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Changing Times, NewDirections
It is just as true for us today as it was for Charles Dickens when he
penned the immortal lines:
ņ
These are the worst of times. These are
the best of times.
Ň
We live in a world of great paradox, where poverty
and wealth, democracy and dictatorship stand cheek-by-jowl.
Economic growth and technological development bring us more mate-
rial abundance, more efficiency, and a higher standard of living, yet
injustice and inequality are everywhere in evidence.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said:
ņ
The 21st century
will be a century of peace, in which we put an end to poverty, hunger,
and war.
Ň
Now that the world has become a global village, it is every-
one's obligation to work for the common good of mankind.
The new millennium has thrown nasty surprises and gnarly chal-
lenges our way, such as the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States,
the spread of SARS and other epidemics, and of course war and con-
flict all over the world. These miseries cause untold pain and put peo-
ple in an unsettled state of mind. However, a time of upheaval is the
best time to change the world for the better.
The world needs to change, and change starts with young people.
The new generation of Taiwanese youth must have the ability to com-
municate, the vision, the commitment, the courage, the passion, and
most importantly, the moral fire to create a better future for the country
and the whole world. We believe in Taiwanese youth and recognize
their value and contribution. We are committed to fostering the emer-
gence of an outstanding younger generation with a new outlook on life.
In order to do that, the National Youth Commission has been running a
series of activities and training courses, including professional skills
training, volunteer service, and civic education.
We believe that change should start from our own heart, and that it
cannot be achieved without self-awareness, compassion, and coopera-
tion. Before asking other people to change, we must first demand
change of ourselves. Everyone has a key role to play. Let us take a dif-
ferent approach to our world. We definitely will find that good things
are happening every minute.
Fang-mei Lin
Minister of the National Youth Commission
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Preface