Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday officially announced the establishment of her foundation, the Thinking Taiwan Foundation, an organization which aims to develop charity projects and public policy.
“While it takes piles of cash to fill up a room, you can light up a room with a match. And that is what we’re trying to do,” said Tsai, who will chair the foundation, at the opening ceremony.
The foundation aimed to light three matches for Taiwan — deliberation and discussion of public policy, action to show compassion to local communities and acting as a catalyst for social action through participation, Tsai said of her first major move after losing the January presidential election.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
“The ultimate goal would be to further the power of thinking, the power of action and the power of society,” said Tsai, whom many supporters expect to make another run for president in 2016.
Public policy is important because it would determine Taiwan’s future, which is bleak in many people’s eyes at present, she said.
Her foundation is determined to commit to charity works because over the years she has seen so many ordinary citizens and organizations get involved to help society move forward, she added.
The two primary goals are all about the people, she said.
“The most beautiful thing about Taiwan is its people. Without these passionate and sincere people, Taiwan would be a hollow place,” she said.
That was also why Tsai intended to make the foundation, which is funded from the NT$120 million (US$4 million) election subsidy Tsai received, free from political ideology and partisanship.
Among the board members of the foundation are former DPP secretary-general Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), Tsai’s running mate in the presidential election; former Chunghwa Telecom chairman Hochen Tan (賀陳旦); former deputy chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development Chang Ching-sen (張景森); journalist Antonio Chiang (江春男); and political commentator Yao Li-ming (姚立明).
Former finance minister Lin Chuan (林全) will serve as the foundation’s chief executive director.
The “Thinking Taiwan Forum” Web site, which was launched on Sunday, will play an integral part of public policy and social issues deliberation, Lin said.
The Web site will publish articles written by young professionals, academics, activists and prominent writers in six broad categories: including democracy, law, China affairs, economic affairs, society and culture.
The foundation also plans to hold open and closed-door conferences and workshops on various topics, Lin said.
According to Lin, the first closed-door conference on Taiwan’s future economic development model is scheduled to be held on Aug. 14 and Aug. 15. The conference will have panel discussions on macroeconomics, cross-strait economy, global economy, governance and a general discussion.
While the foundation will try to avoid political influence, Tsai will not shy from making political comments as a politician and a former presidential candidate, Lin said.
Tsai’s political affairs will be handled by her office, rather than the foundation, Lin said.
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS