In January 1993, Sinorama caught readers’ attention with a cover photo of a rhinoceros. International conservation groups were highly critical of Taiwan for its use of rhino horn powder in health supplements, which they argued was driving rhinos towards extinction.
The collision of Taiwan’s emerging environmental consciousness and its long-standing folk custom led to heated debate. Sinorama spoke to conservation groups and both domestic and foreign experts to give both sides the opportunity to fully air their positions.
After this initial exploration of environmentalism in Taiwan, in April 1993 Sinorama ran a piece on the tree conservation movement. The article examined awareness of Taiwan’s old trees and the value of preserving them.
With the emergence of environmental awareness, Taiwan’s public became more committed to turning concern for Nature into action. TV ads were suddenly full of phrases like “environment first,” consumers began avoiding products that weren’t “natural,” and “green consumerism,” a movement that began in the UK, came to Taiwan.
Taiwan in the 1990s was a magnet for ideas about social progress. With the seeds of environmentalism planted, action took precedence over talk. If conserving old trees and purchasing green products was important to you, you put those ideals into practice in your everyday life!
The rhino horn controversy led Taiwan to place greater emphasis on conservation and develop greater respect for life, while also giving rise to the “green consumerism” of the 1990s.
The rhino horn controversy led Taiwan to place greater emphasis on conservation and develop greater respect for life, while also giving rise to the “green consumerism” of the 1990s.
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