Social Movements

籽:Taipei Animal Save

一般來說,在 Animal Save 活動中,參與者們會親眼目睹動物的艱困處境,並試著安撫那些正要被宰殺的動物們。參與者們通常會與屠宰場老闆溝通得以進入屠宰場,或者有時候則會在卡車停紅綠燈時藉機與動物短暫相處。2021 至 2023 年間, Taipei Animal Save 在萬華屠宰場前舉行了兩次活動,此屠宰場正式且「好聽」的名稱是「台北家禽批發市場」。然而,在台北,工業化規模的屠宰場不太可能允許活動參與者參觀,也沒有安全的地方讓他們與動物互動。因此,參與者只能駐留在屠宰場外,從門口看著雞緊緊地關在籠子裡。Save 活動從傍晚開始,但參與者並沒有留下來觀看通常在午夜前後開始的宰殺作業。...

Taipei Animal Save Plans to Hold Monthly Vigils

Between 2021 and 2023, Taipei Animal Save held two vigils in front of a Wanhua slaughterhouse – euphemistically and formally known as the Taipei Poultry Wholesale Market. In an Animal Save vigil, activists bear witness to the plight of animals and try to comfort animals on their way to being killed for meat. Typically, Save activists try to negotiate with slaughterhouse owners for permission, or they would take the opportunity to spend time with animals briefly when a truck is parked or stopped at traffic lights. In Taipei, however, industrial-scale slaughterhouses are unlikely to grant permission for activists to visit, and there are no safe locations where activists can interact with animals. Because of this lack of access, activists stationed themselves outside the slaughterhouse, watching the chickens tightly packed in cages from the gate. The vigils started in the late afternoon, but activists did not stay for the slaughter, which typically starts around midnight...

As Democracy Further Deteriorates in Hong Kong, Taiwan Proposes Increasing Barriers to Hong Kong Permanent Residency

The deterioration of what is left of electoral democracy continues in Hong Kong, with plans by the Hong Kong government to decrease the number of directly elected district councilor seats from over 90% to around 20%. Despite this, the Mainland Affairs Council may move forward with plans to increase the barriers for Hongkongers seeking to obtain permanent residency in Taiwan...

Thousands Demonstrate on Ketagalan Boulevard for International Workers’ Day

Organized labor groups rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building today for International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day in other parts of the world. Though the rally was not as large as in past years, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gradual accommodation to COVID-19 in Taiwanese society is what has allowed for International Workers’ Day demonstrations to again take place. Last year, for example, only saw a few hundred workers participate in International Workers’ Day commemorations that were significantly scaled down...

Human Rights Group Call for Pardon for Taiwan’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate

Human rights groups called on President Tsai Ing-wen to pardon Chiou Ho-shun, Taiwan’s longest-serving death row inmate, earlier this month. As part of this call, groups including the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty and Amnesty International presented a petition with 42,700 signatures to the Presidential Office, on the occasion of Chiou’s 63rd birthday...