A “face equality” video portraying how jobseekers are treated because of their appearance has gone viral on the Internet, with Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation calling for May 17 to be designated as “face equality day” to combat discrimination against people with facial disfigurements.
According to a survey on the social perception of appearances conducted by the foundation in 2013, one out of five people has suffered from ridicule or criticism because of the way they look, while two-thirds of those mistreated due to their appearancessaid they have low self-esteem and do not want to interact with others, the foundation said.
More than 70 percent of respondents said that they have a negative impression of people with a facial disfigurement according to another survey on the public’s real attitude toward people with disfigurements, the foundation said.
Screen grab from Face Equality’s official Web site
To alter the practice of judging people based on appearance and to raise awareness, UK-based charity Changing Face launched a face-equality campaign in 2010, and the foundation has responded to its call with a corresponding campaign in Taiwan since 2011, the foundation said.
Foundation public relations officer Chang Chia-wen (張家雯) said that every face is unique, and face equality is about an individual’s right to be treated fairly and equally, regardless of their appearance.
An educational event to promote facial equality is to be held at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei today and tomorrow, while another activity is to take place at the Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung on May 17, she said, adding that attendees can play games and have their faces painted.
An online campaign to collect photographs of smiling faces is to run through June 30, in a bid to encourage the public to show support for people with disfigurements, she said.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS