Waves are their sky, and trawler deck their land.
Not nigh is the sea that fishermen survey, but distant.
—Zeng Yuanyao, “Railroad Alley Days”

A National Chengchi University Golden Melody Award is something many music-loving students aspire to, and generations of singers and songwriters first made their marks with one. 2021 will be the 38th year of the awards, giving them a longer history than the Ministry of Culture’s Golden Melody Awards. The works submitted by contestants are increasingly diverse in style, and there is a rich offering of seminars and performances during the awards period.

He made his first crème brûlée when he was in fifth grade. At senior high school, he made apple pies to heal his broken heart when a relationship came to an end. At age 18 he put aside his studies to start his own business. He set up shop at the age of 21. At 24 he closed his flourishing enterprise and went to Taitung to become a volunteer. He is Huang Jie, pâtissier.

Whether for health reasons, out of compassion for animals, or as a dietary exer­cise to cleanse mind and body, a person’s journey to becoming vege­tarian helps them to develop their own unique philosophy on life.

Mountains are a treasure trove. For Shen Enmin, to go into the mountains is to dispel perplexities, to cast a fresh eye on himself, and to reevaluate his priorities.

These vegetarian restaurants don’t base their appeal on health or sustainability, but rather try to stimulate and dazzle the taste buds, so that patrons are bowled over by the deli­cious flavors of their fare.

A passage in the Li Yun chapter of The Classic of Rites describes a time in which “people loved not just their own parents, nor just their own children. The aged were provided for until their death; the able-bodied had work; and the young, the opportunity to grow up. There was care for widows, widowers, orphans, childless elderly people, and people suffering from illness.”

Beyond Meat, the American maker of meat substitutes, was established in 2009. Since then, Taiwan has seen the rise of a new kind of vegetarianism, one not limited to certain religious groups, but that also extends to people who adopt it for reasons related to health, the environment, or a love for animals.

Taiwanese brands and professionals want to go international. Foreign startup teams want to establish businesses in Taiwan. Unfortunately, starting a business in a foreign land can be challenging, with obstacles ranging from different languages, legal systems and cultures, to the availability of qualified staff. Each can be a headache for new entrepreneurs.

This is a social movement without tensions and clamor. In place of accusations and criticism, you find mirth and a sense of duty. Instead of preaching and protesting, you get your message across through the watchwords “Health, Environment, and Sustain­ability.” This is the vegetarian movement, and it is a global trend.