Differences in how risk problems are conceptualized and framed might foster subsequent dissension and conflicts between the experts and the public, and within the lay population (Heimer, 1988; Vaughan and Seifert, 1992; Bradbury, 1989). Vaughan and Seifert (1992: 123) argue that prior beliefs and values system could manifest their influence through the framing or conceptualizing questions o f health and environmental risk problems. This section examines framing differences between the Yami and Taiwanese groups that affect their views on the issues o f where should nuclear waste go. The disputes over the nuclear waste repository have been framed as an ethical issue, a scientific problem, and a consideration o f whether the decision could get public acceptability and bring economic benefits. The Yami and Taiwanese groups suggest a variety o f places as the best option for nuclear waste storage, and each suggestion has its own reasoning.
1. Nuclear waste risk as an ethical issue
Nuclear waste disputes have been framed as an ethical issue in the majority o f the Yami focus groups. Participants are asked about their views on where to locate nuclear waste and the reasons why they think it would be a solution. It seems to be the general agreement for the Yami groups that nuclear waste should be stored on an island without inhabitants because o f the perceived health and environmental risks. It has been framed as a human rights issue in one Yami focus group that dumping nuclear waste on the unpeopled island could avoid doing serious harm to people (see Chapter 6). However, the Yami express their discontent with Taipower’s choosing Little Orchid Isle (an unpeopled isle) as one o f the possible options for the permanent nuclear waste storage site (see Chapter 1). It is considered that the isle is too tiny to store nuclear waste and is too near the residents o f Orchid Island for some o f the Taiwanese participants, while the Yami groups tend to regard it as an issue o f respect (see Chapter 5). As one Yami housewife puts it: ‘They [Taipower and government] should respect us, every lives on Orchid Island. As to the site, the new government [the DPP government] will know where to store.’ One Yami teenage student uses a proverb: ‘Do not do to others what you don’t want to be done to you [dumping nuclear waste on one’s homeland].’
Some Yami groups frame the siting problem o f nuclear waste facilities as a question about who should take responsibility for the nuclear burden. Many o f the Yami emphasize that it should be Taipower and the Government, who produce nuclear waste and dump it on Orchid Island, that should take responsibility and bear costs. As one Yami fisherman states: ‘Taipower produces the pollution and they need to bear.’ One Yami teenage student puts it: ‘No matter where nuclear waste should go, it should be the government officials instead o f the Yami who take responsibility for
it.’ Instead, the Taiwanese groups stress shared responsibility for nuclear waste management (see Chapter 6). As discussed in the previous section, the Yami groups regard dumping nuclear waste on Orchid Island as analogous to the conduct o f throwing litter on a neighbour’s property and asking the neighbours to deal with it rather than putting it in the bins by oneself. The Yami fisherman and housewife group, and the professional group stress that each household should handle their own garbage, and argue for the need to remove nuclear waste from Orchid Island to the producers:
Ml If the places without residents could not be found, we also hope to remove to nuclear power plant No.l, No.2 and No. 3 because this stuff [nuclear waste] comes from there. (The Yami fishermen and housewives, group 1)
M1 Nuclear waste should be put in the place where it was produced. This [nuclear waste] is not what we produce. It should not be our problem.
(The Yami professionals, group 3)
FI Taipower said that they could not find a site, which is just an excuse. The areas around nuclear power plant No.l, No.2 and No.3 can be expanded for storage. Ml It should be sent back Taiwan [island]. No matter what... it should be shipped back
Taiwan [island].
(The Yami professional, group 4)
Similarly, a few Taiwanese participants also use the responsibility language that those who get involve in nuclear waste producing need to be responsible for the burdens. One Taiwanese participant suggests shipping it back to the USA, since the reactor and generators o f nuclear power plants are supplied by American companies (General Electric and Westinghouse), and it involves technology transfer between the two countries.
Since the Yami tend to regard nuclear waste as the problem o f Taipower and the Government, some o f them argue for the need to remove it from Orchid Island and
suggest a variety o f places for nuclear waste storage, such as Wuchiu proposed by Taipower (see chapter 1) and other remote islands and areas. The extract below from one Yami teenage student groups reflect that they stress the uniqueness o f Orchid Island and are more or less playing with their opinions:
Ml Did they [Taipower] say they would remove the nuclear waste to a small isle? M2 Wuchiu. Haven’t Taipower given every household three millions [NT dollars] to get
them to accept it?
Ml Dump nuclear waste on Hualian [County].39 M2 Why don’t they construct a repository on Penghu?40 M3 Yes. There are so many isles of Penghun.
M4 Do those isles have a unique culture?
M2 How could it compare to ours? Our island has so many conservation animals, and Orchid Island’s abundant culture. Also Orchid Island’s sub-underground houses have become world heritage.
M3 Are there many residents on Green Island?41 Why not construct the repository on Green Island?
M5 Change the site to other places once every ten years. FI To outer space.
(The Yami teenage students, group 5)
2. Scientific frame
The issue o f where to locate nuclear waste has been framed as a scientific or technical problem. Some Taiwanese participants perceive the disputes in terms o f scientific rationality and rely on experts in making decision. As one Taiwanese professional puts it: ‘No matter where the nuclear waste repository is on Orchid Island or other places in Taiwan, it has been done cautiously. It is impossible that government would disregard the safety rules.’ One Yami professional indicates: ‘We
39 Hualian County locates in the east part o f Taiwan.
40 Penghun is the biggest island o f Taiwan, situated in the Taiwan Strait.
may not have clear ideas o f where the site should be, since this is a more professional question.’
Those Taiwanese participants who regard the nuclear waste repository as safe tend to indicate that removal is unnecessary. This extract shows their criticism o f those Yami who are seen to exaggerate the threat o f nuclear waste:
FI It truly has not caused a very serious pollution event. Because certain people use some strategies to let people relate nuclear waste to the atomic bomb. Villagers should be told the right information, but they do not believe it.
(The Taiwanese professionals, group 8)
Ml It also has a nice side, however, those who take the lead [in the campaign] are determined to get it [nuclear waste] out, in fact, some residents are not like them [the campaigners]. Well, deformed children have never been found here.
(The Taiwanese professionals, group 9)
A few Taiwanese professional participants claim that the remote areas o f Russia and the desert far away from populations in Mainland China (e.g. the place for testing missiles) would be suitable sites for nuclear waste storage. They stress that Taipower and experts’ surveillance could prevent pollution and regard the overseas repository proposal as a solution for the domestic dilemma o f nuclear waste management.
3. The consideration o f public acceptability and economic benefits
The issue o f siting the nuclear waste facilities has been framed as a consideration o f whether it could get public acceptability and benefit the local economy. The Taiwanese groups emphasize that compensation offered by Taipower has great help to local economy and welfare, and express their concerns about public acceptability and the difficulty in the removal o f the nuclear waste repository. The extract below from
the Yami and Taiwanese professional groups reflects the crucial role o f compensation for the island:
Ml It is not just about removal... if the repository was not here, no compensation, and young people would fear to return to the traditional life.
(The Yami professionals, group 4)
Ml I think it is not necessary to remove it. The Yami really need compensation because of