Clean Air Network » Newsletter

CAN joined hands with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to show support for the anti-idling bill on Monday

cleanairnetwork — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:22:30 +0000

On Monday, CAN showed up with fellow environmental groups to give support to Secretary of the Environment, Edward Yau, during his visits to taxi and bus queues throughout Hong Kong. Under pressure from taxi drivers and bus companies, Yau made appearances in Central, Mongkok, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom and Lam Tin to experience first-hand the “plight” of professional drivers forced to shut off their engines during hot weather. In anticipation of protests from professional drivers at these locations, the EPD canvassed the concerned locations beforehand to ask shop owners and residents along the polluted streets to express their support for the anti-idling bill to the media during Yau’s visit. These voices provided an important counterpoint to the opposition of the transport industry in the resulting media coverage. We hope that more balanced coverage by the media signals a turning point for the bill, which enjoys widespread support among a majority of Hong Kongers.

CAN and other environmental groups accept that the idling bill must contain some exemptions if it is to be a humane bill. But these exemptions render the bill far from perfect, throwing into starker and more urgent focus the need to clean-up roadside emissions from the dirtiest sources — Hong Kong’s commercial diesel vehicles. Read the SCMP’s coverage of Monday’s events here (subscription-only).

Idling while air pollution goes through the roof

cleanairnetwork — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:37:47 +0000

Op-ed by CAN CEO, Joanne Ooi: “Idling while air pollution goes through the roof“

In light of the furore triggered by the anti-idling bill, CAN CEO Joanne Ooi points out how the EPD and Environment Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah are depleting valuable political capital to win passage for a bill with hard-to-measure public health benefits. She urges the government to refocus its efforts, attention and energy on the main task at hand: cleaning up our commercial diesel fleet. Read the full SCMP piece here.

DOCTORS MAKE UNIFIED CALL FOR MORE DECISIVE ACTION ON HONG KONG AIR POLLUTION

This week, the Hong Kong medical profession issued a bold and unprecedented letter to the Government, calling for immediate protection of public health against air pollution. Signatory organizations included the Hong Kong Doctors Union, Hong Kong Paediatric Society, Hong Kong Geriatric Society and Hong Kong Asthma Society. This unusually outspoken message fills a crucial void: Since the Department of Health is not formally involved in air quality policy or warnings, Hong Kong’s biggest public health crisis has been allowed to persist far longer than would have been allowed under the vigilant gaze of medical professionals. You can read the full letter here.

How can anything be more important than our children’s health?

cleanairnetwork — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:55:29 +0000

VIDEO: A must-watch for parents: Hedley talks about the long and short-term impacts of air pollution on child health

CAN interviewed Professor Hedley about child health before he departed Hong Kong. The result is a hard-hitting video about how damage to children’s lungs can result in a lifetime of permanently impaired health. Every parent should watch this.

VIDEO: Kids ask the Government to protect their health

On June 1st, a group of primary school kids showed their support for the anti-idling bill outside LegCo as Councillors heard arguments from the public for and against the bill. This video brings home the point that, as the most vulnerable members of society, children need adults and the government to protect them. Click here to see the video.

Please tell your kids: Enter CAN’s Art for Air drawing competition!

This summer, Clean Air Network is partnering up with Ben & Jerry’s to host a drawing competition for kids to promote clean air awareness. The winner and first 200 entrants of the competition will receive special ice cream prizes from Ben & Jerry’s! Read the competition guidelines here.

EPD ready to grant idling exemption for hot weather

cleanairnetwork — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:06:01 +0000

LegCo Diary: Anti-idling Bills Committee Session of July 7th

This Wednesday, the Legislative Council continued deliberations on the anti-idling bill. After the recent death of a minibus driver, several LegCo members pushed for further exemptions to grant relief during severe weather conditions. EPD appears ready to concede on this point. Read our account of the proceedings here.

Air Pollution Increases Heat Stroke Risk

The death of the 81-year old minibus driver, mentioned above, was widely reported as a heat stroke incident, but this characterization ignores the grave risks posed by chronic exposure to diesel fumes – especially to professional drivers. There is a lot of medical research demonstrating that air pollution leads to significantly increased risks of stroke and heart attacks. The death of this driver is actually more attributable to air pollution, especially roadside emissions, than to the heat. You can read more here.

Where is York Chow?

cleanairnetwork — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:40:43 +0000

Arise York Chow,

Slumber ye not now!

The poison we take with every breath

Hastens us towards our death.

Has our Secretary of Health no opinion

On citizens consigned to oblivion?

We see quite much of Edward Yau;

The question is: WHERE IS YORK CHOW?

HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH: The Department of Health has no formal role in setting air quality poilcy, standards or alerts

We haven’t drawn your attention to this fact sufficiently perhaps, but medical professionals have no official role in air quality policymaking. Possibly it’s the #1 reason this issue has not gotten the attention or budget it deserves from the government. This limerick from CAN board member, Markus Shaw, makes light (if not laughter) of the problem.

VIDEO: Professor Anthony Hedley talks about health

Before Tony left Hong Kong, we were lucky enough to conduct an interview with him about his views on health and how the Hong Kong government is addressing the air pollution problem. At best, Hedley judges the government’s treatment of the problem feeble. At the worst, he points out that the deprofessionalization of the EPD makes it virtually impossible for that department to protect public health adequately, echoing the sentiments of the limerick above. Click here (Part 1 and 2) to watch the interview.

SURVEY: Chinese University Law School Survey, Why can’t we have clean air in Hong Kong?

Please take a moment to complete this survey being compiled by CUHK law students for a term project of the same theme. If you’d like to receive their paper and the survey’s results in mid-August, please send an email to hkcleanair@yahoo.com. We spent some time with these students and they’re very passionate and well informed. At the end of the day, their paper and survey results will demonstrate, yet again, to the government that a clean-up of the air is long overdue.

Mobile Petition Sign-up, LegCo deputation, Parent Survey & more

No Escape from Roadside Pollution (HKUST)

cleanairnetwork — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:45:31 +0000

Yesterday, Civic Exchange, CAN and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology held a press conference to unveil the results of a year-long roadside pollution monitoring survey conducted through HKUST’s MAP (Mobile Air Pollution) van in all 18 districts of Hong Kong. The research contained damning evidence of the canyon or “wall” effect in our highly urbanized environment and revealed many dangerous hot spots not currently monitored by the EPD. Key highlights of the findings were:

Despite much higher traffic flow on highways (which have good ventilation), urban streets recorded the highest NO2 levels due to poor ventilation.

Greening is vital to mitigating air pollution. Green lungs such as Victoria Park dramatically reduce NO2 levels.

There are several roadside pollution hotspots not monitored by the EPD, e.g., Kwai Chung and Kwun Tong.

Pollution from ships with high SO2 levels contributes to the poor air in Kwai Chung.

Roadside pollution impacts many vulnerable groups like hospital patients, the elderly and children; 100,000 kids go to school along the most polluted sections of the MAP routes in 4 districts alone (Yau Tsim Mong, Central Western, Wan Chai and Kwai Chung)

The proposed Low Emission Zones will not sufficiently protect public health because many vulnerable groups reside or frequent areas located outside the zones.

The results of the research were widely reported in all local newspapers, with SCMP(subscription only) providing the best summary. You can also download the full, original powerpoint and press release here.

Yesterday’s press conference only revealed part of the full research results. CAN will post the results for each district as they become available from HKUST.

CAN mobilizes support from kids & doctors for 2d session of anti-idling deputations

cleanairnetwork — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:18:22 +0000

Youth Anti-idling Support Action

Yesterday, CAN summoned several kids age 4-11 to participate in a “protest” to support the government’s newly introduced anti-idling ordinance, which seeks to prohibit idling beyond 3 minutes. We’re happy to report that the action received widespread coverage in the news media. The child demonstration trivialized the complaints of taxi and other professional drivers during yesterday’s deputations, that the new law is “inhumane”. Download full coverage here .

Session #2 of anti-idling deputations

Thanks to our mobilization efforts, two well-known medical professionals, Dr. Aaron Yu Chak-man of the Hong Kong Society of Pediatrics and Dr. Alfred Tam Yat-cheung of the Hong Kong Asthma Society, appeared before LegCo yesterday to defend the anti-idling ordinance. Their testimony made a dramatic difference to the cause of clean air. After giving their 3 minute prepared speeches, the two pediatricians answered questions posed by transport representatives and lawmakers, in regard to the dangers of exposure to elevated temperatures inside vehicles. It was the first time that experts were able to effectively allay drivers’ fears about the health dangers of no idling. Nigel Lam, an engineer distributing technology which enables the operation of air conditioning while the engine is otherwise off, was the other scene-stealer during yesterday’s proceedings. For the full account, read the SCMP story or visit our website for our detailed analysis and recap.

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Students express support for anti-idling bill at LegCo

cleanairnetwork — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:59:23 +0000

On Tuesday, the first session of 63 deputations about the just-introduced anti-idling ordinance was marked by the unprecedented appearance of 2 students from major international schools, Canadian International and Chinese International, who implored lawmakers to protect their health instead of subordinating society’s interests to narrow constituencies’ demands.

The impassioned, surprisingly eloquent speeches from students, Talia Stender of Chinese International School and Cecilia Chan of Canadian International School, were vivid highlights against a monotonous backdrop of complaints from taxi and commercial vehicle associations who claimed that the ordinance, without more generous exemptions for the transport trade, was “inhumane.”

The SCMP provided an accurate summary of the proceedings in yesterday’s paper (subscription-only). You can also read a summary of the deputations, both for and against the ordinance, on our website.

Due to an unexpectedly large number of requests to make an appearance, deputations will continue on Monday.

Leading Schools & NGOs to appear before LegCo to support anti-idling ordinance

cleanairnetwork — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:05:02 +0000

Leading NGOs and schools to make deputations in support of the anti-idling ordinance

In an unprecedented show of support for clean air, we have successfully secured the appearance (or written submission) of some of Hong Kong’s leading NGOs — the Hong Kong Asthma Society, the Hong Kong Senior Care Health & Safety Association and the Society of Pediatrics. Moreover, Chinese International School and Canadian International School have agreed to make appearances. The support of doctors and schools ESPECIALLY will contribute to the passage of a stronger bill. As a member of the public, you are welcome to observe the deputations at Legco, 2:30-6:30 pm, Tuesday, 1 June.

CAN joins hands with trucking associations

This week, CAN and 8 trucking associations sent a joint letter to Edward Yau requesting the augmentation of a subsidy to speed the replacement of Euro II diesel vehicles. Our objectives were twofold: First, we wanted to remedy the deficiencies of the current proposal by pointing out that the percentage of subsidy offered for each vehicle is probably too low to stimulate widespread uptake. The current proposal is based on the just-expired subsidy scheme for pre-Euro and Euro I vehicles, which was considered by lawmakers and vehicle owners to be a failure. Second, we wanted to make it a point to join hands with transport associations to show that, even if we have to take strange bedfellows, we are pragmatic and committed to getting all stakeholders to the table for discussion. You can read our full press release and the letter here (Chinese-only).

CALLING FOR LEGCO DEPUTATIONS: Why the anti-idling bill needs your support

cleanairnetwork — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:45:40 +0000

CALL FOR LEGCO DEPUTATIONS ON JUNE 1: Support the anti-idling ordinance

Believe it or not, the Environmental Protection Department considers the passage of this bill to be contentious even though the overwhelming majority of the public supports it. The Bills Committee for this bill contains 16 Legislative Councillors, an absurdly high number, with 9 Councillors against or desirous of adding exemptions to the Bill. MAKING AN APPEARANCE IN LEGCO, ESPECIALLY ON BEHALF OF AN ASSOCIATION, COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. You can sign up to make an appearance on or before May 26th (Wednesday). And you can get up to speed on the issues and arguments by visiting our website which contains not only a briefing paper but the full list of Bills Committee members. (The Bills Committee vets each sentence of the ordinance before the bill is voted upon by all Councillors. This vetting process can be very protracted taking several months, especially when a bill is contentious, such as in this case.)

Clean Air Network & Clear the Air ANTI-IDLING CARDS

One of the main reasons to pass the anti-idling bill is to modify attitudes towards idling and make the public, especially drivers, more mindful of the dangers of roadside pollution. To that end, CAN teamed up with CTA to print anti-idling cards. Please contact us at info@hongkongcan.org and we can post you 20 of these Chinese language, business card-sized cards. That way, next time you encounter an idler, you can hand him or her this card which politely explains WHY idling is dangerous to everyone’s health.

DRIVER HEALTH

One of the key issues that unionists and transport sector representatives seem to forget is the danger that diesel fumes pose to professional drivers. It is one of the main reasons we need to get these old vehicles off the road as soon as possible. Visit our website to read more about air pollution and driver health.

Clean Air Network » Newsletter

CAN joined hands with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to show support for the anti-idling bill on Monday

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