Progress is slow. It has been effective, just not at the speeds some would like. Prior to Hartzell, foreigners in Taiwan had very few of the rights that we have today. There was definitely no such thing as an APRC for permanent foreign residents.
Maybe a spokesperson with a voice is what is needed?
This is a very common issue amongst first generation immigrants all over the world. They are afraid of losing the life they have built if they cause any trouble. It is not that these things aren’t worth fighting for, it is that they are afraid.
I definitely don’t have all the answers here. I just think that Taiwan is a place that can develop into a more international place that is equally fair to all of its people. And, that this is a worthwhile endeavor.