The social history of Taiwan

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Smoke Signals
By Phelim Kyne, The China News, 3 May 1998. Politicians and anti-smoking organizations alike are challenging the legality of the promotional methods favored by international tobacco companies in Taiwan. Story combines the classic Taiwan elements of sex, money, marketing and the grail-like quest for WTO membership.
Taiwan Diary #1: A Paiwan Woman
By Scott Simon, 27 May 1999. An aboriginal village in the mountains west of Kaohsiung. How unfair it seems that the aboriginals in the mountains are so poor, while the Chinese people in the cities seem so rich. That's why we only see old people in the village. The young ones have all migrated to the cities in search of work.
Obese children a weighty problem for Taiwan
The Straits Times, 13 September 2000. With 15% of teens overweight, and the number of clinically obese children rising, increasingly concerned schools launch weight-control programmes. The children overeat every day and don't have enough physical exercise. With the introduction of Western food, more and more people consume more animal foods and also soft drinks.
Study finds one in five Taiwanese wants to emigrate
AP, The Straits Times, 17 October 2000. The most popular reason for wanting to leave was perceived political and social instability. A decade ago they were more worried about the island's chaotic traffic, pollution and expensive housing.
More Taiwanese Students Flock to Mainland to Further Studies
Xinhua, 25 January 2002. The number of students from Taiwan applying for postgraduate courses offered by mainland Universities has jumped by 250 percent this year. The stagnant economic situation in Taiwan in recent years and China's access into the World Trade Organization leads to more employment opportunities in the mainland.