Clear The Air eNewsletter January 2009
Dear [firstname,fallback=subscriber],
If you can't see this eNewsletter correctly please see the Clear The Air January 2009 eNewsletter online.
"Clear The Air wishes you a Healthy and Inspiring New Year to find all the resources to accomplish your goals in 2009!
It also looks forward to seeing you often, and enjoying
your participation to our events."
See below some of the main articles of this eNewsletter
- Saturday 10th January "Air Conference" organized by Civic Exchange
- The massive "Harbour Bike Ride" organized on Sunday 7th December 2008
- Clear The Air interviewed on Bloomberg News on Friday 12th December 2008
- Should the Smoking Ban be delayed? Debate on SCMP.
Air Conference Event hosted by Civic Exchange
"The Air We Breathe - A Public Health Dialogue" hosted by Civic Exange at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre had a great turn out of over 500 people on Saturday the 10th of January.
The conference answered most people's questions on a range of topics related to the air pollution in Hong Kong. The event started off with a dynamic presentation explaining exactly where we are now – the facts on public health and air quality in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.
Next, a panel of experts gave their views and discussed what was working elsewhere in the World (specifically from Beijing, Bangkok, California, Europe) on the key issues related to air pollution, and answered questions from the audience.
The event continued with a break-out session where delegates and experts gathered in small break-out groups to focus on the solutions for Hong Kong in a relaxed but facilitated café discussion which brought together ideas and possible solutions to Hong Kong's air pollution problems from everyone attending the event. Topics revolved around 'communicating the health risks of air pollution', 'the built environment', 'transport and industry', and 'the policy mix'.
After a buffet lunch, international expert, Professor Ross Anderson gave a presentation on applying the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to Hong Kong which was followed by short presentations of each group discussion from the break-out session.
The final session of the day took a look at where we can go and what we can each do to facilitate change.
Overall the event was a huge success and most importantly brought together the community which showed the strong stance against air pollution in Hong Kong.
Water Front Bike Ride For a Pollution Free Hong Kong
On Sunday 7th Dec. 2008 - The Water Front Bike Ride For a Pollution Free Hong Kong 3 "BURN FAT NOT OIL" took place. Over 200 bikers joined and cycled from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan.
The event aimed at addressing two notes:
- Having government authorities recognize that cycling can indeed be a viable way of transportation in Hong Kong
- Pressing for the set up of bicycle paths on Hong Kong islands designed to make cycling a safe experience
The number of bikers attending doubled over last year to over 200 riders; the next harbour front bike ride is scheduled for spring 2009, stay tuned.
Clear The Air on Bloomberg News - 12 Dec 2008
Chairman of Clear The Air, Christian Masset, was interviewed on 12 Dec 08 and broadcast in Bloomberg. He talked about the actions Government should take to clear the air in Hong Kong, even in the situation of recent economic crisis. See the full video of Clear The Air on Bloomberg News.
The Smoking Ban Debate
For those of you who regularly read the South China Morning Post, you may have noticed the ongoing debate over whether or not the smoking ban should be delayed further. A continuing debate is consuming the talkback columns of SCMP, often becoming quite heated on who's rights should be considered more - the smokers in Hong Kong, or the non-smokers who are forced to become passive smokers by breathing in the fumes from smokers primarily in restaurants and bars accross Hong Kong.
To keep up to date with this debate check out our Clear The Air Tobacco Blog under the Smoking Ban section.
Meanwhile the Hong Kong Council On Smoking & Health (COSH) have an on-line petition whereby you can sign to support a regular tobacco tax increase policy where the tobacco tax should be increased at least 5% year on year above consumer price index. Did you know that:
- Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death in Hong Kong.
- Smoking and Passive Smoking together kill almost 7,000 people a year in Hong Kong.
- Over 1300 of these lives are taken by secondhand smoke, a lethal poison gas.
- Tobacco tax accounted for only 1.2% of government revenue in 2007 and only half of the cost of tobacco related health care to the community.
- Higher tobacco taxes are the best single way of discouraging smoking among youth.
To sign the petition, visit the Hong Kong Council On Smoking & Health website.
Help needed for our website
A thank you goes out to those helping up to keep the blogs up to date, however we could always do with more people to help out! Currently we have three blogs:
We are also seeking some to help update our website. HTML & CSS skills required.
We are currently looking for some people who can help to translate Clear The Air's website into Tradtional Chinese.
Technical skills necessary require familiarity with Wordpress, HTML, and CSS - this is an urgent need. Interested parties please contact Michael at webmaster@cleartheair.org.hk
Don't forget to drop by:
Don’t forget to check out our blogs for frequent updates on the latest news and events related to Air pollution in Hong Kong.
Clear The Air News blog contains all general info on idling engines, air pollution, pearl river delta, and more.
Clear The Air Energy Blog is filled with articles on Power Plants, Lighting, CLP and Hong Kong Electric.
Clear The Air Tobacco blog has all the latest on tobacco issues such as smoking in buildings, cigarette smuggling, the latest studies, and the latest laws passed worldwide.
Find us on facebook! Become a member of our Facebook group, Clear The Air Hong Kong!
Do you have feed-back or suggestions for campaigns? If so, please send them to: Christian at chair@cleartheair.org.hk or Michael at communications@cleartheair.org.hk. If you would like to help out with updating the blog or the website please contact Michael at webmaster@cleartheair.org.hk
Clear The Air works to educate and empower while advocating policies to significantly reduce air pollution in Hong Kong. Find out more about Clear The Air.
Clear The Air is 'Shopping for a Cause'
Clear The Air is now part of the scheme, “Shopping for a cause” at Wineshop. Wineshop.hk will give back a fixed percentage of their turnover to Clear The Air. This is their commitment! The more that is purchased, the more that is given to Clear The Air. So get on the corporate social responsibility bandwagon and go visit Wineshop and enter the coupon code: “Cleartheair” when making a purchase to do your bit in helping us to Clear The Air that you breath!
Have a great month ahead until our next enewsletter !