Aiming to replace joss paper with food offering, promote centralized burning of joss paper, and reduce the use of firecrackers, the project achieved a great improvement in air pollution by performing an active inspection on the data related to temple fairs and air pollutant emissions. Through the questionnaire survey, we analyzed and investigated into the religious rituals of local residents in Chiayi City, assessed the effectiveness of the advocacy strategy in Chiayi City, and provide the Environmental Protection Administration with a standard reference for stipulating joss paper reduction policies in the future.
Joss paper reduction measures of this project were divided into food offering in place of joss paper and centralized joss paper burning. Measures of food offering in place of joss paper were organized in two separated stages. First of all, a total 1,000-pack of eco-friendly joss papers have been distributed to Jiu Hua Shan Di Cang An of Chiayi City which ranked top in terms of the independent air pollution control last year. Secondly, a total 1,000-pack of joss papers have been designed and manufactured, which were recommended to be distributed to the top 10 temples of the independent air pollution control who have not yet received the food offering in place of joss papers this year. Additionally, a total 50 sets of joss paper collection and recycling boxes have been designed and manufactured. During the explanatory sessions in temples that implemented centralized joss paper burning, surveys were carried out to assess the willingness of the temples, communities, and village offices to accept the boxes.
In order to understand the views of local residents in Chiayi City for their religious rituals and eco-worshiping, "2018 household religious ritual survey" was specifically organized to access the public opinions as a standard guideline for the government to stipulate policies and conduct management in the future. The survey results revealed that most local residents choose Tomb-Sweeping Day, Chinese New Year, and Ghost Festival to worship and practice their religious rituals in hope of peace, blessing, fortune, and good grade. In terms of willingness to adopt eco-friendly and healthy approaches, the respondents have the highest willingness in "using joss papers and incense sticks of higher quality". In terms of the eco-friendly worshiping, "centralized joss paper burning" accounted for the largest proportion (38.7%), followed by "food offering in place of joss paper" (14.0%) and " donations to public service in place of joss paper " (9.2%). In terms of the level of approval, "food offering in place of joss paper" accounted for the largest proportion (56.9%) followed by "centralized joss paper burning" (55.1%) and " donations to public service in place of joss paper " (42.1%). In terms of the reasons for disapproval, "inconsistent with the original religious rituals", "disrespect for the gods", "inconvenient" accounts for the largest proportion.
By performing a survey with the large-scale temple fair questionnaires during the meeting sessions, the result revealed that temple fair with less than 1,000 participants that lasts for 1 day account for the largest proportion, among which the event activities mostly concentrated on the second and third month of the lunar calendar. In addition, most temples have carried out or have the willingness to cooperate with the alternative eco-friendly solutions such as donations to public service in place of joss paper, food offering in place of joss paper, etc. As the eco-friendly worshiping gradually gain prominence, the project shall be carried out continuously so as to change the general public’s religious rituals and reduce the air pollution arising therefrom.
In particular, the car of firecracker simulator are promoted in a total of 5 temple fairs on October 21, October 21, November 17, November 18, and November 25. During the temple fairs, the traditional firecrackers are partially or entirely replaced by the car of firecracker simulator. Afterward, satisfaction surveys were also carried out access the temples’ satisfaction level and willingness to purchase the the car of firecracker simulator.
Starting out from the date of September 25, 2018, tours of inspection have been carried out to record the religious ritual, follower quantity, days of worshiping, joss paper burner quantity, and incense stick burner quantity so that a statistical analysis can be performed on the increase in air pollution arising from the temple activities in Chiayi City. By December 2, surveys on the basic information of 150 registered temples (petition included) and 52 unregistered temples were carried out. On October 21 and November 3, Civil Affairs Bureau, fire department, and police station were notified to conduct 2 duty tours together. In addition to promoting relevant air pollution reduction measures or alternative eco-friendly solutions to the temples in advance, relevant controls were carried out before, in, and after the temple fairs in accordance with the "Guidelines Governing Air Pollution Prevention and Control for Large-Scale Festival and Temple Fairs" to prevent air pollution arising therefrom.
