Issue and Opponent: Activists wanted the government to scrap a plan to operate a newly constructed nuclear power plant – the fourth in densely populated Taiwan. The protests in Taiwan sparked amid a deepening nuclear crisis in Japan after a huge quake on March 11 unleashed a tsunami that crippled an atomic plant 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Tokyo.”In the face of Japan’s nuclear crisis… Taiwan should stick to the goal of building itself in a non-nuclear homeland so that our offspring will be free from any fears of nuclear disasters,” stated. Lee Chuo-han, the secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union.
Dilemma Action: This was a larger campaign with several creative actions. In 2014, student activist members of the Sunflower Student Movement occupied the Legislative and Executive Yuan [building]. On April 15, 2014, former DPP (one of two main political parties) chairman Lin Yi-Hsiung announced an indefinite hunger strike in protest of NPP-4, which commenced on April 22, 2014. It ended on April 30, 2014, after the Ma administration announced it would stop construction on NPP-4. The dilemma action highlighted here took place on April 24, 2014, when thousands “linked hands and flashed their cell phones in a 2.4-kilometer human chain from Gikong Presbyterian Church to the Presidential Office Building to show their solidarity with Lin. The route was decorated with yellow ribbons, symbolizing opposition to nuclear energy”. With “smile at the sun, keep away from nuclear disasters” as the theme of the parade, the yellow flowers symbolized sustainability. Some also held handmade paper windmills, symbolizing green energy and a bright future without the fear of a potential nuclear crisis.
Outcomes: There was considerable media coverage of the actions, especially the hand-holding rally. Later as Lin’s hunger strike continued, the president, premier, other senior government officials, and KMT mayors and magistrates met for two hours, after which the Ma administration announced that it would stop construction on NPP-4. Even though Lin, who ended his hunger strike on April 30, 2014, and other anti-nuclear advocates said they were not satisfied with the government’s response and highlighted how the proposed shutdown left the room to resume the project, they acknowledged that they had achieved their preliminary goal of a halt on construction. Eventually, the government stated that it was no longer “possible” to build the plant.