The Taiwan chapter of a Chinese non-profit environmental protection group donated NT$2.1 million (US$65,400) yesterday to the Taiwan Environmental Information Association (TEIA) to fund a survey of coral reefs and a squid conservation project.
George Chen (陳田文), head of the Taiwan chapter of the China-based Society of Entrepreneur Ecology (SEE) and chairman Capital Securities in Taipei, presented the money raised from SEE members in Taiwan and China at a press conference to mark the chapter’s establishment.
Chen said the seas around Taiwan are home to abundant and diverse marine life, but long-term public ignorance of marine ecology and heavy pollution has caused a rapid depletion of many local marine populations and had put the survival of coral reefs and marine life under threat.
“Our ocean resources are becoming increasingly exhausted and the world under the surface of the ocean is gradually becoming a silent ocean desert that threatens coral reefs and marine life,” said Chen, a keen scuba diver.
Taking squid as an example, Chen said some species live around coral reefs, but as a result of over-exploitation, pollution and drastic climate change, the coral has declined to the extent that the squid now lay their eggs mainly in discarded fishing nets or garbage.
He expressed hope that the sponsorship program would arouse public awareness of the importance of marine life protection and help restore the marine ecosystem.
TEIA secretary-general Chen Rui-bin (陳瑞賓) said Taiwan’s coral reefs are in decline and he hopes more people will take action to protect the marine environment.
Kuo Dao-jen (郭道仁), who is responsible for carrying out the squid conservation program, said he has more than 30 years diving experience and a good understanding of the species. He expressed his fear that there will be nowhere for the squid to spawn within 10 years.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man