2012-11-20 Yunlin County government will hold a seminar entitled “Environmental Justice in Taiwan” on November 10, 2012 at the Civil Service Development Institute, Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan. The seminar is aimed at exploring how law, environmental science and public health can come together to solve public nuisance disputes and facilitate revisions to existing laws or regulations or the promulgation of new laws. The seminar is also aimed at urging government agencies and private organizations to pay attention to issues of environmental justice in Taiwan.
Legislator Liu Jian-guo and Attorney Li Jin-yong will be invited to be the moderators for the seminar. Mr. Wang Qian-wei (professor in the Department of Law at National Chengchi University) will give a keynote speech on the topic of “reverse burden of proof,” and Ms. Fu Ling-jing (associate professor in the School of Law at Chung Yuan Christian University) will give a keynote speech on the topic of “citizen suit.” In addition, Mr. Chen Ci-yang (professor in the Department of Law at National Taipei University), Mr. Huang Li (visiting professor in the Department of Law at National Chengchi University), Mr. Zhan Chang-quan (professor in the Department of Public Health at National Taiwan University), and Attorney Lin San-jia will be the panelists attending the seminar.

Taiwan’s rapid economic and industrial development over the last few decades has been accompanied by the adverse impacts of pollution and environmental degradation. Property loss or damage caused by factory pollution has been felt across many sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, livestock farming, or even the general public. However, citizens are often the minorities disproportionately hurt during the process of public nuisance mediation with large enterprises as they bear the burden of proof.

With panelists in the fields of law, environmental science and public health, the seminar will serve as a platform to inspire the public to participate in a new environmental protection movement and take action to promote environmental justice. This is our goal and we will persist in our work for environmental justice. Your attendance and participation will be greatly appreciated.