Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/13
By: Li Hsien-feng and Maria Tsai
Taipei Sept. 13 (CNA) For the past four years, Sumi Dongi and other indigenous farmers
Terraced land in eastern coast of Taiwan (Photo courtesy of Sumi Dongi)
have dedicated themselves to bring new life to terraced land in their village that has been increasingly treated as a commodity to sell to investors for commercial use.
Their struggle will soon be brought to the big screen on Sept. 25, and Sumi Dongi said she hopes the production will raise public awareness of the challenges Taiwan’s east coast is facing in protecting the environment.
Sumi Dongi, a member of the Amis tribe who lives in Fengbin Township in Hualien County, said her hometown was once filled with rice fields.
That is changing, however, as residents discouraged by the poor economic prospects of agriculture look to cash in on the growing tourism sector by selling their land to hotel or inn developers. [FULL STORY]
