Mon, Dec 28, 2009 page8

• [LETTERS]

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  Why protests were justified

  The demonstrations in Taichung against the cross-strait talks were extensively covered by media. The coverage in Monday’s lead story (“Nation rallies against Chiang-Chen talks,” Dec. 21, 2009, page 1) shows why the protests were justified.

  In the past months, our dignity as Taiwanese has been sabotaged repeatedly by the government’s policies.

  First, there is the matter of relaxing restrictions on US beef imports, a direct threat to public health. Next, there is the threat of global warming, yet the government’s emissions reduction policy is unclear, contributing to fact that many Taiwanese are ignorant or indifferent to climate change and the recent climate talks in Copenhagen.

  The last straw is a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.

  More than 80 percent of Taiwanese are not sure what the ECFA entails, Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was quoted as saying in the same article. This shows the ruling party’s poor advocacy of its own policies.

  The protests did not just target the cross-strait talks, but had a broader message, as Tsai said: “Taiwanese people are the masters of this land.”

  The administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should treat us with dignity. The public deserves to know what purpose policies serve and how they will impact the nation internationally. Many of the protesters in Taichung may not even have known what was to be discussed at the cross-strait talks.

  MANDY CHOU

  Taipei

  Let’s be pragmatic

  President Ma believes that an ECFA would improve bilateral trade with China and somehow allow Taiwan to gradually convince China to play fair by letting it join ASEAN Plus Three.

  But we must remember that although China accounts for roughly 20 percent of the global population, the rest of the world is still bigger and more important than China. Taiwan should continue expanding into the international community and not put all its eggs in one basket.

  MICHAEL TSAI

  Tainan

  Do your bit to save the world

  A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air hit 387 parts per million this year — a record high. That means humans are facing a bigger climate crisis than ever before.

  The climate talks held in Copenhagen have drawn wide attention from media around the world. Some 45 national media around the globe ran editorials urging conference participants — especially key stakeholders such as the US, China and the EU — to reach a consensus to cut emissions.

  It is the responsibility of every country in the world to take action on climate change, but can policies alone bring us clean air?

  Saving the earth is everyone’s responsibility. The IPCC report predicted that the Arctic pack ice will disappear completely by the year 2100. Some people feel this is a problem for people alive 100 years from now, and so they consume without further thought.

  A recent news report said some students at national universities are enormously wasteful. They leave their dorm rooms without turning out lights and leave the computer on while they sleep.

  These students think energy is an all-you-can-eat buffet because it’s so cheap. But don’t forget, the price of energy isn’t just the bill in the mail, it’s the toll on our world’s future.

  Now some students at National Taiwan University are setting a good example. They have organized a group called Green Superman to collect abandoned plastic bags for reuse. In the first three days alone they collected almost 20,000 plastic bags. The students have also set up plastic bag recycling bins in dorms.

  The group has drawn public support, with some non-students helping out by bringing bags to the group.

  No matter where you’re from, remember, fighting climate change is not just the responsibility of your country’s leaders. Everyone has a role to play.

  JESSICA SU

  Taipei
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