#立會去留 #RTHKLettertoHK
Participating in the upcoming extended term of the legislative council is, I feel, the lesser of two evils. Of course the one-year postponement of the election which should have been held this month was an anti-democratic trick by the government to avoid facing the voters. The extended term surely lacks legitimacy in the public eye.
But with liberal and democratic institutions being constantly undermined by an executive seeking to bring the other arms of government under its control, we must take every opportunity to voice our concerns, use every forum to fight back in the interests of Hong Kong’s governance, and the promises enshrined in the Basic Law.
Of course previously I’ve had my reservations about staying on, as it would mean accepting a quasi Beijing appointment in an un-elected legislature, ie without the people’s mandate. I’ve had my moments of a psychic tug-of-war.
It’s also understood that many of our young view some of the veterans in the democratic camp as washouts, that they belong to an earlier civilisation and should have been “outed” anyway. Some online criticism would go as far as, and I quote, “Can’t let go of the pay and the glory associated with a Legco seat, can you? Like you are being thrown a bone, a bone only but you can’t wait to go get it”, unquote.
Amongst the democrats I’m probably, probably, the one with the least
political baggage: The fact that I do not have a political party background; that I’m not young and as a result I wouldn’t need to worry too much about career development or prospects. And so perhaps I am more able to consider the “stay or quit” question with an even more free mind.
What’s happened is the number of pro-democracy legislators has already been thinned by legal manoeuvres to oust elected members. But we can perhaps muster just enough votes to deny the pro-government camp absolute control over the council.
Unrepresentative though it is, the council often is not just a talking shop and rubber stamp. It does have some ability to query officials, demand information and make constructive criticism of government proposals and policies. Even when the criticism is not particularly constructive, or some would even call it destructive, it could at least help vent public anger and frustration.
We need opposition voice to at least better health policy, labour rights, pollution, education and public transport problems.
Between now and next September we should be able to show Hongkongers that we can be of value in fighting for their interests. Although the system remains heavily weighted against us, the legislature remains a place where we can stand up, on the spot, against the arrogance and incompetence of the administration.
We don’t just make noise, we carry on to serve as the voice of the people. We shouldn’t become outsiders looking in. We need feet on the ground.
Sure we could be running into a storm without even an umbrella. Things could get painful. It’s so much easier to quit. But to quit would just be taking a placebo line. We cannot pretend the pain is not there, we just need to deal with it, fight it.
The lawmaker capacity does carry a degree of power. Once I called the agriculture and fisheries department, demanding to speak to the department head, saying it’s a matter of utter emergency. What was happening that day was a government wild pig hunting team armed with Remington's was scheduled to go to a village, provoking an unnecessary but possible violent standoff between villagers and animal rights campaigners.
My little intervention was successful. The AFCD head heeded and cancelled the hunting mission that day. And thanks to joint efforts on the civil society and Legco fronts such wild boar hunting squads have now been scrapped altogether.
Another episode that has been lodged in my head involved what happened on August 31 last year. Speculation was rife that there were fatalities inside the Prince Edward MTR station that evening, at the peak of our protest movement. I made a number of official enquiries and subsequently managed to have a face-to-face meet-up with the fire services chief.
Although in the end neither the police nor the fire department could satisfactorily explain the discrepancies in the number of injured and the state of injuries, at the time it was the only way to prompt —- if not force —- the civil servants involved to do their explaining in public, to the media.
It’s experiences of the kind that help to solidify my opinion that democrats should remain on the inside. Because of what we do, a lot of incompetence and hypocrisy, sometimes even some crookedness get exposed.
Beijing loyalists and the pro-government type would keep on politely tip-toeing around issues so as not to offend the authorities, they would keep on spinning mistruths, the democrats can counter that performance.
At a time when Hong Kong is politically, financially going down the tubes, with our young in particular feeling helpless, at a time when hope seems to be dismissed and punishment dealt, when discontent could morph into pure hate and antipathy to the government, democrats should help by not abandoning any battleline.
Anyone who wants to query government policies, draw attention to abuses, obtain information now faces increasing difficulties.
Assembly is restricted. People have to guard their words. Much mainstream media simply reflect official policies and journalists now have to be approved by the police to be treated as such. However inadequate it may be, the legislative council remains a forum for questions and comment, and is widely reported.
And popularly elected legislators in particular have standing which cannot be ignored at home, and they are also focus of foreign inquiry about Hong Kong issues. Journalistic institutions magnify the impact of such individuals who would otherwise find themselves crying in the wilderness, lone voices without a platform. Legco is a platform, however shaky.
If results of an opinion poll —-expected by Tuesday —-commissioned by the Democratic Party tell us to go —- easy, we’ll just pack up.
But Im hoping for the opposite. I for one would want to keep staying on the Legco frontline, standing up for what I believe. Nothing egotistical about it. We will simply take what's left and fight it out.
I’m prepared to take the lesser evil.
XXX
https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio3/programme/lettertohongkong
同時也有2部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過248的網紅Richie Kul,也在其Youtube影片中提到,Privileged to speak out for our animal friends as a panelist for the Hong Kong premiere of Chris Delforce's revolutionary vegan documentary DOMINION. ...
animal rights movement 在 囂屎哥 Facebook 的精選貼文
各位谷友,
本谷嚮應一群養狗專頁/群組的管理員的聯合行動,希望藉著參與全民三罷表達我們對政府的冷漠,警方近日濫捕及過份使用武力的不滿。
我們並不表示黃藍的取態,只希望保持一個美麗、自由的香港,讓狗主們無憂無慮享受養狗樂趣。
對於警方多次帶同警犬係完全無保護裝備下暴露於催淚氣體下,狗界已多次作出譴責及聲明,但基於警權無限大的情況下,對喜愛動物人仕的反映充耳不聞漠不關心,更懶理保護警犬的重要。
警方於多區”放題式”發射催淚彈亦令大量的動物受苦,有寵物甚至因此死亡。
濫捕問題亦已出現,一位狗主於凌晨時分放狗,竟然連人帶狗一併拘捕。
種種問題下,狗友們不得不對政府及警方表達我們的不滿。
本谷會在2019年11月11日有限度地運作一天,以支持全民三罷運動,亦希望政府回應五大訴求及處理警方權力過大的問題。
我們愛我們的寵物(家人),亦愛我們的香港。
*我們誠邀你們狗的群組/專頁一起聯署,共建人寵安居樂業的香港社會。
如有興趣,歡迎與我們聯絡🙏🙏🙏
Dear friends,
Our group supports the move by a group of page administrators from various Facebook dog groups and fan pages in Hong Kong and Taiwan. As part of the “11.11 City-wide Strike” movement, we would like to take the opportunity to express our disapproval with the HK Police Force’s unreasonable and excessive use of force and tear gas in dispersing protestors, without any consideration to the negative impact to citizens and animals.
Examples of this include the HK Police Force deploying police dogs during clearance operations while deploying tear gas – subjecting their very own Police dogs to the harmful effects of the tear gas. Despite being condemned by various HK animal rights groups and vets, the police not only failed to take any actions to protect their very own dogs, but deployed them repeatedly even after public condemnation.
Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of tear gas in multiple residential areas are a health hazard not only to humans but also to both pets and stray animals in these areas – with many pet owners already reporting that their pets have respiratory problems following the use of tear gas in their neighbourhoods.
Even walking your dog now comes with a risk of being arrested, as evident from the incident where a dog owner was arrested together with his dog, while out on his usual midnight dog walking routine.
We believe that as dog owners here in Hong Kong, it is time to voice our concerns to the HK Police Force and the Government.
To support the “11.11 City-wide Strike Movement”, our group will post this statement and to limit the operating for one day.
Ultimately, we are hoping the government will respond and address the unreasonable and excessive use of force and halt the indiscriminate use of tear gas.
We love our pets as our family, and we love Hong Kong as well and are looking forward to the day where we can get back to enjoying our beautiful city with our beloved pets.
*We are now inviting you or your group/facebook page to support our Joint Statement in order to build a human and pet-safe society.
Please reach out to us if you are keen.
Facebook pages publishing this Joint Statement (the list will continue to be updated):
————————————————————
聯署專頁名單(排名不分先後、持續更新):
#Shrek史力加仔仔
#Corgi Mui Chu Wong 柯基王妹豬
#零食爆倉 Fill the Treats Box Full
#Mavstail
#Pettastic - Pet Food Factory
#香港PUG之家
#香港雪橇狗husky基地
#BB咕寵物
#Dog 星犬隻訓練中心
#Senior CID Pet Sitting - 寵物保姆社企
#囂屎哥
#寵得喜寵物手工零食/鮮食
#CheesenDashnaturalPETtreats
#carperthegolden
#籬笆村
#王國基的汪汪王國
#naturaltreatsfordogs
#周家奶茶_我們家的可愛唐狗女
#拉布拉多の瘋狂
#拉布拉多谷Labradorvalley
#愛狗之家LoveDogSweetHome(前名:芝貴救援站
#Lalaeagle成長記
#拉布拉多の上山下海
#多毛腳印DorMoFootprints
#蜜棗同學會
#紅磡小寶與肥卡LittleBothecorgi
#loveparis寵物飾品
#Chewie豬兒
#一寵愛Dogistic
#jetjetの拉仔拉心肝
#香港阿拉斯加雪橇群組
#雪橇國度
#AmberFurBabies
#貼地狗狗鎮
#hkgrc香港金毛會
#HealthyDryness風乾小食
#貓貓狗狗保護及領養區
#alaskanluckystar
#Carlyの成長印記
#Jasper頑皮日記
#香港哈士奇樂園
#安達地盤狗包氏108條好漢(108 heroic stray dogs)
#BamBoo the Cat Power
#Playbow
#寵健絡寵物復健中心
#生肉貓狗地 (分享,討論)
#史納莎同學會(Schnauzer Club HK)
#paicoworkroom寵物羊毛氈手作
#老有所依動物村洪家棣tai
#allforpaws寵物小食
#達浪delangeslife
#吞吞吐吐
#拉布拉多總動員
#豬氏孤兒院生活基金
animal rights movement 在 莊逸希 Facebook 的精選貼文
Recently I’ve seen many rumors circulating about me and enormous amounts of hate. This is no surprise to me. I know that since most people are not aware of the full meaning of the climate crisis (which is understandable since it has never been treated as a crisis) a school strike for the climate would seem very strange to people in general.
So let me make some things clear about my school strike.
In may 2018 I was one of the winners in a writing competition about the environment held by Svenska Dagbladet, a Swedish newspaper. I got my article published and some people contacted me, among others was Bo Thorén from Fossil Free Dalsland. He had some kind of group with people, especially youth, who wanted to do something about the climate crisis.
I had a few phone meetings with other activists. The purpose was to come up with ideas of new projects that would bring attention to the climate crisis. Bo had a few ideas of things we could do. Everything from marches to a loose idea of some kind of a school strike (that school children would do something on the schoolyards or in the classrooms). That idea was inspired by the Parkland Students, who had refused to go to school after the school shootings.
I liked the idea of a school strike. So I developed that idea and tried to get the other young people to join me, but no one was really interested. They thought that a Swedish version of the Zero Hour march was going to have a bigger impact. So I went on planning the school strike all by myself and after that I didn’t participate in any more meetings.
When I told my parents about my plans they weren’t very fond of it. They did not support the idea of school striking and they said that if I were to do this I would have to do it completely by myself and with no support from them.
On the 20 of august I sat down outside the Swedish Parliament. I handed out fliers with a long list of facts about the climate crisis and explanations on why I was striking. The first thing I did was to post on Twitter and Instagram what I was doing and it soon went viral. Then journalists and newspapers started to come. A Swedish entrepreneur and business man active in the climate movement, Ingmar Rentzhog, was among the first to arrive. He spoke with me and took pictures that he posted on Facebook. That was the first time I had ever met or spoken with him. I had not communicated or encountered with him ever before.
Many people love to spread rumors saying that I have people ”behind me” or that I’m being ”paid” or ”used” to do what I’m doing. But there is no one ”behind” me except for myself. My parents were as far from climate activists as possible before I made them aware of the situation.
I am not part of any organization. I sometimes support and cooperate with several NGOs that work with the climate and environment. But I am absolutely independent and I only represent myself. And I do what I do completely for free, I have not received any money or any promise of future payments in any form at all. And nor has anyone linked to me or my family done so.
And of course it will stay this way. I have not met one single climate activist who is fighting for the climate for money. That idea is completely absurd.
Furthermore I only travel with permission from my school and my parents pay for tickets and accommodations.
My family has written a book together about our family and how me and my sister Beata have influenced my parents way of thinking and seeing the world, especially when it comes to the climate. And about our diagnoses.
That book was due to be released in May. But since there was a major disagreement with the book company, we ended up changing to a new publisher and so the book was released in august instead.
Before the book was released my parents made it clear that their possible profits from the book ”Scener ur hjärtat” will be going to 8 different charities working with environment, children with diagnoses and animal rights.
And yes, I write my own speeches. But since I know that what I say is going to reach many, many people I often ask for input. I also have a few scientists that I frequently ask for help on how to express certain complicated matters. I want everything to be absolutely correct so that I don’t spread incorrect facts, or things that can be misunderstood.
Some people mock me for my diagnosis. But Asperger is not a disease, it’s a gift. People also say that since I have Asperger I couldn’t possibly have put myself in this position. But that’s exactly why I did this. Because if I would have been ”normal” and social I would have organized myself in an organisation, or started an organisation by myself. But since I am not that good at socializing I did this instead. I was so frustrated that nothing was being done about the climate crisis and I felt like I had to do something, anything. And sometimes NOT doing things - like just sitting down outside the parliament - speaks much louder than doing things. Just like a whisper sometimes is louder than shouting.
Also there is one complaint that I ”sound and write like an adult”. And to that I can only say; don’t you think that a 16-year old can speak for herself? There’s also some people who say that I oversimplify things. For example when I say that "the climate crisis is a black and white issue”, ”we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases” and ”I want you to panic”. But that I only say because it’s true. Yes, the climate crisis is the most complex issue that we have ever faced and it’s going to take everything from our part to ”stop it”. But the solution is black and white; we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Because either we limit the warming to 1,5 degrees C over pre industrial levels, or we don’t. Either we reach a tipping point where we start a chain reaction with events way beyond human control, or we don’t. Either we go on as a civilization, or we don’t. There are no gray areas when it comes to survival.
And when I say that I want you to panic I mean that we need to treat the crisis as a crisis. When your house is on fire you don’t sit down and talk about how nice you can rebuild it once you put out the fire. If your house is on fire you run outside and make sure that everyone is out while you call the fire department. That requires some level of panic.
There is one other argument that I can’t do anything about. And that is the fact that I’m ”just a child and we shouldn’t be listening to children.” But that is easily fixed - just start to listen to the rock solid science instead. Because if everyone listened to the scientists and the facts that I constantly refer to - then no one would have to listen to me or any of the other hundreds of thousands of school children on strike for the climate across the world. Then we could all go back to school.
I am just a messenger, and yet I get all this hate. I am not saying anything new, I am just saying what scientists have repeatedly said for decades. And I agree with you, I’m too young to do this. We children shouldn’t have to do this. But since almost no one is doing anything, and our very future is at risk, we feel like we have to continue.
And if you have any other concern or doubt about me, then you can listen to my TED talk ( https://www.ted.com/…/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_…/up-next ), in which I talk about how my interest for the climate and environment began.
And thank you everyone for you kind support! It brings me hope.
/Greta
Ps I was briefly a youth advisor for the board of the non profit foundation “We don’t have time”. It turns out they used my name as part of another branch of their organisation that is a start up business. They have admitted clearly that they did so without the knowledge of me or my family. I no longer have any connection to “We don’t have time”. Nor has anyone in my family. They have deeply apologised and I have accepted their apology.
animal rights movement 在 Richie Kul Youtube 的最讚貼文
Privileged to speak out for our animal friends as a panelist for the Hong Kong premiere of Chris Delforce's revolutionary vegan documentary DOMINION. Make sure to watch this groundbreaking film that helps expose an industry that thrives on secrecy and obfuscation. Because only when we shed the light of truth do diminish its power. https://www.dominionmovement.com/
animal rights movement 在 動物的奴隸 Youtube 的精選貼文
故事大綱︰天生異稟的小豬從鬼門關逃走出來。接下來會發生甚麼事情呢?小豬豬會再被人捉走嗎?請密切留意我們,下回即將分解﹗
非常感謝各位的精彩演出及協助(天爺、Gilert、Sam、小米哥、動物仔)