Watch this video:Smoke Kills, and you'll understand many of the issues of today's world! (The contents of this movie may be considered offensive to some).
Thanks to mimosa!
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
4 days after the elections - Taiwan still instable
Four days after the elections, people are still demanding for an immediate recount of the votes.
The president has finally expressed his agreement to do so, but the fact that he didn’t fix any deadline, the people in Taipei continue with their protests, camping in front of the presidential palace.
The president has finally expressed his agreement to do so, but the fact that he didn’t fix any deadline, the people in Taipei continue with their protests, camping in front of the presidential palace.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Aprendiendo....
Después de un tiempo, uno aprende la sutil diferencia entre sostener una mano y encadenar un alma, y uno aprende que el amor no significa acostarse y una compañía no significa seguridad, y uno empieza a aprender...
Que los besos no son contratos y los regalos no son promesas, y uno empieza a aceptar sus derrotas con la cabeza alta y los ojos abiertos, y uno aprende a construir todos sus caminos en el hoy, porque el terreno de mañana es demasiado inseguro para planes...y los futuros tienen una forma de caerse en la mitad.
Y después de un tiempo uno aprende que si es demasiado, hasta el calor del sol quema. Así que uno planta su propio jardín y decora su propia alma, en lugar de esperar a que alguien le traiga flores.
Y uno aprende que realmente puede aguantar, que uno realmente es fuerte, que uno realmente vale, y uno aprende y aprende... y con cada día uno aprende.
Con el tiempo aprendes que estar con alguien porque te ofrece un buen futuro significa que tarde o temprano querrás volver a tu pasado.
Con el tiempo comprendes que sólo quien es capaz de amarte con tus defectos, sin pretender cambiarte, puede brindarte toda la felicidad que deseas.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que si estás al lado de esa persona sólo por acompañar tu soledad, irremediablemente acabarás no deseando volver a verla.
Con el tiempo entiendes que los verdaderos amigos son contados, y que el que no lucha porellos tarde o temprano se verá rodeado sólo de amistades falsas.
Con el tiempo aprendes que las palabras dichas en un momento de ira pueden seguir lastimando a quien heriste, durante toda la vida.
Con el tiempo aprendes que disculpar cualquiera lo hace, pero perdonar es sólo de almas grandes.
Con el tiempo comprendes que si has herido a un amigo duramente, muy probablemente la amistad jamás volverá a ser igual.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta que aunque seas feliz con tus amigos, algún día llorarás por aquellos que dejaste ir.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que cada experiencia vivida con cada persona es irrepetible.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que el que humilla o desprecia a un ser humano, tarde o temprano sufrirá las mismas humillaciones o desprecios multiplicados al cuadrado.
Con el tiempo aprendes a construir todos tus caminos en el hoy, porque el terreno del mañana es demasiado incierto para hacer planes.
Con el tiempo comprendes que apresurar las cosas o forzarlas a que pasen ocasionará que al final no sean como esperabas.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que en realidad lo mejor no era el futuro, sino el momento que estabas viviendo justo en ese instante.
Con el tiempo verás que aunque seas feliz con los que están a tu lado, añorarás terriblemente a los que ayer estaban contigo y ahora se han marchado.
Con el tiempo aprenderás que intentar perdonar o pedir perdón, decir que amas, decir que extrañas, decir que necesitas, decir que quieres ser amigo, ante una tumba, ya no tiene ningún sentido.
Pero desafortunadamente, solo con el tiempo............aprendemos.
Jorge Luis Borges*
Argentine writer, poet and philosopher
24-08-1899 to 14-06-1986
*For his work and life click here.
Monday, March 22, 2004
Escape to paradise: Alishan Mountain - Central Taiwan
To get away from the histeria of the last 4 days, I seaked refuge on the beautiful mountain of Ali Shan:
I had the chance to spend a weekend away from today's reality, with my new friends, part of the Zhuo tribe.
The experience in Ali Shan was devine: the tribe dance's and fire party, the 4 am hike towards zhusnan to watch the sun rise, the walk down the mountain in the pine forest, the cherry blossoms, the food and the air quality - all a must!
It was a great getaway from politics...
Ali Shan Sunrise
Ali Shan Forest
Cherry and Plums Blossoms
Enjoying the company of the people from the Tsou tribe - Fighting Dance
To know more about Alishan click here.
I had the chance to spend a weekend away from today's reality, with my new friends, part of the Zhuo tribe.
The experience in Ali Shan was devine: the tribe dance's and fire party, the 4 am hike towards zhusnan to watch the sun rise, the walk down the mountain in the pine forest, the cherry blossoms, the food and the air quality - all a must!
It was a great getaway from politics...
Ali Shan Sunrise
Ali Shan Forest
Cherry and Plums Blossoms
Enjoying the company of the people from the Tsou tribe - Fighting Dance
To know more about Alishan click here.
Taiwan Markets react to socio-political instability
Reuters reported that Taiwan stocks tumbled nearly seven percent today, after the razor-thin election win for the president prompted opposition calls for a recount and widespread protests.
Social instability in Taiwan - Summary of the last 4 days' events.
Friday, 19 Mar.04, the president and vice-president are gunned shot.
President Chen and the vice president Annette Lu, after receiving treating in a Tainan Hospital.
All campaigning activities are canceled by both candidates;
Nevertheless the emotions among the public raised to a very high level of tension. It was quite visible the inability to deal with a young democracy. The atmosphere in public was not a very pleasant one. Some had fear to express their opinion and some were furious if they heard anything contrary to their own opinion.
Some speculate about the source and political intention of this attempt.
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu canvass for votes in Tainan yesterday seconds after being shot. A bullet hole is visible in the windshield of the Jeep.
PHOTO: WU HSING-HUA, TAIPEI TIMES
Saturday, 20 Mar.04, The DPP wins the elections with a margin of around 30000 votes, a total of 50.11% from the valid votes (see report here)
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu announce their victory in yesterday's presidential election at the Democratic Progressive Party's campaign headquarters in Taipei last night.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Sunday, 21 March 2004, The KMT announces their concern on the votes counting and demands a recount, but the Cabinet said to let the legal system rule on the matter. KMT also demanded an independent investigations on the president’s shooting incident.
The KMT supporters went out to the streets to protest against the election results, supporting Chairman Lien Chan.
The protest turned out to be very noisy and violent at certain points:
A pan-blue campaign truck rams into the gate of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office while demonstrators try to push the gate over early yesterday morning.
Pan-blue passion
A supporter of the pan-blue camp waves the national flag and blows a whistle during the protest in front of the Presidential Office at dawn yesterday demanding an election recount.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
KMT's supporters protest in front of the presidential palace in Taipei since saturday night. For more photos covering the last four days events click here.
Monday, 22 March 2004, The KMT supporters’ protests lasted trough out the night.
After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized.
According to a local newspaper the pan-blue camp claims it has heard that the President Chen, Vice President Lu and close colleagues frequently held secret meetings at a monastery in Nantou County. It also claims that followers from that monastery had told them that Chen was planning to create a shooting incident on March 19 to boost his election chances.
SCOTCHING RUMORS: After suggestions by political opponents that the president's shooting was a stunt, the presidential office released more pictures and records.
High Court grants pan-blue ballot demand
RECOUNT: After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong yesterday filed their application to the Taiwan High Court to ask the court to seize all the ballots from Saturday's presidential election and recount them.
Divided and Tense Taiwan is waiting for the recounting results
What is going to happen next… will dictate Taiwan's stability and order, in the near future.
President Chen and the vice president Annette Lu, after receiving treating in a Tainan Hospital.
All campaigning activities are canceled by both candidates;
Nevertheless the emotions among the public raised to a very high level of tension. It was quite visible the inability to deal with a young democracy. The atmosphere in public was not a very pleasant one. Some had fear to express their opinion and some were furious if they heard anything contrary to their own opinion.
Some speculate about the source and political intention of this attempt.
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu canvass for votes in Tainan yesterday seconds after being shot. A bullet hole is visible in the windshield of the Jeep.
PHOTO: WU HSING-HUA, TAIPEI TIMES
Saturday, 20 Mar.04, The DPP wins the elections with a margin of around 30000 votes, a total of 50.11% from the valid votes (see report here)
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu announce their victory in yesterday's presidential election at the Democratic Progressive Party's campaign headquarters in Taipei last night.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Sunday, 21 March 2004, The KMT announces their concern on the votes counting and demands a recount, but the Cabinet said to let the legal system rule on the matter. KMT also demanded an independent investigations on the president’s shooting incident.
The KMT supporters went out to the streets to protest against the election results, supporting Chairman Lien Chan.
The protest turned out to be very noisy and violent at certain points:
A pan-blue campaign truck rams into the gate of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office while demonstrators try to push the gate over early yesterday morning.
Pan-blue passion
A supporter of the pan-blue camp waves the national flag and blows a whistle during the protest in front of the Presidential Office at dawn yesterday demanding an election recount.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
KMT's supporters protest in front of the presidential palace in Taipei since saturday night. For more photos covering the last four days events click here.
Monday, 22 March 2004, The KMT supporters’ protests lasted trough out the night.
After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized.
According to a local newspaper the pan-blue camp claims it has heard that the President Chen, Vice President Lu and close colleagues frequently held secret meetings at a monastery in Nantou County. It also claims that followers from that monastery had told them that Chen was planning to create a shooting incident on March 19 to boost his election chances.
SCOTCHING RUMORS: After suggestions by political opponents that the president's shooting was a stunt, the presidential office released more pictures and records.
High Court grants pan-blue ballot demand
RECOUNT: After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong yesterday filed their application to the Taiwan High Court to ask the court to seize all the ballots from Saturday's presidential election and recount them.
Divided and Tense Taiwan is waiting for the recounting results
What is going to happen next… will dictate Taiwan's stability and order, in the near future.
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