“You scream, I scream, we all scream for…CLEAN AIR!”

That’s right, this summer Clean Air Network (CAN) is partnering up with Ben & Jerry’s to promote clean air awareness!

We are hosting a drawing competition so children can draw their artistic impressions of Hong Kong’s air.  Winners of the drawings will receive special ice-cream prizes from Ben & Jerry’s! While we see this as a chance to stimulate creativity, this is, more importantly, an opportunity to educate children about the hazardous air pollution conditions in Hong Kong.  Through these impressions we seek to better understand the younger generation’s views on how air pollution impacts their community.

CAN will be distributing worksheets to schools around Hong Kong to promote this fun learning opportunity about air pollution.  We ask that, as leaders of educational institutions, you encourage your students to get involved in this fun summer activity!!

Entry Requirements

Contestants should:

• Be 18 or younger;
• Submit only one drawing.

Guidelines/Options for Drawing Submissions

Drawings should:

• Must be hand drawn (no use of glued paper or cut-outs or glitter)
• Be an original artwork about clean air and air pollution in Hong Kong.
• Be A4 size.
  Have the Clean Air Network logo drawn on it (the CAN logo can be downloaded from this link. Please view and copy by hand accordingly).
• Demonstrate an understanding of Hong Kong’s air pollution situation. We recommend that contestants read the fact sheet before creating their artwork (click on the link to view it).

There are two ways to submit your drawings:

Option 1

• Upload your drawing as a gif/jpeg/png through our Facebook application (to be launched August 9th 2010).
• You will be asked to complete your personal details online.

Option 2

• Mail the original artwork to the following address:

Clean Air Network
Rm A, 2nd Floor
The Standard Chartered Bank Building, 102-106 Queen’s Road West,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

• Attach a piece of paper with contestant name, age, parent name, telephone number, school, and email address to the submission.
• Clean Air Network will manually upload your submission to the Facebook app (in Option 1) once received.

Judging Criteria

• The public will vote for their favorite artworks online at the Facebook app (to be launched August 9th 2010), submissions.  We encourage you to get your friends and family to share the contest and vote!
• Grand Prize winner will be chosen from the pool of finalists by a panel of judges from CAN and Ben & Jerry’s.
• If you post the artwork to us under Option 2, the date/time of receipt in our office will be the date/time of your submission.

Prizes

• First 200 entries will receive a coupon for a  scoop of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia!
• Grand Prize winner will:
  • Receive a voucher for a Ben & Jerry’s 20 people ice-cream party (“Pint Party to Go”)!
  • Have their artwork featured in a public service announcement campaign.
  • Selected entries will be displayed at the Ben & Jerry’s Cochrane Street store from September 2010 – April 2011.

Dates to Remember

August 9^th: Submissions for drawings begin
September 17^th: Last day to submit drawings
September 24^th: Art for Air winner is announced

Terms & Conditions

We reserve the right to use and copy submitted artworks without limitation.

Good luck! We look forward to receiving your submissions!!

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Yesterday, Monday 7th of June 2010, the Legislative council hosted the second session of public deputations concerning the idling bill. Those of the transport industry firmly maintained their stance and continued to voice concerns about driver’s health and safety. Taxi and bus drivers unrelentingly pushed for further exemptions arguing that, due to the high temperature inside the vehicle, they and the passengers may suffer from heat-stroke and dehydration. These fears were quickly subdued with responses from Dr. Yu (the Hong Kong Paediatric society) and Dr. Tam (The Hong Kong Asthma Society), whose presence and medical authority greatly influenced the proceedings. “Strokes depend on a host of factors” explained Dr Tam, such as the individuals’ fitness or age, and although elevated temperatures put stress on the body, it does not necessarily result in adverse health problems. Those that are employed in hot kitchens or street workers that labor under the sun are exposed to similar conditions for extended periods of time. Dr Yu pointed out that taxi drivers would only be subjected to such discomfort for short and manageable periods of time and could, of course, always leave the scene if the environment became unbearable.

The two doctors represent the most vulnerable to Hong Kong’s air pollution, those suffering from asthma and young children. “From a medical perspective the advantages of the bill are indisputable” affirmed Dr Yu. This statement alone should have sufficed to drive the council into passing the bill there and then. Both medical professionals stressed the overwhelming health complications directly related to Hong Kong’s air pollution. Due to chronic exposure to pollutants a staggering 10% of children suffer from Asthma, the highest percentage GLOBALLY. Epidemiology research has confirmed the direct link between air pollutants and premature deaths, pulmonary exacerbations, asthma development, viral diseases and even tumors. With over 80 00 hospital days and millions in health expenditures one cannot help but wonder why the health department has remained completely silent.

Even faced with such staggering health concerns, the taxi and bus companies continued to demand exemptions. They insisted that the government should not gamble with the livelihood of professional drivers and should rather adopt a ‘step by step’ with the bill applying to private cars first. However, this idling bill has taken over a decade to be implemented and in light of such unprecedented pollution levels “public heath cannot be sacrificed for personal comfort” (Mr. Mike Kilburn- Civic exchange).

It was through the proposals of engineer Mr. Nigel Lam (CEO of Electric transport System limited) that the possibility of an agreement between the opposing parties emerged .He suggested construction modifications, window solar films and sustainable technologies which would allow the aircon to remain on for a further 20 minutes. Mr. Lam declared that these technologies were “nothing special or complicated” and could be run using electrical power generated by wind or solar energy. The implementation of this equipment would quell any concerns regarding the drivers’ and passengers’ health and comfort. This suggestion was enthusiastically received with the meeting terminating with a unanimous request for further investigation into these technologies. Progress at last.

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Summary of arguments:

Against

• Driver health
• Working conditions
• Passenger comfort/safety
• Increased pollution
• “we have done our part”

For

• HEALTH
• Gov. duty
• progress

Deputations AGAINST the ordinance

The issue that dominated the argument of most transport organizations was that of high temperature. When the ambient temperature is 35˚C, the inside of an immobile taxi can rise as high as the mid 40s thus creating a “sauna” where drivers feel “cooked under the sun” (Mr Dang- Sun Hing Taxi Radio Association).This has a direct effect on the drivers health leading to possible strokes, influenza, black outs and a general vulnerability to diseases. The health and safety of the driver was of primary concern by the majority of the parties present, with further apprehension on whose responsibility it was to compensate for these potential health problems. Furthermore it was noted that a driver behind the wheel of a moving vehicle is in fact a potential weapon and thus the wellbeing of drivers is additionally an issue of public safety.

The statement “the vehicle is the office” was one repeated throughout the meeting, emphasizing that all commercial drivers are entitled to a safe, comfortable working environment where aircon is a “common sense condition” (Motor Transport Workers general Union). From this arose allegations that the government was suppressing minority groups and victimizing those in the transport industry.

Further concern was voiced concerning the comfort and safety of the passengers. The argument was that if a passenger was to choose a taxi whose engine had been switched off due to restrictions of the bill, they would be entering a hot and stuffy vehicle. It takes approximately 5 minutes to cool a taxi and with 3/4 of trips averaging at 10 minutes, the conclusion was that the passenger would be in discomfort for half his or her time in that taxi. This would diminish the passengers comfort and reduce the standard of service provided (it is worth noting here that there was no mention of the obvious alternative of simply opening the window to quickly cool the taxi). This is both relevant to buses and taxis, especially those who had been waiting at a designated stop or queue.

With a combination of driver and passenger discomfort and fuelled by a obstinate mentality many organizations explained that to avoid such “nuisances” (transport Industry Committee) taxis would simply keep circulating thus producing more emissions and consequently further harming the environment. Similarly the supposed wear and tear resulting from the starting and stopping of engines would mean that batteries and the engines themselves would have to be replaced periodically, not only increasing maintenance cost but also pollution.

These arguments culminated in the declaration that ALL commercial vehicles should be exempted from the bill.

Throughout the meeting every transport related organization assured the council that they fully supported the drive towards a greener Hong Kong yet stolidly maintained that “we have done our part”. A vast majority of parties chose to employ the implementation of LPG taxis and buses as a shield to exempt them from any further environmental progression. Yet progression and change is indispensable if we are to attain the goal of safe, breathable air; an argument disregarded by those of the transport industry, obscured by fears of potential economic loss.

The practicality and feasibility of the bill additionally came into consideration with statements that the 3 minutes idling law was “unenforceable” and would only fuel disputes between law enforcers and drivers. The government was accused of “legislating for the sake of legislation” (HK vehicle association) and that realistic guidelines should be formulated.

The message of the transport industry was delivered with steadfast conviction and clarity. They would eagerly support the quest for blue skies in Hong Kong as long as they themselves remained unaffected by such progression. However, as primary contributors to Hong Kong’s abhorrent air quality modest sacrifices are inevitable. These sacrifices can in fact be made negligible through the constructive propositions of both Design Hk limited and Right Hand Drivers Motors Association (H.K) Ltd . Design Hk limited revealed that there are developed technologies that would allow the aircon to run for a further 15 minutes once the engine has been switched off. Furthermore, as suggested by Right Hand Drivers, the glass of vehicle windows can be substituted with glass with a lower light transmission rate to significantly reduce the temperature within the vehicle; a simple and effective solution that has already been successfully implemented in countries such as Japan. With further investigation of these technologies by commercial operators the negative effects of the bill would be trivial. Out of 71 organizations only 2 had the incentive to suggest solutions and feasible alternatives to pacify the conflict. This mentality should be applauded as it encourages cooperation and reveals that seemingly opposed parties can work harmoniously together towards a collective objective. This invaluable contribution is exemplary for any future discussions concerning Hong Kong’s environmental progression, offering answers rather than arguments.

Deputations FOR the ordinance

Although the environmental NGOs were sparingly scattered amongst the overwhelming number of transport organizations, the message and its deliverance was unrivalled. The most commendable speech came from a young girl from the Canadian International School of Hong Kong. A representation of the many ordinarily silent voices of Hong Kong’s youth, she spoke with lucidity and most importantly steadfast conviction, electrifying the hall. The emphasis was the health and wellbeing of the community especially the elderly, young children and pregnant women, those especially vulnerable to air pollution. Air pollution affects children’s development with damages to lungs and cardiovascular systems remaining permanent past the age of 18. The price for playing outdoors at class intervals is that of damaged health which will haunt the individual for a lifetime. A meager 20 minutes of exposure to air pollution and excessive vehicle emissions has a detrimental effect on a health, general well being and in a child’s case pulmonary and cardiovascular development.

“We are aware of the problem” declared another young student from The Chinese International School. She explained that students are taught about statistics and health problems related to Hong Kong’s air pollution but cannot understand why nothing is being done. SARs and Bird Flu were epidemics that incited fear and panic with the Government spending millions in prevention and adaptive measures. There have been more deaths related to air pollution then from SARs and Bird flu combined. It is not logical that so little has been done by the government to reduce health risks that arise from a clear and controllable source. It is a truly humbling experience when children present such an infallible argument and those who are supposedly wiser and vastly more knowledgeable can provide no answer. They expressed their optimism that Hong Kong could serve as a potential model of “hope and inspiration” and that a country with such global importance should set an example. Both students emphasized that although they could raise awareness, they could not enact laws. This is the duty of the government. The duty to protect and serve the community, an obligation which two schoolgirls had to remind them of.

The poignant presence of environmentalist Annelise O’Connell, who sported a gas mask throughout the meeting, was similarly felt. She compared the legislation protecting taxi driver to the law protecting the triads, both of which she fervently declared as “criminal”. Furthermore, if a driver chose to drive away when convicted of idling there would be no criminal consequences due to the limited power of traffic wardens.

The remaining environmental Organizations such as Clear the Air and Mini Spotter (and of course the Clean Air Network) maintained that the problem of air pollution was a “black and white issue” (Clear the Air) .They declared it appalling that when crossing a busy road the conventional ‘stop, look, listen then cross’ protocol is insufficient as only in Hong Kong one must “stop, look, listen, cover your mouth and nose then cross”. This Bill is a “small step in the right direction” and only the beginning in an ongoing cumulative process in tackling the city’s single biggest environmental issue; one which is rapidly becoming a primary deterrent for residency and overseas business expansion within Hong Kong (Swedish Chamber of commerce).

Furthermore, the transport organizations maintained to have fallen victim to brutish marginalization yet fail to appreciate that other minorities are exposed to huge risks from emissions deriving from their vehicles. Workers in the tram industry, construction workers, street maintenance workers and newspaper vendors are all incredibly vulnerable to significant health complications caused by air pollution.

It was concluded that excessive exemptions will render the law impotent and therefore ineffective. Hong Kong has been sluggishly crawling towards the goal of clean breathable air, now is the time to start running if we ever want to see blue skies.

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The Bills Committee for this bill was formed on May 12^th and comprises 16 Legislative Councillors, a very large number for such a committee. The size of the committee is an indication of the Bill’s contentiousness. The members of the committee are:

Hon LEE Cheuk-yan (Democrats, also represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon CHAN Kam-lam, SBS, JP (DAB) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung (Democrats, also represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon Miriam LAU Kin-yee, GBS, JP (Transport sector) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon LI Fung-ying, BBS, JP (close to DAB, also represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon Audrey EU Yuet-mee, SC, JP (Democrats, pro-environment) – FOR

Hon WONG Kwok-hing, MH (DAB, also represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon LEE Wing-tat (Democrats) – FOR

Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, SBS, JP (Pro-establishment, represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon CHEUNG Hok-ming, GBS, JP (Pro-establishment) – TBD

Hon KAM Nai-wai, MH (Democrats, pro-environment) – FOR

Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan (Democrats, pro-environment but has reservations on no exemption) – FOR/supports amendment

Hon CHAN Hak-kan (DAB) – FOR/supports amendment

Hon IP Wai-ming, MH (Pro-establishment, represents unions) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Hon Mrs. Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, GBS, JP (Pro-establishment) – FOR/may support limited amendment

Dr Hon PAN Pey-chyou (Pro-establishment, represents union) – AGAINST the bill/supports amendment

Given the composition of the Bills Committee — that there are many Councillors who will try to dilute it — we encourage you to make a deputation on 1 June, 2:30-6:30 pm. If it is possible to appear as the representative of a larger organization, that would be even more effective. To help you get up to speed on the issue and make an informed, intelligent appearance, we have prepared a briefing paper which gives an overview of the issues and arguments at hand.

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CAN released the results of its parent survey last week at a press conference led by Dr. Alfred Tam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Asthma Society. For the first time, Chinese media wrote about air pollution as a health problem – a genuine breakthrough in the dialogue about this problem.  Some of the damning conclusions of the survey which was conducted in pediatricians’ clinics throughout Hong Kong were:

• 91% of parents think the current poor air quality threatens their children’s health
• 81%  found it more severe when compared to 3 years ago
• 31% of the parents surveyed had children with chronic coughs
• 96% think the government should spend more to clean up the air

Download the full powerpoint of findings and media news clips here.

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An Evening Panel Discussion led by JOANNE OOI, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Air Network with

CARLSON CHAN, Hong Kong S.A.R. Government;
ALEXIS LAU, H.K. University of Science & Technology;
NICHOLAS SALLNOW-SMITH, The Link Management.

Air pollution is Hong Kong’s most serious public health crisis. Research shows that it kills on average, three people every day. While about 80% of the air pollution affecting Hong Kong arises from sources in the Pearl River Delta, research shows that 53% of the time the pollution affecting the city comes directly from local sources. While power plants emit the largest quantity of emissions, those from vehicles and ships also have major public health impacts. Hong Kong’s roadside pollution presents a daily health threat. Thus, many solutions are within Hong Kong’s own control.

Ms Joanne Ooi, the Chief Executive Officer with Clean Air Network will lead a discussion with experts from the government, business and public health to discuss the structural obstacles to air quality improvement and concrete steps Hong Kong can take to combat this problem. Joanne Ooi, the Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Network will lead a panel discussion with experts from the government, business and public health to discuss the structural obstacles to air quality improvement and what can be done in order to reduce Hong Kong’s air pollution. Panelists include Professor Alexis Lau, Associate Professor, Division of Environment, University of Science and Technology; Nicholas Sallnow-Smith, Chairman, Link REIT; and Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment (invited).

Agnès b. Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wanchai

Registration at 6.45 p.m., Discussion at 7.00 p.m., Close at 8.15 p.m.

$100 Asia Society/Clean Air Network members, $150 Non-members (Priority for members)

Reservations: All reservations must be made in writing, either by fax or email. ASHK cannot guarantee a seat without advance payment. Checks should be made payable to The Asia Society Hong Kong Center Limited and mailed to Programs Department, 13/F, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Central. Credit card payments may be faxed to 2524 1099.

Confirmations: Please consider your registration confirmed unless notified otherwise. No tickets will be issued. Your name will be held on a list at the door, and your name badge may be collected on the day of the program.

Cancellations: Please note that no-shows will be charged. Any cancellation must be made in writing, either by fax or email. Individual cancellations will not be accepted less than two working days before the program.

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Professor Hedley will focus on the importance of risk communication, and the difficulties of translating the scientific evidence of harm into clear messages which can be understood and acted upon by all members of the community, including policymakers, legislators and the general public. He will discuss the critical importance of evidence based approaches and the contest with alternative beliefs which may be antithetical to public health; the role of governments in protecting those who are most vulnerable in the community, and the importance of creating new developments in close collaboration between the scientific and NGO communities in raising awareness across all sectors of current and future hazards to health in a rapidly urbanizing planet. He will call for a new approach to the public health function with the development of an independent advisory role and a principal focus on the reduction of inequity in environmental health and health care.

Time, Date & Venue:
InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon,
(Cypress, Lobby Level)
28 April 2010, Wednesday, 6 pm

The lecture will be conducted in English and will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to attend, please send us an email at info@hongkongcan.org.

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