簡介
Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
最新
Dr. Chris Yiu - Director of the SLCO Community Resources
Good morning. A movie titled "The Way We Talk" has brought people's attention to the needs of the local deaf community in Hong Kong. SLCO had begun supporting its production ten years ago. This is a first ever movie that has invited a large group of deaf people participating in the production, including its pre-production research, sign language training and supervision, and actors. It has reflected a wide range of genuine life experience of deaf people.
What makes "The Way We Talk" so touching to me is that the three main characters, despite their different upbringings, attitudes, choices, and pathways, come to respect and acceptance with each other, and become close friends. This concept of 'harmony in diversity' and inclusiveness is indeed rarely observed but invaluable in contemporary society.
However, throughout history, there have been many disputes and debates within the deaf community regarding sign language versus spoken language in education. These disagreements have led to significant divisions and even opposition among deaf people-It seems like a deaf person can either speak or sign.
I vividly remember a deaf student of mine who grew up with no sign language cried to me when he noticed that I was dedicated to re-introduce sign language learning in deaf education. Just like some parents and professionals, the student was strongly against sign language and believed that sign language learning would make deaf people dumb and consequently take away their opportunities to be ‘normal'. He attributed this as a betrayal of oral education that he wholeheartedly believed.
On the other hand, some deaf people using sign language feel that they were looked down upon by teachers when they were students because they could not speak well, while those who spoke well were always given a higher status in schools.
There is a long-standing misconception that no sign language learning should be given to deaf children with hearing aids or cochlear implants, but in fact, hearing instruments cannot bring normal hearing back to deaf people. Learning one more language, no matter if it is a sign or spoken language, can be a necessity or simply a personal choice for deaf people.The two languages are not mutually exclusive. It is their right to choose a language that suits them best, not to mention that sign language is the only language with no barriers to deaf people.
The scene in the movie that left the deepest impression on me is when Ｗolf suddenly realized that he would never been eligible to obtain a diving coach license just because he cannot hear. His emotional reaction was heartbreaking but also painfully real.
Speaking and hearing ability is just a small part of a person, yet society's biased view has neglected the potential of deaf people who rely on sign language and taken away their many opportunities to excel themselves. Suppressing this group of deaf people pushes them to the margins and leaves them isolated from society and even their families.
Self identity has always been a significant life challenge for many deaf people: Who am I? Am I deaf, hearing, or neither? Sadly,there have been deaf students of mine experienced severe emotional distress or even committed suicide because they were marginalized in the
society. They could not find their place in schools and families, to an extent that they continually rejected their own value and could not find reasons to love themselves.
Research tells us people with a bilingual bicultural identity possess a more positive self esteem since they do not have to force themselves to be a ‘normal' person or else a ‘person with disability’. The bilingual identity allows them to immerse themselves in both the deaf and hearing community and enjoy the friendships with both groups of persons with no restrictions. With this regard, the more sign bilingual talents we cultivate,the more communication bridges that are built to connect the deaf and hearing worlds.
重溫
Ivy Leung, Executive Director, CarbonCare InnoLab
Happy 2025 to everyone, we are a small Hong Kong-based NGO focusing on climate justice.
While looking back at 2024, it has been the warmest year on record since 1884 with an average temperature as high as 24.8 degrees. While you may have the impression of how hot the weather was, you may not be aware that we had a total of 52 very hot weather warning days, with the highest temperature reaching over 36 degrees. All these record-breaking weather conditions are telling us that climate change has been more drastic than ever.
When talking about climate change in the past, people might have liaised it with environmental problems only, but it is now widely known that climate has made extensive impacts to social and economic areas as well, and we must take real actions to tackle the climate disasters.
So for example what have you done to cope with the extreme heat? Maybe you have turned on the air-conditioning, went swimming or enjoyed some icy drinks to cool off yourself. However, not everyone in the society is as fortunate. There are quite some vulnerable communities in Hong Kong who suffer much more in terms of physical and mental health. These groups include low-income families living in inadequate housing units, elderly, people with disabilities and chronic illness, and outdoor workers. They contribute the least to the climate crisis, yet suffer from its worst impacts, while having the fewest resources to cope with these challenges, including but not limited to typhoon, flooding and extreme heat. Through our community dialogue initiative, we have mobilized over 100 NGOs to integrate climate action into their daily services and support these vulnerable communities.
The climate crisis is here and ahead, making adaptation essential. Since 2021, CarbonCare InnoLab has launched a pilot community programme in Kwai Chung area, aiming to build climate resilience of the underprivileged groups together with other NGO partners. We provide training and facilitate workshops for the residents to practice low-carbon living styles including onsite gardening and upcycling initiatives, while we also co-create ways with them to enhance energy efficiency and get prepared for extreme weather disasters. Over two years, we are proud to see how the residents forming groups in voluntary basis to continue and lead on these climate actions.
Of course, in the long run, we would like to call for an elimination of inadequate housing as the first step, so no one has to face the extreme heat together with poor air circulation issues which can be fatal. Also, the government must plan for building the climate resilience of the vulnerable groups, which can include the climate adaptation capabilities in the public housing projects, for example, having water resistant and windproof designs for buildings, introducing heat prevention technique and materials, and significant green public areas to ensure air circulation within and between buildings.
Besides the adaptation measures, CarbonCare InnoLab always advocates tackling climate issues from the root cause with a comprehensive mitigation strategy. We are delighted to see Hong Kong announcing our own Climate Action Plan 2050, and set goals to cut half of carbon emissions by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; but there is still a very big loophole in how the government is leading us to achieve these targets.
Taking renewable energy as an example, we welcome the government to continue promoting green transportation policy and to develop green hydrogen, yet there is barely any mention of developing solar and wind power. We urge for a detailed energy transition roadmap with a clear timeline to phasing out fossil fuel.
Since 2019, CarbonCare InnoLab has launched the SolarCare Programmes to build solar energy systems for NGOs and schools with the support from philanthropy and corporate funders. In the past five years, we have built more than 30 PV systems widely spread across the city and generated more than 6000 megawatt-hours in total, and we target to have 20 more systems upcoming. Being sincerely thankful to the trust of funders and our solar partners, we have successfully avoided over 3300 tonnes CO2 emission together, and walk one step closer to a Zero Carbon Hong Kong in the near future.
While more stakeholders are aware of the affordable and clean energy, it requires more incentives from the government to continue the growth. The current feed-in-tariff scheme only lasts until 2033, and we truly believe that an extension of the scheme will largely encourage sustainable investments in renewable energy.
Apart from the local issues, CarbonCare InnoLab also believes in the importance of upholding values as a global citizen. Climate disasters are one of the most prioritized global issues and it requires all the countries to pay tremendous attention and effort to save our planet, which also means saving the human habitat.
Every year, we provide training to the enthusiastic young professionals and students who are devoted to climate solutions and advocacy. Global perspectives and climate issues development are key content in our training. We have been attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference since 2015 as an NGO observer, and we have led groups of youth to participate and negotiate onsite in recent years. The learnings and experiences have inspired our young leaders to create and continue climate actions back in Hong Kong. And we are thrilled to see the alumni network growing into a resourceful and insightful young climate leader circle. The future belongs to the young generation, and CarbonCare InnoLab is dedicated to fight for a sustainable future jointly with their force.
We are celebrating our 10th anniversary and I would love to take this opportunity to present my wholehearted appreciation to our small team of 15 people with aligned values. I would like to dedicate the song, “Truth To Power” by OneRepublic to everyone who is with us on the just transition journey.
