Stop global warming now
The unpredictable and incredible impact of climate change is appalling. Our planet is endangered. Burning oil and coal in an abusive manner are key causes of climate change. Moreover, the exploitation of natural resources by human beings has worsened the scenario, destroying the environment.
The Arctic and Antarctic ice caps are melting at an unimaginable speed and glaciers have been whittled down to mere ice blocks. If they continue to melt, sea levels will rise 6m in 20 years, with grave consequences for Taiwan.
In a BBC report last year about the Maldives, the head of conservation at a local resort said there would “be more tidal surges, more swells, and more storms” because of climate change.
“Tidal surges will not only increase the risk of houses and communities being flooded, but will also result in a higher level of salt water on local vegetation — which will impact on food production too,” the resort staffer said.
Because of climate change, a very bad future is waiting for us. Most pitifully, a large number of people could become homeless as a result of climate change.
The disasters happening around the world should teach us that we cannot ignore climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has held conferences in the past few years on research concerning climate change.
It has also publicized the goals of the Kyoto Protocol to the whole world.
One IPCC report identifies 13 major cities worldwide that will be submerged by seawater in 20 years.
Although Taiwan is not a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, along with countries like Bangladesh, it could be among the first to see parts of its population uprooted by rising sea levels.
Taiwan should be concerned about weather phenomena such as El Nino and its impact.
Beware of the Maya belief that the world will end in 2012. This is not alarmist — it is something for all humans to ponder.
After all, governments worldwide should undertake proactive measures to combat climate change — not just write out plans on paper. Actions speak louder than words.
MELODY WU
Jhonghe, Taipei County
Consumers want safe goods
Common sense tells us that no product or service will be rejected as long as it is deemed necessary and safe for consumption.
If my products or services were rejected, I would do some self-reflecting, after which I would determine to improve myself and move on rather than continuing to voice my deep regret.
The US will always have the potential to improve itself, and Taiwan will continue to do business with the US.
MICHAEL TSAI
Tainan
No more scaremongering
The development and implementation of the vaccination program against A(H1N1) influenza is a remarkable and most discouraging example of disorganization and unpreparedness.
The Centers for Disease Control may have thought it was doing everything in its power to protect the public, but it has left the job half done. The lack of scientific support for some of the side effects that have been reported and the failure to account for the more serious medical conditions and deaths that have occurred within days or weeks of receiving a vaccination have resulted in a circus of misinformation for which the public will suffer.
While it is true that the government has failed to respond adequately to the matter of side effects, the media are to blame for irresponsible reports on claims regarding side effects.
The media’s concentration on unsubstantiated reports is regrettable. Yet its insinuation is that in absence of medical proof, the severe side effects and deaths must have been caused by the vaccination.
The message is that this could happen to you or your child if you proceed with the vaccination. The media has scared the public to death without reason and has scared them into inaction.
The government was wrong — but the media’s culpability is much worse. It has told only half the story, spread fear without scientific grounds and almost completely stopped government efforts to halt the spread of swine flu.
PETER RYAN BRADY
Taipei
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has its chairperson election tomorrow. Although the party has long positioned itself as “China friendly,” the election is overshadowed by “an overwhelming wave of Chinese intervention.” The six candidates vying for the chair are former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), former lawmaker Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文), Legislator Luo Chih-chiang (羅智強), Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung (張亞中), former National Assembly representative Tsai Chih-hong (蔡志弘) and former Changhua County comissioner Zhuo Bo-yuan (卓伯源). While Cheng and Hau are front-runners in different surveys, Hau has complained of an online defamation campaign against him coming from accounts with foreign IP addresses,
Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) on Saturday won the party’s chairperson election with 65,122 votes, or 50.15 percent of the votes, becoming the second woman in the seat and the first to have switched allegiance from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to the KMT. Cheng, running for the top KMT position for the first time, had been termed a “dark horse,” while the biggest contender was former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), considered by many to represent the party’s establishment elite. Hau also has substantial experience in government and in the KMT. Cheng joined the Wild Lily Student
When Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) announced the implementation of a new “quiet carriage” policy across all train cars on Sept. 22, I — a classroom teacher who frequently takes the high-speed rail — was filled with anticipation. The days of passengers videoconferencing as if there were no one else on the train, playing videos at full volume or speaking loudly without regard for others finally seemed numbered. However, this battle for silence was lost after less than one month. Faced with emotional guilt from infants and anxious parents, THSRC caved and retreated. However, official high-speed rail data have long
Starting next year, drivers older than 70 may be entitled to a monthly NT$1,500 public transportation and taxi subsidy if they relinquish their driver’s license, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced on Tuesday. The measure is part of a broader effort to improve road safety, with eligible participants receiving the subsidy for two years. The announcement comes amid mounting concern over traffic safety in Taiwan. A 2022 article by CNN quoted the name of a Facebook group devoted to the traffic situation called “Taiwan is a living hell for pedestrians,” while Berlin-based bne IntelliNews last month called it a “deadly
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