School days are a gas
Dear Johnny,
Regarding the gas leaks in Taliao Township (大寮), Kao-hsiung County: It blew me away when I read Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Steven Shen’s (沈世宏) comments (“EPA discusses sources of leaks,” Jan. 3, page 2). He said that since it was hard to guarantee that none of the factories around the school would emit gases harmful to health during school operations, the school should relocate or students should take classes elsewhere.
I guess this shows where the priorities are. Hey, if your kids are passing out and being hospitalized because the factories are poisoning them, they should go somewhere else. Why should the factories close, relocate or stop leaking poison when you can just get rid of the kids?
And this isn’t a factory boss speaking. It’s the head of the EPA. No wonder the environment is in such a mess.
Russ from Kaohsiung
Johnny replies: I thought the learned minister was far too accommodating of the students’ lungs and their parents’ fears. He should have ordered that any children who inhaled gases without the permission of the companies concerned be scolded and suspended from school. As for the parents, they should be fined, and then compelled to understand the meaning of environmental protection: Give each of them a stretch of road outside the headquarters of nearby companies and make sure that they collect all the litter that can be seen with the naked eye. Oh, and make sure they clean, by hand, every betel nut stain on the asphalt.
The Asia Cement facility at the mouth of Taroko Gorge is a perfect example of an industrial complex enhanced by a pristine, green road corridor. They know what it’s all about: For every aesthetically challenged industrial facility, plant a tree.
The cheek of it! Don’t these filthy little school brats realize that the Taiwan miracle was built on the backs of chemical companies, plastics manufacturers and the occasionally indiscreet disposal of necessary waste products? And don’t they realize that part of their role as students is to accept without complaint or disquiet that they are fated to join these companies or industries that support these companies’ operations somewhere down the chain?
If I were them, I would start reading the tea leaves and learn how to kiss corporate ass and kowtow to the central government at every opportunity. Whatever is happening to our education system that these kids can speak out (or pass out) without a damn good spanking?
Russ, get with the program. You can’t remake an economic omelette without breaking a few skulls — or something like that.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry