TAIWAN: Environmental groups protest against air pollution in Kaohsiung

Environmentalists and civic groups in Taiwan's southern port city of Kaohsiung on Sunday (11 November 2018) protested for cleaner air in the wake of air pollution caused by factory emissions. "The 2018 Anti-Air pollution Rally" was organized by a coalition of environmental and health groups, including Southern Taiwan Anti-Air Pollution Alliance and Air Clean Taiwan's Kaohsiung branch.

Huang Yi-ying, a deputy general coordinator of Southern Taiwan Anti-Air Pollution Alliance, said he estimated over 100,000 people attended the rally. Many protesters participated in the demonstration with their family members including children. They chanted slogans saying that they want clean air.

Taking issue with Taiwan's newly amended Air Pollution Control Act, the protesters called for the revocation of a clause on a carbon emission offset system that allows companies to register a reduction in emissions at one facility while offsetting their quota elsewhere.

Another issue raised by the protesters was the state-owned CPC Corp., Taiwan's plan to build a petrochemical plant in Kaohsiung through a joint venture with Japanese petrochemical company KH Neochem Co. Ltd.

Source: “Focus Taiwan News Channel”, Taipei; 11 Nov 2018
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)