View allAll Photos Tagged improving
test shot with the new stencil frame. it works much better, though I did make a few mistakes. now I need to figure out how to make some interesting stencils.
this little stream used to run through a subterranean pipe underneath a steel mill for more than a hundred years. Now it's out in the open again, but wearing a corset.
No wonder.
Photos showing the improved Thorndale station at the end of major work over a six-week closure as part of the Red North Station Interim Improvements Project.
Children beneficiaries of a greenhouse manage by Ghuncha Gul, in Injil district of Herat province. Other greenhouse holder, Nafisa and her family are beneficiaries of the Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP), which is implemented by UNDP and Ministry of Agriculture. The project provided her with a greenhouse, seeds for vegetables, as well as the necessary training to become a successful small-scale farmer. To diversify livelihoods and improve women’s economic freedom, UNDP has implemented several other projects in Herat districts. These include: 6 raisin houses, 10 greenhouses, 1 apiary, and kitchen gardens for 30 women.
UNDP’s Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP), is a five-year project, made possible by the Global Environment Facility Least Developed Countries Fund. Over the next three years, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, UNDP will implement more than 100 livelihoods projects, including building more greenhouses and training farmers on food processing and food storage, as well as protecting 800 hectares of land from flooding, irrigate 4,000 hectares of agricultural land and repairing 30 canals.
© UNDP Afghanistan / S. Omer Sadaat / 2017
To diversify livelihoods and improve women’s economic freedom, UNDP has implemented several other projects in Herat districts. These include: 6 raisin houses, 10 greenhouses, 1 apiary, and kitchen gardens for 30 women.
UNDP’s Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP), is a five-year project, made possible by the Global Environment Facility Least Developed Countries Fund. Over the next three years, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, UNDP will implement more than 100 livelihoods projects, including building more greenhouses and training farmers on food processing and food storage, as well as protecting 800 hectares of land from flooding, irrigate 4,000 hectares of agricultural land and repairing 30 canals.
© UNDP Afghanistan / S. Omer Sadaat / 2017
Here, the jurisdiction maintaining the trail has recognized the bollard hazard and taken some steps to reduce the threat, but is still far from standard practice.
The centerline stripe must be yellow, not white, and should extend on both sides of the center bollard, as well as striping an envelope 1 foot beyond the width of the bollard, while the bollards on the edge of the trail should have white hazard stripes.
All pavement markings must use reflective paint.
A fishing boat on the Oued Laou beach, as part of the EU supported project which improves infrastructures creating locals jobs to the region, on January 30, 2014. © EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE
ImproveGolfHQ.com seeks to be your Number One Golf resource for improving every aspect of your game. Whether you need help correcting a slice, improving your short game, or just want to polish up on your golf etiquette before hitting the course, we’ve got you covered. We are passionate about Golf because it’s a lifelong pursuit, and there’s always room for improvement. Improve golf skill visit - www.improvegolfhq.com/
During drought periods, the Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) delivers several dozen thousand litres of water per week to families in the greatest need.
©Jacek Marczewski/Agencja Gazeta
Students in the growing Willoughby area of Langley will soon benefit from a new elementary school.
The school will include a neighbourhood learning centre that will offer services such as child care to benefit families in the broader community.
To provide students with an inclusive school, the design will include accessible washrooms that can be used by all students regardless of gender. In keeping with the Province’s CleanBC emissions-reduction goals, mass timber will be incorporated into portions of the school. These innovative low-carbon building materials will help to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions throughout the building’s lifetime.
The project is in design, and construction is scheduled to start in spring 2024. The school is expected to be ready for students in fall 2025.
In addition, two seismic-upgrade projects have recently been completed in Langley at Vanguard Secondary and Shortreed Community Elementary.
Since September 2017, the Government of B.C. has announced $3.2 billion for new and improved schools, and land purchases for future schools throughout the province. This includes adding approximately 21,000 new student spaces and 33,000 seismically safer seats in B.C. schools.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/28825
www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/nutritioneducation/70106/en/
A German-funded nutrition project to improve infant and young child complementary feeding through better use of local foods and resources and nutrition education sessions (including men).
©FAO/Ivan Grifi
Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) provides a roadway or raft assault/tactical bridge crossing capability for tracked or wheeled vehicles across a non-fordable wet gap. Read more at asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-improved-ribbon-br....
This is a close up shot of the mag and receiver of both SR8-X models, showing the details included in both the models
UNDP Sudan is improving maternal health and reducing child mortality through the establishment of health centers and training programmes for midwives. Photo: Jaime Jacques/UNDP
Looking to get more response from your Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8? A power pedal is a great way to do this giving you 3 stages of more sporty driving. The module plugs in the middle of your electronic sensor on your gas pedal. It gives you standard, sport, and super sport to liven up the […]
www.vividracing.com/blog/announcing-new-products-specials...
Cassava farmer gets improved cassava stems from IITA burst into laughter in Kogi, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Building Instructions are available on Rebrickable:
rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-91452/AbFab74/porsche-959-speed-...
How did Mexico reform its electoral system to ensure gender equality and proper participation and representation of women? Alberto Guevara Castro, who authored the chapter on Mexico, gave his insights.
“Improving Electoral Processes – Case Studies and Practical Approaches” is a joint publication of the Community of Democracies and International IDEA, presenting the results of a study research on electoral practices in eight countries. On the occasion of the meeting of the Community’s Governing Council, the publication was officially launched in a special panel with the participation of partners to the project.
Download and read the publication here:
Improving climate change reporting in the Mediterranean: Science – Media interface
Round Table: The socio-economic and political dimension of climate change in the Mediterranean
11 November 2016
Marrakech, Morocco
Since climate change is a cross boundary issue and involves several fields of action (water, energy, wildlife, biodiversity, climate refugees, social conflicts, biodiversity), the networking developed in the last decades could be seen as a fruitful opportunity to build mitigation and adaptation capacity in the Mediterranean. Understanding the need and urgency to adapt and mitigate this impact is the only way forward to put into practice solutions for the benefit of people and nature.
Roberto ROSON, Professor at Economy Department, Ca' Foscari University, Venice - Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the Mediterranean.
Dr. Maria SNOUSSI - Professor at Mohammed V University, Rabat-Morocco and Head of the ‘Coastal Environment & Climate Change’ Research Group at the Faculty of Sciences – Climate change on coastal areas.
Olgu OKUMUŞ - Project Manager, UfM Energy Division, Union for the Mediterranean - UfM Climate Change Expert Group.
Leila RADHOUANE, National Tunisian Institute for Agriculture Research – Climate change impacts on agriculture in North African countries.
Chairperson: Elsa ALVES - LUSA Agency, Portugal
Orbagen improved stove company in Kisangani - DRC.
Photo by Axel Fassio/CIFOR
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org and m.edliadi@cgiar.org
Even on a busy day I can pause for a moment and take an interesting photo. I have to be in a good mindset to then edit, caption, and post. When others enjoy the outcome then it makes it that much more important.
Please also visit:
L to R: Trellick Tower, London Eye, Big Ben, BT Tower, Gherkin, Routemaster, Canary Wharf (I have decided), Black Cab
I've owned the Muji "London in a Bag" for years, but something was always missing. I have remedied the situation with balsa wood and matchsticks.
Governor O'Malley Holds Press Conference on Improving the Eastern Shore's Dover Bridge by Tom Nappi at Easton, Maryland
Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown makes remarks at improving health outcomes initiative press conference by Tom Nappi at Capitol Heights, Maryland
This is the way I illuminate the table in my mini-van. The assembly's has two lamps, but the second lamp has been removed for clarity's sake.
The press-on/press-off battery-powered lamp is attached with screws to a piece of PVC conduit, which is stuck into a curved piece of conduit, which is held in place by two conduit clamps. The arm swivels on the side of another piece of conduit. The assembly is attached to a piece of painted plywood that is attached to the seat's headrest posts. The lamp arm can be easily rotated to put light where I want it and can be removed by merely lifting it out of the brackets. Duct tape is applied to the plywood behind the brackets to create the optimum pressure/tightness for holding the arm in place.
The two pieces of conduit that are "stuck together" were a bit wobbly at the connection, so I added a small screw to firm up the connection. A note on the image shows the screw's location.
This permanent configuration replaces a prototype that lasted one trip. See photo below.
www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/nutritioneducation/70106/en/
A German-funded nutrition project to improve infant and young child complementary feeding through better use of local foods and resources and nutrition education sessions (including men).
©FAO/Ivan Grifi
VA Commemorates
50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
Exemplifies a MyVA priority to Improve the Veteran Experience While Thanking Vietnam Veterans and Their Families
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced it will conduct hundreds of events in VA facilities across the nation on Mar. 29 to recognize, honor and thank U.S. Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices as part of the national Vietnam War Commemoration. VA Secretary Robert McDonald will host a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – “The Wall” to initiate VA’s contribution to the Commemoration. He will be joined by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense in this endeavor. Secretary Carter’s Vietnam War Commemoration staff has greatly assisted us in planning this humble tribute to our Vietnam Veterans and their families.”
VA, along with more than 9,000 organizations across the country, has joined with the Department of Defense as a Commemorative Partner to help Americans honor our nation’s Vietnam Veterans. Authorized by Congress, established under the Secretary of Defense, and launched by the President in May 2012, the Vietnam War Commemoration recognizes all men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975. Nine million Americans, approximately 7 million living today, served during that period, and the Commemoration makes no distinction between Veterans who served in-county, in-theater, or were stationed elsewhere during those 20 years. All answered the call of duty. “This Commemoration has special significance for those of us at VA because of our honored mission to serve those who have “borne the battle,” said McDonald. “It’s also an opportunity to remember our VA colleagues who served in this generation of Veterans, to extend our heartfelt appreciation to them and to their families who shared the burden of their loved one’s service.” More than 329 VA medical centers, regional benefit offices and national cemeteries will host events, many in partnership with local Veteran service organizations and volunteers. To learn more about the Vietnam War Commemoration, go to: www.vietnamwar50th.com
(VA photos/ PrisCilla Kates)
First Lady Chirlane McCray makes an announcement regarding the City’s efforts to reduce mental health stigma and improve mental health care delivery in communities of color. City Hall. Monday, April 23, 2018. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
This photograph is provided by the New York City Mayoral Photography Office (MPO) for the benefit of the general public and for dissemination by members of the media. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial materials, advertisements, emails, products or promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the City of New York, the Mayoral administration, or the de Blasio family without prior consent from the MPO (PhotoOffice@cityhall.nyc.gov). Any use or reprinting of official MPO photographs must use the following credit language and style: “Photographer/Mayoral Photography Office”, as listed at the end of each caption.
Participants captured during the Session:"Improving Sanitation, One Flush at a Time" at the India Economic Summit 2017 in New Delhi, India, Copyright by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell
Governor Phil Murphy visits the Passaic Public School’s Dayton Avenue Campus to highlight education investments in his Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) budget to improve education infrastructure on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.(Edwin J. Torres/NJ Governor’s Office).
Raldorf Reigns Supreme in Bang Saen
Thailand Super Series
“If we learn from each success, and each failure, and improve ourselves through this process, then at the end, we have fulfilled our potential and performed well”
Ferdinand Porsche
After the dramatic events that unfolded of Rounds One & Two of the Thailand Super Series in Buriram, it was now time to get to the grips with tight twisty streets of Bang Saen in Chonburi.
The Bang Saen street race is like no other in Thailand, a favourite of the drivers where concentration is vital to keep you out of the unforgiving walls. This quiet little fishing village comes alive for one week as teams from across the globe join the event and are cheered on by in excess of 200,000 spectators over the course of the week.
Before any thoughts of Bang Saen began, the UNIXX – TR-Motorsport had held a test day at the Bira International Circuit on the outskirts of Pattaya. The purpose of this test was to confirm that the fuel pressure problems that arose in Buriram were now fixed and to give Thomas, The Danish Dynamo much-needed track time in the Porsche 997.
The team completed over 70 laps with no issues to report and Thomas, although very tired felt a lot more comfortable with the car and its setup. A sterling job by the B-Quik Racing Mechanics, who, after Buriram worked tirelessly to replace numerous parts associated with fuel pressure.
Free Practice
The Team arrived in Bang Saen early in the week to begin preparations and everything was looking good for the weekend ahead. Due to the extra busy schedule this year the GTM & GTM+ Cars would share Free Practice with the GTC class which resulted in a very heavily congested track. Thomas struggled to find the space for a clean lap as the faster GTM cars passed him around the circuit so he decided to complete just three race pace laps before pulling into the pits to make adjustments to the setup and prepare for session two. Even though the track resembled a busy Friday in Bangkok, Thomas still set a very credible time of 1.47.131 putting him 2nd in class.
Session two was a vast improvement on the first session, after a few tweaks to the setup Thomas ventured out early to try and find some clean air and managed to get 7 competitive laps completed, a quick dash to the pits to make some minor adjustments followed by 3 more laps left Thomas with a fastest time 1.43.804 in the GTC Class.
Qualifying
After the data from Free Practice was analysed it was apparent that Pole Position was well within the reach of the team, it would all depend on if Thomas could get a clean lap and the safety car wasn't deployed which could shorten or even end the session. Again Thomas ventured out early to try to gain an advantage and it seemed to have worked until a few slower cars on the track hampered his first few attempts, however, as the session progressed Thomas found himself in space and set a blistering lap of 1.43.355 breaking the lap record and putting the car firmly in Pole Position for Races 1 & 2.
Race 1
Thomas, well known for his good starts delivered once again making the perfect getaway up the main straight. Although Thomas seemed to have everything under control he had to keep pushing as the second place driver and Team Mate Khun Pete in the Porsche GT4 was now setting fastest laps and was beginning to gain on the #29 Porsche. Thomas responded by setting fastest laps himself and a new lap record of 1.42.766 as he hurtled around the street circuit and increased his lead. Even when the inevitable safety car appeared and bunched the field up, the chasing cars could do nothing to catch the Porsche. Thomas gave a masterclass in precision driving around the beach resort hitting every apex perfectly and following the optimum line with every lap. The victory came at a canter and with it 20 vital points in the race for the drivers' championship. Team Mate Khun Pete, followed up with a second place to help the Porsche duo also claim the Team Trophy for Race 1.
Race 2
Due to the success in Race 1, an extra 30 kgs were added to the car this was on top of the 25 that had already been added due to the results in Buriram, this totalled an extra 55 kgs making the car a lot trickier to handle and leaving absolutely no room for error. A fresh set of Yokohama tires were put on the car to help increase the grip and try to negate the effects of the extra weight. Another trademark start from Thomas left with him a small gap from the second place Toyota driven by Khun Manat. The extra weight was causing the car to slide this allowed Khun Manat to close each time and forcing Thomas to push that bit more. The safety car was deployed, again bunching up the field leaving Thomas under pressure from the Toyota, however, as the lights went green once more Thomas was able to manage the gap all the way to the chequered flag and claim another 20 points. Thomas again set the fastest lap of the race albeit nearly one second slower than his lap in Race 1 due to the extra weight.
Standings
After the stunning performance in the Beach Resort of Bang Saen Thomas and the team are now just 2 points behind Khun Manat in the race for the Driver’s Championship and are leading the Team Championship by 11 points from Team Toyota. There are now 4 races left with a maximum of 80 points to race for so everything is wide open and promises to be a very exciting climax to the Thailand Super Series 2017. UNIXX – TR-Motorsport will next be in action at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram for Rounds 5 & 6 of the Thailand Super Series August 17-20.
For more information on the team visit www.tr-motorsport.com and follow them on Facebook, search TR Motorsport Thailand. For Race footage and other videos from the team check out their very own YouTube channel search TR Motorsport.
www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/nutritioneducation/70106/en/
A German-funded nutrition project to improve infant and young child complementary feeding through better use of local foods and resources and nutrition education sessions (including men).
©FAO/Ivan Grifi
Doctors of the World run health education sessions to raise awareness among women about antenatal care and the importance of giving birth in a health facility. We also train medical staff to improve the care provided to women and newborns during labour.
Combining micro-credit and health not only enables the women to borrow money to generate their own income and businesses, but also to pay for transport to hospital if complications arise during childbirth.
www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/projectsoverseas/nepal.asp
Photo by Cheryl Nemazie
LEICA MINILUX F2.4 40mm ILFORD PAN100
Q1: What kind of a place is Lo-Sheng Sanatorium?
In 1927, the General Governor of Taiwan started to build Losheng Sanatorium for the quarantine and treatment of leprosy patients. With the force of sanitary police and the medical officers, the general investigation, quarantine, and imprisonment of the leprosy patients were conducted thoroughly in the period from1934 till the end of colonial governance of Japan. As a result, Losheng Sanatorium became the institution of compulsory quarantine as well as life-long imprisonment for the leprosy patients. Now, we consider Losheng Sanatorium as the epitome of the hundred-year sanitary history in Taiwan. It is the only historical mark that can testify the epidemic prevention history of Taiwan, and it is also the best place for us to do the introspection of the human rights of the patients.
Q2: What is the Hansen's disease?
Leprosy, also called the Hansen's disease，is a chronic bacterial disease infecting the skin and nerves in the hands and feet and, in some cases, the respiratory system. In 1873, a Norwegian doctor, Hansen, discovered the pathogenesis of this disease, hence the name Hansen's disease. Leprosy virus is hard to cultivate even in the lab, so the contagiousness is extremely weak. Almost everyone (90% of the human beings) has the natural immunity against leprosy virus. Human is the main infection source of the Hansen's disease, and the upper respiratory tract is the major route of infection. The latent period is spans from three to five years, but could be as long as 40 years. The Hansen's disease is easier to spread in the environment with poor public sanitation facilities. Currently, the good sanitary condition in Taiwan ensures that the Hansen's disease almost has no contagiousness, and there is also effective cure for the disease.
Q3 Why was there a compulsory quarantine policy in the past?
At the beginning of the 20th century, because of the improvement in sanitary condition, the Hansen's disease was almost extinct in Europe and America. However, the Japanese government desired to imitate the militarism of German government, so when they faced the large amount of the domestic leprosy patients, they regarded those patients as "the national humiliation", and began to draw up "the prevention law of Leprosy "in 1907. They planned to isolate the leprosy patients from the society, trying to create the illusion in which the Hansen's disease was extinct.
Q4 What is the influence of the compulsory quarantine policy?
In order to justify its compulsory quarantine policy, the Japanese government exaggerated the contagiousness of the Hansen's disease, and propagandized it to the society with force. They educated people that leprosy was extremely horrible, and used the police force and the spy system to "arrest" the patients and put them in hospitalization. This discriminating experience of being arrested in front of their families, friends, neighbors as well as the ingrained infamy of this policy prevented the Hansen's patients from going back to the society even after the compulsory quarantine policy was relieved. It was a tragedy for those patients to have homes they dared not return to.
Q5 Why is Taiwanese government tearing down the Losheng Sanatorium？
In 1994, Taipei City's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System has planned to build a depot on the site where now the Sanatorium is. Chen Jing-Chuan, (陳京川) the ex-director of Losheng was opposed to this decision, and did three surveys among the patients to see what they thought and needed, shortly before he got demoted and reprimanded. Ever since then, the patients had no access to the MRT construction plans and its related discussions.
Q6 Why is it a mistake to build the depot on the Losheng site？
The MRT depot was originally planned to be built on the mountains behind Fu-Jen Catholic University(輔仁大學), but the plan was changed by local politicians. This is wrong for the following reasons:
1. Waste of money: 3/5 of the depot site needs to be built on flatland; therefore $90 million (USD) will be spent on flatting and improving the soil.
2. Disaster for the environment: What comes after flatting the mountains is a ten-story-tall retaining wall, which destroys the natural environment.
3. Safety concern: the future depot will be situated upon earth faults.
4. Ravaged historical site: the Losheng Sanatorium is an important cultural asset for people in East Asia. The depot construction will turn all this treasure into dust.
5. Ordeal for patients: the patients are forced to leave the place they spent their lives, suffering mentally and physically from the displacement.
6. Autocratic decision-making: the MRT Department never inquired the needs of Losheng patients--the 'residents' of the site—which is a violation of fundamental human rights.
Q7 Why should the Losheng Sanatorium be a World Heritage?
1. The Losheng Sanatorium has witnessed the inhumane treatment (such as discrimination and compulsory quarantine) the leprosy patients had undergone through 70 years of governmental oppression. It is a live showcase of Taiwan's colonial past, history of public health and suppressed human rights.
2. The Losheng Sanatorium is one among the few leprosy sanatoriums left. Its architecture has a mixture of Japanese and Gothic style, along with houses and Buddhist shrines built by the patients. The Sanatorium retains its painfully organised structure as an embodiment of its colonial past.
3. The Losheng Sanatorium has met many requirements for World Heritage. One UNESCO committee member who visited Losheng has commented that the Sanatorium is qualified at a World Heritage site. He mentioned one World Heritage site, the Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, to exemplify the value of human rights.
4. The international trend of cultural assets conservation emphasizes an 'organic' perspective of preserving, which means not only the architecture is preserved, but also its relationship established by people who lived in it. The Losheng Sanatorium is embedded with history and lifelong memory of the patients, therefore partial preservation would tarnish the integrity of its value. Moreover, the Losheng Sanatorium is a reminder of inhumane quarantine and mistaken political measures for the world to see. Forced displacement is nothing less than another persecution for human rights.
Q8 How does the Taiwanese government plan to settle the patients?
In 2002, the new housing projects was initiated, but instead of 'houses' which were earlier promised to the patients, the new director gave them two tall buildings with modern hospital facilities. It became clear that the new administration team intended to run a hospital business and make money. The patients had no choice but to be removed to another place designed for quarantine.
The skyscraper-ish hospital buildings were designed mainly for housing short-term patients; therefore it has inadequate space for residents to move around freely. Moreover, the hospital management team forbids the patients from bringing with them personal belongings, from cooking, and from coming over to the front building—a discriminative policy.
Q9 How are leprosy patients treated in other countries?
In 2001, the Japanese government formally apologised to the maltreated leprosy patients, and devised reimbursement laws to give them the justice and honor they long missed. Take the example of National Sanatorium Nagashima Aiseien (日本長島愛生園): it retains its old architecture and natural environment for educational purposes; the patients live in well-organised houses; intercom facilities were implemented in the sanatorium for patients who have lost their sight. Every patient has nearly two nurses to take good care of them.
Q10 How come we did not speak out in the initial stages of planning? Why stand out now?
In fact, the depot plan has received severe critiques through the decade, from scholars and social groups alike. In 1994, the Taiwanese Bureau of Health has decided the project would brutally disrupt the patients' lives, or even pose life threatens. In the same year, the Losheng residents started their perpetual war against the violence.
Long before the depot construction was initiated, Loshen's ex-director and history professionals have demanded a large-scale inspection of Losheng's position as a historical site. The scholars appealed to the MRT Department that they should spare the Losheng Sanatorium, while they unanimously agreed the entire site should be preserved. However, the officials were rough enough to terminate the process of inspection, and decided the Sanatorium should be torn down entirely.
It was not until 2004, when Prof. John K.C. Liu (劉可強教授) came up with a symbiosis plan, and when the Concil of Cultural Affairs (文建會) has deemed the Sanatorium a historical spot, that the MRT Department was pressured to rethink the possibilities of preservation.
We sincerely appeal to the governmental officials that they should take the problems seriously. People have eyes to see and ears to listen; we will not be fooled or threatened for life.
Q11. Will MRT Shin-Jhong line not able to function if Losheng sanatorium is not torn down?
A11: Liu, Ko-Chiang, a professor in the Graduate Institute of Building and Planning in National Taiwan University (NTU), has long proposed a "Concurrent Construction Program of Losheng Sanatorium and MRT" in December, 2004. This plan not only proposes to preserve the whole area in Losheng, but let the MRT function well. It achieves the four-win situation for the historical site, the MRT, the patients in Losheng, and the HuiLong community. Also, this plan has been evaluated by the Taipei MRT bureau as "technically applicable". However, after the resignation of the whole Cabinet, no more committees were to be hold, the government commissioner in charge of this plan denied it with an official document without any negotiation, and the concurrent construction program has been put aside ever since.
In 2006, the 90% reserve plan proposed by the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA, 文建會) was evaluate as applicable by Mott MacDonald Group. (欣陸工程顧問公司) However, the Executive Yuan turn down this proposal from CCA without any explanation in less than one month.
If we reserve Losheng sanatorium, it will not necessarily be the obstacle which hinders the MRT service. What we are upset about is the governmental monopoly of technical resources and legal rights behind the curtain, and they blame the Losheng patients for delaying the MRT. If the government keeps ignoring its flawed policy, sweeping things under the rug, and putting off its own political duty, the government will wipe out the entire historical Losheng sanatorium. Such unwise arrogance from our government only damages the rights of patients in Losheng and every citizen.
Q12. According to the Department of Rapid Transit System, Taipei (DORTS, Taipei, 台北捷運局), curved rail in the 90% plan will cause derailment, is it true?
A12: The altered curvature in 90% plan has no connection with the commuters. What the 90% plan affects is the allocation of the workshop; more specifically, the plan only changes the curvature of rails which vacant carriages may go in and out. Unless the DORTS intends to make carriages enter the workshop with a high speed, or they want some passengers to participate parties held in the workshop occasionally; otherwise security is not the issue in this plan. In fact, this is exactly why the government does not want to discuss the 90% plan openly. Besides, when Frank Chang-ting Hsieh (謝長廷) was the minister of Executive Yuan, the 90% was evaluated as an applicable plan.
Q13. According to the media and Department of Rapid Transit System, Taipei (DORTS, Taipei, 台北捷運局), the 90% preservation plan will delay the construction of MRT for two to three years and result in a two to three hundred billion NTD (approx. 760 million USD) increase in budget, is that true?
A13. In the press release issued by the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA, 文建會) in Jan. 23, 2007, it was mentioned: "according to recent news, some local representatives and organizations in Taipei City and Taipei County claimed that the 90% Losheng preservation plan proposed by CCA will severely delay the MRT construction. Hereby CCA reiterates that the 90% preservation plan, evaluated by Hsin-Lu cooperation, will lengthen the construction period for about four months, and appends a three billion budget to it. It is not true to say the MRT construction will be delayed for two to three years."
Q14. The Losheng sanatorium has its own value to be preserved, and the human rights of the patients are also important; but what about the rights of other citizens?
A14. The Department of Rapid Transit System, Taipei (DORTS, Taipei, 台北捷運局) constantly uses phrases such as "Significant National Construction", "Asserting the Public Interests", and "One Million People's Rights of Using MRT", all of which portray the Losheng sanatorium as a troublemaker consisting of a tiny group of people, who aim at obstructing the construction of MRT. Such tactics downplay the issue of Losheng, simplifying the problem here as "the majority matters." However, we are surprised that our ruling party, who has been proud of its concern about human rights, should say such things.
If we acknowledge that the Losheng sanatorium is an important asset that not only belongs to people in Taiwan, but also to all other countries where quarantine on Hanson disease was ever imposed. The Losheng sanatorium, therefore, becomes heirloom for the entire humanity. If the Taiwanese government is willing to change its attitude and positively promote human rights, then Losheng sanatorium can not only provide another greenbelt for the citizens, but also help transform the HuiLong community into an emblem of human rights.
History repeats itself. If today we turn a deaf ear to the plights of Losheng patients, tomorrow we might ourselves experience governmental violence. In democratic countries, such as Japan, the society would usually wait till all-round plans are devised, so that the disadvantaged minority could be attended of their needs. Likewise, we urge the government in Taiwan to be responsible enough to handle the Losheng dispute with due respect to culture, history, and human rights; not only those of the patients, but also of us people.
www.coolloud.org.tw/news/database/Interface/Detailstander...
Losheng Sanatorium(Traditional Chinese: 樂生療養院; pinyin: lèshēng liáoyǎngyuàn) is a hospital for lepers, which is located in Sinjhuang, Taipei County. During 1930s, this hospital was the only public sanatorium for leprosy patients in Taiwan and also the first leprosy hospital in Taiwan.
Losheng, named Rakusei Sanatorium for Lepers of Governor-General of Taiwan (臺灣總督府癩病療養樂生院, Taiwan Sōtokufu Raibyō Rakuseiin?) originally, was built in 1929 during Japanese colonial period and served as an isolation hospital for leprosy patients at that time. The Japanese government forced leprosy patients to live in this hospital. The first 5 buildings can offer more than 100 patients.
In 2001, due to the construction of Taipei Rapid Transit System, the authorities planed of Xinzhuang (Sijhuang) Line to transform Losheng to a community hospital, thus put an end to its dedicated hospitalization and care for leprosy patients. Many students, urban planners and NGO tried to protect this sanatorium from that time.
zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%e6%a8%82%e7%94%9f%e7%99%82%e9%a4%8...
The conditions at the camp are difficult and people living here have come from different regions. However, there is a lot of evidence of neighbourly solidarity to be found here.
©Jacek Marczewski/Agencja Gazeta
Do you like beach volleyball, want to improve your technique or just have fun playing? Then People Time Sport's
People Time Sport's beach volleyball meetings are perfect for you. At these meetings, you can play with other volleyball
with other volleyball fans and improve your skills. Plus, it's a great way to socialize and make new friends.
socialize and make new friends - don't miss out!