In a bid to raise awareness about soil-erosion prevention, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Arbor Day normally falls on March 12, but Chang said yesterday -- the second anniversary of the 921 earthquake -- would also be a tree-planting day.
To show that he's more than just a man of words, Chang yesterday "adopted" 230 trees at a cost of NT$100 each. In Mandarin, the number 230 sounds like "love the forest."
"To commemorate the second anniversary of the 921 earthquake, I hereby proclaim today Arbor Day," Chang said.
Chang also called on the public to help out by adopting the NT$100 trees. He said the tree-planting program was a part of the Cabinet's reforestation efforts.
Mudslides caused by typhoons Toraji and Nari have been blamed on soil erosion. The 921 earthquake also compounded the nation's soil-erosion problem.
The premier yesterday encouraged private corporations to buy the NT$100 trees. He also urged parents-to-be to adopt trees on the behalf of their newborns, saying the public should "baby the forest with NT$100."
"Destruction of the nature's ecological balance has cost us a great deal, and nature is striking back," Chang said, referring to the mudslides. "The cost of the damage can be estimated, but lives are priceless."
Chang also vowed to thoroughly review farming practices in mountain areas and along hillsides.
He said the Cabinet was determined to carry out its reforestation plans in order to prevent future soil erosion and mudslides.
In other news yesterday, the Government Information Office announced an award to recognize film-makers who have produced commercial films in the past three years with positive themes on Taiwan.
A review board in the first stage will select 10 nominees. The public will then vote for the top three entries. The deadline for submission is Oct. 5.
Information on the Cabinet's tree-planting campaign can be found on the Internet at www.lovetree.forest.gov.tw. Tree lovers can also telephone
0800-000-230 for more
information. The GIO has also posted information about the film-making award on its
Web site at www.gio.gov.tw.
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