ON SCENE: Taiwan donates masks

from Asian Avenue magazine - September 2020

BOOK: ‘this is it’ poetry book shares

Leading The Way: Youth Creates continues its charitable efforts

Gala for a Cure 2020, consisting of a series of virtual educational and entertaining events, is Youth Creates’ ardent way of advancing cancer research. The team of youth garnered support from doctors, educators, government officials, and business leaders. Together they hosted ten sessions addressing numerous topics and collected $8,000 to donate to Cancer League of Colorado, a volunteer-only nonprofit organization dedicated to funding cancer research.

Stephen Zhang, Founder and CEO of Youth Creates, is the chair of this event. “Philanthropy work is a significant aspect of what we do”, said Zhang. Their 2019 version of Gala for a Cure featured performances by youth talents and professional artists. In March, the team jumped into action and organized a PPE drive, benefiting thousands of Colorado health professionals.

Youth Creates is also committed to bridging needs and community resources. During this unprecedented pandemic crisis, Youth Creates hired high-quality teachers to help students with their interrupted schooling. “We welcome and make it affordable for students from disadvantageous backgrounds. We are here to help”, claims Zhang. Youth Creates donates its proceeds to local charitable organizations. Learn more at youthcreates.com.

Aria Zhou hosts a Creative Writing session.

How Government Works session

Reagan Kerns hosts a Jeopardy game

Taiwan donates thousands more masks to Colorado

On August 28, Jerry Chang, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver presented 10,000 surgical masks on behalf of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America (TCCNA) to local organizations including the Asian Pacific Development Center and Happy Living Adult Daycare.

“We are here to convey a message that Taiwan is together with the great state of Colorado through the global pandemic,” said Chang.

The gathering was organized by Asian Chamber of Commerce outside the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.

“Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus has been widely reported as one of the best models in the world. Today, Taiwan is among the least affected countries with all businesses schools open as normal,” said Chang in his remarks.

Taiwan has donated supplies and masks to countries around the world.

“Both Taiwan’s incidence rate per capita and fatality rate are among the lowest in the world. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan has recorded only 487 confirmed cases with seven deaths as of today. Most importantly, we have not seen any local infection for four months.”

RECOVER BETTER TOGETHER Taiwan can help

In 2020, the world has been hit by an unprecedented public health crisis, with the effects of COVID-19 being felt across every aspect of people’s lives. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations—the mission statement that stands at the very heart of the inclusive multilateralism the world needs so much at the present moment. Now more than ever, the global community must make a concerted effort to forge the better and more sustainable future called for by the UN and its Member States. Taiwan is ready, willing and able to be a part of these efforts.

With less than 500 confirmed cases and seven deaths, Taiwan has defied predictions and successfully contained COVID-19. We managed this without lockdowns; schools were only closed for two weeks in February. Baseball games also restarted in April. Initially, cardboard cutouts stood in for the crowds, but by mid-July games were back in full swing, attended by as many as 10,000 spectators.

This has all come in no small part due to Taiwan’s quick response measures, including the establishment of a Central Epidemic Command Center, the implementation of stringent border controls and quarantine procedures, and transparent information-sharing. We also took swift action to ensure an adequate stock of medical supplies for our world-class health care system. And after making sure we had enough supplies to look after our own people, we started providing medical equipment and supplies to other countries in serious need.

By the end of June, Taiwan had donated 51 million surgical masks, 1.16 million N95 masks, 600,000 isolation gowns, 35,000 forehead thermometers, and other medical materials to more than 80 countries, including the United States, Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, and European nations. We have also joined forces with like-minded democracies to explore the development of rapid test kits, medicines, and vaccines. Working together for the greater good is how the world will defeat COVID-19.

In the Declaration on the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, governments and heads of state acknowledge that only by working together in solidarity can we end the pandemic and effectively tackle its consequences. They thus pledge to make the UN more inclusive and to leave no one behind as the world looks to recover from the pandemic.

Even as the pandemic has made the international community acutely aware of Taiwan’s unjust and discriminatory exclusion from the World Health Organization and the UN system, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to press the UN to use an erroneous interpretation of the 1971 UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) as the legal basis for blocking Taiwan. This resolution does not address the issue of Taiwan’s representation in the UN, nor does it state that Taiwan is part of the PRC. In fact, Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, a part of the PRC. Our President and legislature are directly elected by the people of Taiwan. Moreover, border controls instituted during the pandemic offer further evidence to counter the PRC’s false claims. The UN must recognize that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its 23.5 million people; the PRC has no right to speak on Taiwan’s behalf.

Not having Taiwan’s input in the UN is a loss to the global community, and will hamper Member States’ efforts to regain normalcy and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in full and on time. By drawing on its outstanding work on the SDGs, Taiwan can help countries better recover from the disruption caused by the pandemic. Our economy has proven resilient: the Asian Development Bank forecast that Taiwan’s economic performance in 2020 would be the best among the Four Asian Tigers—the only one to show positive growth. Moreover, many of our SDG indicators—including gender equality, economic growth, clean water and sanitation, reduced inequality, and good health and wellbeing— have reached levels comparable to OECD countries. Our ongoing efforts to implement the SDGs coupled with our proven pandemic

By Jaushieh Joseph Wu

Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan)

response put Taiwan in a much better position than most to help the global community in tackling the ongoing challenges facing humanity.

Taiwan has long been assisting its partner countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific with their development goals in such areas as clean energy, waste management, and disaster prevention. So we are already able to help—yet we could do that much more if given the chance to participate in UN activities, meetings, and mechanisms.

Unfortunately, the 23.5 million people of Taiwan are denied any access to UN premises. Taiwanese journalists and media outlets are also denied accreditation to cover UN meetings. This discriminatory policy stems from the wrongful claims of and pressure from an authoritarian state, and contravenes the principle of universality and equality upon which the UN was founded. “We the peoples of the United Nations determined... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights... [and] the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”—thus begins the UN Charter. The ideal of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all laid out in this text must not remain empty words. As it looks ahead to the next 75 years, it is never too late for the UN to welcome Taiwan’s participation.

Aim High Chiropractic believes that every person has the right to access high quality healthcare whether or not they have health insurance. Our Access to Care initiative offers several low cost or free programs for our community through our four clinics.

It is our goal to provide education to our community and to help as many people as we can to achieve healthy, happy lives and have their bodies and minds perform at their best. It is a big part of our mission.

For instance, did you know that Aim High treats victims of crime through advocacy and outreach programs? There are community resources for people who have suffered domestic violence, mugging, child abuse, elder abuse, and more. The Victims Compensation Fund through your local district attorney’s office can often times provide funding for medical treatment after being injured due to a crime.

The Victim Rights Act (VRA) in Colorado ensures that crime victims are treated with fairness, respect, dignity and that they are free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse. The VRA also helps to ensure that victims are informed of critical stages of the criminal justice process and that they may be present for, and heard, at certain stages as well. Victims of crime and/or their advocates can contact the VRA Compliance Program to request help or File a Formal Complaint concerning an alleged violation of their rights. We also provide Information For Agencies to help them understand and comply with the Victim Rights Act.

Aim High also provides care for our frontline heroes fighting the coronavirus in our hospitals. Our Frontline Support Program. If you are a healthcare worker, you may qualify for this program and receive free care to keep you healthy and reduce stress while boosting your immunity.

Aim High offers free pain evaluations for our community. During this time of flu and COVID, you don’t need to suffer silently in pain because you are afraid to go to the ER or urgent care. And we take the worry away if you don’t have health insurance. Aim High will do a free pain evaluation to determine what your best course of action will be to relieve your pain.

Aim High currently offers a $120 CARE program. If you have pain in your body that is extreme, may worsen without treatment but you do not need hospitalization, the CARE program includes a one-year discount on membership plan, your initial exam, x-rays, report of findings and two chiropractic adjustments with therapies.

Aim High are also experts in treating personal injuries, like care accident injuries, pedestrian injuries, slip n falls, on the job injuries, bicycle injuries and more. We have been doing it for 24 years and have helped more than 320,000 patients during that time heal and return to function.

Are you high risk or apprehensive to come into the clinic for an appointment during the time of COVID or flu? Aim High offers Telemedicine appointments. You can chat face to face with the doctor, discuss your issues and get a recommended treatment plan.

We will also arrange for delivery of specific equipment to your home with a customized exercise plan for your particular injury or pain complaint.

Do you need fabric masks to comply with recent statewide mask wearing orders? Call Aim High, we have some for free for you and your family.

Call Aim High with any questions or to find out more about these programs. Our goal is to make a positive difference in the health and lives of our patients and our larger community. We speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.

We offer same day appointments and four locations throughout Metro Denver that are open extended hours for your convenience.