This week, we remember what goes up must come down.
Anyone watching the markets will be well aware of the seesaw actions of stock markets around the world during these first few weeks of 2016.
Investors are breathing easier today as China released its anticipated quarterly report, confirming economic growth as predicted based on a rise in domestic consumption. There is little room for doubt this will lead to a fall in the availability of natural resources, including our richly diverse rainforests, clean water and fresh air, as we hold on tightly to our belief that the name of the game is growth.
Wealth is also going up, but most of it is in the hands of 62 players whose rising success means others fall into poverty. They set their sights on communities who can feed themselves but don’t have cash for consumption. Even though it is sustainable, they convince us subsistence living is out of fashion because it does not meet a corporate appetite for profit, so leaders are seduced with promises of an easier modern lifestyle as a cover to extract precious resources.
There are places targeted for development where peaceful populations have lived in harmony with their pristine environment since the beginning of time. The method is to import agricultural chemicals to produce mono-culture export crops, market processed sugar as food in single-serving plastic packages, educate on the efficiency of toxic cleaners to combat indigenous methods, commoditize housing, patent medicinal plants, institutionalize health and education and distribute slick foreign media promoting the celebrated wasteful western lifestyle of convenience.
Ups and downs are not limited to stocks and markets. When oil prices come down, so does interest in renewable energy while oil consumption, traffic and auto sales go up. Yesterday, the WHO announced that air pollution is now the leading cause of death around the world, with Asia leading in pollution-related deaths. This news didn’t make the news and today I spent 20 minutes looking for thearticle I read yesterday. Maybe we would rather not know.
Even though the Hong Kong Stock Exchange now requires sustainability reports for all listed companies, there is nothing sustainable about our obsession with growth.
In nature, periods of growth are followed by periods of decline. The forest grows and then it burns. Pressure builds and an earthquake breaks. Species flourish and overpopulation is kept in check by predators or weather. Look around our Hong Kong hills and see the green turning brown in the winter weather. A garden grows, the vegetables ripen and plants die, dropping their seeds for the cycle of life to begin again.
There are those ahead of the curve responding to the corporate culture of growth at all costs. Right now, rooftop farming is trending in Hong Kong and while I am not generally a fan of the trend, this is one I can get behind. When I shared my vision of rooftop gardens in 2003, I did not imagine I would be here to see it taking shape in front of my eyes. It is exciting to see new books and clubs and events sprouting in our community as a more people become aware of the actual costs of our lifestyle. It seems no coincidence that ex-HK resident Veronica Needy returns at the end of this month with an earth ecology workshop designed to bring alive our human connection to earthliness.
We are fortunate to live in a place where homegrown ideas cross pollinate with international experience to create innovative ventures fueled by entrepreneurial spirit. Perhaps this generation is beginning to see that crisis does equal opportunity.
How do you balance your ups and downs?
Naturally,
Founder & Publisher
www.heartbeat.com.hk
natural life in the fast lane
Listen to your own heartbeat.
“In a crisis, be aware of the danger — but recognize the opportunity.” John F Kennedy
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Events this week in Hong Kong
Get in touch with organizers or ask our Natural Concierge for details.
19 (8-9:15am) China’s Next 5 Years – The Environment | details
19 (11am) Journey to Self Love and Empowerment | details
19 (11:30am-2:30pm) Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cooking Class | details
19 (6:30-8:30pm) Eating For Energy | The Oriental Spa
20 (11am-12pm) Chai and Chat | details
20 (5pm) EcoChic Design Awards – Livestream | details
20 (5:30-6:45pm) Concurrent Urbanities | details
20 (7-8:30pm) Animal Welfare in Asia with Jill Robinson | details
20 (7:30-9:30pm) Dinner at Tung Fong Sui Kee Yuen | details
21 (12:30-2pm) Urbanisation and Sustainability | details
21 (2-7:15pm) Redefining the Asian New Town Generation | details
21 (6:30-7:30pm) Feel Good Foods vs Bad Mood Foods | details
21-22 (9am-5pm) Women In Leadership | details
22 (6:30pm) City Hydroponics Launch | details
22 (7pm) Wild Wines of the World | details
22 (7-9:30pm) He Named Me Malala (2015) | details
22 (7:30-11pm) Veganuary Dinner | details
22-24 Urban Yoga Retreat | details
23 (10:30am-6pm) Reiki Level 1 Workshop | details
23 (3-5pm) The Edible Roof – Book Launch and Farm Tour | details
23-24 (5:30-9pm) Classical Feng Shui | details
23 (9:30pm) Matrix Reimprinting using EFT | details
25 (7-8:30pm) Mineral Balance for Cancer Prevention | details
26 (8:15-10am) COP21 and Hong Kong | details
26 (12:15-2pm) Other People’s Money | details
26 (7:30pm) Snake Soup Banquet | details
More: visit the January calendar
Coming up
Jan 29-30 Authentic Self, Community and Nature
Jan 31 (9:30am-5:30pm) TaroDrama Workshop
Feb 1 Remembering the Past: Educating the Future
Feb 5-7 Akashic Records
Feb 27-28 Heal Body, Mind, Emotions and Soul
Mar 10-12 LOHAS Expo and Veg Food Asia
More: visit the 2016 calendar
Schedules change without notice — contact organizers to confirm details.
TarotDrama
The personal and collective unconscious and beyond
Psychodrama originated in the 1920’s and is practiced in clinical, educational, community and business settings around the world. It involves creative action techniques where a participant is guided by a psychodrama director to enact their story. By choosing group members to play significant roles, they develop insight, raised consciousness and increased capacity for spontaneity. The Voyager Tarot cards act as a catalyst for delving into the personal and collective unconscious and beyond. Julie uses the cards as a warm up to personal exploration of past and present stories connecting to and preparing for future stories. Advance booking until Dec 31.
QUICK LINK : TarotDrama
BOOKING : tarotdrama-hk.eventbrite.co.uk
CONTACT : Veronica Needa – vneeda@yahoo.com
Earth Ecology Workshop
Authentic Self, Community and Nature
What timeless myths speak to our cross-cultural adventure? What does it mean to be truly responsible in our social and ecological communities? What can we learn from ancient peoples and wild places and add value to contemporary lives? Join an intimate group of explorers in a supportive atmosphere of commitment to your well being and your evolution as a conscious individual. Feel more at home in your body, in your community and on your planet. Ecomythic Psychodrama is a new pathway to deepening our connections to authentic self, community and nature. Participants engage in creative action in an intimate group setting where knowledge and awareness are expanded through the vitality of the psychodrama process. Playback Theatre adds value in enhancing and deepening the workshop experience through open social dialogue and exchange. Advance booking until Dec 31.
DETAILS: Ecomythic Psychodrama
BOOKING: ecomythic-psychodrama-hk.eventbrite.co.uk
CONTACT: Veronica Needa
Meet our Business Members
Visit our Member Directory and for authentic products, services and programs … naturally.
Fresh content and connections for conscious everyday choices since 2001
Hong Kong’s first natural community is connecting thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations, sharing 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.
Photo by Kinzie
