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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ TRANSPORTATION

Ferry offers free rides

Kaohsiung City’s Harbor Steamship Company will offer free rides to passengers taking a newly launched ferry route to Cijin (旗津) between today and Thursday, the company said yesterday. The new ferry service between the True Love Pier (珍愛碼頭) and the Chihou (旗后) area, which opens today will take 10 to 15 minutes and will run between 11am and 11pm on a daily basis. The regular one-way fare costs NT$40, but passengers can enjoy the rides for free through Thursday and have a 50 percent discount between Friday and Aug. 31, the company said. Passengers are allowed to take bicycles on board without additional charge, the company said, adding that the company was also mulling an NT$80 tour package that would cover the cost of a round-trip on the ferry and two bus rides.



■ ENVIRONMENT

Lawmaker urges lights out

A legislator suggested yesterday that all public offices turn off their lights for one hour at noon every day to help reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. “The government should take the initiative to cut power consumption, particularly at a time when electricity rates are set to increase on July 1, and it is the taxpayers who are footing the electricity bills for public offices,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said. “Public offices can help reduce carbon emissions by 37,500 tonnes each year if they turn off their lights for one hour at noon each day throughout the year ... Office air conditioners should also be switched off for one hour at noon if possible,” she said. Citing Germany as an example, she said that public offices there do not use artificial lighting during the daytime, but rather rely on natural light coming through the windows.



■ ENVIRONMENT

Cyclist to tour for awareness

A Taiwanese cyclist who plans to spend seven months traveling around the world on his bicycle to champion environmental protection is visiting New York to promote his cause. You Ming-shun (尤明順), from Kaohsiung, appeared at Corona Park in the Queens district of New York on Sunday to promote his “Riding Bikes to Love the Earth” campaign. You, who embarked on his round-the-world cycling odyssey from San Francisco more than 50 days ago and arrived in New York on June 22, called on people to ride, walk or take public transport to work every Friday in a bid to save energy and cut carbon dioxide emissions. His cause was warmly supported by Master Yonggu from the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in the city. Having biked across North America, You is scheduled to depart from New York for Frankfurt, Germany, today to continue his ride in Europe.



■ ENVIRONMENT

Lee dismisses accusations

Former Cabinet secretary-general Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) said on Monday that his acceptance of the post of Yunlin County deputy commissioner has nothing to do with the city and county chief elections next year. Lee, who will take up the post today, said that he will work with Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) to improve local development and enhance welfare. Amid speculation that he is likely to vie for the commissioner position at the end of next year, Lee said that taking the post of vice commissioner “has nothing to do with the election.” Lee said that the candidate for the election will be decided by the Democratic Progressive Party, of which he is a member.


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