Taiwan Docs

On September 21 1994 the movement initiated by Lin Yi-hsiung calling for a public referendum on the building of the fourth nuclear power plant started out from Lungshan Temple in Taipei, and after circumambulating the whole of Taiwan, returned there on October 25. This was a silent protest, and while walking they maintained an atmosphere of stern solemnity. There was no smoking and talking, while they would rest once an hour. There was also an 85-year-old man who walked one section with everyone. On this 35-day trip, as one's feet swelled up and developed blisters, if one denied being tired, one was lying, but when they stopped walking, their feet kept lightly stomping the ground. For the day's most important mission was to make fast tracks in the quest to take the call for a referendum on Nuke Four out of Taipei County, as their idea of having Taiwanese become masters over their own home spread ever more far and wide. On their backs were the Nuke Four Referendum uniforms. Swap short-sleeved shirts for long-sleeved, while a cup of hot tea after walking another segment was the greatest enjoyment. Quietly they walked, without speaker phones, without speeches, and without the blasting decibels of the sound trucks. Instead of volume there was reason, and they thought that just perhaps in this way they could create an even bigger sound. Rather than asking people to support their opposition to Nuke Four, they were seeking control by all the people, allowing all the people a chance to put democracy into action. 1005 kilometers they walked, along roads piled with garbage and lined with pubs, handing out 200,000 fliers. And were the people who took the fliers able to hear the voices of this land? In the words of Lin Yi-hsiung, this long hard walk was a most beautiful gift to give this most beautiful Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan International Documentary Festival