Attending a workshop on the environment yesterday, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) vowed to find a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability and encouraged dialogue between government agencies and environmentalists.
Ma said that despite the fact that all policies and political decisions needed to take the environment into consideration , it was not enough for his administration to propose policies on environmental protection.
“The administration will not only pursue economic growth, but also give thought to underprivileged people and the environment,” Ma said, citing the three principles of his administration — growth, public welfare and sustainability.
Ma defended his administration’s raising fuel prices on Wednesday, saying it was good news for the environment because it would stimulate efforts toward energy efficiency.
The move, announced five days ahead of schedule, drew harsh criticism for its handling, prompting Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) to apologize twice.
Ma restated his policies on the environment, including creating a ministry of environmental resources and enacting a law on sustainable development.
Admitting that “no plan is perfect,” Ma said the government should engage in more frequent talks with environmentalists to find a balance between the two sides.
However, his determination to boost Taiwan’s economy has left some environmentalists wondering whether his environmental goals can be realized.
“We can feel goodwill in Ma’s remarks, but we’re going to pay special attention to his actions,” said Green Party secretary-general Pan Han-shen (潘翰聲), adding that some of Ma’s promises appeared to be contradictory.
Ma promised that construction of roads in mountainous areas above 1,000m would be banned, except for the Central Cross Island Highway, which connects Taichung County and Hualien County. The highway has suffered years of damage since the 921 Earthquake in 1999.
The 190km stretch of highway, built in 1956, was the first to be built through the Central Mountain Range.
Damaged again by a typhoon in 2004, a central section of the road has been closed and debate over whether it should be repaired and re-opened continues.
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
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
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
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