UPDATE!

Check out the new update above ^

Formosa's Flowers

Formosa’s flowers
cast in the shadow of authority
Formosa’s flowers
flattened by an encroaching majority


Formosa’s flowers
petals once throbbing red now dead
Formosa’s flowers
from foreigners and hearth once fled


Formosa’s flowers
above soil all visible shoots wither
Formosa’s flowers
from the slaughter guilt will come hither


Formosa’s flowers
under cover of earth protect roots so green
Formosa’s flowers
I assure you number more than fourteen

Poem by Madison Messinger

Featured on JD Messinger's Site

http://www.jdmessinger.com/

Success!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdo56V-PMnU

EXTENSION!!!

The date of the first demolition/eviction has been moved from June 29 to July 15!!! We are not out of the danger zone yet, but we have more time to rally a defense.

Final Poster :)

Our Purug

Poster Fun

Collages

Blog Improvements!

So I changed the blog a litte bit, I hope everyone likes the new improvements. Its now possible to click on words and they link to my Youtube videos. If you didn't visit any of the links I posted because you were too lazy to copy and paste then go back and click on the link, no copy and past necessary :)

New Idea!

How can we contact the student body at Zhong Xing? I'm sure the school's actions would cause an outrage, especially because college students love to make a scene. We need to get them involved so they put pressure on the school to stop this atrocity. I just need to be careful that I don't upset the university and get deported...or thrown in jail :)

Saving Siraya Corrections

It has been brought to my attention that there were several mistakes in my original post titled "Saving Siraya." I apologize for the inaccuracies.

1. Tsiong Shing University--> Zhong Xing University
2. The Taiwanese government did not transfer the land in 1920 considering the Japanese were in power at that time
3. There was some confusion caused by my imprecise wording, but the Siraya are currently in possession of the land despite not having registered ownership
4. There are 20 houses that will suffer serious damage (1/2 or more of the structure will be destroyed) due to demolition, yet there are a variety of other houses that are only being partially torn down

Hope this helps! I am dedicated to providing you with the most accurate and updated information I can find. I will continue to make change to the blog as events unfold.

Thanks Jen Teeter!

Visit Jen's blog on the Siraya! We appreciate her concern all the way from Japan! We are going global guys!!!

http://tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.com/2011/06/university-to-destroy-indigenous.html

Thanks Euphony!

Another compilation of videos and pictures of the Siraya and by the Siraya. I was not able to attend this protest, so there are some fresh videos here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TswIPfikI7s&feature=player_embedded#at=216

Youtube Video: Not Easily Silenced

For some reason the quality of this video is not as good as the last one I published. Lets gets some views and continue to spread the word! Repost the link wherever you can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yby1eJ4iARo

We [will be] the Champions

June 29, 2011

The first of the doomed. Please see the post "Saving Siraya" for details.

Thanks Austin College!

Just want to say thank you to Austin College for helping me promote the Siraya's current situation. The first of the homes is still scheduled to be demolished on June 29th, 2011. Contact anyone you know who might be able to help us!

TITV Weekly and Taipei Times

Here is the link for the TITV Weekly Youtube channel. There are some great clips pertaining to Taiwan's indigenous affairs (in English). I learned a lot from watching these. Hope you enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/TITVWeekly

The online Taipei Times also has some great stuff!

http://www.taipeitimes.com/

Each Day A Little Closer

I continue to receive emails and Facebook messages recommending the Siraya contact various lawyers, reporters, and government officials. This support is exactly what the Siraya needs. Maybe you cannot personally help the Siraya because like me you have very few resources. However, that shouldn't stop you from contacting people you know who do have resources and who do have connections and who do have the power to change lives. Take a look at the pictures that have been posted and you will see not only buildings but faces. Those are people who need your help. Those are people with families and lives and it is our job to protect them. People take care of people. Become one of the people.