This week, we are ending the blame game.
It’s a great game and it’s good fun and we all love to play.
Last weekend, when the solid oil spill resulted in a disaster on all of our south facing beaches, social media streams filled with posts questioning the source and blaming someone else. A few people put up their hand and admitted our plastic addiction. Even fewer rallied friends and got out there, cleaned up the mess, contacted authorities and tagged the trash on Global Alert, a platform developed by our very own Ocean Recovery Alliance
Pointing the finger leaves 3 fingers pointing back at ourselves and we are all in this together.
We eat fast food out of take way cartons made of polystyrene and plastic with a completely unnecessary straw. We purchase snacks – healthy and otherwise – that are beautifully packaged in convenient, single serving sizes because we don’t trust ourselves to close the packet when we’ve had enough.
We dream about that designer gadget or accessory or outfit that will be taken out of its original wrapping and then re-wrapped in layers of packaging with the luxury shop’s branding.
We are too busy to remember to carry fabric shopping bags or refillable bottles or reusable coffee cups. Whether we do it once a day or once a week or once a month or once a year, we are all part of the problem. Our most popular convenience stores are temples to single-serving plastic.
Once we acknowledge the problem, the next step is accepting responsibility.
Everyone seems to think this is worse than ever, but what is actually happening is that more people are noticing the problem. 9 years ago, there was a pile of styrofoam and plastic 1 meter deep along one end of the beach where I live until a typhoon blew in and carried it all somewhere else. Every year, the beaches get piled up with waste faster than the cleaners can remove it from our sight.
This is not new. What is new is that we are waking up and speaking out. This is the best news in a long time.
New groups meet up to clean up every couple of months. Fish for Trash has set their second date. The No Excuses Kit is gaining in popularity. Local restaurants are using aluminum straws and local shops are selling them. More people are writing in asking how they can help. Media coverage is increasing and a new SCMP series launched today.
More people are reminding each other how to make a difference by making it easy to take the lead.
We can be see the change or we can be the change — up to us.
What is your choice?
Naturally,
Founder & Publisher
www.heartbeat.com.hk
natural life in the fast lane
Everything is connected.
Listen to your own heartbeat.
“If plastic vanished, there would be total chaos. We have to think quite carefully about using oil and its derivatives, because it’s not going to be around forever.” Margaret Atwood
Events in Hong Kong this month
1-2 (10am-5pm) Understanding Energy
2 (5-10pm) Buddhafest Online Film Festival Screening
2 (5:30-7:30) Dimensions of Consciousness
3-4 (10:30am-5:30pm) Intuition Training Course
3 (3pm) Meet your Higher Self
4 (6:30-8pm) Lessons in Plant Alchemy
4 (6:30-8pm) New Moon Gong Meditation
9 (2-5:30pm) Pendulum Workshop
10 (9:45-11:15am) Ape.Fit for ShelterBox.
11 (6:30-8pm) Creativity in Business
13 (6:30-8pm) Consumer Attitudes to Sustainability
13 (7-8pm) Outdoor Yoga Class
14 (2-3:30pm) Chinese Herbal Summer Tea Workshop
17 (11am-12:30pm) Bilingual Meditation Circle
17 (2-3:30pm) Community Drum Jam at the Harbour
25 (7-9pm) Eat Local: A Vegetarian Dinner
25 (7:30-9pm) Bilingual Meditation Circle
21 (11am-12:30pm) Bilingual Meditation Circle
29 (7:30-9pm) Bilingual Meditation Circle
More on the July calendar
Coming up …
Aug 6 (10am-4m) CFish for Trash in Aberdeen
Nov 24-26 Smart Mobility in Smart City
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The Maya Institute – Dr Sonal Hattangdi-Haridas, Homeopathic Physician > details
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Angela Hancock – Health and Wellness Coach – organic nutritional program > details
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Hong Kong’s only natural network connects individuals, businesses and organizations, shares fresh content and authentic connections for clean, green, healthy living products, services and programs. With everything from acupuncture to zero-waste solutions, our members have everything you’re looking for — even when you’re not sure what you’re looking for — chemical-free health and beauty, lifestyle services, whole food, sustainable fashion, eco-style, green gadgets and more … naturally.
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