One man's junk may be another man's treasure, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Deputy Minister Chang Feng-teng (
The "Your Old Computer, His Hope" program marked its 10th anniversary yesterday.
The program began in 1998, with 300 to 600 refurbished computers a year given to social welfare groups, he said. In 2005, the number of computers increased more than a thousand, he said.
"The program was expanded in accordance with the Cabinet's `2008 Challenge -- closing the digital gap between cities and rural areas plan' in 2005," Chang said.
The program, cosponsored this year by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), collected 9,581 processing units and 7,286 monitors from government agencies, or 52 percent of the total collected. Businesses contributed 34 percent, schools 11 percent and homes 3 percent, CIER president Daigee Shaw (蕭代基) said.
Elementary or secondary students received 1,180 of the refurbished computers, while 1,966 went to schools and 654 to welfare agencies, Shaw said.
"A computer is basic equipment for digital work," he said, adding that those who could not afford a PC might not be able to bridge the digital gap.
"Though these computers may not be the most up-to-date, they are perfect first units for economically disadvantaged children who may not otherwise own a personal system," National Taiwan University Hospital superintendent Lin Fang-yue (
"As a child who grew up in the city, it was hard to imagine that the computers we consider `too slow' are treasures for others," said Tai Chang-yan (
"I once installed a system for a child in Ilan County's Dongshan Township [冬山] who did not even have a proper desk to put the computer, so he placed it on top of a shoe rack," he said. "When he got the computer on, his eyes sparkled as he repeatedly stroked it with a big smile on his face."
"When you give, you receive much more in return. I urge other city folks to experience the joy of giving," he said.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
RSS