The Breastfeeding Association of Taiwan and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store yesterday pushed for a friendlier environment for mothers to breastfeed their children.
“Adults don’t go to the restroom to eat [their meals], so why do babies have to go to the restroom for their breast milk?” said Kao Yi-ling (高宜伶), secretary-general of the Breastfeeding Association of Taiwan.
Rather than going to a restroom or a breastfeeding room, the association encourages mothers to do so in public areas. Kao said that by wearing clothes specially designed for breast-feeding, mothers could breastfeed in public areas without having to worry about people staring at them.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Kao said the association has not only lobbied for women’s rights to breastfeed in public spaces, but is also pushing for the government and businesses to create friendlier environments for breast-feeding mothers.
Citing surveys by local health departments, Huang Wei-kang (黃蔚綱), director of the Bureau of Health Promotion’s Maternal, Infant and Genetic Health Division, said people in central and southern parts of the country were more accepting of mothers breastfeeding in public areas, whereas people in metropolitan areas were less understanding and that mothers breastfeeding in those areas may attract gawkers or unfriendly treatment.
The association encourages mothers to breastfeed their children, especially amid current fears of milk products containing toxic chemicals.
Vice President Vincent Siew’s (蕭萬長) wife, Susan Chu (朱俶賢), attended the press conference, saying that “breast milk is best” and urging the government to promote breastfeeding.
To create a friendly environment for breastfeeding, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store will put up signs saying “breastfeeding welcome here” in its Xinyi branch stores. Sales clerks will also provide assistance for breastfeeding mothers.
Taiwan yesterday expelled four China Coast Guard vessels that entered Taiwan-controlled restricted waters off Lienchiang County (Matsu) shortly after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced the start of its “Joint Sword-2024B” drills around Taiwan. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said in a statement that it had detected two China Coast Guard ships west of Nangan Island (南竿) and another two north of Dongyin Island (東引) at 8am yesterday. After Chinese ships sailed into restricted waters off Matsu shortly afterward, the CGA’s Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch deployed four patrol vessels to shadow and approach the vessels, it said. The incidents pushed up to 44 the number
Renovations on the B3 concourse of Taipei Main Station are to begin on Nov. 1, with travelers advised to use entrances near the Taiwan Railway or high-speed rail platforms or information counter to access the MRT’s Red Line. Construction is to be completed before the end of next year, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said last week. To reduce the impact on travelers, the NT$95 million (US$2.95 million) project is to be completed in four stages, it said. In the first stage, the hall leading to the Blue Line near the art exhibition area is to be closed from Nov. 1 to the end
The government has issued a deportation order for a Spanish fugitive, ordering him to leave the country within 10 days, as he is wanted by European authorities for allegedly operating a car rental scam. National Immigration Agency (NIA) officials yesterday said Salvador Alejandro Llinas Onate, 48, had been notified that he must leave Taiwan, as he was wanted for committing serious crimes. The Spaniard has been indicted by Italian prosecutors for allegedly leading a 30 million euros (US$32.74 million) car rental scam and setting up a fraudulent company in Trento, Italy. The deportation order is based on Article 18 of
Taipei’s Ximending (西門町) shopping area welcomed the most international visitors, followed by Taipei 101, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園), a list of the city’s most popular tourist attractions published by the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism showed. As of August, 69.22 million people had visited Taipei’s main tourism spots, a 76 percent increase from 39.33 million in the same period last year, department data showed. Ximending had 20.21 million visitors, followed by Taipei 101 at 8.09 million, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park at 6.28 million, Yangmingshan at 4.51 million and the Red House Theater (西門紅樓) in