Bluefin tuna auctions in Japan received $ 400,000 (interim report)

(Posted by Caresse Chen)

    Tsukiji, Tokyo, Japan in this year's first auction at the fish market, a weight of 342 kg of bluefin tuna, Wednesday (Jan. 5) to a record high price of 40 million sold. Owner of a sushi chain in Hong Kong Cheng Tao Wei (Ricky Cheng), to a record $ 55,706, bought a large blue-fin tuna. Tokyo Tsukiji fish market, say, this weighs 276 kg bluefin tuna (Bluefin Tuna), Aomori in Japan, caught in northern waters. Whole fish price of 6,070,000 yen ($ 55,706), equivalent to 22,000 yen per kilogram. Last traded price is a record in Japan, but higher than the previous year, almost 200 million yen. Bluefin tuna, also known as bluefin tuna is sushi and sashimi of the best ingredients.

    The Japanese love tuna fish, tuna is one of the best. With Japanese cuisine and sushi became popular around the world, this precious endangered fish gradually more difficult to obtain in Japan. Auction off the guitar into the manager (Yoshinari Sekimoto) said, "the habit of eating raw fish spread around the world, therefore, that Japan has not exclusive limited supply of bluefin tuna." Wei Zheng Tao, have this year and the past few years to show their talents in the first auction, he said that although price is a bit more than expected, but he was satisfied.

    Wei Zheng Tao said: "Good tuna sell well in Hong Kong and China, which is a very good fish." He said he would sell such low-cost high-level sushi, so his clients could afford to eat. "I will sell it to my clients, even though I may not get any profit."

    Building located in downtown Tokyo, where stalls everywhere, selling millions of dollars per day of fish and vegetables.

Erasing the stigma of public housing

(Posted by Miki Ji)
  The government had a program that is state-owned land to become public housing for the senior citizens in Taipei’s Neihu District and originally arrange to open bidding in December 15,2010.  But cause strong dissatisfaction of residents, more than 300 people signed request for a stay, the government had no choice but to announce emergency stop in December 14,2010.

Government has been planning the state-owned land program. Because all candidates of five major cities in order to win the election so they have promised to deal with the public housing problem in the last month. While most residents agree that the Government's program, but they never thought about the program will affect their quality of life and living when the program into practice. Therefore, many problem occurred when the government realize their promise.

The government had a program that is state-owned land to become public housing for the senior citizens in Taipei’s Neihu District and originally arrange to open bidding in December 15,2010.  But cause strong dissatisfaction of residents, more than 300 people signed request for a stay, the government had no choice but to announce emergency stop in December 14,2010.

Domestic Express, the program has been explained to local residents, live objects are healthy Seniors, but residents are still worried about hundreds of elderly people to live in the future, and cause the foreign nurse is filled with the public housing and ambulances all night in and out of. The problem will cause housing prices fall and high crime rate, so the government had no choice but to stop the program.

Despite residents strongly oppose, the government still want to make the commitment to come true. Although the job is not only time-consuming and but also tests patience and wisdom of the government. But the government will continue to communicate with residents and make win-win situation.

Men's 100 Meter Breaststroke in Dubai

(Posted by Mika Oiu)
     The men's 100 meter breaststroke was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from December 15 - 16, 2010 by 10th FINA World Swimming Championships. Participant includes South Africa’s world record-holder, Cameron van der Burgh, Brazil’s Felipe Silva, Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli and so on.

     This event held every two years. From 1978-1998, the World Championships were held every four years, in the even years between Summer Olympic years. From 2001 on, the Championships has been held every two years, in the odd years. This year was held in Dubai. The men's 100 meter breaststroke heats and semifinals were held on December 15. The final was held on December 16.

     In the heats, Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli winning time was 57.60. In the semifinals, USA's Mihail Alexandrov winning time was 57.18. In the finals, Cameron van der Burgh winning time was 56.80. Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli added a world silver to his European gold from earlier this year in a finishing time of 57.13. Brazil’s Felipe Silva finishing time was 57.39, took bronze.

     Cameron van der Burgh could be called “Mr. Arena”. Since signing with Arena in March of 2009, he won the 2009 Arena World Cup title, and now a 100 breaststroke World title. When he gotten it, the first thing he did was to hop up on the lane-rope and emphatically highlight the ARENA logo on the front of his cap to express in honor of the support. This event was finished and gets together looking forward hold in Istanbul in 2012 with exciting events.

Special ambassador Stephen Bosworth comes to Asia

 (Posted by Susan Liao)
    United States Department of State made a terse statement in Washington, DC on January 2. The statement were about Stephen Bosworth, the United States special ambassador for North Korea policy will come to Asia for discussing the problem of North Korea with South Korea, China and Japan.

     The statement said Stephen Bosworth, the United State special ambassador for North Korea policy will meet South Korea, China, Japan, those country’s high-level officials to discuss next step about North Korea problem. The six-party talks United States representative Sung Kim will come to South Korea and China with Stephen Bosworth together. On January 4, they will arrive in Seoul, South Korea.

     The relationship between North Korea and South Korea became tension since March, 2010. South Korea’s Tian warship was attacked by North Koran. In order that to reconcile crisis in North Korea and South Korea, China is appealing to convene six-party talks.

     North Korea and South Korea still have war of words in those days, but they hinted willing to proceed with diplomacy talking. However, analysts anticipate the relationship between North Korea and South Korea, it is very difficult to improve that.

Five tradition basket weavers - Posted by Sophia Lin

     In the breath is exquisite atmosphere, to talk about weavers of conversation, and we're introduced five reports about basket weavers. Fist one is Shu Hui Dong the putty weavers.

    

     Shu Hui learn ceramic art, hope to achieve "life of ceramics, pottery of life " concept, learn ceramic art. She usually like to weave things, so try to use clay to weave basket make different effects, and use the putty arranges techniques to show, she pursuit of beauty and realism with works.

     Second is the Spanish Pavilion environmental protection design. Designer is Benedetta Tagliabue. She has some idea for the Spanish Pavilion is "a highly interactive place, the external looks very open, there are clearly within the district building”. She produce idea to use the rattan、wicker to weaves of building. “ rattan basket, they can accommodate a lot of things in the concept, can exchange and dialogues in it with different cultures. Rattan, also is Spain and China traditional materials, it is a bridge between Chinese and Spain.

    

     Bemedetta Tagliabue think “basket” comes from her careful observation in her life. The building use 8524 natural rattan woven for the façade, the overall shape of a wavy, looks the shape of the basket, and given impression for the visitors.

    

     Third is Atayal Traditional weaving , the weaving techniques is Atayal traditional, the continue of the ancestors of the handicraft. “Weave” is mean bamboo and cane, use bamboo and cane in the life all around to weave the hunting equipment、basket and musical instruments, Atayal woven works are full of emotion and personality of human life, have shown a rich and full of life inheritance and tribe's historical significance.

     Fourth is Brunei weavers, In the Brunei National Museum of Shanghai World Expo visitors will see, three experts from Brunei in the field of handicrafts woven mats and baskets made to demonstrate their skilled craftsmanship - this is being held in Brunei traditional handicraft exhibition The main content. They are very ingenuity, exquisite workmanship, full of traditional Brunei ethnic characteristics. Demonstrate the skills of the people of Brunei, and demonstrate that it is protecting the natural environment, rich heritage and strong tradition for their efforts.

        Last reports is Wounaan and Embera tribe- Panama Art Exhibition, Rich region in the Darién and Coclé traditional arts, the local tribal women use of growth in the rainforest called Nahuala andChunga palm plant fibers to weave. Each series has totem baskets, or decorative wall plates, are unique works of art, are all hand-woven by the time to complete, the expression of the unique design talent at home craft and art concepts. These baskets are often incorporated into the design of religious symbols or elements of the natural environment living artists.

    

     This is about five basket weavers reports, use different a method to weavers different basket, and also to weavers out dream……

Time: 2011/02/26

Place: Taipei Fine Arts Museum

Yang Shu-chun incident not the first time

-The previous questionable decisions by Korean athletic officials

(Posted by Sharon Lin)

When Yang Shu-chun was disqualified in the Guanzhou Asian Games on November 17, 2010, it was not the first time Taiwanese had been deprived out of athletic victories due highly controversial decisions.

On December 7, 2009, the 72 kilogram Men's Taekwondo Final was held at the East Asian Games. Taiwanese athlete Tseng Ching-hsiang competed with a South Korean athlete. Surprisingly, when the South Korean athlete made an obvious foul less than a minute after the game started, attacking Tseng’s throat. Tseng had fall down, and he cannot stands up. Unexpectedly, not only the referee not rule that this action was a foul, he announced that the game was over and that the gold medal went to the South Korean contestant. This aroused much discontent amongst the team of Taiwanese representatives present.

On October 11, 2002, Taiwanese athlete Chu Mu-yen's won in the Busan Asian Games men's competition came after surviving four fights. The final against South Korea's Park Hee-chul was always going to be an uphill battle with fanatical home-crowd support for Park.In the third and final round Chu was ahead 6-4, but a late flurry from the Korean put the score up to 7-6 in his favor. Chu kicked back just before the end to tie the score 7-7. It was the judge's opinion the Korean won despite the feeling articulated by Chu and Taiwan journalists present that Taiwan had won.

Those incidents of international tournament are only the tip of the iceberg. Taiwanese athletes are the minority in international tournament. The medal could be lost, but for every athletes to say the true spirit of sportsmanship could not be lost.