July 2014

社會運動的國際觀

筆者本次到美國,是受福爾摩沙基金會(Formosa Foundation)之邀,以太陽花運動參與者的身分參加該基金會今年的大使計畫(Ambassador Program 2014)。該營隊為期 12 天,第一週的內容是授課,講者從學者、智庫、到商業協會都有,內容包括台美關係發展史、東亞軍事、世界貿易/協議/組織、中國崛起等,第二週則是計畫的重頭戲,分組至國會各辦公室遊說,為期四天,每組一天約拜訪十個辦公室,整個計畫共計拜訪了將近120個議員辦公室(包括參議院與眾議院)。...

Civil Revolt in Miaoli County?

This past Friday, approximately 200 protestors gathered outside of the former site of Chang Pharmacy in Dapu, Miaoli. One year ago on July 18th, 2013, the family-owned pharmacy was forcibly demolished in order to make way for commercial development. In September, owner Chang Sen-wen (張森文) was found dead under a bridge. The death was ruled a suicide by police, but there are those who remain suspicious, including Chang’s son...

Taiwan Minus the KMT?

Following the Sunflower Movement, there have been voices have now begun to speak of eliminating the KMT. And it must be wondered what exactly a Taiwanese political spectrum devoid of the KMT would look like. After all, having existed for the entire duration of what we can speak of as “Taiwanese politics,” it is hard to imagine what Taiwanese politics, period, would look like minus the KMT...

從星洲觀看太陽花

台灣2014年三月太陽花運動在新加坡引起了兩種比較明顯的反應。星國主流媒體和官方一般以亂象看待太陽花。民間和社會媒體則藉著這次運動,開始從新認識政府權限和公民參與的問題。怎麼說是「從新認識」?其實,上世紀五、六十年代,也就是台灣戒嚴、白色恐怖時代,正是星國反殖民、學生、公會等運動最活躍的時候。五、六十多年後的今天,星國在人民行動黨長期嚴厲執政下,似乎遺忘了自己的這段歷史。而太陽花在台灣盛開的時候,也正好碰上了英國政府開放大量外交與英聯邦辦公室(Foreign and Commonwealth Office)和殖民地辦公室(Colonial Office)的歷史檔案。這兩件似乎沒有關聯的事情放在一起,再加上星國近幾年在人口、公共交通、貧富懸殊、房價、物價上受到的衝激,啟發了關心社會議題的新加坡人對政治制度的反思。...

最公平的升學制度

教育部要推動十二年國教,每到升學季節就被罵翻,最近國中升高中職的會考、特招,又是一波高峰。不少家長憂心,作文怎麼成了關鍵科目,填錯志願會不會高分低就。一陣憂慮之後,「過往的基測、聯考比較公平」似乎成了最可行的出路。...