I attended a clean air conference convened by Christine Loh's think tank, NGO, Civic Exchange, in January 2008 and was immediately struck by how so many audience members asked about the health effects of air pollution. I assumed that there would be an online resource directly addressing such concerns. But, no! At that point, I didn't know a thing about air pollution - let alone anyone working at an NGO. Undaunted, I immersed myself in the topic, then, through, Professor Anthony Hedley, Hong Kong's most tireless public health advocate (who just retired due to air pollution), secured a meeting with Loh. Instead of launching my own NGO, I agreed to assist Loh on launching a "Clean Air Coalition" NGO.
But, to really answer your question, one of the main reasons I'm doing this is because air pollution is Hong Kong's BIGGEST environmental and public health problem, bar none. With my career at the point that it was at the end of 2008, I was asking myself, what can I do with my skills, credibility and influence that will be a much better use of my life? THEN, in July 2009, the Hong Kong Government announced its intention to overhaul the city's air quality management policy for the first time in 20 years. And I thought, Eureka, I need to do this.
Finally, I also believe very much in leading with the example of my own life. The way I look at it, if I can make the shift from private to public sector, anyone can!
It's the best decision I've ever made in my life.
2) In your opinion, how does what role does clean air play in achieving high quality living in Hong Kong?
100% of the Hong Kong population is affected by our dire air pollution, so, obviously, air pollution is central to the Hong Kong experience. Plus, since it results in 6 million doctor visits per year, it obviously diminishes our quality of life -- a lot - every day. By the way, those stats are based on the Hedley Environmental Index, which is a real-time public health calculator of SHORT-TERM health effects from air pollution, used by the Government itself and considered a very conservative base case calculation. Note, those 6 million visits are the exclusive result of air pollution - not visits that would have occurred otherwise.
To elaborate further on your question, air pollution lowers my immunity, shortens my lifespan, causes my son to have months-long bouts of coughing (extremely common) and could ultimately impair the size and quality of his lungs permanently. So, does it affect our quality of life? Most emphatically, YES!
3) Do you think progress is a double edged sword?
This is a huge question. My shortest answer: progress in a capitalist system measured by GDP per capita, in a world of finite resources, is not even a two-edged sword. It has only one end game which is now jeopardizing the earth as we know it. I can't say that our current vision of progress has made us less selfish or more enlightened, sadly, only "richer" by a purely materialistic, technological definition. Those riches now seem like dust in our mouths.
Why?
4) What are you happy about, living in Hong Kong?
The city's inimitable efficiency, the ability to get huge things done in short time spans, the no-holds-barred frenetic, can-do entrepreneurial spirit.
5) What are some of the issues about living in Hong Kong that bug you?
Culturally and intellectually, the city is utterly barren. The government has virtually no grasp of the antecedents of what makes a city great, leading to superficial, half-baked approaches to art, culture and, obviously, the environment.
Why? Do you think the government is doing enough to address these issues?
In general, greatness is borne of quantum leaps -- of thinking, in direction, etc. Our government seems fundamentally incapable of setting ambitious goals for itself then working towards them. Rather, the entire policymaking approach is one cowed by what exists and obstructs presently. For example, in the area of the environment, the government seeks the buy-in of their policies from polluters before promulgating them! Thus, the cart is always ahead of the horse!
6) Why do you think it is important that Hong Kongers sit up and pay attention to air?
See above. PLUS, the issue of air is what I call, Civic Engagement 101, an easy, uncontroversial topic on which, for the first time, the apathetic HK public can engage. And, from that gratifying first experience of civic participation, I hope more HK people will be encouraged to both care and speak out more -- on a larger, wider variety of issues.
7) How do you view the future of living in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong will flourish for at least 20 more years, but China will increasingly begin to eclipse us. Already, China's proactive, science-driven, aggressive approach to its environment based on publicly owning up to the magnitude of the country's devastation, is leaving Hong Kong's policymakers in the dust. A similar phenomenon is occurring in science and technology. As China realizes that it must become a value-added economy instead of one driven by exports, it has begun to invest heavily in R&D and the repatriation of the best ethnically Chinese scientific talent from all over the world.
Can't breathe today? Buy some Fresh Air from Daniel Wu --
English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmH3xCpOSW8
Chinese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KB9-LzALPk
On a serious note, watch Professor Anthony Hedley explain how air pollution can cause permanent and short-term damage to child health,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q76-gICUoBU
Joanne Ooi
CEO
Clean Air Network
Room A, 2/F
The Standard Chartered Bank Building 102-106 Queen's Road West
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(852) 3971 0106
CAN is the #1 resource for health, news, policy about air pollution with a special focus on Hong Kong policy and events.
www.hongkongcan.org
Follow me @joanneooi
Follow us @cleanairnetwork
(Sent by Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.)
From: Jean QW Loo <jeanlooqingwen@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:48:34 +0800
To: <joanneooican@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Hello
Thanks your your prompt reply! My name is Jean Loo and I am a writer-photographer from Singapore working on an article under a publication on urban living for the Centre for Livable Cities Singapore (http://www.clc.org.sg/).
In June 2010, I interviewed Hong Kong's Secretary of Development Mrs Carrie Lam when she was in Singapore for the World Cities Summit and we had a one-hour interview for my article on the Quality of Living in Hong Kong, where Mrs Lam spoke about the Development Bureau's plans for the city, her views on urban regeneration, heritage, air pollution and so on. This article on Hong Kong, together with other cities like Rizhao, China and Singapore, will be compiled into the publication due to be published in mid-2011.
I stumbled upon the CAN website and read about you online. Thought it would be meaningful to have your voice in the article because of the work you do with respect to CAN. I've left most of the questions more open-ended, please feel free to elaborate based on your personal experience living in HK share your work at CAN.:
1) Can you share a bit about what inspired you to take on the role of CEO at Clean Air Network?
2) In your opinion, how does what role does clean air play in achieving high quality living in Hong Kong?
3) Do you think progress is a double edged sword? Why?
4) What are you happy about, living in Hong Kong?
5) What are some of the issues about living in Hong Kong that bug you? Why? Do you think the government is doing enough to address these issues?
6) Why do you think it is important that Hong Kongers sit up and pay attention to air?
7) How do you view the future of living in Hong Kong?
Thank you very much Joanne.
Hope to hear from you, and if possible by 14 Nov (Sun). Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
I'm running off to the Orient Express train now but will definitely follow up with a call next week.
Jean
--
Jean Qingwen LOO
Photographer/Writer
whereabouts:
“Not all those who wander are lost.” -- J. R. R. Tolkien
Jean
On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 9:18 AM, Joanne Ooi (CAN) <joanneooican@gmail.com> wrote:
Jean, I'm here!
What publication are you writing for?
Happy to chat. 9310 5878
Joanne
Can't breathe today? Buy some Fresh Air from Daniel Wu --
English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmH3xCpOSW8
Chinese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KB9-LzALPk
On a serious note, watch Professor Anthony Hedley explain how air pollution can cause permanent and short-term damage to child health,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q76-gICUoBU
Joanne Ooi
CEO
Clean Air Network
Room A, 2/F
The Standard Chartered Bank Building 102-106 Queen's Road West
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(852) 3971 0106
CAN is the #1 resource for health, news, policy about air pollution with a special focus on Hong Kong policy and events.
www.hongkongcan.org
Follow me @joanneooi
Follow us @cleanairnetwork
(Sent by Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.)
--
Jean Qingwen LOO
Photographer/Writer
m: +65 9363 9799
e: di@logue.sg
whereabouts:
@On The Orient Express (11 - 14 nov)
@Shanghai (24 − 28 nov)
@Los Angeles, San Francisco (16 dec - 04 jan'11)
@Beijing, Shanghai (14 − 24 jan'11)
“Not all those who wander are lost.” -- J. R. R. Tolkien
