Global Voices » Taiwan (ROC)

Taiwan: Could the Future Be Nuclear-Free?

I-fan Lin — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:26:41 +0000

Since the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in March 2011, 53 out of the 54 nuclear power plants in Japan have been shut down for security checks. On May 5, 2012, the proportion of Japan's energy supplied by nuclear power reached zero for the first time in 42 years, following the shut down of Tomari’s Unit 3 in Hokkaido. Although the Japanese government is currently seeking to restart some nuclear power plants, local representatives still have serious concerns regarding their safety.

In Taiwan, many people have also started talking about the possibility of moving towards a nuclear-free future. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union [zh] is optimistic about the nuclear-free movement in Japan, as quoted in Coolloud.org:

日本從去年311之後，國內核電廠陸續關閉，至今尚未發生缺電問題，如果可以熬過今年夏天不需核電，日本將真正進入無核國家。

After the earthquake of March 11, 2011, the nuclear power plants in Japan have been shut down one by one. So far they have not had any problems with electricity shortages. If they can survive this summer without nuclear energy, Japan could really become a nuclear-free nation.

Anti-nuclear energy protest in Taipei, March 11, 2012. Photo contributed to this post by James Yang under CC: BY-NC-SA

Su Huan-Chi, a candidate for chairperson with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), also stated [zh] in Plurk, a popular social media website in Taiwan, that:

如果我當黨主席，一定先推動核四北北基宜四縣市地方公投廢核四！

If I were elected as the Party chairperson, I would campaign for a referendum to stop the four nuclear power plants in Taipei city, New Taipei city, Keelung and Yilan.

Nevertheless, not everyone is so optimistic about the nuclear-free development in Japan. bluesystem [zh] is worried how far Japan can go after shutting down all their nuclear power plants:

廢核絕對可以推! 只要不影響經濟下滑. 不過這真的會很拼…

Of course we can campaign for a nuclear-free Taiwan - as long as this move does not make the economy worse. However, this will be difficult.

核能的問題不只是使用其它能源來替代, 而是「能源自主性」的問題. 一旦重要的能源來源被別國控制, 那這個國家等於廢掉一樣! 這問題要怎麼解決? 除非能源自主率能提高吧~…那大家都廢核, 請問天然資源是不是大家一起搶? 假設台灣也搞廢核的話,能源來源方面搶得贏中國跟日本嗎?

The issue at stake regarding the use of nuclear power is not only about finding alternative energy. It is a matter of ‘energy autonomy’. If the major energy source is controlled by other countries, this country is doomed! How can we solve this problem? Only if we can increase our energy supply can we campaign for nuclear-free living. Are we ready to compete for natural energy resources? If Taiwan shuts down all our nuclear power plants, can we outbid China and Japan in the competition of energy resources?

Anti-nuclear energy protest in Taipei, April 30, 2011. Photo contributed to this post by James Yang under CC: BY-NC-SA

Despite the aforementioned worries, thousands of Taiwanese people protested against nuclear power on March 11, 2012, the first anniversary of the earthquake in Japan. Shuchuan, an independent environmental reporter, explained [zh] why she thinks Taiwan can and should give up nuclear energy:

福島核災打破核能安全神話，只要一次災害就足以毀掉所有。…我們還有選擇時，沒有理由不去思考任何不必使用核能發電的可能性。

The Fukushima nuclear power plant accident destroyed the myth of nuclear safety. We see that one accident can destroy all we have…We have no reason not to think about the possibility of giving up nuclear energy when we still have a choice.

以台灣目前核電佔總發電量不到兩成，但備載容量卻超過25%的情況下，廢不廢核並不是「能不能」的問題，而是「決心」。

In Taiwan, the proportion of electricity supplied by nuclear power is less than 20%, but our spare capacity is more than 25%. Under this condition, nuclear-free is not an issue of ‘can or cannot’, it is an issue of determination.

台灣政府還預估未來用電要再成長38%，只要不歸零思考、不檢討自己的浪費行為、不思索更聰明的用電方式，發再多電都不夠用。

The Taiwanese government estimates that we will need 38% more electricity in the future. If we do not go back to to the fundamental problem and review our energy consumption pattern and use electricity in a smarter way, there will never be enough for us even if we manage to generate more.

過去一年台灣政府已有改變，馬總統宣布核一、二、三使用年限到期不再延役，這是一個進展。然而對於核四依然繼續投入經費不願放手，核廢料無能力處理，卻一再強調核安的可以控制。然而，福島核災近在眼前，繼續說「核能安全」也已經沒有意義、且完全沒有說服力，終歸而言，台灣政府對核災還是沒有覺悟。

In the past year, the Taiwanese government has changed. President Ma claimed that our first, second, and third nuclear power plants would not extend their operations after reaching their shelf life. We have made some progress. However, the government is not willing to give up the fourth nuclear power plant and is throwing more money into it. The government does not know how to deal with the nuclear waste, but they keep claiming that they can promise the safety of nuclear power plants. Nevertheless, when we think of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, we can see that this is nonsense and it is not convincing to talk of the ‘safety of nuclear power plants’. In the end, the Taiwanese government does not seem aware of the possibility of nuclear disasters.

而這個歸零思考，理應是站在「廢除核電」的基礎上，重新去思考其他的能源方式，而如果其他的能源暫時無法完全取代，我們應該如何節能，以因應發電不足的情況。也就是說，思考自己的侷限，然後做出改變。

We should support the fundamental standpoint of a ‘nuclear-free Taiwan’ and explore the use of alternative energy. If we do not have enough alternative energy to replace all the nuclear-derived electricity we are using now and in the near future, we need to reduce our usage of electricity to avoid shortages. In other words, we need to think about our limits and make the change.

This post was sub-edited by Jane Ellis.

Taiwan: Indigenous Tao People's 30 Year Nuclear ‘Nightmare'

I-fan Lin — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:43:35 +0000

After Japan's Fukushima nuclear accident last year, more and more Taiwanese have started to become aware of the problems caused by nuclear power plants. One of the most serious issues is nuclear waste on Orchid Island, where the Tao people have lived for generations.

In December 30, 2011, a group of Tao people went to Taipei to protest against [zh] the nuclear waste storage facility situated on the Orchid Island in front of the presidential building. However, the president did not respond to their protest.

Another protest took place on February 20, 2012, with more than 500 Tao people demonstrating [zh] in front of the nuclear waste storage facility on the island due to concern over radioactive isotopes detected outside it and their anger with the owner company Taiwan Power's unfulfilled promise to store the nuclear waste elsewhere.

Jessie Tai from Wired Taiwan explained why [zh] Taiwan Power failed to keep their promise and move the nuclear waste out of the Orchid Island by the end of 2002:

因為核廢料處理最終場址的選定程序過於漫長，以及把核廢料運往國外處理的計畫失敗。

It takes a long time to find another place for long-term nuclear waste storage, and the original plan to ship the nuclear waste abroad failed.

A reporter from Taiwan New Talk listed the Tao people's demand [zh]:

首先，已經完成核廢桶檢整的貯存場應立即遷出蘭嶼；其次，蘭嶼將不續租土地給台電放置核廢料，已造成污染之土地必須進行除污與活化；第3，政府部門與台電應對核廢料貯存在蘭嶼的錯誤政策進行檢討，並重新與達悟族人談判後續賠償事宜，以彌補多年來達悟民族因核廢料所損失的健康。

First, the packed nuclear waste should be moved out of Orchid Island immediately; second, Orchid Island will not be leased to Taiwan Power company for nuclear waste storage anymore, and the contaminated land should be restored and revitalized; third, the government and Taiwan Power company should review their mistaken policy of putting nuclear waste on Orchid Island, and they should discuss with the Tao people about compensation for any health problems caused by the nuclear waste storage facility.

Some Tao people have also joined the political party and are pressuring the government through the legislature [zh], according to Jessie Tai's report from Wired Taiwan:

在農曆年前的大選中，提倡環保的綠黨為了強調其反核立場，將長期推動反核運動的達悟族單親媽媽希婻瑪飛洑列為該黨不分區立委名單第一人，綠黨雖然後來並未達到政黨票5%的國會門檻，但在蘭嶼卻創紀錄地拿下35.7%的政黨票，突顯出蘭嶼人長久以來的不滿，以及對自身家園環境的隱憂。

In the national legislative election held this January, to emphasize their anti-nuclear stance, the Green party, which has advocated environmental awareness, made Sinan Mavivo, a single mother from the Tao aboriginal group, the first candidate in their list of legislator-at-large seats. Although the Green party did not win more than 5% of the votes to have any legislator-at-large seat, the Green party won 35.7% of the votes on Orchid Island. This new record shows the anger the Tao people have had for a long time and their worries for their homeland.

Below is a documentary produced by Taiwan Indigenous TV on the history of the nuclear waste problem on Orchid Island:

Here is selected translation of the video script:

0′18″: To the Tao people of Orchid Island, the scene of first shipment of nuclear waste in the harbor of the Orchid Island in 1982 is a 30-year-long nightmare.

4′24″: On February 20, 1988, Tao people protested against the nuclear waste storage facility. Twenty four years ago, on a rainy day, the residents of Orchid Island angrily gathered together in front of the nuclear waste storage facility. They shouted their slogan loudly, “I love Orchid Island, and I do not want nuclear waste.” The Tao people's protest against nuclear waste started from that moment.

4′53″: On June 1, 1995, the Tao people were angry about the Taiwan Power company's plan to build six new nuclear waste storage trenches. There were protests against nuclear waste in Orchid Island and Taipei at the same time.

5′19″: (Former President Chen Shui-Bian said on TV): Our policy about nuclear waste on Orchid Island is very clear. We will move all the nuclear waste out of Orchid Island before the end of 2002. We will give the beautiful island back to the Tao people.

5′40″: The township magistrate of the Orchid Island asked, “Did the people on Orchid Island produce this nuclear waste? Who produced it?” The crowd answered, “Taiwan.” The township magistrate asked, “Do we use the electricity generated by the nuclear power plants?” The crowd answered, “No.” The township magistrate said, “Do not give others what you do not want. Chen Shui-Bian should eat this”.

6′44″: In 1996, the nuclear waste storage facility was full. There are more than 97,000 barrels of nuclear waste [in it]. However, Taiwan Power company still planned to ship more nuclear waste to Orchid Island. The Tao people were mobilized to surround the harbor. At last, the ship of nuclear waste was blocked in the waters off the small island. That ship returned to Taiwan. No more nuclear waste has been shipped to Orchid island.

7′36″: Breaking news: there are radioactive isotopes, Cobalt-60 and Caesium-137, [evident] outside the nuclear waste storage facility on Orchid Island. Although the Atomic Energy Council said the amount of radioactive isotopes is far below the standard, researchers found these radioactive isotopes are from the nuclear waste storage facility.

8′28″: Looking at this photo, you can see what happened in the nuclear waste storage trenches in the past 30 years. This is horrifying. As a mother, when I look at the photo, I think our health may be seriously threatened. I cannot stop yelling. In the past 30 years, in last year, we Tao people have kept yelling. We are yelling for help.

9′09″: What you throw in front of our houses will make the Tao people die and become extinct. You are talking about increasing the compensation. I am sorry. Can you tell Mr. Ma Ying-Jeou what you just said? The only thing we ask for is the removal of nuclear waste from Orchid Island.

Taiwan: Travel with Art

Portnoy Zheng — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:09:39 +0000

Blogger and artists Lovingpure(黃愛淳) uses contemporary paintings about Taiwan from distinguished painters to create this video as the ultimate travel guide for foreign tourists.

One Day on Earth: Worldwide Collaborative Music Video Released

Juliana Rincón Parra — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:21:58 +0000

A new music video has been released in preparation for the worldwide screening of the Global Collaborative film One Day on Earth, which will take place in locations all around the planet on Earth Day (22 April, 2012). The video features musicians, poets and dancers captured on film all during the same 24 hour period in 10 October, 2010, artfully recut and remixed by Cut Chemist.

The collaborative film One Day on Earth was filmed all on the same day, October 10, 2010, with more than 3,000 hours of footage sent in from all corners of the world, showcasing the amazing diversity, conflict, tragedy, and triumph that occurs in one day. The Global Screening will take place on Earth Day (April 22, 2012) in every country of the world, with the assistance of World Heritage Sites and the United Nations.

The music video includes footage from India, Papua New Guinea, Benin, Burkina Faso, USA, China, North Korea, Mongolia, Kenya, Afghanistan, Jamaica, Spain, Taiwan and many other locations.

You can read more about the upcoming screening on our previous post One Day on Earth: Global Screening of Worldwide Collaborative Film and you can sign up for a screening in your city or town on the One Day on Earth site.

Is Basketball's Jeremy Lin the Light of Taiwan?

Chris Kamp — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:57:29 +0000

From a benchwarmer to an NBA basketball player who led the New York Knicks to seven consecutive victories in February 2012, Jeremy Lin's inspiring Cinderella story has incited “Linsanity” in the United States and Taiwan. It has also occupied the pages of every major American newspaper, and indeed swept the world. (Update: Lin was removed from the court in late March to recover from a knee injury)

Jeremy Lin's past life, his religious faith, his experience studying at Harvard University, his status as an Asian American and other such points of interest have been closely examined by the media. The outstanding performance of Lin also caused American society to critically examine the issue of racial discrimination in the NBA.

Jeremy Lin. From Wikipedia (CC: SA 2.0)

Jeremy Lin's parents are immigrants from Taiwan. With his father's encouragement, he fell in love with basketball and represented his high school and university competitively, achieving quite good results. However, Jeremy Lin's road to professional basketball was in no way smooth. Lin had been passed over twice in two NBA drafts, signed with the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, and was later let go by both teams before he was signed by the New York Knicks.

An unlikely rise to fame

However, the contract Lin signed with the Knicks was a non-guaranteed “probationary contract”. As a result, he didn't want to rashly enter into a long-term lease in New York. So, fellow Knicks player and good friend Landry Fields let Lin sleep on his sofa temporarily. After Jeremy Lin's rise to fame, that sofa was held up by the media as a “magic couch.”

At the time, even with a star line-up, the New York Knicks were unable to effectively integrate their team, resulting in just 8 wins in 23 games. As a result, there was speculation that if the Knicks lost again to the New Jersey Nets on February 4, the Knicks would fall below the Nets in the rankings, and coach Mike D'Antoni would be in danger of being fired. However, in the February 4 game against the Nets, D'Antoni took a shot in the dark by sending benchwarmer Jeremy Lin onto the field. Lin then scored 25 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, helping the Knicks to victory. This game released Jeremy Lin from the worry of being dropped, and allowed him to smoothly obtain a guaranteed contract. Because of his dazzling performance in the game, Lin was consistently placed in the starting line-up in subsequent games, repeatedly breaking his personal best and leading the Knicks to an impressive seven consecutive victories.

The outstanding performance of Asian American Jeremy Lin has also caused all areas of American society to critically examine the issue of racial discrimination in the NBA. Few NBA players have received higher education or are devout Christians. Add to that the fact that Asian people are often subject to racial discrimination in the sporting field, and this is another reason for Jeremy Lin's explosion in popularity. Before Jeremy Lin became famous, spectators would reportedly sometimes call out discriminatory remarks like “Go back where you came from!” In a match against Connecticut when Lin was studying at Harvard, the first time he stepped up to the free throw line, a bigoted basketball fan yelled “Won ton soup!” from the stands. However, Jeremy Lin broke the stereotype, proving with his abilities that he could hold a place in the NBA, which is largely dominated by African American players.

“The light of Taiwan”

Jeremy Lin's meteoric rise to fame and explosion in popularity raised a wave of ‘Linsanity' among the Taiwanese people, and made him the pride of Taiwan. All major newspapers have extravagantly portrayed him as “the light of Taiwan.”

However, “piet” on the forum Mobile 01 sparked heated online discussion after reposting an article [zh] by Tsinghua University physics professor Wang Daowei: “Nothing simple about Jeremy's parents” [zh]. Wang Daowei believes that Taiwanese parents don't encourage their children to pursue their dreams in life, but rather make them follow a less risky path:

与别人一样拼明星学校、选热门科系与作别人羡慕的职业。这样的想法虽是出自于父母亲的“善意”，但却根深蒂固于我们社会，成为台湾教育改革始终无法成功的根本原因。事实上，这也是正是林书豪的家庭教育（而非学校教育）与我们最大的不同之处。因为有这样的父母，也才能造就林书豪在NBA的杰出表现。

Strive to get into a famous university like everyone else, choose popular subjects and the kind of profession everyone envies. Although this kind of thinking comes from parents' “best intentions”, it is also deeply rooted in our society, and is the fundamental reason that reform of Taiwanese education has not succeeded. In reality, this is the biggest difference between Jeremy Lin's education at home (not at school) and ours. Only because he had such parents was Jeremy Lin able to achieve his remarkable performance in the NBA.

According to Taiwanese blogger Heiyu ('Black Rain'), Jeremy Lin is “the light of America” [zh].

林书豪生在美国、长在美国，他从小对自己的认知就是一个美国人。不管是他的教育过程或篮球实力训练过程，都是美国这个大环境造就的结果，这跟中国、台湾、或韩国哪有关系呢？…..

林书豪的成就，是美国这个国家的成就。我们该学习的，是如何让台湾下一代对运动有兴趣的孩子们能够拥有相似够水准的训练、发展、与求职环境，而非抱着捡便宜的心态，到处想沾其他国家的光芒。

Jeremy Lin was born in America, grew up in America, has seen himself as American since he was a child. Whether it's his education or his basketball training, his results were all brought about in an American environment. How does this have anything to do with China, Taiwan or Korea? …
Jeremy Lin's accomplishments are the accomplishments of America. What we should learn from this is how to give the next generation of Taiwanese children who are interested in sport access to a similarly adequate standard of training, development and employment environment. We shouldn't take an opportunistic attitude, trying to bask in another country's glory.

Additionally, some bloggers think it's unimportant whether Jeremy Lin is “the light of Taiwan.” Study Success Blog believes that in comparison, the much more important question is why Jeremy Lin achieved such a remarkable performance. [zh]：

和自己多少有一点关连的人（不管是民族、读过的学校、甚至是头发颜色）、有了杰出的表现时，会觉得与有荣焉也是正常的，除非是深山独居者或精神病患之类的，脱离正常的心理现象。所以血统什么的，我的看法是根本就无所谓，沾光就沾光，这不是理所当然吗？

When someone connected to you to some degree (whether by race, a school you went to, even hair colour) achieves something remarkable, it's normal to feel a sense of shared pride, unless you're a mountain-dwelling hermit or mentally ill or something, unaffected by normal psychological phenomena. So, blood relations and so on, in my view it just doesn't matter, if you want to bask in reflected glory, go ahead, isn't that perfectly normal?

Online discussion on popular BBS forum PTT has also been intense. “Safelove's” claim that Jeremy Lin is a disgrace to Taiwanese basketball [zh] and is not the light of Taiwan, received a heated response.

林书豪今天在NBA有多成功，就代表台湾篮球界有多失败，我们篮球打输人最大的藉口就是基因。但林书豪告诉我们基因不是问题，环境和教育才是。我们这么多专打球不念书的体保生结果不如一个哈佛大学的高材生。

Every success Jeremy Lin achieves in the NBA today represents a failure of Taiwanese basketball. Our biggest excuse for losing in basketball is genetics. But Jeremy Lin tells us that genes aren't the problem, environment and education are. We have so many sporting students who only play basketball and don't study, and the results can't equal a single academically talented Harvard student.

What do you think? What thoughts do you have on the Jeremy Lin phenomenon? We welcome you to share them with us.

Taiwan: A Family's Forced Eviction Casts Shadow on Urban Renewal Act

I-fan Lin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:11:57 +0000

The outrageous eviction of the Wang family executed by Taipei City government showed the public how fragile citizens' private rights is in front of the urban renewal projects. More and more, public opinion has urged the Premier, Chong Chen, to revise the current Urban Renewal Act [zh].

Manipulation of resident opinions

Hsieh-Li Wang pointed out that [zh] the current Act allows construction companies to put forward an urban renewal plan even when the majority of the residents refuse to join this project:

Wang's house before demolition. Photo by Flickr User munch999 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

都更條例的大陷阱在此：都更條例第十條第二款規定的「十分之一所有權人同意，再加上土地或建物樓地板面積超過十分之一，即可申請更新」。這是什麼意思？來自五分埔的都更受害戶李昭玫說，「就是只要有錢人或建商想都更，買下幾戶，灌進大量人頭，然後佔多數，就可以開啟都更大門。」李昭玫的社區就遇到幾戶灌進七十多個人頭的個案。

Here is the trap of the Act: according to Article 10 second clause ‘When 10% of the homeowners who together occupy more than 10% of the land agree to join the project, they can apply for urban renewal.’ What does it mean? Chao-Wen Lee, a victim of urban renewal in Wufenpu, said, ‘that means when some wealthy people or a construction company wants to put forward an urban renewal plan, they can buy some apartments or houses in that area and arrange many people to become the shared owners; when these people become the majority of the residents, the door of urban renewal would be opened.’ In Chao-Wen Lee’s community, more than 70 new residents were listed as owners of some apartments.

Based on Article 25 of the Urban Renewal Act, the government is allowed to approve an urban renewal project when 80% of the involved residents agree to join the project [zh]. For those who refuse to join the project, they will be punished with forced eviction executed by the government. Yo-Yu Hsih, a law student criticized [zh] the tyranny of the majority which violates the rights of a minority.

採行多數決同意之目的，無非係要使珍貴稀少的土地資源有效利用，避免在都更劃定範圍內發生少數綁架多數，阻礙都更進行，延滯都市發展。

按多數決同意的制度多有走向多數暴力的風險，其並無法兼顧全體所有權人之利益…目前都更條例第22條第1項僅有多數決原則而無相關保護少數人之制度，如此對少數人甚為不利，恐已違反最小侵害原則。

The original goal of majority decision is to use the limited land resources efficiently. It also prevents cases when the will of the majority is kidnapped by a minority of people who want to obstruct the proceeding of urban renewal and development of a city.

(However) Majority decision may result in tyranny that sacrifices the minority's interest… Currently Article 22, clause 1 of the Urban Renewal Act endorses majority decision without any protection for the minority. This will put the minority in a vulnerable situation and jeopardize their rights. I am afraid this Act has violated the legal principle of minimum encroachment.

A poster outside Wang's houses. It says ‘my house was bought when I was 40, and it was torn down when I was 70.' Photo by Flickr User munch999 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

Government involvement

Hsieh-Li Wang questioned [zh] why the Act allows the government to use police force to serve the interest of developers:

更爭議的是，第三十六條規定，建商可向政府申請，由公權力代為拆除拒遷戶。讓不少專家認為，都更條例的多數決和過度支持建商，有違背憲法對人民財產保障的基本權利.

Article 36 of the Act is most controversial: the construction company can appeal to the government to demolish the houses by force when the residents refuse to be evicted. Many experts believe that the Act, which justifies use of the majority decision mechanism and government's involvement in supporting the developers, has violated the Constitutional protection of citizens’ property rights.

The Taiwan Association for Human Rights demanded a thorough revision of the Urban Renewal Act in accordance with the Constitution. In the Yuan Legislature, legislator Mei-Nyu You urged [zh] the Minister of Interior to revise the current Urban Renewal Act:

今天如果你的房子出租，遇到一個奧客不肯搬走，你能不能用公權力直接把他趕走？…你得要先去法院告他打官司，拿到勝訴後再向法院聲請強制執行，法院還會給他一個緩衝期讓他搬遷，這是尊重人民居住的權利.

Today if you have an apartment leased to a renter who refuses to move out, can you appeal to the public authority to evict the renter?v…You need to sue this renter. If the court rules in your favor, you can apply for a court order. Usually, the court will give this renter a grace period to relocate, and this is how our Constitution protects citizens' right of residence.

今天我的房子好好的，沒有礙到誰，沒有因為交通、安全、房子破舊需重建的問題，完全沒有。只是因為建商看中我的土地，看中我的容積率，就叫我非遷（不可），然後就越過司法權，直接用行政權介入來拆房子，這樣符合程序的正義嗎？

Today my house is in good condition and does not obstruct my neighbors, traffic nor public security. However, once a developer fancies my land and its floor space index, it can force me out of my house (giving me no choice). It can even get around the judiciary and appeal to the public authority to tear down my house. Is there any procedural justice here?

Defending constitutional rights

Torrent criticized the political party's election politics and retreated [zh] to citizen action for defending their constitutional rights:

Graffiti against an urban renewal project. Photo by Flickr User theAthena (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

與民眾權益攸關高居憲法總綱後的第二章人民之權利義務，越來越成為其它章節爭奪戰中的口號…台灣社會已經縱容這些人的謊言太久，他們告訴我們只要搶到憲法第四章的總統大位、得到第六章立法權的多數，就能夠自然達到憲法第二章居住權、遷徙權、言論權、生存權、工作權、財產權，但他們永遠都有理由和藉口。

Chapter two of our Constitution defines the rights and responsibilities of citizens, which have been turned into empty slogans through different political campaigns… Our society has connived with these politicians' lies for too long. They told us we can eventually enjoy all the rights described in Chapter two of our Constitution after they [win the election and] become the president based on Chapter four of our Constitution and after they control the majority seats in the Legislature based on Chapter six in our Constitution. Nevertheless, they always have excuses to defer their promise.

所以我們要求改革不正義的都更，保障每一個人民的居住權。這才是寫台灣人民的歷史，才能從龐大的謊言中抗爭出空隙拿回屬於我們的憲法。

This is why we ask to revise the unjust Urban Renewal Act, to protect every citizen’s right of residence. We should take control of our Constitution away from all the lies and write the history of Taiwanese people.

Taiwan: Protect Homeowners Against Forced Demolition

I-fan Lin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:46:19 +0000

About 400 people gathered around the house of the Wang family in Taiwan's capital Taipei early in the morning of March 28, 2012, to protect the family against eviction by the police.

A controversial urban renewal project [zh] has made the Wang's house part of the Taipei city government sanctioned renewal zone under the 2008 Urban Renewal Act [zh], which allows the government to forcibly expel citizens from their own house when 80% of their neighbors agree to sell their land to the developer.

More than 20 communities affected

Supporters gathered in front of the Wang's houses. Image by Coolloud (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

After the new Urban Renewal Act was passed, more than 20 communities have been affected [zh], causing intense conflicts between the homeowners and the construction companies. The affected homeowners together jointly set up the Taiwan Alliance for Victims of Urban Renewal [zh] in May, 2010.

In the Wang's case, the developer Leyoung Construction (樂揚建設), of the urban renewal project involved has collected an agreement signed by 38 out of 40 affected homeowners [zh]. While the majority of the affected households were living in apartment building, the Wang family had two independent houses in the district and Wen-Lin Yuan (文林苑), the head of the Wang refused to sell their family property to the developer. The company then turned to the Taipei city government to evict the family and demolish their houses by force.

Since July 2011, the Taiwan Alliance for Victims of Urban Renewal has been protesting for the Wang family, demanding the the Construction and Planning Agency to revise the Urban Renewal Act. They pointed out [zh] that:

為了加速都更不惜動用公權力強行拆屋趕人、掩蓋該案背後爭議、也過度擴充多數決同意都更乃至強拆民宅的正當性。…內政部營建署與台北市都市更新處應負起把關居民生命安全、公平公正都更的責任，而非將制度性問題，化為在地社區居民對立的假象

In order to speed up the urban renewal, the government retreats to police force to evict citizens, covering up the embedded interests and conflicts, justifying the tyranny of the majority in forced eviction… The Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of Interior and the Urban Redevelopment Office in Taipei city should take the responsibility for residents' safety and justice in urban development. They should not mislead the public by manipulating the urban renewal problem into conflicts amongst residents living in the same community.

However, the Interior Ministry keeps neglecting the Alliance's demand and the latest conflict arose when the Taipei city government issued the eviction order for the Wang's house on March 19. In reaction to the government's move, the Taiwan Alliance for Victims of Urban Renewal asked their supporters to patrol around the Wang’s house and defend the family against the eviction.

When the Taipei police prepared to forcibly enter the Wang’s house on March 28, hundreds of supporters laid down on the ground in front of it to protect the family. Professor Hua-Chen Liu [zh] was sitting with the Wang family on that day and she described what she saw in the kitchen on the first floor:

在廚房裡的我們，感受到的不是和自己並肩而坐、那種令人興致高昂的同志體溫. 而是兩位老人家，在經歷面臨拆遷的精神折磨，臉上那種無以言喻的表情. 也是兒孫們圍繞著因為犯了高血壓毛病的阿嬤, 輕拍她的肩膀，按摩她的雙臂.
不知為何，阿嬤的頭輕輕地垂了下來. 然後，廚房裡的我們，又站了起來，再一次盡可能地完善我們的防守設備.

In the kitchen, we did not feel the body temperature and heartbeats of the supporters outside the house. What we saw was two old women suffered from the torment of forced eviction, with their indescribable facial expressions. One of the woman, who has hypertension, was surrounded by her children and grandchildren, who kept tapping her shoulders and rubbing her limbs. Somehow she lowered her head. For those who were in the kitchen, we stood up again to perfect our defensive equipment.

However, despite all their preparations, the police crushed the back door easily and the supporters were taken away by the police. Professor Hua-Chen Liu [zh] described the scene:

進不來的聲援群眾想側拍衝進後門的過程, 都被警察以雨傘和大型帆布遮住，無從看到. 一大群警察直接衝過來，沒有人掛名牌. 沒有人解釋基於什麼理由要拖走我們, 沒有任何前言後話，就是動手！

The supporters outside the house tried to take video of the eviction process, but the police blocked the scene with umbrellas and large canvas [sheets]. They could not see anything happening inside the house. A lot of police officers rushed into the house. None of them wore their name tag, and none of them explained why they dragged us away. They just took action without any explanation.

The site had been sealed and the police stopped reporters and citizens from making any record of the demolition process. Media Watch Taiwan [zh] posted an eyewitness report:

現場也有多位民眾以手機、相機、筆記型電腦、平板電腦等工具紀錄。其中一名記者同業表示，看到警方最先以手電筒照射學生拍攝用的手機。後來包括《目擊者》電子報等不同媒體的幾位記者趨前拍攝後，有兩位員警也同樣如法炮製再度干度採訪拍攝。

There were many citizens using their cell phones, cameras, notebooks, and tablet computers to record the process. One reporter noticed that the police had used flashlights to stop students from using cell phones to take photos. They used the same tactics to disrupt other reporters, including the reporters from Media Watch Taiwan from taking photos.

When the police officers entered the Wang's houses, Ping-Yao Li was on the second floor [zh]:

我真的不知道自己身在何處。一樓的警察拿起油壓剪，阿姨往下探頭，發現一樓的傢俱都被往外丟，玻璃都被打破，我們鎖上窗戶，將桌椅抵住大門，圍成圈圈坐在客廳，四面八方傳來各種聲響，警察用力的撞門叫罵。…親愛的人民保母，你們今天讓幾百個學生陷入極端的恐懼，並且帶來無法抹滅的不信任，你們遵從所謂的職務，並且成為財團打手。

It was very chaotic and I had no idea what was going to happen. The police officers on the first floor used the hydraulic cutters to break in. Auntie Wang looked down and saw their furniture being thrown out from the windows. We locked the windows and pushed the table and chairs against the front door. Then we sat in a circle inside the living room surrounded by the horrible sounds of the forced demolition and police curses… Dear nannies of the people, today you brought fear and distrust to hundreds of students by following the orders that equate you to thugs working for the business syndicate.

Supporters surrounded the Wang house. Image by Flickr user coolloud (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

After the eviction, professor Hua-Chen Liu reflected [zh] on the brutal process:

我不明白失去自己的家是什麼意思. 非常疲憊、很想睡覺的我，在這個陽光殘酷得白花花的早上, 可以坐上計程車，20分鐘後從口袋摸出鑰匙, 洗個安慰疼痛肌肉的熱水澡.
但是王家呢？
警察拉人的過程裡，他們一直要學生小心，「不要受傷」. 優勢警力把人肉沙包和他們的家俱一件件往外丟時. 他們只來得及抱著父母的遺照和祖先牌位逃出來.
他們今天要睡在哪裡？他們明天要住在哪裡？
在這個都更的龐大魔爪下，明天我會在哪裡？你會在哪裡？

I do not understand what the the meaning of ‘losing one's home’ is. In this cruel sunny morning, I am so tired and sleepy, I can sit on a taxi, go home and take out my keys from my pocket within 20 minutes, then take a bath to relieve my muscle pain.
But how about the Wangs?
When the police officers dragged the supporters away, the Wangs kept reminding the students to be careful and ‘don't get hurt.’ When the police threw the supporters and their furniture out of their house, they only had time to grab the photos of their deceased parents and their ancestral tablets with them.
Where are they going to sleep tonight? Where will they stay tomorrow?
Under the devil’s talon of the so-called urban renewal, can we be certain where we will be ending up tomorrow?

Taiwan: Failed ‘Made in Taiwan' Clothing Promise Disappoints

Oiwan Lam — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:55:39 +0000

Taiwan's garment market has gained competition in the past few years; fashion brands from Japan and Spain have entered the Taiwanese market and attracted local consumers. The long queues outsides foreign fashion brand flagship stores have become a news focus.

Local brand, Lativ, has managed to survive in the competition by its online shopping and ‘Made-in-Taiwan' marketing strategy. The design of Lativ is similar to Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo, targeting the popular market with very low price. Its fashions are sold online via popular portal websites such as Yahoo! Kimo [zh], and YouTube Ads with catchy slogans such as “Made in Taiwan” (MIT), and “A Renaissance of the Taiwan Garment Industry”.

Lativ has been very successful in the local market. In 2011, its annual sales reached [New Taiwanese Dollar] NT 4 billion (approximately USD 12 million) and its staff had 40 months salary as their bonus, and its success has encouraged many local entrepreneurs to enter the popular fashion market.

Screen capture from Lativ

However, in early February 2012, its website issued a statement [zh] that ruined the image of its Taiwanese brand:

2月初，当大家刚从春节假期回到工作岗位时，我们换上了新系统，以全新面貌持续为大家服务。

2/1当日涌进许多大家对新系统的建议与想法，其中留言主题数量最为庞大的，是希望我们恢复产品说明内既有的产地标示。

其实，成衣业在台湾的产能相当吃紧，最主要的原因是台湾成衣生产线上极度缺乏劳工投入。

相关说明请您参考此篇日志：MIT的现况与困境

从2010年开始，lativ不得不将台湾厂商无法负荷的订单，逐步转往越南、印尼、大陆等地，但有些原料则仍是从台湾生产，如何标示服饰产地对我们来说，一直有担心误导消费者的隐忧。

“品质”是lativ创始至今的核心价值，不过大家总认为我们以MIT做为销售诉求却将订单移至海外生产，诸多误解的声音让我们重新思考在页面上标注产地的做法。

最终，我们决定移除商品页面上的产地标注，但服饰上的吊牌仍按照台湾法令，具备明确的标示说明。

若您非“台湾制造”不买，我们诚恳地建议，请您确认后再下单，因为台湾已经没有这样的生产环境。从2007年开站至今的我们，面对台湾产业的变化，说出这句话倍觉沉重。但可以向您保证的是，lativ在追求品质与穿着安全上的用心。

我们目前配合的工厂，已经提升到全球第一大的生产线，同时也是世界知名品牌的重点生产工厂，2012年的所有产品也符合CNS 15290相关检验规范，请您安心选购。

This February, when you returned back to your work after the Spring festival, we had changed into a new system with a new image for our service.

On February 1, we received a lot of opinions about the new system, most of the comments asking us to restore the “Made in Taiwan” [MIT] tag.

However, we do not have enough of a labour force for a production line in the Taiwanese garment industry. Please refer to this blog post: ‘The conditions and challenges of Made in Taiwan‘ [zh].

Since 2010, Lativ has started to relocate production to Vietnam, Indonesia and Mainland China as the local factories [in Taiwan] could not afford to take our order. Some raw materials are still locally produced. However, the ‘Made in Taiwan' tag would be misleading to our consumers.

The core value of Lativ is always ‘quality'. However, when our production was relocated overseas, we had to adjust the MIT tag.

Eventually, we will remove the origin of production tag but keep other details according to Taiwanese law.

If you have to stick to ‘Made in Taiwan' products, let us sincerely remind you to be cautious before you place any order, as we do not have such a production environment in Taiwan. Since our establishment in 2007, we have witnessed the change in Taiwan garment industry, and we also feel very sad to speak out about such facts. However, we would like to assure you that we will continue to provide top quality products.

The factories that we are working with are the best quality ones in the global production lines. They produce the most well-established global brands. All our products in 2012 will strictly follow the CNS 15290 requirement. Please be assured of our quality.

The statement has stirred up a heated debate online. Many netizens feel disappointed and cheated and they call for a boycott of Lativ's product. Prominent blogger Miss pretty Xixi's opinion is most representational of netizens' opinions [zh]:

当时是谁口口声声说　要给台湾产业一个机会？

现在却跟我们说　一切都是误解

若您非“台湾制造”不买，我们诚恳地建议，请您不要下单

讲白话一点就是

不　爽　不　要　买～　登登！

不但已经不是”MIT”

甚至连产地都不标示在网页上了

好啦不是MIT没关系　我买淘宝货买韩货也不是MIT

但至少说一下是哪里产的吧！囧>

而不是像抽抽乐一样

收到衣服看到标签才知道是哪国来的衣服吧～！

噗友说得好

爱台湾对商人而言不过就是个用完就丢的工具罢了

我个人感觉到非常地

可惜……..且可悲……….

Who said “Give Taiwan Industry a Change” at the very beginning?

Now you say everything is a misunderstanding

If you have to stick to “Made in Taiwan”, let us sincerely remind you…

[In simple terms] don't buy if you are unhappy! Ha!

Not only that it is no longer “MIT”

It has removed the origin of production from its websites

It is okay that the products are not “MIT”, when I shop in Taobao [zh] [Mainland China online shopping platform], the products are not “MIT”

But at least you should tell me where they come from!

Rather than making it like a lottery..

Only to find out where it comes from after we received the clothes.

Well spoken by friends from plurk [zh] [Taiwanese microblogging platform]

Love for Taiwan is just a tool for businessmen

I feel so disappointed… and sad……

Another blogger Zen called for a boycott [zh]:

当初Lativ不就是标榜因为台湾纺织业环境不容易

所以要给一个机会而这个诉求被大众所认同

所以强大起来

结果今天竟然用同样的理由

作为外移的藉口

确实荒谬

我曾经也买过很多Lativ

身边很多朋友也买

不过从今天开始我个人不会再买

诚如官方宣言所说的 :若您非“台湾制造”不买，我们诚恳地建议，请您不要下单，因为台湾已经没有这样的生产环境。

我不是非MIT不买

而是看不起这样的厂商才不买…

这世界上成衣品牌那么多

何必让这些拿热血当行销话术壮大自己后又狠狠抛弃的厂商赚….

你不一定需要抵制

只是如果你当初也是被该公司的热血小故事所感动而决定购买该公司的产品

至少你应该瞭解该公司已经做出营运管理上的变化

你应该重新审思这样一个公司背弃自己的承诺的公司(找一堆理由替自己的背弃合法化不难难的是找到方法克服困难而不背弃承诺)

是否要继续支持

反正我是不会支持了….

At first Lativ told us that the Taiwan garment industry was in difficult conditions
That's why they asked us to give it a chance. We accept thatThat's why they become strong

Now they use the same reason to relocate

This is so absurd

I used to buy a lot of Lativ clothes

And my friends are also their customers

But I won't buy from them again

Like what the official statement has suggested: “If you have to stick to ‘Made in Taiwan', let us sincerely remind you to be cautious before you place the order, as we do not have such a production environment in Taiwan.”

I am not a MIT fundamentalist

But I look down upon such a business…

There are so many fashion brands in this world

Why do you have to market with a hot-blooded slogan and then trash it…

You do not have to join this boycott

However, if you have been attracted by its hot-blooded story

You had better be aware of the change in their ways of operation

You should reconsider whether to continue supporting a company that betrays its own promise (and justifies it rather than overcomes the challenge)

I won't support it anymore.

Another famous blogger Sumi Chen, author of “Taiwan Treasure” and a promoter of local brands, has recommended Lativ in the past. She said in her Facebook profile [zh] that she would no longer support this brand:

我承认当初在部落格大力推荐这么品牌，是因为看到该品牌网站一则小故事，品牌拥有者声称因为不忍心看到台湾许多优秀的阿嬷裁缝失业，所以Lativ愿意为台湾成衣业在网路找一条生路。那个故事太热血了，画面中，车衣服的阿嬷手纹太催泪了，当时总是想着，如果可以因为自己的消费，让台湾成衣业活存下来，很多人有工作，可以留在台湾跟家人生活在一起，不必到异乡奋斗，贵一点也没关系，那么，为什么不支持呢？

然后Lativ在网友的热血支持之下，逐渐壮大，壮大到台湾市场吃不下他们的订单，台湾没有足够的技术支援他们，当初为了扶植台湾阿嬷裁缝的心愿，后来好像成为他们的难处。

I admitted that I have highly recommended this brand in my blog before. I was moved by its story that they wanted to support local unemployed tailors who are middle aged ladies. They wanted to open up a new path for the Taiwan garment industry. The story was too hot-blooded. I still remember the pictures showing the winkles of these old ladies' hands. I believed that if we could use our consumer power to help Taiwan garment industry to survive and provide jobs for these Taiwanese, so that they did not have to leave their families in Taiwan and work overseas, it would be OK to pay more and support such an endeavor.

Then Lativ grows quickly with the support of hot-blooded netizens. It grows so big that the Taiwanese market could not consume all its orders, that Taiwan does not have enough technical support to keep up their growth. Their dream to support the middle aged tailors has become an obstacle now.

There are also quite a number of discussions on Twitter. Below is a selection of comments:

@Osmosis404: Lativ,a brand that insists in producing cloth with local factories in Taiwan,changed it's promise for gaining profit. flpbd.it/7IpwE

@simmmons: 我对Lativ坚不坚持台湾制造没有意见，纯粹讨厌公告文里一副天下人负我的假高尚。又，如果当初你是靠台湾人近乎盲目的爱国心起家，现在就别怪消费者由爱生恨的反感抵制。

@simmmons: I don't insist that Lativ does not stick to MIT but I hate its pretense and arrogance. If your foundation is based upon Taiwanese's love for their country, you have to accept their resentment and boycott stemmed from their love.

@ivanusto: 可以抵制Lativ品牌服饰的方法有很多种，除了不买以外，对这个品牌价值的观感降到最低，也会影响已经购买Lativ服饰的消费者，当越来越多人不敢穿Lativ服装上街时，Lativ就不会再是话题了。就和香港H和G牌这两个平民服饰会有人讨论吗? 类似感觉。演变成更庶民的基本需求品牌。

@ivanusto: There are different ways to boycott Lativ. Apart from stopping buying, the public evaluation of the brand would also affect other consumers and more people would be ashamed of wearing the brand in the street. Lativ will not be a talking point that. Similar to the H&G brands in Hong Kong, just stop talking about it then it would become just another brand.

@kaxing: 只能说 lativ 玩火自焚，平价品牌没有死忠用户就灰飞烟灭了。

@kaxing: Lativ is burning itself. Without fans, popular brand cannot survive.

@chuiyi: 从Lativ事件看台湾企业可以发现一件不变的铁则：脑子可以换钱，但钱换不回脑子

@chuiyi: What we can learn from Lativ's story is that: you can get money from idea, but money cannot buy idea.

@RetonKao: Lativ没救了。连MIT最初的品牌信念都摒弃，呼了一堆买过lativ的消费者狠狠一巴掌。商人的贪婪面终究还是跑出来了。

@RetonKao: This is the end of Lativ. Their giving up of MIT is like slapping their customers. Its greedy face has been revealed.

@pofeng: “为什么台湾失去了制造 Lativ 的工作 ? ” 老板说: “那些工作不会回来了” 转头继续发 40 个月年终。i.imgur.com/VEYbX.jpg

@pofeng: How come Taiwan loses Lativ's manufacturing order?” The boss said “The job won't be returned” then he continues to give 40-month bonus to his staff: 。i.imgur.com/VEYbX.jpg

@hirakujira: 抵制完Lativ之后就可以正大光明地排队去买uniqlo跟Zara了欧耶

@hirakujira: Upon boycotting Lativ, people could shift to foreign brands like Uniqlo and Zara with peace in their heart.

@pipperl: 忘了说，lativ 能把冬衣做得那么薄的确需要过人的技术。 #lativ

@pipperl: The fact that their winter clothes could be so thin reality takes some special skill. #lativ

@watertseng: 或许 #lativ 还是会继续卖的很好，赚更多的钱，但是它让一些原本认同它理念的人感到失望，犹如是欺骗一个人的感情。

@watertseng: Perhaps #lativ will continue to make good profit but it has disappointed its supporters, it is like cheating in love relation.

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong: What Story can the Number of Votes Tell?

Oiwan Lam — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:07:17 +0000

Jimmy from Tea Leaf Nation translates the micro-blog conversation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Election. Netizens compared the number of votes needed for each region to get into leadership position - Taiwan: 6.89 Million Votes, Hong Kong: 689 Votes, Mainland: 9 Votes!

Norway Hosts First Journalism Award for Indigenous Broadcasters

Simon Maghakyan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:17:53 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.

Norway is widely known for hosting the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Awards. This month, the Scandinavian country is hosting the debut of another important yet largely unknown journalism award ceremony for the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) on March 29, 2012.

Nine finalists have been selected out of 24 entries in the indepth reporting category of the WITBN Indigenous Journalism Awards (2012 WIJA). The ceremony will be held in Kautokeino, Sápmi, Norway.

The official announcement from WIJA explains:

2012 WIJA is the first international Indigenous journalism award dedicated to presenting Indigenous perspectives through journalism in television and audiovisual media. While journalistic standards and ethics are the essences of this honor, the awards in particular look for the portrayal of Indigenous perspectives on stories of local, national or international impact.

This videos shows the 2012 finalists from indigenous networks in developed countries such as Taiwan, Australia, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

One of the nominated programs, from Māori Television, Aotearoa New Zealand, covers what should be labeled as “Occupy Easter Island” (it started a year before the Occupy movement in the U.S.), a rarely reported protest by Rapanui activists who occupied a government-owned hotel for half a year, demanding recognition of Indigenous rights and demonstrating the unfairness of occupation.

'We are ready to die for our land' says Rapanui activist in program broadcast by Maori Television of New Zealand

Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) is a land where colonization has forced the indigenous population to a small corner of the land, and where tourism had created an unsustainable economy. The sustainability problem is widespread in indigenous peoples' struggles all over the world to survive and preserve their culture.

The indigenous use of broadcast journalism and modern technology to promote the rights of their communities is a step forward. Read more about the finalists and their programs, here.

AMAZIGH NRK Sápmi Norway

AMNESTY CHIEF VISIT TO UTOPIA National Indigenous Television, Australia

JOURNEY HOME Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Canada

KIMBERLY GAS HUB SERIES National Indigenous Television, Australia

POLITICIAN REPORTS HIMSELF TO THE POLICE NRK Sápmi, Norway

TE PITO O TE HENUA Māori Television, Aotearoa New Zealand

THE VALUE OF WATER ‘Ōiwi TV, Hawai’i

VUVU’S LAST PIECE OF LAND Taiwan Indigenous Television, Taiwan

WATER EXPLOITATION Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Canada

This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.

Taiwan, U.S.A: Taiwanese Pig Farmers Protest American Beef Imports

Oiwan Lam — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:46:52 +0000

Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated mainland Chinese media report on the recent demonstration by Taiwanese pig farmers against the importation of U.S beef and mainland Chinese netizens' response on the issue.

Taiwan: Say No to Ractopamine Tainted American Meat

I-fan Lin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:03:53 +0000

Ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing feed additive, is banned in Taiwan and more than 150 other countries; some shipments of United States (US) beef were banned from entering Taiwan upon discovering traces of ractopamine in meat last year.

However, under pressure from the US government, the newly elected Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is now considering lifting the ban. Taiwanese consumers and farmers are unhappy about such a move and a civic coalition has been established to counteract it.

Additive controversy

Ractopamine was developed by an American pharmaceutical company, Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company. It is used in the feeding of pigs, cows and turkeys for improving “feed efficiency” and enhancing “carcass leanness” in meat. The Food Standards Agency, Codex Alimentarius, did not have a consensus on the maximal residual level (MRL) of ractopamine yet. The Codex Alimentarius will continue its discussion on the MRL of ractopamine in July, 2012.

Taiwanese farmer protests against Ractopamine use in 2007. Photo by Flickr User munch999 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

US beef has been one of the most controversial issues in its free trade negotiations with other countries. Recently, Japan has also opened its beef market and allowed ractopamine to be present in the imported meat, but banning the use of ractopamine in domestic pork and beef production.

A similar understanding has taken place between the US and Taiwan under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) since mid 2000. The US government has been pressuring Taiwan to lift the ban on ractopamine and the restriction imposed on US beef after the outbreak of mad cow disease in 2003.

However, the evaluation of the MRL of ractopamine in 2006 failed to remove ractopamine as banned drug against the background of the social panic raised by the clenbuterol poisoning incidence that happened in China. In 2007, when the government again tried to lift the ban on ractopamine, the then opposing party, Kuomingtang, in Legislative Yuan stood by the country's pig farmers [zh] and stopped the motion.

Don Shapiro from the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei revealed that the Kuomingtang, under the pressure from the US government, would started to work on lifting the ban on ractopmine again after they won the presidential election in 2012:

The U.S. government by early 2011 was willing to start preparations to resume TIFA talks. Then another obstacle arose when Taiwan rejected some shipments of beef found to contain traces of the leanness-enhancing feed additive ractopamine…Whenever questions were raised last year about finding a solution to the impasse, Taiwan officials responded that nothing could be done before this January’s elections, for fear of sparking protests from consumer and farming groups that could escalate into a campaign issue.

An international academic conference on the additive organized by the Department of Health in April and May 2012, has been criticized [zh] as the government's attempt to educate the public on the safety of ractopamine and create a public consensus on the ban lifting. In reaction to the government's move, more than 20 civic groups, from the consumer, animal rights, environment and agriculture sectors, have formed a coalition [zh] to stop it.

Citizen media reactions

One of anti-US beef corner's concern is about the adverse effect of the additive on human health and food security. Although there are studies showing that the acceptable daily intake of ractopamine is up to 60mg, Taiwanese toxicology expert, Dr. Lin has pointed out [zh] that this level is set for healthy people because the human study of ractopamine is not considered to be complete. For those who have cardiovascular disease, a 6mg acceptable daily intake might still be too much.

Citizen reporter, Cliteir Chen from News Market points out [zh] that the government should not betray people's health for diplomatic consideration:

許多人質疑，瘦肉精開放與否，從來就不是「能不能添加」、「要不要進口」那麼單純的問題，而是被外交、貿易政策綁在一起的複雜問題。但對全民來說，這僅僅就是最單純的食品安全議題，當我們強調飲食回復天然、少吃添加物之際，為何不是維持十多年來「零瘦肉精的」堅持？

Many people believe that the ban lift of leanness-enhancer is not a simple issue. It is connected with trade policy and diplomacy. However, from the perspective of people, this is simply a food security issue. We always advocate for natural and non-additive food, why should we give up our insistence on “no leanness-enhancer” in our food?

即使萊克多巴胺「沒那麼毒」，但不要忘記國人有不吃有毒肉品的權益，這也應是政府的義務。

Even though ractopamine is “not that poisonous”, but Taiwanese should have the right to say no to tainted meat and it is the government's responsibility to keep tainted meat away from its people.

Because the FDA has received a lot of complaints from the pig raisers who fed their pigs with ractopamine, animal rights activists have also joined the debate [zh]:

這種「速養」以換得「快錢」的邏輯，正彰顯出資本主義體制最殘酷的一面。也就是，為了追求最快速、最大量的利潤，可以以動物的痛苦、人類的健康、生存環境的破壞做為代價。…反對美牛，還包括反對這樣的生命態度！

The logic of ‘being efficient in feeding’ in exchange for ‘fast money’ reflects the most cruel part of capitalism. In other words, we allow ourselves to gain profit at the expense of animals' suffering, human’s health, and our environment… One of the reasons for opposing American beef is to say no to such an attitude toward life.

Yu Fu-Ching from News Market reflects upon [zh] modern people's eating habit:

當大家激烈討論「瘦肉精到底有沒有毒」、「瘦肉精安全用量」之際，大家有沒有想過，我們難道不該回到源頭問：為什麼飼養動物需要使用瘦肉精？為什麼人們對肥肉避之唯恐不及？難道肥肉對健康的危害高過萊克多巴胺？過去我們認為肥肉一無是處、是健康危害的想法真正的正確嗎？

When we discuss whether or not leanness-enhancer is toxic or not, or what is the MRL for ractopamine, why don't we ask why farmers feed leanness-enhancer to livestock? Why we are so afraid of fatty meat? Is fatty meat more harmful that ractopamine? Is fatty meat really harmful to our health?

一個簡單的邏輯：吃好的食材，是健康飲食的第一步。蔬果如此，肉品也如此。而什麼是好食材？毫無疑問，天然不添加是構成好食材的第一要件。因此，自然養殖、不使用瘦肉精，呈現天然肥瘦比的肉品，無疑是最佳的脂肪與蛋白質來源。

The logic is simple: the first step toward healthy diet is eating good food. This rule can be applied to vegetables, fruits, and meat. What is good food? Undoubtedly, natural food without additives is most essential. Therefore, the meat from the animals raised naturally without beta-agonists has the natural balance of fat and lean meat. This is the best protein source beyond question.

Taiwan: 2012 Election Sets Example for Mainland Chinese Democratization

I-fan Lin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:32:22 +0000

Taiwan's presidential and legislative election was held on January 14, 2012. Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) was reelected as President with 51.6% of the vote. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) challenger Tsai Ing-wen resigned her post as chairperson of the DPP following her election defeat.

Chinese communities around the world were closely watching the results, as Taiwan is the first among the Chinese societies to transition from authoritarian to democratic governance. Many people from mainland China and Hong Kong travelled to Taiwan to observe the political process; they wonder if Taiwan can set an example for the future democratization in mainland China.

Beijing based journalist Mark MacKinnon was surprised by Taiwanese enthusiasm for politics:

As a Beijing correspondent, it's so weird to see and hear people talking and shouting - in Chinese - about politics.

Based on the website of the Central Election Commission, 74.38% of eligible voters casted their votes in 2012. Ma Ying-jeou won reelection with 51.60% of the total votes cast, and Tsai Ing-wen gathered 45.63%.

Taiwan sovereignty

Different from the previous election, the usual Blue (KMT) and Green (DDP) antagonism seems absent, yet Taiwanese sovereignty remains the most critical issue. Karlatheo expressed [zh] expressed her concern after the election:

1月14日，平靜地去投票。與朋友相聚。其實大家並不特別在意哪一黨得勝，但是很在意台灣的主體性是否會失落。…知道中國的因素主宰著這次的選舉，經濟的問題是所有的人都得面對的。…馬總統，請記得您是我們僕人

On Jan[uary] 14, I went to vote peacefully. Then I gathered with friends. We do not care which party won the election, but we do care about whether Taiwan’s sovereign will be kept…We knew the issue of China dominated this election, and everyone needs to face the economic problems… President Ma, please remember you are our servant.

Nathan Batto was also worried about the future of the Taiwan-China relationship after the election:

With a sizeable 70-43 majority in the legislature, Ma Ying-jeou is not going to immediately become a lame duck president. Instead, he probably has enough power to do most of what he wants. He will almost certainly have the power to implement the next stage of ECFA, and it is not out of the question that he could push through the peace agreement that he mentioned during the campaign.

Researcher fellow at the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, Dean Cheng, pointed out:

A strong Taiwan, confident in its relationship with the U.S., is key to peace and security in the region. In the weeks before Taiwan’s election, the U.S. Administration suddenly dispatched several senior officials to Taiwan. As it has been almost 12 years since a visit from a sitting U.S. cabinet member, the re-election of President Ma would seem to present an opportunity to demonstrate that this lack of attention has come to an end.

Example for mainland China

Those who could not fly to Taiwan to observe the election watched the news closely. Lele is from China [zh], but she has observed Taiwanese elections for more than a decade:

尽管不是长在台湾生在台湾，也不是亲哪个党派的政治狂热分子，但台湾四年一次的总统大选开票直播，我一定会观看。这已是第四次看到台湾总统大选了。…台湾民主大选制度逐渐走向成熟，不知大陆何时也能向台湾一样走上这一条路？大陆老百姓也有选举国家领导人的权利？

I was not born and have never lived in Taiwan. I am not political fanatic for any party, but I always watch the live broadcast of the election in Taiwan every four years. This is my fourth time watching it… The election system in Taiwan has become mature. When will China step onto the same road as Taiwan? When will Chinese have the right to vote for our leaders.

@darkillzhou [zh] (on Weibo) from China made jokes about the mainland Chinese election when talking to his Taiwanese friend:

刚一台湾朋友结束聊天时对我说，“明天早上我們要去投票了﹐晚上就知道總統是誰了”，我顿时不知如何答复。虽然我们之间的交流没有任何障碍，但在他面前真觉得无地自容。我只好说，“你们太落后了，我们如果明天早上投票的话，今天晚上就知道谁会当选了。。。”

My Taiwanese friend just told me they will go to vote for their president tomorrow morning, and they will know who wins the presidential election by the evening. Suddenly I did not know how to respond. Although our communication was smooth, I felt very ashamed. At the end, I said, ‘You Taiwanese are not efficient. If we mainland Chinese go to vote tomorrow morning, we would know who win the election tonight…’

In Hong Kong, columnist 練乙錚 (Lian Yi-Zheng) talked about [zh] how this election may change the future of China:

台灣的故事，如果只看到七八十年代，那是和大陸到目前為止差不多的，但到了八十年代，故事出現政治拐點，五千年文明古國民主化了。其後發展，大家清楚，要點是：台灣經驗是一個近乎完整的立國經驗。政治上，從極權到民主、從專制到自由；經濟上，從落後到富足，從漁農到包含大量高科技。
台灣在國際上沒有話語權，在全球華人當中的政治比重也很低，但一個內容豐富的「台灣論述」正在積聚力量，吸引着全世界大小角落裏正在徬徨焦慮地尋找精神家園的華人；這次到台灣觀選的陸人港客，便是這個論述的吸收者、傳播者。

What has happened in Taiwan is similar to that in China, if we only look at Taiwan’s history before 1980. In the 1980s, there was a turning point in their politics. Building upon the 5,000-year-old culture, the country became democratic. All of us know the following story: the so-called ‘Taiwan experience’ is similar to an experience of founding a state. Politically, they became democratic after totalitarianism, and now they enjoy freedom after autocracy. Economically, they became wealthy from [being] an undeveloped country, and they have developed hi-tech industry in addition to fishery and agriculture.
Taiwan can hardly speak out on the international stage. On the political stage of Chinese society all over the world, Taiwanese only play a small role. However, the ‘Taiwan proposal’ with a rich content is gaining its energy. This proposal attracts Chinese people all over the world who are anxious to find their spiritual homeland. This time, those people from Hong Kong and mainland China who went to Taiwan to observe this election will absorb this experience and spread it.

In China, 水木丁 pointed out [zh] it is an opportunity for people in China to reflect why they do not think democracy is a choice for China:

我看蔡英文的演讲时，一直在想这个问题，不知道那些持如此论调的人，看到这一场总统选举，会有什么样的说辞，所以美国人英国人可以讲民主，我们不配讲民主？所以连一衣带水的台湾人都可以讲民主，我们不配讲民主吗？全世界都素质高，只有我们素质低，不配讲民主吗？
我看到台湾大选的井然有序，内心感慨，因为我知道这些和我们一样的黄皮肤黑眼睛的同胞们正在学习，他们也曾选错人，也曾走过弯路，发生过闹剧，陷入过绝望，但是他们还是继续选择了这条路，不问自己配不配。我看到他们站在大雨中，胜利的人们和失败的人们，因为有信念，知道自己想要一个怎样的世界，所以也就有希望。我突然想到这个配不配的问题，这世界上貌似没有那个国家的人民，是要先证明自己配民主和自由，才被施舍民主和自由的，想到此岸的人们竟然要怀疑自己到底配不配，这真是羞辱。民主的确是要慢慢来，但绝对不是从证明自己配不配开始。

When I watched Tsai Ing-Wen’s talk, I kept thinking about this question: I do not know what those people will say about this election. Americans and British people can talk about democracy, but we are not qualified for talking about democracy, are we? Now Taiwanese can talk about democracy on the other side of the strait, but we still cannot talk about democracy. Is it true that the people outside of China have higher quality and we do not? Is this why we are not qualified for talking about democracy?
I have some reflections when I saw the election in Taiwan held smoothly. I know these people with yellow skin and black eyes, who look like us, are learning. They had chosen the wrong person. They had taken the detour. There had been a farce. No matter what has happened, they continue walking on the way they choose. They do not ask if they are qualified. I saw them standing in the rain, the supporters of the winning party and the supporters of the losing party. They have their beliefs. They know what kind of world they want. Therefore they have hope. Suddenly I thought about the question of qualification. No citizen in any country in the world is given out democracy and freedom after they prove that they are qualified for democracy and freedom. Thinking about the doubts about our qualification that many of us have, I feel humiliated. Democracy should be realized step by step, but the process should never start with proving us qualified for it.

Encouraged by the observers in Hong Kong, mainland China, and other parts of the world old cat believes [zh] the Taiwanese should be strong and help the democracy movement in China:

在這一次大選中，許多同胞憂慮中國透過讓利、市場力量，軟性影響台灣的選舉，而選前大批企業老闆公開支持九二共識，被視為中國影響的證明。這些憂慮當然很合理，但我們只能單向憂慮嗎？我們不能反向送出我們的魅力嗎？
這是台灣的機會…如果台灣對中國的民主化有貢獻，未來我們才有機會贏得十三億人的同理認同…台灣雖小，卻占有舉足輕重的位置，我們不應該再用逃離中國的心態思考未來。
無論幸或不幸，我們就是站在這個奇異的歷史高點上了，華人的民主典範，也許不是我們設定的目標，但卻是我們實實在在擁有的力量。
不應該辜負這樣的力量。

In this election, many Taiwanese worried about the influence of China on our election through their economic power. Before the election, many heads of big Taiwanese companies supported the so called 1992 consensus in the public. Their actions are considered as the influence of China. These worries are very reasonable. However, are we only able to worry about China? Aren’t we able to attract their eye?
This is an opportunity for Taiwan… If Taiwan contributes to the democratization in China, we may earn the heart of the 13 hundred million people in China… Taiwan is small, but we stand on an important position. We should stop evading China when we plan our future.
No matter if it is lucky or not, we are at the magic point in the history. Being a model of democracy in the Chinese society may not be our goal, but this is the power in our hand.
We should not waste this power.

Questions for China’s democracy opponents

Oiwan Lam — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:10:03 +0000

David Bandurski from China Media Project introduced a discussion among mainland Chinese public opinion leaders on the Taiwan presidential election and translated a Weibo post which raised a series of questions for China's democracy opponents.

Unhappy Hong Kong Envious of Taiwan's Democracy

Andy Yee — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:38:15 +0000

Having witnessed Taiwan's 2012 presidential election, Derrick Tao, a Hong Kong photographer, made a video (with English subtitles) to contrast democratic development of the two societies. As a prosperous but undemocratic city state, “Hong Kong could either join Taiwan as pioneers of freedom and democracy in the Chinese societies”, or “accept the status quo and let go of her ideals and beliefs.”