Taiwan: Awakening Civic Consciousness

It feels like we've awakened from a deep sleep over the past few years. In Taiwan, civic consciousness has become the dominant topic of conversation. Passionate debates are erupting, ordinary people are participating, and this is influencing the media and even the law.

 

Take food as an example. Until now, Taiwanese people cared only about taste when it came to food. Now, they focus on how many additives are in it. A bakery popular for using natural yeast was exposed for using artificial flavorings. Since then, customers have completely stopped visiting. A lemon tea takeout shop that used to have long lines was found to use 14 sugar cubes per cup of tea. People who learned this will never buy from them again.

 

Consumers began streaming live experiments online. Ice cream that never melts. Bread that never molds. Egg pudding made without eggs. Fruit juice with zero fruit juice. Meat sauce without any meat. While using food additives isn't illegal, consumers feel deceived. Trust in brands has been severely damaged.

 

The construction of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant has also sparked much debate recently. The "As a Human Being, I Oppose Nuclear Power" movement, organized by film directors, has gained support from numerous actors and singers. Solutions using alternative energy aren't immediately available. Yet, people's concerns about safety are unstoppable.

 

What topics citizens are paying attention to can be seen by looking at the lineup of Taiwanese-produced films. Never before have documentary films garnered such broad support. Works like "Seeing Taiwan," advocating for environmental protection; "Twelve Nights," depicting the lives and deaths of abandoned dogs; "Bridges to Tomorrow," documenting a small town's recovery from typhoon damage; and "Rock to the Moon," following a band of six parents raising children with incurable diseases—these films have successively broken box office records.

 

Beyond the awakening of civic consciousness among Taiwanese people, the role and influence of the internet and social media have been significant. Large corporations can no longer evade their social responsibilities. For corporate brands, "genuine sincerity" is the best advertisement. Only companies that genuinely contribute to the health and happiness of people can capture their hearts and earn the support of the community.