Taiwan

Do you think Britain will be more self sufficient rather than relying heavily on imported goods? For example we've lost numerous car manufacturers, Cadburys and steel works to foreign companies. The NHS imports the vast majority of its food for patients. We buy our lamb from New Zealand and our toys/plastics/cheap furniture/electronics from China, Japan and Taiwan. Obviously some imports are necessary, such as fruit and veg that need a hot climate, but do you think Britain will ever become more self sufficient, or do we rely too heavily on the finance and banking industries?

Regurgitating food and constipation? I Have been having stomach problems for over10 years. I am 30 years old. I have spoken to doctors about it in the past, but they seem to relatively ignore the problem and say that some people are just not that regular or that I have IBS. They generally prescribe me laxatives and fibre supplements which don't really seem to work + I do not want to be reliant on laxatives. I have a pretty healthy diet, lots of fruit & veg but the problem seems to presist. The constipation varies in severity - at it's worse I don't go for up to 3 weeks. But generally it's about 10 days between bowel movements and even then it's not huge. I always feel bloated and often stuffed (but still hungry). Often I get stomach cramps about 1 hr before I need to go. The stools themselves vary between being very dark and solid to being quite green. And lately it's been very slimy (mucous) I don't generally get heart burn - just a feeling like food is blocked in my chest. The other big problem is constant regurgitation generally after eating food or having a drink. This can continue for up to several hours after eating/drinking or first thing in the morning. It is regurgitation as opposed to vomiting - I get about 1/2 seconds warning. Ok this sounds very gross but because I'm so used to it, it doesn't really bother me that much (most of the time) and what's worse is I often rechew and swallow the undigested food (it takes normal) Sometimes however it's very acidic, particularly if it's liquid. Also lately the liquid is quite foamy. I also can get dizzy and sometimes earaches - not sure whether associated. And have occasionally seen blood in my stool and particles of food that don't look fully digested. I have spoken to GP,s but have been relatively ignored and because I move countries a lot often don't have time to spend seeing the same doctor. I am currently living in Taiwan and medical treatment here is super cheap - but most importantly you can go straight to the hospital and see a specialist without an appointment (no being on a waiting list for 9mths -like back home) I have since been to a specialist here who ordered an x-ray said I was clogged up and gave me medication and more laxatives. If this does not work I'm to go back in a week for a endoscopy. I will go for this regardless as I really want to know what the underlying problem is. He has not done any blood test - (I have had low iron in past) I would like some advice on what test I should be asking for -as now is the opportunity to get it all resolved. I am also afraid that the Taiwanese like to over medicate - I don't want to be taking too many drugs that could potential cause other problems.

Am I the only one who has problems with these commercials for saving impoverished children from the 3rd world? Hold your eggs, I have no problems with helping the less fortunate, but over the years, I have seen all these tear jerking commercials by the Christian Children's fund or whatever they are showing all these starved kids with blank looks in their eyes pleading for sponsorship of their living and education expenses. My question is: why is that their own countries/governments have not been able to do what they are supposed to do for their own people? why is that they just couldn't get their acts together even though they are rich with natural resources? I am from Taiwan, a mountainous Island with very limited natural resources and little flat land for growing food, and on top of all, with Communist China breathing down our neck for over five decades. Our farmers have developped fast growing/bigger yielding crops of all kinds of food/fruits crops over the years, and you don't see commercials with kids from Taiwan looking hungry into the camera pleading for help the really upsetting thing is that countries of these starving kids have been more interested in getting aid money into the officials' own pockets than spending it on improving the living condition of their citizens. Don't forget, Taiwan gets the Typhoons(hurricanes), Earthquakes that the rest of asian countries get "EVERY YEAR". and the land slides and floods and loss of crops and power that come with. I wasn't really thinking about Africa but more about countries like The Phillipines, etc. but if you want to talk about Africa, a classmate of mine was with the peace corp in one of the African countries and she remembered that once she and the residents of some village had to walk miles to get drinking water. And on their way to the water source, they went past a government officials mansion. There was a big sparkling swimming pool inside the residence of this official, while the people in the village walked miles to get drinking water!! Jennifer, Obviously, you know every little about Taiwan. We had Democracy before Lee, and he had very very little to do with the great foundation that was built before him. Matter of fact, he turned out to be a power grabbing Jerk. Taiwan has what it has because. The foresights of policies put in place by the two presidents Chiang. Lee Teng Hui had nothing to do with the Education or the land transferring policies. Taiwanese people are smart, well-educated, hard working, innovative and open minded. Lee Teng Hui is nothing but a bleep on the radar. Give me a break!!

I've had enough with my aunt living with me!? I'm 13 and my aunt moved in 7 years ago when I was 6 cause she had no where to go (my family came from Taiwan and all of my mom's siblings came to the U.S., though I was born here.) But anyways, I'm just tired of having her living with us. It's one thing to see a family member (other than mom and dad) once a year, but then its another to live with one for 6 years (unless you like having that family member). At first when she came here I actually enjoyed her staying here (cause I love seeing my family members), but this got WAY out of hands. I understand she doesn't have the kind of money to live in somewhere fancy, but she is living in a city that she can only afford 20+ year old houses (which she dislikes). She doesn't want to live with her other sister up in Washington cause she thinks its too cold so she prefers southern california. But up in Washington she can actually afford that area but she dislikes the weather up there. OK so far it looks fine right? Well it ain't done yet. At home she RARELY and I mean RARELY buys food for the household. She just consumes whatever that's in the fridge or cabinet all she wants. And when she DOES buy groceries, she buys probably just fruits that are actually on sale. Ya people like on sale stuff but she literally "relies" on it. It's as if she can afford to spend an extra penny. Yet she goes out to buy clothes and shoes when she already has about 15 pairs of shoes and about 30-50 sets of clothes. You'd think during the free time she would probably go find a way to move into her own house right? WRONG as well. During the weekend she hangs out with her boyfriend and most of the time its the boyfriend that drives down to where we live and that takes about 40 min. and A LOT OF GAS (since he drives a pickup truck). She rarely drives her own car (mainly just to go to work) so she can save as much gas as possible. You know how unfair that is? I don't think ANYONE wants to drive that far all the time just to see a friend. It would be reasonable if each week they take turn of who goes where but this is just ridiculous. Oh yea, she goes out and parties all day (or night) and comes home around 2 AM. I feel despicable/annoyed. I know you may be thinking, just do think that much about it but COME ON, 6 years of this is long enough. It's time she moved on. She's thought about moving into a house of her own but she decides to stay with us which I can understand since she DOES NOT have to buy FOOD and DOES NOT PAY FOR FOOD when going to parties. I know living on Earth can be great and all, but this is NOT Heaven. If it was I wouldn't be explaining about this. By the way she HAS to put makeup (even though it looks the same without it) and the smell goes around my room all the time (cause its right next to the bathroom/sink and there she does her makeup). It is just AWFUL living with her. By the way she hogs the TV at a certain hour when my friend comes over and we play Playstation 3. If it wasn't for our kindness to bring her in she would LITERALLY BE HOMELESS. So share your opinion about this.