Anti-global warming actions may trigger the butterfly effect: By switching off lights that are not in use, one may help decrease the speed with which polar bears disappear from the earth, Erica Chang (張心威), a finalist in the government-sponsored Carbon Reduction Promotion Poster Design Contest, said yesterday.
Chang's poster was one of 32 that made the final round in the competition hosted by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) aimed at raising public awareness of anti-global warming efforts.
Chang, a graphic designer, said she had entered the competition because she had always been concerned about the topic of global warming and wished to make it known to more people.
"People tend to focus on the short-term and link carbon reduction with products that are more expensive, or to the economic downsizing of markets," Chang said.
"However, humans need to keep in mind that there are more lasting issues than the economy -- the sustainable living of mankind, for one, and the survival of other living creatures on this planet, for another," she said.
In keeping with the name, theme and objective of the poster competition, from its planning to execution, the competition was entirely paperless, said Wu Yi-lin (吳奕霖) the bureau's senior environmental specialist.
"The competition was promoted solely online, contestants sent in their projects via email, and the judges reviewed all of the poster submissions electronically," he said.
The finalists were selected from more than 300 entries, and the age of the contestants ranged from children to adults, he said.
The winner will be selected by a panel of six judges, including 2004 Grammy award winner for Best Record Packaging [album cover], Xiao Qingyang (
"We have not decided whether the winning poster will be printed," Wu said. "However, the copyright will be free to all who wish to use it online."
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
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