ICRT BreakDown ICRT

Ep. 4: Net Zero by 2050
Hot topic alert! Join our hosts Tim and Paz and their guest, James Wang（王漢英）, Vice President and General Director of Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories at ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute). Learn what Net Zero means, what Taiwan’s strategies and efforts to achieve Net Zero by 2050 are, and how you – yes, you! – can contribute. Then find out whether greenwash and *carbon footprint *are this episode’s cat’s meows or pet peeves!* *
—Vocabulary
renewable（能源）可再生的 (adj)
Taiwan is moving away from fossil fuels, but it faces constraints such as limited land or offshore areas when seeking potential sites for renewable energy projects.
emit排出 (v.)
The infrastructure that supports a growing array of digital services emits 1% of energy-related greenhouse gases; this must be halved by 2030 to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
transition過渡；轉變 (n.)
A just transition to Net-Zero emissions by 2050 is an integral part of Taiwan’s Climate Change Response Act; based on respect for human rights, it leaves no one behind.
resolve解決 (v.)
An important social issue that must be resolved well before a renewable energy project breaks ground is the project’s impact on the lives and livelihoods of nearby inhabitants.
carbon footprint碳足跡（個人活動所產生的二氧化碳的份量） (n.)
To reduce our carbon footprints, we need to assess the amount of greenhouse gases we produce by the activities we do, the products we have, and the services we use.

Ep. 3: 2024 Bamboo Expo and World Bamboo Congress

Bamboo… so old-school, isn’t it? Well, no! Join Tim, Paz, and Dr. Ying-pin Huang, a Manager at the Industrial Technology Research Institute's Central Region Campus who works on bamboo technologies. Bamboo… technologies? Yes! There’s no bamboozling going on here! Find out about some bamboo applications that can help us achieve a sustainable world. Hear about the 2024 Bamboo Expo and the World Bamboo Congress. Then discover what Tim, Paz, and Dr. Huang think of to miss the forest for the trees, mycelium,* *and *infinity.*

—Vocabulary

resilient 有彈性的，有適應性的 (adj.)
Bamboo, which is resilient against storms and droughts, has extensive root systems that can control soil erosion and stabilize slopes in landslide-prone areas.

primitive 原始的 (adj.)
A seemingly primitive, no-tech bamboo product, biochar, a type of charcoal, contains carbon captured from the atmosphere; when added to soil, biochar enriches it and creates a carbon sink.

multiple 由許多部份組成的，多樣的 (adj.)
The 2024 Bamboo Expo and the World Bamboo Congress, with the theme of “Next-Generation Bamboo,” is being held at multiple venues to showcase Taiwan’s bamboo culture and industries.

limitation 限制，侷限 (n.)
Although bamboo has been used in many ways for thousands of years, there seems to be no limitation except for imagination on the applications researchers are discovering for it.

Ep. 2: Lantern Festival Baiming Carnival
Get a glimpse into the fascinating Matsu Islands’ Lantern Festival with Tim, Paz, and their guest, Matsu YouTuber Chami. Chami champions Matsu’s culture and dialect on her show, 掐米亜店, and you’ll learn some words that describe features of the festival procession perfectly: 擺暝 (pē màng / pě màng), 碗燕 (uāng iěng / uang ngiěng), 拍鼓板 (phák kū pēing / phǎh kú bēing), 迎神 (ngiàng sìng / ngiǎng nìng). You’ll want to see it for yourself! Finally, find out what Tim, Paz, and Chami think about the terms have receipts, dialect, and beat!
—Vocabulary
dedication致力，奉獻 (n.)；subtitle 字幕 (n.)
Chami’s dedication to using the Matsu dialect in her videos is great, but since not many people know it, she adds Mandarin subtitles to make her content more accessible.
procession 行列，隊伍 (n.)
People following the festival procession know what section of the route it’s on since each features different musical instruments; a change means a different god is visiting.
interaction 互動 (n.)
In one captivating part of the Baiming procession, the deity palanquins weave and spin together as if in greeting; we can only imagine what the gods say in these interactions.
nap 午睡，小睡 (n.)；insight 見解 (n.)
On the 29th day of the first lunar month, you can take a nap at a temple; if you dream, dream interpreters can help you see if your dreams provide insights into your problems.
embody 體現，使具體化 (v.)
Chami’s favorite term in the Matsu dialect is "拍鼓板" (phák kū pēing / phǎh kú bēing)
because the traditional drumbeat embodies the spirit of Matsu’s celebrations for her.

Do you ever wonder what’s behind the delicious parade of fruit and vegetables you eat throughout the year? Join BreakDown hosts Tim and Paz and their guest Leo, host of the podcast “農遊超市Farmtour Market,” to find out. Discover how this rice farmer is showing people aspects of agriculture in interesting, creative ways. Then hear if reap what you sow, hydroponics, aquaculture, aquaponics, and duck are pet peeves or cat’s meows to them!

Vocabulary
fundamental 基礎的，基本的 （adj.）
Agriculture, fundamental to most economies and societies, faces huge increases in demand, space and water scarcity, climate change, and other critical challenges.

sustainable （對環境沒有損害或損害很小因而）可持續的，能長期維持的 （adj.）
A bird-loving rice farmer in Yilan convinced other local farmers to join him in growing organic rice, started an organic rice brand, and organized recreational tours on his farm, creating a sustainable business for the birds’ sake.

prosperous 繁榮的;富裕的 (adj.)
People gift tiny sweet and sour kumquats to wish the recipient a prosperous new year; the fruit is such a symbol of wealth that there’s a kumquat museum in Yilan County!

sow 播種，種 (v.)
The Lunar New Year is an important time of the year for rice farmers, whose paddies collectively cover just over seven percent of Taiwan; it’s when they sow their crops.

fulfilling 令人愉快滿足的 (adj.)
Connecting with agriculture in some way, such as going on a farm tour and meeting local farmers and eating the food they produce, can be a fulfilling experience.

Have a seat with BreakDown hosts Tim and Paz and their guest Peggy, Deputy Director of the Curatorial and Planning Center at Skills for U. Discover what Skills for U does, what the Taiwan Technical and Vocational Education and Training Conference features, why technical and vocational training and jobs are important, and what role English plays. Then learn about these terms: a jack of all trades and a master of none, MOOCs, and empower.
—Vocabulary
bilingual 雙語的 (adj.)
A highly skilled workforce with many bilingual vocational and technical workers will contribute to raising Taiwan’s international competitiveness.
corporate 公司的；團體的 (adj.)
One challenge in vocational education that corporate ESG and CSR initiatives could address is providing resources for programs that lack up-to-date knowledge and equipment.
Note: ESG - environmental, social, and corporate governance; CSR - corporate social responsibility
sector 部門 (n.)
The conference aims to break down silos in Taiwan’s vocational and technical education ecosystem by encouraging communication between the government, nonprofit, industry, and education sectors within it.
incorporate包含；加上 (v.)
Vocational and technical schools are incorporating English into their programs, helping to make the language alive and relevant for students, teachers, and Taiwan’s society.
vocational 職業的 (adj.)
In a society that values education and professional careers, many parents discourage their children from pursuing a vocational job, not realizing that these jobs can be highly satisfying and that they also contribute to a healthy economy.
https://bit.ly/3GtvKZ4

Are you a fan of Chinese-language movies? Join the crowd! Get comfortable with hosts Tim and Paz and their guest, XXY, host of XXY梗你看電影, which covers everything related to movies. Learn what differences are disguised by the common comparison of the Golden Horse Awards to the Academy Awards. Find out what the range of nominated films and people reflects, and more. Then discover some interesting cat’s meows, pet peeves, and borrowed terms: popcorn, blockbuster, MacGuffin, schadenfreude, and deus ex machina!
—Vocabulary
nickname綽號 (n.)
XXY’s nickname is not related to the movie of the same name or to a chromosomal anomaly; it’s an abbreviation created by the initials of the pinyin reading of his Chinese name.
dialect方言 (n.)
The Golden Horse Awards used to be exclusively for movies only in Mandarin, but in recent years, the Awards has become more inclusive and now considers Mandarin-based movies that include regional and indigenous dialects.
essence本質；實質 (n.)
The current crop of films with numerous nominations epitomizes the evolution of the narrative essence of Taiwanese cinema towards more serious themes.
nominate 提名 (v.)
“Snow in Midsummer”, the film nominated in nine categories at this year’s Golden Horse Awards, is a collaborative effort between Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore.
marching orders逐客令 (n.)
After an actor slapped a presenter at last year’s Academy Awards, the Academy gave him his marching orders, banning him from attending its events for ten years.
MacGuffin麥高芬（指推動電影情節發展，但本身並不重要的細節）(n.)
MacGuffin and deus ex machina are both names of plot devices that serve to move a story along, hopefully without confusing or alienating the audience.