今年年底，長庚紀念醫院即將在臺灣的雲林縣麥寮鄉開設一家專精於癌症治療與其它相關醫療領域的分院。目前，雲林縣民罹患癌症的比率是臺灣其他縣市居民的1.7倍。
然而，此地也是台塑集團所擁有的六輕工廠所在地，而長庚紀念醫院亦為台塑集團所有。「根據研究報告，自從輕油裂解廠於1999年開始在麥寮以及鄰近的台西、東石、崙背和四湖等其它四個鄉排放揮發性有機化合物以來，這些地區居民罹患癌症的數量已經顯著增加。台西鄉的肝癌罹患率在過去九年來已經增加了30個百分比。」[1]
在資本主義的社會體制下，醫療產業通常會蓬勃發展，並且透過重工業的發展及其所帶來的壞處，例如污染，來賺取利潤。然而，一個企業集團能夠同時透過這兩個方向來賺錢則是非常罕見的。隨著歷任政府與國會的無能，資本家們能令人驚訝地同時利用當地居民的辛苦勞動與健康照護來賺取最大的利潤。
此外，「台塑集團的六輕廠每年排放六千七百五十萬噸的二氧化碳，需要三百三十四萬公頃的森林才能抵銷其影響。欲抵銷台塑集團規劃中的煉鋼廠的碳排放量，則需要七十四萬公頃的森林。這兩者的面積加起來已經超過了三百六十萬公頃的臺灣總面積。」[2]
事實上，臺灣的溫室氣體排放不需要遵守任何的國際管制，因為臺灣從未簽署任何這方面的條約，包括京都議定書。為什麼呢？因為臺灣從未被主要國家承認為一個國家，也因此從未被接受以主權國家身分來參與任何相關國際會議，而宣稱擁有臺灣的中國政府則從未對臺灣有過任何形式的實際管轄權。
With a speciality in cancer-curing and other related medical fields, a new branch of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is opening at the end of this year in Taiwan. This branch is located in Mailiao Township of Yunlin County. In this county, residents’ cancer infliction rate is now 1.7 times higher than the average of residents in other cities and counties around Taiwan.
Nevertheless, this area is also the location of The Sixth Naphtha Cracking Plant owned by Formosa Plastics Group (FPG), which is the owner of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital as well. “According to the investigation report, cancer incidents have grown noticeably among residents in Mailiao township and four other adjacent townships of Taisi, Dongshih, Lunbei and Sihhu since the cracking plant began to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 1999. Infliction rates of liver cancer have grown 30 percent in Taisi township over the past nine years.” [1]
Under the social system of capitalism, the medical industry can usually prosper and benefit from the development of heavy industry and the defects it leaves behind, such as pollution. However, it is very rare to see a corporation group making money through these two directions at the same time. With impotence of successive governments and congresses, capitalists can amazingly make the most money out of both local people’s hard labour and health care.
Moreover, “Formosa Plastics Group’s (FPG) Sixth Naphtha Cracker Plant emits 67.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which would require a 3,340,000 hectare forest to offset its effects. Offsetting carbon emissions from FPG’s planned steel refinery would require 740,000 hectares of forest. These two together would exceed Taiwan’s total area of 3.6 million hectares.” [2]
In fact, the green house gas emissions in Taiwan don’t need to abide by any international regulations because Taiwan has never signed any protocols in this regard, including the Kyoto Protocol. Why? Because Taiwan has never been recognised as a country by major countries and hence has never been accepted in joining any related international meetings as a sovereign state while the government of mainland China, which claims the dominion over Taiwan, has never had any de facto authority over Taiwan in any way, shape or form.
參照 Reference
[1] The China Post, “Yunlin wants FPG naphtha cracker closed on cancer fears.” June 9th, 2009. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/health/cancer/2009/06/09/211401/Yunlin-wants.htm
[2] Lee, Ken-cheng. “There is not enough land to off-set emissions.” Taipei Times. April 11th, 2008. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/04/11/2003408944
＊片頭：現代麥寮海邊 The Video Above: The Modern Seashore of Mailiao http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8xt43Zjajc
