僑委會介紹 EFTHA

標　　題：歐洲台灣醫事聯盟
資料日期：2008/5/23截止日期：2009/12/31
http://www.ocac.gov.tw/unit_data/unit_pop.asp?no=5642&unit_type

歐洲台灣醫事聯盟European Federation of Taiwan Health Alliance（EFTHA）
一、 醫事團體簡介：創設目標：1.將台灣在醫事上成功的經驗回饋國際社會，尤其是那些開發中或未開發的國家。2.促進台灣能成為WHO 會員或觀察員，以便由世界衛生組織獲得必要的資訊，令台灣二千三百萬人民更能提昇健康與福祉，並能藉由WHO組織功能將台灣之經驗回饋給其他的會員國。3.為僑居各地之鄉親提供醫事諮詢及服務。4.爭取台灣加入WHO世界衛生組織。歷史沿革：經過德、英、法僑界熱心人士數月的籌備與聯繫，2002年11月2日下午在德國比爾市（Buehl）正式成立，並於2003年在Buehl 法院公證登記為公益事業團體。成立當天由謝偉群、張良子、楊梅芳、張宗鼎、廖大林擔任主席團主席，共計有來自德、法、奧、義、英、比、瑞等國與醫事有關的僑胞代表三十八人參加，駐慕尼黑辦事處劉處長俊滿、駐德國代表處鄭組長兆元及僑務秘書鄭志均亦出席參加。本聯盟設有執行委員會，依參加會員人數之多寡選出各國執行委員一至二人，並從執行委員中推選執行長一人，代表本聯盟對外執行業務。執行委員當選情形為：德國張良子、楊梅芳，法國王恩南、英國李宏耀、比利時李麗花、奧地利何冠昱、義大利陳倉發、瑞士黃麗德。本聯盟現已有德、英、法、義、瑞、荷、奧、丹麥、比利時等國會員約三百人，每年輪流於各大城市召開年會（即會員大會），並不定期視工作需要召開執行委員會議。現任負責人（2008年）：李宏耀醫師，目前擔任英國地區僑務顧問，李醫師為英國皇家內學院院士、愛爾蘭皇家內科學院院士、英國倫敦醫藥協會會員，目前擔任心臟專科主任醫師二、 推展活動進程：歐洲台灣醫事聯盟自2002 年11 月2日成立以來即積極徵求新會員，並訂每年4月7日世界衛生日在歐盟總部召開記者招待會，申述我台灣人之願景，並與歐洲各國之官方及民間政要、學術人員相互交流，說明台灣之重要性，籲請各界支持台灣；迄今已在Brussel、Berlin、London、Bern、Genf、Zuerich 等地與各國及國內學者舉辦各場學術研討會、說明會等，更與歐盟議員及世界女醫師聯盟取得共識，全力支持台灣加入WHO。每年5月赴日內瓦與全世界各地來的朋友們共同宣達台灣加入WHO之意願與重要性，由0 票支持台灣到2004 年27 票支持台灣加入WHO，而後2007年台灣代表團積極爭取以唱名投票戰術，使「台灣加入WHO」申請案受到充份的重視，因而獲得長達3小時的辯論並作成會議紀錄，已然在國際社會間達到重大宣示效果，同時並爭取到國際輿論的普遍支持，足見我國全民努力的付出確實獲致重大進展，我們將繼續奮鬥、打拼，歡迎大家加入我們的行列，為台灣加油！2007年舉辦的活動：1.2007年3月24-25日於法蘭克福召開年會，報告推動台灣加入WHO進展，改選英國李宏耀醫師擔任新執行長，規劃2007年各項活動。2.2007年4月29日李宏耀醫師擔任「旅英僑學各界動員台灣參與世界衛生組織活動籌備會」主任委員，規劃主辦海德公園民主講台宣傳演講造勢連署活動。該活動並獲台英國會小組共同主席福克納上議員之支持，福克納並演講呼籲英國民眾支持台灣加入世界衛生組織，該次活動計有中外人士400餘名支持連署。2008年的主要工作：1.2008年1月19日於比利時布魯塞爾舉行年會，會議由EFTHA 執行長李宏耀醫師主持，來自英國、德國、法國、義大利、比利時的會員和贊助會友參加，衛生署侯署長、衛生署國合處楊處長、歐台會何會長和駐歐盟衛生張顧問均蒞會致詞，本次會議達到下列決議:a.與歐盟委員會(European Commission) 建立合作,對歐盟的醫療衛生服務活動持續參與,積極聯絡歐盟各國的外交,衛生部會首長或地方議員,以備4月7日世界衛生日造勢,向歐盟總理提出訴求。b.密切聯繫歐洲各大學、研究中心、歐洲醫學協會(European Medical Association)歐洲醫界聯盟(CPME)，呼籲台灣醫衛人士參加EMA 2008年7月1日將於赫爾辛基召開之年會、支助一個學術演講、或贊助EMA年會一部門等等，多方製造台灣與歐洲的互動平台。c.秉持台灣多年來提供友邦醫療服務和推廣國際衛生合作之精神，我國不論民間或政府單位，都可藉全球矚目的一些醫學技術及詳盡的防杜偽藥、劣質食品等資訊，參與世界衛生交流。積極體現國際衛生的貢獻智者，而蔚成“台灣是世界衛生村不可或缺角色”的議題，同時基於台灣位居世界經貿之要衢，而醫藥無國界，如禽流感等之疫情時有所聞，全球防範網不容一絲疏忽，台灣豈能被延誤或摒除於外?因而我們將向世界衛生組織訴求:台灣絕對應有與WHO直接的通路,以確保我們兩千三百萬人民之健康。2. 2008年4月20日李宏耀醫師擔任旅英僑學各界推動台灣參與世界衛生組織活動籌備會主任委員,規劃主辦海德公園民主講台宣傳演講造勢連署活動, 英國國會台英國會小組共同主席The Lord Faulkner of Worcester 上議員並於現場發表支持台灣加入WHO之演講。Faulkner 共同主席表示：「台灣早就該成為WHO一員」，他將繼續為台灣發聲，直到台灣加入WHO為止。他並呼籲英國政府揚棄不合時宜的「一個中國政策」，支持台灣加入國際組織。僑務榮譽職人員賴世寬、李宏耀、李奕德及前僑務委員黃貴乾等多位旅英僑民亦陸續上台說明台灣參加WHO的正當性及必要性，並回答現場外籍民眾對台灣未能加入WHO之提問，互動熱烈。除了演講活動外，現場並安排十餘名旅英台灣同學身穿「Taiwan 在WHO，我在乎」T-shirt合唱「望春風」等數首悠美動聽的台灣民謠，獲得現場民眾熱烈鼓掌。本次活動共獲得380餘名外國人士連署支持，有效達到爭取外國人士支持台灣加入WHO、宣傳台灣、及提升台灣能見度之目的。三、 加入我們的行列：每年我們各地均推薦新醫事人員回台參加由僑委會主辦之醫事人員研習會，藉以提昇聯盟之新血輪，更與全世界其他僑團合作，整合資源，共同為台灣在國際舞台上進軍出力，期望志同道合的朋友加入成為會員及全力支持我們，更盼大家能在資源、資訊上協助我們。歐洲醫事聯盟執行長：李宏耀 電子信箱yauw@btinternet.com電話44-（0）7941372101。電傳44（0）208 9334262

EFTHA recomends Learn Taiwanese in Medicine 醫用台語教學

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醫用台語教學
By 王崇禮 等, 張之嚴 (Compiler), 朱子宏 (Compiler)
(1) Paperback 9860134154 Details
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Book Description
　　每堂課大致的內容是，我們會將可能的生字列在第一部分，之後第二部份則是會話，會話是一問一答，以國語漢字、拼音、台語漢字三者並列，務使同學同時閱讀拼音漢字，達到音義相結合的目標，一些難字、僻用字，會特別參註教育部主編，五南出版公司的「台灣閩南語辭典」等工具書。
　　現今醫病溝通日趨強調，兩者若連語言用語都無法交流，技術再好也會大打折扣。學習醫用台語，一方面是如前述的溝通功能，一方面也是一份社會菁英，在原有的本土文化式微時，必須攬在身上繼續傳承發揚的重責大任。我們或許可從兩點著手：其一是以正確的醫學概念闡明傳統閩南語說法的意涵；另一是將這些說法列入學校教材，讓新一代也能夠靈活表達。我們這本教材也清楚應具有的責任義務，目前目標則是著手在後者，日後的改版，應該也可以將前者涵蓋入內，更臻完善。台灣大學醫學系91級 朱子宏謹序

來自臺灣天籟之音:呂玉成小姐將在Brussels演出

http://www.solistes.be/

US Senators concern on WHO access by Taiwan

CONTACT: Iris Ho (202)280-0166; irisho@fapa.org

SENATORS CRITICIZE SECRET CHINA-WHO M.O.U. AND BUSH ADMINISTRATION's LACK OF INITIATIVES IN BRINGING TAIWAN INTO THE WHO In a letter to President Bush dated August 1, 2008, five Senators led by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) express disappointment about the World Health Assembly's (WHA) decision last May to again exclude Taiwan from participating in the annual weeklong meegmail.com, hju.ting in Geneva and urge President Bush to seek inclusion of the 23 million people in the World Health Organization (WHO).For the past twenty years, Senator Sherrod Brown has been a leading voice in both Houses of Congress for the inclusion of the 23 million people of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.The Senators write: "We regret that the Administration was not able to find ways to make Taiwan's voice heard in the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan's participation is vital if we are to effectively combat global health threats. We urge you to support and advocate for Taiwan's membership in the WHO."They continue: "Very little progress has been made since Public Law No. 107-10 mandated the Secretary of State endorse "meaningful participation" for Taiwan in the WHA. We are concerned that the recent report by the State Department to Congress regarding Taiwan's participation in the WHO did not mention any administration initiatives in this regard."In a thinly disguised jab at the secret Memorandum of Understanding that China concluded with the WHO in 2005 allowing China to determine which information from the WHO reaches Taiwan, if any, the Senators add: "In addition to supporting Taiwan's full membership, the United States must oppose any effort by China to interfere with the exchange of information between the WHO and Taiwan. The effectiveness of the WHO relies on the direct flow of information among health experts. Any efforts to curtail the free exchange of information unnecessarily threatens global health and the safety of every nation." They conclude: "As global health threats emerge, the public health of our nation increasingly depends on cooperation and communication between every nation. It is in America's best interest to ensure that Taiwan is a full member of the WHO."FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD states: "We agree with the Senators that the secret PRC-WHO M.O.U. needs to go. This arrangement is not only inconceivable, it is likely unlawful for a multilateral international organization to make bilateral arrangements with one of its members. The bottomline is that the United States and the rest of the world should express its outrage - not only about this M.O.U. arrangement but about China' continued playing of politics with the lives of the people of Taiwan."2008年8月2日 美參議員抨擊世衛與中國秘密備忘錄，不滿布希政府欠缺協助台灣參與世衛實質行動 參議員布朗與4位同僚於7月31日 聯署致函布希總統，對於今年五月世衛大會再次拒絕台灣參與深表失望。他們並希望布希總統能夠協助台灣兩千三百萬人民被容納在世衛組織內。參議員布朗自十多年前還是眾議院成員時，就帶頭發起美國國會支持台灣參與世衛，是台灣爭取世衛參與最忠實的國際友人，每年在美國國會以引進議案，發表聲明或是致函等方式，十多年來毫不間斷，為台灣爭取世衛權益不餘遺力。 議員們在信裡表示：「我們很遺憾行政部門無法找到適當管道，讓世衛聽到台灣的聲音。如果我們要有效率地抵抗對全球衛生系統的威脅，台灣的參與是非常重要的。我們籲請您支持台灣世衛會員籍。」 「自從您簽署第107-10號法律，明文規定國務卿支持台灣有意義的參與世衛年度大會，此議題並沒有太大的進展。我們尤其擔心最近國務院呈報給國會的報告裡，並沒有提到任何行政部門在這方面的努力。」 由於中國在2005年與世衛秘書處秘密簽署一份備忘錄，允許中國自行單方決定哪些世衛資訊可以傳達台灣，議員們在信裡表達嚴重的關切。「除了支持台灣的完整會員籍外，美國必須反對任何中國意欲干涉世衛與台灣之間的資訊交流。世衛的效率建立在衛生專家們之間意見與資訊的自由交流。任何阻撓資訊自由交流的意圖，將威脅到全球衛生體系與各國的健康安全。」 議員們在信函結尾表示：「當全球健康體系受到威脅時，美國本身的公衛更須逐漸依賴世界各國之間的合作與溝通無阻。也因此，台灣成為世衛完整會員國一員是符合美國的利益之內。」 FAPA會長楊英育表示：「我們和這幾位參議員的看法一致，世衛與中國的秘密備忘錄必須立即中止。這份備忘錄不僅令人難以想像，一個國際組織私下與某一會員國簽署文件可說是違法的，並違背其他組織會員國的權益。最終底線是，美國與國際社會應該針對備忘錄，以及中國持續耍手段，將政治置台灣人民性命之上表達最嚴重的抗議。」 The Honorable George W. BushThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We were again disappointed by the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) recent decision to continue its ban on Taiwan’s participation. We regret that the Administration was not able to find ways to make Taiwan’s voice heard in the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan’s participation is vital if we are to effectively combat global health threats. We urge you to support and advocate for Taiwan’s membership in the WHO.Very little progress has been made since Public Law No. 107-10 mandated the Secretary of State endorse “meaningful participation” for Taiwan in the WHA. We are concerned that the recent report by the State Department to Congress regarding Taiwan’s participation in the WHO did not mention any administration initiatives in this regard. Public health threats like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Extensively Resistant Tuberculosis, and the H5N1 virus are not constrained by national boundaries. Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO creates a dangerous gap in the exchange of information among countries and puts global health security at risk. Taiwan’s expertise and leadership in combating these global threats must be fully utilized in the global effort to fight these diseases.We agree with recent statements of former Senator Bob Dole, highlighting that “The ca se for admitting Taiwan into the WHO could not be clearer,” as well as his assertion that that there must be a major diplomatic push to support Taiwan’s candidacy. In addition to supporting Taiwan’s participation, the United States must oppose any effort by China to interfere with the exchange of information between the WHO and Taiwan. The effectiveness of the WHO relies on the direct flow of information among health experts. Any efforts to curtail the free exchange of information unnecessarily threatens global health and the safety of every nation. As global health threats emerge, the public health of our nation increasingly depends on cooperation and communication between every nation. It is in America’s best interest to ensure that Taiwan is a member of the WHO. We look forward to hearing from you on this important issue. Sincerely, Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Johnny Isakson, David Vitter, Joseph Lieberman

Japan to take care old doctors in rural area

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Social plan to support doctors, the elderly

Kyodo News

The government endorsed emergency measures Tuesday to enhance the social security system, including financial support for rural doctors and promoting employment of elderly people willing to work.

Under the plan initiated by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the government will help "Net cafe refugees," referring to young people who spend the night at Internet cafes without having a home or full-time job. The government will offer loans for them to rent apartments and secure living expenses, and help them find full-time employment.

The plan will be reflected in budgetary requests for fiscal 2009 or will be realized by revising related laws, officials said.

The five areas the emergency plan covers are policies on the elderly, medical services, child-rearing, irregular workers and reforming the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

For the elderly, the government will support companies that hire people aged 65 or older — the age when they become able to receive pensions — and also plans to consider ways to guarantee minimum pension benefits in the government-run basic pension scheme.

The government plans to provide financial assistance to doctors who have been sent to remote areas facing shortages and those who are engaged in emergency care during nighttime or holidays.

A new welfare ministry panel will consider ways to restore public confidence in the ministry, the officials said.

Japan airport clinical findings

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Clinic links 30 deaths at Narita to thrombosis

NARITA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Economy class syndrome has claimed the lives of 30 travelers arriving at Narita airport over the past 15 years, while 116 others have suffered serious symptoms, a clinic operating at the airport said Tuesday.

Fly right: A store clerk at Narita airport shows goods Tuesday to help prevent economy class syndrome. KYODO PHOTO

There have been no deaths reported in the last five years. The last fatality was a 28-year-old male teacher from Yokohama who died after returning from Canada in February 2003. The condition, also known as deep-vein thrombosis, causes blood clots in people sitting in the same position for long periods.

The clinic, run by Nippon Medical School, compiled the figures after reviewing the symptoms of about 230,000 people who underwent treatment there from December 1992, when the clinic opened, to last March.

Toshiro Makino, head of the clinic, said he thinks growing awareness among travelers is the reason there have been no fatal cases in the past five years. But he called on summer travelers going overseas to exercise caution.

"It is preventable with light exercise inside the plane, like moving one's feet, but even young people are susceptible if they are careless," he said.

The average age of people who developed the syndrome was 57.

The average flight time was 11 hours and the average flight distance was about 9,000 km. The number of cases increased sharply once flight distances reached around 10,000 km.

The number of patients was relatively low on flights within Asia and greater for those on longer distance flights, such as from Europe and the U.S.

The clinic said seven Japanese men and 14 women, and seven foreign men and two women, died of the syndrome.

It said 23 Japanese men and 59 women, and 19 foreign men and 15 women, developed serious symptoms.

About 200 people develop minor symptoms every year.

歐華年會舉行 英議員親臨堅定支持台灣

歐華年會舉行 英議員親臨堅定支持台灣

時間： 2008/07/28 撰稿‧編輯：楊明娟 新聞引據：中央社

　　 歐洲華僑團體聯誼會27日在倫敦召開年會，300多位僑胞與會，場面盛大，僑務委員會委員長吳英毅、駐英代表張小月及海峽交流基金會董事長江丙坤等，都親自與會；兩位英國國會議員也到場致詞，高度肯定台灣的民主政治，堅定表達將持續支持台灣拓展國際空間。　　馬英九總統和行政院長劉兆玄都特別致賀詞，感謝僑胞協助政府推動外交暨僑務工作。　　吳英毅致詞時，邀請與會僑胞返國參加今年的國慶活動，並期盼僑胞們能參與「愛台十二建設」，其中減碳造林計劃有助台灣綠化，歡迎僑胞們參與，他並希望僑胞們繼續協助政府參與各項國際組織與開創國家新局，努力拓展台灣的國際空間。　　英國國會台英國會小組共同主席，上議院國會議員佛克納指出，英國政府自1971年奉行「一個中國」政策，現在有必要進行檢討，台灣是一個主權獨立的國家，不僅在科技、經濟發展十分成功，民主、自由、人權，特別是二次和平的政黨輪替，所展現的成熟民主，更令人敬佩。　　曾多次造訪台灣的佛克納指出，台灣是個美麗的寶島，更是個主權獨立的國家，理應在國際社會有一席之地，但卻被排除在世界衛生組織WHO及聯合國等國際組織之外，他主張台灣應加入這些國際組織，並將與國會的其它同僚繼續支持協助台灣。　　下議院自由民主黨國防委員會國會議員韓考克說，台灣的自由民主令人敬佩，他曾和台灣許多在海外留學的年輕學生接觸，認為他們是台灣的驕傲，也是台灣的財富，台灣理應在世界舞台被接受，無法加入WHO不僅不公平，也是錯誤。　　韓考克表示，他期待台灣未來十年有重大改變，成為國際社會關注的議題，他堅定支持台灣，並願意繼續給予台灣協助。

Germany warns of genetic doping in coming Olympic

Doping 23.07.2008 German Documentary Reveals Possible Genetic Doping in China

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The possibility of stem cell research being perverted for doping has caused shock waves A German television documentary suggesting that genetic doping is possible in the Olympic host country of China has been met with shock and disgust by scientists and doping officials."I could never imagine this," said Mario Thevis, head of a Cologne-based center for preventive doping research, on Tuesday, July 22.The documentary, entitled "Flying High in Middle Kingdom," broadcast on Monday night by Germany's state-run ARD network, showed a reporter, claiming to be a swimming coach, inquiring about performance-enhancing stem cell treatment for athletes in a Chinese hospital.Filmed with a hidden camera, a doctor named a price of $24,000 and outlined the procedure.The doctor said the treatment had not been tested among athletes but was safe -- a fact disputed by others."Yes. We have no experience with athletes here, but the treatment is safe and we can help you," the doctor is heard to say. "It strengthens lung function and stem cells go into the bloodstream and reach the organs. It takes two weeks. I recommend four intravenous injections ... 40 million stem cells or double that, the more the better. We also use human growth hormones, but you have to be careful because they are on the doping list."Genetic doping expert Patrick Diel was shocked by the revelation: "There are huge health risks. This is shocking. I was surprised to see this. Honestly, this is beyond my worst fears."Thevis expressed doubts whether such a treatment as described by the doctor would enhance the performance.Not science fiction, science factToronto sports doctor Mauro di Pasquale said on the documentary that there was an ongoing trade in gene doping in China. Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Some claim that athletes have undergone gene doping"I know of several incidences -- and this is from talking to coaches and other people that have direct knowledge -- where several professional athletes in sports such as soccer, football and several amateur athletes even on the elite Olympic level have gone to China and had gene doping performed," he said. "These doctors -- I can't give the names -- are involved in university clinics, they are involved in hospitals and they also have their personal clinics." However, the Chinese sports ministry insists the government is determined to stamp out the illegal trade. "On the issue of international criticism of the illegal trade in medication, the Chinese government takes the issue very seriously and takes strong measures to fight that illegal trade," said Jiang Zhixue, general secretary at the Chinese sports ministry. The general director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), David Howman, expressed his disgust when confronted in the documentary with the alleged practices in China, which hosts the Olympics August 8-24 in Beijing.Howman spoke of "a terrible feeling" and named it shocking that health experts "showed such a lack of ethics and experimented with humans for a lot of money.Dangerous disregard of ethics"This is very distressing," he said. "It is very scary that health professionals should have such a lack of ethics and try what we know to be experimental on human beings for a vast amount of money.Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The work of law-abiding doctors is being undermined"That doesn't match up to the standards that we ordinarily require of doctors and other medical practitioners," Howman told ARD. "This is even more dreadful, because what they are proposing to do is a total breach of the standards we have implied to make sure that cheating through the use of gene doping or gene therapy is prohibited. "And it is very distressing to see that perhaps it's been used now or could be used in a country where the magnificent event (the Olympic Games) will soon take place." The documentary makers also approached a Chinese company, GenSci, which agreed to supply steroids and EPO.In another undercover sting operation, the investigators spoke to a salesperson while filming covertly."The substance is a doping substance according to our government and that is why we are not supposed to sell this before the Olympics," the salesman is heard saying. "But after the Games business will be much easier again." DW staff (nda)

Taiwan to build yacht for peace and prosper through troubled water

Asian builders vie for share of superyacht market

By Doug Young

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Asia is vying for a bigger share of the multibillion-dollar luxury-boat market.

Led by Taiwan and increasingly China, Asia has narrowed the gap with the West in recent years, though it still lags Europe in the race for a market where yachts can sell for tens of millions of dollars.

Asian yacht-builders offer prices that average about a third less in Taiwan and up to half as much in China compared with boats built in the West. But low prices sometimes come with lower quality, especially from China, and less individuality, according to industry analysts.

"Taiwan is already a good market with experience with building yachts and China could be the future one," said Francesco Frediani, vice president for sales at Riva Yacht, an Italian company whose customers include Nicholas Cage and Sophia Loren.

"They are growing their expertise at the moment. But in terms of handling boat-related problems, Europe still owns the expertise."

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Taiwan and China are the two current leaders in Asia, with about 100 orders on the books this year, three-quarters of those for Taiwan, for yachts longer than 24 meters, or 80 feet according to an industry tracker, ShowBoats International. The figure was up sharply from 2005, when the two countries had about 60 orders combined.

While growing, those numbers still trail well behind those of Italy, the world's leader, with more than 400 orders this year, and the United States, with more than 100.

"Taiwan's boats sell good - people like them," said Andy Ye of Floating Life, a Switzerland-based boat manager of super-yachts that recently opened a Shanghai office.

"But in terms of innovation, the Italians or the Dutch or the French have more innovative designs. They set the trends; Taiwan follows."

The gritty workshops where Asia makes its super-yachts contrast sharply with the glitzy finished products.

A hangar-size building hums as sweat-soaked laborers work inside the steel shells of four 27-meter yachts being built by Jade Yachts in the southern Taiwan port city of Kaohsiung, where the Taiwanese luxury-boat industry is based.

These hulls, filled with sawdust, will eventually end up as multilevel yachts with rooms for 12 to 14 guests and features like glass elevators, Jacuzzis and entertainment centers with elaborate audio and video systems.

Jade began its large-yacht business in 2005 by re-outfitting a 210-foot research vessel into a luxury craft for the fashion company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Luke Huang, special assistant to the company's president, said the 27-meter yachts under construction each carried a list price of €8 million, or $12.6 million, though he added that the LVMH refitting was much more expensive. "These are very expensive toys," Huang said.

Jade's high-end customers come from such countries as Russia, Malta and Spain. "The buyers are all very rich," Huang said.

Such wealth helps to shield the industry from the kinds of economic downturns now plaguing the United States and spreading to other parts of the world, said Jack Chen, chairman of the Taiwan Yacht Industry Association.

"These are people with lots of money, even when the global economy isn't so good," he said. Growing geographic diversity among buyers, Chen added, is also helping to shield the sector.

Within Asia, Taiwan has a 30-year jump on China. Opinions differ on why Taiwan first emerged as a yacht-building location as early as the 1960s, while the rest of Asia apart from China has remained a relative backwater.

But most agree low costs and the abundance of U.S. troops, including many sailors, stationed on the island during the height of tensions between Taiwan and China in the 1950s through to the 1970s was a factor as some of these sailors worked with locals to build boats in their spare time.

"It's a lot less than it'd cost in the U.S.," said David Povich, an American lawyer, on a recent trip to inspect a boat he was having built by Tayana Yachts, also in Kaohsiung.

China has emerged more recently as Taiwan yacht builders moved to the mainland in search of lower costs.

Just as Asia is new to yacht building, the growing numbers of rich Asians are also relative newcomers to yacht owning, despite the region's reputation for showy displays of wealth.

According to ShowBoats International, 4 percent of people ordering yachts of at least 24 meters were in Asia in 2008, while nearly half were in Europe and a quarter were in North America.

Within Asia itself, many buyers come from places with large Western influences.

"There are some Asian buyers, mostly in Hong Kong and Singapore," said Ye, of Floating Life.

"In China the yacht market is just starting out. But Chinese people have lots of money and luxury product consuming is on the rise, and so is yacht buying."

New York Times interviewed Taiwan's President Ma

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=2dfdb6a4d2601b7d345aba1304bb43f09b78f299

新樓醫院院長莊明雄退休

新樓醫院 院長退休

〔記者洪瑞琴／台南報導〕新樓醫院院長莊明雄將於7月底屆齡退休，院內昨為他舉行感恩禮拜式，近500位親友員工獻上祝福，包括立委賴清德與教會、醫院等各界代表，以及將到任的新院長黃祖源亦到場觀禮，場面溫馨。

屬於長老教會的莊明雄，從不避諱醫界綠系色彩，319槍擊案，前總統陳水扁送奇美醫院時，他是少數趕抵院內探望的醫界人士，這次總統大選，他亦是謝長廷競選團隊的南市後援會長。為了爭取台灣加入WHO，他連續5年帶著醫院團隊遠赴瑞士，促使各國重視台灣醫療人權。

民國七十二年新樓醫院重建時期，莊明雄就全程參與，直到民國88年擔任新樓院長，歷任3屆9年院長；若再加上重建之前的醫療團，人生大半都奉獻新樓。

EFTHA requests your comments on this article.

Kristof: Stopping genocide

According to UN data, 88 percent of Sudan's imported small arms come from China - and those Chinese sales of small arms increased 137 times between 2001 and 2006.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/17/opinion/edkristof.php

By Nicholas D. Kristof

Many aid workers and diplomats suffered a panic attack when the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court sought an arrest warrant this week for the president of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, for committing genocide. They feared that Bashir would retaliate by attacking peacekeepers and humanitarian workers.

But instead of wringing our hands, we should be applauding. The prosecution for genocide is a historic step that also creates an opportunity in Sudan, particularly if China can now be induced and shamed into suspending the transfer of weapons used to slaughter civilians in Darfur.

If China continues - it is the main supplier of arms used in the genocide - then it may itself be in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Article III of the convention declares that one of the punishable crimes is "complicity in genocide"; that's the crime that China may be committing if it goes on supplying arms used for genocide, even after the ICC has begun criminal proceedings against the purchaser of those weapons.

Beijing seems unabashed. Incredibly, China and Russia are acting as Bashir's lawyers, quietly urging the UN Security Council to intervene to delay criminal proceedings against him. Such a delay is a bad idea, unless Bashir agrees to go into exile.

Still, China does care about its image. Beijing supplied arms to Pol Pot's genocidal regime in Cambodia but later distanced itself from the Khmer Rouge as international criticism grew. China also supported Slobodan Milosevic until he was indicted, but then almost immediately let him hang out to dry.

One test of China's attitudes will be whether Bashir is welcomed at the Olympic Games' opening ceremony next month. (If President Bush is not careful, he may find himself seated at the ceremony between Bashir and Robert Mugabe.)

If Beijing reacts to Bashir the same way it did to its other war criminal pals and suspends arms transfers, then there is real hope for Sudan. If Bashir feared losing his weapons and spare parts, he would be willing to make significant concessions that would make a peace deal more likely - and ultimately an enforceable peace agreement is the only way that Darfur can recover.

According to UN data, 88 percent of Sudan's imported small arms come from China - and those Chinese sales of small arms increased 137 times between 2001 and 2006. China has also sold military aircraft to Sudan, and the BBC reported this week that two Chinese-made A-5 Fantan fighter aircraft were spotted on a Darfur runway last month. The BBC also said that China is training Sudanese military pilots in Sudan.

Likewise, Human Rights First, in a report on Chinese weapons sales to Sudan, states that Chinese engineers supervise arms production at the Giad industrial complex outside Khartoum. Chinese military companies have also set up arms factories outside Khartoum at Kalakla, Chojeri and Bageer.

Instead of lashing out in reaction to the prospect of an arrest warrant, Bashir may be forced to take the opposite tack: He may become more cooperative.

Bashir first used brutal methods - militias and a proxy invasion of a neighboring country - in his long war against South Sudan. He didn't pay a steep price, so he adopted the same scorched-earth policy in the Nuba Mountains. When he again went unpunished, he quite rationally adopted the same measures to suppress insurgency in Darfur.

Now, finally, we have a stick that has Bashir alarmed, and that gives us leverage. So far, Bashir is responding by trying to win support from the African Union and the Arab League, and that may restrain him from killing and raping too many aid workers and peacekeepers in the coming months. It may even induce him to cooperate with the United Nations in permitting more peacekeepers.

Unfortunately, the Arab League's secretary general, Amr Moussa, who quite properly denounces abuses when suffered by Palestinians, has chosen to side with Bashir rather than the hundreds of thousands of Muslims killed in Darfur. If Israel bombed some desert in Darfur, Arab leaders might muster some indignation about violence there.

A final thought: This prosecution for genocide offers a hint of historical progress.

Throughout most of history, genocide was simply what happened to losers in a conflict. In the Bible, if we are to take it literally, there are cases when God gives a nod to genocide ("Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation - men, women, children, babies"). Such divinely sanctioned ethnic cleansing reflected the norms of war for much of history, finally beginning to yield in the last couple of centuries.

Now this prosecution of a head of state suggests that human standards truly are changing - and that is a prerequisite for ending genocide itself.

EFTHA supports the 2008 World Health Day Event in Brussels

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