To better connect people with the ocean that provides life to the nation — using their eyes and feet — a group of environmentalists plan to host a 38-day walk around the nation’s coastline for anyone who wants to join them. The walk will begin in the middle of next month.
“We hope that people’s understanding of the ocean does not solely come from books; though Taiwan is an island, Taiwanese have grown very distant from the ocean and they perceive it as dangerous, or simply the place where seafood comes from,” Taiwanese Association for Marine Environmental Education (TAMEE) secretary-general Kuo Chao-wei (郭兆偉) said.
Last year, Kuo was in the media spotlight when he walked the coastline of Taiwan in 57 days with a friend. During the trip, Kuo slept in temples, schools, hostels, even on the floors of public bathrooms, and he blogged about his encounters every day.
This year, Kuo plans to be a guide for people who wish to see the coastline for themselves. There will be two routes on the 38-day walk that both start in Keelung, Kuo said. One group will walk the east coast and the other the west coast, he said.
People are welcome to walk the whole journey, or just join parts of the walk, Kuo said.
“Taiwan is so beautiful, the ocean provides life for all of us and as an island resident, you should at least get to know the beaches near you,” Kuo said.
In addition to the walks — which will be an average of 20km per day — TAMEE has also planned visits to wetlands, ecological conservation areas, museums, seaports, landfills, science parks and incinerators along the trip.
“We will be seeing the whole picture, instead of just tourist spots that sport beautiful beaches,” Kuo said.
Displaying an array of photos he took on his trip last year, varying from pristine beaches, rocky cliffs, to browned or blackened waters with grease floating atop, Kuo said: “After seeing the various beaches along the coastline — some beautiful, some heavily polluted — I hope that people’s concept of ‘need’ will be transformed.”
“We already have all we need, why pursue more?” he said, referring to pollution and over-development.
The cost for the entire walk, including room and board, entrance fees and meals for the group is estimated at NT$5.7 million (US$165,000), Kuo said.
However, TAMEE’s fundraising efforts have hit a wall because of the state of the economy.
“We will charge each participant NT$300 for each day they walk — walkers who join us for more than seven days in a row can walk for free — and the rest of the money will come from donations,” he said.
To learn more about the walk, to sign up or to donate resources or money, visit www.tamee.org.
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