Analyzing Anti-nuclear Public Opinion in Taiwan after Japan 311 Earthquake
Main Article Content
Abstract
Japan 311 earthquake/tsunami and the following nuclear disaster in Fukushima create a strong anti-nuclear public opinion in Taiwan. Thus, the government was forced to seal Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant at Dragon Gate, wavering its final decision. Nonetheless, the immediate damage caused by the nuclear disaster is far less than earthquake/tsunami. Why should people be scared by the nuclear disaster rather than the huge destructiveness of earthquake/tsunami? Indeed, the real danger after a nuclear disaster is the long-term health risks caused by radiation, but the health risks of unhealthy diet and lifestyle are actually far greater than those from radiation. Since people can accept unhealthy diet and lifestyle, why can't they accept nuclear power plant? Moreover, the climax of anti-nuclear public opinion in Taiwan was not reached at the immediate aftermath of 2011 3/11 earthquake/tsunami but three years later in 2014. Why was it? This article addresses all these puzzles and argues that, anti-nuclear public opinion in Taiwan is the product of lack of knowledge and political manipulation. With more information and without political ideology, the anti-nuclear public opinion in Taiwan will be changed. This argument is later confirmed by the internet questionnaire survey of article.
Article Details
How to Cite
Shih-yueh, Y., & Pei-jung, S. (2016). Analyzing Anti-nuclear Public Opinion in Taiwan after Japan 311 Earthquake. Warsaw Forum of Economic Sociology, 7(14), 87–113. Retrieved from https://econjournals.sgh.waw.pl/wfes/article/view/534
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References
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Kup, Zi-yong, He, Qi-ying (2012), A comparison studies of three nuclear disaster-Three Miles Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, Prospective Technology and Management 2(1).
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Liang, Shih-wu (2014), Support of nuclear power; nuclear safety:risk perception; risk society; Fukushima nuclear disaster, Public Administration & Policy 58.
Liang, Shih-wu, Lee, Kwan-yang, (2014), Risk perceptions and attitudes of Taiwan citizens regarding nuclear power generation based on NIMBY and cognitive dissonance theory, Taiwan Journal of Public Health 33(4).
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Slovic, Paul, Peters, Ellen (2006), Risk Perception and Affect, Current Directions in Psychological Science 15(6).
Su, Xiao-chen, Wu, Chung-li, Liao, Yen-chieh, Tsao Chen (2014), The Rationale for Supporting Nuclear Power: Analysis of Results of Taiwanese Public Opinion Survey, presented for Conference on Contemporary Governance: Nuclear Power and Security, Chiayi: Department of Internal and Mainland China Affairs, Nanhun University.
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