A group of writers, musicians and artists yesterday protested against a controversial plan by Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Co to build oil refineries on ecologically sensitive wetlands along the coast of Dacheng Township (大城) in Changhua County.
LOSING THE SEA
“Although we live on an island surrounded by the sea, we’re so far from the sea in our daily lives,” writer Li Ang (李昂), a native of Lugang (鹿港), a costal town in Changhua County, told a press conference at the legislature.
“When I was a kid, we couldn’t go to the sea because the coast was under tight control during the Martial Law period. When I grew up, the coast was still unreachable because of the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park,” Li said. “Once the Kuokuang oil refineries are built, we will completely lose the Changhua coastline.”
Wu Sheng (吳晟), another Changhua-born writer and poet, turned his anger on politicians who claimed that most of those who opposed the plan were not locals, but outsiders who did not know the needs of local residents.
“Of course the allegations are false. I should point out, however, that although Changhua residents may be the most affected by the oil refineries, the destruction of the environment would have an impact everyone in the country — even people in other countries,” he said.
Writer Liu Ke-shiang (劉克襄) said that at this critical time, when governments around the world are formulating policies to cut down greenhouse gas emissions, “[President] Ma [Ying-jeou, 馬英九] is the one with the power to decide whether Taiwan should take a road that leads to sustainable development.”
MA’S TURN
“It’s not the humpback dolphins, but Ma who should take the turn,” he said, triggering laughter.
Liu was referring to a remark by Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) earlier this year that humpback dolphins would know to take a turn when running into oil refineries.
Environmental groups claim that the construction of oil refineries in Dacheng would block an underwater corridor used by critically endangered humpback dolphins.
In a prerecorded video, the guitarist of the band Alphasia, Luxia Wu (吳逸駿), said: “We could save all the trouble of trying to save the humpback dolphins by curing Wu first,” he said.
Music critic Chang Tieh-chih (張鐵志) said efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions would be more effective if the Kuokuang oil refineries were shut down.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS