The incoming administration announced its choice for secretary-general of the National Security Council this week: former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Su Chi (蘇起). Although the appointment did not come as a surprise, it was no less disappointing.

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By Chiang Huang-Chih �I�c�r
While the nation engages in heated discussion about the Papua New Guinea fund scandal, Taiwan's sovereignty is being trampled internationally. The media ignores this and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems to be busy with internal troubles.

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By Bruce Jacobs 家博
The amateur and foolish actions of two seemingly competent officials, former vice premier Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) and former minister of foreign affairs James Huang (黃志芳), in attempting to establish formal diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea have rightly brought widespread scorn from Taiwanese and international media. What can we learn from this episode?

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By Ho Chin-Shan 何金山
Just days before the upcoming transfer of power, the Council of Agriculture suddenly announced its "Green Sea Project." With a budget of NT$7.18 billion (US$233 million), the five-year proposal would plant 20,000 hectares of forest on the plains, which would supposedly be able to absorb 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

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The future of our seas has never looked more precarious because the systems we put in place to conserve are doing more harm than good
By Alex Renton
It is early morning in Barcelona's La Boqueria market and the fish stallholders are setting out their wares. Mounds of pink and gray glisten down the dim alleys -- shoppers and tourists peering at the fins and tentacles. It is not like any fish shop in Britain -- some stalls sell five different species of squid and cuttlefish, half a dozen types of shrimp and prawn, 10 different cuts of salt cod. It is a fish eater's haven in the heart of a city that eats and sells more fish than anywhere else in Europe.

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