| 1.Taiwan-seffortstoparticipateinWHAunsuccessfulfor10thtimeThe59thWorldHealthAssembly(WHA)--theannualmeetingoftheWorldHealthOrganization-s(WHO)nearly200memberstates--istakingplaceatthePalaisdesNations,Geneva,May22-27.2.FilmmakersshowofftheirworksatCannesThoughinternationalfilmfestivalshaveproliferatedovertheyears,theCannesFilmFestival,establishedin1939andthisyearrunningadozendaysfromMay17toMay28,remainstheworld-smostprestigious.Thefestivalalsocontinuestobealighteningrodforglobalcontroversyoverwhatisandisnotsociallyacceptableartisticexpression.3.WorldbodiesclingtoahypocriticaloathEveryyear,thegovernmentandpeopleofTaiwanlaunchbidstotakepartintheactivitiesofbodiesliketheUnitedNationsandtheWHO,andeveryyeartheanswerisno.AsstaffwriterRitaFangnotes,thispatternexposesgreathypocrisy.Taiwan-s10thbidforobserverstatusintheWorldHealthAssemblyprovedunsuccessfulMay22whentheissuefailedtomakeitontotheagendaforthe59thWHA.ObserversofTaiwan-slongstandingefforttotakepartintheactivitiesoftheWorldHealthOrganization-shighestdecision-makingbody,includingtheROCMinistryofForeignAffairs,wereanythingbutsurprisedatthenews. |