News & Events >> 2007

TECO Gains Public Support for WHO/Taiwan Issue

May 5, 2007

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta (TECO), the office representing the interests of Taiwan, joined the Big Peach Running Co. for their second annual 5k race on May 5, 2007. Mike Cosentino, Founder, and Todd Liscomb, Special Events and Marketing Manager, of Big Peach Running Co. started the Big Peach 5K tradition in Buckhead as a fundraiser for local health-related non-profits. TECO was one of major sponsors for the race to raise funds for Team in Training, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This year, the proceeds, totaling $8450, went to Team in Training, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

TECO, an active presence on race day, was able to garner much concern and support from race participants regarding the issue of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s race drew about 1300 participants, doubling last year’s turnout. Many runners wore the Taiwan/WHO t-shirts provided by TECO in support of Taiwan’s bid to join the World Health Organization and petition boards were filled with signatures advocating Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.

TECO Director-General R. C. Wu addressed the crowd, emphasizing that although Taiwan is the 17th biggest economic entity in the world, it does not have membership in the World Health Organization. He noted that Taiwan has much to offer the cause of global public health, and urged the crowd to “Say Yes to Taiwan for WHO!” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan also used the day of May 5th as a global Walk to Support Taiwan in the WHO. Supporters in Japan, New York and Los Angeles participated in walks with TECO offices in their areas.

亞特蘭大千人響應「為台灣加入WHO而跑」慢跑活動

為了凸顯兩千三百萬台灣人民加入世界衛生組織(WHO)的基本人權訴求，駐亞特蘭大辦事處在5月5日上午在亞城鹿首(Buckhead)地區和桃樹慢跑俱樂部再度合辦「為台灣參與WHO而跑」慢跑活動，包括當地主流社會人士一千三百餘人及亞城僑胞兩百餘人共約一千五百人參加，場面熱烈。其中身穿「Be WHO! Taiwan」、「Support Taiwan for WHO」以及「台灣醫界聯盟」等字樣的僑界人士及美國友人在綿延5公里的行進隊伍中格外搶眼，而亞城台美學校的鼓隊及亞城太極拳推廣協會的精彩演出，也為這次活動增添了獨特的台灣文化色彩。

本處吳處長當天除了一馬當先帶領亞城僑界跑完全程外，也在應邀頒獎後致詞指出，台灣名列全球第17大經濟體，在國際間救援捐輸向不落人後，卻礙於中國阻撓而迄未能參加世界衛生組織，造成全球醫療及防疫體系之重大缺口，實係國際衛生體系之損失。我國有能力及意願貢獻國際社會，甚盼世界各國重視台灣人民之基本人權，給予台灣一適當之地位-Say Yes to Taiwan!吳處長上述談話獲與會群眾熱烈反應，渠隨後並於接受電視媒體訪問時深入說明台灣被納入全球衛生及防疫體系之必要性。而吳處長也在活動中代表我政府捐款給此次慢跑活動慈善募款對象之「血癌及淋巴癌防治基金會」，以表達台灣人民展現台灣回饋國際社群的誠意。

此外，協助當地友人進一步認識台灣，本處新文組亦在現場設置一文宣攤位，陳列有關我國情及參與WHO及台美洽簽自由貿易協定等文宣紀念品，由於展示品如閃亮胸針及支持台灣加入WHO書籤製作精美，不多時即被群眾索取一空，與上述活動T恤共同成為當天現場的「搶先發燒貨」。

Rev 2/15/08