As a Hsinchu citizen, I've not really heard any bad news about the Hsinchu Science Park polluting the environment. It is interesting to question what impacts the Science Park had bring to our daily life after I read the article "The Silence of Silicon Lambs", by Shenglin Chang and Wenling Tu .
I am not really surprised by any part of the article, but I would like to make few comments on the entire article:
It is mentioned in the article that media tend to show bias toward Science Park and the government ignored the opposition force. I think this article doesn't provide enough concrete statistics or evidence to prove this is true, but by observation, it seems true. I believe this is a problem because people have the mind set that expanding the science park is a positive thing to do. I also believe in this mind set because I've never heard any bad news criticizing the pollutions made by the Park. I found a parallel between Science Park development and China's dramatic industrialization: China is becoming industrialized in a rapid speed, but has ignored a great deal of environmental problems. Chinese government does not concern about building environmental friendly development; all they want is turn China into a civilized city. As result, China is becoming a top threat to issues like Global Warming and pollution. Both Science Park and China are trying to expand their technology further, but have ignored the environmental sustainable issues. Science Park, indeed, do seem like it is using the name of "high-tech" to make pollution.
It is interesting to know that 1 out of 4 household works in the Science Park. Many of my friends' parents or relatives also work in Science Park.
My parents worked in the Science Park thirty years ago; it was when the Park had just began its expansion. They told me stories about working as a assembly worker. They have to sit there for hours and hours, the only time they can get up is going to the restroom. The rapid change of production process is indeed scary. Everyday, my parents have to change the manufacturing process (eg: a component of the computer) in order to suit the need of down stream companies.
On the whole, the local and Taiwan government should really be concerned about environmental and labor issues in the Science Park. As environmental-sustainability problems are mainstream issue around the world now, the government should think of plans that are flexible to suit quick changes. Development of high-techs is for sure beneficial, but without proper planning, Science Park will create more and more negative side-effects to the community and the economy of Taiwan in the future.
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14 comments:
Nice post, Tina. You are right to question some of the points made in the article. I think it would be very interesting to get in touch with the authors and see if there have been any major changes in the last few years.
You are right, everyone talks about China and it is easy to point the finger at them, but perhaps those of us who live in Taiwan need to look at what is happening in our own backyard - and work to change it!
I like your point about the pointing fingers at China. Many people look at other people's faults, but they are not realizing that they, themselves, also have the problems! So, I think Taiwanese people should start looking at their own problems before pointing fingers at others!
I can see how China wants to be a more civilized country, thus ignored the environmental regulations, and eventually being blamed for as one of the major threat to issues like global warming. Nonetheless, I believe that the corporations and the high-tech industries from other countries that are located in China are also responsible for causing environmental damages. First of all, they pick on China's low physical infrastructure, low cost labor, as well as poor environmental regulation just like they pick on Taiwan about 30 years ago. Therefore, I think at this stage, its no longer one country’s fault and responsibility, but the whole worlds.
Nice post, I actually just finished my own post and was quite happy with my chinese parallel when I saw yours, lol. I was surprised though that you said that you weren't really shocked by any part of the article. I personally found the release of toxic materials into rivers to be shocking. Didn't you?
I think you pointed well on your last sentences. Well, i don't know what kinds of rules do they have for companies that using chemicals but yeah, they should set up a rules for our saving environment! and well, before we finger to china, i think we should think that why people moved their factories to china?
good post! I think the media covers up pretty much every bad things of what industrial companys have done. Hsinchu people should be more aware of this!!
I really like how you relate the article to another country, China. I think it is easy to blame the Chinese for polluting, but we should definitely look more at ourselves and what we have done to our own environment. I was pretty shocked though when I found out they release toxic chemicals into the river, since I used to play in the river all the time. The fact that a lot of the food we eat comes from our river, and the water we use may be toxic kind of scares me.
But I really liked your blog post, and your blog, really pretty =]
I agree with that government sometimes will cover the truth. I think the reason they don't want us to know the truth, is to avoid some people that care about the environment to come. I also like your point that you make a metaphor with China. It's really a good point!!! = ]
first things first: i love your blog template and bear-bear. :)
Dealing with the HSIP is tricky business especially, the office grounds which in my point of view is were I would like to work when I'm older.
They are mostly all illusions of course, covering up the fact that they're harming the environment.
I especially liked the part where you compared China's sudden industrialization growth. Since Taiwan is influenced so much from China, its expected to see the smog in the air, harming the environment and people in it. But as I said before, the HSIP are a tad more smarter to make people think that they work in a clean environment...
I agree that it is very hard to take sides without knowing the whole story. In my own impression, the science park seems to have a lot of trees planted and seems to be rather clean compared to many other places in Taiwan.
This clean/green "image" may have given many misconceptions like it has done to me. Relating to the arts night theme "people we don't want to look at", the environmental damages the science park may have seems to be a "topic" that people's minds tend to avoid and not want to look at.
I really like how you questioned parts of the article. The shocking information in the article may make people really intrigued and forget about its credibility. :D
I really liked your point about the media showing bias. Afterall, it is what media is all about; manipulating the truth so that we hear what we want to hear, and see only what we want to see. But it is exactly because of this that many issues such as environmental pollution go unnoticed.
I think it's great how you linked it to China and its rapidly growing industry. It's important that we are aware of all the issues that are facing the world today, not just the issues that may affect us directly. I think us humans are just much too obsessed with power and money and advancement to even realize the amount o f damage we cause to the earth.
I also really liked how you proposed a possible solution at the end! It's time that the government became aware of the true cost we are paying for industrialization and technological developments.
I think it's really cool that you related the topic to China. Also i agree with the fact that people tend to blame others and never look at themselves.
I like your article because I can read it very easily, and the meaning is very clear.
Its quite horrible, the things we do to our own environments. Honestly, i feel bad just thinking about it. I know people that work in the science park , and thinking they are the ones doing all this horrible stuff kinda makes me see them as evil people. And i agree with everyone above, we ned to start cleaning our own environment.
The tensions are always based on financial resources. Something like film is very problematic because it is viewed as an art form and also as an industry with a pure commercial base.see more at here:-Shenglin Financial
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