Getting Pacific

20: How do our clothes affect the environment?

While you may be paying a low price for clothes produced as "fast fashion", the real price falls upon textile workers and our environment. 
Joey and Trevor chat about the advantages of a circular textile economy, the waste produced by major international brands, and where old clothes should go when we're done with them.
In this episode, we spoke to representatives from two companies trying to make a difference in the field of sustainable fashion:
https://www.threadingchange.org/
https://viasweat.com/
 

19: How fast can a country learn English?

Taiwan's "Bilingual by 2030" policy, set in motion in 2017, aims to achieve a Taiwanese society fluent in both Chinese and English by the end of the decade. With this ambitious undertaking, the government hopes to more deeply connect Taiwan's workforce with the world, and to attract more international businesses to Taiwan.
Now that we're around seven years into this ambitious task, how is it going?
As mentioned in this episode, Taiwan's Ministry of Education has provided online resources for anyone interested in teaching English in Taiwan:
https://tfetp.epa.ntnu.edu.tw/en/tfetp/web/apply_now
And more English-learning resources can be found on the Hope English website:
https://www.hopenglish.com

18: Cicada Season Begins: What can we do about the world's loudest insect?

Around the end of April and the beginning of May, parts of North America are set to see two different broods of cicadas wake up at once. It's a dual emergence between groups that meet only once every 221 years.
Trevor and Joey chat about the upcoming emergence event, why cicadas sleep for such exact amounts of time, and how the harmless insect has evolved to overcome even its toughest predators.

17: How big is the audience for Chinese-language music?

Mandarin pop music, or "Mandopop," is seeing increased listening in Taiwan, as one of the country's most famous musicians recently made history with global album sales. So, how does this affect the wider acceptance of music in Chinese, and how willing are people to listen to music in languages they don't understand?

16: Are we really prepared for earthquakes?

The earthquake that hit Taiwan in 1999 caused a staggering 2,400 deaths, while this month's earthquake of almost the same magnitude killed 13. While we strive to avoid any number of casualties at all, the difference in casualties is still remarkable. What changed, and are we really prepared for more?

15: What does geothermal power have to do with earthquakes?

Geothermal power is the second form of renewable energy we're looking into, and comes with its own set of merits and challenges. Getting green energy from kilometers underground is no easy feat, but more and more countries are doing it.
Trevor and Joey go over a bit of the science behind geothermal power stations, why geothermal energy is strongest in specific parts of the world, and whether it's work the risk of investment.

14: Do some traditions need to change?

With cultural origins dating back thousands of years, Tomb Sweeping Day is a time for families to gather and pay respects to their ancestors. But could some traditions have a negative impact on the environment?
Joey and Trevor chat about honoring ancestors across different cultures, how the accompanying practices have changed with time, and what people are doing to find a balance between tradition and climate consciousness.

13: Are we pushing students too hard?

A growing number of students around the world are reporting feelings of exhaustion in school, but just how tired does a student have to be before they can take a mental health day?
Joey and Trevor look into which countries have the toughest education systems, how overdigitalization in the classroom can adversely affect student performance, and how some experimental school systems are attempting to improve learning conditions.

12: How long can good healthcare last?

It's no secret that some healthcare systems seem to function more effectively than others, but even some of the world's most-praised systems face their own share of obstacles.
This week, Joey and Trevor compare their experiences with healthcare in Asia and North America, share some insight into the price of health, and look into the cost of moving forward.

11: Migrant Workers' Rights: What makes a better life for everyone?

Every year, millions of people from Southeast Asia brave harsh working conditions and exploitative systems in search of stable work and better lives.
Trevor and Joey look into where most of the region's migrant workers are coming from, where they're going, and the changes they're struggling to achieve.