Legislators across party lines sought yesterday to push for new legislation to protect the environment.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Wen-yen (邱文彥), Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) and People First Party Legislator Chang Show-foong (張曉風) called for cross-party cooperation on legislation to protect local wetlands and coastlines.
On Feb. 2, World Wetlands Day, the three legislators held a joint public hearing to press for the protection of a wetland area near Wugoushui Village (五溝水), in Pingtung County’s Wanluan Township (萬巒).
Photo: CNA
The county government has proposed building anti-flood works near the village, a move that is considered likely to damage the eco-system of an area that is rich in springs and rare fish species.
Chiu, a former Environmental Protection Administration deputy minister, said it is essential that local fishermen are better informed about coastline reserves.
“We have to make sure they are aware that setting up a coastline reserve is not the same thing as limiting fishing,” Chiu said. “Instead, setting up a reserve to protect the coastline, where the ecosystem is particularly fragile, facilitates the cultivation of fishery resources.”
Similarly, pushing for new legislation to protect the country’s wetlands is aimed at ensuring sustainable development, Chiu added.
Legislation to protect the wetlands ensures that development projects in such areas strictly adhere to standard procedures, he said. It also has the added benefit of providing guidance on how to conduct research into wetlands and educating the public on how best to protect them, he said.
Chang, a writer and prominent environmental activist, said one of her major goals as a legislator is to push for the passage of bills that protect the nation’s coastlines and wetlands.
Having made a name for herself as a result of her opposition to the building of a biotech research center on wetlands in Taipei’s Nangang District (南港) in 2010, Chang has said she would like to work with legislators from other parties.
Meanwhile, Tien stressed the need for more communication with fishermen’s associations, in the light of an expected backlash from such groups over the designation of coastline reserve areas.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS