National Central University's Center for the Study of Sexuality yesterday courted controversy by posting on its Web site the link to "Beast Love," a site designed to introduce intercourse between humans and animals.
The site, which features pictures and a manual, sparked discussion on the fine line between pornography and academic research.
"Animals and human beings have the same sexual desires and should be treated equally and fairly. Intercourse between them does exist," Josephine Ho (
"That is the idea of posting the hyperlink to the Web site," Ho said. "It is not necessary to make it a front-page story and make people panic. I hope that everybody can take it as academic research rather than pornography."
"Please be advised that `Beast Love' does not belong to the center nor to the university. We just provided the hyperlink as a reference," she said.
According to Ho, when visitors click to "Beast Love," there is a warning which states, "Please leave now if you are offended by alternative animal intercourse pictures."
Ho was responding to complaints by education officials and women's groups that the "Beast Love" site is nothing but pornography and has nothing to do with academic research or education.
The officials said posting the link violates Article 235 of the Criminal Code.
The article says, "A person who distributes, sells, publicly displays, or by other means shows to another person indecent writing, drawing, or other [such work] shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year; in addition thereto, a fine of not more than NT$3,000 may be imposed."
Ho could not be reached in person yesterday as she is attending a month-long seminar in Japan.
The Ministry of Education said in a press release that the center should not abuse the Taiwan Academic Network by posting the link on its home page.
The ministry also asked the center to remove the link immediately.
The Taiwan Academic Network brings together universities and colleges nationwide for academic, research and education purposes.
Visitors to the "Beast Love" Web stite can see pictures of intercourse between people and animals.
In addition to pictures, "Beast Love" provides a manual with instructions on how to have sex with various animals, including horses, pigs and cats.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This