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Paraguay winter aid
Black bear sanctuary
Award for Da Ai Tech

Welcome to Da Ai Headlines. I'm Anthony Carlisle. Thank you for joining us.

●Coming up in today's show, Tzu Chi volunteers in Paraguay deliver winter aid to poor families in a neighborhood of Asuncion.
●In our continuing series on the people who protect the wildlife in Taiwan's mountains, we meet the keepers at a sanctuary for Formosan black bears.
●And Da Ai Technology - the company that makes t-shirts from recycled plastic - wins a special award to mark the centennial of the ROC.


1.Winter warmers for needy families
2.Never give up
3.Animal station bears a burden
4.A low carbon classroom
5.Keeping temple clean
6.Da Ai Technology recognized
7.A reformed gambler
8.Youcheng Foundation visit Shanlin
9.On this day, the 30th of June.
10.Celebrating Parents' Day
END：美首場演練


1.Winter warmers for needy families

First up today, it's winter in Paraguay, so local Tzu Chi volunteers recently went to the Santa Ana neighborhood, of the capital Asuncion City, to hand out supplies - including blankets and food baskets - to 264 families. Though it was overcast on the day of the distribution, the arrival of the volunteers brightened up the residents.



2.Never give up

From Paraguay to the Philippines, where we meet 62-year-old Lolita Mergano. Now living alone, her youngest daughter committed suicide, and her son was involved in the murder of her husband. Coming under Tzu Chi's care, Lita - as her friends call her - used some of the money, she got from Tzu Chi, to set up a business, and now puts some of her profits into a bamboo coin bank, to help others in need.



3.Animal station bears a burden

Run by Taiwan's Endemic Species Research Institute, the Low Altitude Experimental Station is a sanctuary for Formosan black bears. The station currently has nine animals, that were either injured in traps, or for other reasons cannot be returned to the wild. In the latest in our series of features on the people who protect Taiwan's wildlife, we meet the keepers at the station.



4.A low carbon classroom

Chi Mei(奇美) Optoelectronics Corporation, and Innolux Education Foundation, have come together to help Dashan(大山) Elementary School in Taiwan's Miaoli(苗栗) County, to set up a low carbon classroom. The electrical appliances are all powered by the energy produced from two solar panels. Moreover, a thermostat, light meter and CO2 detector, help the teachers and students know when to switch on and off the lights and fans. With the hi-tech equipment, the carbon footprint produced by the classroom, is only half that of normal classrooms.



5.Keeping temple clean

For a long time, Tzu Chi volunteers in Myanmar have been going to Khamayana Nunnery School, to share their unique culture with the students. Unfortunately, apart from the humanistic atmosphere in the air, because the school is near a garbage dump, it often reeks of decomposing waste. So, the volunteers initiated a cleanup campaign, enlisting the help of the enthusiastic students. It was also a chance to teach the youngsters about environmental awareness.



6.Da Ai Technology recognized

In celebration of Republic of China's 100th birthday, more than 200 businesses in Taiwan were recognized by the government, for their contribution to the country. Among them was Da Ai Technology, which was commended for making environmentally friendly clothes, out of recycled plastic bottles. To help raise awareness of conservation, the company now includes information on how its products are made, on the QR code on the price tag. A quick scan, with a smart phone, gives shoppers the background story behind the items they are buying.


7.A reformed gambler

Johny Chandra is an Indonesian Tzu Chi volunteer, who developed the habit of gambling in middle school. It wasn't until he was hospitalized, for liver disease, in 2007; and a 25-year-old friend of his died in an accident, that he finally realized how he was frittering his life away. Now, the reformed gambler is making up for his reckless past, by caring for the needy, and doing recycling work.



8.Youcheng Foundation visit Shanlin

The China Social Entrepreneur Foundation, also known as the Youcheng(友成) Foundation, is non-profit organization, made up of disaster relief groups. After seeing how Tzu Chi helped earthquake victims in Sichuan, the Foundation put together a delegation to visit Taiwan. On Tuesday, they stopped by the Shanlin Da Ai Community, and were moved by what they saw.


9.On this day, the 30th of June.

Tower Bridge of London
Sometimes mistakenly called "London Bridge", the British Capital's Tower Bridge officially opened on this day in 1894. Sitting over the River Thames, the suspension bridge is also a drawbridge allowing vessels on the river to pass unhindered.

1964 Shimen Dam finished
After eight years of construction and costing more than 3.2 billion NTD, the main dam of the Shimen Reservoir in northern Taiwan was completed on this day in 1964. The reservoir provides irrigation and drinking water to northern Taiwan, generates electricity, and also regulates seasonal flooding. 23 years later, Taiwan's second largest reservoir, the Feitsui Dam would also be completed on the same day.

1995 Computing for the blind
Researched and developed by Tamkang University of northern Taiwan, a new computer system designed specifically for the blind was unveiled on this day in 1995. Using Chunghwa Telecom's voice system and a special mouse for the blind, the visually impaired could now use word processing applications.

2007 TIMA care for handicapped children
Northern Taiwan TIMA teamed up with Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital on this day in 2007 to conduct free clinics for children with disabilities in New Taipei City. The program would eventually reach out to some 50 institutions that care for children.



10.Celebrating Parents' Day

To celebrate Father's Day in Malaysia, children at the Da Ai Educare Center, in Malacca, held a small tea ceremony for their parents, as a way to say thank you. Pupils aged four to six prepared snacks for the event, which was attended by proud mothers and fathers.



END：美首場演練

Keeping in stream with their counterparts in Taiwan, volunteers in the United States have been reading the Buddhist classic "Water Repentance"; and the US headquarters in San Dimas hosted the first public briefing on the stage show of the sutra. We'll leave you with these images. Thank you for watching Da Ai Headlines. Goodbye.
2011-06-30 13:49:45