Environment: Global clean-up act arrives
The global "Clean Up the World" drive kicked off in Taiwan yesterday, with the local sponsor expecting 25,000 volunteers to participate in the clean-up effort at 400 locations nationwide. According to the sponsor, the Good Neighbor Cultural and Education Foundation, more than 300 enterprises and organizations are taking part in the campaign. The Taiwan clean-up activities are taking place simultaneously with those in 124 countries and areas around the world in the "Clean Up the World" drive being co-sponsored by the UN. At least 40 million people around the world are expected to join the global clean-up work aimed at raising environmental protection awareness, accelerating the reduction of waste and garbage, and increasing re-use and recycling, according to foundation officials. The clean-up concept is simple yet effective, said the officials, adding that yesterday, millions of volunteers was set to work together in their own communities, carrying out local clean-up activities and uniting with like-minded community groups throughout the globe in a massive global clean-up effort.
Politics: Ma promotes bicycle use
Taipei City Hall launched a "No Driving Day" program yesterday to encourage the use of bicycles instead of cars in downtown areas, in an attempt to reduce noise and air pollution. It was the first time that the city government sponsored such an activity in support of the international "No Driving Day." Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), wearing a cycling outfit, said the activity was aimed at minimizing noise and automobile emissions in metropolitan areas. "It is also designed to inspire city dwellers to think about how they would fare if no automobiles were available," he said, adding that supporting the global "No Driving Day" is part of his government's efforts to turn Taiwan's capital into a world-class city. More than 1,000 citizens took part in the activity, including many schoolchildren.
Diplomacy: Eden at anti-mine meeting
Representatives of the Eden Social Welfare Foundation took part in the four-day international anti-landmine meeting held at the UN's European headquarters. Some 700 delegates from 131 countries and areas took part in the meeting, including 27 which are not state parties to the 1999 Ottawa Convention which bans mines, as well as a number of non-governmental organizations. The treaty has four major goals -- clearing up landmine areas, assisting victims of landmines, destroying landmine stockpiles and implementing a sweeping global ban on landmines. The foundation also sent representatives to the 1999 Ottawa convention.
Legislature: Many bills awaiting session
Hundreds of draft bills are pending screening by the Legislative Yuan in the new session scheduled to kick off today. Of the hundreds of draft bills, 113 are pending discussion by the Judiciary Committee and 91 by the Health, Environment and Social Welfare Committee, according to Legislative Yuan sources. A total of 68 bills, including the much publicized amendment of the senior citizen stipend plan, are waiting to be discussed on the floor of the legislature when the new session begins. In the last session, the Fifth Legislature passed 153 laws, two budgetary bills and one resolution, as well as exercised the power of consent four times.
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