Typhoon, Citizenship, Microbeads: Taiwan Uniquely

Each week, we tell you just three things from Taiwan. It’s a quick and unique way to connect with the society and culture of this quirky and cozy little spot in Asia, featuring our News Director William Yang with a showcase of his project Taipei Love Notes.

Do Flight Attendants Deserve “Typhoon Holidays”?

• Last weekend, typhoon Nesat swept through Taiwan with gusty winds up to 137 km/ph, and caused serious flooding in southern Taiwan. Due to severe weather conditions, more than 500 flight attendants from Taiwan’s Eva Airline requested for “typhoon holiday,” and caused the cancellation of more than 50 flights, stranding over 10,000 passengers at airports across the world.

• Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-Tang openly criticized the move, and vowed to direct prosecutors to investigate the cause of this request. However, his comments immediately backfired when several attorneys asked him to retract his decision. Which should come first, labor rights or customer service?

Naturalization as a Token of Appreciation

• As a token of appreciation to their decades-long, selfless dedication to Taiwan, four catholic priests and nuns were awarded Taiwanese identification card this week. Following the footsteps of other religious individuals, they were naturalized after the government recognized their dedication to Taiwan through basic healthcare and education.
• While the decision to naturalize these selfless priests and nuns is certainly laudable, I do hope this trend can go beyond the religious community and benefit more qualified individuals who have been making positive changes across Taiwan.

Say Bye to Plastic Microbeads

• Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration announced this week that all cosmetics and personal cleaning products containing plastic microbeads will be banned for import and local production starting next year, while six major microbead hygiene products, including toothpaste and soap, will stop being sold in Taiwan starting in July, 2018.
• This announcement came as Taiwan joins several countries’ efforts to stop the flow of plastic microbeads into oceans, as microbead are undissolvable and often too small to collect.

Cafes in the Alley

• Taipei’s cafe scene has been witnessing a rapid growth in the past few years, as several interesting cafes sprouting up across the city. As a frequent visitor to different cafes, I find this particular one down the alley near Regent Taipei especially soothing. Learn more about Mys Kaffe through this week’s Taipei Love Notes.

(Feature photo of Mys Kaffe, by William Yang)