Researcher leaves Academia Sinica job to produce eco-friendly reed straws

Researcher leaves Academia Sinica job to produce eco-friendly reed straws

2025-02-07

A research assistant at Academia Sinica gave up his job to move to Hualien and start a drinking straw business. But he doesn’t sell your regular straws. They are made out of reeds, an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The entrepreneur hopes to expand his reed business in the future to branch into traditional Chinese medicine. Reed roots are an ingredient used in some preparations, and due to a lack of local industry, Taiwan currently has to import all its reed roots from China.

Reeds can be tied up to make an adorable art installation. Or you can arrange them to make a lantern with fairy lights. These reed works are all the ideation of Chang Chen-yu who’s made the move from Taipei to Hualien.

Chang Chen-yu
Reed farmer
Originally I just wanted to reduce plastic use. But then I moved to Hualien and I really got into planting reeds, which strengthened my bond with the land.

Chang used to be a research assistant at Academia Sinica, specializing in carbon emissions. His work took him to Hualien, where he started a company that makes drinking straws out of reeds. He decided to stop doing research and immerse himself fully in environmental protection. By chance he discovered the ecological and environmental uses of reed overseas, and seeing a company making straws out of bamboo, he decided to do the same but with reeds. Cultivating reeds and creating products is now his mission.

Sumay Kacaw
Matalim resident
When it came to making straws out of reeds, we were like “Huh, the reeds along the Xiuguluan River could also be turned into straws!”

Chang Chen-yu
Reed farmer
As everyone knows, global warming is a severe issue. So every little thing that we can do matters, even if it is just a small change. We want everyone to see all the possibilities that exist, so that more people get to it.

In addition, reed root is an ingredient in traditional Chinese herbal preparations. As there is currently no industrial cultivation in Taiwan, all reed roots have to be imported from China. Chang hopes to get into the market to produce medicinal ingredients alongside his eco-friendly straws.

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放棄中研院職務! 搬到花蓮當青農打造蘆葦產業鏈

2025-02-07

花蓮玉里一名從事蘆葦種植及加工產業的青農張震宇，當初放棄中研院相關工作，從台北南下花蓮創業，一開始是為了環保，後來才發現，自己逐漸與花蓮這塊土地有了連結。由於台灣並沒有蘆葦相關產業，因此張震宇希望，除了環保，台灣未來也能建立自己的蘆葦產業鏈，自給自足。

一根根捆綁好的蘆葦，變身為可愛的裝置藝術，另外有燈具外殼，只要在裡面掛上燈泡，就可以使用。這些蘆葦藝術品的催生者是他，來自台北，現居花蓮的張震宇。

[[種植蘆葦青農張震宇]]
“最早是減塑，可是當我真正到花蓮來的時候，就真的去種蘆葦，一種蘆葦的話，我就跟這個土地的連結就更強”

曾在中研院當研究助理，做碳排研究的張震宇，之所以搬到花蓮，用蘆葦吸管創業，除了不想再做研究外，也是為了環保，因為在國外，偶然間發現蘆葦的生態環保優勢，並且看到有人用竹子做吸管，才讓他決定用蘆葦模仿，並踏上種植及製作蘆葦相關產品的這條路。

[[泰林部落居民舒麥]]
“做那個蘆葦吸管那個部分，我們也就是，咦，你看秀姑巒溪的那個蘆葦，也可以變成一個吸管這樣子”

[[種植蘆葦青農張震宇]]
“其實大家都知道，現在真的全球暖化很嚴重，那我們所做的這件事情，就真的可以為這件事情有一些貢獻，甚至是很小的變化，但是讓大家看到這件可能性，去驅動更多人來一起參與這件事情”

蘆葦的根是中藥材原料之一，但國內並沒有相關產業，導致蘆根必須從中國進口，因此張震宇種植蘆葦，除了做環保吸管，也希望未來台灣的蘆根，能夠自給自足。

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24 Republican lawmakers are calling for the US to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan

A group of US lawmakers are calling for the US to restore formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Twenty-four House Republicans led by Representative Tom Tiffany say the US should abandon its outdated one-China policy. Tiffany, a long-time Taiwan supporter, says Taiwan has never been controlled by the PRC and is a free, democratic and independent country. The US, he says, should speak up for Taiwan and support it to have full membership in international organizations where statehood is a requirement. While the resolution reflects the stance of some US lawmakers, it does not have legal force.

Tom Tiffany
US House Representative (Rep.)
These directives do not help the United States and they do not help Taiwan. But they do help the Chinese Communist Party.

There’s another wave of support for Taiwan in the US. Led by long-time Taiwan supporter, Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, 24 lawmakers from his party have proposed a joint resolution calling on the US to abandon its one-China policy and restore formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The resolution begins by stating that the US should not only restore formal diplomatic ties. That there should also be talks on a bilateral free trade pact and support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. It also states that Taiwan and its outlying islands have never been under the control of the Beijing authorities. It condemns China for unreasonably claiming sovereignty over Taiwan and uses the US “one China policy” as a weapon to block Taiwan’s full membership in the UN, the WHO and the Olympics. It also notes that the “one China policy” is outdated and is not applicable to the people of Taiwan and the US. It also fails to reflect the clear reality that Taiwan has been a sovereign and independent country for more than 70 years.

Puma Shen
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Some people have established diplomatic relations with China, but they can also establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. How should we communicate this with other countries and can we slowly move in this direction? Of course we hope that our allies can join in on this discussion.

Chang Po-yang
Kaohsiung councilor (TSP)
Our allies have extended an olive branch to us, so of course we must express our stance even more proactively and respond to the US so as not to miss out. During the process of Trump taking the lead to restructure the world order, Taiwan must make sure not to miss the first train.

Tiffany called on US President Donald Trump to recognize Taiwan’s democratically-elected government, restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan, appoint ambassadors from both sides and abandon internal guidelines restricting exchanges between US and Taiwanese officials.

Member of the public
Taiwan is a normal country and we need to restore normal diplomacy. Our rotten neighbor China is too awful. I hope we really go full steam ahead.

Member of the public
This is an issue between two great powers. I think Taiwan may have to take its own path.

US lawmakers have once again proposed a resolution to express a pro-Taiwan stance. The Taiwanese people welcome this and look forward to a continued warming of Taiwan-US relations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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US tariffs on Mexico, Canada pause for a month

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico sent global markets in a downward spiral Monday. They recovered some lost ground when Trump announced he would postpone a 25% tariff on Mexican goods for a month in exchange for concessions. He later announced a similar pause with Canada. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House.

President Donald Trump’s weekend tariff announcement is being felt in Ottawa, in Mexico City, in Beijing — and here, in New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taipei. Around the world, markets fell Monday after Trump dropped 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and 10% on China.

In Washington, Trump spoke of his agreement Monday with Mexico to pause the tariffs for a month in exchange for concessions from Mexico City meant to stop migration flows and the movement of illegal drugs across the southern border. Markets quickly made up some losses after his announcement. He also announced a similar pause with Canada later on Monday.

Donald Trump
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We have to stop people from pouring in, and we have to stop fentanyl, and that includes China. Fentanyl has killed this year at least 200,000 people. It’s pouring in from China through Mexico and Canada. And they’ve got to stop it. And if they don’t stop it, the tariffs are going to get worse.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sounded a hopeful note on Monday.

Claudia Sheinbaum
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I’m sure that in this month, we’ll be able to have results, good results for your people, good results for the people of Mexico, and this was the result of the agreement. It was a good conversation, with respect."

China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, on Monday said Beijing would turn to the World Trade Organization for recourse.

Fu Cong
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We do believe that this is in violation of the WTO rules. So, that’s why China is filing a complaint at the WTO. And we’re also aware we may be forced to take countermeasures. And let me also emphasize that there is no winner in a trade war.

Trump acknowledged that the move could raise prices but said the higher tariffs would be “worth the price” to bolster US interests.

Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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National Museum of History holds currency exhibition

The National Museum of History is holding an exhibition showcasing the museum’s and Central Bank’s collection of currencies dating all the way back to at least the third century BCE. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

The earliest currencies in Ancient China were shells because they were durable, portable, and easy to preserve. By the Zhou dynasty, which began in the 11th century BCE, coins were introduced; and by the Qing dynasty some 400 years later, shells were replaced with money. The exhibition showcases currencies throughout history, ranging from pre-Qing dynasty artifacts to modern coins, silver ingots, and banknotes collected by the Central Bank and the National Museum of History.

Kuo Pei-i
National Museum of History
This is one of the important antiquities in our museum. It is a standardized ingot from the Yuan dynasty. On the back is written Yuanbao, which means treasure of the Yuan dynasty. This is a standard type, 50 tael. It weighs 50 tael. The sides will be molded in, and the middle will be indented, which allows them to be stackable, which was convenient for tax collection. This was mainly used in the Yuan the Ming dynasties, and was used all the way until the Qing Dynasty. At that time, paper money was issued for a while. But people were accustomed to using ingots and copper coins. Copper coins were used for small transactions, while ingots were used for large transactions.

The Central Bank’s collection of animal-themed banknotes from Taiwan and other countries are also on display.

Kuo Pei-i
National Museum of History
The Central Bank collects lots of banknotes and coins from all over the world to study their design. This time they have collected all 12 zodiac animal. Abroad, the rabbit is especially popular. Several countries use the rabbit for their banknotes. In addition, the horse is also popular. The most popular zodiac animal coin sets are usually dragon, tiger and horse. These three are especially popular. The bestsellers are usually dragons, tigers and horses.

The National Museum of History is holding a currency exhibition showcasing collections from the National Museum of History and the Central Bank. The exhibition also unveils the minting production processes.

Kuo Pei-i
National Museum of History
We hope to take this opportunity to educate the public about the identification, use and production process of currencies. The main exhibition area has three sections. The first one introduces the coins throughout history, all the way to modern times. The second exhibition area is centered on the zodiac animals. The third area is the interactive area, where banknote stickers are placed, and everyone can use stamps to emboss money cards.

Money makes the world go round. To find out more, head to the National Museum of History by April 6.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Cold wave hits Taiwan over the weekend

The third cold wave this winter season is coming this weekend. Temperatures began dipping on Friday, and are expected to fall below 10 degrees in Northern Taiwan in the plains, and to 4 to 5 degrees near mountains. Some mountainous areas with altitudes of over 3,000m might see snowfall.

A thick layer of frost is glazed over the flooring at Paiyun Lodge in Yushan and over tree branches. At 6 a.m., the mercury dipped to -2°C. The third cold wave this winter season is not to be taken lightly. It’ll be colder starting on Friday all the way through the weekend, especially in the north and northeast.

Lee Meng-hsuan
Central Weather Administration
Let’s look at the plains first. Basically, the effect of this cold spell will be most apparent from the 8th to early morning on the 9th. But there may still be lows below 10°C by the 10th. In fact, over these two days, lows may dip to around 6°C, or even 4°C or 5°C in areas near the mountains. And of course in some areas in Miaoli, the temperatures could be even lower.

The coldest time will be around daybreak this coming Saturday and Sunday. And due to less air moisture and radiative cooling, it’ll feel even colder on Sunday. According to the Central Weather Administration, the zero-degree temperatures will be found even at just 1,000m above sea level. Therefore, even Qixing Mountain and Datun Mountain in Taipei have a chance of snow.

Lee Meng-hsuan
Central Weather Administration
It’s expected that from the 7th to early morning on the 8th, there may be a chance of snow in tall mountains more than 3,000m above sea level in Central Taiwan. As for the evening of the 7th to early morning on the 9th, in the northern and northeastern regions, there may be a chance of snow in tall mountains more than 1,000m above sea level.

The number of cold days in which temperatures dipped below 14°C in Taipei this winter season broke a 10-year record, making it the coldest winter of the decade. So be sure to bundle up and stay warm.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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