Green Party to nominate 10 legislative candidates

Green Party to nominate 10 legislative candidates
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/11/2003507950

‘HEAL THE WOUNDED LAND’:Candidates put forward a number of platforms that include calling for the early retirement of nuclear power plants and tree protection

Staff Writer, with CNA

The Green Party Taiwan (GPT) will nominate 10 candidates for the district legislators election in January, with the list to be released at the end of the month, spokesman Pan Han-shen (潘翰聲) said on Saturday.

Pan said the GPT had received a 2.2 percent average voting ratio in the electoral constituencies where they had nominees during the five special municipalities elections in November, which was a “great leap forward” from the 0.6 percent the party achieved in 2008.

The party’s voting ratio reached a high of 9.7 percent in Danshui (淡水), New Taipei City (新北市), Pan said, adding that he hoped the party’s voting ratio would exceed the 5 percent benchmark during the election.

According to the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (公職人員選罷法), political parties who do not garner at least 5 percent of votes for the party will not be eligible to nominate candidates for legislator-at-large seats.

Pan also said he would run for legislator in Taipei’s 7th electoral constituency against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) nominee Alex Fai (費鴻泰) to safeguard old trees and government-owned land by pushing for a motion to have a second municipal forest park -created in lieu of the Taipei Dome.

The long-stalled Taipei Dome build-operate-transfer (BOT) project began in 2006 when the city government signed a contract with Farglory to construct a 40,000-seat indoor stadium complex with commercial facilities at the abandoned Songshan Tobacco Factory site.

Pan said GPT central executive committee member Wang Chung-ming (王鐘銘) would run for the 1st constituency in New Taipei City against KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Ho Po-wen (何博文) on a platform proposing the early retirement of the First and Second Nuclear Power Plants as well as more careful development of Danhai New Town (淡海新市鎮).

GPT member Lin Chen-yang (林震洋) will run for the 3rd constituency in Greater Kaohsiung against the KMT’s Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) and the DPP’s Lin Ying-jung (林瑩蓉) advocating that the government keep its promise to shut down the Fifth Naphtha Cracker Plant “to heal the wounded land,” Pan said.

Pan also said that Tsai Shan-wen (蔡善雯), a participant in the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts dispatch worker protest, would run in the 4th constituency of Greater Taichung against KMT nominee Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) and DPP nominee Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅).

“We are currently trying to persuade former Changhua County Environmental Protection Union chief Lin Shih-hsien (林世賢) to run in the 2nd constituency in -Changhua County against the KMT’s Lin Tsang-min (林滄敏) to ensure the implementation of the anti-Kuokuang Petrochemical Park efforts,” Pan said.

The petrochemical park was initially scheduled for construction at the Dacheng Wetlands (大城濕地) in Changhua County and was expected to expand oil refining capacity and the production of chemicals such as ethylene.

However, the project was called off when President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) expressed his opposition amid growing protests from environmentalists and local residents.

Pan said the GPT would field candidates in the northeastern part of Taipei, where the controversial Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is being built, as well as the Sijhih (汐止), Yonghe (永和) and Zhonghe (中和) constituencies, where there have been many issues involving tree protection recently.

The GPT will also seek to have candidates in Hualien and Taitung in response to what has been described as improper BOT operations by corporations over the transfer of government-owned land and the building of nuclear waste dumps on Aboriginal land.

Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer

Resolutions of Asia-Pacific Queer Greens

Resolutions of Asia-Pacific Queer Greens

Taipei, May 2nd, 2010

As mentioned in Charter of the Global Greens adopted in Canberra in 2001, “Respect for Diversity” is one of the principles of the Global Greens. Thus, defending the right of all persons with all kinds of sexual orientation and gender identity, without discrimination, should be regarded as an important mission for greens.

In Asia-Pacific area, queer people, which include but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, have different difficulties and issues in each country. In some countries, queer people have adverse discrimination in unemployment, housing, and delimiting queer lives.

On the other hand, there are minority queer groups such as disabled, elderly, teenagers, and those part of lower social-class. However, they have been ignored for a long time so their situations are not well-known and their needs are not satisfied.

During the 2nd Asia-Pacific Greens Network Meeting, Queer Greens and Greens who care about queer issues gathered together and discussed resolutions for problems which queer people are facing and will encounter in the future. There has been exchanges of thoughts and opinions, and has finalized conclusions.

The Resolutions of Asia-Pacific Queer Greens:

1. Integrating queer groups and individuals in different countries in the Asia-Pacific area of different issues to do continuous and constant coordination.
2. Giving a voice to queer people, especially the minority queers.
3. Encouraging queer people to get involved in political affairs and become a queer politicians.
4. Pushing an international convention to defend the right of all persons with all kinds of sexual orientation and gender identity Asia-Pacific area.

Pictures of the agriculture deity

These are pictures of that I dressed a Taoist "agriculture deity" to run for election campaign and to be at the Taipei Pride Parade 2010 (30th Oct, 2010).

I gave a short speech on the Pride Parade stage.
Picture from Coolloud.

I wore the costume in election campaign.
Picture from Liberty Times.

At Pride Parade.
Picture taken by a friend.

I gave a short speech on the Pride Parade stage.
Picture from Central News Agency.

I wore the costume in election campaign.
Picture taken by myself.

Don’t destroy wetlands

[ LETTERS ] - Taipei Times

The movement for preserving the mangrove wetlands at Jhuwei (竹圍) on the banks of the Tamsui River (淡水河) began in the 1980s. As a result of a housing construction project, conservationists and academics fought to save the mangroves. They stopped the project and in the end, the wetlands were made into a nature reserve by the government.

In 1997, the first proposal for the Danbei expressway (a expressway along the north bank of the Tamsui River) alarmed people who care about the mangroves. Many groups, including environmental, cultural and community organizations, formed an organization to protect the Tamsui River.

They made posters, held forums, put on concerts and visited legislators, as well as the Taipei county commissioner. In 2000, an environmental impact assessment ruled against the project. The mangroves were saved again.

The former Taipei County government proposed a shorter version of the expressway in 2008. Once again, the mangroves were in danger. I joined the anti-Danbei movement last year and since then I have been working together with local citizens and environmental organizations.

In every environmental impact assessment review meeting by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Taipei County and its successor, New Taipei City (新北市), have insisted that the expressway would not infringe on the Tamsui River Mangrove Nature Reserve.

The third preliminary review meeting was on April 15. One week before the meeting, a document provided by the New Taipei City Government said that it completed a scene survey with the Forestry Bureau, which confirmed that the planned expressway would not be located within the nature reserve.

However, when we went to the places they surveyed, we found that one of the road stakes was 60cm inside the land boundary stake of the nature reserve.

At the April 15 meeting, the Forestry Bureau admitted after our persistent inquiries that one of the road stakes was indeed within the nature reserve. The city government gave several explanations about the stakes. These explanations were conflicting and none of them clarified the issue. With such a big problem, the meeting should have been halted.

However, it continued and the result of the preliminary review was a “conditional pass.” The EPA is helping the city pave a road into the mangrove wetlands.

People have recognized the value of wetlands in the face of scientific progress and environmental crises for more than 30 years. It is ridiculous to destroy wetlands that have been protected for 30 years.

The Danbei expressway should be canceled, either through the city’s withdrawal of the plan or the EPA’s rejection of the project during the environmental impact assessment committee’s formal review. Otherwise, we will have to apologize to everyone who has helped protect the wetlands and we will be sorry for our loss.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/05/07/2003502606

An interview article in Fridae

PEOPLE
26 Nov 2010
Wang Chung-ming
http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2010/11/26/10449.wang-chung-ming
by Sylvia Tan

Wang Chung-ming is one of three openly gay candidates running for seats as councillors as 60 percent of Taiwan's 23 million people go to the polls on Saturday, Nov 27. He tells Fridae what led him to join the elections and how his "multiple identities work have worked in a very interesting way" for him.

Thirty-two-year-old Wang Chung-ming is a Green Party candidate running for a councillor seat in the the Shihmen, Sanjhih, Bali and Tamsui districts in Xinbei City (formerly Taipei County).

He said he decided to take the plunge after failing to find a gay candidate to represent his party of which he is a Central Executive Committee member. The centerpiece of his campaign platform however isn't LGBT-related issues but agriculture, green transportation and local economy.

As an active member of the LGBT community, Chung-ming is involved in a group that addresses issues facing aging gays, and hearing impaired LGBT people. He says: “If we look carefully at marginal LGBT issues, we will find that sexual orientation or gender identity may not be the most important problem for them but their problems are compounded because they are LGBT. The truth is, if we all look at ourselves, we will find out that there are several identities within ourselves but most of time there will be one identity which is more important than others.”

He adds that regardless of the election results, his involvement in politics has become his life's career. Chung-ming tells Fridae how he had decided to run in the elections himself when he couldn’t find anyone who would do so, and more about his campaign.

Wang Chung-ming (王鐘銘)
Green Party Taiwan (台灣綠黨)
Member since 2006
Age: 32
Occupation: Editor of books and magazines / Politician
Contesting in: Shihmen (石門), Sanjhih (三芝), Bali (八里) and Tamsui (淡水) districts in Xinbei City (formerly Taipei County)

æ: Is this your first time running in the Taipei municipal elections or any other council?

Chung-ming: Yes, it is my first time running for any kind of political office.

æ: Can you tell us briefly how you became involved in politics and why are you running for council member?

Chung-ming: In 2006, some bloggers and I held some online events to help Green Party members in that year's municipal election. Unfortunately none of them won. I was so depressed by the results that it inspired me to get more involved and to join the party. This year, I think it is a good opportunity not only for Green Party but also for a LGBT candidate to win a council seat. However when I couldn't find anyone who would run in the elections, I decided to join the race myself.

æ: What do you think are the pros and cons in being an openly gay candidate? Do you find the mainstream public to be accepting of yourself and other openly gay candidates?

Chung-ming: Although I'm openly gay, my main policies in this campaign are not LGBT related but about green transportation, agriculture, and local economy. Hence most electorates see me as a young man who cares about environment first, then my gay identity. My multiple identities work in a very interesting way: Most non-LGBT electorates don’t seem to mind nor do they really care about my sexual orientation, but it appears that LGBT electorates are beginning to pay attention to environmental issues.

With regards to my election campaign, I don't see any inferiority or negative consequences in being openly gay. But it might be just because I'm optimistic. The advantage of being openly gay is that many people may admire my courage to come out, and I always get hugs and encouragement from my straight supporters.

However, I don't think the mainstream public accepts openly gay candidates. But we don't need the mainstream public. It only takes about 10%-20% votes to become a city councillor.

æ: What do you think are the three most important LGBT-related issues facing the city that you would address if you’re elected?

Chung-ming: (1) Gender equality in education: The bullying and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are still very serious issues in schools today. No matter peers, teachers or school staff, discrimination can be found in what they say and their attitudes when dealing with students. Therefore, to enforce/reinforce the existing Gender Equity Education Act (2004) in schools and promote gender equality education would be a priority for me.

(2) Partnership rights: Although same-sex marriage or civil union is a central government issue, local governments can play their part at the local level such as city government can recognise and register same-sex couples so that said couples can get social welfare benefits like child allowance and spousal benefits (at the local level under local government authority).

(3) Young, aging LGBTs and LGBTs with disabilities: LGBTs with special needs including those who are economically disadvantaged tend to have their problems compounded because of their sexual orientation. I feel the government has the responsibility to resolve their difficulties and cater to their needs.

æ: What do you think are the three most important non-LGBT-related issues facing the city that you would address if you’re elected

Chung-ming: (1) Agriculture: We need agriculture to save our lives, not only because of the food crisis but also because of the environmental and economical crisis. The district I’m running in has a very high potential to be developed to become a sustainable and self-sufficient model. I also believe that such a culture will be a greatly diverse one.

(2) Green Transport: We really don't need more roads and cars. Policies and plans to build more roads and high-speed roads should be better scrutinised. We should look to public transportation like buses, trains, bicycles and walking to play more important roles nowadays. Bicycling shouldn’t be seen as just a leisure activity or exercise but a way of transportation.

(3) Local Economy: Exchange, including service and goods, within a city, a town, or even a community will help us rely less on import and export.

Ashley Wu, Director of International Affairs, Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Associationcontributed to this article.

Related Articles on Fridae

• Three openly gay candidates to run in Taiwan municipal elections
• Song Jia-lun

Civic groups, artists to hold anti-nuke rally

Civic groups, artists to hold anti-nuke rally
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2011/04/27/300161/Civic-groups.htm

TAIPEI--An estimated 30,000 people will take to the streets Saturday in north, south, and east Taiwan to urge the government to say no to nuclear power in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan, one of the organizers said Tuesday.

The nationwide campaign called “430 Sunflower No Nuke Action” was jointly launched by more than 40 local groups concerned with matters such as environmental protection, human rights, education, and labor.

Two religious organizations — the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and Buddhist Hong Shi College — have also joined the action, said Wang Chung-ming of the Green Party Taiwan, one of the main organizers.

In addition musicians, visual artists, and filmmakers, including famed director Tsai Ming-liang, have signed a petition calling on the public to join the rally on Saturday, Wang said.

The anti-nuke rally will be staged in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taitung, he said.

The groups are calling for an end to nuclear energy in Taiwan and for the government and the private sector to consider safer and more efficient types of energy, Wang said after a press conference to promote the rally. The first step would be for the government to review its current energy efficiency policy and make changes in the related industries, he said.

“Do we really need petrochemical or nuclear power plants to stay economically competitive?” he asked. “Is it true that renewable energy plants would cost more money than nuclear power?”

He noted that the Danish government has introduced a strategy to end Denmark's reliance on fossil fuels by 2050 and to expand its renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and biogas.

“I don't see why Taiwan cannot follow Denmark, given that we are one of the largest producers of solar energy panels,” he said.

Reverend Ko Sing-doh, associate general secretary of the PCT, said at the press conference that since the early 1990s, his church has been pushing for anti-nuclear action because nuclear power is not safe and nuclear waste cannot be disposed of properly.

“The responsibility of cutting down on energy use is not the government's alone — the people should also change their consumption habits and lead a more environmentally active lifestyle,” he said.

Across the spectrum

Across the spectrum
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2010/11/25/2003489362

Three gay candidates in the upcoming legislative elections tell the ‘Taipei Times’ why they deserve public support

By Andrew C.C. Huang  /  Contributing Reporter

The US had Harvey Milk and France has Bertrand Delanoe. And Taiwan? It has three openly gay candidates running in the upcoming special municipality elections.

These would-be legislators — a scruffy gay man who campaigns for eco-friendly agriculture, a slender dominatrix and a veteran feminist activist — demonstrate just how diverse the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community is.

Wang Chung-ming

Wang Chung-ming (王鐘銘), a green activist who also campaigns for the rights of deaf homosexuals, is a candidate for the Green Party (綠黨) in the Shihmen (石門), Sanjhih (三芝), Bali (八里) and Tamsui (淡水) districts.

Wang, 32, has worked as a volunteer for the Persons With HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association (愛滋感染者權益促進會) and as a publishing house editor in the past.

He joined the Green Party in 2006, became a member of its Central Executive Committee and helped orchestrate the party’s election campaign.

“I felt this would be a good year for environmental issues and for minorities,” Wang told the Taipei Times. “Earlier this year, I tried to help the party find a gay candidate, but failed. So I decided to take the plunge.”

A native of Tamsui, Wang has chosen to eschew gay-friendly policies and concentrate on green agriculture and revitalizing his hometown.

“Gay-friendly policies have been covered by the Green Party already,” Wang said.

Wang’s platform includes development policies that, he says, would foster a “green” economy and create employment opportunities for Tamsui residents.

“This town has been the ‘bedroom’ from which we commute to Taipei everyday for employment,” he said. “This is not a fully functioning city.”

He also aims to turn Tamsui into a center of culture.

“Tamsui has been a very touristy town in terms of its cultural development,” he said. “I want to build a cultural zone in which long-term cultural development will be emphasized instead of just turning a quick buck.”

Song Jia-lUn

Self-professed dominatrix Song Jia-lun (宋佳倫) is a Green Party candidate for the Zhongzheng (中正) and Wanhua (萬華) districts. At 27, she is the youngest of the three candidates. Originally a summer campaign assistant for Wang, the charismatic Song decided to run in the election herself.

“There are ways to participate in politics if you think it’s filthy,” she said. “For me, the only way is to dive in and dilute it.”

Song grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in a small town in Miaoli County.

“I’ve tasted poverty,” she said. “The only way to participate in the redistribution of resources in society is to participate in politics.”

In 2004, Song cofounded the BDSM Company (皮繩愉虐邦), which holds lectures and meetings to raise awareness of and destigmatize sadomasochism.

“I read Japanese BL [boy love] manga when I was young and thought I was a gay man,” said Song, who is currently studying at graduate school. “Later on, I became bisexual before settling on being lesbian.”

Song’s political platform grew out of her personal experience rather than academic learning. She campaigns against contingent employment and exploitation, and supports the rights of the homeless. “When you are broke, you are not that far away from being homeless,” Song said.

Song advocates the legalization of the sex industry because, she says, it’s fair for people to utilize their “natural talents” to get by.

“If I could take on a job as a dominatrix legally, that would be a highly specialized job with a hefty salary,” she said. “Instead, I am forced to toil away in low-pay, contract jobs.”

“I want to fight for the rights of the people at the bottom of the capitalist structure and speak for the young people of my generation,” Song said.

Wang Ping

Wang Ping (王蘋), secretary-general of the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association in Taiwan (台灣性別人權協會), is an independent candidate in the Da-an (大安) and Wenshan (文山) districts. She is a member of the political discussion group Citizen As Priority Open Club (人民老大開開團).

A native of Taichung, Wang is a well-known LGBT activist who served as the convener-in-chief for the Taiwan LGBT Pride (台灣同志遊行) in 2007.

Wang, now 50, experienced a political awakening while pursuing a master’s degree in architecture at the University of California at Berkeley.

“I was a proper and obedient girl growing up in Taiwan,” Wang told the Taipei Times.

While in California, Wang would go to People’s Park in Berkeley to listen to lectures, or watch films about the civil rights movement in class. “That made me realize I could do something to change the society,” she said.

After returning to Taiwan, Wang joined the feminist Awakening Foundation (婦女新知), but later felt ostracized because of her status as a lesbian. She and several of her friends went on to found the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association.

“I felt it was wrong that a feminism group should look down on me because I am a lesbian,” Wang said. “I think all the underprivileged groups should coalesce to change the system — Aborigine, gay, lesbian, transgender, sex workers and people living with HIV.”

Wang advocates a comprehensive citizens’ forum that allows people to voice their opinions, which can later be drafted into policies.

“It’s wrong to project your ideals onto a politician and expect him or her to change things for you,” Wang said. “People should get involved and let their voices be heard.”

Wang takes issue with the Ministry of Education’s ban on LGBT clubs in high schools, implemented in March.

“Teenagers are at the stage of experiencing sexual awakening and they need support from their peers,” Wang said. “They should be able to form LGBT clubs.”