New Taipei Mayor Hou gets backlash over handling of Wugu trash

New Taipei Mayor Hou gets backlash over handling of Wugu trash

2023-05-10

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih is facing heat for his handling of the so-called "garbage mountain" of Wugu. Early into his term, the mayor cracked down on illegal trash dumping in Wugu District, turning the site into a recreational park. The transformation was touted as a major achievement, but the DPP isn’t buying it. At a Tuesday press conference, party members demanded answers to the question, "Where did the garbage mountain go?"

Hung Sun-han
DPP lawmaker
I have been following up on Taiwan’s waste disposal problems for a long time. In the waste management industry, it’s an open secret that – perhaps even at this very moment – there are trucks that take construction waste and even discarded soil from New Taipei City to central or southern Taiwan. Truck after truck transports this material, and where do they go? They go to farmlands in central and southern Taiwan, where the trash is buried in the fields or dumped in fishponds.

Tai Wei-shan
New Taipei City councilor (DPP)
It’s dumped on farmlands or fishponds, making everyone miserable. So Mr. Mayor, before you run for president, stop tossing your trash on other people’s doorstep and creating trouble for others. Don’t just shovel the snow off your own doorstep by turning Wugu into a verdant paradise, leaving us to wonder where its 170 tons of garbage ended up. Mayor Hou, do you know where that trash went? Was it all dumped in central and southern Taiwan?

In response to the allegations, Hou asked critics not to negate the work of his administration. He said the administration of New Taipei had made "continuous progress" on issues including social welfare, public infrastructure, education, and culture.

五股垃圾山改照"夏綠地" 綠批侯造成北廢南送

2023-05-10

新北市長侯友宜整頓五股垃圾山，改造成"夏綠地"。但民進黨上午開記者會，抨擊侯友宜曾自誇政績是「改變的勇氣」，但其實是「欺騙的勇氣」，造成「北廢南送」，廢棄物倒全台，反而讓中南部農田魚塭變成新北市的非法棄置場。

[[立委(民) 洪申翰]]
“我其實長期在追蹤台灣整體廢棄物的問題，在這些廢棄物處理的產業，業界裡這都不是秘密，也許就現在就在此時此刻，正有一車又一車，新北市的營建廢棄物，甚至棄土正在往中南部，一車一車的運送，運送到什麼地方，運送到中南部的農村，埋在中南部的農田裡，埋在中南部的魚塭裡”

[[新北市議員(民) 戴瑋姍]]
“(埋在) 魚塭或是農田，讓大家苦不堪言，所以市長你要選總統之前，不要把自家的垃圾，丟到別人家門口，造成別人的困擾，不要自掃門前雪，變成五股夏綠地之後，原本這170公噸的垃圾，到底跑去哪裡，侯市長有沒有做追蹤，還是全部跑到中南部去”

針對質疑，侯友宜表示，新北市的市政在所有團隊努力底下，不斷持續進步，尤其規劃的願景，目標非常的明確，不管是在社會福利、市政的公共建設，以及所有教育文化等等都有長足的進步，絕對不能抹煞他們市府團隊全力付出的辛苦。

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UK, US top diplomats take united front on Taiwan issue

The top diplomats of the U.S. and the U.K. took a united front on Taiwan in a press conference on Tuesday. Speaking after their meeting in Washington, U.S. state secretary Antony Blinken and U.K. foreign secretary James Cleverly said that peace in the Taiwan Strait was a shared priority. The officials said they had discussed a coordinated approach for engaging with China, in hopes of influencing its actions in the region. Also on Tuesday, Blinken issued a statement urging the World Health Assembly to include Taiwan as an observer.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly visited Washington, D.C. and held a one-hour closed-door meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Their talks centered on the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s threat in the Taiwan Strait.

Antony Blinken
US secretary of state
…a shared approach when it comes to key issues like ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as looking for ways to cooperate with China where we can work together to solve big challenges. That’s what people around the world expect from great powers, and it’s in our collective interest.

Blinken referred to the U.K.’s latest foreign policy report, released in March, saying there was a strategic alignment between the U.S. and U.K. on their China strategy. Cleverly said the same, emphasizing that the U.K., like the U.S., must confront China’s “inappropriate activities” and strengthen alliances with Indo-Pacific allies.

James Cleverly
UK foreign secretary
And we have to engage with China directly, robustly, regularly, to seek to influence the decisions that are made in Beijing … whether that be on the maintenance of peace across the Taiwan Strait…

The security of the Taiwan Strait has become a global issue. In its latest foreign policy report, the U.K. emphasized the importance of stability in the strait and of peaceful dialogue for resolving the Taiwan question. Last month, Cleverly warned that no country would be spared from the impact of a war in the strait.

James Cleverly (April 25)
UK foreign secretary
Taiwan is a thriving democracy and a crucial link in global supply chains. A war across the strait would not only be a human tragedy. It would destroy world trade worth US$2.6 trillion.

With the World Health Assembly to open in Geneva on May 21, Blinken issued a statement urging the WHO to include Taiwan as an observer.

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
So far, countries with similar principles have already demonstrated stronger support and more diverse forms of support, or – that is to say – they’re speaking out at higher levels, speaking out more and more strongly. Our diplomatic allies will also initiate motions to support us, and we’re making thorough preparations for that. We hope that this year, support for our participation in the WHO will reach an unprecedented level.

Since taking office in January 2021, Blinken has issued three public endorsements of Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA.

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Taiwanese green crafts to go on display in Washington, D.C. and New York

Now on to the world of craft design. The works of eight Taiwanese crafters will be displayed at exhibitions in Washington D.C. and New York in May and June. The show will feature Taiwanese green crafts such as rush grass weaving, bamboo weaving, and paper carving. Our very own Stephany Yang caught up with some of the artists to learn more about their works.

She skillfully transforms the rush grass into beautiful and intricate designs such as a dog, pig, and even a boat.

This one is a tatala boat, handwoven by Cheng Mei-yu. Tatala boats are used by indigenous Tao people. Cheng began rush grass weaving in 1996, and since then has won multiple awards. Through her rush grass works, she hopes to tell the world about Taiwan and also preserve the craft of grass weaving.

Cheng Mei-yu
Rush grass weaving master
This big boat is made by the Indigenous Yami people. If you’ve never seen it in person, you wouldn’t know the story. But at the exhibition in the U.S. we will be able to tell the story. After the boat is built, you must throw it into the air. After you toss it up, the owner of the boat which is the one on the top will be stable and not fall. Many people have never seen this ceremony, but if you were to see it in person, you would be very moved. I use rush grass weaving works to tell the story.

There’s also Hung Hsin-fu, a paper carving master who has been perfecting his craft for 40 years. He’s both an artist and a teacher, and has exhibited his works in over 20 countries and 100 cities around the world. Many of his crafts include animals that are unique to Taiwan, including rare species of butterflies and eagles.

Hung Hsin-fu
Paper carving master
This time when we visit the United States, there are many handicraft items that will be on display. I am skilled at paper art. Besides presenting creative works that show Taiwan’s unique creatures, one of my most important tasks is teaching others.

Over 20 art pieces by Taiwanese craftspeople will be displayed at an exhibition in Washington D.C. in May, and in New York in June. There will be three exhibition areas, titled “Earth,” “Community,” and “Mind.” The main theme of Taiwan’s exhibition is “Homeland.”

Chang Jen-chi
National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute
What is “Homeland”? It’s our homeland on Earth. Why is our curatorial theme “homeland”? We wanted to highlight our interactions with the Earth. In many works, many craftsmen used marine waste, agricultural waste, recycled materials, and sustainable materials to make their crafts.

Lee Lien-chuan
Deputy culture minister
First of all, Taiwan should put its culture out there for the world to see. Secondly, Taiwan needs to let the world see its efforts in environmental protection. Third, we should let our multiculturalism be seen by the world.

The first exhibition will be held at Overseas Community Affairs Council in Washington D.C., from May 12 to 31. The second exhibition will be at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York from June 7 till June 30. Through the exhibitions, organizers hope to allow more people to see the beauty of Taiwan’s unique craftsmanship.

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Experts share tips on how to find the cheapest airline tickets

After years of COVID restrictions, many of us are itching to travel abroad again, preferably at a bargain price. Today we talk with travel insiders on how to score the best airfares. They say that it all comes down to timing. If you can be flexible on your dates, keep an eye out for clearance deals and regular promotions. If you want to fly on a long weekend, avoiding the first day of the break could mean big savings.

In the post-pandemic era, the itch to travel is stronger than ever. Despite airline ticket prices soaring high, there are ways to score a bargain.

If you’re flexible on your dates, you can keep an eye out for promotions. Most airlines release discounts once a month, while budget carriers run sales as often as every two to three weeks.

Gary
Bargain hunter
If you have some flexibility and are willing to travel wherever, I would advise that you to wait for promotions. Bigger promotional campaigns are usually launched every six months. The thing is, the dates and destinations may not be what you want, so you have to look closely at what’s on offer.

One option not for the faint of heart is waiting for last-minute deals, which offer even bigger savings. Traditional airlines release these fares anytime between two weeks and two months before departure. Budget airlines do so one to three weeks before.

Gary
Bargain hunter
Take Cebu Pacific, which will be releasing deals in May and June. Their offers are quite the steal, with fares dropping from NT$10,000 to NT$6,000. EVA Air, China Airlines and Starlux do this as well, because after all, an unsold seat is a loss.

If you want to visit a popular destination on a long weekend, experts suggest booking a year in advance. It’s either that, or not departing the first day of the holiday.

Kimberly
Travel agent
Flight availability hasn’t yet returned to 2019 levels. This year, the price differences are much wider than before. If you are heading out during a long weekend, the first day is usually the most expensive. So I suggest setting off one or two days earlier or later. That way, you can save NT$3,000 to NT$5,000.

And as always, if you’re planning a trip, make sure to shop around to score the most economical option.

2023-05-10

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Taitung brothers make a name for Taiwan’s burgeoning urban dance scene

Two Taitung brothers are making a name for Taiwan’s nascent urban dance scene. Tsai Jen-hao and Tsai Shao-wei taught themselves to dance as teenagers, relying on tutorials on the internet. Recently, the brothers won honors at an international dance contest in France. They spoke to FTV about their optimism for the burgeoning dance scene in Taiwan, and their latest project: a dance school for the youngsters of Taitung.

Taiwanese urban dancer Tsai Jen-hao tears up the stage. His smooth and humorous locking performances win cheers from other dancers at the Next Urban Legend contest in France.

Then it’s time for his little brother to take the stage. Tsai Shao-wei, also a proficient urban dancer, made it to the final round of this competition.

His frenetic moves took him all across the stage.

Both brothers made a big impression, the older coming into the semifinals, the younger winning second place.

Tsai Jen-hao
Urban dancer
The caliber of Taiwan’s urban dancers is really improving continually. We encourage people to get out and compete in different countries.

The Taitung natives first fell in love with urban dance as little kids, when they saw a dancer on television. They started learning moves from the internet in junior high school – with no teacher to guide them. Bit by bit, they mastered the art, and now their home is covered with trophies and certificates.

But it wasn’t always easy. Their parents opposed their ambitions at first, and even friends questioned their commitment to dance.

Tsai Jen-hao
Urban dancer
Everyone thought, like, “Urban dance is something for hooligans or dropouts.” Our parents were quite opposed, when they first heard we were learning to dance, until the club performance evening of our third year of high school. When our mom saw me performing, she thought, “Wow, everyone knows him up there, on stage, and they’re all calling his name…”

Tsai Shao-wei
Urban dancer
When we go outside Taitung, maybe we seem a bit provincial, unsophisticated. But actually, I think, if you just open your mind a bit, actually our creativity and our ideas are just as good as anyone’s.

As Taitung dancers, born and bred, they know what it’s like to learn to dance with very limited resources. Now they’re making a name for Taiwan on stages around the world. They recently started a dance school in their hometown, with the hope of giving the next generation of Taitung children a warm welcome to the dance floor.

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Charities call for more thoughtful donations as old clothes pose a burden

We now take a look at the fate of old clothes. Donating old clothes to charity is very popular. But many Taiwanese charities are calling for people to be more thoughtful about such donations. They frequently get clothes dumped on their door, which they can’t use. Just sorting through those items is a burden for volunteers. Today we hear from four different charities who all share a similar dilemma. As fast fashion swells our wardrobes to bursting, it’s time to be more careful about how we deal with our old things.

A volunteer unpacks a plastic bag of old clothes. They all have to be checked. Some are too old to wear. Others are too fashionable to give away.

Chen Chih-ming
Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Keelung
What worries us most is when a bag of donations is dumped at our door. There might be socks or underwear in there, or things that are old or worn.

For social welfare foundations short on labor, it’s quite a burden to sort by hand through a mountain of old clothes like this.

The most common issue is that donated clothes are the wrong size. For example, a children’s home might receive donations of adults’ clothes. Or they receive formalwear which is useless for everyday life. Sometimes they must politely decline donations.

Chung Hsiao-chen
Hope Garden, Chensenmei Social Welfare Foundation
The clothes people donate are usually quite fashionable. Another thing is the sizes are wrong.

This children’s home receives donations of out-of-season clothes and factory defects from fast fashion partners. The children here often wear good-quality old clothes, and when they grow out of them, they’re donated to other organizations. Worn or unusable clothes are given to factories to use as rags. Other organizations have a different system: they sell donations of clothes and other usable items in their second-hand store. It’s a way to make money as well as practice an eco-friendly attitude to material objects.

Lu Li-han
Onesiphorus Children’s Home director
If it’s really too old or broken, then we collect those items and give them to our partner, a car mechanic, a place which helps us train the kids. They use them as rags for cleaning up oil.

Huang Yen-chih
Heartlight Home for Disabled People director
We have a very large number of items, in general. In fact, they’re all sold for just tiny amounts of cash. You can take them home for a few cents.

Next time you have some old items and want to get rid of them, take a moment to think. Is this item still usable, and will it be a real gift for the organization I donate it to? That way, your good intentions are more likely to hit the mark.

2023-05-10