Hi! This is Eric taking over this newsletter from Jess. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Taiwan had its local election as well as a major referendum vote. While it has been over a week, there are still talks and questions about it. We’ve put together a few simple points of the major things that happened in the … Continue reading Special Edition: Election Recap
On Saturday, September 12, dozens gathered at One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, in front of the United Nations headquarters in NYC. Attendees eagerly listened and chanted along with the Taiwan-United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) from Taiwan. Speakers spoke strongly for Taiwan's entrance into the United Nations. While Taiwanese media coverage primarily focused on the activities at One Dag … Continue reading The Young Voices at the United Nations Membership for Taiwan Rally 2015
One of the trending issues in Taiwan is no doubt the ongoing debate about the country’s civics curriculum reform. The Ministry of Education (MoE hereafter) of Republic of China (the official government of Taiwan) claimed that the changes are merely “minor adjustments” to reflect historical facts, and yet, not only were the participants’ names erased … Continue reading Civics Curriculum Reform based on Ethnocentrism May Harm our Children
According to the Ministry of Interior, there are currently 275 registered political parties in Taiwan. That is a huge number of parties! The number of parties existing in Taiwan also highlights the different issues that Taiwan society has interest in. From environmental safety, immigration, labor benefits, culture, social justice, to the traditional areas of … Continue reading The Third Force: Small Parties in Taiwan
DPP Presidential hopeful Tsai Ing-wen spoke in New York City before local Taiwanese American organizations and supporters on Friday, June 5, as part of her tour around the United States. Tsai spoke in Mandarin and Taiwanese but also prepared an English segment directed at young Taiwanese Americans. Tsai painted Taiwan as an innovative and progressive … Continue reading Dr. Tsai addresses Taiwanese Americans
On April 20th, Columbia University’s Taiwan Focus student organization hosted a discussion, led by Yu-Shiou (Clarence) Chou, about Taiwan’s human rights. Chou is an attorney at law in Taiwan, Executive Commissioner of the Judicial Reform Foundation, PILnet Fellow, public defender for Sunflower Movement activists, and is currently completing his Visiting Scholar term at Columbia Law … Continue reading A Walk Through Taiwan’s Human Rights with Clarence Chou
The 228 Incident/Massacre, (二二八事件), is an event in Taiwan's history that is not commonly known; the exact number of victims remain a mystery other than that tens of thousands suffered. What is known is that it was a conflict between the incoming ROC government and the inhabitants of Taiwan. Although many have heard of the bloody … Continue reading Walking through 228 : 10 Facts About 228
It was declared a “watershed moment in its democratization”, but there was no jubilation or dancing in the streets. The Nationalists Kuomintang (KMT) still had a strangle hold on Taiwan’s political system, but this was the beginning of political liberalization and the roots of Taiwanization. Chiang Ching-kuo lifted martial law over Taiwan in July 1987, 38 … Continue reading Taiwan Martial Law and the Aftermath
December 10 marks Human Rights Day. It is a day to promote and spread awareness about human rights around the world. Civil rights, political rights, the right to due process, the right to free speech, the right to life and equality before law - all of which are just a few examples of the human … Continue reading #rights4tw – Protecting and Remembering Human Rights in Taiwan
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