Ultramarathoner Kevin Lin runs for water in Taipei
2014-09-17
Taiwan ultramarathoner Kevin Lin opened the “Run for Water, Water for Run” exhibition Sept. 12 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei City, spotlighting the growing problem of water shortages.
No one understands the issue better than Lin, who ran across the Sahara Desert in 2006 and along the Silk Road in 2011. “Running along the Silk Road, I did see some standpipes,” Lin said. “Only they were for decoration. Very few of them produce water.”
As for the Gobi Desert Lin ran across last year, he said there is plenty of underground water that has been polluted by nearby industries. Visitors will be able to witness Lin’s 2,300-kilometer, 40-day run across the Gobi on two 350-inch displays at the show.
According to Bruce Cheng, chairman of Delta Electronics Foundation, more than 85 percent of the earth’s population lives in areas subject to drought, and about 6 million to 8 million people died of thirst annually. Moreover, Taiwan ranks 18th globally in water scarcity.
Lin’s 2006 Sahara Desert challenge was made into a documentary by U.S. movie star Matt Damon and entered into film festivals around the world. There are also plans to turn footage from his crossing of the Gobi into another documentary.
Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221690&CtNode=413)