'Fight against global warming' to be staged

Thursday, November 15, 2007The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Environmentalists plan to take to the streets in Taipei next month to protest the failure of politicians to address the seriousness of environmental issues.

The Taiwan Green Party, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, the Taiwan Environmental Information Association, and others announced the march, themed "Fight Against Global Warming," at a press conference yesterday.

A leading Green Party member, Chang Hung-lin, said they are holding the protest to call for legislation on reducing carbon emissions.

They will also urge enterprises to shoulder the responsibility for maintaining a clean environment, and the government to implement measures to promote a low-carbon economy and green transportation.

The emission of greenhouse gases in Taiwan has soared to 1 percent of the world's total, but the ruling and opposition parties are turning a blind eye to the issue, he claimed.

Instead, politicians are continuing to seek close relations with large corporations that are at fault for most gas emissions, he said.

The organizers said the demonstration will start from the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall at 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 8, proceeding to Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101, then back to the memorial hall.

Summary:

WH-Questions:

Amwser:

China official accused of stealing US$240 million

Wednesday, November 14, 2007Reuters
HONG KONG -- A Chinese post office director has been accused of stealing more than US$240 million from customers to help pay off her gambling debts and make personal investments, local media reported on Tuesday. He Liqiong, 43, who managed a post office in the southern Chinese city of Foshan, is accused of amassing 1.79 billion yuan over three years by siphoning cash from hundreds of depositors at her branch.

He Liqiong is suspected of using 19.8 million yuan to repay gambling debts, more than 73 million yuan for investments, and around 20 million yuan to speculate on land around Foshan," the Sing Tao Daily quoted police investigators as saying.

Summsry:

A Chinese post office director has been accused of stealing more than US$240 million from customers to help pay off her gambling debts and make personal investments.

WH-Questions:

1.Who old is the Chinese post office director?
2.How much does he use to repay gambling debts?

Answer:
1.He is 43 years old.
2.He is suspected of using 19.8 million yuan to repay gambling debts.

Five Tainan teens arrested for throwing rocks at trains

Wednesday, November 14, 2007The China Post news staff
TAINAN, Taiwan -- A male suspect, Lin Hsiang-yi, 22, was charged with endangering public safety after throwing rocks at passing trains in Tainan, along with four other junior high school students, according to United Evening News.
On the evening of Nov. 10, Lin led a group of four other junior high school students to go underneath the Chenkung bridge in Tainan, where they threw rocks at three trains passing by, breaking five train windows.

The Tsu-chiang train, Chu-kuang train and a cable train heading north that evening suffered broken glass, and a fist-sized rock landed on a passenger seat, but the seat was fortunately unoccupied, and no one was injured.

The conductor reported the incident to police after being informed by passengers.

Police arrived at the scene, where a student pointed out the involvement of his schoolmates, surnamed Tsao, Chi and others, including an adult male.

With clues left by an eyewitness provided to police, Lin was later charged with endangering public safety and the four teenagers were sent to juvenile court for further questioning.

Lin admitted to throwing rocks, but claimed the reason he had done so was because he "had to wait for the train to pass by every day on his way to work."

Summary:

A male suspect was charged with endangering public safety after throwing rocks at passing trains in Tainan.

WH-Questions:

1.How many junior high school students are there in the news?
2.What did they do ?
3.Why did the suspect threw rocks to the train?

Answer:
1.There are four junior high school students.
2.They threw rocks at three trains passing by, breaking five train windows.
3.Because he had to wait for the train to pass by every day on his way to work.

Taxi driver kills himself due to financial troubles

Monday, November 12, 2007The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A taxi driver burned himself to death in Taipei County early Saturday due to poor financial conditions, the local TV station TVBS reported.

The man, a 48-year-old who was only identified as Chen, was found with only NT$400 in his wallet, TVBS reported.
The man's son, who had a slight disability, said his father probably killed himself after being unable to pay the rent and car loans, due to poor business as a cab driver amidst high oil prices.

The cab driver had to pay NT$8,000 in rent and NT15,000 in car loans a month, amounts that proved to be too burdensome for Chang, the son said.

"It has been a while since we had food in our refrigerator," the son said at his residence -- a suite with only two beds -- where he had lived with his father ever since his parents were divorced.


The suicide took place at the same time when President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu criticized ordinary citizens who hackled them over high commodity prices, saying the hackling was staged.

Summary:
A taxi driver burned himself to death in Taipei County early Saturday due to poor financial conditions.

WH-questions:
1.How old was that taxi driver?
2.How much does the car loans?
3.Where did his son live?

Answer:
1.He was 48 years old.
2.It is NT15,000 a month.
3.a suite with only two beds -- where he had lived with his father ever since his parents were divorced.

Norway donates 17 million euros to protect the Amazon rain forests

Thursday, November 1, 2007

OSLO, AFP － Norway said Tuesday it would donate 130 million kroner (17 million euros, US$24 million) to help protect the Amazon rain forest, the deforestation of which is leading to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Norwegian Environment and Development Aid Minister Erik Solheim announced the donation, to be paid over three years, following talks in Oslo with his Brazilian counterpart Marina Silva.



"The felling and burning of tropical forests is a significant cause of greenhouse gases," Solheim said in a statement.



"The actions necessary to put an end to deforestation will be an important theme during the upcoming climate talks in Bali in December," he added.



Deforestation currently accounts for 20 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.



The Bali conference, to be held from Dec. 3 to 14, is tasked with setting a negotiation roadmap for a new deal on deepening emissions cuts when commitments run out under the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.



Norway will contribute 60 million kroner to two projects run by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and an additional 70 million kroner to a special rain forest fund.



According to Brazilian authorities, 27,429 square kilometers of Amazon rain forest were destroyed between August 2003 and July 2004.



Between August 2006 and July 2007, after the government adopted measures to protect the forest, the rate of deforestation slowed to 9,600 square kilometers.



Summary:
It would donate 130 million kroner to help protect the Amazon rain forest, the deforestation of which is leading to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

WH-questions:
1.What did Solheim said in a statement?
2.How much will Norway contribute to two projects run by the United Nations Development Program?
3.When will 27,429 square kilometers of Amazon rain forest be destroyed?

Answer:
1.The felling and burning of tropical forests is a significant cause of greenhouse gases.
2.Norway will contribute 60 million kroner to two projects run by the United Nations Development Program.
3.They were destroyed between August 2003 and July 2004.

Three dead hogs produce 300 kg of worms a month

Three dead hogs produce 300 kg of worms a month

Tuesday, October 2, 2007The China Post news staff

YUNLIN, Taiwan -- Dead hogs are of no use. The only thing that can be done with them is to destroy them by incineration. A clever worm seller, however, turned the deceased swine into a small golden goose. It's not at all difficult.

All Lee Tang-hsi, 44, of Hsilo, did was to get hold of three deceased hogs and put them in a hidden cave near the garbage dump on the west bank of the Chuoshui (Dirty Water) River near his township in the county of Yunlin.

Then Lee let nature take care of the dead swine.

Of course, the rotten pigs attracted flies. Maggots were hatched. Lee collected them and sold them to anglers frequenting the Chuoshui River.

He enjoyed a brisk business, making close to NT$40,000 net a month. That's much better than a middle-class white collar worker's monthly pay.

But his maggot-production business didn't last long. The dead hogs smelt worse than the garbage dump. Neighbors began to complain about the nauseating smell from the maggot hatchery. They finally decided to lodge complaints with the police.

Investigators combed the river bank and found the secret cave. Lee was tracked down Sunday. One investigator said Lee produced at least 300 kilograms of worms for sale a month.

The worm seller was arraigned yesterday before a Yunlin district court prosecutor, who pressed charges of violation of the environmental protection act and the Water Conservancy law.

If indicted and convicted, Lee may be sentenced to not more than five years in prison. His golden goose didn't lay enough free golden eggs after all.

Summary:
If you make money in the wrong way, you just put yourself to the hell.

WH-questions:
1.How much money did the worm seller make?
2.When did the investigators find the secret cave?
3.How many worms did the hogs produce a month?
4.Where did Lee droduce the worms?
5.Why did neighbors decide to lodge complaints with the police?

Answer:
1.He made close to NT$40,000 net a month.
2.Sunday.
3.They produced at least 300 kilograms of worms for sale a month.
4.At the river bank.
5.The dead hogs smelt worse than the garbage dump.