In short, I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely; ……

From Thoreau's Walden

Recently, Dr. Chih-yung Chien, Chair Professor at National Chengchi University and Professor at John Hopkins University pointed out in a speech that when the 8/8 Flood happened, most of Taiwan's energy was consumed on discussing who should resign from their posts. Media, the government, and the whole society were irrational.

“The adjective did point out the problem Taiwanese should counter,” said Prof. Shin Wang of the Dept. of Geography, NTU.

“When handling a problem, we should analyze the reasons, present the facts clearly, and find out the truth. But in Taiwan people tend to remain to be emotional when things happen, and blame it on a single person, without ever thinking about finding out what the problems are.”

Taiwan is becoming democrat ic and l iberal , wi th advancement in technology. In the process of cultural development, people should not over-expand personal interests in the value of democracy, resulting in irrationality and subjectivity in analyzing things.

Helplessness That Cannot Be Ignored

“There is a Taiwanese song called “Three Laments of Helplessness,” whose title was used by me in one of my essays, expressing the helplessness in conserving Taiwan's national land. Now, there should be more than three laments for my helplessness.” Wang began with his humor, but also revealed the predicaments in the conservation of national land. Wang's first lament was that people do not have thorough understanding of Nature. “In the West, science has been developed for about 400 years since the Enlightenment. But man still do not understand nature well enough. Is the chicken or the egg causality dilemma solved yet? There are still so many incomprehensible phenomena in Nature. Even some of the “accepted truths” developed by scientists are being questioned or overthrown now.

Science brings us well-being, no doubt. In the past, scientists tended to focus their research on simple and linear systems; however, nowadays scientists' attention has moved to research on non-linear and complex systems. “In fact, the climate system is so complicated that its behavior can hardly be predicted by linear science accurately. Meanwhile, the studies on non-linear and complex system tell us that not even the best supercomputers can guarantee absolute accuracy.”

Wang analyzed that there are too many affecting factors to environment; they are beyond the calculation of the biggest supercomputer. It is also beyond human's capability to change natural phenomena. For example, although we believe the “8/8 Flood” is a catastrophe, it isn't the biggest catastrophe in history. The“ 8/7 Flood” fifty years ago was quite a disaster, too. Bigger catastrophes did happen hundreds or thousands of years ago. The geological records written on the rock stratums evidently tell us that in the geological age more serious floods did happen.

“For example, the design of embankment was designed with references to the recurrent period of floods in the past 10, 20, to 50 years. If any flood that had never happened in the past 100 years really occurred, we would be ravaged by such disaster. But the fact is that the longer the recurrent period is taken into consideration when designing embankments, the bigger the diameters of the pipes and the higher the budget will be.

In Taiwan, there is a serious lack of flood literature; therefore, it's difficult to predict any flood accurately with long-term statistic data. “From the geological evidence of Taiwan, there will be bigger floods. Experts would say it is a problem of probability.”

People prefer to think with Quixotic spirit -- changing natural environment with human force. They demand that the government build protections at areas with potential threats of catastrophe. The result is high embankments erected at coasts and beaches. Ironically, the second lament is that we can hardly demand any quality for most construction projects; some of the best ones are indeed fragile against nature's trials.

• left: The earth is alive. The formation of air current, the flow of the oceans, the typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornados, earthquakes and floods are all natural occurrences. / Photo provided byLeonid Nyshko
• right: According to Professor Shin Wang, Taiwan is located in the earthquake and typhoon zone, it needs holistic thinking to face the issues of climate change and related catastrophes. / by Zheng-yi Zheng

The budget for public construction drafted by a government institution cannot be passed easily until it is cut low. “For example, the construction budget of a community on a hill was made low when it was designed at the initial stage in order to promote sales at a low price. Therefore, the construction company used the lowest annual average flow as reference to calculate the diameter for the drain pipes. But it would cause floods and pipes must be replaced with bigger ones over and over again, which then wastes a huge sum of taxpayers' money is wasted.” Likewise, those private companies request the government to solve the potential danger at people's cost.

Wang reminded that paying big money does not necessarily stop this vicious circle. Sometimes it is a worse mistake to conduct construction projects at inappropriate places.

“Some said it was fortunate that the typhoon did not hit Taipei. But is Taipei safe? Is it free from threats of landslides or seawater encroachment? The names of a few places give us some clues: Jiangzicui in Banqiao was called as Jiangzizui, which means rivers' intersection. Now, there is a huge piece of green land on the banks of Jiangzicui, and high embankments on both sides of the river. But does that mean man has conquered Nature?”

There are many places like Gouzikou in Wenshan bearing

similar traces. Xizhi means the place where ebbs and flows stop. Ancient names of places like Shuidiliao, Guocanal Street, Xiwei Road in Pingtong County tell us something about their relations to rivers. Wang expressed that judging from today's geology and the distribution of the rivers, geographers were able to find out the landslide-prone zones. For example, aborigines often live on the flat areas beside riverbanks. But those areas are flat because they were flooded before. Those places are not suitable for inhabitation.

“Geographers understand this but common people don't. But the government and scholars should and could help people choose a safe environment.” It is a pity that earth science is not a subject in the entrance examination to universities; so although landslides, debris flows, quakes, floods, typhoons, etc. are all specific to Taiwan and related to people's life, students can ignore them because they are not on the exam!

The third lament: volatile political environment makes it hard to implement policies Party alternation represents progress in democracy but frequent changes of government officials, who lack experience and concerns over the environment and local development. Years ago a geological law that requires geological inspections prior to any major public constructions had been passed but was postponed in its announcement due to the interference of some lawmakers. Taiwan does not lack geological studies or databases on environment, including areas inflicted by geological disasters. Soil and Water Conservation Act has mapped out some special zones; however, the results were not announced because of the involvement in individuals' interests. Administrative and political concerns are always greater than technical concern. Too much respect for individuals would impair public interests and impede progresses. This dilemma posts great challenges to government officials.

Face the Truth and the Answer

“Will these three laments be eased because of the “8/8 Flood”? I don't think so. Will it happen again? I'm afraid it will,” Wang pointed out. The catastrophes brought by extreme weathers will continue. Then, what is the antidote? First, it is necessary to enhance the administration's leadership and executive ability. “As most of the plans for national land is conducted as B.O.T. cases, those private companies will not take any responsibilities when disasters happen. Therefore, we believe executive departments should have the know-how in order to be responsible for their policies.” Wang's words are concise but right to the point: executive departments are agencies and institutions with genuine abilities to carry out projects.

“The major difference between Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan is that the former, which is required to be efficient, is operated in accordance with the law while the latter respects public opinion, which includes ‘public fairness' and ‘public interests.” Fairness should be fulfilled by opening the discussion and participation to the public, and interests mean the ones for the public instead of certain legislators or civilians. So officials should make judgments from different perspectives and take public interest as the first priority without giving any blank promise just because of urgency.”

Second, use accurate data yielded from careful investigation and logic to analyze the problems.

• upper: It is necessary to make references to the geology, climate, scientific data, and logic to calculate the essential data in public construction projects. In addition, it is also essential to examine regional features to build omething durable and sturdy. / by Adu
• lower left: High embankments on both sides of the river. Can we really conquered nature?”/by Wan-ching La
• lower center: Sing Wang reminded that sometimes conducting construction projects at inappropriate places are bigger mistakes./by Qi-chang Yan
• lower right: Quality material life brings serious contamination. It is time for people to face the catastrophes bring by the environment. / by Adu

“The Oriental attitude of handling things is very different from that of westerners. Asians tend to judge from intuition or hypothesis. This must be corrected. If the government does not have any reliable data in making decisions, it may make inappropriate ones,” Wang pointed out.

“Thinking without logic is a common problem for Asian culture.” Now, Taiwan is promoting the National Land Planning Act, and the Legislative Yuan is working on a Climate Change Bill. But let's not forget to synthesize the ministries and other government institutions. At present, the institutions in Taiwanese government are used to working in accordance with the laws and acts of their own domain, lacking any supreme authority that can synthesize all these laws and act in a holistic manner.”

to stand a severe trial, and the change in the environment is always faster than people can prepare for. It will be better to face the problem calmly and finding out the logic behind it.

“A friend told me Taiwan has included almost all the important subjects, such as math, physics, and chemistry except earth science into the university entrance exam. And earth science has become a subject being carelessly taught. This is a problem we should take into serious consideration.”

Therefore, our last hope should be placed on education and culture.

Wang pointed out that problems concerning climate change, such as global warming, are all related to earth science. There is much to be desired on how it is taught and applied. It is necessary to educate the children with the concepts of earth science. With such basic concepts, it will be easier to promote disaster prevention and energy conservation.

A few decades ago, the industry in the world was economic development oriented, and issues related to environmental protection were mostly ignored. Now, climate change alerts people to understand that however prosperous we are we cannot stop the retaliation by and exhaustion of Nature.

Oases for Soul Much Needed, Not an Ark

“We may always anticipate the power of education,” Wang said optimistically. Take Taijiang National Park as an example. It is the first national park initiated by local ggovernemnts. The coastal areas in western Taiwan, near the mouth of Cengwen River and Yanshui River, and even Taiwan Strait are protected with tailor made conservation acts. Likewise, both the fishery rights and ecological conservation can coexist. Instead of building an industrial park, people chose to preserve their unique fishing culture and historical background, as well as the ecologically diversified Taijiang area.

“If we make a turn in our thinking, the road will be much broader,” Wang said. It is the global trend of environmental protect ion to preserve the wet lands. Therefore, the establishment of Taijiang National Park bears even greater significance, and sets a milestone for Taiwan's national parks.” Taiwan is such a fertile small island. Challenged by global climate change, the island has to face its own specific problems. Things such as law making, policy making, etc are not the real the solutions. A quote from Jane Goodall well goes: only through understanding will we care. Only by caring, will we take action. Only by action, will our life be hopeful. Many people try to save the world. But what the world needs is not alternative power or heroes who can stop global warming. The solution, in fact, is not far away, but within everyone's heart.

“People should work hand-in-hand with nature but not deplete it. Let's make a change! Let all those laments disappear. Let humans and all living things sustain and coexist. That is the best way to save Nature. What we now have is enough.” This is Wang's heartfelt hope.

• 上圖：Taijiang National Park is the first national park given birth to by local roups. It was much better than building high rises and industrial zones, leaving a piece of clean and uncontaminated land to our descendants. / by Cha-lin Zhao
• 下左圖：Climate change is an important issue that every nation cannot ignore. How to forecast these changes accurately? How to prevent catastrophes? Every person is looking for reasonable answers. / Photo provided by Photo.com(U. S. A.)
• 下右圖：Starting from education, it is necessary to educate the children with the concepts of earth science./ by Xiu-ming Lin