Convert the “Two Evils” to “Two Goods” | Lee Yee
According to the Basic Law, the 4-year-term of the 6th Legislative Council (LegCo) councilors (the lawmakers) has come to an end. Therefore, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s (NPCSC) decision on extending the terms of current lawmakers for “no less than one year” will not be “made by the people” like the four years given by voters, but “assigned by the central government” which was not set by the Basic Law. If the current lawmakers accept the appointment, they would be accepting a lawmakers selection process that is in breach of the Basic Law; if they don’t, it would not be a “group resignation”. It would just be them declaring they do not accept an appointment that is not given by the people.
For the pan-democratic lawmakers (pan-dems), whether to accept this appointment or not, has become a dilemma. They have had numerous deliberations trying to find consensus, in the hope of continuing their “sticking together thick and thin” mentality, but they could not come to an agreement. There was a rumor couple of days ago that most pan-dem lawmakers side with “stay”, who gave some reasoning to support their “taking the lesser of two evils” decision; but those who side with “go” have also given their reason, and have also suggested deciding by a referendum or a poll.
Chairman of the Democratic Party Wu Chi-wai, who has sided with “stay” said that, if people are not satisfied with them, they can vote for the others like the localists or any newly emerging parties in the 2021 election. He does not think there is any problem. Judging by the pan-dems primary election a while ago and the orientation on the internet lately, the answer is possibly no longer an “if” but a “definitely”.
There are two evils, indeed. “Stay” would attract death wish like “you are a new person now” from the pro-CCP and pro-establishment camps, which is disadvantageous for next year’s election; in addition, when accepting the appointment, the “no less than one year” can be extended to two years, three years or longer. “Go” means they will lose the power to protest in the LegCo meetings, although they don’t even have sufficient number to be a key minority, but they can still use delaying tactic; also, not being a lawmaker means attracting less media attention and not being able to bring the LegCo debates into the society; and of course, their income would be dramatically reduced.
Tsang Chi-ho (Broadcaster from RTHK) said yesterday, “this is a political conspiracy that, no matter staying or going, pan-dems will be badly hurt.” I fear it is exactly the case. There is no “lesser evil” as both are “evil”.
The evil is to cause division within the pan-dems camp. In the past, pan-dems lawmakers always opposed the localists and protesters, but the anti-ELAB movement last year has brought pan-dems with different orientations together with the mantra: each brother climbs the mountain his own way, no cutting ties, no snitching; young protesters motivated people to join peaceful demonstration, and in turn, their fierce actions were supported by the peaceful and rational pan-dems. This joint force seemed to have formed, which continued to District Councils election and pan-dems primary election, and that is the scenario the CCP wants to see the least.
When Carrie Lam’s regime suggested extending the lawmakers’ term for a year, someone at the pro-establishment camp said the four current lawmakers, who have been disqualified to join the new election, should not be able to have their terms extended. The pan-dems have allegedly said, if the terms of these four cannot be extended, then all pan-dems lawmakers will resign together. But that was only the pro-establishment testing the water because the CCP has already hatched a plan. It will allow everyone to extend a year, so now the “ball of dilemma” will be on pan-dems’ court: if they accept the appointment, their wall of support from the people will collapse, if they refuse, they would no longer have any power.
A KOL has recently made a suggestion which I found excellent: how about those four who have been disqualified accept the extension, and the rest of the pan-dems refuse?
So what is the good of that? 1. these four accepting the extension is not saying they agree on the legitimacy of NPCSC’s appointment, but to highlight how ridiculous it is to disqualify them since NPCSC accepts their candidacy; 2. the other lawmakers refusing the appointment mean they hold onto the democratic ideal of the Basic Law and “elected by people”, and that they deny the legality of the lawmaker’s appointment by NPCSC; 3. these two actions will embarrass the CCP and meet the criticism of candidates being disqualified and the appointments made by NPCSC from the international society, who might increase sanctioning action; 4. there is still a voice from the opposition in LegCo. Since there are not enough people to maintain a key minority anyway, then four people would be sufficient, and they can also bring the LegCo debates into the society; 5. prevent pan-dems from dividing and keep the “yellow” people in the society together; 6. destroy the political conspiracy of dividing pan-dems, once again boost the spirit of people who support democracy and build a foundation for the next election.
This is a way to change danger to opportunity and convert the “two evils” to “two goods”. The only loss would be a substantial amount of resources.
同時也有1部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過475萬的網紅JianHao Tan,也在其Youtube影片中提到,Thank you everyone who contributed! We returned to Thuy An Village: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pseAwauxFQ About: When I was younger, I lived i...
internet society foundation 在 Focus Taiwan Facebook 的最佳解答
Over 90 percent of the respondents to a survey expressed concern over Internet addiction and drug abuse among adolescents. What other issues worry you about today's youth?
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008090007
internet society foundation 在 Eric's English Lounge Facebook 的精選貼文
[時事英文] 新冠肺炎的捐款過程
The most dangerous thing about the coronavirus is our neglect of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
新冠病毒疫情最危險的,是社會因此對弱勢團體的忽視。
★★★★★★★★
In a previous post, I promised subscribers that I would donate all proceeds from the referral of a friend’s class (http://bit.ly/3d2c5PV). Because of the recent coronavirus event, I first contacted Taiwan’s CDC to donate (http://bit.ly/38UXthU). After calling multiple times, I was unable to get through and finally wrote them an email. I received a response referring me to an extension.
1. donate all proceeds 捐獻所有收入
2. an extension number 一個分機號碼牌
前一陣子的一篇po文,我向訂閱者承諾將捐獻我於朋友課程的間接收入給慈善機構。 由於最近的新冠病毒事件,我首先聯繫了衛福部疾病管制署以進行捐贈。 致電多次未獲接通後我寫了一封電子郵件, 我立即收到一封回复指引我另一個分機。
★★★★★★★★
However, I was informed that the center currently has enough funding because of ample support from the public and a generous budget from the central government. The CDC staff told me that I could make better use of the donation by giving it to local charities supporting the disadvantaged.
3. enough funding 足夠的資金
4. ample support 充分的支持
5. a generous budget 一筆慷慨的預算
6. the central government 中央政府
7. local charities 當地的慈善機構
然而,我收到通知,由於民眾的全力支持和中央政府的慷慨預算,該中心目前已有足夠的資金。疾管署相關工作人員告訴我,我可以捐獻給那些在此困難時期中扶持弱勢群體的團體來達到更好的善款運用。
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I then called Taipei government’s hotline (1999) to get more information, but they only accept goods and not monetary donations. I was referred to Social Assistance (6956-58), which in turn referred me to the Secretary Office (6993-6994).
8. hotline 熱線
9. monetary donations 金錢捐贈
10. be referred to 被轉介到
11. in turn 依次的、照順序的
我之後致電台北市政府的熱線(1999)想獲取更多資訊,但他們只接受物資而非捐款。 我被轉介到社會救助科(6956-58),然後再度被轉介到秘書室(6993-6994)。
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I was told that the Taipei City Government does have services contributing to this cause. They would contact me either later that day or tomorrow.
12. contribute 捐助; 有助於
我被秘書室告知台北市政府確實為此提供了服務。 他們會在當天稍晚或隔天與我聯繫。
★★★★★★★★
A few hours later, they contacted me and told me that I would have to go to the post office and fill out a giro transfer form. I honestly had never heard of a giro transfer prior to this.
Basically, you would have to go to the post office and tell them you need to do a giro transfer. For the "purpose" section, you would write "For Wuhan Coronavirus" and the transfer number is 1889-8514.
I finally found out how to donate after a day of calling. However, after all this research, it is clear that the government is already doing an excellent job handling the pandemic and currently has sufficient funding.
13. fill out 填寫完(整張申請表或問卷)
14. giro transfer 劃撥捐款*
15. prior to... 在...之前
16. it is clear that... 很清楚...
17. have sufficient funding 有足夠的資金
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giro
http://terms.naer.edu.tw/detail/1507489/
https://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/U_english/index.jsp?ID=24030307
當天稍晚,他們與我聯繫,並告訴我我需要去郵局填寫劃撥捐款表格。老實說,我之前從未聽說過劃撥捐款。基本上,你需要到郵局,告訴他們你需要劃撥捐款。你可以填寫款項要作為武漢冠狀病毒之用,劃撥號為1889-8514。 我終於發現要如何做到這一點。 但是,經過這些研究,我覺得政府已經做得很好了,目前也擁有足夠的資金。
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Thus, I feel perhaps it is more important to care for disadvantaged groups that are often neglected during health crises. After some research, I have decided to donate my proceeds to the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation. They specialize in aiding those in vegetative states and elders who cannot care for themselves.
18. care for disadvantaged groups 關懷弱勢群體
19. a health crisis 健康危機
20. specialize in 專門, 專攻
21. aid (v) 幫助;支持
22. (persistent) vegetative state (持續性)植物狀態
因此,我覺得關懷目前可能被忽視的弱勢群體也許才是最重要的。 經過一番研究,我決定將所得捐給創世社會福利基金會。他們專門幫助那些處於植物人狀態和無法照顧自己的老年人。 這是在危機時期最常被忽視的群體。
創世社會福利基金會: https://www.genesis.org.tw/contents/text?id=18
★★★★★★★★
To keep my word, I have donated a total of 36,321+18,200=54,531 (http://bit.ly/3d46ysg), my entire payment from the class promotion (http://bit.ly/2UdnQKZ) and two months worth of pay from sporadic teaching and speeches (http://bit.ly/2tb821w).
It’s not much compared to donations from celebrities and big companies, but I am only a single individual trying to contribute. This is a significant portion of my monthly income (cry). Some may question why I bother to post such trivial donations on my page. I did it to keep my word to my subscribers and to bring attention to such charities. I am not asking others to donate, but to pay attention to those who need help the most during this pandemic.
23. keep my word 信守我的承諾
24. a significant portion 很大一部分
25. trivial (adj.) 微不足道的,瑣碎的
26. bring attention to 引起對...的關注
27. pandemic (n.) 大流行病
為了兌現我的諾言,我總共捐贈了36,321 + 18,200 = 54531 ,這筆錢全部來自於一次課程推廣以及這兩個月的零星教學和演講。 與名人和大公司相比,這算不上什麼,但我只是試圖盡一己之力的人。 這是我每月收入的一大部分(哭)。
有人可能會問為什麼我要在粉專上張貼這樣瑣碎的捐款。 我這樣做是為了對我的訂閱者兌現我的諾言,並引起人們對這個慈善機構的關注。 我並非要求其他人捐款,只是希望能關注那些在疫期最需要幫助的人。
★★★★★★★★
Hunger, poverty, and the lack of care are as dangerous as the coronavirus, and disadvantaged groups need our attention and care more than ever. May we all work to make society a safer, healthier, and happier place.
28. more than ever 比以往更
飢餓、貧窮和缺乏照護與冠狀病毒一樣危險,弱勢群體始終需要我們的關注和照料。 願我們大家努力使社會成為一個更安全、更健康、更幸福的地方。
Image source: http://bit.ly/39VKEFo
★★★★★★★★
公益慈善英文詞彙: http://bit.ly/2wS7u28
時事英文: http://bit.ly/2WtAqop
生活美語: http://bit.ly/2RCebvL
internet society foundation 在 JianHao Tan Youtube 的最讚貼文
Thank you everyone who contributed! We returned to Thuy An Village: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pseAwauxFQ
About:
When I was younger, I lived in Hanoi, Vietnam for about 5 years. And during weekends, I would visit Thuy An village with the students of my school, United Nations International School of Hanoi to play with the children. It was an eye-opening experience and I really wanted to help them. I wanted to do more than just play with the children, I wanted to give them better lives. And now, I can. You can too:
http://www.thejianhaotan.com/#!foundation/c9n5
On the 13th of September 2015, THEJIANHAOTAN FOUNDATION visited Thuy An Village giving the people over $2000 worth of food, milk, snacks, soccer balls and toys.
We will be returning to Thuy An Village in December. The children will need more clothes, food and milk as it can get to as cold as 8 degrees celcius. Please help the children: http://www.thejianhaotan.com/#!foundation/c9n5
For any inquiries about THEJIANHAOTAN FOUNDATION, please email foundation@thejianhaotan.com
More information about Thuy An Village:
Thuy An Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children finds itself 13kms away from small town of Son Tay City and 70kms from down town of Hanoi Capital. Founded in 1976, the centre was originally opened for disabled children whose parents are the veterans infected with the Agent Orange, the toxic chemical used in American war. Over time, however, the centre has started to render its services to all disabled children. Thuy An Centre is a ‘campus’ housing up to 150 children and 50 staff. The children aged 6 to 18 suffering from mental or physical disabilities are provided rehabilitation, special education and vocational training.
The ultimate goal of the centre is to help the children re-integrate into society. While special education helps to lessen the burden of children’s families by teaching the disabled to help themselves with personal activities, the vocational training programs enable handicapped children to earn their living and able to live independently in the future.
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