DPP launches YouTube video campaign for UN bid

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Youth Affairs Department yesterday launched a YouTube campaign in support of the government's bid to join the UN under the name "Taiwan."

At a press conference, department director Chou Yung-hong (周永鴻) encouraged youngsters to shoot and upload videos in support of the bid.

Saying the campaign was in "the spirit of Web 2.0," Chou added it would enable Internet users around the world to see and hear the opinions of Taiwanese.

Vincent Chou (周榆修), chairman of the Taiwan Young Democratic Union, an organization affiliated with the DPP, said many foreigners he met during the annual convention of the International Federation of Liberal Youth in July had expressed concern over Taiwan's situation.

These people supported the nation's participation in the UN but were puzzled by the fact that the nation lacked an internal consensus on the issue, he said.

The department also played a video for reporters in which four young people voiced their support for Taiwan's bid in Mandarin, English, Hakka and Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese).

"It is important to me that Taiwan is represented in the UN," said a member of the Young Democrats of America, who was identified only by her first name "Katie."

"It is a country. It is a democracy. And it's a shame that people go around, not able to express their democratic rights just because of another country's special interests. I hope Taiwan will be seated in the UN, where it belongs," she said.