Wild Strawberries in Washington DC

Reliable sources indicate that a handful of activists from Taiwan’s Wild Strawberry movement are in Washington DC for a two week visit. Sponsored by the Formosa Foundation, the activists are part of the foundation's annual Ambassador Program.

As a student movement, the Wild Strawberries jumped onto Taiwan's national scene in November 2008, when students launched a sit-in movement against what they perceived to be a heavy handed government approach to restricting the right to protest during the visit to Taiwan of Chen Yunlin, director of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

Regardless of specific cause, it’s heartening to see activism in an era of global complacency and apathy. This is not to say that Taiwan is an apathetic democracy. Reflecting a sense of public civic duty, Taiwan’s turnout rate for national elections has been quite high since its first president election in 1996. In that year, the voter turnout was a remarkable 76%. Four years later, in the first peaceful transition of power, the voter turnout increased to nearly 83%. In 2004, it was 80%. In the March 2008 election that marked the second peaceful transfer of power in Taiwan’s history, voter turnout was 76%. In marked contrast, the United States has averaged a voter turnout of 50-55%. And in China, voter turnout was…well…0%. A high turnout is generally seen as evidence of the legitimacy of the current system.

Taiwan’s nascent democracy certainly has plenty of room for improvement, just as in our own system. One area in particular where youthful idealism can make a contribution is envisioning the future. Perhaps in part due to traditional passive resignation to fate, what sometimes seems to be lacking in Taiwan society is confidence in the ability to shape one’s future. Shaping the future starts with a clear long term vision, a net assessment of challenges and opportunities, and a detailed strategy broken down by focus area, goals, objectives, and specific actions. But it starts with defining an ideal future, and youth tend to be the best equipped for the necessary idealism. In a competitive environment, the side with a clear long term vision of what it wants and a detailed, measurable plan on how to get there will tend to be most successful.

Envisioning Taiwan's Future: A Public Call

The article below announces an innovative approach to public policy. It solicits the public for ideas on a vision for Taiwan’s future. Having a positive vision for the future is a key enabler for improving the quality of life in a society, and something that has been missing in government for quite some time. Good move, and it even leverages Taiwan’s internationally acclaimed e-government capability:

CNA: Web Site Devoted To Discussing Visions For Taiwan To Be Launched Soon

Taipei Central News Agency in English 1230 GMT 25 Jan 09

[By Maubo Chang]

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) -- What should Taiwan be in ten years' time? Will marriage still be defined as a sexual union between a man and a woman by 2019?

A Web site that's being sponsored by the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan will soon invite the public to share their visions for the country in regard to the above two issues and eight other issues. Jiang Yi-huah, the minister heading the commission, said the Web site will be launched after the Chinese New Year holiday and will seek public opinion on issues of public concern.

Minister Jiang said special attention will be given to the views of young people because they are expected to lead society in ten years' time.

Jiang said his commission is searching for ten leaders of public opinion to preside over the discussion of the issues, with each of the ten in charge of one issue.

Other notable issues to be discussed include how to encourage innovations in society, and how Taiwanese citizens can get along well with Chinese citizens.

Jiang says all visions are welcome as long as they can broaden the public's horizons, drive them to think deeper and to produce more creative ideas.

The discussions will help the public reach a consensus on these issues and provide valuable reference material for the Executive Yuan in formulating its policy, said Jiang.

Each discussion leader is supposed to summarize the public's opinions six months after the Web site is set up, Jiang said.