Digging to China

DTC - Taiwan’s entrance to the U.N.

On July 20, 2007, the Taiwanese government announced that is has applied for U.N. membership under the name Taiwan, which drew an immediate condemnation from mainland China. This move by President Chen Shui-bian is the latest tactic in a long campaign to promote Taiwan’s sovereignty. The decision to apply for U.N. membership under the name Taiwan has little practical effect, Taiwan has failed repeatedly to gain admittance under its current official name, Republic of China, because the U.N. seat for China has belonged to the mainland since 1971. But the symbolic power of Chen’s gesture raises tensions in the Taiwan Strait. China has never recognized Taiwan as an independent country and has pledged to return the island to Beijing rule, even by force.

Guest: Michael Fonte, the Democratic Progressive Party liaison.

Segment 2: Victim of Communism Memorial, in designers own words

Brutality, terror, and murder are always having been essential components of Communism. And Communism proved extremely effective with those components. According to the book The Black Book of Communism, written by six French intellectuals and published by Harvard University press, worldwide, some 100 million victims have died from Communist terror. These are not just numbers, they are 100 million souls, men and women, young and old, have perished from the face of the earth. Their lives and suffering deserve commemoration. Located at the busy intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenue, NW, in Washington DC, the Victim of Communism Memorial features a statue modeled on the goddess of Democracy used by the Chinese students in Tienanmen Squire in 1989, which resembles the Statue of Liberty. Its inscription reads as follows, ìTo the freedom and independence of all captive nations and people.

Guest: Thomas Marsh, Designer of the Victim of Communism Memorial.