The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on April 1 that smoking is now prohibited at all public parks. Kenting National Park also followed suit in carrying out the new policy. However, not having a single smoking area in the more than 400 hectares covering Kenting National Forest Recreation Area has many smokers complaining. The Pingtung Forest District Office says that it will look into the possibility of setting up smoking areas, but that for the time being smoking is still prohibited throughout the entire park.
“The intentions behind prohibiting smoking are good, but not having a single smoking area in such a vast park is excessive enforcement of the law,” said one chain-smoker surnamed Kuo in a complaint that he filed. Although smoking is not allowed in Kenting National Park’s scenic areas, there are still designated smoking areas inside. The Forest Recreation Area, however, completely prohibits smoking, which is something smokers are unwilling to accept.
The district office says that the Forest Recreation Area contains many rare tree species. Completely prohibiting smoking is in accordance with the government policy, the office says, adding that there are also fears that cigarette butts might cause fires, which is why there are not any designated smoking areas in the area. The office says that hopefully people visiting the area will do their best to enjoy the phytoncides and cast aside their cigarettes. With regard to people’s complaints that not having smoking areas is inhumane, the office says that it will look into the possibility of setting up smoking areas near the ticket office. The park also says that if tourists are caught smoking in non-smoking areas, they will receive fines of between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
Photo: Tung Chen-kuo, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者佟振國
四月一日是衛福部公告公園綠地全面禁煙首日，墾丁國家公園範圍內同步實施，但廣達四百多公頃的墾丁森林遊樂區，竟無半個吸菸區，讓不少癮君子大表不滿；屏東林管處表示，將研究設置吸菸區，設置完成前仍全面禁菸。
「禁菸用意很好，但那麼廣大的園區，竟連一處吸菸區都不設，未免執法過當了！」老菸槍郭先生投訴表示，墾丁國家公園內景點雖然禁止吸菸，但都有規劃吸菸區，森林遊樂區卻完全禁止，讓吸菸族群不能接受。
屏東林管處指出，墾丁森林遊樂區內有許多珍貴樹種，全面禁菸除了配合政策，也擔心菸蒂造成森林火災，因此未在園區內規劃吸菸區，希望民眾到訪時盡情享受芬多精，放下手中的香菸；至於民眾反映無吸菸區不通人性，將研究在售票口周邊設置。墾管處表示，遊客如果在禁菸區抽菸被查獲，將挨罰兩千到一萬元。
（自由時報記者蔡宗憲）
Every February, the US observes Black History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions, experiences, and achievements of African Americans. The tradition began in 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson proposed a national week to promote the teaching of Black history in schools. He deliberately chose the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures held in high esteem by the Black community for their roles in ending slavery. In 1976, the initiative expanded into a month-long observance, with then US president Gerald Ford urging Americans to acknowledge the accomplishments of
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 The fog came before the knock. It covered the street and pressed against the window. Chao Gung-dao lit a small oil lamp, but his makeshift hut stayed dim. Another knock. Chao opened the door. The inspector stepped inside and removed his hat. He did not smile. “You remember me?” the inspector said. Chao resented the question. The inspector looked around the small room. His eyes stopped on a wooden box resting on a low beam above Chao’s head. “What is that?” Chao stayed silent. The inspector pulled the box down and
A: The Oscars are set to take place next weekend. It’s a pity that the Taiwanese film “Left-handed Girl” got snubbed. B: And this year, the horror film “Sinners” broke the all-time record with 16 nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13 nods. Both are nominated for Best Picture. A: What are other Best Picture contenders? B: The nominees are: “Bugonia,” “F1: The Movie,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” “Train Dreams” and Norwegian film “Sentimental Value.” A: It’s so hard to choose from. Some of them haven’t been released in Taiwan yet. I hope they’ll be released soon. A: 本屆奧斯卡獎下週即將揭曉，可惜國片《左撇子女孩》未入圍。 B: 恐怖片《罪人》共獲得16項提名，打破影史紀錄。《一戰再戰》則獲得13項提名緊追在後，都是最佳影片大熱門！ A:
A: As the Oscars are about to shine next weekend, several nominees are set to be released in Taiwan — such as “Hamnet,” with eight nominations. B: The movies that I most want to see this year are “Michael,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” A: Other hit movies include “Disclosure Day,” “The Odyssey,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Digger,” “Avengers: Doomsday,” “Dune: Messiah” and the live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Moana.” B: Highly anticipated animated films include “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” “Toy Story 5,” “Minions 3” and “The Angry Birds Movie 3.” A: Plus, Taiwanese blockbuster “Sunshine
RSS