Today's mass protest against China's "Anti-Secession" Law was a focus of attention in the legislature yesterday, with pan-green legislators dressing up to urge the public to attend the march and pan-blue legislators voicing their criticism about the rally.
Pan-green lawmakers also handed out "peace candy," held a mock banquet and shouted slogans in the legislature's assembly hall.
Attention-seeking activities began yesterday morning with the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) inviting reporters to a mock feast of dishes whose names sounded similar to those of China's top leaders, including President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶), former president Jiang Zemin (江澤民) and former premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基).
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
As part of the pan-green camp's efforts to encourage a huge turnout today, female pan-green legislators handed out "peace candy."
Meanwhile, their pan-blue colleagues were busy criticizing the event.
"Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) taking to the streets [today] -- that demonstrates that he does not have the ability to handle cross-strait relations," Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Su Chi (蘇起) said.
"All the people are paying for Chen to take to the streets. The supposed 2 million people march, will cost more than NT$1 billion," KMT legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) said.
At a press conference yesterday afternoon, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus showed off the placards and buttons it has made for the rally.
In addition to miniature flags, march participants will be provided with blow-up batons in green, red, blue, white and orange printed with the slogan "Democracy, Peace and Defend Taiwan."
The colors, the caucus said, were chosen to show that not only "green" Taiwanese, but all the Taiwanese people, are standing up for the rally.
Highlighting organizers' hopes that the rally will draw widespread international attention, the placards were written in English, Japanese, French and Chinese.
DPP Chairman Su Cheng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that during the march, participants would be lead in singing five songs, including We Shall Overcome in English.
Su, however, refused to say which of the 10 march routes President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would take, due to security concerns.
The rally, Su emphasized, is about the people, not the president.
"However, the president has made a date with the people to meet on Ketagelan Boulevard. Everyone should come in person to hear and see for themselves," said Su, who appeared at the press conference dressed in his "protest battle gear," which included a digital camera, his personal recorder and a digital camera phone so he could record today's events.
With good weather forecast for today, the DPP caucus urged participants to dress suitably and bring plenty of water.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS