One man's junk may be another man's treasure, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Deputy Minister Chang Feng-teng (
The "Your Old Computer, His Hope" program marked its 10th anniversary yesterday.
The program began in 1998, with 300 to 600 refurbished computers a year given to social welfare groups, he said. In 2005, the number of computers increased more than a thousand, he said.
"The program was expanded in accordance with the Cabinet's `2008 Challenge -- closing the digital gap between cities and rural areas plan' in 2005," Chang said.
The program, cosponsored this year by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), collected 9,581 processing units and 7,286 monitors from government agencies, or 52 percent of the total collected. Businesses contributed 34 percent, schools 11 percent and homes 3 percent, CIER president Daigee Shaw (蕭代基) said.
Elementary or secondary students received 1,180 of the refurbished computers, while 1,966 went to schools and 654 to welfare agencies, Shaw said.
"A computer is basic equipment for digital work," he said, adding that those who could not afford a PC might not be able to bridge the digital gap.
"Though these computers may not be the most up-to-date, they are perfect first units for economically disadvantaged children who may not otherwise own a personal system," National Taiwan University Hospital superintendent Lin Fang-yue (
"As a child who grew up in the city, it was hard to imagine that the computers we consider `too slow' are treasures for others," said Tai Chang-yan (
"I once installed a system for a child in Ilan County's Dongshan Township [冬山] who did not even have a proper desk to put the computer, so he placed it on top of a shoe rack," he said. "When he got the computer on, his eyes sparkled as he repeatedly stroked it with a big smile on his face."
"When you give, you receive much more in return. I urge other city folks to experience the joy of giving," he said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost