While much of the focus of Taiwan’s literary world this week is likely to be focused on the Taipei International Book Exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center, more than a dozen non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are hosting a much smaller book fair of their own in Taipei.
A spokesman for the groups said they have basically been shut out of the international exhibition for several years because they cannot afford the exhibitor fees.
Taiwan Labour Front secretary-general Son Yu-lian (孫友聯) said NGOs used to be able to exhibit their publications at the fair when the event was hosted by the now-defunct Government Information Office, which was eliminated as part of a reorganization of the Cabinet in 2012.
The last time that they were able to showcase their books at the fair was about seven years ago, he said.
Sun said that when the groups tried to register for the 2010 fair, they were told that all the booths were booked and there was no space for them. They tried a couple of times afterward, but to no avail, although not since 2012, he said.
The cost of an exhibition booth is about NT$20,000 — not including decorations — which is more than his association can afford, he said.
The Taiwan Labour Front published The Bomb Generation (崩世代), about several key issues facing the younger generation of Taiwanese, such as low salaries, exhorbitant housing prices in large metropolitan areas, a rapidly aging nation and poverty, in 2011.
The book won the Jingding Award, the Republic of China’s highest award for authors and publishers.
“I told then-minister of culture Long Ying-tai (龍應台) at the award ceremony that people in NGOs can not only protest, but they can also write and win a national book award,” Son said.
The NGOs’ publications focus on issues that some people might find hard to swallow, such as the “Bomb Generation,” but they concern everyone living in Taiwan, Son said, adding that the NGOs would like the Ministry of Culture to reserve two to four booths at the Taipei International Book Exhibition for their publications.
However, the ministry said that while it could subsidize the NGOs to attend the international exhibition, it has no way to help them if they do not submit applications to be an exhibitor.
“The space at the exhibition became very limited after Hall 2 of the Taipei World Trade Center was torn down. It is inappropriate to reserve booths for particular groups,” said Wang Shu-fang (王淑芳), director of the ministry’s Department of Humanities and Publications.
However, any group seeking government subsidies to attend the international exhibition can submit an application when the ministry hosts its information session on the show each July, Wang said.
As an example, the ministry provided a subsidy for some small and independent bookstores to attend this year’s exhibition and advocates promoting gender equality were given subsidies to attend the show after they submitted an application to the ministry, she said.
“We want everyone to participate and do not want to exclude anyone, but they [the NGOs] do not apply,” she said.
The ministry would welcome the opportunity to work with NGOs to expand the scale of international exhibition, she said.
The price for an exhibitor’s booth at the Taipei International Book Exhibition, which is set by the Taipei World Trade Center, has not been raised in 12 years and is much lower than what is charged for other trade shows, Wang said.
The Taipei Book Fair Foundation, which is in charge of organizing the international event, also said that NGOs have not come to it for help, but NGO representatives have always been able to attend the fair for free.
The foundation said a 3m2 booth costs NT$30,000, which an exhibitor can lease for nine days.
The Taipei International Book Exhibition opens today and runs through Sunday. There is a Web site in Chinese and English (www.tibe.org.tw) with information about the focus writers, the Children’s Pavilion and other events.
The NGOs’ book fair also opens today and runs through Sunday at The Libratory, located in the basement of 24 Taishun St.
For more information on the fair and talks arranged by the NGOs, visit the fair’s Faceook page — only in Chinese — at www.facebook.com/events/1237570182925482/.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS