by Grace Hsu Medicine, existing in human history for ages, has advanced greatly in the previous century and is currently still making breakthroughs at an amazing speed. In the 20th century, the discovery of various microorganisms along with the usage of X-ray and endoscopes, has led to considerable progress in understanding the human body and its mechanisms. From the usage of drugs to organ transplants or even genome editing in the future, it seems that medicine has become almighty as we enjoy the fruits of this sophisticated expertise. However, as the capability of medicine expands, we must bear in mind the hidden conflicts behind every new development.
Take antibiotics, for example. Antibiotics revolutionized medicine when they first debuted in the 20th century. These powerful drugs combat bacterial infections and were found effective in treating diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Since their discovery, antibiotics have been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. However, such potency and easy access has resulted in their overuse and led to the emergence of “superbugs,” also known as antibiotic resistant microorganisms. The WHO classified antibiotic resistance as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today.” It makes certain diseases harder to treat and cure, leading to additional medical costs and increased mortality. To what extent will antibiotic resistance affect humans? The Review of Antimicrobial Resistance, commissioned in 2014 by the UK Prime Minister, has indicated that approximately 700,000 lives were taken globally per year due to drug resistance in certain illnesses. It is also estimated that the loss to global GDP will be $100 trillion by 2050 if humans fail to address this issue. “The world urgently needs to change the way it prescribes and uses antibiotics,” states the WHO. Another issue waiting to be solved in medicine is surrogate mothers. Following the development of in vitro fertilization, which means to artificially fertilize the egg and sperm outside the human body, gestational surrogates were introduced to the world and enabled those who have problems with their uterus or homosexual couples to have children. Unlike adoption, this technique offered an alternative method for having a child of their own genes, which was viewed as a blessing for many families. However, surrogate mothers are not yet legalized all over the world. Some people state that it seems that the womb of women is just a tool for rent, neglecting the human rights of the surrogate mothers. In some places such as the United States, there are many well-organized surrogacy agencies with regulations protecting the baby and the surrogate mothers. But many couples opt for cheaper surrogate mothers in places such as India where the rights of surrogate mothers are neglected. Dubbed as the “surrogacy hub,” India is a well-known place that offers women’s wombs for rent. However, those who end up as surrogate mothers often come from families facing financial difficulties. The monetary offer for taking up this task is approximately thirty times more than a woman’s usual monthly earnings. However, to become a surrogate mother, the woman has to give up a lot. To begin with, she needs to live in a hostel under certain regulations made by the surrogate clinics. Family visits are allowed only once a month; often the mothers have very young children or even infants back home that they can’t care for until giving birth to the foreign child. In addition, there are no laws regulating whether the doctors should save the mother or the baby when facing a difficult delivery. And if the baby turns out to have some congenital disease, the mother may not be fully paid or even have to bring up the child herself. Nevertheless, the most common problem surrogate mothers face is that during the pregnancy, they feel that they have formed a bond with the baby. However, they have no rights to have anything to do with the baby, and are even prohibited to ask after its gender. Many surrogate mothers suffer from mild to moderate mental disorders or sleeping problems during the months following the delivery. They may never set eyes on the baby, but they shall never forget this life formed in their bodies. When this technique was first carried out, it seems to be an invaluable favor for many families. However, the problem of inequality and human rights soon surfaced as women who are well-off may not want to go through the pain of labor or don’t want pregnancy to delay their careers. On the other hand, those with a financial burden may provide their womb and sacrifice their freedom simply to make a living for their families. Whether this approach brings about more conflict or cooperation is yet to know. What is certain is that everything has its good and bad side. As medical science advances, it seems that humans can overcome more and more diseases or illnesses. Take genome editing for example, scientists can now screen and correct genes in cells, including the embryo, but to what extent should we interfere with nature? Should it be to prevent congenital disease, or to activate a gene that makes you taller, smarter, or even age slower? We might want to help children with autism, but will shyness be a “disease” that needs to be corrected in the future? And who can benefit from this technique? The wealthy? People of high social rank? And at what expense? Just as in the case of antibiotics and surrogate mothers, as we enjoy the fruits of medical science, we must keep in mind that there may be potential harm or conflicts lurking beneath. How to use these things wisely, while taking into account economic and social considerations as well, is a crucial issue to deal with in the years to come.
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by Ingrid ChuSince the beginning of the 1990s, the Taiwanese government has carried out education reforms focusing on the improvement of English ability, yet language skills remain an obstacle for many students. Too much emphasis on vocabulary and reading skills has prevented students from speaking English in class. To fill this gap, a private English-language school called “Shuo Shuo Corner” was created by several enterprising NTU students in the Department of Foreign Languages.
Shuo Shuo Corner aims to provide high school students with a space where they can speak freely in English, and it specializes in courses that can help students improve their speaking ability. According to Simon Chen, the current president of Shuo Shuo Corner, the origins of the camp date back two years. Co-founder Ellen Sun, now a DFLL senior, first came up with the idea after she taught in an English oral training class during the DFLL winter camp in 2015. She found that her students were generally good at English, but they were reluctant to speak in class for fear of making mistakes. Believing that high school students lacked opportunities to speak English at school, Ellen decided to organize a workshop in summer vacation so that students would have more time to devote themselves to speaking English. This idea was finally put into practice in the summer of 2016. Ellen called together 12 DFLL juniors and 2 sophomores to hold the first Shuo Shuo Corner workshop. The very first workshop was composed of two stages, one in July and another in August. It contained various activities including role playing, presentations, and group discussions. All activities were conducted in English, and students were provided with comments and suggestions. In the second stage, for example, students were asked to do a group presentation based on any Taiwan-related topic and were given two weeks to prepare. After the performance, the DFLL students gave tips on how to have better composure on stage or how to speak powerfully. During their first camp, Simon found that most students were thrilled by these activities, treasuring the chance to speak in English. However, he also noticed a great disparity in their speaking skills. Yet it turned out that everyone was willing to help each other out, and the first camp was highly successful. ”Everyone is willing to give himself a chance,” said Simon with a sense of achievement. He realized that if students are given correct methods and a proper environment, they can easily enhance their English speaking ability. Through games and other activities, Shuo Shuo Corner has also taught students how to learn actively and in their spare time. When I interviewed him, Simon stated that establishing the camp was far from easy. Finding collaborators was the first problem. In the beginning, there were only ten volunteers who had a lot of work to do, ranging from enrolling students to promoting and designing the courses. However, in light of the great success of the camp last year, the co-founders hope to expand the scale of their club. Shuo Shuo Corner is developing its organization structure and is ready to become a formal school club. They hope that more DFLL students will be willing to help out, as well as students from other departments. Given that English communication skills is a common issue throughout Taiwan, Shuo Shuo corner is also trying to expand its target group from high school students to undergraduate and graduate students. This semester, they started working with NTU’s Foreign Language Teaching & Resource Center. Together they offer online and in-class oral training courses for NTU students, with themes ranging from daily conversation, common mistakes in English, English listening, and more. In the future, they hope to provide more advanced courses such as Seminar English. The group also hopes that these workshops can eventually become a nationwide movement. To supply more English resources, club members also regularly share useful information about English learning on their Facebook fan page. The new Shuo Shuo Corner Workshop for high school student is taking students right now. With eight classes costing only 600 NT, it’s an easy and inexpensive way to give students an opportunity to speak out – in English! By Catherine Li-LInPsy, EXO, BTS, BIGBANG, and Girl’s Generation are only a few of the many Korean music groups that have taken the world by storm. This popularity not only involves the music industry; Korean dramas, films, and even TV variety shows are equally popular abroad. It is a phenomenon known as Hallyu, which literally means “Korean Wave,” and it brings not only huge profits but also a new recognition of the country.
The Korean Wave, however, did not happen accidentally. It was planned over the course of many years. Behind its achievements lies a powerful funding source: the government. The Korean government has in fact made its entertainment industry an official division, which is a big reason behind why Hallyu has grown so dynamic. It is also the reason why the Korean entertainment industry is different from other countries, and it is in a sense less private. It is a public affair that needs to be protected, similar to the way Japan treats its tech and automobile industries. Government involvement began in 1997, when the Asian financial crisis triggered an awareness of many changes. South Korea was one of the countries that suffered the most. Korea did not have any outstanding industries at the time, and the new president, Kim Dae-Jung, who took office in 1998, saw the potential for the entertainment industry to boost the nation’s economy. Investing millions of dollars, the government focused intensely on its Ministry of Culture, and set up a division now known as the Korea Creative Contents Agency. This agency is the biggest funding source as well as the connector between different realms of entertainment in South Korea, establishing what we know as the Korean wave. The Korea Creative Contents Agency is still a government agency, but it now encompasses more than just the music or film industries. In recent years, gaming and fashion have also become part of its interests. The agency acts much like a bank: it lends money to big entertainment companies in order for them to grow. In the music industry, for example, before any artist or group can debut they have to go through a long period of training. This entails many expenses, from housing to hiring dance and vocal instructors, and even to planning language courses so that the artists can thrive internationally. Before the trainees debut, their companies are often in debt. This is how the agency helps them, and it allows the entertainment industry to produce more professional and extensive entertainment that attracts all ages and results in produces huge amounts of cash flow for the Korean economy. The entertainment industry also promotes merchandise. Well-known celebrities advertise apparel, tech products for companies such as LG and Samsung, and even food. Thus the success of the entertainment industry has also led to a big economic boost for many other industries. (Graph from inaglobal.fr) A rise in tourism is one of the biggest benefits. As Korean pop culture becomes more well known overseas, many people want to visit. They don’t just come for entertainment, however. Plastic surgery is one of the biggest draws. The beauty standards set by Korean celebrities leads many people to imitate them, and plastic surgery in Korea is probably the most advanced in the world, attracting many medical tourists. It is debatable whether this is a good benefit or not, but it also brings great financial benefits to the country. The Korea Creative Contents Agency is not the only government-related division in the entertainment industry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also very much involved. Unlike other countries where embassies deal with more political affairs, Korean embassies fund concerts in foreign countries, as well as invite famous celebrities to become Korean tourism ambassadors. In recent years, the government has also built several Korean Culture Centers overseas to further promote Korean culture. These centers also offer Korean language classes. Everything about Korea has become more well known in the world. In the last ten years, Hallyu has become more and more prominent. Betting on the entertainment industry may have been risky initially, but the Korean government has also proven that they have an eye for big economic potential. The Korean wave has certainly not died down, but engulfs more areas of the world day by day, and it is hard to say whether it will ever fade away. By Jed PierreSpring Break, the infamous holiday where college students travel off for a weekend to party like animals then return with memorable stories and unforgettable experiences. Or, at least that’s how it’s portrayed in the movies. Here in Taiwan, two national holidays align with a weekend during the month of April to provide enough time to launch “Spring Break” in Taiwan. However, is Spring Break in Taiwan as outrageous as in the movies?
Depending on whom you ask about Spring Break, the response could differ a great deal. As a curious foreigner I’d often ask my friends and these were the responses I received: “Only brainless people go to Kenting for the Spring Break concert. They get drunk and party all day and all night for three days. Don’t even waste your time and money going.” “Spring Break concert is the biggest concert in taiwan and it’s awesome. Lots of beautiful women in bikinis, lots of drinks and it’s just lots of fun!!” “The concert is a dangerous event. There’s usually lots of alcohol and even illegal drugs like weed and cocaine. Last year someone was tested to have the highest dosage of drugs ever in Taiwan. You should stay away from it.” I also surfed the internet and Facebook for more information about the event and I stumbled upon an advertisement for 2016’s Spring Break concert, which portrayed a naked couple walking around Kenting and Hengchun trying to purchase tickets to attend the festival. Did this mean it’s a nude party? What exactly is it? Which of these views is the correct one? I had knowledge but felt less informed than before. I realized that the only way to answer these questions was to attend this concert myself. After years of postponing, I finally planned my trip to Kenting, eagerly looking forward to the excitement or danger lurking there. After hours of traveling from Taipei, I arrived at my motel in Hengchun, the neighbouring township of Kenting. I quickly settled in and made my way to day one of the concert. On arrival it felt like a very strongly secured event with five or six security checks before entering the concert section. After finally entering the concert ground, the atmosphere felt alive with the sound of loud pop music and lots of cheerful laughter. The further I walked in, the more appealing the concert appeared to be. At first glance I could see a bunch of foreigners splashing around in the warm water pools, crowds of people lining up at the bar, the sea and sand in the background and a bunch of dancers moving in sync with the music. It all seemed fresh and different to any event I had ever attended in Taiwan. Seconds later, I met up with some of my classmates from NTU and I went on to meet many other friends and acquaintances I had made during my time in Taiwan. So far the even felt fresh like no other, and in some ways it was like a reunion with many of my previous friends. However, this honeymoon stage didn’t last very long. After walking through the concert grounds, I soon realized that in my first glance of the concert I saw everything that it had to offer. Within minutes, it suddenly felt like my three days here would be a lot less interesting than I expected and had been led to believe. I then made it my new objective to determine if there was any truth to the stories I had been told about the concert. First off, meeting many of my NTU classmates had already proven to me that this audience wasn’t “a bunch of brainless people” as described by one of my friends. Also, over the course of the three days I was never approached by anyone to purchase alcohol or drugs. All alcohol was sold at the sideline bars and I had seen absolutely no signs of drugs or even smoking. The lines at the bars were also so long that I often wondered if it was truly possible for someone to have gotten drunk during the concert. This concert was completely different than what I originally thought and I soon began to embrace the concert for what it truly was. Meeting with so many friends that I had not seen in a long time was already a great experience. I was able to catch up and even rekindle some old friendships. In some cases, it was also my first time seeing certain friends outside of the classroom environment. The beach sports at the concert were also interesting as it was a great opportunity to have fun and make new friends at the same time, not to mention also impressing many of the spectators. It also goes without saying that Kenting has one of, if not the best, beaches in Taiwan. Spring Break in Kenting naturally attracts a large crowd and the entire area is enhanced for the period of the vacation. Transportation, for example, was significantly increased, which made traversing this usually inaccessible area a lot easier. During this time, The Kenting Dajie (墾丁大街) is also a great part of Kenting. This became my favourite night market because of it’s lack of congestion despite having the large crowds, and the food is delicious, some of the best night market food I’ve had in Taiwan. Also, due to the large influx of tourists in the area, there was also a car show with lots of luxurious cars and race cars driving through the street, revving their engines, burning tires, and kicking off in short sprints to display themselves. Another interesting aspect is the large number of funsports that are available within less than 15 minutes from the concert. I go the opportunity to race in a 420 cc go-kart as well as paint balling. In addition there were other activities like ATV offroad, Horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, and possibly even more that I didn’t discover. Although these activities are always available, during Spring Break each event felt more exciting. Spring Break on the Beach, in Kenting, is not a dangerous or crazy event which will force you to commit a crime or behave differently than you normally would. It’s a time of year where lots of people travel to the Kenting to have fun. For anyone who’s never been to Kenting before, Spring Break is probably the best time to experience the place at its best. By Kaiya BrownWelcome to Facebook! Before we begin, we’re going to need a bit of information about you, like your name, your birthday, phone number, email, et cetera. Don’t worry if you don’t want to give us that information immediately, we’ll bug you for it in the near future under the guise of security, privacy, and a better experience. Now, after you login for the first time, we urge you to complete your Facebook profile. See how soon the near future is? Afterwards, we will recommend some friends that we somehow know you know but you won’t question it, suddenly beginning your journey on Facebook.
After using Facebook for a while, you might start to have questions about some of the features we offer. Ever since you started applying for school and looking for that new job, you’ve been concerned about privacy. Who can see your information? Of course we can but who else? Well, remember that one party that you told your friends not to take pictures of because you were extremely wasted? Well, with Facebook’s automatic tagging feature, we can pick you out of a crowd of equally drunk people, better than the police can pick out a murderer, and we’ll send you a notification when you get tagged and we’ll put it on your page. What? You don’t want the picture to be on your page? Don’t worry, you can take it off your page…but there’s no guarantee that it won’t show up elsewhere. So you may have noticed that ever since you started using Facebook, every ounce of free time you have is being sucked away by our precious website but never fear! You weren’t doing anything productive anyway. At least through our website you’re being social…with a select group of people that we picked out based off of the people you added and your news feed history. In fact, we control your whole Facebook experience through what you like on your newsfeed. Remember that one time you were coerced into liking your aunt’s Facebook post because she wouldn’t leave you alone until you liked her Minion memes? Well, now your news feed will include similarly annoying posts. Accidently clicked a video? I hope no one else sees your news feed in the future. Everything you see, from friends’ posts to advertisements, is tailored by what you like on your newsfeed. You loved that! At least that was until you realized that what you see and what your friends see is completely different. Even the news that you see could have different information. So you decided that you wanted to delete your Facebook account? That’s a shame. Well, what about all your accounts that you used Facebook to sign up with? Remember how easy it was to give us access to your whole life? Every website you signed up for, every account that you connected with us…Are you willing to just lose access to all those accounts? Oh, so all your friends now use Instagram? Ha! The joke’s on you! We own Instagram! Yes, and Whatsapp…No, not Twitter but the point is we are integral part of your life. Even if you leave Facebook, there are other apps that will fill in that place. Besides, your account is never truly deleted. So welcome to Facebook, we basically own you. by Savannah Lagmay“Party of One” I always joke to myself. I’m someone who doesn’t mind eating alone at a restaurant. So when I had a desire to travel to South Korea and Okinawa, I followed up on that craving, booking my tickets and Airbnb for Spring Break. I looked forward to my beauty tour in Seoul: staying in the 24-hour Jimjilbaengs (Korean spas), and shopping for hours without considering if a friend wanted to go elsewhere. Similarly, with my few days in Okinawa, I could meditate on the beaches and not have to entertain anyone or take into consideration whether they liked raw fish or not. I will admit that I was a little hesitant. There’s always a comfort in knowing that someone has been in your shoes before, but this time, there were no shoes in sight. Traveling alone also breaks the norm. What follows “Where are you going?” is usually, “Who are you going with?” Many of my classmates asked me before and after my trip: “You went alone?” I always wonder if their concern is (a) that it sounds lonely, (b) that it sounds dangerous, or © a mixture of both. It goes without saying that it was definitely an experience worth writing about. I came back to Taiwan approaching human interactions in a different light.
1. I should really pick up a new language In retrospect, I was the stereotypical American: pointing at picture menus and occasionally asking people for directions in English. I was “that guy,” and while I got by in major, touristy areas, especially in Seoul and some parts of Naha, this made my experience more jaded. This was true especially when I went to Tokashiki Island. Not being with the army brat crowd (although ironically, I am one), and not being at the peak of tourist season, locals (even other foreigners, sometimes) assumed I spoke and understood Japanese. I knew some Japanese words and phrases here and there, but when people would ask where I was from or other introductory questions, the conversation would end there. My conscience has never been heavier, because to my surprise, sometimes locals would come up to me. I wasn’t sure what was worse: not even being able to say “I don’t speak Japanese” in Japanese or not being able to speak the language at all. 2. Embracing people It was always obvious that I was lost: I made 360 degree turns in the middle of sidewalks and generally stood out with my darker skin and voluminous curly hair. Technology failed me, especially in Seoul, since I had no wifi and didn’t realize that Google Maps wasn’t allowed in Korea until I got there. Granted, I went to two of the safest cities in the world, but really it only takes one person to rob you. In reality, women don’t have the same travel privileges as men. There are places in my own home country where I would never consider going alone. We’re generally more likely to avoid certain areas, change our clothes to be less revealing, and often carry mace or be encouraged to learn self-defense. My voice almost cracked when they asked “Are you alone?” because I am never sure whether I should lie or be honest. When you’re a girl more eyebrows are raised when they notice you’re alone, let alone not having a companion. Sure, I was more at ease, but you can’t abandon your senses altogether.The biggest shock was that not everyone has the worst intentions. My most vivid memory was when an old man actually walked me to my Airbnb and went into local stores to ask where the location was. I roamed under the underpass of the Naha monorail searching for a camera store, and then someone offered to help me. To my even greater surprise, people would come up to me and sometimes if they knew English, would strike up a conversation with me. 3.But the English Language could also be helpful In a sense, there is also a positive aspect of English being the “international language of the world.” In many ways, it connects us to people that we normally would not have talked to. This was especially true when I visited Seoul. On the metro to Hongdae, an old man struck up a conversation with me after I had mistakenly sat in the elderly section. He told me of his medical studies in Wisconsin back in the 70s, reminding me of my grandparents’ thousands of miles away. In my Airbnb in Gangnam, I befriended a German-Korean and we eventually exchanged LINE IDs. English connected me to people that I would have never been able to talk to otherwise. I don’t speak Korean or Japanese, but I was still able to express myself. Had I known either language, I would have been able to express myself more in ways that would have otherwise been lost in translation. 4. On Race It was so surprising because like my study-abroad experience in Taiwan, going to South Korea and Japan had also challenged my own preconceived belief that I had accepted as almost fact: the darker your skin is the less attractive you are to society. Sadly, anti-blackness is almost universal so Asia would be no different. Most people wouldn’t know I’m half Filipino unless I tell them. People definitely don’t want to talk to me or have anything to do with me. When you’re in a crowd and stand out so much, sometimes you just want to conform. But when people genuinely talk to you or offer to help you–this reassuring feeling melted away even my most internalized insecurities. I’m not saying that racial discrimination doesn’t exist in these countries. It does. However, there was no question of being enough or “passing.” I was just being. In a way, I left Taiwan as a very selfish person and came back wanting to embrace those around me more. I come from a “distant” culture, where saying “Hi how’s it going?” doesn’t necessarily mean someone actually wants to talk to you. Conversations with strangers (“small talk”) are often discouraged (that person could be crazy or trying to sell me something) or forced due to the setting. Throughout my whole trip, I kept to myself but was surprised when people would come up to me and strike up a genuine conversation. From language to race, these interactions rendered a different picture of the world, then the grimmer one I had imagined. Me in Naha |
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May 2024
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