Culture

High School Invokes Nazi Imagery for Fun: A Blight on the Education System

Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

An article on China Times said it was another example of the failure of Taiwan’s education system when it comes to teaching history. Students at a private high school in Hsinchu County decided to celebrate Christmas by dressing up as Nazi SS officers while waving Nazi flags and holding up Swastika banners. The Presidential Palace ordered the school to issue an apology. The school issued the apology, and said that the students were only representing “a historical character set” (perhaps

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Continuous Rain Causes Rockfalls and Traffic Hazards

Culture Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Three days of continuous rain has resulted in rockfalls, road-blockages, and a spate of traffic accidents in Taiwan, Wednesday, November 23. On Provincial Highway 9(the Su-hua Highway), a 55 year-old woman was seriously injured in a traffic accident at around 10:00am. The woman was riding as a passenger on a scooter when it collided with a semi-trailer at the 116km mark. A series of rockfalls saw the road temporary blocked in several locations, as road crews rushed to clear debris.

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Museum Removes Politically Controversial Jackie Chan Gift

Jackie Chan CZ12
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Workers began removing a set of 12 heads representing the animals of the Chinese zodiac, at the National Palace Museum Southern Branch, this morning, November 14. The figureheads were a gift from entertainer Jackie Chan, and are replicas of a set of figureheads looted by French and British forces from the Chinese imperial Old Summer Palace in 1860. But many in Taiwan, including members of government, consider the gift to be a form of Trojan Horse. NPM authorities first announced

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Human Remains Found in Archeology Dig May be European

Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

[Picture: United Daily News] Spanish and Taiwanese archaeologists excavating a site on Heping Island in Keelung City unearthed 4 sets of human remains, including a complete skeleton, Monday, November 8. Spanish archaeologist ELENA SERRANO said the method of burial suggests the skeleton may be European. The body was laid on its back with hands folded over the chest. The feet are to the east, and head to the west. Europeans buried people this way so the person could rise facing

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Canadian Man Found Dead in Taipei Hotel

Culture 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments

A 46 year-old Canadian man was found dead in a hotel in Wanhua District at around 9:00pm, November 8, 2016. Firefighters who responded to a report found the man in bed with his head covered with a plastic bag. A suicide note was found beside the body. Investigators said that when the body was found, rigor mortis had already set in. The man had been staying at the hotel, which is located on Xining South Rd, since sometime last month.

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Dutch Era Well Restored in Yunlin County

Dutch well guken township
Culture 
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Photos: UDN A village well dug during the Dutch occupation of Taiwan over 300 years ago, is being restored in Mayuan Village, Gukeng Township, Yunlin County. Village elders have fond memories of the well, which served as the village’s sole source of water until reticulated water was introduced in the 1950s. Workers are currently dredging the 55 meter deep well. Water will be tested for safety, and may be used for watering public gardens in the future.

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Aboriginal Hunter in Intensive Care Despite Flu Vaccination

Tama Talum aboriginal hunter in Taiwan
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Photo:台灣醒報 Tama Talum (Chinese name: Wang Guanglu 王光祿), has been admitted to the intensive care unit at Taitung Mackay Memorial Hospital after suffering flu symptoms and breathing difficulties. Health bureau officials say the symptoms are not related to a flu vaccine shot he received a few days ago. Tama Talum is well known among defenders of aboriginal hunting rights. In 2015, the 56 year-old member of the Bunun aboriginal tribe was charged with possession of an illegal firearm, and poaching

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Dutch Colonial Era Ships Found in Tainan

Dutch Fort Zeelandia Formosa
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

Eight wrecks dating back to the Dutch colonial era have been discovered underwater in Taijiang National Park, Tainan, according to Academia Sinica Department of History and Philology researcher Liu I-chang. The ships were found after a study was commissioned four years ago. Mr Liu called on the government to develop an excavation plan. He said Taiwan played an important role in the age of exploration in the 17th century and that this history should be shared with the rest of

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Indigenous Taiwanese Gather in Taipei Ahead of Reconciliation Speech

Aboriginal protesters in Taipei July 21, 2016
Culture Protest 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

Aboriginals gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Taipei tonight, on the eve of August 1, when it is expected that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will deliver a speech that includes an apology to Taiwan’s Indigenous people. Riot police set up a cordon on Ketagalan Avenue, and attempted to move the group away. “Who are you to tell us where we can stand,” an indigenous leader proclaimed. “We were here before you, and we will decide where to stand.” The delegation

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Navy Assists Widow Call the Spirit of Her Husband Home

a daoist priest is seen with mourners on the deck of a navy vessel in Tainan, Taiwan
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Taiwan(ROC) Navy used two high-speed motor-launches to convey a grieving widow, mourning family, and a Daoist priest to the spot where her husband was killed by a missile two days ago. The mourning party led by the priest performed a ritual to invoke the spirit of the fishing-boat captain. Huang Wenzhong was killed by a missile, accidentally fired while equipment was being tested prior to a drill. Mr. Huang’s eldest son called out ‘Dad, come home’. After invoking the

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