Toxic beef has no justice; poor students are the first to protest at the Legislative Yuan
Photo / Xi Hao
Next week the food safety law amendment will enter closed-door cross-party negotiations. The Taiwan Youth Anti-American Beef Alliance, formed by a coalition of many civic groups, gathered in front of the Legislative Yuan at ten o'clock this morning to shout at the lawmakers who make the policy: "Poison beef has no justice! I want a healthy future!" They demanded that the government take seriously the health rights of students and economically disadvantaged consumers, and protested the government's approach of "trading health for the economy," which passes on the accumulated toxins of ractopamine to the next generation. The alliance believes that the content of the TIFA negotiations, which the government sees as a boon, and their impact on Taiwan's industries both remain to be clarified, and that hastily opening the door to poison beef in exchange for a vaguely promised resumption of talks is extremely unwise.
After the American beef issue went quiet for a week or two, we saw that the government's reports and statements on the matter were almost all focused on telling us that as long as we don't eat it and don't buy it, nothing will happen. The government also held briefing sessions with little substance, pretending it was genuinely willing to engage in dialogue with civil society.
But the import of American beef, besides harming Taiwan's industries and the health of the people, will also, through differences in purchasing power, cause greater harm to the health of young students; over the long term, those who suffer the most will be today's young people!
Most importantly, the government keeps citing economic revitalization as the reason to demand that the people of Taiwan welcome the opening to American beef, yet it does not explain clearly at all what exactly is to be revitalized once we trade American beef imports for continued TIFA negotiations and an increased chance of signing an FTA with the United States or joining the TPP. Which industries will actually benefit? What harm will be caused? Over the long term, once young people enter society, what impact will this have on the economy and on distribution?
We think this threat is terrifying, and a government that has not made public, or even conducted, any assessment in this regard must take responsibility for the future, fulfilling intergenerational justice to ensure that young people can live in a future free from fear. We demand dialogue and more citizen participation, to bring about a future that is fairer and better guarantees people's health and social justice.
Below is our post-event statement from today's action. We sincerely invite students everywhere to spare a little time during this stressful midterm exam week, whether to support our action or to come debate us; whether to come help or, in the midst of writing your exam papers with pen flying, to pause and think of us, let us think together about how we should really view the import of American beef.
Scene from this morning's press conference (photo source: Central News Agency)
Students demand protection of the right to eat out with peace of mind
Students mostly eat out, and are economically disadvantaged consumers, so they often choose food based on cheap prices. Chen Ting-yi, president of the student association at National Taiwan Normal University, also said: "NTNU is right next to Shida Night Market, and we students often eat food from the night market. According to the Department of Health's food origin labeling, processed meat products made in Taiwan are all labeled as Taiwan, so we have no way of knowing the actual origin of the raw meat. Moreover, once relatively cheap, lower-priced ractopamine American beef is allowed in, American beef or processed meat products that may contain ractopamine tend to enter the relatively cheap food market, and students and people who eat out consume them without knowing. This is absolutely not something that can be solved by the general public simply 'not eating it and not buying it.'"
In addition, Lin Fei-fan, academic director of the Graduate Student Association at National Taiwan University, added: "Once ractopamine-containing American beef is allowed in, under the WTO's 'most-favored-nation treatment' rules, imports of ractopamine-containing meat from other member states must also be allowed. So in the future it will not just be the United States; Australia, Canada and others will also import. At the same time, it will not only be beef that contains ractopamine; other meats may also use ractopamine, and by then Taiwan's meat safety mechanism will completely collapse!"
Youth demand the fulfillment of intergenerational justice
The student groups also said that the content of the TIFA negotiations is a serious issue for Taiwan's overall economic development and is closely tied to the future employment environment of young students! Before the assessment is clearly explained, it may turn out that by the time young people enter the workforce, economic development is still up in the air while toxins have already accumulated throughout their bodies. On this point, Hsieh Chuan-kai of National Taiwan University's Guyu Club said: "The government should not 'hold the whole nation's health hostage to the economy!' And free trade is no panacea for economic growth; expanding market openness will benefit some industries and harm others. The government should explain clearly and plainly, and carry out an impact assessment. Otherwise, it will not only harm national health but also further hurt local industries!"
Lu Mei-luan of the Taiwan Food Safety Alliance also echoed the students' position, saying: "Opening up ractopamine American beef will affect the health of people who eat out, and also the health of our next generation. Our youth, our children, are the future pillars of Taiwan's society. (If ractopamine American beef is opened up) I ask, where will Taiwan's future competitiveness be? Will they be healthy enough to do push-ups like President Ma?"
Throwing down the gauntlet to the government Students demand open campus debate
In summary, the students criticized the government, saying that soothing the public's unease and worry about food sources with nothing more than useless sixteen-character maxims shows that the government has simply given up on guarding the people's health! On top of that, even before these unclear negotiations, it has already given up the bargaining chip of zero tolerance for ractopamine. What is more, relevant officials have even publicly stated that "those who refuse ractopamine American beef are an obstacle to Taiwan's economic growth!" Therefore, we demand that the government immediately stop the incorrect propaganda that "don't eat it, don't buy it, nothing will happen," stop holding the people's health hostage to the American beef issue, and, with an approach and attitude of open information and transparent, fair procedures, quickly begin genuine dialogue and communication with the public and social groups.
In this connection, the Taiwan Youth Anti-American Beef Alliance is also holding a nationwide campus lecture tour (Appendix 1). Alliance member Chen Ting-hao, even more incensed, called out to the government: "Since the government wants to go to the countryside to preach its ractopamine policy, then we throw down the gauntlet to the Ma Ying-jeou government! We invite officials to come to the campuses to debate and talk with us young people, instead of just mobilizing local factions to hold fake solidarity rallies for party members!"
Finally, the students present also explained that they will carry out lobbying of the legislative caucuses, to clearly convey the following heartfelt wishes and demands raised by the students to the officials.
Our heartfelt wishes and demands:
1. Take seriously the differences in the purchasing power of students and disadvantaged consumers, and reject the unjust import of ractopamine American beef into Taiwan.
2. Protest the government's "trading health for the economy," which allows ractopamine American beef imports and causes harmful substances to accumulate in future generations.
3. The government should clearly explain the content of the TIFA negotiations it intends to pursue after opening up American beef, and the impact on Taiwan's various industries.
Related links:
Nationwide campus lecture tour FB event page
You can search online for the keyword: "Beacons ablaze everywhere! United in hatred of the enemy! Taiwan youth students against American beef~!"