After the devastation inflicted by last year's 921 Earthquake and the recent quake on May 17, the mountain cliffs along the Central Cross-Island Highway
German sociologist Ulrich Beck pointed out the concept of "sociology of risk." According to him, after human exploitation of natural resources in the pursuit of a convenient lifestyle becomes excessive, "risks," just like the exploited resources, will be redistributed back to human life.
The situation along the Central Cross-Island Highway best illustrates Beck's viewpoint. I propose closing off the mountains to meet the desperate need for mankind to befriend Mother Nature.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications
To deal with the fragile natural environment, we need to re-evaluate development of the region, the forests along the highway and the nearby Aboriginal communities. In addition, we need to engage in forestry conservation in the Central Range
Previous development of the area along the highway was aimed at increasing state revenues through logging and encouraging the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. However, times have changed and our country's development policies have shifted to the preservation of forests and water resources. With the impact of Taiwan's entry into the WTO, mountain crops will face greater challenges in the market.
Mudslides have also compounded the problem with the water quality of the Tachia River
Therefore, I propose that we shift our development goal for the area to one of environmental conservation. I also propose that we establish a core conservation area along the Central Mountain Range.
This goal is important ecologically -- to preserve both wildlife and underground water resources in a region that has undergone unrestrained water consumption in the name of economic development.
If the mountains are closed off, the local Aboriginal communities will be able to respect and follow their ancestors' harmonious existence with Mother Nature. I propose setting up autonomous regions for the Aborigines and increasing their job opportunities by providing budgets for forest rangers and conservation officers. Such a project would improve the social-economic status of the Aborigines.
The central government should encourage more cooperation among its policy-making bodies -- such as the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of the Interior, the Council of Agriculture and the Council of Aboriginal Affairs -- as well as the relavent county governments.
The central government should also comprehensively reevaluate relevant policies, including the National Land Planning Law
The goal is to restore to the Aborigines and the ecosystems of central Taiwan what is rightfully theirs and learn to face Mother Nature with humility.
As I watched the Aborigines hurriedly moved out of their villages after the earthquakes, I was reminded of the feelings I had when I saw the statute of a Native American on horseback at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The Native American, his eyes looking empty, stretches his arms out toward the sky.
Facing the white men who came to buy his land, an Indian tribal chief once asked, "How can you buy or sell the sky and the warmth of the land? Since we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them from us?" These words linger in my mind.
Liao Yung-lai is Taichung County Commissioner.
The first Donald Trump term was a boon for Taiwan. The administration regularized the arms sales process and enhanced bilateral ties. Taipei will not be so fortunate the second time around. Given recent events, Taiwan must proceed with the assumption that it cannot count on the United States to defend it — diplomatically or militarily — during the next four years. Early indications suggested otherwise. The nomination of Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State and the appointment of Mike Waltz as the national security advisor, both of whom have expressed full-throated support for Taiwan in the past, raised hopes that
There is nothing the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) could do to stop the tsunami-like mass recall campaign. KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) reportedly said the party does not exclude the option of conditionally proposing a no-confidence vote against the premier, which the party later denied. Did an “actuary” like Chu finally come around to thinking it should get tough with the ruling party? The KMT says the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is leading a minority government with only a 40 percent share of the vote. It has said that the DPP is out of touch with the electorate, has proposed a bloated
Authorities last week revoked the residency permit of a Chinese social media influencer surnamed Liu (劉), better known by her online channel name Yaya in Taiwan (亞亞在台灣), who has more than 440,000 followers online and is living in Taiwan with a marriage-based residency permit, for her “reunification by force” comments. She was asked to leave the country in 10 days. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) on Tuesday last week announced the decision, citing the influencer’s several controversial public comments, including saying that “China does not need any other reason to reunify Taiwan with force” and “why is it [China] hesitant
A media report has suggested that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) was considering initiating a vote of no confidence in Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) in a bid to “bring down the Cabinet.” The KMT has denied that this topic was ever discussed. Why might such a move have even be considered? It would have been absurd if it had seen the light of day — potentially leading to a mass loss of legislative seats for the KMT even without the recall petitions already under way. Today the second phase of the recall movement is to begin — which has
RSS