Taipei, Sep. 12 (CNA) The British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) will organize a Taiwan delegation to participate the U.K. Nano Forum in October, the British representative office in Taiwan announced Tuesday.
The delegation will be in Britain from Oct. 23- 27 and will visit London, Newcastle and Oxford, the BTCO said in a press release.
The one-day U.K. Nano Forum, which will be held Oct. 24 in London, is a conference and exhibition that provides a networking forum for leading edge nanotech businesses, R&D and government representatives, as well as venture capitalists, potential technology buyers and those seeking to develop joint ventures.
High-level delegates from invited countries, including the U.S., Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Finland and Sweden, will be able to discuss business needs and find partners at the forum, according to the statement.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
MASSIVE ASSEMBLY PLANNED TO COUNTER ANTI-CHEN PROTEST
Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) A massive assembly has been planned by various groups for Sept. 16 to counter the "Million Voices Against Corruption" campaign, calling for protection of Taiwanese values and opposition to polarization and disorder, the organizers announced Tuesday.
Led by the pro-independence Taiwan Society, more than a hundred civic groups are organizing the rally, titled "Facing the Sun: Love, Hope, and Taiwan Light, " that will take place on Ketagelan Boulevard Saturday, one day after the expected conclusion of the anti-President Chen Shui-bian protest led by Shih Ming-teh, a veteran politician who once served as chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, at the same location.
"We want to express the ideals that the general public needs stabilization instead of polarization; law and order instead of revolution; economic prosperity instead of disorder, " said Chet Yang, secretary-general of the Taiwan Society.
The Taiwan Society is an umbrella group that consists of Taiwan Society North, Taiwan Society South, Taiwan Society East, Taiwan Herald Society, and several groups in Japan and North America.
The anti-Chen protest, which began Sept. 9, has got out of hand and has reached the point of "possible guerrilla war in the city, " Yang claimed.
"The silence and pain of most people have gone unnoticed during this period. The ultimate values of Taiwan -- democracy, freedom, happiness and stabilization -- are on the verge of destruction, " he said, adding that he is confident that 100,000 participants will take part.
Led by the pro-independence Taiwan Society, more than a hundred civic groups are organizing the rally, titled "Facing the Sun: Love, Hope, and Taiwan Light, " that will take place on Ketagelan Boulevard Saturday, one day after the expected conclusion of the anti-President Chen Shui-bian protest led by Shih Ming-teh, a veteran politician who once served as chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, at the same location.
"We want to express the ideals that the general public needs stabilization instead of polarization; law and order instead of revolution; economic prosperity instead of disorder, " said Chet Yang, secretary-general of the Taiwan Society.
The Taiwan Society is an umbrella group that consists of Taiwan Society North, Taiwan Society South, Taiwan Society East, Taiwan Herald Society, and several groups in Japan and North America.
The anti-Chen protest, which began Sept. 9, has got out of hand and has reached the point of "possible guerrilla war in the city, " Yang claimed.
"The silence and pain of most people have gone unnoticed during this period. The ultimate values of Taiwan -- democracy, freedom, happiness and stabilization -- are on the verge of destruction, " he said, adding that he is confident that 100,000 participants will take part.
SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES CAN BUILD BRANDS WITHOUT LOGOS: BRAND STRATEGIST
Taipei, Sep. 11 (CNA) A successful company is able to develop a brand without a logo, but a lot more effort is needed to accomplishing this, Danish brand strategist Martin Lindstrom said Monday in a symposium held in Taipei.
"Most people" can tell a Louis Vuitton bag or a Coca Cola bottle without seeing the logos, " Lindstrom claimed in the symposium titled "Using the Five Senses to Build Extraordinary Brands, " adding that this is because a product is made in the factory, but "a brand is made in people's minds."
The first step to build a strong brand is to "tell a story, but never lie, " he said, adding that a strong vision, as well as patience, is needed to build a strong brand.
"Most people" can tell a Louis Vuitton bag or a Coca Cola bottle without seeing the logos, " Lindstrom claimed in the symposium titled "Using the Five Senses to Build Extraordinary Brands, " adding that this is because a product is made in the factory, but "a brand is made in people's minds."
The first step to build a strong brand is to "tell a story, but never lie, " he said, adding that a strong vision, as well as patience, is needed to build a strong brand.
SMELL THE MOST UNDERRATED FACTOR IN BRANDING: BRAND STRATEGIST
Taipei, Sep. 11 (CNA) Smell is the most underrated factor in developing brand, and using the five senses in brand building will be a future trend, Danish brand strategist Martin Lindstrom said in a symposium Monday in Taipei.
"The sense of smell emotionally affects humans up to 75 percent more than any other sense, " claimed Lindstrom in front of about 300 brand managers who attended the symposium, titled "Using the Five Senses to Build Extraordinary Brand."
In 2006, only 1.7 percent of consumers could recall at least one television advertisement from the previous day, compared to 34 percent in 1965, Lindstrom said.
"This shows that the more information we receive, the harder it is to develop brand, " he said.
Today, 83 percent of all information people receive is visual, but eight out of ten new brand products flop. Lindstrom said this also implies that visual factors do not help building brands.
"Which tells us that we have to find another way to build brands, " he said, adding that five senses -- smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste -- are probably "the new way."
As an example, he noted that Singapore Airlines has patented the smell of its hot towels and developed a successful brand, while on the contrary, 25 percent of interviewees in a survey said they did not like McDonalds outlets because of their greasy smell.
"The sense of smell emotionally affects humans up to 75 percent more than any other sense, " claimed Lindstrom in front of about 300 brand managers who attended the symposium, titled "Using the Five Senses to Build Extraordinary Brand."
In 2006, only 1.7 percent of consumers could recall at least one television advertisement from the previous day, compared to 34 percent in 1965, Lindstrom said.
"This shows that the more information we receive, the harder it is to develop brand, " he said.
Today, 83 percent of all information people receive is visual, but eight out of ten new brand products flop. Lindstrom said this also implies that visual factors do not help building brands.
"Which tells us that we have to find another way to build brands, " he said, adding that five senses -- smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste -- are probably "the new way."
As an example, he noted that Singapore Airlines has patented the smell of its hot towels and developed a successful brand, while on the contrary, 25 percent of interviewees in a survey said they did not like McDonalds outlets because of their greasy smell.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM DISCUSSES TAIWAN, JAPAN STUDIES
Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) A two-day international symposium was held in Taipei to discuss Taiwan studies in Japan and Japan studies in Taiwan.
The annual symposium was organized by East Asia Relations Commission, Taiwan's de facto embassy in Japan, from Sep. 9- 10 and gathered a group of Japanese and Taiwanese scholars.
A total of eight theses will be presented in two days and wide-ranging topics such as security issues of Japan and Taiwan, Taiwan's education and textile industry during the Japanese colonial era, the U.S. government's restraint on Taiwan during the Cold War era, and Taiwanese cinema will be discussed.
Interestingly, mutual relations between Taiwan and Japan have been growing since 1945, the end of the Japanese colonial era, as Taiwanese did not hold any resentment against Japan, said East Asia Relations Commission President Lo Fu-chen.
"And the resistance against Japan in the colonial era became the threshold of what we call the 'Taiwanese identity' today, " he said.
"Taiwan and Japan are similar in some way, " Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng said. Tu cited Prime Minister frontrunner Shinzo Abe's new book "Toward a beautiful country" as saying that both countries are facing similar issues such as becoming a normal country and educational reform.
Ikeda Tadashi, Chief Representative of Interchange Association Japan's Taipei Office -- Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan, also welcomed more interchange between two countries.
"Taiwan people's friendliness toward Japan has been unparalleled, especially in comparison with China and South Korea, " he said.
The annual symposium was organized by East Asia Relations Commission, Taiwan's de facto embassy in Japan, from Sep. 9- 10 and gathered a group of Japanese and Taiwanese scholars.
A total of eight theses will be presented in two days and wide-ranging topics such as security issues of Japan and Taiwan, Taiwan's education and textile industry during the Japanese colonial era, the U.S. government's restraint on Taiwan during the Cold War era, and Taiwanese cinema will be discussed.
Interestingly, mutual relations between Taiwan and Japan have been growing since 1945, the end of the Japanese colonial era, as Taiwanese did not hold any resentment against Japan, said East Asia Relations Commission President Lo Fu-chen.
"And the resistance against Japan in the colonial era became the threshold of what we call the 'Taiwanese identity' today, " he said.
"Taiwan and Japan are similar in some way, " Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng said. Tu cited Prime Minister frontrunner Shinzo Abe's new book "Toward a beautiful country" as saying that both countries are facing similar issues such as becoming a normal country and educational reform.
Ikeda Tadashi, Chief Representative of Interchange Association Japan's Taipei Office -- Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan, also welcomed more interchange between two countries.
"Taiwan people's friendliness toward Japan has been unparalleled, especially in comparison with China and South Korea, " he said.
TAIWAN'S NATIONALIZATION NEEDS CONTINUED EFFORT: ACADEMIA
Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) Taiwan's nationalization has a long way to go and needs a continued effort amid the rise of China, the suppression from China, and lukewarm support from the U.S. and the international community, a professor said in an international conference Saturday.
Chen Wen-hsien, a professor at National Cheng Chi University, offered his analysis in a thesis titled "Predicament and the U.S. factor of Taiwan's nationalization: Observation after DPP came into power."
Taiwan's nationalization movement has been consistently facing domestic dispute, suppression from China, and obstruction from the U.S., Chen said.
U.S. position and policy has been especially critical in the process, as Chen detailed U.S. reaction after three major announcements from President Chen Shui-bian -- "five noes" in 2000, "one country on each side of the strait" in 2002, and "action for referendum and Taiwanese constitution" in 2003.
Taiwan faced a unique situation which its democratization came before the nationalization, Chen said. And "the Taiwanese identity was immediately challenged as domestic consensus on national identity has not been reached yet.
"A harsh truth for the Taiwanese is that, after decades of effort, a democratic Taiwan has not won the support from the U.S. and international community of its nationalization, " Chen noted.
The U.S. also showed severe concern over Taiwan's nationalization in the possible military conflict with China and potential damage of U.S. national interest, Chen said.
Chen Wen-hsien, a professor at National Cheng Chi University, offered his analysis in a thesis titled "Predicament and the U.S. factor of Taiwan's nationalization: Observation after DPP came into power."
Taiwan's nationalization movement has been consistently facing domestic dispute, suppression from China, and obstruction from the U.S., Chen said.
U.S. position and policy has been especially critical in the process, as Chen detailed U.S. reaction after three major announcements from President Chen Shui-bian -- "five noes" in 2000, "one country on each side of the strait" in 2002, and "action for referendum and Taiwanese constitution" in 2003.
Taiwan faced a unique situation which its democratization came before the nationalization, Chen said. And "the Taiwanese identity was immediately challenged as domestic consensus on national identity has not been reached yet.
"A harsh truth for the Taiwanese is that, after decades of effort, a democratic Taiwan has not won the support from the U.S. and international community of its nationalization, " Chen noted.
The U.S. also showed severe concern over Taiwan's nationalization in the possible military conflict with China and potential damage of U.S. national interest, Chen said.
NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM PRESENTS LIVE MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL
Taipei, Sep. 8 (CNA) A film festival in which musicians have been invited to perform live improvisation to accompany a series of silent films was launched at the National Palace Museum (NPM) Friday.
The "Old is News: Sound of Silence" festival is showing 10 silent films that represent a spectrum of movie genres including documentary, romance, horror, science fiction and comedy. The films will be shown at the museum from Sept. 8- 17.
Golden Horse Award-winning musician Chen Yang performed live to accompany Charlie Chaplin's classic film "City Lights" Friday at the premiere.
"In this festival, we try to tell everyone why 'old is new' and how today's classic could be yesterday's avant-garde, " said NPM Director Lin Mun-lee.
"We hope to provide an original atmosphere for silent films and to create an enjoyable and memorable performance, " she said.
The other films to be shown include The General, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Triumph of the Will, The Goddess, The Phantom of the Opera, The Jazz Singer, and Where the Movies Begin.
Invited musicians include Chen Yang, Chu T'ou P'I. However, some of the films will be accompanied by DJs rather than by actual musicians.
The festival is the second part of the NPM's "World Perspective: Visual Series, " following a French film festival that was held in March. The third part of the series, a New Wave film festival, is expected to be held in February 2007.
The "Old is News: Sound of Silence" festival is showing 10 silent films that represent a spectrum of movie genres including documentary, romance, horror, science fiction and comedy. The films will be shown at the museum from Sept. 8- 17.
Golden Horse Award-winning musician Chen Yang performed live to accompany Charlie Chaplin's classic film "City Lights" Friday at the premiere.
"In this festival, we try to tell everyone why 'old is new' and how today's classic could be yesterday's avant-garde, " said NPM Director Lin Mun-lee.
"We hope to provide an original atmosphere for silent films and to create an enjoyable and memorable performance, " she said.
The other films to be shown include The General, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Triumph of the Will, The Goddess, The Phantom of the Opera, The Jazz Singer, and Where the Movies Begin.
Invited musicians include Chen Yang, Chu T'ou P'I. However, some of the films will be accompanied by DJs rather than by actual musicians.
The festival is the second part of the NPM's "World Perspective: Visual Series, " following a French film festival that was held in March. The third part of the series, a New Wave film festival, is expected to be held in February 2007.
Friday, September 08, 2006
BRITISH HEALTHCARE IT SOFTWARE SUPPLIER AIMS AT TAIWAN MARKET
Taipei, Sep. 7 (CNA) Cerrus International, Britain's biggest supplier of IT software to the social and healthcare sectors, aims to enter Taiwan market by the end of this year, Cerrus chief executive Stewart Maxwell said in Taipei Thursday.
Many leading healthcare associations in Europe are clients of Cerrus. In the United Kingdom alone, 20,000 people use the system, titled Saturn, every day across 2,000 sites, said Maxwell.
The social and healthcare sector is the fastest-growing industry in the world due to a global increase in the aging population and advances in medical science. With this increase brings economic, cultural and operational change in which IT plays an essential part in helping to manage this process, Maxwell said.
"The introduction of the Saturn software to Taiwan will lead to innovations in the local industry. One of our primary objectives for 2006 is to develop our unique application in readiness for a major international release -- the first of its kind anywhere in the world, " he said.
In Taiwan, there has been tremendous interest in the system. Cerrus is in discussions with local private and government agencies to produce a version of Saturn for the Taiwan social and healthcare market. It will launch the system for Taiwan at the Mediphar Exhibition in November.
Many leading healthcare associations in Europe are clients of Cerrus. In the United Kingdom alone, 20,000 people use the system, titled Saturn, every day across 2,000 sites, said Maxwell.
The social and healthcare sector is the fastest-growing industry in the world due to a global increase in the aging population and advances in medical science. With this increase brings economic, cultural and operational change in which IT plays an essential part in helping to manage this process, Maxwell said.
"The introduction of the Saturn software to Taiwan will lead to innovations in the local industry. One of our primary objectives for 2006 is to develop our unique application in readiness for a major international release -- the first of its kind anywhere in the world, " he said.
In Taiwan, there has been tremendous interest in the system. Cerrus is in discussions with local private and government agencies to produce a version of Saturn for the Taiwan social and healthcare market. It will launch the system for Taiwan at the Mediphar Exhibition in November.
U.S. BASKETBALL STAR VISITS TAIWAN
Taipei, Sep. 7 (CNA) U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant, who plays
for the Los Angeles Lakers, delivered his "message and philosophy"
Thursday to young people and fans on his first trip to Taiwan, a
whirlwind 24-hour visit.
"It's important to enjoy the game. Just by doing it and actually
playing the game you can be good at it, " the 27-year-old star guard
said in a press conference before a meet-the-fans event slated for
that evening.
Bryant's 81-point performance -- the NBA's second-highest single game scoring record -- last season is still the talk of Taiwanese fans and media. Bryant, one of the most popular basketball players in Taiwan, said the achievement is the reward of perseverance, hard work, training and luck.
Bryant and Nike Taiwan donated a basketball court to indigenous children in Wufeng township, Hsinchu County, where landslides had wrecked most of the basketball courts.
Bryant later met 4,000 fans at the National Taiwan University Gymnasium, where he conducted a short basketball clinic and gave a demonstration.
Taiwan is the third stop for Bryant on his Sep. 4- 9 Asia Tour, which also includes Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Beijing.
for the Los Angeles Lakers, delivered his "message and philosophy"
Thursday to young people and fans on his first trip to Taiwan, a
whirlwind 24-hour visit.
"It's important to enjoy the game. Just by doing it and actually
playing the game you can be good at it, " the 27-year-old star guard
said in a press conference before a meet-the-fans event slated for
that evening.
Bryant's 81-point performance -- the NBA's second-highest single game scoring record -- last season is still the talk of Taiwanese fans and media. Bryant, one of the most popular basketball players in Taiwan, said the achievement is the reward of perseverance, hard work, training and luck.
Bryant and Nike Taiwan donated a basketball court to indigenous children in Wufeng township, Hsinchu County, where landslides had wrecked most of the basketball courts.
Bryant later met 4,000 fans at the National Taiwan University Gymnasium, where he conducted a short basketball clinic and gave a demonstration.
Taiwan is the third stop for Bryant on his Sep. 4- 9 Asia Tour, which also includes Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Beijing.
CANADIAN PAINTER HOLDS EXHIBITION IN TAIPEI
Taipei, Sep. 7 (CNA) A Canadian English teacher and painter whose work is being displayed at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei said Thursday that his "most unforgettable experiences" are what inspire his painting.
Cole Swanson said that during a trip to Jaipur, India a few years ago, a massive flock of pigeons in front of Albert Hall caught his attention.
"The birds that littered the front steps were so numerous that I could barely walk a straight line through them. When they rose into the sky, I became lost. The wings of the birds were so many that my whole world dissolved right in front of my eyes, " said Swanson, who lives in Taipei and makes his living teaching English.
"I was left with the pure sensation of their multitude. They were no longer birds; they were an enormous living thing, " he said, adding that this is why he has been focusing on pigeons as the main theme of his work ever since.
Swanson, 23, has been living in Taiwan for eight months and plans on staying for another six months. Being able to earn money teaching English while painting in his spare time is what brought him to Taiwan after spending a year in India studying Indian folk design and miniature painting.
"An artist is someone who tries to express a certain kind of identity. I'm a little bit different. For me, this is an exhibition that does not necessarily believe in anything, " he said cryptically.
Cole Swanson said that during a trip to Jaipur, India a few years ago, a massive flock of pigeons in front of Albert Hall caught his attention.
"The birds that littered the front steps were so numerous that I could barely walk a straight line through them. When they rose into the sky, I became lost. The wings of the birds were so many that my whole world dissolved right in front of my eyes, " said Swanson, who lives in Taipei and makes his living teaching English.
"I was left with the pure sensation of their multitude. They were no longer birds; they were an enormous living thing, " he said, adding that this is why he has been focusing on pigeons as the main theme of his work ever since.
Swanson, 23, has been living in Taiwan for eight months and plans on staying for another six months. Being able to earn money teaching English while painting in his spare time is what brought him to Taiwan after spending a year in India studying Indian folk design and miniature painting.
"An artist is someone who tries to express a certain kind of identity. I'm a little bit different. For me, this is an exhibition that does not necessarily believe in anything, " he said cryptically.
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