Saving the Earth

For the last couple of weeks a debate has been raging on the Tainan Bulletin http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tainan_bulletin/ ; a meeting place for mainly foreign English teachers in Tainan, about pollution.

It started with a message from one member urging all foreigners to take photos of heavily polluting scooters that help make the atmosphere of the city as thick and toxic as it has become. Allegedly he had the assurance that if lots of photos were submitted to the city government office, the Mayor's department would be forced to take action.

Usually the level of debate on this site sinks surprisingly low considering the vocation of most of the members. However, with one or two exceptions, this time it has been good. There have also been several Taiwanese contributors making very good points.

One important consideration has been the recognition of cultural differences and the position of us foreigners as guests in somebody else's home. Who has the right to enter someone's home and start criticise their host's behaviour? My mind jumps imediately to Jesus and his meal with Simon the Pharisee, when he criticised the judgemental comments against the woman who was kneeling at his feet. Well, Jesus was the guest in Simon's home but was not a foreigner and wsa definitely speaking to people whose culture he shared. By contrast Jesus did plenty in his meetings with foreigners to break down the barriers between them and build up relationships even with those considered enemies.

The culture question is raised high when another major polluter, the burning of fake paper money, supposedly to appease the ancestors and bring prosperity twice a month, was cited. Tainan is probably the worst sufferer from this, being one of the most traditional cities in its people's religious observances.

To cut a long story short and to save myself the need to rewrite it, here is the e-mail I posted as my contribution. (Water is the Taiwanese contributor who explained for us the origins of the burning of paper money)

On Saving the Earth

Thank you very much Water for your research. This is very helpful and just what we need to help us weigoren understand the culture in which we find ourselves.

I want to say that I agree about the need to respect Taiwanese culture. I also agree that we, foreigners and locals alike, have a duty and responsibility to save the earth for all succeeding generations. It is not a case of either we say something and upset the local culture or we do nothing out of respect. We can join local people in their efforts to clean up. Please don't think that foreigners have been the first to see the problems.

For instance, one of the most respected religious leaders in the country, Cheng Yen, the founder and Master of Tzu Chi asks all her followers not to burn paper money because it pollutes and has no religious meaning. Tzu Chi has a big recycling program and many members of the organisation in Tainan are actively involved in this.

You will also discover, if you look around, that there are others like members of the the local ornithological society which is very keen to keep the environment secure especially for the visiting black-faced spoonbills which have almost become an emblem of Tainan. The people who go bird-watching see first-hand the terrible effects of pollution in the rivers here. One of my recommendations for a visit is the boat that you can take near the ocean bridge at Anping to see signal crabs and mudskippers in the mangroves. Delightful little creatures that should convince anyone they are worth protecting!

Churches also play their part in cleanups and in caring for their neighbourhoods. Visit the Barclay Memorial Park opposite the Cultural Centre to see one of the important projects in the city where there is now a beautiful green environment on what was almost a dump when I came here four years ago.

I agree that we should all throw our weight into this - but why try to start something new? - We don't need to "reinvent the wheel" as one of my friends loves to say. Let's use our network and our links with the thousands of students we meet to support what is already being done. This way shows total respect for the local community and will do a lot more for the environment than possibly divisive demos or small projects ever could.

But, sorry I can't make the meeting time suggested by Cary - would love to take part, I guess we all have busy schedules. Anyway - I'm going to take what I have just written and discuss it with a group of students later.

John

Now the time for a meeting has changed and it looks possible for me to join it tomorrow night at 10:00pm. I wonder whether there will be enough willingness and stamina to make it worthwhile.

This morning I was talking with a professor of engineering about my e-mail and wondering if there might be some future in drawing in the likes of his university department. I even toyed with the idea of their applying for some of the £3 billion that Richard Branson has offered for research and development in the field of alternative fuels and engines.

I thought I would write this now as part of my preparation for the meeting. So I will put a few other thoughts down here. I thought about the group to which I belong; expatriate English teachers, and the direct contribution we might make through teaching and informing the young people we teach. Many books that we use already include items on environmental issues - perhaps other publishers could be persuaded to follow this example. I must run off an e-mail to Studio Classroom. This is one of the most widely used tools for teaching teenagers English and often includes relevant social issues. I can't remember them doing anything about the environment, so it must be time to do it again even if they have done it before.

Of course our own example is important. My cycling to work seems to be a source of interest among some of my students. The car that I take when it rains is somewhere at the other end of scale of non-green though!

Some of these foreigners really need to take more trouble to get to know the local scene better, not just the pubs and clubs they frequent! I was surprised that nobody mentioned any of the things I did before.

If you have any comments before I add more notes here please add yours too.