Tears (眼淚) directed by Cheng Wen-tang (鄭文堂) is a tough and gritty police drama. The style is quite a contrast to Cheng’s previous film, the teen romance Summer’s Tail (夏天的尾巴), which I reviewed earlier.

Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) plays Xiao Wen, a betel nut beauty who works alongside Xuan Xuan played by Doris Yeh of ChthoniC. Enno’s previous acting role was in Summer’s Tail but Tears puts her in a far more challenging role and she acts with much more maturity and range.

The other main character is Guo, the old detective, played by Tsai Chen-nan (蔡振南). Guo is a tough and wily police officer who wants to show his younger colleagues how things are done. He doesn’t always play by the rules, but is revealed as a complex and sensitive character as the plot develops.

The plot revolves around Guo working on the case of a young woman killed by a drug overdose. Guo is determined to solve the case while his colleagues become increasingly distanced from him and his sometimes unethical policing methods.

The film raises some important points about how police do their work — the issues are not just unique to Taiwan but common in many countries. More broadly it also engages with social issues looking at people on the margins of society — drug addicts, drug dealers, betel nut beauties — and the way police interact with them.

The film is set in Kaohsiung with many of the scenes shot in abandoned areas and run down buildings.  Most of the dialogue is in Hoklo Taiwanese. The cinematography is also well done with the camera kept in sharp focus on the actors.

Tears is a great police drama. It’s tough and smart like Guo in the leading role.

*Tears will have a general release in Taiwan in March 2010.

Links

• Yan lei – Internet Movie Database
• Tears – official blog

• 2007 at the movies
• Movie review: Island Etude
• The Wall-Passer: unique sci-fi romance
• 10th Taipei Film Festival
• It’s a boyz world

“There is a new dynamic at work. The worldwide movement to abolish the death penalty is now irresistible,” said Roger Hood in a public talk last night in Taipei. Hood is a Professor Emeritus of criminology at Oxford University and a former consultant to the United Nations on the death penalty.

Hood laid out clear evidence for his thesis that the world was moving towards abolition and that the pace of this movement has increased over the past twenty years. He said the change is occurring across the globe in different political systems and different cultures. He cited democratisation in Eastern Europe, the post-colonial framework in Africa and the development of international human rights law and treaties as reasons for the change. Further details are available in Hood’s opinion piece published in yesterday’s Taipei Times.

Hood also discussed two key countries in the death penalty debate — China and the USA. Hood noted that there was a change of attitude in China in recent years. This was especially evident in human rights dialogues with EU nations. There was now discussion going on within academia and the judiciary in China about the death penalty. Surveys in China also showed that support for the death penalty was not overwhelmingly strong.

Hood noted that there was great variation between states of the US on the death penalty. Most of the executions occurred in just a few states. The Supreme Court has already acknowledged some of the norms of Article 6 of the ICCPR and may build on these decisions. If more states introduce abolition soon this might lead to the Supreme Court changing its position.

Following Hood’s speech there was more discussion that focused on how Taiwan could move towards abolition. It is now almost four years since the last execution in Taiwan. Much of this discussion focused on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Taiwan ratified earlier this year. The ICCPR doesn’t contain any clauses which promote abolition of the death penalty and this reflects international attitudes at the time it was drafted in the 1960s.

Saul Lehrfrund, a lawyer for the Death Penalty Project, said Article 6.6 of the ICCPR encourages abolition of the death penalty as an aspiration. He said it was important for defendants in death penalty cases to have access to proper counsel and all the necessary time and resources for a fair trial. The judge in capital cases has a special responsibility to ensure that all necessary rights are observed. Lehrfrund also said Article 6.4 of the ICCPR states that there must be proper mercy proceedings and all 43 prisoners currently on death row in Taiwan should have their cases reviewed in accordance with Article 6.4.

Roger Hood said an impediment to abolishing the death penalty is victim’s families. These families are distraught by their loss, but if the death penalty is applied then the families of the perpetrator of the crime also suffer. The public often react to crimes by expecting the justice system to deliver the harshest possible sentence. When the death penalty is available then there is a public expectation that it should be used.

Article 10 of the ICCPR concerns respect for prisoners and social rehabilitation. Hood said that life imprisonment without release was also unacceptable. Sentences need to have sufficient time for retribution but also hope for future release. Hood emphasised the importance of political will in abolishing the death penalty. “I don’t believe politicians have anything to fear by taking resolute action on this issue,” he said.

At the end of the evening Saul Lehrfrund made the point that the ICCPR is not necessarily the key to abolition of the death penalty in Taiwan. The answer actually lies in the constitution which doesn’t mention the death penalty but affirms the right to life.

• Time to end the death penalty
• Links 1 December 2008
• Links 20 October 2008
• Xiao Wulai waterfall
• Links 30 March 2009

Patrick Cowsill blogs on life in Taiwan with some interesting history and culture related posts. Brian Webb features photography captured on film. Wandering Taiwan is a great travel blog with a focus on Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. Conductor’s Notebook is Alton’s notes with a focus on music and the arts. Steven Crook collects his writings which appear in various publications.

Barking Deer News has information about hiking trails and trips. Taiwan Flavors has lots of great photos and advice about travel in Taiwan. Taiwaneil Formosa is a blog about life in Zhongli City and travels elsewhere in Taiwan. The Razzel Berry has lots of great posts about food, travel and language learning in Taiwan. Tailingua is a recently revived blog about the Hoklo Taiwanese language. Taiwan Teacher has observations of daily life.

If you want your blog to be in the running for the Taiwan blog awards you need to register at Taiwanderful by 1 December. Voting in the awards will take place from 1-20 December.

I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone this time. Readers are welcome to leave a link in the comments if there are any more Taiwan blogs to add.

• Putting Taiwan blogs on the map
• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 2
• 2008 Taiwan Blog Awards
• Taiwan blog feed
• Register for the 2009 blog awards

Travel

Hiking Taiwan and Pashan are two blogs dedicated to hiking in Taiwan’s high mountains. Both feature great photos and commentary. A Hungry Girl is the definitive blog of food in Taipei. From gourmet restaurants to cheap street snacks she has it covered.

The Daily Bubble Tea has great photography and interesting travel stories. Todd also posts links every Thursday. My Several Worlds features interviews, photos and travel stories. Lao Ren Cha has photos and adventures from all around Taiwan.

Photography

Like travel, photography also has a wealth of fantastic blogs. Craig Ferguson features travel, music and culture related photos. Darren Melrose has the daily someone and interesting photo essays. Neil Wade looks at technical aspects of photography as well as travel in Taiwan. Taiwan Photographers, run by Carrie, features photos from many Taiwan photographers. Lief in Taiwan focuses his lens on Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. Charles Meacham specialises in Taiwan’s motorcycle scene.

Politics

Politics is a very popular topic for Taiwan bloggers. You can get all the latest news and opinion from Letters from Taiwan, Taiwan Matters, The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato, Michael Turton, A-gu’s That’s Impossible, F. Varga, Dixteel, Claudia Jean, Jerome Keating, Echo Taiwan, Talk Taiwan, Demo! and Stocks & Politics.

For those concerned about environmental matters Wild at Heart and Save the Dolphins provide news and insightful commentary. It seems political blogs in Taiwan are overwhelmingly green in both senses of the word!

Tech

This category currently has no blogs registered at Taiwanderful. Taiwan is a centre for hi-tech industries so I am sure there are some blogs out there that I am not aware of.

Not all the blogs mentioned here are registered at Taiwanderful. Blogs need to register at Taiwanderful by 1 December to be in the running for the Taiwan Blog Awards. Voting for the awards will take place from 1-20 December. If there are any other blogs readers would like to add to this list just leave a link in the comments.

• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 3
• Putting Taiwan blogs on the map
• 2008 Taiwan Blog Awards
• Taiwan blog feed
• Register for the 2009 blog awards

Taiwanderful has also created a Twitter list of Taiwan bloggers. Any Taiwan bloggers using Twitter can send an @reply to Taiwanderful to be added. Andre maintains Bloggers in Taiwan which features a different Taiwan blog each week and has an extensive blogroll.

This post will be in two parts. Part One includes blogs in the categories education & language, general, personal and other. Part two will be posted tomorrow and covers blogs in travel, photography, politics and tech.

Education & language

Scott Sommers has one of the longest running English-language blogs in Taiwan. He draws on his experience as an academic in Taiwan with many interesting insights into Taiwan’s education system. Pinyin News is a must read for anyone that seeks to better understand the romanisation of Mandarin Chinese. That should be pretty much anyone in Taiwan who has tried to find an address in Jungshan Chung Shan JhungShan Zhongshan Road. Mandarin Scholarship Taiwan won the award for this section last year but hasn’t been updated for a long time.

General

Sponge Bear covers hiking, travel, news and the use of Japanese on signs in Taiwan. Betel Nut Equation is “A warts and all look at how foreigners cope with living in Taiwan”. Waakao has got Taiwan’s music and party scene well and truly covered. Jeff’s Taiwan has lots of useful information, cycling and travel. Mark Forman has podcasts, photos and the word from central Taiwan.

Other

Tea Masters is a bilingual (French & English) blog that reveals the wonderful richness of Taiwan’s tea culture. Rice Society features fashion and design including the 100 outfits in 100 days challenge. Isla Formosa looks at the interesting and weird things in Taiwan and attempts to explain them. The Danshui History Blog has many interesting stories about the history of Danshui. Moshang podcasts great free chill out music.

Personal

shu flies has lots of interesting posts about things she covers as a features reporter for the Taipei Times. She also has some insightful posts about living in Taiwan. Michella’s blog Alive and Kicking! covers her life as a television reporter and anchor as well as travels and woodblock printing. Anyone that reads her blog will know that she works very long hours, but she still somehow finds time to blog in three languages! Poagao is possibly the longest running English-language blog in Taiwan. You should check out his photos too.

Bikedan is a recent addition to the Taiwan blogosphere. Daniel Carruthers stayed on in Taipei after competing in the cycling at the Deaflympics and mostly blogs about cycling. The New Hampshire Bushman, winner of the 2008 award for best blog, has a great combination of food, photos and tricycling. Andre has great photos and video of his family and travels in Taiwan. Ashish is Tumbling in Taiwan with photos, travel and some posts about Indian culture in Taiwan. Taiwan-Born American writes about returning to Taiwan “for uncertain adventures in identity formation, Mandarin literacy and TEFL teaching”.

Blogs need to register at Taiwanderful by 1 December to be in the running for the Taiwan Blog Awards. Voting for the awards will take place from 1-20 December.

Don’t forget to check back for part two with more great Taiwan blogs tomorrow.

• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 3
• Putting Taiwan blogs on the map
• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 2
• 2008 Taiwan Blog Awards
• Taiwan blog feed

A march around Taiwan calling for a referendum on any Taiwan-China agreement and amendments to the Referendum Law began in Taipei this morning. Several hundred people wearing “doli” (bamboo hats) set out from Longshan Temple to begin a seven week long walk around Taiwan.

The walk has the slogan “The people are the masters” (人民做主) emphasizing the right of the people to make decisions on issues of national importance via a referendum. A translation of the movement’s demands is available here.

The Nuke-4 Referendum Initiative Association (核四公投促進會) and other civil society groups are leading the march. LinYi-hsiung (林義雄) initiated the march. Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), former National Youth Commission chair, pictured above is one of the spokespeople for the movement.

More details of the walk including the planned route are available in Chinese at www.nuke4.com. The walk will go around Taiwan in an anti-clockwise direction finishing in Taipei on 27 December.

Former Vice-President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was amongst the walkers as the march passed through Ximending.

*More photos in the march for referendum set at flickr.

• Protesting the KMT referendum boycott
• 2008 Presidential election links – special edition
• Bikes on show in Taipei
• Cycling events in March
• Presidential election result

Mr. Kim was born in North Korea and served in the North Korean army for 10 years, including as a propaganda officer. The first time he tried to leave the country, he was arrested, tortured in prison, and sentenced to death. On his way to his execution site, Kim jumped off a moving train, and eventually defected to South Korea in 1999. In 2004, he founded Free North Korea Radio to provide an independent source of news and information to his fellow North Koreans. Since then, FNKR has grown from its initial internet broadcast to 5 hours of daily programming on shortwave radio, earning it the 2008 Media Prize from Reporters Without Borders. Over the years, Kim has persisted in this endeavor to challenge and undermine the censorship and propaganda of the North Korean government, despite threats to his life. Kim is highly respected in the North Korean community in South Korea, and was elected chairman of the North Korean Defectors Association in 2004. A 2008 CNN report provides further information on Kim and FNKR.

“Mr. Kim Seong-Min represents the hope and dedication that is needed in any effort to bring about change in an extremely closed state,” said Dr. Wen-cheng Lin, President of the TFD. “North Korea has a notorious human rights record and can be considered the least democratic country in the world. We have seen little progress, despite many efforts by concerned members of the international community. Having escaped from North Korea, Mr. Kim knows first-hand how important it is to offer hope to people living under a brutal regime. He is dedicating his life to that cause, and his work is beginning to bear fruit. This year the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is very pleased to honor him with our annual award.”

The award was judged by an international panel of human rights experts. One of the judges Dr. Alex Boraine, Chairperson of the International Center for Transitional Justice and former Deputy Chair of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission commented that “Kim brings the good news of people who are prepared to risk their lives for the sake of oppressed people in his own country. Radio is a very powerful tool to bring home the message of freedom and human rights.”

Mr. Kim Seong-Min will be awarded the 2009 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award at a ceremony in Taipei on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. The Award includes a US$100,000 grant to support his work at Free North Korea Radio.

*Article based on a press release from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

• Links 14 April 2008
• 4 May is Bike Day
• Once was a prison
• Links 2 June 2008
• Links 17 March 2008

Two articles recently published on culture.tw contain some useful information and advice for foreign students studying in Taiwanese universities.

Jeana Jack, a student at NCCU, has written a survival guide for international students that is full of good advice. She discusses choosing a university, learning Mandarin, finding a place to live and other important things.

I had lived in Taiwan for several years before I became a full-time student here so this made adjusting to university life quite easy. I imagine it must be more difficult for people who have just arrived in Taiwan and have to simultaneously deal with adjusting to life in a foreign country and starting a university course.

The second article was written by me. I interviewed three students from different backgrounds about their experiences studying Mandarin in Taiwan. They talk about the positives and negatives of language learning in Taiwan as well as giving some advice about learning Mandarin. The most common advice for successfully learning Mandarin is that you need a lot of patience.

*photo from culture.tw used under Creative Commons licence.

• My new teaching job
• End of the last semester at NCCU
• Links 10 December 2007
• Shi-Da class outing to Yingge
• Wild Strawberries ready for nonviolent action

Taiwanderful is again running awards for the best Taiwan blogs in 2009. The first awards were held last year with a popular online vote to decide the best Taiwan blogs.

This year’s awards will continue with popular online voting, but there will also be a peer-judged category. A group of influential Taiwan bloggers will judge the blogs in the various categories. The judges are Ben, Portnoy, Carrie, Todd, DJ Marcus, Fili and myself.

While there are no prizes offered the awards aim to promote the Taiwan blogosphere. Entrants in the awards can encourage people to vote for their own blogs and other blogs they like. They can also use social media like Twitter and Facebook to promote their blog and the awards.

To participate in the awards you need to register your blog in the Taiwan blog directory at Taiwanderful. If you have already registered before there is no need to register again. However, you might like to check and update your entry.

Check the Taiwanderful blog for more information about the awards. You can also follow @Taiwanderful at Twitter or become a fan of the Taiwanderful page at Facebook.

Please note: This blog is registered at Taiwanderful, but will not be considered for the awards.

• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 3
• 2008 Taiwan Blog Awards
• Kou Chou Ching win awards
• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 1
• Some great Taiwan blogs: Part 2

A beautiful sunny day greeted participants in the LGBT Pride Parade in Taipei today. Organisers estimated 25,000 people participated in the parade and increase from 18,000 last year.

The theme for this year’s parade was “Love Out Loud”. Participants marched in groups matching the colors of the rainbow. Red for sex, orange for power, yellow for hope, green for nature, blue for liberty and purple for art.Some of the groups participating included “Do the left thing”, the Green Party, Gay & Lesbian Couples Association and many university groups.

This year’s event called on the government to take action on anti-discrimination legislation. Politicians often make promises about gay rights before elections, but never follow through once they are elected.

The parade started from Ketagalan Boulevard wound through the streets in the area south of Taipei Station. This men in this photo are the “Water Boys” (水男孩).

Although today was Halloween there were only a few people in Halloween themed costumes.

The parade returned to its starting point on Ketagalan Boulevard. There was a performance by Rock in Hose Burlesque. Their performance was included a message about safe sex.

Only a week earlier an anti-gay protest organised by Christian groups had taken place in Taipei. The LGBT Pride event, with its much bigger turnout, affirmed that Taiwanese are increasingly tolerant and accepting of diversity. Hopefully this will lead to more concrete measures to legislate for gay marriage and other rights in the near future.

*More photos in the 2009 LGBT Pride Parade set at flickr. Also check out the photos from the official LGBT Pride volunteer photographers.

• LGBT Pride Parade in Taipei
• Hopes and dreams on parade
• Xinzhuang temple parade video
• Assembly Law amendments restrict rights
• Temple festival in Xinzhuang