Campaign masks are the new trend for election mementos in 2022

Campaign masks are the new trend for election mementos in 2022

2022-09-21

Political mementos are a part of modern elections. And in 2022, the campaign mask is a big trend. More and more candidates are giving out face masks at campaign events, whereas in the past they often gave voters tissue paper. We took a trip to a mask manufacturer that is happy to be booked up with orders from local politicians.

Face masks roll off a production line. A political candidate’s card is placed on each one before they are packaged. Then a sticker is added by hand, and these campaign mementos are ready to leave the busy factory.

Yang Ssu-min
FTV reporter
The mask factory is working flat out, with 18 machines working at full speed, all in an effort to get these campaign materials out as fast as possible.

As electioneering ramps up, candidates are giving out all kinds of flyers and leaflets at events. Many printers are totally booked up with orders, there’s so much demand. This production line is expected to be running 13 hours a day from now until November, producing 300,000 masks a day.

Yang Chia-hao
Biotech company CEO
In the past it was always packs of tissues that were campaign promotional products. Now, because mask production costs are low, and you can package them individually, it’s changed a lot. We used to place the candidate’s card behind the pack of tissues. We don’t do that now. You can print it on the whole mask. You can also put a card in with the mask.

Some masks come with a card, while others have a name or a slogan printed directly on. The production cost of face masks used to be much higher. Following advances in technology and the greater protection afforded by new materials, custom masks are a more attractive freebie. They’re cheaper, too.

Chao Chin-ying
Biotech company CEO
In reality our production costs are only NT$3-4 per gram. So, accordingly, we use them in our masks and toiletries, for example. So that’s why our final price is affordable for the general public.

Before the pandemic, there were about 44 mask manufacturers in Taiwan. After demand exploded and the “National Mask Squad” was formed, manufacturers multiplied until there were almost 700. Many shut down afterward, and now there are about 200 manufacturers. Luckily at election time there’s a fresh spike in demand for election souvenirs.

口罩成另類文宣夯品客製化大發選舉財

2022-09-21

戴口罩防疫已是生活日常，口罩也成為選戰最夯的文宣小物，趁著11月地方選舉前，許多參選人有製作文宣小物的需求，不少候選人搭上防疫列車，讓口罩工廠大發選舉財。

口罩一個個在生產線上，再放上選舉候選人的宣傳小卡，包裝完成後，再用人工貼上貼紙，選舉文宣小物完成，工廠裡機器快速運轉，員工也忙得團團轉。

[[民視記者楊思敏]]
“口罩工廠加緊趕工，18台機器全速運轉，就是要趕快把宣傳文宣小物做出來”

再過不久就要選舉，候選人跑行程都會發文宣，需求量大到許多工廠都滿單，預估會從9月忙到11月初選舉前，業者產線全開，口罩和包裝機一天運轉13小時，每天產量約30萬片。

[[生技公司總經理楊家豪]]
“以前早期都是衛生紙作為選舉小物，現在因為口罩成本低，而且都獨立包裝，所以它現在有很多變化，以前是早期衛生紙後面放一個名片，那現在沒有了，口罩整個滿版可以印刷，口罩的部分也是可以放夾張”

不管是放入宣傳小卡，或是用熱印技術，把logo或宣傳口號印上去，通通都可以，早期口罩原料成本高，但隨著技術發展，布料防護力提升，同時也壓低成本，讓候選人搭上防疫列車，客製化選舉宣傳口罩。

[[生技公司總經理趙晉潁]]
“實際上我們成本的部分，一公克大概只要3、4塊而已，所以相對的，我們把它應用在我們的譬如說口罩上面，或民生用品上面，其實最後的一個末端價格，才是一般民眾使用得起”

疫情前口罩廠約44家，疫情爆發後口罩需求也暴增，成立防疫國家隊外，廠商家數來到將近700家，但任務結束後倒了一堆，現在只剩200家左右，趁著選舉年相關需求大，業者轉個方向，搶攻另類選舉財。

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The General Debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly has opened in person for the first time since COVID. Three of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies voiced support for Taiwan on Day One of the debate.

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My country underscores our support for the request of the Republic of China, Taiwan to be a full member of the United Nations system. We are convinced of the valuable contribution that its participation would make to the multilateral system.

The president of Paraguay voiced support for Taiwan to join the U.N. system, and took the opportunity to express his solidarity with the Taiwanese people after Sunday’s earthquake in Taitung. In the afternoon session, the president of the Marshall Islands devoted two and a half minutes protesting Taiwan’s unfair treatment.

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Today, we call on the U.N. to better welcome Taiwan and its people into our global family. How long will the U.N. persist in closing its doors and thereby denying access to the people of Taiwan? The United Nations circle of unity will remain incomplete without Taiwan and its people.

The president of Guatemala did not name names, but heavily implied that China was preventing Taiwan from joining the U.N. and being recognized as a nation.

Alejandro Giammattei Falla
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Within these reforms, ensure the right of Taiwan to belong to this organization and also recognize it as a nation. Because it has been denied this right by one of the permanent members of the Security Council.

Of the four Taiwan allies speaking on Day One, only Honduras did not make any mention of Taiwan. The country is led by Xiomara Castro, whose term began in January this year, after an electoral campaign advocating for cutting ties with Taiwan. It marks the seventh year in a row that Honduras does not mention Taiwan in the General Debate.

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So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

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The status quo, which is the current situation in the area, should not be challenged — neither by China nor by anyone else.

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A battalion of marines in determined poses. Leaning slightly forward, they are ready to spring forward in an instant. Each figure has a clear role.

Fang Hui-kuang
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When the marines advance, it’s professional knowledge which type of soldier will take up which position. Where does the mortar go? Where do the artillerymen go? So once I had confirmed those things, I could start making my artistic plans. The work has a rather flowery name: “The Key to Victory.”

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I think that the moment when a marine unit seizes a beachhead is the most stunning. In that moment, no matter what their training is or how patriotic, or what moral fortitude, courage or abilities they have, it’s a totally shocking scene.

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Composers and film music composers are two very different jobs. As a film music composer you are a film-maker. You’re taking part of the making of a film. For that, you have to consider yourself as a film-maker. You have to watch films, understand films. Not just doing music on the side. That would be my main advice.

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