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11 Sept 2010 Session Report
Place/Time: TEAN Meeting Room, 10:30am-12:30pm
Topic: Talking about Taiwan with Visiting Foreigners (1)Participants: Lynn, Yvonne, Caroline, Julie, Claudia, Yedda, Ellen
Welcome to Julie and Yedda, their first time to come to a session!
Everyone first shared their experiences of tour guides from the point of view of being a tourist. We wrote a list on the whiteboard of positive and negative qualities of tour guides.
+ qualities: Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, able to make statistics interesting via stories and talking about personal experiences
- qualities: Obviously trying to get tourists to buy certain products; treating customers unequally
Ellen taught us all a really good special technique she'd experiences in Germany: the directed pause.
Lynn then did 2 short presentations about Hagley Park in Christchurch, NZ. Participants reacted to and discussed the differences between the 2 presentations in pairs. It was widely agreed that telling stories and personalizing (using "I" and "you"), plus making comparisons rather than just saying numbers and statistics were more memorable and interesting.
We finished by looking at tourist resources in English and Chinese (brochures, maps, books about Taiwan) that Lynn and Yvonne had brought. We all agreed to choose a place OR topic about Taiwan for the 9 October session. If you have time, prepare a short presentation in English before then. At the session, your English will get checked, and you'll have chances to practise it.
Also think about this quote:
If aliens came to earth, the most suitable place for them to settle would be Taiwan.
Ma Ying-Jiou (China Post newspaper, 20 Dec 2007)
Do you agree with what he said? Why? Why not?!?
Next session: Sat 25 Sept, 10:30am-12:30pm
Topic (to be confirmed): Guest speaker Jiali, on her experiences living and working in Cambodia and the Marshall Islands for an NGO and the Taiwanese government.
Place: To be announced (TBA)
submitted by Lynn
20100112_Possible Discussion Topics
Hello Good People :)
At our last session (on Sat 9 Jan), we decided several things:
1. Instead of every Saturday, we will meet twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. So, the next session will be on Sat 23 Jan. If the 2nd or 4th Saturday falls on a public holiday, we'll reschedule the session to the 1st or 3rd Saturday.
2. We plan to continue meeting at the TEAN offices near Shandao Temple MRT station. (Echo, hopefully this is OK? Could you please pass this message on to your new staff member who you said is interested in joining the group?)
3. We donated the money earmarked for the 350 Climate Change event to TEAN instead. (Did you receive it OK, Echo?)
4. Ellen is going to try setting up a google group for us to replace the ning group. We think it might be more user-friendly. Thanks, Ellen!
5. Re: discussion topics, if you want, have a look at the attachment. If you have any comments/suggestions, please email me back. I'm really happy for any ideas!
6. If no one has any particular topic they want to discuss in the next session, I (Lynn) will choose one. I'll announce the session topic one week in advance, and suggest any Internet resources I can find on the topic so you can prepare in advance if you want.
Also attached is the Energy Tax document we read last Saturday--both the English and Chinese versions.
If you don't want to continue receiving TAIWAN ISSUES in ACTION emails/information, please let me know!
Sorry this is so long! Bye for now,
:) Lynn
2 attachments:
20100112_Discussion_Topics.doc
20100112_Energy_Tax.doc
At our last session (on Sat 9 Jan), we decided several things:
1. Instead of every Saturday, we will meet twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. So, the next session will be on Sat 23 Jan. If the 2nd or 4th Saturday falls on a public holiday, we'll reschedule the session to the 1st or 3rd Saturday.
2. We plan to continue meeting at the TEAN offices near Shandao Temple MRT station. (Echo, hopefully this is OK? Could you please pass this message on to your new staff member who you said is interested in joining the group?)
3. We donated the money earmarked for the 350 Climate Change event to TEAN instead. (Did you receive it OK, Echo?)
4. Ellen is going to try setting up a google group for us to replace the ning group. We think it might be more user-friendly. Thanks, Ellen!
5. Re: discussion topics, if you want, have a look at the attachment. If you have any comments/suggestions, please email me back. I'm really happy for any ideas!
6. If no one has any particular topic they want to discuss in the next session, I (Lynn) will choose one. I'll announce the session topic one week in advance, and suggest any Internet resources I can find on the topic so you can prepare in advance if you want.
Also attached is the Energy Tax document we read last Saturday--both the English and Chinese versions.
If you don't want to continue receiving TAIWAN ISSUES in ACTION emails/information, please let me know!
Sorry this is so long! Bye for now,
:) Lynn
2 attachments:
20100112_Discussion_Topics.doc
20100112_Energy_Tax.doc
20100123_Would You Want to Work 365 Days a Year?
Sat 23 Jan 2010 topic: Would You Want to Work 365 Days a Year?
Foreign Domestic Workers in Taiwan
Foreign Domestic Workers in Taiwan
Optional Background Reading:
China Post newspaper 20 Oct 2009 article: Vietnam caretakers treated like slave laborers: activists
(http://www.chinapost.com.tw/print/229289.htm)
In the session, I'll ask: Do you know any foreign women who work in Taipei houses, cleaning and/or taking care of kids/old people? Do you know what their working conditions are?
After discussing any personal experiences we have, we'll look at the newspaper article above. Then, we'll watch a 5-min video (in Chinese) produced by the TIWA (Taiwan International Workers' Association).
Finally, we'll look at the most recent news (it seems to be good news!) about this issue.
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Place: TEAN meeting room
138 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 1, 11th floor
a 1-min walk from Shandao Temple MRT station, Exit 5
Cheers
Lynn
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Attachment(s): 20100123_WouldYouWanttoWork365DaysaYear.doc
You could also watch this interesting video produced by TIWA: http://www.tiwa.org.tw/index.php?itemid=338
20100206_Shark Fin Soup You could also watch this interesting video produced by TIWA: http://www.tiwa.org.tw/index.php?itemid=338
Session: Sat 6 Feb
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Place, TEAN Meeting Room, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 1, 11th floor (a 1-min walk from Shandao Temple MRT Station, Exit 5)
Topic: Shark Fin Soup
Find out about international and local campaigns to save sharks and raise people's awareness about shark fin soup. We'll watch at least one short video, and write our comments to the producer (an Israeli young man), and write letters to our beloved 7-11, Family Mart, etc. (See the attached email that Kathy sent, or go directly to EAST's webpage呼籲台灣四大便利超商， 成為海洋生態保育的「好鄰居」，停止販售魚翅年菜，讓代代子孫得以「年年有魚 (餘) 」.)
Attachment(s): 1
20100206_EAST_SharkFinSoup.doc
Additional information shared in the session:
A. Video(s): 4
(1) Shark Fin Soup--Why? (1:34)
(2) Stop Shark Finning (1:40)
(3) Shark Fin Soup (4:15) --produced by SciFri
(4) Ang Lee on Shark Finning (1:43) --produced by WildAid
B. Article(s): 1
WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT SHARK FIN SOUP?
It’s cruel and wasteful. After fishermen cut the fins off a shark, they usually just throw it back in the water.
A shark can’t survive without its fins, and it slowly bleeds to death underwater.
Eating shark and shark fins isn’t healthy.
Shark meat has a very high level of mercury. The US Environmental Protection Agency advises women and children to stay clear of it.
Recent tests in Thailand found very high levels of mercury in shark fins.
There’s no evidence to support the claims that shark fin soup has health benefits such as increasing your appetite, preventing cancer or improving your kidneys, lungs and bones.
Low numbers of shark in the ocean isn’t just bad for sharks—it’s also bad for humans. Our life on land is linked to the ocean environment.
Sharks are predators at the top of the marine eco-system. When shark numbers decrease, smaller fish quickly boom (rise in number) and then crash (suddenly decrease in number) when their own food supply runs out.
The way sharks are caught is very damaging to other fish and sea birds. Many sharks are caught using long lines, which sweep across the ocean from 1 to 100 miles,…
…sweeping up all ocean creatures that are unlucky enough to be in its path, including turtles and seabirds. Over 25% of long-line catch is thrown back into the sea, dead.
Some species of shark are fast becoming endangered.
Sharks can be caught quickly, but they take a long time to mature (7-20 years). The current demand for their fins makes it impossible for shark numbers to return to previous levels.
***************************************************************************************
ACTION after discussion: Send letters to the four convenience store chains!
(An English translation of the Chinese letter proposed by EAST: http://www.east.org.tw/FCKupload/File/e-paper/20100123-1.htm)
Place, TEAN Meeting Room, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 1, 11th floor (a 1-min walk from Shandao Temple MRT Station, Exit 5)
Topic: Shark Fin Soup
Find out about international and local campaigns to save sharks and raise people's awareness about shark fin soup. We'll watch at least one short video, and write our comments to the producer (an Israeli young man), and write letters to our beloved 7-11, Family Mart, etc. (See the attached email that Kathy sent, or go directly to EAST's webpage呼籲台灣四大便利超商， 成為海洋生態保育的「好鄰居」，停止販售魚翅年菜，讓代代子孫得以「年年有魚 (餘) 」.)
Attachment(s): 1
20100206_EAST_SharkFinSoup.doc
Additional information shared in the session:
A. Video(s): 4
(1) Shark Fin Soup--Why? (1:34)
(2) Stop Shark Finning (1:40)
(3) Shark Fin Soup (4:15) --produced by SciFri
(4) Ang Lee on Shark Finning (1:43) --produced by WildAid
B. Article(s): 1
WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT SHARK FIN SOUP?
It’s cruel and wasteful. After fishermen cut the fins off a shark, they usually just throw it back in the water.
A shark can’t survive without its fins, and it slowly bleeds to death underwater.
Eating shark and shark fins isn’t healthy.
Shark meat has a very high level of mercury. The US Environmental Protection Agency advises women and children to stay clear of it.
Recent tests in Thailand found very high levels of mercury in shark fins.
There’s no evidence to support the claims that shark fin soup has health benefits such as increasing your appetite, preventing cancer or improving your kidneys, lungs and bones.
Low numbers of shark in the ocean isn’t just bad for sharks—it’s also bad for humans. Our life on land is linked to the ocean environment.
Sharks are predators at the top of the marine eco-system. When shark numbers decrease, smaller fish quickly boom (rise in number) and then crash (suddenly decrease in number) when their own food supply runs out.
The way sharks are caught is very damaging to other fish and sea birds. Many sharks are caught using long lines, which sweep across the ocean from 1 to 100 miles,…
…sweeping up all ocean creatures that are unlucky enough to be in its path, including turtles and seabirds. Over 25% of long-line catch is thrown back into the sea, dead.
Some species of shark are fast becoming endangered.
Sharks can be caught quickly, but they take a long time to mature (7-20 years). The current demand for their fins makes it impossible for shark numbers to return to previous levels.
***************************************************************************************
ACTION after discussion: Send letters to the four convenience store chains!
(An English translation of the Chinese letter proposed by EAST: http://www.east.org.tw/FCKupload/File/e-paper/20100123-1.htm)
Subject: You are requested to stop selling shark fin dishes NOW!
Dear Manager,
Due to people's demand for shark fin dishes, tens of millions of sharks are killed every single year around the world. According to scientific research statistics, the total amount of living sharks has been surprisingly decreasing in the past half century.
Dear Manager,
Due to people's demand for shark fin dishes, tens of millions of sharks are killed every single year around the world. According to scientific research statistics, the total amount of living sharks has been surprisingly decreasing in the past half century.
It is believed that the extinction of sharks will result in a terrible chain effect leading to more extinctions and overpopulations of other fish and ocean species. In the end, there would only be an unbalanced ocean eco-system left for all of us.
Because of the high price of shark fins, fishing companies cut off the shark fins and throw the remaining worthless parts back into the ocean in order to have more room to load more shark fins. Then, those sharks bleed slowly and die a cruel death in the ocean.
In order to preserve and sustainably develop the marine eco-system and to stop cruelty to sharks, we urge you to be socially responsible and to be a good corporate citizen regarding preservation of the ocean environment by stopping the sales of shark fin dishes. This will enable us and our future generations to continue enjoying fish every year.
Signed by:
20100227_Members' presentations from any Taiwan Review (magazine) article Signed by:
Sat 27 Feb's topic (this is the correct date!*): Members' Presentations from any Taiwan Review (magazine) Article.
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
At: TEAN meeting room, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 1, 11th floor (a 1-min walk from Shandao Temple Station, Exit 5.)
Do a google search for Taiwan Review, and choose an article from among the varied topics (Business, Art, the Environment, etc). Read the article, and tell us about it in this session!
For planning purposes, if you decide to present an article this time, please write your name and title of the article below.
(*Thanks Caroline, for noticing the wrong date--and sorry you can't come, but there will be another time for you to present something! :) Lynn)
20100306_1.Review on Shark Fin Soup; 2.Taiwan Literature in English
Session: Sat 6 MarTime: 10:30am-12:30pm
Place, TEAN Meeting Room, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 1, 11th floor (a 1-min walk from Shandao Temple MRT Station, Exit 5) Attendees: Lynn, Echo, Ellen, Steve, Phil, Avoda and Amy
Topic(s): Follow-up about Shark Fin Soup Actions, Taiwanese Literature and English poem writing and sharing
1. Follow-up about SHARK FIN SOUP ACTIONS
Lynn shared her experience about faxing the EAST (Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan) petition to 7-11, which ended up taking a lot of time because she got a bit of a run-around from the store.* Lynn also passed around an online news article about the petition results in general. The article (on www.idn-news.com, Jan 24, found by Caroline, thank you!) stated that a coalition of Taiwanese environmental groups led by EAST had raised the issue of shark fin soup, asking the big convenience stores (7-11, Family Mart, Hi-Life and OK), to NOT sell sharp fin soup next Chinese New Year. Although none of the convenience stores completely agreed, two of them (Hi-Life and OK) agreed to consider canceling shark fin soup in their 2011 Chinese New Year menus. Good news!
We discussed the idea of asking friends who are getting married to NOT serve shark fin soup at their wedding banquet. Steve talked about the meaning of shark fin soup at wedding banquets in Taiwan. Amy also told us about her interesting experience of attending an environmentally-friendly wedding banquet which not only did not serve shark fin soup--the groom made an announcement about it, saying he wanted to help save sharks. Also, everyone ate without the lights on, to help save the planet from global warming! Amongst us, there were varying degrees of resolution concerning asking friends to not serve shark fin soup at their wedding banquet. But it was agreed that the concept of gaining face by offering shark fin soup (which Steve had mentioned) is not held so strongly by the current generation of newlyweds...Lynn provided us a nice example of 2 of her young Taiwanese students who know the truth behind shark fin soup from school...so maybe the tradition will gradually die out in Taiwan?!
*to get the run-around = to be told different things by different people, especially when you're trying to communicate something to a big organization/company
2. A Slice of Taiwanese Literature
2.1 The River Flows On- Chi Pang-Yuan
http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=64409&CtNode=1337&mp=1
2.2三腳馬-鄭清文
2.3 from Chinese Taipei PEN Autumn 1988 a poem by瘂弦 written in 1981 C教授
到六月他的白色硬領仍將繼績支撐他底古典
每個早晨，以大戰前的姿態打著領結
然後是手杖、鼻煙壺，然後外出
穿過校園時依舊萌起早歲那種
成為一尊雕像的慾望
而吃波菜是無用的
雪的那邊早經證實甚麼也沒有
當全部黑暗俯下身來搜查一盞燈
他說他有一個巨大的臉
在晚夜，以繁星組成
Here's the poem in English, translated by John J.S. Balcom:
Professor C
His stiff white collar will support his classicism until June
Every morning he knots his tie with prewar gestures
Then taking up his cane and snuff box he sets out
As he crosses the campus there still sprouts
That budding ambition of becoming a statue
And eating spinach is of no use
It was proved long ago that nothing exists beyond the clouds
As darkness bends over seeking a light
He says he has a monumental face
Formed of countless stars in the night
3. Short story– from The Last of the Whampoa Breed
Lynn chose a short story called "Shore to Shore" (by SANG Pin-zai) from the book named The Last of the Whampoa Breed to bring us back to 1950. It was about a little boy who was just 11 years old. He was following Chinese soldiers in their retreat to Taiwan. After the ship docked in Keelung, he was hungry, homeless and alone. Unfortunately the money which his mother had given him was embezzled by Commander Xiao and he was taken advantage of by a street tea egg vendor. He has to survive by himself….
If you are interested in this story, and others from this era of Taiwanese history, you can borrow the book from Taipei library.
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-13002-8/the-last-of-the-whampoa-breed
4. Write a Poem in English
2.1 The River Flows On- Chi Pang-Yuan
http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=64409&CtNode=1337&mp=1
2.2三腳馬-鄭清文
2.3 from Chinese Taipei PEN Autumn 1988 a poem by瘂弦 written in 1981 C教授
到六月他的白色硬領仍將繼績支撐他底古典
每個早晨，以大戰前的姿態打著領結
然後是手杖、鼻煙壺，然後外出
穿過校園時依舊萌起早歲那種
成為一尊雕像的慾望
而吃波菜是無用的
雪的那邊早經證實甚麼也沒有
當全部黑暗俯下身來搜查一盞燈
他說他有一個巨大的臉
在晚夜，以繁星組成
Here's the poem in English, translated by John J.S. Balcom:
Professor C
His stiff white collar will support his classicism until June
Every morning he knots his tie with prewar gestures
Then taking up his cane and snuff box he sets out
As he crosses the campus there still sprouts
That budding ambition of becoming a statue
And eating spinach is of no use
It was proved long ago that nothing exists beyond the clouds
As darkness bends over seeking a light
He says he has a monumental face
Formed of countless stars in the night
3. Short story– from The Last of the Whampoa Breed
Lynn chose a short story called "Shore to Shore" (by SANG Pin-zai) from the book named The Last of the Whampoa Breed to bring us back to 1950. It was about a little boy who was just 11 years old. He was following Chinese soldiers in their retreat to Taiwan. After the ship docked in Keelung, he was hungry, homeless and alone. Unfortunately the money which his mother had given him was embezzled by Commander Xiao and he was taken advantage of by a street tea egg vendor. He has to survive by himself….
If you are interested in this story, and others from this era of Taiwanese history, you can borrow the book from Taipei library.
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-13002-8/the-last-of-the-whampoa-breed
4. Write a Poem in English
4.1 Think about the place you like most in Taiwan
4.2 Adj+N
4.3 Verb+ing
4.4 Phrase to express your feeling about this place
4.5 Why you like this place.
Shining sunshine, tall streets by the main road.
Shining, walking
Warm, dream, possibility
I got plenty of time.
I was young.
I can do anything I want after my graduation.
Cheng-Chi Campus - by Amy
Fresh air, crystal clear cloud, friendly and warm atmosphere
Chatting, running, noising.
Energetic, bright hope in the future.
The more knowledge you have in your mind, the more things you have to consider
As years passed by the more memories of student life came into it.
In Kuandu national Park -- by Phil
Colorful birds, various trees and wonderful weather.
Wandering, sighting and relaxing
Faraway from daily routine
Beauty of nature makes me happy.
Ping-Lin -- by Echo
Silent mountains, silver creeks, soft wind
Roaming, cheering, flying
Tranquility and peace
A place for heart and soul to rest.
East Coastline - by Ellen
Blue ocean, clean sky, green mountains,
Stretching, breathing, and
smiling at guests and the locals without judgements.
Nothing is different to you, our motherland.
Near Zhishan MRT Station -- by Lynn
A small rise, a short bridge, tree-covered mountains
Flowing traffic, rustling leaves, shifting clouds
I always want to stop and look
Childhood memories rush in.
Announcement before session
1. Phil and Avoda have chosen a recent Taiwan Review article (click on link below if you want to read it in advance) about Recycling in Taiwan to discuss. Recycling: Taiwan’s Way of Life
What do you and your friends/family/colleagues/classmates recycle? Come ready to answer this Q and hear others' recycling stories!
2. Kathy, TEAN's Responsible High-Tech Campaign Coordinator, is coming to tell us about her important work. By the end of the session, you'll know the answers to these Qs:
What do you and your friends/family/colleagues/classmates recycle? Come ready to answer this Q and hear others' recycling stories!
2. Kathy, TEAN's Responsible High-Tech Campaign Coordinator, is coming to tell us about her important work. By the end of the session, you'll know the answers to these Qs:
What's e-waste, and how is Taiwan involved in this international problem?
What can we do to help solve the problem?
For planning purposes, please register for this session by Thurs 25 March 12 noon. Just write a reply to this in the section "Discussions(討論主題)" to let us know if you can come or not. Thanks, and hope to see you!
:) Lynn
What can we do to help solve the problem?
For planning purposes, please register for this session by Thurs 25 March 12 noon. Just write a reply to this in the section "Discussions(討論主題)" to let us know if you can come or not. Thanks, and hope to see you!
:) Lynn
Session: Sat 27 Mar
Day/Time: Sat 27 March, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Place: TEAN office meeting room, 11th floor, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd (1 min-walk from Shandao Temple MRT Station exit 5)
Day/Time: Sat 27 March, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Place: TEAN office meeting room, 11th floor, 138 Zhongxiao E Rd (1 min-walk from Shandao Temple MRT Station exit 5)
Attendees: Kathy, Phil, Amy, Avoda, Yvonne, Caroline, Claudia, Ellen, Rachel and Steve
Topic(s): Recycling and E-waste
There have been progressive recycling achievements in Taiwan by both civilian groups and the authorities that many study teams from foreign countries have appealed to. Among the remarkable helpers are the Tzu Chi Foundation and Super Dragon Technology Co.
a. As it has with other progressive movements in Taiwan, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation helped to usher in recycling, when, in 1990, the group’s founder urged members to turn “garbage into gold and gold into love.”
[Further ref. 1] WU HSIAO-TING, “Green Fingers,” Fri, 25 Apr 2008, http://0rz.tw/C4DGO
...Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan have been cheerfully fulfilling their duty to the world for nearly two decades. They do what they can to live an eco-friendly life and promote the importance of environmental protection in the communities they live in...
...At present, Tzu Chi has 4,500 recycling stations in Taiwan alone, with more than 50,000 people certified as recycling volunteers...
[Further ref. 2] A Video clip about how Tzu Chi Volunteers make blankets from plastic bottles for relief uses domestic and overseas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xq4OQyxWw
With the help of the outstanding experienced textile industry here in Taiwan, Tzu Chi developed a new kind of blanket by reducing polyester fibers out of plastic bottles, a technique already used in the making of clothes. It is an integration of charity and environmental protection. b. On the practical side, throwing containers into garbage cans does not make sense to most people; instead, they have become aware that those empty bottles and cans still have value. That awareness finds validation in the NT$9 billion (US$280 million) average annual production value created from sales of raw materials made from the containers. Another example of the value of recyclables is Taoyuan County’s Super Dragon Technology Co., which extracts hundreds of kilograms of precious metals each month from discarded information technology products, or e-waste.
[Further ref. 3] Super Dragon's Recycling of Electronic Industrial Waste, http://www.sdti.com.tw/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=236073
a.High-tech problems in Asia:
*Not only receivers of e-waste from all over the world but also the production bases, i.e. much more serious pollution far beyond the western countries than was previously imagined.
b.The high-tech manufacturers in Taiwan:
*Moore's Law: rapid technological innovation
*Hsinchu Science Park, ecological destruction
*Large amounts of dead fish in the rivers that people could take photos of a few years ago, but no longer can NOW. It's not because there are no dead fish but because the dead fish have been quickly collected by those who made them before you can take a picture!
c.Siaoli River
*AU Optronics (AUO) and Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd. (CPT), "castles" on the hills, discharge around 40,000 tons of wastewater every day directly into the Siaoli River. PFOA、PFOS have been found in the river.
A rice farmer knew that there must be something wrong in the water because he noticed that the crop grew extremely tall but bore no ears of rice…
*The two companies' responses: wastewater they discharged into the river was not toxic and their wastewater conforms completely to environmental standards
*The Environmental Bureau of Taoyuan claims: "Conforming to the environmental regulatory requirements does not mean fish and frogs in the river, the latter of which is citizens' definition of good water quality”
*Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)'s claimed that there is no clear scientific evidence to prove pollution and did not (was willing not to??) set standards for BBP (environmental hormones), Trichlorchthylene(cause of cancers), and NPEOn (environmental hormones).
[Further ref. 1]還我清淨霄裡溪 film online by Taiwan Public Television Service, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe4f9ag1xQ
d.Comparing satire with two revised movie posters:
MONGA: citizens' striving for social justice--mostly for their homeland, in their case.
v.s. Erin Brockovich: Minister of EPA (SHEN, Stephen Shu-hung)'s "never compromise"--only in favor of the high-tech companies.
Date: Sat 24 April
Time: 10:30am-12:30pmPlace: Rm 3 on the 21st floor of the building next to ShinKong Mitsukoshi Dept store opposite Taipei Main Station. (50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1).
People attending: Guest Speaker: Matt Nicodemus, Executive Director of the Pledge Program, Asia
Members: Lynn, Ellen
Apologies: Caroline, Phil
Topics:
1. Share inspiring people stories from the news
2. Talk about our own jobs/our own “biggest problem in Taiwan“ thought
3. Help each other think: ways to connect personal concern with current job
Our own jobs (a) / concerns (b):
Lynn:
a. English teacher in British Council (adults, kids, teens), Hess (teens, adults), private (1-on-1)
b. issue in Taiwan: identity
→ external: lack of international knowledge of Taiwan hurts economy;
→ internal: people not exactly knowing who they are, where they're from, or why Taiwan's a good place
Ellen:
a. paralegal in patent law firm
b. issue in Taiwan: education-
→ too much cramming and concern about scores, and not enough useful info for students about their own future
Matt:
a. teacher (trainer), editor (medical-scientific), activist (GPA)
Stories from the news
1. A blind man teaching Chi-Kung for free, and training pupils as future Chi-Kung teachers as well
Questions:
i) teaching for free? possibly pro bono (at work)? contribution optional (by charity)? volunteer?
ii)possible ways to earn his living? (not mentioned in the short pieces of news)
2. A bus company modified buses for bike-carrying to Sun-Moon Lake
→ good for the world and can also be good for the company's bottom line
→ biking is good for environment and for population's health
c.f. New Zealand's situation 5 or 6 years ago: buses carried only two bikes and not possible to book in advance
3. Politicians do care about the society although the arguments between “the green” and “the blue” parties might seem to do no good
Useful concepts and approaches when thinking about your job and your concern:
1. How are/can you be part of the Problem and/or Solution?
e.g. Teaching English without touching identity issue- Problem
Trying to change it--Solution
2. Audit (listening and watching/ working with them) inputs and outputs at different levels and of different sorts of flows
3. Set achievable goals and do what's needed to reach them--total package/ over time
4. Become a Social Environmental Enterpreneur (business-like way, not really for benefits only)
Action to take: Everyone can make a difference!!
--check how your product/service itself addresses your concern
--check how your product/service indirectly affects your concern
--speak out
--volunteer
--donate (resources) & whistle-blowing
--start with yourself/ take small action steps such as at your own desk
--crying works (sometimes)! ("Please boss, can't we...??")
--find allies! (you can try to find like-minded colleagues to help you change things at work)
Action taken:
--Lynn suggested that Ellen could come to her Teens English class (at the British Council) to talk about her work. After the session in an email, Ellen agreed she'd like to invite other TAIWAN ISSUES in ACTION members join her, if they're interested, to go to the class and have a panel discussion about jobs. Class date still to be decided, but sometime in May on a Sunday afternoon. Are you interested?? If so, please reply to this discussion!
Friendly info shared after session for film buffs: Urban Nomad 2010 Film Festival.
Its first film shows on April 30, while the last is on May 8. You can find out more about the festival and order tickets at www.urbannomad.tw, and you can also get tickets at www.vieshow.com. Lots of interesting films, mostly in the evenings, including Sharkwater, the film Janice mentioned in our Shark Fin Soup session...
April Sessions: Dates and Topics
1.
Date: Sat 10 AprilTime: 10:30am-12:30pm
Place: TBA (to be announced--the TEAN meeting room isn't available)
Topic: Social and Environmental Responsibility in Your Work
Guest Speaker: Matt Nicodemus, Executive Director of the Pledge Program, Asia
Matt is a very interesting American man who's lived and worked in Taiwan for over 16 years. You'll learn about a program that he started in the US and has brought to Taiwan. At the end of the session, you'll be thinking about your job/possible future jobs in some different ways!
Please: Register for this session by Wed 7 April. Besides your name, please also write the name of the university you attended in Taiwan, and the kind of job you're doing now (eg., tour guide, receptionist, etc). Matt said he can make our session more interesting if he has this information beforehand.
2.
Date: Sat 24 April
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Place: TBA (to be announced--the TEAN meeting room isn't available)
Topic: Taiwanese NGOs
This is the session when we vote on 1 or more Taiwanese NGOs to donate our recently collected money to. Anyone is welcome to do a short presentation about a local NGO. Tell us:
--the name of the NGO
--the NGO's mission statement (what is its purpose?)
--how you know about it
--what you think about it
--why you think we should donate money to it--what will they do with our money?
Please: Register for this session by Wed 21 April. Say if you want to do a short presentation, or if you just want to come and listen.
Thanks! If you have any Qs about either of these sessions, feel free to ask by replying to this with an email.
:) Lynn
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