Analyze

“After the founding of the Formosa Petrochemical Mailiao Plant in 1994, Yunlin became a deeply compromised bioregion. It and the nearby townships of Mailiao, Taisi, Dongshih, Lunbei, and Sihhu were threatened by high concentrations of dioxin pollution. Dioxin is a substance that can disrupt endocrine and other hormonal sex changes in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women [...] Cancer and other diseases that are caused or exacerbated by environmental pollution are “political not because either subject—bodies or environment—is inherently political, but rather because of the silence and secrecy surrounding the overlapping intersections of these subjects.” (Chang, Chiung-fang)” (Chang, 2023, p. 169)

“Moreover, the town and region of Taisi, once known for its oyster farming, now suffers from coastal erosion as well as declining fish populations, which is due to acidification of the oceans. The adjacent town of Mailiao was once filled with fish farms and now is comprised of an industrial park, concentration camp like dormitories for Thai and Filipino laborers, the KTV chamuro (a tea house, karaoke bar, and a place where prostitution may clandestinely occur), and betel-nut stalls (Wu and Wu 66). Financial compensation was given to Mailiao in return for the building of Sixth Naphtha Cracker Plant. Although Taisi does not receive any compensation (Wu and Wu 70), cancer does not bypass Taisi and adjoining towns. Research indicates that local residents in Mailiao and Taisi are exposed to high levels of pollution from the Sixth Naphtha Cracker Plant (Wu and Wu 49–50).” (Chang, 2023, p. 169)

In our group we had Dr. Jessica Sewell come speak to us a little while ago about her book Women and the Everyday City and we landed on the topic of “imaginaries of space” for a long time. And the visual politics of space- so how do we notice things? What do we notice? What seems out of place or in place. Thinking about how imaginaries make certain presences completely invisible (thinking here about gendered labor, black labor, and more). And how powerful imaginaries are, how they intersect with our construction of language. But also how resistance can work with these imaginaries.. thinking about women’s sort of take over of dept stores during the suffrage movement as an extension of their private space, a space for organizing. This is long winded way of trying to think through COVID-19 national models in the context of national imaginaries. What has been puzzling me is so many Americans’ response to the Swedish model of governing in Covid and how imaginaries of Sweden have been warped in such a way that there is a complete erasure of how xenophobic policies have gained traction in Sweden in recent years.