Tuesday, September 17, 2013

"Free" trade is not free

Statement: To confront the climate emergency we need to dismantle the WTO and the free trade regime | Climate Space: "At the same time, the losers are many – the farmers who lose their farms as they cannot compete with cheap food imports that flood the local markets, the workers whose jobs are made even more unstable and precarious with the pressure to lower labor standards, the persons who are forced to migrate because of loss of livelihood, the women who are most times those who bear the brunt of economic distress on the family and community, the indigenous people who are displaced from their lands, and Mother Earth."

'via Blog this'

Friday, September 6, 2013

The private auto is ruining beautiful Taiwan

Sunset must be protected against bridge, artists say - Taipei Times: "Artists and writers yesterday called for the protection of the famous sunset at Tamsui River’s (淡水河) mouth as a piece of cultural heritage, while they protested against a planned bridge construction project."

Taipei Times:"Environmental groups yesterday hailed as an important victory a decision by the Taipei High Administrative Court rejecting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Tamsui-Taipei expressway construction project in New Taipei City (新北市)."
All development is not the same. The private auto takes up too much room and should be discouraged. Car owners should have to pay based on the amount of space and resources consumed. Buses should be made gradually cheaper until free.