The severe damage caused by the 921 earthquake has pushed the people of Taiwan into a period of self-reflection and spiritual rehabilitation. We all hope relief and reconstruction work will be completed as soon as possible, so people can get back on track with their everyday lives. Rebuilding a homeland is like a "revolution of hope."
The question is: What mechanism does Taiwan have to trigger a change of values? In other words: Where does the strength come from to motivate this change in perspective needed in the wake of the disaster?
This strength should prevent the reconstruction process from falling into a vicious cycle of "the good pushes out the bad."
Though the impact of the earthquake was tremendous, we have noticed as time passes that Taiwan's political and financial structures remain fairly intact.
At such a time, it is difficult to find the energy to revitalize society, but various organizations involved in post-quake work have won the hearts and respect of the people.
Relief work undertaken by non-profit organizations, which mobilized thousands of volunteers immediately, was unprecedented in the history of Taiwan.
A non-profit organization, the Civilian Post-disaster Reconstruction Coordination Alliance (
Its mandate, to unify the power of more than one hundred non-profit institutions engaged in post-quake work, is considered a historic undertaking.
There has never been an apolitical alliance of such an immense scale in Taiwan.
As for how to reconstruct social values, if the alliance can play the role of an initiator, energized by the participation of non-profit organizations, new values within society are likely to be established during the reconstruction process.
Due to various reasons, the alliance was able to harness the most aggressive reform forces in Taiwan.
Lee Yuan-tseh, chairman of the alliance and Academia Sinica president, called upon all departments in the government to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities.
Non-governmental organizations cannot be absent from the planning and monitoring process of reconstruction, but this does not mean these organizations can replace the role the government should be performing.
It is to be regretted, however, that on several occasions, the government responded unprofessionally when challenged by the alliance over the efficiency of its work.
The reaction was predictable because governmental officials are used to maintaining good relationships with only those non-governmental organizations close to the government. If the government is open-minded enough, the Alliance can share with the government the heavy responsibilities of reconstruction.
It is unfair to challenge the credibility of the alliance. There is no harm in the government considering the alliance as an equal partner with which to produce a reconstruction solution most beneficial to the country.
Although the 921 earthquake did a lot of damage to our country, it also provided us with a pivotal point for introducing reform. In the process of reconstruction, it would be worthwhile for the entire nation to overhaul its social fabric.
If non-profit organizations can also play the role of decision-makers in government policy, that would be the best contribution to society.
If reconstruction efforts can trigger a new era of social reform to the benefit of all Taiwanese people, then this, perhaps more than anything, would be the most meaningful commemoration for the victims of the quake.
Ku Chung-hwa is Chairman of the Department of Sociology at National Chengchi University
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