Chichi, more often spelt as Jiji in Taiwan, was the village closest to the epicenter of the 921 Quake. Jiji is situated in the landlocked county of Nantou in central Taiwan.

The tragedy of the 921 Quake is very real to environmentalists in Taiwan; the majority of whom experienced it first hand. Just like the recent tragedies associated with Typhoon Morakot, the likely cause of some fatal landslides largely points to poor environmental management policies. Environmentalists are not against seismic surveys. We want them done responsibly and environmental factors need to be considered and addressed. It should be remembered that those conducting this seismic survey planned to run their original transect lines ran directly through the habitat of an IUCN Red-listed critically endangered localised population of cetaceans. It was only when environmentalists started making a noise that the Taiwan Pink Dolphins were reconsidered. Knowingly going out and harassing critically endangered dolphins does raise questions about the ethics of surveyors with regards to their consideration of marine mammals*. Perhaps this article hasn't been entirely fair to environmentalists and has given those conducting the survey way too much credit for considering the plight of Taiwan's marine mammals.

*The LDEO listed the estimated number of cetaceans to be harassed during the survey as 71668, which included 68 Humpback Dolphins.


Also see:
Update and continuing concerns regarding Incidental Harassment Authorisation for L-DEO marine seismic survey in SE Asia


Correction made to the article concerning surveyors consideration of harassing Sousa dolphins (2009-10-11).

Petition letter: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

An appeal to send a letter of petition to the Taiwan authorities against the expansion of the CTSP Erlin Science Park in Changhua County, central-west Taiwan. This pollution generated from this development threaten local farmers and fishers and also the coastal environment which is home to the critically endangered Taiwan Humpback Dolphins. Our colleagues at the Taiwan Environmental Action Network (TEAN) have drafted a petition letter. Please copy and sign it and e-mail it to:
info.tean @ gmail.com
Cc: keephushanwild@gmail.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 6, 2009

TO:
Taiwan Legislature,
Environmental Protection Administration (EPA),
National Science Council,
Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP).
Re: Stop the 4th stage of expansion of Central Taiwan Science Park in Erlin


The Honorable members of the Taiwan Legislature,
Environmental Protection Administration (EPA),
National Science Council,
Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP),

The CTSP has set up three sites in the central Taiwan since September, 2002 and is now proposing the 4th stage of its expansion in Erlin, Changhua County, Taiwan. Up to date, the CTSP has acquired 1,890 acres of land in the other three sites and is proposing to acquire 1,569 acres (635 hectares) for the Erlin site, which includes 741 acres (300 hectares) to satisfy the need of AU Optronics, a mass production TFT-LCD manufacturer. The health and social impacts associated with the expansion far outweigh any possible benefit and will destroy the livelihood of the local farmers, oyster fishers and dairy farmers.

The Erlin Science Park project will:

- Demand 160,000 tons of clean water per day from Changhua area, where the underground aquifers in the vicinity are currently the main water supply for drinking and irrigation.

- Inevitably destroy the oyster farms along the coast because of the 160,000 tons of wastewater discharged from the science park everyday.

- Significantly and unavoidably increase local air and water pollution;

- Create real potential for contamination from 1,093 tons of volatile organic compounds per year and numerous kinds of hazardous chemicals;

- Inevitably pollute the habitat of fewer than 100 remaining Taiwan Humpback Dolphins or Taiwan White Dolphins ( Sousa chinensis ) Along the coastal waters of Changhua County and hasten the extinction of this unique population, which was designated critically endangered by the IUCN in August 2008.

- Seriously violate the rights of the local farmers by confiscating and / or contaminating their land;

- Seriously violate the right to safe drinking water for the local residents.

Over the years, the high-tech industry in Taiwan has thrived under the protective wings of the government. At the same time, IT corporations have failed to internalize the environmental costs of their production; they have again and again evaded the pollution costs they have imposed onto the local environment and communities. Furthermore, the high-tech industry has cloaked its deception through "compliance" with local environmental regulations, which are already outdated. There is currently no written law that adequately regulates high-tech pollution in Taiwan. As a result, the health risks on the local people and environment have been witnessed over and over again.

Before the CTSP precedes its ongoing expansion, we call on the Taiwan Legislature, National Science Council and EPA to address the following issues:

- To stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park project as it is proposed;

- To revise the Information Disclosure Act to address the issue of governmental and corporate transparency regarding pollution and toxins released into our environment;

- To modify the Regulation on the Management of Hazardous Substances with the spirit of REACH, particularly the emphasis on corporations' responsibility;

- To amend the standards on wastewater, air pollutants, and waste according to the characteristics of the high-tech industry.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(Your Organization, if applicable)
(Country)

________________________________________________________

Also see:
Leave Taiwan's future a clean Chuoshui River

Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park; Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Update: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Extinction Guaranteed by Ma and Wu’s Cat in the Hat Economics?

Black Friday for Erlin - The EPA once again strikes a blow against the environment

The saga of the CTSP Erlin Science Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Project

Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction

SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan

Amongst the pre-conference workshops for the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 18th Biennial Conference in Québec City, Canada from October 12-16, 2009, the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Group (ETSSTAWG) will be hosting a full day workshop on October 10 titled Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan and representitives of Matsu's Fish Conservation Union (MFCU) will attend.

The main objectives of the workshop are to critically evaluate what is known about small cetacean habitat and to better characterize the principal elements of Critical Habitat for the Eastern Taiwan Strait population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis). The workshop will also evaluate measures of habitat quality so as to establish guiding principles on issues related to biological and chemical pollution, noise and disturbance, fisheries practices, salinity, prey availability and physical alterations to the shoreline.

We at the Matsu's Fish Conservation Union (MFCU) have been lobbying the government and working towards getting remaining Taiwan Humpback Dolphin habitat designated as a protected 'Major Wildlife Habitat.' The MFCU proposal we submitted just over a year ago has been adopted in practice in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and at the two Sousa (Humpback Dolphin) expert meetings in June and July 2009. These meetings were the result of decisions made during the Changgong Power Plant EIA process. While we welcome these positive developments we are still extremely concerned that the government still hasn't designated the 'Major Wildlife Habitat.' We believe that the document that will come out of the workshop will provide an even stronger basis for the government to designate a 'Major Wildlife Habitat' for the IUCN Red-listed critically endangered (CR) Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

It should be noted that designating a 'Major Wildlife Habitat' doesn't mean that projects can't go ahead or that all human activity must stop, it means that the range is acknowledged and that stakeholders are, therefore, better able to talk about threats and mitigation strategies within that area, and that more EIA work is required (by law) relating to that area.

Also see:
Society for Marine Mammalogy 18th Biennial Conference Québec City, Canada.

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin researcher wins the Leatherwood Award

2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan: Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009

Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction

Society for Marine Mammalogy 18th Biennial Conference Québec City, Canada.

The Society for Marine Mammalogy's 18th Biennial Conference will take place in Québec City, Canada from October 12-16, 2009 and the Matsu's Fish Conservation Union (MFCU) will be there. Representatives from Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association and other MFCU partners will be representing the MFCU at the conference. Wild will also have an information booth at the conference to create awareness of the plight of the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins. Wild also attended the SMM's 17th Biennial Conference held in 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. We wish the MFCU team all the best for the conference.


Also see:
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin researcher wins the Leatherwood Award

2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop

Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park; Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Erlin residents protesting against the CTSP Erlin Science Park.


An appeal to sign a petition against the expansion of the CTSP Erlin Science Park in Changhua County. This pollution generated from this development threaten local farmers and fishers and also the coastal environment which is home to the critically endangered Taiwan Humpback Dolphins. Our colleagues at the Taiwan Environmental Action Network (TEAN) have drafted a petition letter. Please sign it and help us to stop this development.


Dear friends,

On October 5, 2009, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) will hold the final review of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the expansion of the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) project in Erlin. The local farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers will travel 3 hours north to Taipei to express their objection against the expansion so they can protect their farms and lands.

In addition, discharge from the Science Park will worsen the conditions for the critically endangered (CR on IUCN red list) population of Taiwan Humpback dolphins which reside year round in these inshore waters.

We need your support URGENTLY to help the farmers and environmental groups in Taiwan. Please click on the link and sign the petition letter.

Please forward the petition to your family members, friends and colleagues. The more international support we can generate, the more the pressure will be on the Taiwan government. Thank you!

In solidarity,

Echo J. Lin

General-Secretary
Taiwan Environmental Action Network


Stop Taiwan CTSP Erlin Science Park, Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Environment from High-tech Hazards

The Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) has set up three sites in the central Taiwan since September, 2002 and is now proposing the 4th stage of its expansion in Erlin, Changhua County, Taiwan. The CTSP has acquired 1,890 acres of land in the other three sites and is proposing to acquire 1,569 acres (635 hectares) for the Erlin site, which includes 741 acres (300 hectares) to satisfy the need of AU Optronics, a mass production TFT-LCD manufacturer. The health and social impacts associated with the expansion far outweigh any possible benefit and will destroy the livelihood of the local farmers, oyster fishermen and dairy farms.

The Erlin Science Park project will:

-- Demand 160,000 tons of clean water per day from Changhua area, where the underground aquifers in the vicinity are currently the main water supply for drinking and irrigation.

-- Inevitably destroy the oyster farms along the coast because of the 160,000 tons of wastewater discharged from the science park everyday.

-- Significantly and unavoidably increase local air and water pollution;

-- The coastal waters of Changhua County, where the Science Park is to be located, is home to the unique population of fewer than 100 Taiwan Humpback Dolphins (aka Taiwan White/Pink Dolphins). The population's decline is attributed to, inter alia, air and water pollution. This population was designated CR, or critically endangered, by the IUCN in August 2008, yet the developers and supporting government agencies have have been slow to ackhowledge the animals' existence, much less that these science park projects will likely hasten the populations' extinction.

-- Create real potential for contamination from 1,093 tons of volatile organic compounds per year and numerous kinds of hazardous chemicals

-- Seriously violate the rights of the local farmers by confiscating and/or contaminating their land;

-- Seriously violate the right to safe drinking water for the local residents;
Over the years, the high-tech industry in Taiwan has thrived under the protective wings of the government. At the same time, IT corporations have failed to internalize the environmental costs of their production; they have again and again evaded the pollution costs they have imposed onto the local environment and communities. Furthermore, the high-tech industry has cloaked its deception through “compliance” with local environmental regulations, which are already outdated. Existing regulations on the books has been outpaced by rapid technological changes. There is currently no written law that adequately regulates high-tech pollution in Taiwan. As a result, IT corporations have easily slipped under the radar in their questionable environmental practices.

Before the CTSP precedes its ongoing expansion, we call on Taiwan Legislature, National Science Council and EPA to address the following issues:

--to stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park project as it is proposed;

--to revise the Information Disclosure Act to address the issue of governmental and corporate transparency regarding pollution and toxics released into our environment;

--to modify the Regulation on the Management of Hazardous Substances with the spirit of REACH, particularly the emphasis on corporations’ responsibility;

--to amend the standards on wastewater, air pollutants, and waste according to the characteristics of the high-tech industry.


Also see:
Update: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.

Leave Taiwan's future a clean Chuoshui River

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Extinction Guaranteed by Ma and Wu’s Cat in the Hat Economics?

Black Friday for Erlin - The EPA once again strikes a blow against the environment

The saga of the CTSP Erlin Science Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Project

All three effluent discharge proposals for Central Taiwan Science Park development will lead to pollution of humpback dolphin habitat

More protests at the EPA against the CTSP Erlin Science Park

Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction

EPA responds to local fisherman's Erlin criticisms

Update: Taiwan Pink Dolphin Beaches and Dies on the Coast of Tonghsiao

A recent news report that aired locally in Taiwan claims the beaching and death of a Taiwan Pink Dolphin last week was caused by fishing trawlers.

Click to watch the news clip. The report is in Mandarin but the gist of the report is that the death was caused by fishers -- newly licensed trawlers, but who are operating illegally within the 3 nautical mile zone. The clip shows footage of the beached dolphin.


Also see: Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Beaches and Dies on the Coast of Tonghsiao

ETSSTAWG Chair sends a letter to COA Minister concerning the recent death of a Humpback Dolphin

Also see (2011):
Another Taiwan Pink Dolphin Death

Two Pink Dolphins found Dead in Hong Kong