Activists don't all think alike
Julian Baggini's tirade for ethical consumerism sounds well reasoned, but in fact isn't (Ethical consumerism isn't fashionable, Aug. 22, page 9).
Baggini's arguments fall apart when he presumes that the anti-globalization movement speaks with one voice, one vision. In fact, the anti-globalization crowd represents a multiplicity of perspectives from every walk of life, from every corner of the world. Attempts like Baggini's to reduce the complexity into fast food soundbites does an injustice, not to the activists, but to the over-arching need to find solutions.
Michael Straus
San Francisco, California
Population control is myopic
The recent policy of the Bureau of Health Promotion (Marry early, have kids, begs bureau, Aug. 17, page 2) to boost the birth rate by encouraging early marriage and pregnancy is myopic. Supporting an aging population brings challenges, and the government does need to strategize in advance. However, to propose raising the birth rate as the solution is regressive and unimaginative.
The quality of life in Taiwan is adversely affected by its population density, which is second only to Bangladesh. Before adding more children to the nation, those who love children might like to see a more kid-friendly Taiwan, so that the majority of children here have more to look forward to than a concrete jungle of dim, yardless pre-schools and cram schools, or dark Internet cafes. Even its high per capita income cannot make a Taipei where children can open their front doors and have a place to safely ride a bicycle or play a game of catch; where traffic jams and exhaust fumes are the exception, and where one can easily find a spot to park a motorcycle, or even a car.
Quality of life, much of which can be directly related to overpopulation, is continually cited as one of the main reason for emigration by overseas Taiwanese. Even when economic dreams abroad do not materialize, many families choose to stay overseas while the father of a family returns to Taiwan for work. Education is another reason for this migration pattern, but having a safe, pleasant environment for a family with a tree or some grass in sight is another.
The positive energy of Taiwan shines through its blemishes, but the nation should continue its environmental improvements of the past decade. A dip in population should be seen as a "growing pain" that would cause a few years of difficulties, but render great benefits for coming centuries.
Donovan Ramage
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Down with Downer
Australia's national interest is to maintain relations with the Chinese people, not it's oppressors. (Mark Chen slams `unfit' Aussie minister Downer, Aug. 21, page 4).
Trade based on the needs of two nations are of enormous importance to the long-term interests of any nation. But the principles of developed nations, such as freedom and democracy, are also important.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer should take a lesson from their most reliable ally, the US: While maintaining trade relations with China, the US does not support its oppressive policies, be it domestic (such as the regime's trampling of human rights), or foreign (its threats against Taiwan). There is no need for the Australians to suck up to Chinese Communist Party dictators. The characters of a man, a people, a nation come to light by how they deal with a dilemma. If Downer can't say anything constructive about Taiwan's geopolitical situation, he should just shut up.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago
Singapore tows China's line
I am writing to express my outrage at the statements made by the new prime minister of Singapore and his decision to state that he does not support Taiwan's independence. His cozying up to the Chinese government tells us more about Singapore's leadership than about Taiwan. Every country has the right to be free and no country has the right to be patronizing about another nation's desire for freedom and sovereignty.
Singapore has many things to learn from Taiwan, starting with democratic elections. Taiwan should not be afraid of being bullied by China, Australia or Singapore, and should be quick to remind the leaders of other countries that the future of Taiwan should only be decided by the people of Taiwan.
Clive Hazell
Nagoya, Japan
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My wife and I spent the week in the interior of Taiwan where Shuyuan spent her childhood. In that town there is a street that functions as an open farmer’s market. Walk along that street, as Shuyuan did yesterday, and it is next to impossible to come home empty-handed. Some mangoes that looked vaguely like others we had seen around here ended up on our table. Shuyuan told how she had bought them from a little old farmer woman from the countryside who said the mangoes were from a very old tree she had on her property. The big surprise
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Ursula K. le Guin in The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas proposed a thought experiment of a utopian city whose existence depended on one child held captive in a dungeon. When taken to extremes, Le Guin suggests, utilitarian logic violates some of our deepest moral intuitions. Even the greatest social goods — peace, harmony and prosperity — are not worth the sacrifice of an innocent person. Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), since leaving office, has lived an odyssey that has brought him to lows like Le Guin’s dungeon. From late 2008 to 2015 he was imprisoned, much of this