英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

台北市士林區凌晨12點半發生規模4的地震，讓不少人擔心自己的住家是不是禁得起搖晃！國研院國家地震工程研究中心就設計出全球第一款「街屋耐震資訊網」，只要輸入家中數據， 系統會自動計算台灣33條斷層，對你家的房子會不會造成影響。

地震來臨，你家的房子耐震嗎？其實只要一把捲呎，就可以上網「算」出來！

首先測量牆的長度，接著測量柱子的長和寬，接著就可以進入「街屋耐震資訊網」，選擇住家類型、樓層，輸入剛量的數據，按下計算鈕，不到2秒，系統就會算出。

[[國震中心助理研究員 邱聰智]]
“這棟建築物如果落在比較偏紅色區塊，代表耐震安全可能是有疑慮的，如果落在比較偏綠色區塊，代表耐震安全是無疑慮的”

921大地震後, 國研院國家地震工程研究中心，開始協助校舍耐震能力評估，把數據應用在住家，設計出全球第一個街屋耐震資訊網，適用於5層樓以下的建物。

Wednesday’s earthquake led many people to consider the structural safety of their home. The National Earthquake Engineering Research Center has a website that makes it easy to predict what would happen to your building in a quake. 

How will your home respond to an earthquake? All you need is a tape measure and an internet connection to quickly determine your building’s ability to resist an earthquake. 

First, measure the length of walls, and next the length and width of columns. Enter all this information into a special website and choose the type of residence, the floor and other data. A calculation is made in seconds.

Chiu Tsung-chih
Earthquake Researcher
If the structure falls into this red area, it may be vulnerable to seismic shocks. If you fall into the green area, there are no safety concerns. 

After the 921 earthquake, the National Earthquake Engineering Research Center began conducting seismic assessments for schools and dormitories. It hopes to make its research and expertise available to people living in Taiwan’s older, five-floor residences so they can understand the structural safety of their homes.

今天凌晨12點31分，台北發生芮氏規模4.0有感地震，有民眾擔心，這是否代表大屯火山的爆發前兆，但氣象局保證，這次地震是火山岩漿冷卻之後，熱漲冷縮導致地層塌陷，並不代表，大屯火山開始活躍起來了。後續還會密切觀察！

監視器畫面，清楚紀錄下，周三凌晨12點31分，台北士林區，26年來，最天搖地動那一刻。

儘管這回地震，芮氏規模只有4.0，但震央罕出現在大屯火山區，造成台北出現4級震度。這也是士林歷年來，規模第三大地震，居民憂心大屯火山，是否又開始活躍起來。

[[台大地質系教授 陳宏宇]]
“這種微地動啊，大概是一般應力釋放裡頭一個比較正面的意義，這個並沒有告訴我們火山有什麼活動的現象”

根據地震中心統計，過去50年來，大屯火山區平均1到3年，就會出現規模3的地震，但芮氏規模4以上地震，之前記錄只有2次，但地震中心主任要大家別擔心。

[[氣象局地震中心主任 郭鎧紋]]
“我在這邊跟大家保證，大屯火山目前完全沒有要噴發的這種跡象，主要是岩漿在冷卻的過程中，會產生一些空隙，(地殼)就稍微往下掉，那其實這樣一個岩漿冷卻過程 應力調整 每天都在進行”

由於日前新竹也曾發生群震，有人認為這是北台灣地質活躍的象徵，地震中心表示，這沒有直接相關，而且新竹地震是板塊推擠，兩者成因不同。

Experts say fears of a destructive seismic or volcanic event occurring in northern Taiwan are overblown. Area residents were rattled shortly after midnight Wednesday when a magnitude 4 earthquake struck the Taipei area. 

From this monitor you can clearly see a quake take place Wednesday at half past midnight. It was the largest tremor to shake Taipei’s Shilin District in 26 years.

Although the earthquake was only magnitude 4.0, the epicenter was Mt. Datun, which is very near Taipei. It was the third largest tremor recorded in the Shilin area, leading some residents to worry that Mt. Datun may become active again.

Chen Hong-yu
National Taiwan University
This mini-earthquake is probably just a general release of stress. I think it’s quite a positive phenomenon and doesn’t indicate there is any volcanic activity.

According to the Central Weather Bureau’s Seismology Center, over the past 50 years, Mt. Datun saw a magnitude 3 earthquake every one to three years. However, there have only been two magnitude 4 or higher earthquakes. Despite this, local seismologists are not concerned. 

Kuo Kai-wen
CWB Seismology Center
I guarantee that Mt. Datun will not experience a volcanic eruption. It is undergoing magma cooling, which has produced some gaps, causing the (earth’s crust) to fall. This magma cooling results in daily stress adjustment.

Hsinchu has also recently experienced seismic activity, leading some to worry northern Taiwan may soon face a geological disaster. The Seismology Center says that the Hsinchu and Datun events are unrelated and there is no reason for concern.

民進黨黨主席蘇貞昌上午終於鬆口，表態尋求黨魁連任。這場黨主席之爭，已經有謝長廷表態，蔡英文也考慮投入。

看到民進黨主席蘇貞昌，雲林農博的遊客喜出望外，有人打氣相挺，蘇貞昌滿臉笑容，鬆口表態尋求黨主席連任。

[[民進黨主席 蘇貞昌]]
黨主席，我現在就在位置上，我就在做這個工作，大家看得出來，我沒有分心，沒有二心，而有這個決心。

正式表態角逐黨魁，他也宣告，年底大選成敗，將一肩扛起。

[民進黨主席 蘇貞昌]]
做為政黨領袖，做為黨主席，當然要對黨的成敗負責，像我做為民進黨的主席，負責提名，就要負責輔選，也要對成敗負責。

五月的黨主席改選，謝長廷、蘇貞昌接連表態，日前蔡英文也表達慎重考慮，三人的競逐態勢幾乎成定局。但是對於外界解讀，謝長廷打算拉攏蔡英文，分別參選黨主席和總統，制衡蘇貞昌，謝長廷有話要說。

[[前行政院長 謝長廷]]
這樣講起來好像有刻板印象，我們聯手在對付一個人，我想這也不是事實啦。我們有崇高的理想，但是必須透過混濁的現實去實現，不要把每個人都拖下來 要去分工，分工成大事。

謝長廷強調，黨內不會因為選舉而分裂，三人相互競合的關係，牽動民進黨如何贏得2014，以及未來重返執政之路。

A comment today from Su Tseng-chang suggests that he will seek another term as DPP chairman. Su would join former Premier Frank Hsieh in the race. Former Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen has not stated whether she will run. 

Visitors to the Yunlin Agriculture Expo were delighted to see Su Tseng-chang, and Su was happy to see them. Comments he made about his commitment to serving as DPP chairman were interpreted as Su revealing that he will seek another term leading the party.

Su Tseng-chang
DPP Chairman
I am the party chairman now. I am doing this job, and everyone can see that I am focused on it, without any distractions. My approach is not half-hearted. It is resolute.

Su said he would shoulder the blame if the DPP performs poorly in year-end elections.

Su Tseng-chang
DPP Chairman
As party leader and chairman, of course I am responsible for success or failure. As DPP chairman, I nominate candidates and assist with their campaigns. So I am responsible for the results.

The next chairperson will be selected in May. Besides Su, former Premier Frank Hsieh has said he will run, and former Chairwoman Tsai Ying-wen says she is considering entering the race. There are also reports that Hsieh plans to support Tsai in the race for chairperson and president in 2016, as a way of checking Su’s power. Hsieh had this to say about the apparent rift.

Frank Hsieh
Former Premier
This kind of comment sounds like a stereotype, as if we are joining to confront a single person. I don’t believe this is the reality. We hold ourselves to a higher ideal, but to achieve it, still must confront the messiness of reality. We can’t just drag people down. We must distribute tasks to achieve great things.

Hsieh insists that races and elections will not lead to a split within the party. He and the other contenders for chairperson hope that the DPP can win local elections later this year and return to power in 2016.

陸委會主委王郁琦在南京的第二天，到中山陵向國父孫中山謁靈，這是1949年以來，首度有中華民國官員到訪，王郁琦不僅在這裡，提及自己陸委會主委的官方身份，還明講中華民國。

這回不是跟著馬總統在台灣遙祭國父孫中山，陸委會主委王郁琦，到南京中山陵謁靈。

王郁琦這趟，可是中華民國政府遷台以來，首度有官員回到國民政府撤退前的首都南京。

[[陸委會主委 王郁琦]]
“中華民國已經103年了，過去，我們只能在台北遙祭國父陵，今天，我能以陸委會主委的身份，親臨此地，向國父致敬，我內心感到非常的高興，今後，最重要的問題，是海峽雙方，應該正視兩岸的現實，務實地面對問題，解決問題，才能建構長遠、穩固的兩岸關係”

行前雖然傳出國台辦劃紅線，要王郁琦不要提中華民國，但王郁琦不僅說了，還點名自己這趟，跟國民黨榮譽黨主席連戰吳伯雄，以黨員身份謁靈的不同。

For the first time since the Republic of China government came to Taiwan, a Cabinet-level official has paid respects to Sun Yat-sen at his Nanjing mausoleum. During the visit, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi used his official title and Taiwan’s official name, in spite of apparent requests from Beijing that he refrain from these sensitive topics. 

In the past while in Taipei, Wang Yu-chi accompanied President Ma Ying-jeou in paying tribute to Sun Yat-sen. This time, Wang was able to get much closer to the ROC founder.

Wang is the first sitting Cabinet-level official of Taiwan to visit Nanjing since the ROC left its former capital.

Wang Yu-chi
Mainland Affairs Council Minister
The ROC is already 103 years old. In the past, we could only pay tribute to the tomb of our nation’s father from afar in Taipei. Today, I can personally visit to offer my respects, using the title of Mainland Affairs Council minister. I am delighted. From today onward, what’s most important is that the two sides of the (Taiwan) Strait directly face the reality of the cross-strait situation. We must pragmatically handle and solve problems. Only then can we build a cross-strait relationship with long-term stability.

Before leaving Taiwan, there were rumors that Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office insisted that Wang refrain from using Taiwan’s official name. By doing so, Wang stands apart from other figures who visited the mausoleum in their capacity as KMT honorary chairmen, including Lien Chan and Wu Poh-hsiung.

元宵節南台灣的重頭戲，台南鹽水蜂炮在今天上午正式啟炮，不過，受到寒流和下雨的雙重影響，鞭炮被打濕，導致啟炮儀式點了四次才將炮引燃。這次陣頭中還特別邀請到廣西的雜技團，4名5歲小朋友站在一層樓高的金龍，不斷揮手，宛如電動花車，十分特殊。

遙控直升機拉起長串鞭炮，台南鹽水蜂炮周四上午正式啟炮。不過，受到濕冷天氣影響，鞭炮被打濕，點了四次才成功。

遊客全副武裝，站在炮城前，任由蜂炮往身上炸。但由於每個人的衣服幾乎都已經被淋濕，炮炸在身上的威力似乎也減弱不少。

啟炮之後，各路神明和陣頭也開始遶境，還有廣西來的雜技團，4名只有5歲大的小朋友站在一層樓高的金龍上，不斷的向民眾揮手，完全沒有露出恐懼的表情。

由於這次元宵節正好是西洋情人節，也有廟宇推出LOVE造型的炮城。

新營客運也免費載運遊客前往鹽水，司機還扮成財神爺，發送口罩給乘客防煙硝味。這兩天的鹽水居民想必會因為蜂炮而精神奕奕。

One of Taiwan’s great folk celebrations is the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, where the brave are able to stand in front of walls stocked with thousands of firecrackers. This year’s festival began today in the southern city of Tainan. 

A remote control helicopter flew into the air carrying a long string of firecrackers. It was meant to help start the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival with a bang, but the wet weather made it hard to light. After four tries, the attempt had to be abandoned.

Visitors dressed in full protective gear stand in front of walls of firecrackers. They put up with the pain to join in the celebration. Fortunately for them, the rain that soaked their clothes eased some of the force of the firecrackers.

As the firecrackers are lit, religious followers carry replicas of gods through the streets. An acrobatic team from Guangxi took part. Four of its members who are just 5 years of age waved to the crowd from atop a large golden dragon. Despite the height, they showed no fear.

Because Lantern Festival this year happens to fall on Valentine’s Day, a temple made a mobile firecracker wall into the shape of the word “love.”

The Sinying Bus Company is taking visitors to Yanshui free of charge. This bus driver dressed as the God of Wealth gave away free masks that tourists can use to protect themselves from the firecracker smoke. Everyone in this normally sleepy Tainan District is getting into the spirit of the occasion.