President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) upset some people with disabilities yesterday by failing to have a sign-language specialist interpret his New Year’s address.
Taiwan Association for Disability Rights secretary-general Wang Yuling (王幼玲) said that no sign language interpreter was hired to translate Ma’s speech on the first day of the new year, nor the slogans the president shouted during the flag-raising ceremony held in front of the Office of the President.
The television stations broadcasting these events did not provide subtitles for the speech either, she added.
“Developed countries around the world all offer sign-language interpretation whenever the head of the state makes an important announcement,” Wang said. “By not providing this service, Taiwan really does not look like a civilized country that honors human rights.”
Wang said that thousands of people with disabilities took to the streets last year to demand equal access to information and cultural events, urging that the news and other televised programs be made accessible to all people. They also requested that press conferences hosted by the government agencies feature sign-language translation.
“We are surprised that Ma set such a terrible example on the first day of the year,” she said.
Wang said this was not the first time that the president had ignored the equal access to information rights of the hearing impaired.
During the inauguration ceremony for his second term last year, Ma’s address was neither interpreted in sign language nor broadcast with subtitles, she said.
After receiving complaints, the Presidential Office promised to improve, but did not make good on this promise during yesterday’s New Year’s address, Wang added, saying the Ma administration should list “barrier-free access to information” as a criterion in the evaluation of all government events.
The association said that the Ma administration has signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which state that all individuals have the right to participate in public affairs and receive information on an equal basis.
This right is further enshrined in the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act (身心障礙者權益保障法), which also states that access to public information should be barrier-free, the association said.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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