Last year's winter clothes drive was so successful, we are doing it again! Many thanks to my coworker Alii who has to do all the paperwork for the school to get this activity into motion. Next week, December 17-21, my coworker and I will be collecting the coats and other winter clothes and on Friday another coworker will drive them to Su'ao.
The Yilan Migrant Fisherman's Union, located in Su'ao is composed mostly of Indonesian and other SE Asian fisherman who need winter coats on their long excursions at sea. They don't come to Taiwan with that kind of clothing.
The case of migrant fisherman and migrant workers in Taiwan is a stain on its human right's report every year. Inadequate pay, housing, lack of movement, even death has happened here in Yilan. The situation of the migrant workers being exploited by Taiwanese captains and boat owners isn't new news to my Social Studies classes, but they can always be reminded. I will also invite my ESL 8th graders to participate
Some resources to show the kids:
- https://www.newsmarket.com.tw/blog/107446/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvw--9fGIxk
- https://www.facebook.com/485896125119980/videos/496417647401161/
What has been in the news lately, is how these boats were recently caught breaking laws against fishing dolphins to be used as bait for fishing sharks (both illegal), endangered turtles were also found. There is public outrage by the expat community against these [Indonesian] fishermen, but they are just pawns. The greater responsibility lies with the Taiwanese boat owners, captains and the consumers of shark fin soup.
My office will have a donation box next Monday the 17th, and we will store them next door in the back of the media room.
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