International Visitors from 20 Countries Visit Accessible Housing at Eden
On June 3, 2013, engineers and urban planners, invited by Urban and Rural Development Department, New Taipei City Government, from 20 countries, visit Eden’s accessible housing project in southern New Taipei City. Originally a governmental dormitory for dependents of police officers, the
project now stands as the witness to the successful renovation of the premise.
The first floor of the building has been turned into a display area featuring creative handicraft merchandise such as handmade soap and wool felt scarves made by persons with disabilities.
International Delegation Calls on Taiwan to Move One Step Closer to a Mine-free World with Eden
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Dr. Meng-chang Yao (right), Professor at Fu Jen Catholic
University Department of law, introduces Mr. John
MacBride, former Senior Defence Advisor (Mines/ERW) for
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, at the
seminar.
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On June 13th, 2013, an anti-landmine seminar, “A Conversation between Humanitarian Law and National Security: Taiwan and the Mine Ban Treaty” was organized by Eden Social Welfare Foundation with an international delegation consists of professionals from Japan and Korea as well as ICBL (International Campaign to Ban Landmines) campaigners from France and Canada.
A featured speaker at the seminar, Mr. MacBride, who has also served in the Canadian military for more than thirty years, states that military studies have revealed that landmines bear little strategic value and are unnecessary weapons for military forces which have been modernized and that the harm which landmines cause to civilians cannot be compensated by any military gain from their use. Over 80 per cent of the world’s governments, or 161 countries have acceded to the comprehensive ban on the weapon to date.
ICBL Visits Presidential Office to Appeal for a Mine-free Taiwan
On June 14, 2013, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou receives international delegation members, lead by Ms. Sylvie Brigot Vilain, executive director of International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC), who called on the government of Taiwan to establish a national law commending the comprehensive ban on the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines throughout its territories. After the visit, delegation headed for the island of Kinmen to be briefed by R.O.C. Army Demining Division on Taiwan’s demining achievements.
Mr. Joa-Song Huang, CEO of Eden Social Welfare Foundation also called on the government to fully integrate the International Mine Ban Treaty, as soon as possible, in order to ensure that Taiwan will never again use this weapon, banned by international humanitarian laws.
1000-strong Celebrate a Mine-free Taiwan with EDEN on a Beach Walk in Kinmen
As of June 2013, seven years after the inception of Taiwan’s Anti-personnel Landmines Regulations Act, the Ministry of National Defense R.O.C. has declared clearance of all known minefields on Taiwan’s offshore islands.
With shared belief in anti-landmine campaigns among Eden and local residents in Kinmen, international delegation members were invited by Eden to join local residents in Kinmen on a walk along the island’s cleared coastline in hope of the achievement of a mine-free world with love, courage, and hope. About one thousand people signed up for the event on June 15, 2013. Participants in the walk rolled up their pant-leg in commemoration of those who were injured or killed by landmines.
Impressed with Taiwan’s demining achievements, Ms. Brigot-Vilain said she warmly anticipates Taiwan's near term achievement of a comprehensive ban on the use of antipersonnel landmines.
A featured speaker at the seminar, Mr. MacBride, who has also served in the Canadian military for more than thirty years, states that military studies have revealed that landmines bear little strategic value and are unnecessary weapons for military forces which have been modernized and that the harm which landmines cause to civilians cannot be compensated by any military gain from their use. Over 80 per cent of the world’s governments, or 161 countries have acceded to the comprehensive ban on the weapon to date.
ICBL Visits Presidential Office to Appeal for a Mine-free Taiwan
Mr. Joa-Song Huang, CEO of Eden Social Welfare Foundation also called on the government to fully integrate the International Mine Ban Treaty, as soon as possible, in order to ensure that Taiwan will never again use this weapon, banned by international humanitarian laws.
1000-strong Celebrate a Mine-free Taiwan with EDEN on a Beach Walk in Kinmen
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| Ms. Sylvie Brigot Vilain, Executive Director of International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC), ties a yellow ribbon, a symbol of peace, with event participants at the end of beach walk in Kinmen. |
With shared belief in anti-landmine campaigns among Eden and local residents in Kinmen, international delegation members were invited by Eden to join local residents in Kinmen on a walk along the island’s cleared coastline in hope of the achievement of a mine-free world with love, courage, and hope. About one thousand people signed up for the event on June 15, 2013. Participants in the walk rolled up their pant-leg in commemoration of those who were injured or killed by landmines.
Impressed with Taiwan’s demining achievements, Ms. Brigot-Vilain said she warmly anticipates Taiwan's near term achievement of a comprehensive ban on the use of antipersonnel landmines.
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