Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) A retrospective exhibition on Hsu Tsang-houei, the first Taiwanese musician to study in France after World War II and one of the most respected composers in Taiwan, will be held in Paris, France from Sept. 28 to Oct. 25, the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) said Saturday.
The retrospective show, titled "Navigator of Taiwanese Folk Music: Hsu Tsang-houei, " includes a month-long exhibition and an opening-night memorial concert at the Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris to pay tribute to the late prominent composer, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 72.
Hsu, who was born in Changhua in 1929, went to Paris in 1954 and became the first Taiwanese musician to study in France. It was in Paris that he learned that unique music elements are keys to instilling new life in music.
Hsu devoted himself to folk music compilation after returning to Taiwan in 1959. In addition to rewriting Chinese and Taiwanese folk songs with Western composition methods, he also helped found the Asian Composers' League and several modern music groups.
Monday, September 25, 2006
TWO EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT WEEKEND OF WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION
Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Two water conservation events will be held this weekend in Yilan County to raise public awareness on protecting water resources and the environment.
In Taiwan, events will be held for World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) and World Rivers Day at Dongshan River on Sept. 23 and the National Center for Traditional Art on Sept. 24, respectively.
WWMD was started in 2002 by Robbi Savage, president and CEO of America's Clean Water Foundation. Savage, who is currently visiting Taiwan, will lead a group of local environmentalists and students in conducting a basic monitoring of the water in Dongshan river Saturday.
WWMD is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens in conducting such monitoring of local bodies of water.
On Sunday, Taiwan will celebrate the launch of its own national Rivers Day. Canadian environmentalist Mark Angelo, who started the Rivers Day initiative in British Columbia, Canada in 1980, will deliver a speech on the topic.
Angelo's Rivers Day initiative was so successful that it was recognized by the Canadian government as a national event in 2003. The United Nations also established a global Rivers Day campaign in 2005.
In Taiwan, events will be held for World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) and World Rivers Day at Dongshan River on Sept. 23 and the National Center for Traditional Art on Sept. 24, respectively.
WWMD was started in 2002 by Robbi Savage, president and CEO of America's Clean Water Foundation. Savage, who is currently visiting Taiwan, will lead a group of local environmentalists and students in conducting a basic monitoring of the water in Dongshan river Saturday.
WWMD is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens in conducting such monitoring of local bodies of water.
On Sunday, Taiwan will celebrate the launch of its own national Rivers Day. Canadian environmentalist Mark Angelo, who started the Rivers Day initiative in British Columbia, Canada in 1980, will deliver a speech on the topic.
Angelo's Rivers Day initiative was so successful that it was recognized by the Canadian government as a national event in 2003. The United Nations also established a global Rivers Day campaign in 2005.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE TAIWAN GROUPS TO 'KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THINGS'
Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Environmentalists from Canada and the U.S. encouraged Taiwanese environmental groups to "keep doing the right things" and to never underestimate themselves in a seminar Friday.
Mark Angelo from Canada and Robbi Savage from the U.S. were both impressed at the number of participants attending the seminar, which was held at National Taiwan University and focused on water resource-related issues.
It takes years and a lot of effort to see the results of water quality improvement and cleaning the waterways, said Angelo, who started a Rivers Day initiative in British Columbia, Canada in 1980 to clean up the waterways.
"But never underestimate yourselves even when you are local groups," he said, adding that by establishing networks and alliances, local groups can have a huge impact.
Angelo's initiative was a perfect example. It was recognized by the Canadian government as a national event in 2003. And the United Nations followed suit with the launch of a global Rivers Day campaign in 2005.
Taiwan's environmental groups should also work with local and central governments, said Robbi Savage, who in 2003 started the World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) initiative. Since its inception, more than 80,000 people in 50 countries have participated in the program.
For environmental protection programs to be successful, legislation and regulation should be in place. And these programs and initiatives need financial and technical backing from the government as well, she explained.
Angelo said he understood how drastically different environmental pressure in Canada can be from a densely populated nation like Taiwan.
"But our attitudes and hopes to protect the environment are the same," he said.
Mark Angelo from Canada and Robbi Savage from the U.S. were both impressed at the number of participants attending the seminar, which was held at National Taiwan University and focused on water resource-related issues.
It takes years and a lot of effort to see the results of water quality improvement and cleaning the waterways, said Angelo, who started a Rivers Day initiative in British Columbia, Canada in 1980 to clean up the waterways.
"But never underestimate yourselves even when you are local groups," he said, adding that by establishing networks and alliances, local groups can have a huge impact.
Angelo's initiative was a perfect example. It was recognized by the Canadian government as a national event in 2003. And the United Nations followed suit with the launch of a global Rivers Day campaign in 2005.
Taiwan's environmental groups should also work with local and central governments, said Robbi Savage, who in 2003 started the World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) initiative. Since its inception, more than 80,000 people in 50 countries have participated in the program.
For environmental protection programs to be successful, legislation and regulation should be in place. And these programs and initiatives need financial and technical backing from the government as well, she explained.
Angelo said he understood how drastically different environmental pressure in Canada can be from a densely populated nation like Taiwan.
"But our attitudes and hopes to protect the environment are the same," he said.
NEW CHALLENGE AHEAD FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS: FORUM
Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) The relative success of Taiwanese women's participation in politics will face a new challenge in the future to go from policy counselling to policy making, participants in a forum said Thursday.
Taiwan women's political participation rate ranks among the highest in the world, but women should play an even more important role in the government, National Taiwan University Professor Huang Chang-lin said in the forum organized by the Department of Women's Development of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP.)
At present, women's participation in politics is generally restricted to elections, the legislature, and policy counseling, said DPP Legislator Wang Shu-hui. However, women's participation in politics should be "broader and further" than that, she added.
"Democracy is more than policy elaboration, policy making is equally important. There should be more women participation in major public policies because women tend to look at the world in a different perspective to men, " said DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung.
"We have to reconsider the partnership between women's groups and the government. And I believe we'll have a better government with more women participating, " he said.
To achieve this aim, government attitude will be a key factor, said Huang, citing the example of the Commission on Women's Rights Promotion (CWRP) under the Executive Yuan as saying that CWRP has been involved more in policy making since
2004.
The issue of gender equality is one of the most important processes in democratization. And as successful as Taiwan women already are, there are still more challenges ahead, she said.
The forum is the last in a series of events that commemorates the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the DPP's Department of Women's Development.
Taiwan women's political participation rate ranks among the highest in the world, but women should play an even more important role in the government, National Taiwan University Professor Huang Chang-lin said in the forum organized by the Department of Women's Development of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP.)
At present, women's participation in politics is generally restricted to elections, the legislature, and policy counseling, said DPP Legislator Wang Shu-hui. However, women's participation in politics should be "broader and further" than that, she added.
"Democracy is more than policy elaboration, policy making is equally important. There should be more women participation in major public policies because women tend to look at the world in a different perspective to men, " said DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung.
"We have to reconsider the partnership between women's groups and the government. And I believe we'll have a better government with more women participating, " he said.
To achieve this aim, government attitude will be a key factor, said Huang, citing the example of the Commission on Women's Rights Promotion (CWRP) under the Executive Yuan as saying that CWRP has been involved more in policy making since
2004.
The issue of gender equality is one of the most important processes in democratization. And as successful as Taiwan women already are, there are still more challenges ahead, she said.
The forum is the last in a series of events that commemorates the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the DPP's Department of Women's Development.
IDEERS COMPETITION TO GENERATE EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS
Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) Aiming to generate students' interest in structural engineering and earthquake mitigation, an international competition titled APEC IDEERS (Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools) 2006 will be held in Taipei with participants from nine Asia-Pacific countries.
The annual competition, approved by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum earlier this year as an educational event, will take place Sept. 23-24 at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE.)
The 95 participating student teams will make model houses out of wood, paper, raw pasta, string and glue, and see how well their designs stand up to artificial tremor motion. Judges will select the top three teams from the graduate, university and high school groups.
The IDEERS competition was initiated at the University of Bristol and has been held by NCREE and the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei every year since 2001.
The annual competition, approved by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum earlier this year as an educational event, will take place Sept. 23-24 at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE.)
The 95 participating student teams will make model houses out of wood, paper, raw pasta, string and glue, and see how well their designs stand up to artificial tremor motion. Judges will select the top three teams from the graduate, university and high school groups.
The IDEERS competition was initiated at the University of Bristol and has been held by NCREE and the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei every year since 2001.
2006 HENGCHUN PENINSULA TRIATHLON PRESENTS `ULTIMATE' CHALLENGE
Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) A 226-km triathlon will be held for the first time in Taiwan in a three-day international competition, presenting what the organizers claimed in a press conference Thursday will be the "ultimate challenge" for competitors from eight countries.
The 161 participants will swim 3.8 km, cycle 180 km and run 42.195 km in the "iron distance" competition Sept. 29 in the southern county of Pingtung, said Taiwan Triathlon Association (TTA) Secretary-General Cheng Wen-chang.
A 51.5-km triathlon, which is the Olympic distance and includes a 1.5-km swim, a 40-km cycle and a 10-km run, will be held Sept. 30 with 478 racers. The third competition -- a children's triathlon -- will be held Oct. 1.
The iron distance could last as long as 17 hours and poses a big challenge to the competitors, said TTA President Pan Meng-an.
However, challenge is what brought Shane Dennison to the competition. Dennison, who married a Taiwanese girl and currently lives in Taiwan, said he loves the mental challenge of an iron distance more than the physical challenge.
"And the competition is being held in Taiwan. That saves me a lot of money because it costs at least NT$100,000 to compete in similar competitions overseas, " he said.
"Pingtung County has successfully hosted three medium distance (113-km) triathlons in the past three years and is confident of presenting an exciting and successful event this year, " said Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung.
The 161 participants will swim 3.8 km, cycle 180 km and run 42.195 km in the "iron distance" competition Sept. 29 in the southern county of Pingtung, said Taiwan Triathlon Association (TTA) Secretary-General Cheng Wen-chang.
A 51.5-km triathlon, which is the Olympic distance and includes a 1.5-km swim, a 40-km cycle and a 10-km run, will be held Sept. 30 with 478 racers. The third competition -- a children's triathlon -- will be held Oct. 1.
The iron distance could last as long as 17 hours and poses a big challenge to the competitors, said TTA President Pan Meng-an.
However, challenge is what brought Shane Dennison to the competition. Dennison, who married a Taiwanese girl and currently lives in Taiwan, said he loves the mental challenge of an iron distance more than the physical challenge.
"And the competition is being held in Taiwan. That saves me a lot of money because it costs at least NT$100,000 to compete in similar competitions overseas, " he said.
"Pingtung County has successfully hosted three medium distance (113-km) triathlons in the past three years and is confident of presenting an exciting and successful event this year, " said Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung.
NGO COALITION CALLS FOR PEACE IN TAIWAN, EAST ASIA
Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A coalition of 10 Taiwanese non-government organizations (NGOs) called Wednesday for peace in Taiwan, East Asia and the world on the eve of United Nations International Day of Peace and the seventh anniversary of the 921 earthquake.
"And we also call for everyone in Taiwan to love instead of hate, and to respect the rule of law instead of venting anger with violence and provocation, " said coalition spokesman Tang Kuang-hua, referring to the latest political developments that have seen a small amount of violence in a tiny section of the anti-President Chen Shui-bian protests over the past two days.
In four appeals the coalition submitted, it called for all political parties and the media to stop the ethnic division and work together for harmony of race, class and gender to facilitate Taiwan's inner peace.
It also urged Taiwan and China to stop their arms race and respect each other's political systems. The coalition opposed North Korea's nuclear program and advocated a peaceful solution of the Korean peninsula issue.
For world peace, the coalition envisioned the cooperation of grassroots movements from different countries to help establish a war-prevention system.
The coalition does not rule out launching a document cosigned by all Taiwanese NGOs in the coming days and making a stronger statement regarding peace facilitation, said Ho Tsung-hsun, secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU).
"Diversity is the biggest asset of Taiwan. We encourage a culture of respecting differences and diversity. Reconcile conflicts. Eliminate hatred, " Tang said.
Notable NGOs that form the coalition include TEPU, the National Union of Taiwan Women Association, the Constitutional Reform Alliance, the National Association for the Promotion of Community Colleges, PeaceIsland and the Garden of Hope Foundation.
"And we also call for everyone in Taiwan to love instead of hate, and to respect the rule of law instead of venting anger with violence and provocation, " said coalition spokesman Tang Kuang-hua, referring to the latest political developments that have seen a small amount of violence in a tiny section of the anti-President Chen Shui-bian protests over the past two days.
In four appeals the coalition submitted, it called for all political parties and the media to stop the ethnic division and work together for harmony of race, class and gender to facilitate Taiwan's inner peace.
It also urged Taiwan and China to stop their arms race and respect each other's political systems. The coalition opposed North Korea's nuclear program and advocated a peaceful solution of the Korean peninsula issue.
For world peace, the coalition envisioned the cooperation of grassroots movements from different countries to help establish a war-prevention system.
The coalition does not rule out launching a document cosigned by all Taiwanese NGOs in the coming days and making a stronger statement regarding peace facilitation, said Ho Tsung-hsun, secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU).
"Diversity is the biggest asset of Taiwan. We encourage a culture of respecting differences and diversity. Reconcile conflicts. Eliminate hatred, " Tang said.
Notable NGOs that form the coalition include TEPU, the National Union of Taiwan Women Association, the Constitutional Reform Alliance, the National Association for the Promotion of Community Colleges, PeaceIsland and the Garden of Hope Foundation.
CROSS-STRAIT BOOK FAIR AIMS TO BOOST BILATERAL PUBLISHING EXCHANGES
Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A cross-Taiwan Strait book fair opened in Taiwan Wednesday for the first time in its two-year history, hoping to boost publishing exchanges between Taiwan and China with a five-day exhibition and eventually make Chinese publishing the world's mainstream in the future.
Approximately a million books from Taiwanese and Chinese publishers are on display in the Cross-Strait Book Fair (CSBF) that will run through Sept. 24, the organizers said at the opening ceremony.
The inaugural CSBF was held in the Chinese city of Xiamen last year and was the first sales opportunity in China for Taiwanese publishers.
As bilateral publishing exchanges and sales have increased, more Chinese publishers have set their eyes on the Taiwan market, with 196 publishers from China participating in the fair, said Huang Guorong, deputy secretary-general of the Publishers Association of China.
According to a report released by the Xiamen International Book Center, Chinese purchases of Taiwanese books exceeded NT$24 million in 2005 and is expected to break the NT$40 million mark this year, Huang said.
Taiwan's purchases of Chinese books in 2005 totaled NT$68 million, the report went on.
The most popular categories of Chinese books in Taiwan include literature, art, history and ancient materials, while Chinese are most interested in Taiwanese history, literature and philosophy, said CSBF organizing committee chairman Wang Cheng-hui.
Rarely seen replica ancient books from China, such as the Yongle Encyclopedia and the Imperial Collection of the Four -- the biggest collection of books in Chinese history, are also displayed in a theme section at the fair.
Approximately a million books from Taiwanese and Chinese publishers are on display in the Cross-Strait Book Fair (CSBF) that will run through Sept. 24, the organizers said at the opening ceremony.
The inaugural CSBF was held in the Chinese city of Xiamen last year and was the first sales opportunity in China for Taiwanese publishers.
As bilateral publishing exchanges and sales have increased, more Chinese publishers have set their eyes on the Taiwan market, with 196 publishers from China participating in the fair, said Huang Guorong, deputy secretary-general of the Publishers Association of China.
According to a report released by the Xiamen International Book Center, Chinese purchases of Taiwanese books exceeded NT$24 million in 2005 and is expected to break the NT$40 million mark this year, Huang said.
Taiwan's purchases of Chinese books in 2005 totaled NT$68 million, the report went on.
The most popular categories of Chinese books in Taiwan include literature, art, history and ancient materials, while Chinese are most interested in Taiwanese history, literature and philosophy, said CSBF organizing committee chairman Wang Cheng-hui.
Rarely seen replica ancient books from China, such as the Yongle Encyclopedia and the Imperial Collection of the Four -- the biggest collection of books in Chinese history, are also displayed in a theme section at the fair.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
ICT FORUM TO EXPLORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN TAIWAN, INDIA
Taipei, Sept. 19 (CNA) An international information and communication technology (ICT) forum was held Tuesday to explore business opportunities for Taiwanese and Indian companies, especially in the telecommunications sector.
"Taiwan and India complement each other well. this is why the partnership makes sense, " said Institute for Information Industry (III) President Ke Jyh-sheng, referring to Taiwan's competitiveness in IT hardware and India's IT strong software capability.
Vijay Gokhale, Director-General of India-Taipei Association, shared a similar observation, saying that most Taiwanese companies need to "scale up" and transform to embrace the knowledge-based economy because traditional industries are "being pushed out of the country."
Gokhale urged Taiwanese companies to develop long-term relationships with Indian companies since the cooperation would serve the interests of both sides.
He was also optimistic about bilateral relations, as direct flights between Taipei and Mumbai will soon begin, while those between Taipei and New Delhi will be increased.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) , India's catalyst for growth of services and software, organized a delegation of more than a dozen Indian companies that attended the one-day forum, which was hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and organized by the III, the Industrial Technology Research Institute and NASSCOM.
"Taiwan and India complement each other well. this is why the partnership makes sense, " said Institute for Information Industry (III) President Ke Jyh-sheng, referring to Taiwan's competitiveness in IT hardware and India's IT strong software capability.
Vijay Gokhale, Director-General of India-Taipei Association, shared a similar observation, saying that most Taiwanese companies need to "scale up" and transform to embrace the knowledge-based economy because traditional industries are "being pushed out of the country."
Gokhale urged Taiwanese companies to develop long-term relationships with Indian companies since the cooperation would serve the interests of both sides.
He was also optimistic about bilateral relations, as direct flights between Taipei and Mumbai will soon begin, while those between Taipei and New Delhi will be increased.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) , India's catalyst for growth of services and software, organized a delegation of more than a dozen Indian companies that attended the one-day forum, which was hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and organized by the III, the Industrial Technology Research Institute and NASSCOM.
SPORTS BROADCAST COMPANY CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Taipei, Sept. 19 (CNA) ESPN STAR Sports, Asia's biggest sports broadcast company, will organize a charity basketball game in Taiwan Sept. 23 to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the company announced Tuesday.
A team of sports commentators will meet a team of entertainers in the game, which will be held at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium, with all proceeds going to the Child Welfare League Foundation.
The company began as two channels and now has 13 channels reaching over 200 million viewers in 25 countries, said ESPN STAR Sports President Jamie Davis.
A team of sports commentators will meet a team of entertainers in the game, which will be held at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium, with all proceeds going to the Child Welfare League Foundation.
The company began as two channels and now has 13 channels reaching over 200 million viewers in 25 countries, said ESPN STAR Sports President Jamie Davis.
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