My 800 Chain-Smoking Neighbors

9-year-old seamstress, Hong Xiu-ju, and her 62-year-old retired civil servant husband, Huang Yi-ying, live in the shadow of Kaohsiung's heavy-polluting Linhai Industrial Zone.

Unlike most people of their age who are kicking back after decades of hard work and enjoying their golden years, Xiu-ju and her husband have been left with no option but to become eco-warriors fighting Taiwan's cunning polluters.

In this episode, we hear what it's like to be on the front line of battling air pollution in Taiwan; why the pollution demons only come out in the dead of night; and what it feels like to be forcibly uprooted from the place you love.

Host

Hong Xiu-ju:The couple's environmental protests, my daughter asked if it's dangerous and if I'd be attacked. I'm not worried about such things. My son even said to me "How long will you continue?" "What's your stop loss limit?" I said, "What's a stop loss limit?" Wen Hai-chen in Taipei said she protested from being a mother to a grandma. I said, "Damn!" "Will I protest from grandma to great grandma?

Huang Yi-ying:The more you read and know the more dirty government tricks you find. With Xiu-ju in the anti-air pollution ranks the movement began to liven up. I am glad to have such a wonderful wife.

Huang Shi-ji:I hope Yi-ying and Xiu-ju take care themself.

Huang Lin-xiang:I said to Xiu-ju "You're powerless. It's useless." "Why trouble yourselves." "Why make yourselves so busy? Running around from dawn till dusk. Rushed off their feet. Rushing here and there Grandma began agreeing with the protests and also joined anti-air pollution protests.

Guest

Huang Kuo-chang:When Xiu-ju saw her husband getting involved she joined the ranks too. What surprised me more is that Grandma went from worrying for their safety to getting involved and walking with them. I'll be absolutely honest I still haven't been able to achieve this. Because regarding my parents my main aim at the moment is just keeping them from worrying.