Ecozine

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REDEFINING LUXURY

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YO U R G O -T O G U I D E F O R S M A R T E R L I V I N G

SUMMER 2014

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GREEN GADGETS SATISFY YOUR INNER ECO GEEK

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE AND THE PLANET

LUXE ESCAPES

OF A ZERO WASTE HOUSEWIFE

WIN A LUXURIOUS

FOR THE GLOBAL NOMAD

GO RUN PERSONAL BESTS & PRESERVING OUR COUNTRY PARKS BY ‘FIT & FAB’ RACHEL JACQUELINE

WEEKEND GETAWAY!

EXCLUSIVE

OWEN WILSON “As a species, we have got to start doing better.”

SHOWSTOPPING ETHICAL FASHION

>THE MUST HAVE LOOKS FOR SUMMER

DREAM CARS

>THAT DON’T COST THE ENVIRONMENT

HONG KONG’S VERY OWN

GLOBAL SHARK CRUSADER ECO CHIC TRENDSETTER SLOW FOOD PIONEER GREEN BUSINESS LEADER

CONTENTS

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ON THE COVER 32 EXCLUSIVE:

OWEN WILSON

On green living and then some

70 SHOWSTOPPING ETHICAL FASHION

Chic and cool for summer

45 SECRETS OF A ZERO 85 GO RUN WASTE HOUSEWIFE

Getting trail-fit

Yes, it can be done!

62 LUXE ESCAPES

4 award-winning eco resorts

64 GREEN GADGETS

An ultimate roundup

66 DREAM CARS

The need for (green) speed

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86 SLOW FOOD PIONEER

The movement is building

89 GREEN BUSINESS LEADER

On transforming Hong Kong

91 GLOBAL SHARK CRUSADER

Is it too late to save them?

THE SOURCE

18 LISA LOVES...

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30 CELEBRATING...ECOPRENEURS Meet Jeanine Hsu and Billy Potts

Ecozine’s Publisher Lisa Christensen shares what she’s obsessing over right now

FEATURES

23 GREEN TO GO

The Hollywood hottie bares his green heart

Travel accessories Planet Earth will thank you for

24 Q&A WITH GABRIELLE KIRSTEIN

How one woman is tackling Hong Kong’s food waste issues

26 VEG OUT

Five fab spots for yummy veggie grub

28 MOVIES THAT MATTER + 8 TITLES TO PICK UP NOW

32 EXCLUSIVE: THE OTHER OWEN

36 THE HONG KONG CLEANUP EFFECT

The Challenge that has become a civic movement

39 NIC ROUGE: GIVE LOVE A CHANCE

A photographer shines a light on pet adoption

42 CYBERTECTURE

Innovating the fabric of mankind

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LIFE

46 SECRETS OF A ZERO WASTE HOUSEWIFE Eco-blogger Claire Sancelot welcomes us into her home

48 INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

Household products you will love us for

50 MORE SEX, LESS IMPACT

You’ll be pleased to know we’ve done our research (wink, wink)

52 LEARNING TO CRAWL

Ali Watts on the wisdom of slowing down

53 HEALTHY NEVER TASTED SO GOOD! Deliciously simple seasonal summer recipes

Eye-openers, page-turners and hidden gems 6

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83 GET REDRESSED

Christina Dean shares her secrets on seriously sustainable style

PERSPECTIVES

85 GO RUN 57

Health and fitness expert Rachel Jacqueline reflects on lessons learnt on HK’s trails

86 FOOD, GLORIOUSLY SLOW FOOD Mana’s Bobsy Gaia sheds light on the slow food movement

89 CAN THE SAR REINVENT ITSELF? Business Environment Council’s CEO Agnes Li believes so

91 SAVE OUR SHARKS

WWF’s Global Shark Programme Leader Dr. Andy Cornish on the threat of extinction 70

91

ET CETERA

10 CONTRIBUTORS 12 EDITOR’S NOTE 14 ECORAZZI 95 FREE TEAR-OUT 97 COMPETITION 98 ONE MORE THING 66

TRAVEL

57 A REDEFINING SABBATICAL Lance Diaresco takes us on a transformational journey

66 DREAM CARS

These sleek green wheels make our hearts go vroom

STYLE

60 NO PASSPORT REQUIRED

70 DOUBLE DUTY

62 LUXE ESCAPES

77 FACE + BODY

Ten sweet mini-escapes right here in Hong Kong

Go ahead, treat yourself to a holiday you won’t forget

TECH

64 GREEN GADGETS

Ethically fabulous prints, designer handmade jewellery and sleek swimwear

All-natural, all-luxe skin potions that pamper

79 MY ESSENTIALS

Two of society’s darlings reveal their most beloved belongings

SUBSCRIBE TO ECOZINE’S

NEWSLETTER FOR A CHANCE TO

WINA WEEKEND GETAWAY! TURN TO PAGE 97 FOR DETAILS...

Ten techy treats we’re lusting after

Ecozine.com

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.com PUBLISHER, CEO

SUBSCRIBE TO WIN A WEEKEND GETAWAY! TURN TO PAGE 97 FOR DETAILS

LISA CHRISTENSEN | lisa@ecozine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

NISSA MARION | nissa@ecozine.com

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Karry Lai | karry@ecozine.com MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Cameron | lauren@ecozine.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Andy Cornish, Christina Dean, Lance Diaresco,

Shannon Dawson, Bobsy Gaia, Rachel Jacqueline, James Law, Agnes Li, Claire Sancelot, Ali Watts editor@ecozine.com

ECOZINE’S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER DELIVERS THE BEST OF EACH WEEK, DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX!

SIGN UP HERE:

ECOZINE.COM/SUBSCRIBE-TO-ECOZINE

CREATIVE

GRAPHIC DESIGN Andy Lai, IndeeDesign FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY Timon Wehrli, Red Dog Studio EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Nic Rouge Studio PHOTO EDITING Emil Tse, Red Dog Studio ILLUSTRATIONS Tanya Piratay

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION

COORDINATORS Juliana Figueiroa, Jessica Lam, Katy Collins, Sarah Mansell

partner@ecozine.com

ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATION HO TAK SANG & CO. (htscpa.co.hk)

PRINT PARTNER

GEAR PRINTING (+852 2873 3803)

PAPER PARTNERS

FEDRIGONI ASIA LTD. (fedrigoni.asia)

Our cover is printed on Symbol Freelife paper, which is FSC certified with 25% recycled fibre POLYTRADE PAPER CORPORATION LTD. (polytrade-paper.com.hk)

Our pages are printed on Cyclus Offset paper, which is FSC certified with 100% recycled fibre

IMAGE PARTNER

IMAGINECHINA (imaginechina.com)

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

KITE SYSTEMS (kitesystems.com)

ADVISORS

PUBLISHING Tom Hilditch DESIGN Steph McNamee ART + STYLING Marie Lebailly

HEAD OFFICE ECOZINE

Level 2, 6 On Wo Lane, Central, Hong Kong T (852) 2868 5585 | F (852) 2868 5583 info@ecozine.com

VISIT ECOZINE.COM FOR CANDID REVIEWS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES OF-THE-MINUTE NEWS JUICY PRODUCT PICKS ECO LUXURY LIVING

UPCOMING EVENTS PHOTO GALLERIES ECO DIRECTORY STUFF TO WIN CLEVER TIPS ...AND MUCH MORE!

Editorial views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the publisher.

2014 Ecozine Ltd.

Ecozine operates under a ‘CopyLeft license’, meaning that any original editorial content in this publication may be modified, shared, copied, redistributed and used for noncommercial purposes – just make sure to please credit the source!

By using CyclusOffset 100% recycled paper, we have reduced our environmental impact by:

1,998

2,954

3,829

295

41,549

3,246

kg of landfill

kg CO2 and greenhouse gases

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, TOO! FACEBOOK.COM/ECOZINEDOTCOM TWITTER.COM/NISSA_ECOZINE

km travel in the average European car

litres of water

kWh of energy

kg of wood

Carbon footprint data evaluated by Labelia Conseil in accordance with the Bilan Carbone® methodology.

Calculators are based on a comparison between the recycled paper used versus a virgin fibre paper according to the latest European BREF data (virgin fibre paper) available.

MAKE LOVE NOT LANDFILL: please share, reuse or recycle this magazine when you have finished enjoying it.

CONTRIBUTORS

< Agnes Li, writer Agnes has been promoting environmental sustainability since joining BEC in early 2011. As CEO, she spearheads the strategic direction of the organisation and introduces measures to help BEC sustainably develop.

< Andy Cornish, writer After getting a PhD on reef fishes and teaching at HKU, Andy worked on coral reef management for the government of American Samoa, then joined WWF Hong Kong as its Conservation Director. Andy is now the Global Shark Programme Leader for WWF International.

Eco Pet Peeve | People who waste food by overordering at restaurants.

Eco Pet Peeve | When the ashtrays on rubbish bins catch fire because people are too lazy to put their cigarettes out properly.

Bobsy Gaia, writer >

Christina Dean, writer >

Eco Pet Peeve | The “Me” mentality that is so common the days, which is the complete opposite of the “We” mentality awareness.

Eco Pet Peeve | People who work in sustainability and by virtue of this think they deserve a green halo.

Born in Lebanon, Bobsy is a social ecoentrepreneur, yogi, campaigner and public speaker. His bottom line? To be living a vocation that is socially responsible, ecologically conscious and of service to humanity and the planet.

Christina founded Redress in 2007 and recognitions for her work include listings

by US online magazine Coco Eco as one of ‘2010’s Most Influential Women in Green’ and by UK Vogue as one of the UK’s ‘Top 30 Inspirational Women’.

< Claire Sancelot, writer This mother of three runs a zero waste household and authors the blog Hong Kong Green Home (hongkonggreenhome.hk), which includes tips for living in a waste-free household.

< James Law, writer James is an architect, product designer and international speaker, as well as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. His vision is to “innovate the fabric of mankind” through designs focused on finding solutions to the world’s challenges.

Eco Pet Peeve | Seeing people at fancy supermarkets asking for plastic bags to pack their groceries.

Eco Pet Peeve | The human race, collectively, because it is unwilling to see the reality of the world we live in.

Lance Diaresco, writer >

Nic Rouge, photographer >

Eco Pet Peeve | When African tourist companies offer experiences like “selfie” photographs with lions. What tourists don’t realise is that these lions will never be able to return to wild.

Eco Pet Peeve | When natural wildlife habitats are destroyed and species become endangered simply due to unnecessary overuse by humans.

A passionate photographer, diver and yoga practitioner, Lance recently left his job in marketing to travel the world and to develop his mind, body and spirit by volunteering in outreach programs.

A talented photographer based in Hong Kong, Nic has worked with commercial clients on various projects ranging from corporate campaigns to fashion editorials.

She recently travelled to Japan to document the appalling slaughtering of dolphins.

< Rachel Jacqueline, writer A talented Australian writer and trail runner, Rachel regularly contributes to the South China Morning Post’s ‘Fit & Fab’ bi-monthly column and keeps a blog, the Escape Mondays Project, where she chronicles her adventures in a bid to inspire others to live a better life in the city.

< Shannon Dawson, writer Outdoor enthusiast Shannon was pleasantly surprised to find a thriving outdoor scene in Hong Kong when she made the move from Sydney’s Northern Beaches last year, and is now committed to uncovering its country parks and beaches at every waking moment.

Eco Pet Peeve | My eco pet peeve is lights being left on unnecessarily. Why not light a few candles and instantly create a warm, cosy atmosphere?

Eco Pet Peeve | Pollution. As a runner, I spend a fair share of my time in the outdoors in pursuit of “fresh air”. Sadly, that’s an all too rare occurrence in Hong Kong.

Timon Wehrli, photographer >

Originally from the UK, Timon began his photography career in LA in 1988. He set up Red Dog Studio in 1995 where his work quickly matured, developed and evolved to include high profile advertising, celebrity, fashion, food and interiors.

Eco Pet Peeve | Heading up the Po Lo Che mountain and finding water bottles that people have thrown away while hiking just blows me away.

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Tom Hilditch, strategic advisor >

An award-winning journalist and magazine publisher based in Hong Kong, Tom is passionate about the world of magazines, and is the founder of Fast Media Ltd., publishing a number of magazines including Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay Magazine and Southside Magazine.

Eco Pet Peeve | Hong Kong’s dumb attachment to the private car. It’s a stinky, dangerous, space-hogging status-symbol that has no place in a modern vertical city.

Ecozine.com

W

ell, here we are... dear reader, you are holding the inaugural print issue of Ecozine.

It seems like not only the past few months but indeed our entire existence has been leading up to this moment. From being a member of my high school’s environment club to my carefree traveling youth, and on through to my last twelve years living in Hong Kong, every small part of life’s journey has contributed in some way to this current adventure. Although we didn’t know it, the pieces have been falling into place for a long time, right up until the moment two years ago when we thought, “You know what? Hong Kong needs a sustainable lifestyle magazine.

Let’s do it.” And Ecozine was born.

Fast forward to today, and Ecozine is already an established household name.

Following 16 months of success online, we’re thrilled to be launching our print edition here in Hong Kong. It feels utterly surreal yet completely natural and perfectly timed.

I was ecstatic when Owen Wilson agreed to grace our first-ever cover and share his thoughts on the environment. His enthusiasm confirmed what we already suspected - that Hollywood, and the mainstream world, are

Photo courtesy of Rob Lutter and A Boy Named Sue

EDITOR'S NOTE

becoming increasingly passionate about the environment and want to talk about it, to make a difference… to live a good life and do the right thing. And that is exactly why Ecozine exists.

Creating this first issue has been an amazing journey, and also a challenge. There have been late nights aplenty, lessons learned and even a few near panic attacks, but through it all I have been touched and inspired by the unwavering commitment and passion of our team, and the overwhelming support we have received from every direction.

We are wildly blessed to be surrounded by amazing talent. We’ve had the opportunity to work with some very special people in the making of this first issue, including renowned photographer Timon Wehrli, top models Rosemary Vandenbroucke and Jocelyn LukoSandstrom, and guest contributors ranging from the CEO of Business Environment Council Agnes Li to visual artist Lyès-Olivier Sidhoum. In every facet of this magazine, from paper to print to distribution, there’s someone for whom our gratitude is immeasurable.

For me personally, beyond even that is a heartfelt debt of friendship, love and gratitude to my own team here in our bustling little

office. Lauren Cameron, our Managing Editor, is a master of organization and task assignment; Executive Editor Karry Lai has been with Ecozine since the very beginning, and I’m convinced there’s absolutely nothing she can’t do; and words cannot convey my love and admiration for Lisa Christensen, my best friend, business partner and visionary CoCreator of Ecozine.

On the note of challenges – the biggest one by far was narrowing this issue down to 100 pages. I’m more present than ever to the vast and growing realm of sustainable living, from products to personal habits to innovation and invention. There’s so much to share, it seems we’re just scratching the surface! Luckily, this is only the beginning.

On behalf of everyone who is a part of bringing Ecozine to life, thank you for picking up this issue. We hope you enjoy it.

Gratefully,

PS - If you like what you see, there’s heaps more at Ecozine.com and in our weekly newsletter. Visit page 97 for details (and a sweet contest)!

BEHIND THE SCENES

High fashion in Sai Kung

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Playing pagination twister

Ecozine runs the HK 1/2 Marathon

The team strategizing over lunch

Our bright, green Central office

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ECORAZZI

Earth Hour 2014 was successfully held on 29 March

Under Secretary for the Environment Christine Loh

Trevor Yang, Chairman of WWF’s Executive Council

Miriam Yeung, Kay Tse and Kandy Wong

WWF Trustee Jeremy Higgs and Belinda Devenish

WWF EARTH HOUR 2014

Over 3,900 companies and buildings, all universities and over 320 schools switched off their lights this year for WWF’s Earth Hour. Guests on hand to witness the lights-out countdown included Under Secretary for the Environment Christine Loh, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory Mr Shun Chi-ming and Earth Hour ambassadors Miriam Yeung and Kay Tse.

Youngsters showing the love

HONG KONG SIPPEDIN

The sustainability community in Hong Kong is growing, and its members meet regularly to unwind, talk shop, trade notes and of course, enjoy a glass of wine among kindred spirits at this casual but cozy event.

Sippedin founder Ciara Shannon (right) plays host Dawn McGregor and Jacqui Dixon

Happy Sippedin’ers

Glen Frommer, Matt Elmes, Hannah Routh and Darren Catterall

Shirlee and Ted Algire Networking and meeting new people

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Ruco Chan, Xuan Mu and friends

Bonnae Gokson and friend

Ana R, Eunis Chan and Rosemary Vandenbroucke Sandra Grau and Malcolm Wood

William So and Xuan Mu

MOTT 32 GRAND OPENING

The latest restaurant by Maximal Concepts has been touted as Hong Kong’s first farm-to-table Chinese restaurant and offers classic, homely Cantonese fare, set in a stunning atmosphere.

At its buzz-worthy opening, resident Michelin-awarded Chef Fung hosted guests for a night of gustatory delights, creative cocktails and revelry.

Aerial silk dancers entertain guests

SAMSUNG SOLVE FOR TOMORROW

Chi-Lam, the Celebrity Judge for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.

Hong Kong students were recently invited to show how they would use technology to improve the environment, in a citywide competition sponsored by Samsung.

Singer Cheung Chi-Lam joined Ecozine’s own Lisa Christensen and other honourable judges in recognizing the winning students at a glamorous award ceremony where HK$3.7M in prizes were awarded to the winners and their schools to realise their dreams.

Models dressed by Erbert Chong Ecozine’s Lisa Christensen, one of the competition judges, with a proud winner.

Proud winners of the secondary school category

Excited primary school students Lawrence Chow, chief marketing officer of Samsung Electronics HK Ltd.

Ecozine.com

Group photo with the judges, top 20 participating school representatives, and the winners from the primary, secondary and tertiary category.

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Advertorial

LISA

Loves..

STUFF YOU HAVE TO KNOW

From travels, treasures and inspirations to body, mind and spirit, Ecozine’s Publisher Lisa Christensen shares a few of her favorite eco things.

Electric ECSTASY OK, so, I have expensive taste and I like going fast. The 918 Spyder ticks those boxes, and more.

With a jaw-dropping price tag of US$845,000, it is Porsche’s most costly road-going model, and it’s also the fastest – the Spyder can accelerate from 0 - 62mph in just 2.8 seconds, and maxes out at a spine-tingling 345km/h (150km/h on battery alone). The gasoline-electric hybrid system offers five drive modes: Electric, Hybrid, Sport, Race, and Hot Lap, which is perhaps not quite suited to Hong Kong’s roads… (porsche.com)

HOLE IN ONE

It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth...these new gluten-free and vegan donuts are the latest pastry craze and may just be the best one yet. Sadly, they’re not available in Hong Kong yet, but you can get a pretty awesome gluten-free sweet treat at Choice Cooperative. (fonuts.com, theonlychoicehk.com) 18

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Lis and Ni s do a ‘no ma keu p sel f ie’ on t he sta rt line of t he Ba li Int ern ati ona l Tri at hlo n.

GO T EAM EC OZ INE !

THE FIRST ISSUE! While pulling the inaugural magazine together has required (a few) late nights and weekend work sessions, it’s certainly not been all work and no play!! Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion. And working with your best friend and a team you adore is called awesome.

WHAT’S SUP? Many of the hottest trend-setting celebrities are hooked on Stand Up Paddling. From Owen Wilson, Ben Harper and Matthew McConaughey to Jennifer Aniston, Rihanna and Kate Hudson, SUP has become a global phenomenon. This eco-friendly, hand made bamboo board has just found a new home – woohoo! #lovingsaikungliving (surf-hk.com)

Ecozine.com

GOT CABIN FEVER? Can you believe this is an RV? The ESCAPE was inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s celebrated attention to detail and appreciation of nature. Made of all-natural materials, environmentally and energy-conscious, not to mention just plain beautiful, the ESCAPE defines 21st century living.

Featuring sustainable cedar lap siding, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances and much more, this is hardly your standard RV, but rather an object of repose that enhances the beauty of any natural setting….can you say road trip?! (canoebayescape.com)

REVOLUTION Our dear friend Rob Stewart is a biologist, photographer, conservationist and award-winning filmmaker. After winning dozens of awards for Sharkwater, he recently produced a new film, Revolution, with opening scenes taking place right here in Hong Kong! The film starts with him realizing that it is longer about just saving our oceans - it is about saving ourselves.

Time is running out. It is no longer about negotiating. It’s about survival. Revolution is motivating, encouraging and informative – a very important movie with a very significant message. David Suzuki said, “If you see one movie this year, this is the one to see”, and I agree. (therevolutionmovie.com)

BEACH TO BOTTLE

JUICE BOOST

Manta MAGIC Indonesia has established a 2.3 million square mile sanctuary for manta rays, making it the world’s largest such protected area. Having dived with these majestic, spaceship-like finned fortresses myself, this brings utter joy to my heart. For the first time, manta ray hunting and export is completely banned within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone. The sanctuary is a massive victory for conservationists and the manta rays, as Indonesia was home to some of the largest ray fisheries in the world. Bravo!

Ecozine.com

The Omega 8006 Nutrition Center - not just loved by me, this is the most reviewed and highest rated of masticating juicers at Amazon. A masticating (meaning ‘to chew’) juicer is a slow and thorough way to extract juice and nutrients from fruits, veggies, and grasses by cold-pressing. Slow juicers use an auger that effectively crushes the cell walls of fruits and veggies, releasing extra juice and nutrients. This greatly increases the amount of antioxidants, and produces a foam-free juice.

But wait – there’s more! It also minces and chops, extrudes soymilk and pasta, and makes baby food, nut butters and even frozen desserts - yum, sorbet!

BUYING TIP: For discounts and 3-day delivery, contact rosemary@premier-mktg.com (omegajuicers.com)

This bottle gets its unique grey color from the fact that it’s made from a blend of recovered ocean plastic and post-consumer recycled plastic – an industry first. Innovation sure is a beautiful thing! Over the past year and a half, method employees, with the help of local beach cleanup groups and volunteers, have hand-collected more than one tonne of plastic from the beaches of Hawaii and turned the seemingly impossible plastic trash into bottles with their recycling partner, Envision Plastics. (methodhome.com)

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THE SOURCE

GREEN TO GO

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TERRIFIC TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

Traveling is good for you. Make it good for Mother Earth too. We’ve found some cool products for you to throw in your suitcase that are guaranteed to reduce your impact. Happy trails!

Ecozine.com

STRiDA 5.2 Foldable Bike Weighing in at under 10kg, this bike features a super-light collapsible frame constructed from aluminium. Its unique design allows for quick folding on the go, while also providing great stability and riding comfort. Plus it’s clean and greasefree, with no oily chain or gears. At last!

HK$10,858 | strida.hk

OffGrid SolarPowered Backpack Voltaic Systems’ most versatile bag, the Offgrid can charge any hand-held electronic. After charging for just one hour in the sun, you will have 1.5 hours of talk time. As for the battery, it allows for 14 hours of talk time, or 68 hours of music playback. The pack itself has 1,500 cubic inches of storage space, a padded laptop sleeve, integrated phone pouch and plenty of other pockets.

HK$1,777 | voltaicsystems.com

Hemp Multi-Purpose Laptop Bag

Hemp Dog Carrier

This multi-compartmented briefcase is made of 100% natural hemp canvas and PVC-free foam. Hemp material is ecofriendly, trendy, and durable beyond belief, making this possibly one of the best bags a traveller can rock.

HK$918 | sativabags.com

Earth Doggy makes this resilient, ecofriendly pet carrier, which we love for trips with our four-legged buddies. With extra pockets, the carrier is ready to haul all your pet accessories, and it even has a collar strap to prevent your pet from jumping out!

HK$388 | earthdoggy.com

OnBeat Solar Headphones

Bamboo Travel Set

With these foldable solar headphones, you can listen to music and watch videos on your phone or tablet continuously, without stopping to recharge! The headphones are wrapped with a flexible solar panel that sucks up energy whenever you’re under the sun.

HK$1152 | onbeatheadphones.com

This luxurious, 100% natural bamboo blanket and eye mask will keep you warm (and environmentally conscious) on your travels. This set is made from bamboo fabric that is grown pesticide-free. It’s uber soft and silky to the touch, as well as being naturally absorbent, hypo-allergenic, and anti-bacterial!

HK$310 | pb-travel.com

Keen Newport H2 Shoes

2C Solar Light Cap

Gear up for some serious adventures with the Newport H2. The traction and ventilation system on this innovative shoe allows for comfortable treading on any terrain, against any adverse conditions you might face – and the sensation is like walking on clouds.

HK$790 | keenfootwear.com

We still can’t get over this one. A solar powered baseball cap? The Commander is equipped with two ultra-bright LEDs that can last three hours with full power!

The flexible solar panel charges in both sun and cloud, eliminating the need for batteries. Aaannd, the cap is completely waterproofed, perfect for exercising, boating, or camping. We’ll take two please.

HK$310 | solarlightcap.com Summer 2014

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THE SOURCE

organisations that exist purely to donate unused food to those in need, and I wanted to find out if there were similar organisations in Hong Kong.

I found examples of local bakeries and wet market stalls donating their leftovers to nearby charities, but what was missing was something of scale; a single organization providing a link between companies with high quality surplus food and the multiple charities feeding people in need.

This is the gap Feeding Hong Kong now fills. We work like a wholesaler. Food companies donate their excess food stocks to us and we sort it, store it, then distribute it to various charities according to their individual needs. This process of “foodbanking” feeds people in need and reduces food waste.

Q

&A

Gabrielle Kirstein

Food Waste Warrior

Karry Lai, Ecozine’s Executive Editor, talks food waste with Gabrielle Kirstein, Founder of Feeding Hong Kong.

A

lmost a billion people around the world are suffering from starvation or malnutrition and their associated illnesses.

In Hong Kong, we often think of this as a problem “somewhere else”. But the reality is that over 1.5 million people in our city are living in poverty and are struggling to meet their basic daily nutritional needs.

This is where Feeding Hong Kong comes in. We caught up with Gabrielle Kirstein, Executive Director of Feeding Hong Kong, to learn more of her work in channeling food supplies away from landfills and toward those who need it most.

Ecozine: What inspired you to create Feeding Hong Kong?

Gabrielle: In early 2009, my eco-warrior friend Christina Dean described how she had seen staff at a supermarket tipping a pallet of freshly baked bread into the bin. In the UK I’d worked with charity

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Ecozine: How do you work with partners, and which are some of your partners?

Gabrielle: We currently work with over 70 food companies, including the retailers Wellcome, Maxim’s and Pret A Manger, manufacturers such as Garden, and distributors such as Wing Sang Cheong and Sarinah Organics.

Our partnerships with local charities are equally important.

We currently distribute over 17,000 meals per month through our network of 47 charity partners. They include shelters for the homeless, migrant workers’ and women’s refuges, senior day centres, children’s homes and other non-profit programmes.

Together, they support over 5,000 people per month.

Ecozine: What are the goals for 2014?

Gabrielle: In 2014, we will continue to sharpen our focus on nutrition, as it’s not just about getting enough to eat, but enough of the right kinds of foods.

Last year, with the help of a passionate group of chefs and nutritionists we launched our first “Chefs in the Community” cookbook. It included 50 tasty, healthy, budget-friendly recipes that could be made using ingredients commonly donated to us at our Foodbank. We will be launching our second cookbook later this year.

We’ll also be scaling up our community cooking classes, with a real focus on practical nutrition, and we’re excited about growing our Edible Gardens programme – an urban community farming initiative from which we have just had our first vegetable harvest!

Ecozine: What can people do to help?

Gabrielle: We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our amazing volunteers. We are a small team of 8, but are supported each week by over 100 volunteers.

Our work is labour intensive – each food item donated to us needs to be sorted, checked and stored in the warehouse, and each charity food delivery needs to be individually put together based on the needs and requirements of that particular charity – so we are always looking for volunteers to come and help out in our warehouse during weekdays.

KEEN TO SUPPORT BUT UNABLE TO HELP DURING THE DAY? Join a Feeding Hong Kong Bread Run! Every Tuesday and Thursday night, you can volunteer to help pick up surplus fresh bread from bakeries across the city.

For more details, head to feedinghk.org/bread-run/.

Ecozine.com

THE SOURCE

Veg Out

5 fast, fresh, nourishing vegetarian restaurants that we love MANA! FAST SLOW FOOD

With communal tables, recycled Balinese timber, a free water fountain, and empowering quotes scribbled on chalkboards, Mana! Fast Slow Food has got the eco-friendly vibe down pat. The organic eatery on Central’s Wellington Street offers fare that is vegetarian, vegan, organic, local, raw, gluten-free and eco-friendly. That adds up to quite a few ‘frees’ + ‘friendlys’, but somehow the Mana team pulls it off, all while maintaining a hip, buzzing atmosphere. The cozy outdoor courtyard (with wi-fi, natch) offers diners the perfect space to chow down on the freshly-made range of organic salads and the Mana trademark, the ‘flat’: a generous wholemeal or gluten-free flatbread piled with your fave veggie toppings.

Mana’s charismatic owners Bobsy and Christian adhere to their environmental commitments with a resto that really walks the talk – from a ‘no bottled water sold here’ policy to clearly-marked compost

LIFE ORGANIC HEALTH CAFÉ

GRASSROOTS PANTRY

and recycling separation stations, biodegradable takeaway packaging and an 85% water saving toilet system.

92 Wellington Street, Central +852 2851 1611

On stepping into Grassroots Pantry one leaves behind the urban world and enter a cozy little realm of homey charm and guilt-free gluttony (is that even possible?). Peggy Chan and her culinary team work in full view of their customers, showcasing the love and attention that goes into each and every one of the Buddhist-friendly, vegan, raw and/ or gluten-free options made fresh to order every day. We can’t get enough of the veggie nachos served with hemp sour cream and ‘refried beans’ – a creative concoction of carrot pulp, flower seeds and sundried tomatoes, together with organic almond and flaxseed corn wafers. The menu is seasonal and this charming little venue seats just 16 people, so be sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Tip: check out their blog at grassrootspantry.tumblr.com, for inspiring ideas on stylish, sustainable living.

12 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun +852 2873 3353

BRANTO INDIAN RESTAURANT

You know you’ve stumbled upon an authentic Indian eatery when the clientele is almost 100% Indian. If you can manage to locate the ‘secret’ entrance hidden up a staircase off Lock Rd in TST, Indian cuisine lovers will find themselves returning to Branto Indian time and again for the spicy, inexpensive, Bombay-influenced vegetarian food served in extremely unpretentious surroundings (extra points for the cheesy Bollywood flicks playing in the background). Definitely try the masala dosa. Mind-blowing.

1/F, 9 -11 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui +852 2366 8171

GREEN MONDAYS

Can’t quite commit to the vegetarian lifestyle? Join the masses and go veggie just one day a week, to get you started!

For recipes, resources and a full list of participating HK restaurants, head to www.greenmonday.org.hk.

VEGGIE SF Perhaps it’s the extravagant 1950s San Francisco style décor that makes dining

at Veggie SF in Stanley St, Central, such a delight. With swinging jazz music and retro antiques covering the walls, the restaurant’s vintage atmosphere is fun and lighthearted. We love that Veggie SF is committed to using organic ingredients and that its international menu is 100% vegetarian.

Even meat-eaters will enjoy the hearty dishes on offer, which include salt and pepper deep fried tofu, crispy nuggets and satay skewers. Those with an appetite will love the ‘I am Fabulous’ veggo burger, served with chunky potato pumpkin wedges (yum), while someone craving a lighter bite would enjoy the ‘Trip to Bali’: Indonesian Gado Gado served with organic coconut rice.

10/F, 11 Stanley St, Central +852 3902 3902

It’s always difficult to drag ourselves away from Life Organic Café, Soho’s longest standing vegetarian eatery. We love the relaxing atmosphere, with interiors featuring reclaimed teak wood, recycled copperdomed lights, world music and outdoor terrace. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will enjoy the colourful pastas, salads, pizzas and other modern vegetarian and vegan choices, all made using fresh, local and organic ingredients. Life offers an impressive array of wheat-free, dairy-free and yeastfree treats plus a full range of organic teas and “coffeealternatives’’ (dandelion latte? Yes please!).

Recommended: hearty organic quinoa porridge made with ground almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and agave syrup.

10 Shelley Street, Central +852 2810 9777

FOR THE LATEST RESTAURANT NEWS, TASTINGS, TIPS, REVIEWS & MORE, HEAD TO ECOZINE.COM 26

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THE SOURCE

Reading Room

Movies

That Matter

The truth can sometimes be harsh, but would you rather be blinded by ignorance? These inspirational documentaries reveal little-known facts about big issues, and will have you leaping from your couch to spring into action for a better planet and a healthier you!

Hungry for Change From the creators of the well-known documentary Food Matters, Hungry for Change exposes secrets that the diet, weight loss and food industries would prefer to bury forever. With expert interviews and real-life transformational stories, this documentary digs deep to uncover the reasons why more and more people are becoming sick and overweight all over the world. You’ll come away from this film with a renewed sense of what is truly healthy and nutritious for your body. hungryforchange.tv Rise of the Eco-Warriors 15 young conservationists from nine different countries and every walk of life star in Cathy Henkel’s documentary about a mission to save orangutans in the remote jungles of Borneo, where illegal palm oil plantations are encroaching on their natural habitat. The young activists spend 100 days in Borneo caring for displaced orangutans, raising awareness in local schools and reforesting with local Dayak villagers. The film is as much about their personal journeys as it is about the environmental messages it presents, and inspires while keeping a realistic view of the challenges of tackling big environmental problems. ecowarriorsrise.com Watermark In Watermark, multiple-award-winning filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nick de Pencier, and renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky, collaborate to present an alarming, but awe-inspiring, look at man’s relationship with water. The 90-minute documentary brings together diverse stories from around the globe, from the construction of the biggest arch dam in the world (the Xiluodu, six times the size of the Hoover) the barren desert delta where the mighty Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean, to the water-intensive leather tanneries of Dhaka. Prepare to be mesmerized by stunning 5K ultra high-definition footage of soaring aerial perspectives, and of the magnificent force of nature that we will continue to no doubt take for granted - until it is gone. watchwatermarkmovie.com

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EIGHT TITLES to Pick Up Now

Books have the power not only to entertain but to move the soul, educate and inspire change. In light of this fact, we have compiled a list of books that really mattered in the past year. Do yourself a favour: curl up on the sofa, or sprawl out on the sand and work your way through these non-fiction bestsellers one by one…

Eco-Business: A Big-Brand Takeover of Sustainability

By Peter Dauvergne and Jane Lister Corporate giants such as Coca Cola and McDonalds are pledging eco initiatives, but as these authors investigate, such good intentions may also have other motives! An eye-opening read that debates the sometimes-tenuous relationship between pushing sustainability policies and improving profit shares.

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying your Life by Reducing your Waste

By Bea Johnson Waste not, want not. Blogger and long term advocate for sustainable living, Bea Johnson, provides a firsthand account of the joys of living waste-free. Packed with dozens of tips and tricks that even the busiest people can adopt, Zero Waste Home is a must read for those looking to improve their quality of life through minimizing waste.

Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?

By Alan Weisman A powerful, thought-provoking read that examines some of the most disturbing questions of our time - most notably, how much longer can the planet accommodate our ever-growing population? Compelling, shocking, yet reassuringly optimistic, this book will alter your perceptions about life on Earth.

Consumed: Food for a Finite Planet

By Sarah Elton Food for thought: Earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion in 2050, and we’re already experiencing food shortage. Award-winning writer Sarah Elton travels across four continents to tell the little-known, inspiring stories of people who are finding sustainable alternatives to industrial method of sourcing food.

Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion

By Elizabeth L. Cline An eye-opening read that will have you rethinking your fashion choices! Cline sets out to uncover the true nature

of the ‘cheap fashion revolution’ that has developed over the past few decades, and examines the effect it has on our society, our environment, and our economic well-being.

Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain’s Silent Killers

By David Perlmutter MD In this No. 1 New York Times bestseller, renowned neurologist David Perlmutter, M.D. tells the devastating truth about the effects of wheat, sugar, and carbs on the brain. He offers an in-depth look at how we can take control of our “smart genes” through specific dietary choices and lifestyle habits. With a revolutionary 4-week plan, this book teaches us how we can reprogram our genetic destiny for the better.

State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?

By The WorldWatch Institute Every day, we are presented with a range of “sustainable” products and activities, to the extent that the term has become essentially “sustainababble”, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. This book offers a broad and realistic look at how close we are to true sustainability today, and which practices and policies will steer us in the right direction.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

By Cheryl Strayed Following the death of her mother, a divorce, and a string of reckless acts, Strayed thought she had nothing more to lose and embarked on the most impulsive journey of her life. With no experience or training, she would hike more than 1,000 miles alone, from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. This book powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman hiker forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

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THE SOURCE

CELEBRATING... ECOPRENEURS

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

– Winston Churchill

BILLY POTTS Director and Co-Founder of Handsome Co

JEANINE HSU Founder of niin jewellery

At niin, original jewellery and accessory designs are handcrafted using sustainable materials. The Hong Kong based company even upcycles offcuts from high-end furniture factories (where possible) and incorporates them into designs, which are then sold in recycled packaging.

The business started when I

discovered a passion for jewellery through doing costume design for the Salzburg Festival and opera productions in Vienna. I found jewellery to be the middle ground where I could combine sculpture and fashion, two mediums I had always loved and worked with.

Before that I was becoming

increasingly horrified by the waste and, often, negativity in the fashion industry - be it the fabrics, changing seasons and sizes, or the financial waste of producing fashion shows.

People buy our products because

they are unique and you know that each product is made with ethical practices at the core. It’s jewellery with a conscience.

Every morning I read a quote from

my positive quotes book, and drink a cup of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon.

Three things that keep me going are

Billy’s Hong Kong-based design firm and creative consultancy employs local talent to design and manufacture sustainable lifestyle products. The company started as The Handsome Bag Company, which launched a line of accessories upcycled from taxi upholstery.

In five years, my company will be using more sustainable

materials in a wider range of design products, collaborating with foundations to protect and educate about the environment, and selling in more countries than the 14 we deliver to now. Hopefully we will have had a small impact on more mindful consumerism.

Mizu, with my girlfriend then we travel in to Central and have breakfast before work. It’s our routine and I hate when we miss it.

The thing that keeps me going is my Mom and girlfriend are

my cheerleaders. They drag me forward even when I’m feeling The business started when unmotivated.

I stumbled across a shop that Money is a nice thing to have and was stripping upholstery from with it comes the ability to acquire a taxi seat to replace it. I asked experiences (which, I think, are for a bit of the material and more important than things). It they kindly gave me some. isn’t the most important thing.

From there I experimented and started making bags. I started The environment is something incorporating subtle elements we need to protect if we want to from the taxis themselves - the continue being guests here. The coloured linings (red, green and Earth will remain even if we blue) are inspired by the three don’t look after it, but we won’t. colours that HK taxis come in.

1. Inspiration. Through the basic belief that we can make this world a better place by creating, giving, sharing and doing … as well as cherishing and nurturing the environment we live in.

2. Yoga, my family and my wide range of friends.

Before that I was a solicitor. I 3. Great food! was doing my own thing on the Money is an annoying necessity weekends and gradually it began we require to survive. taking over my whole life. People started asking me to consult on The environment is precious and in trouble. It is our everything, design, so I started taking those and if we do not respect it we are projects on. all doomed.

Every morning I walk my dog,

People buy our products because we tell a story and we

In five years, my company will probably (hopefully) have

grown into one that caters to a wide range of projects - as long as they’re creative and interesting I’d be happy with that.

My top eco tip is I try, where

possible, not to print and usually use Google drive to share documents.

have a purpose. The story behind the taxi series is particularly strong and it resonates with people both culturally and because of the environmental element of it.

My top eco tip is to use less,

reuse more.

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earch ‘Owen Wilson interview’, and Google returns around 48,000,000 results. Ask Owen how often he’s been interviewed about his thoughts on sustainability, and he’ll pause and reflect, and with a slow smile, drawl, “Well, I guess never.” Until now.

Ecozine’s Editor-In-Chief Nissa Marion recently caught up with the green-hearted superstar.

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Known best for his funnyman roles and trademark broken nose, Owen Wilson is the middle child in a trio of acting siblings, and his film credentials are, well, substantial, to say the least. At just 45, he has already worked on nearly 50 films, 12 of which have grossed over US$100 million at the box office, including popular hits Meet the Parents and Wedding Crashers.

But despite massive Hollywood success, Owen has kept it real. Surfing and standup paddle boarding are among his favourite pastimes, together with hanging out with his family and good friends. He has no A-list hang-ups, and can often be seen cycling around town or chowing down at local eateries. And it works for him; his laid-back attitude, smooth Southern manners and quirky good looks have proven irresistible not only to film producers but to fans across the globe – including us!

But there’s more to Owen than these well-documented facts. He has long been an advocate of the green lifestyle; he bought a Toyota Prius over 15 years ago, and in 2007 installed solar panels on his house in support of Edward Norton’s “Solar Neighbours” program. He speaks admiringly of close friends Woody Harrelson and the late Paul Newman, who have made huge strides in promoting sustainable living. And now, with the recent birth of his second child, he has more reason than ever to consider our impact on the future - and he’s got plenty to say about it.

Ecozine.com

Image: Anthony Mandler/Corbis Outline/Imaginechina

NM: YOU LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE ON PLANET EARTH?

OW: On Maui there are some incredible hikes; the Bamboo Forest Hike, and another one to a sea cave that’s sort of off the beaten path, where you hike down to the ocean and then back up a stream to a waterfall – it’s like something out of Jurassic Park, but with no dinosaurs.

For me what’s so great about places that are so breathtaking in their natural beauty, is that they help you feel more spiritually connected.

But then you know, one of the things I’m a little embarrassed about is that I haven’t been to many of the great National Parks that are in the U.S. Yosemite is supposed to be unbelievable, and I’ve never been there. So that’s on my list of places to visit.

that connection right in New York City; but for the rest of us, it takes being in nature, quiet and stillness to experience that. That’s one of the great things that nature offers us.

NM: WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

OW: For me, it would be the ocean, partly because as a kid some of my best memories are going with my brothers to visit my grandmother in Massachusetts, who lives right near the ocean, and playing on the beach every day. I love being around water - stand up paddling here in Malibu, surfing in Hawaii - so trying to protect the oceans and safeguard those things is important to me in a very personal way.

NM: WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?

NM: YOU’VE RECENTLY HAD A SECOND CHILD. HAS THIS, OR ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN YOUR LIFE, CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR WANTING TO BE MORE ECO-CONSCIOUS?

OW: Well, you get sort of caught up in city life… I’m as guilty as anybody, always checking my phone, iPad. We let technology take over and we don’t take much time to be still and quiet. If you’re a very spiritual person, like a monk, okay maybe you can even feel

OW: I don’t know if I can point to any single event… I think it’s more a combination of getting older and the fact there just seems to be so much more in the news, awareness is growing in general. I think you’d have to be trying really hard to miss it.

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It also goes back to when I was a kid. I loved reading Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and so of course the Mississippi River always seemed kind of an incredible place. And then you go there, and it’s sort of …not quite what you pictured.

Yeah, for me, it’s less one event than a slow dawning that we seem to be in some trouble when it comes to pollution, overpopulation, global warming… all of these things seem to be coming to the forefront.

NM: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’VE HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR THE PLANET FOR SOME TIME…WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN?

OW: I remember, as a kid, seeing this really moving TV commercial with a native Indian… he’s paddling along the river in his canoe and then he rounds the bend and sees all the pollution, and he gets a tear in his eye.

That really stuck with me.

seat standing up! And now, if I get in a car and I don’t put on the seatbelt, I feel sort of naked!

It’s just a habit.

NM: AS AN ACTOR, YOU’RE A ROLE MODEL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU?

OW: Working in entertainment sometimes means you have an opportunity or platform to have people pay attention to what you say.

I guess that’s a responsibility, and it’s probably one that I could do more with, and I have a lot of respect for people that have made the most of that. You look at Robert Redford with the Sundance Film Festival [Redford, an avid environmentalist, purchased the land in Utah that went on to become the site of the festival with a “vision of the careful growth of a community devoted to the balance of art, nature and recreation”]… or what Paul Newman did with the Newman’s Own Foundation, raising money for people in need. That’s inspiring.

I THINK IT’S ABOUT CHANGING PEOPLE’S HABITS - AND CREATING THE CONSCIOUSNESS, THE AWARENESS, THAT LITTLE THINGS CAN ADD UP.

But the problem is, you know, it’s easy to affect people in the moment. What’s harder is to get them into action, and so that seems to be what the challenge is now. And sure, I believe that our leaders and governments definitely can do their part. But sometimes we, as citizens of the world, have to let those leaders know we support them, and encourage them to do the right thing.

NM: YOU WROTE A CHAPTER FOR THE GREEN BOOK, BY ELIZABETH ROGERS. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

Image: Derek Shook/Splash News/Corbis/Imaginechina

OW: Elizabeth is a friend and she asked me to participate, and I was happy to. It was a great experience, because I learned a lot from that book – like how phone chargers draw energy even when your phone’s not plugged in, so it’s best to unplug the charger right from the wall to save power.

There are lots of examples like that – simple things that everybody can do. Again, it comes back to finding ways to address the challenge of changing people’s behaviour. It’s one of the most difficult things, but it’s possible. I think it’s about changing people’s habits - and creating the consciousness, the awareness, that little things can add up.

It’s hard but it’s not impossible to change our habits, and there are lots of good examples.

I think about how, growing up, no one wore seatbelts – I remember even riding in the front 34

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EXCLUSIVE

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M: YOU’VE DONE A LOT OF CHARITY WORK YOURSELF, FOR VARIOUS CAUSES. ANY PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES?

OW: Last year they held a charity flag football game before one of the college bowl games for returning veterans… that was really fun because I love football, and we had these NFL greats out there playing with us, and some famous coaches and then you have fans, ESPN covered it… it was in support of Got Your 6 [an NGO supporting reintegration of military veterans back in to society].

NM: SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY. DO YOU THINK IT’S GETTING ANY GREENER?

OW: I think that, over the years, Hollywood has a fairly good track record for being progressive, and helping causes, shining awareness on social issues and things. “An Inconvenient Truth” picked up an Academy Award for Best Documentary, and the movie ended up doing very well, a lot of people saw it. I think that helped give people a greater awareness of just how serious the problem is that we are facing.

And then there’s stuff like, they try not to have plastic bottles on sets, and encourage everybody to use refillable canteen bottles that they give out.

NM: HONG KONG IS FACING SOME MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW – WE’RE ON THE VERGE OF A WASTE CRISIS, WITH OUR LANDFILLS NEARING CAPACITY, AND OUR AIR POLLUTION IS AT UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS. YOU VISITED LAST YEAR. DID YOU NOTICE OR EXPERIENCE ANY OF THAT?

OW: When I went to Hong Kong, it actually struck me as a very clean, orderly city.

I do remember my first year of going to college in Los Angeles, at USC, and literally, your eyes would sometimes be stinging at the end of the day from air pollution. That doesn’t happen anymore though. California has spearheaded regulations on fuel emissions, and they seem to have turned things around from 20 years ago.

Ecozine.com

One thing I did do in Hong Kong was borrow a bike. I love riding a bike in a city. Somehow it fits my attention span [better than] walking. A lot of big cities like New York and Paris have become much more bikefriendly over the past few years. Vancouver even has a “Bike-to-Work Week”. I think those things are great to encourage. In Hong Kong, it’s not as easy, the roads…

NM: SINGLE USE PLASTIC WASTE IS A BIG PROBLEM HERE. WHAT’S IT LIKE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?

OW: Where I live in Maui, the grocery store doesn’t have any plastic bags, and they don’t even let you use paper bags!

You gotta get one of those reusable ones that you come and go with.

And with the plastic bottles, all that stuff gets into the ocean water and hurts marine life, out in the middle of the ocean where this plastic garbage and debris is collecting. It’s just… <pauses> There’s a line in a script I read that seems to apply: “Not only are we animals – we’re the worst animals there are!” It does seem like that sometimes.

I’m certainly not putting myself in a different light either – I know I can do better. We as a race, as a species, have all got to start doing better.

NM: THANKS, OWEN. ANY PARTICULAR THOUGHT YOU’D LIKE TO LEAVE US WITH?

OW: When I think about some of the great, happy times in my life, it’s being in the ocean, or in Hawaii, going on amazing hikes…or just growing up outside with my brothers, down at the lake or in the creek. All these are the kinds of things I would hope my children get to experience. I saw the movie “Gravity” the other night, and so of course when they are looking down on Earth, you realize – and this sounds corny, but – you know what, this is our home.

Something we have to take care of.

The only one we have!

We’re all lucky to be here. When you think about the vast cold universe, there’s one planet that has all this life and beauty… surely we want to keep that going, so future generations get to enjoy it.

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THE HONG KONG CLEANUP EFFECT

We dream of a zero waste world by 2030.

The Challenge serves as an offline and online advocacy tool that gives citizens an opportunity to participate, while showing our leaders a clear and compelling mandate for Hong Kong to achieve this. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lisa Christensen, Founder, Hong Kong Cleanup

FEATURE

1 event 150,000 people 12,590,349 pieces of trash 279 commitments from business, government and organizations Asia’s biggest environmental event now a civic movement Words by Karry Lai

I

n Hong Kong we throw away over 16,000 tonnes of trash – including an estimated 1,368,000 disposable plastic bottles, 1,000 tonnes of plastic bags and countless more tonnes of plastic wrapping and packaging – every day. Yup, you read that right – every day.

We are literally running out of places to put our refuse, yet we continue to consume and throw away more than our city’s infrastructure and surrounding ecosystems can handle, jeopardizing wildlife, economies, and our own health and safety.

Where do you suppose that trash ends up? It isn’t all recycled, that’s for sure.

The issue of trash isn’t, of course, unique to Hong Kong. It’s a problem on a global scale, with plastic and debris floating in every square kilometre of ocean and plaguing our daily lives. But here in Hong Kong, there is a particular urgency to the concern, with our three remaining landfills nearing capacity amid controversy over plans to build a super incinerator and other hurried, piecemeal measures.

The need to reduce our trash at the source is now more vital than ever, and encouraging citizens to take personal responsibility is the crux of Ecovision’s Hong

Kong Cleanup Challenge – a 14-year established initiative that sees thousands of people flocking to Hong Kong’s streets, coasts and country parks each year in the region’s biggest volunteer cleanup effort.

The Challenge offers participants a glimpse into the effects of our “throwaway” and “pick up after me” societal habits, and gives them an opportunity to make a difference, both immediately and by pledging longer-term changes in behaviour.

In 2013, a record-breaking 45,680 people took part in the Hong Kong Cleanup Challenge, cleaning up 1,282,477kg of trash from 1,833km of shorelines, country park trails and city streets.

The 6-week Challenge, which runs every year from the 3rd Saturday in September, is not only a local success story but is also part of a global civic movement, with millions participating in similar efforts around the world.

Ecovision is inviting everyone in the community to join in the Challenge, and there are more ways to take part than ever. From cleaning up beaches and hiking trails to taking on a “zero waste” challenge in your office, home or school, every action counts!

MORE ONLINE

What are you waiting for?

Get involved today!

Together, we can make a difference.

Visit HKcleanup.org for details.

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GIVE LOVE A CHANCE Rescuing animals through the power of the lens

ong Kong photographer Nic Rouge regularly sets time aside from her commercial clients to cater to a needier, and arguably cuter, clientele: rescue dogs. Ecozine’s Karry Lai recently sat down with Nic to chat about the photography campaign that is all about love.

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Ecozine: The Give Love A Chance campaign is a very personal one. I’m sure your images have inspired many people to consider providing a home for a homeless cat or dog forever. Can you tell us about how it all began?

NR: My dog Pippy is the first dog I have ever owned, and she was adopted from the SPCA. When I was in the process of looking for her, I did a lot of research into animal adoption. What I learnt made me think about what I could do as a commercial photographer to share the stories of adopted pets… and voila! Give Love A Chance was born.

GIVE LOVE A CHANCE GIVE US A CHANCE Ecozine: For those who might be considering pet adoption in Hong Kong, could you share with us what the adoption process was like?

NR: At SPCA’s Wanchai office there’s a whole floor dedicated to adoption. If you see a dog you like, you can take it out to play. I went two or three times just to play with the dogs! But I found them to be really hyper - until I saw Pippy sitting calmly by herself in the corner, and I knew she was the one. When you decide to adopt you need to fill out a form asking what your occupation is, how much time you spend at home, the size of your home and your experience with animals.

They then make a home visit and take photos. The whole process takes about two weeks.

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Ecozine: Is there anything you’ve learned through the adoption process, or through the campaign, that you didn’t expect?

NR: While I like to feature successful adoption cases in Give Love A Chance, it’s important to realize that success isn’t always immediate. When Pippy first came home, she was scared of everything and peed everywhere. That’s because she grew up as a breeder dog and was never walked. The rehabilitation process takes time, and those looking to adopt must understand that. But it’s worth it.

Ecozine: I imagine working with animals is very different than working with human subjects. Had you photographed animals before this campaign? Do you find the experience challenging?

NR: As a commercial photographer I do a lot of portrait shots, but this was my first time photographing animals, so I started off easy - with Pippy!

I always use a sharp, colourful, modern approach to photographing the dogs. I don’t want to elicit sympathy from people, so rather than portraying the dogs as desperate (e.g. behind bars or looking particularly ‘stray’), I choose to honour the positive experiences of dog adoption. It can certainly be a challenge cleaning up after the dogs’ studio visits!

Ecozine: Now that you’ve had some success with helping animals, will you be participating in other charity projects?

NR: I’m currently working with Ric O’Barry and the Earth Island Institute on The Dolphin Project, a campaign that focuses on halting the capture and slaughter of dolphins.

I spent time in Taiji this spring photographing the annual dolphin hunt; it was difficult, but I hope my images can be used to raise awareness of the plight of these precious creatures.

Want to adopt, foster or volunteer?

Here are some places to go: Hong Kong Dog Rescue hongkongdogrescue.com +852 3480 0061 SPCA (HK) spca.org.hk +852 2802 0501 Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP) lap.org.hk +852 9130 2919

Ecozine: What does the future hold for Give Love a Chance?

NR: I’m halfway through completing Give Love a Chance and it will soon include stories to go along with the photos. At the end of the year, I hope to launch an exhibition or book. Stay tuned!

PARTICIPATE IN GLAC! Nic Rouge Studio 89 Caine Rd, Mid Levels, Central, Hong Kong +852 2407 0287 Email: studio@nicrouge.com Facebook: GIVE Love A Chance

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CYBER TECTURE Words by James Law

Shaping our world with sustainability Founder of James Law Cybertecture and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, James Law is a visionary in sustainable design and firmly believes Cybertecture is the only way forward for mankind.

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uman progress is inevitable. Our combined intellect and impetus to build up our world has been steady since the dawn of man. Today, the planet is covered with humanity’s urban fabric of infrastructure, cities and cultivated land. The seas are farmed and the land sculpted to the convenience of our masses. Mankind is the most incredible designer of our own destiny.

However, we are faced with increasingly daunting challenges. An unstable environment, an everdecreasing stock of fossil fuel, a changing climate, and a lack of water all pose tremendous challenges as we continue to engineer our world. Then there are the challenges we ourselves have created; the social complications of wealth divide, inequality in education, discrimination, and the pressures of an increasing global population on a finite planet require us to find new solutions and paradigms to take us forward.

I believe that the brilliant inborn creativity of man, our ingenious ability to use the materials around us, our

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> James Law calls his work ‘Cybertecture’.

His vision? To “innovate the fabric of mankind’ through innovation and visionary designs.

common bond for kinship and our general wish for happiness will yield such solutions.

I chose a career in design and technology because I believe that these two fields of endeavour might yield great results for how we can make a better fabric for mankind.

I call this merging of design and technology: “Cybertecture”.

Cybertecture is the instinctive application of human insight through our technology into our environment. Whether it be a building that is smart enough to share its energy

“DESIGNING IN SYMBIOSIS WITH NATURE AND THE NEEDS OF THE NEW GENERATION BY USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS IS SURELY FERTILE GROUND FOR THE WORLD CHANGING SOLUTIONS WE SEEK.” Designing in symbiosis with nature and the needs of the new generation by using the latest technology and innovative ideas is surely fertile ground for the world changing solutions we seek.

with others in the vicinity, or a mirror that is able to monitor your health, the pursuit of Cybertecture is driven by an optimistic belief that through brilliant new designs we can alleviate the suffering of all.

In designing the cities of tomorrow, we propose to design ‘Technospheres’ that will operate at half the energy and resource requirements of a conventional city, yet provide beautiful, modern living spaces. These mega structures live and breathe like our planet. They contain man-made rainforests that augment nature and vegetation until it is well and truly back onto the urban fabric, they have their own rivers to clean and recycle water, they have naturally ventilated valleys for gathering people in happy cultural environments, and they are ultimately contained in a structure that costs less to build and uses less material and energy to run than conventional cities.

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FEATURE

“AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT, AN EVERDECREASING STOCK OF FOSSIL FUEL, A CHANGING CLIMATE, AND A LACK OF WATER ALL POSE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGINEER OUR WORLD.” In fact, this is not a concept it is real, and we are building the first Technosphere in the Middle East. And perhaps there will be many more Technospheres around the world in years to come.

But our individual sustainability is just as important as the built environment, if not more so.

While most interpretations of the term ‘sustainability’ may refer to the sustainable cycles of energy, resource and infrastructure, I believe an even more important form of sustainability is “Human Sustainability” - our sanity, our health, our balance, our community and our spirit. > James Law’s designs for the Technosphere, The Pad and Cybertecture Egg are eerily futuristic - but are already being built around the world today!

> The Technosphere.

So advanced in design that it is able to clean and recycle its own water and has naturally ventilated valleys.

Human Sustainability brings many opportunities for technology and design to bring new innovations to the masses.

The Cybertecture Mirror was created to be the world’s first publicly-installed mirror with the ability to monitor the user’s health and give medical advice, as well as link the user through his reflection to apps that encourage sustainable activities such as exercise, caring for others and being informed about the world.

Whether Cybertecture exists at the scale of the

Technosphere or as small as the Cybertecture Mirror, it represents humankind’s ingenuity to innovate the fabric of mankind. I believe this fabric can and will be constantly improved, even when under attack or at risk of catastrophe. I believe, because history has shown the tenacity of mankind to innovate and design itself to survive, and I know for a fact that our future can be bright, clean and fair for all on this planet. May Cybertecture take us there.

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SECRETS OF A ZERO WASTE HOUSEWIFE Words by CLAIRE SANCELOT

Clockwise from left Biodegradable bamboo toothbrush, from The Environmental Toothbrush; Asian Parsley, grown on Claire’s own balcony; Juliens Organic winter honey; The Sancelots’ weekly organic delivery; Composting the family leftovers; Claire and daughter Lucie

LIFE

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hese days, my family lives by the 5 R’s: Refuse, Reuse, We also compost more than 80% of our trash (which is minimal – a Reduce, Recycle, Rot. But it wasn’t always this way. It all started with few milk cartons and vegetable scraps per week at most) and give an introduction to the minimalist lifestyle and grew from there. the compost to our local organic farmer who delivers produce to our A few years ago, I read Dominique Loreau’s bestseller The Art of house weekly. We’ve gained a deeper respect for the way that, in Simplicity, and it felt like an awakening for me. Loreau’s philosophy nature, everything is connected and perfectly balanced - and for the is ‘less is more’ – the idea that happiness comes from simple things importance of protecting fragile ecosystems. and experiences, not from accumulating “stuff”. She is not a green A few years into it, I would describe our lifestyle as very simple advocate, but her ideas naturally translate to a green lifestyle, and it to follow, and not extreme in any way. When we have people over, got me thinking. Shortly after, I started to follow Bea Johnson’s Zero they cannot tell that we live a zero waste lifestyle - everything looks Waste Home blog with great interest, and I thought, “She lives perfectly normal, we simply don’t have trash! in California, that’s great… why don’t we try it in HK My family and I believe consumerism has been taken and see what happens?” too far in our society and our values have shifted away “I would And we haven’t looked back. Since making that from what is truly important in life. As parents, recommend it decision, our family’s journey has been a truly it can be difficult to shield your children from rewarding one and our lives have changed for a materialistic society – this might be the most to everyone. From my the better. Everyone in my family is healthier challenging part of going zero waste. Luckily, perspective, there are (we mainly eat fresh, organic, locally produced our own children are very young and have only benefits to this food); happier (freedom from materialism); our adapted easily so far. For instance, at Christmas lifestyle and absolutely apartment feels bigger (donate/ sell the things they happily received one second-hand toy each, you do not need and you will see, it is liberating!); and for my eldest’s most recent birthday we asked no drawbacks.” and we have more quality family time. friends to donate some of their pre-loved toys to a Starting with the smaller items, we have been ‘Box of Hope’ which was then given to charity (see gradually removing every disposable item in the house and boxofhope.org for details). My daughter had so much fun replacing them with non-disposable ones. By doing it progressively, playing with her friends, enjoying the cake and the singing and one item at a time, the experience was not overwhelming and was games, that she did not even notice the absence of new toys or presents. actually quite a fun challenge.

It was a lovely affirmation that life’s best gifts, even for children, can be Now, we save time and money on shopping and cleaning, and experiences and not things. we have begun to look at life very differently, treasuring those things For every one of us there is a way to solve the impending waste that really matter. We feel more connected to nature. We are blessed crisis Hong Kong is facing – and it’s by trying to create zero waste. with having a balcony where we can grow our own herbs and soon I encourage you to try it … it is fun to see how much you can do we will have a micro-garden where the children can learn about how and it’s truly the most sensible choice you can make for yourself, vegetables grow, and collect them for their dinner. your family and the Earth.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Read - Zero Waste Solution

by Paul Connett.

A profile of the most successful zero-waste initiatives around the world; the ultimate guide for activists, planners, and entrepreneurs wishing to re-design their community’s wastehandling process.

Watch - Trashed featuring Jeremy Irons.

Jeremy Irons leads us on a journey around the globe that takes us from skepticism to horror to hope, as he visits beautiful destinations tainted by trash and discovers that change is not only essential, but already happening.

VISIT - Claire’s blog on living zero waste at hongkonggreenhome.com or the Hong Kong Zero Waste Facebook group.

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LIFE

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

With so much technology in our homes, durability and energy saving features top our list when looking for appliances and electronics. Each year, 70,000 tonnes of household electronics end up in landfill in Hong Kong. Paying a little more can go a long way, so investing in long-lasting, sustainable appliances is definitely the way to go. The following products fit this philosophy perfectly and are gentle on the environment, bringing that little extra eco-friendly Feng Shui into your personal sanctuary.

HEVEYA MATTRESS

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ade using 100% natural latex sourced from the sap of Hevea Brasiliensis, a latex tree found in sustainable plantations in Asia, this luxurious mattress encapsulates the true meaning of sleeping comfort.

Heveya Mattress, prices start at HK$11,000 okooko.com

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HIBISCUS DINING TABLE AND BENCH

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eautiful hibiscus flowers are individually hand painted onto the rustic, recycled teak wood surfaces, giving each piece of this handcrafted furniture an artistic and truly unique edge.

Hibiscus Collection, prices start at HK$5,950 tree.com.hk

BAMBOO KITCHENWARE

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eed some practical, modern pieces for the kitchen? These beautifully designed bamboo bowls are perfect for everything from al fresco dinner parties to small snacks. Handmade and certified organic, tableware doesn’t get much more natural than this!

Bambu Collection, prices start at HK$120 ecols.com

SOLAR WATER HEATER

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ot a rooftop? A significantly less amount of energy is required by this solar water heater, which heats water temperatures up to the desired setting in no time at all, than other heating systems. Save the planet and save on energy bills simultaneously!

Solahart 181K, prices start at HK$21,600 germanpool.com

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ECO COMFORT WASHING MACHINE

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n intelligent eco-washer with automatic load adjustment to save both water and electricity, the Eco Comfort consumes 40% less electricity than other Energy Efficiency A-rated washers.

Soundproofed to reduce noise in the home, this truly is one state-of-the-art, durable, userfriendly product.

Miele Eco Comfort washing machine Model W5968, HK$24,980 miele.hk

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HOT+ COOL FAN HEATER

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magine a reverse vacuum cleaner that generates airflow of up to 55mph and is optimized for efficiency.

Introducing the bladeless Dyson Fan Heater – its patented Air Multiplier™ technology cools or heats your home quickly and evenly, while its built in thermostat switches it on and off automatically to save energy.

So long, air con!

Dyson Hot + Cool Fan Heater Model AM05, HK$5,280 dyson.hk

ECO VACUUM CLEANER

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ith an AutoEco function that saves energy through automatically adjusting suction power for different floor types, and an ergonomic comfort handle for effortless vacuuming, you’ll find vacuuming to be a likeable chore!

Miele S8530 vacuum cleaner, HK$3,588 miele.hk

HITACHI AIR PURIFIER

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educe the amount of dust in the room by up to 99.97% with this little beauty. Made in Japan, Hitachi’s humidifying air purifier series effectively keeps indoor environments free of viruses, odors and PM2.5. An Eco Mode is available to help conserve electricity, too.

Hitachi EP-A6000 air purifier, HK$5,390 hitachi.com.hk

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MORE SEX

Less Impact.

Words by Lauren Cameron

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trap-ons and sex swings, vibrators and violet wands.

We’ve all been there. Right?

Well, perhaps not all of us… but you get the drift. Ladies and gentlemen, the world of sexual stimulation is inarguably a multi billion-dollar industry that, occasionally, we like to buy into.

But would you continue to buy and use such toys if you knew of the detrimental impact they were having on the environment?

Ok possibly, depending on how much fun you were having – but what if your health was also directly affected?

It is increasingly common knowledge that phthalates – chemical substances added to plastics to increase flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity – are dangerous to both human health and the environment. They are manufactured by reacting phthalic anhydride with either

Labelled the world’s most environmentally friendly and ethically produced condoms (as well as the only condom brand certified by the Vegan Society!), Glyde Ultra Organic Vanilla Condoms (HK$75 for a 10-pack, sampsonstore.com) are chemical-free and contain absolutely zero animal byproducts. These smooth rubbers are also made using fair trade natural rubber, grown sustainably in Malaysia without the use of insecticides or fertilizers. Nice.

Hot factor

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methanol, ethanol or tridecyl alcohol (even the production process sends icky shivers down our health-conscious spines!) and, in recent years, studies have shown that high levels of exposure can be linked to a laundry list of health issues including birth defects, breast cancer, sperm damage, fertility impairment, and female reproductive tract diseases – to name but a few. Not only that, but phthalates are very easily released into the environment and are bioaccumulative, posing increasing levels of toxic risks for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems the longer they are around.

Understandably, this is a cause of great concern for the public and, in turn, for industry.

The United States and the European Union have completely banned the use of certain phthalates in children’s toys, cosmetics and other products, along with nine other countries including Japan, Taiwan and Mexico.

The Jopen® Vanity Vr.16 (HK$1320, babeland.com) is a whisper-quiet toy that delivers everything you need in a rabbitstyle vibrator—and then some.

Made of premium, heat-retaining pink silicone, this unscented, non-porous, hypoallergenic, waterproof vibrator is fully rechargeable, making it safe for your body and the environment.

Now THAT is hot.

If you want to crank things up a notch (okay, several) in the bedroom, give Eartherotics’ Recycled Rubber Whip (HK$388, eartherotics.com) a go. This bad boy has been given the tick of approval from Green America and is constructed entirely from recycled materials.

So feel free to go right ahead and live out those 50 Shades of Grey fantasies...

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Sex toys, however, seem to have been overlooked in this, despite the very personal and physically intimate applications they are designed to fulfill that make them prime candidates for causing the same kind of potential harm.

Thankfully, “green sex” is now a legitimate (and thriving, we might add) niche within the sex industry, with a plethora of chemical-free, organic, vegan and even solar-powered (!) lubes ’n’ lovers’ toys available to cater to your every sensual whim, and all of them mercifully devoid of unwelcome substances that are likely to deplete our sex drive as well as the natural environment.

Devoted environmentalists that we are, we did the hard work for you (wink wink, nudge nudge). Now, lo and behold, the results of our research are laid before you: Our favourite eco-friendly sex products. Enjoy!

If it weren’t for the name (and box, and website, and green colour scheme) you would almost never guess that this powerful little toy was 100% rechargeable.

The Earth Angel Eco Vibrator (HK$737, seattlegreentoys. com) is able to generate its own energy – and then store whatever remains for future use! Not for the faint-hearted, the Earth Angel features four vibrating speeds and a body-friendly design guaranteed to please.

If smooth penetration is a priority for you, allow us to introduce you to Sliquid Organics Natural Lubricating Silk. Stocked locally here in Hong Kong (HK$200, secret-wardrobe.com.hk), this all-natural lubricant is glycerin, paraben and petroleum free, 100% vegan friendly and hasn’t been tested on animals.

Hallelujah.

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Advertorial

Learning to Crawl Reflections on Slowing Down & Mastering the Basics Words by Ali Watts

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o my 11-monthold is trying to skip the whole crawling phase and move straight on to walking. And rightly so. Why on earth would you want to waste time looking at the carpet when there is a whole wide world full of interesting things, like biscuits, out there to explore?

It is common belief that one must learn to crawl before learning to walk. It is said to be an important part of one’s neurological development, allowing you to master more complex movements later on in life.

The same goes for adults. It can do far more harm than good for someone to swing a kettle bell or run a marathon before learning to engage the correct muscles for that particular movement, especially if they continue repeating the same exercise incorrectly over a prolonged period of time.

The problem? Ego. When triathlon or marathon glory is within sight, for instance, being advised to go back to basics and learn to run again can be, well… like telling a baby to go back and learn to crawl. Isn’t it a step backwards?

Not according to Gary Cook, a fierce advocate of Functional Movement Systems (FMS) and author of the book Movement Functional Movement Systems. Cook recommends FMS as a way of “pinpointing areas of movement-pattern limitation and asymmetry”, assessing seven basic movement patterns, and identifying tightness and weakness in the body.

Letting go of the exercise ego and ‘crawling’ for a while means that you will not only improve your technique and performance, but you could also avoid surgery later in life. If I had been introduced to FMS techniques earlier, I might have avoided having double hip surgery. In my case, though, I was lucky enough to realize the surgery was actually a blessing in disguise. It forced me to slow down, take stock, and reassess how I exercised… and it introduced me to FMS, something I hadn’t been aware of up until that point.

This fitness reassessment also had the knock on effect of allowing me to look at other fundamentals of my life, other areas where learning to ‘crawl’ would serve me. This has motivated me to embrace new experiences, such as signing up for courses and learning new skills.

So I encourage you to start crawling again, rather than stumbling toward that biscuit. Believe me – it’s worth it. I guarantee you’ll end up with the whole packet.

Ali is the founder of global wellness site letsglow.com.

Jump online to see where all the latest wellness courses, retreats, seminars and festivals are taking place in 2014.

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Healthy never tasted so good !

Summer is the ideal season for sourcing fresh, local ingredients to bring abundant flavour to your table! These simple, easy-to-prepare dishes highlight local seasonal produce and feature seafood (from sustainable sources, of course), grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.

Toss them together and – voila! - a delicious, wholesome menu perfect for an al fresco evening with family or friends.

Recipes by Juliana Figueiroa Photography by Lauren Cameron

Apricot and smoked salmon salad with pomegranate seeds You will need: • 400g can green lentils, rinsed and drained • 6 sprigs thyme • 1 large bay leaf • 1.5L water • Salt and pepper to taste To finish: • 50ml extra virgin olive oil • 300g sliced smoked salmon • 240g apricot, diced • 50g pomegranate seeds Place the lentils, thyme, bay leaf and water in a saucepan, season with salt and pepper and bring to boil. Once boiling, lower heat to medium and cook for 8 minutes, without covering. The lentils should be cooked but still firm, not mushy. Drain, remove the stems of thyme and bay leaf, and refrigerate.

Next, cut the smoked salmon into 1cm pieces.

Place cooled lentils in a bowl and mix with the olive oil. Add the salmon, diced apricot and pomegranate seeds. Mix well and leave in the refrigerator until serving time.

Finish with a tangy vinaigrette - here’s a simple one: combine 110ml extra virgin olive oil, 80ml apple cider vinegar, 30g Dijon mustard, 50g finely chopped red onion, 30g diced garlic and a little salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Serve the salad with the vinaigrette on the side.

Coconut Wild Rice SUPER-FOOD BONUS

> Lentils are a great option for those who want to consume less meat, as 1 cup lentils contains 15g of protein, or the equivalent to 100g of steak.

Plus, lentils are rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin. > Pomegranate seeds are highly valued for their antiviral and antibacterial properties. > Apricots contain antioxidants that prevent vision loss, making them a perfect sweet snack!

You will need: • 2 cups of precooked organic wild rice blend – we recommend pre-mixed multigrain rice blends available in the organic section of your supermarket • 15ml coconut milk • 2 tsp grated coconut • Parsley, to taste Add the coconut milk and coconut flakes to the cooked rice and simmer for 5 minutes. Add parsley before serving.

Baked trout with crunchy cashew nuts You will need: • 260g sustainably sourced trout • 1 lime • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper • 1 tsp white pepper • 2 tsp olive oil • 2 tbsp unsalted organic butter • 4 tbsp crushed cashew nuts • Salt and pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit.

Season the trout on both sides with a light sprinkling of salt, lime, black pepper and white pepper. In a grill, sauté the olive oil over medium-high heat, when the olive oil stops foaming, add the trout to the pan. Cook the fish, turning once, until it browns (2 minutes each side). Put the fish in a bake tray and cook in the oven for 20 minutes depending on thickness. It is not necessary to cover the fish. In a separate pan, pre-heat the butter, add the crushed cashew nuts and serve on the top of the fish.

IT’S YOUR CHOICE

It’s not uncommon to see a particular species being sustainably harvested in one part of the world while overfished in another, due to differing fishery management practices. To ensure you are buying the right kind of fish, check out the “WWF-HK Seafood Guide”, which assesses seafood sold locally here in Hong Kong according to how sustainable the fishing practices are.

Good Grapes THAT’S PEACHY

Peaches are rich in phytochemicals, which are essential for ridding the body of free radicals.

Plus, in Chinese tradition, peaches are associated with long life, luck, immortality and good health!

Peach-Almond Parfaits You will need: • 2/3 cup fresh ricotta cheese - choose partly skimmed for a low-fat option!

• 250ml plain Greek yoghurt • 4 drops of agave syrup (optional) • 3 medium peaches, cubed • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 cup slivered almonds In a blender or food processor, combine ricotta, yogurt, and agave and process until smooth. Divide half the peaches evenly into 4 parfait glasses or dessert bowls. Spoon 2 tbsp of ricotta mixture over the peaches and sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon and 1/2 tbsp almonds. Top evenly with remaining peaches, then another layer of ricotta mixture, cinnamon and almonds.

Eco style tips: Use linen napkins and once you have finished with the wine, re-use the bottles as candleholders!

2006 Domaine de Montrieux Pineau D’Aunis Le Verre des Poètes, France Le Verre des Poètes is about as natural as wine gets. The grapes at Domaine de Montrieux vineyards are grown organically and hand harvested, and once pressed, nothing is added or taken away, meaning no sulfur or artificial yeasts. The wine is completely unfiltered. One can almost taste the magnesium rich soils of the Loire when this spicy, fruity, peppery red wine first rolls over the tongue.

The drop is 100% Pineau d’Aunis and boasts a beautiful rich flavor bursting with red currant, plum, raspberry and cherry.

HK$250 | Pair with earthy foods or game meat.

2011 Domaine du Moulin Cheverny Blanc Domaine, France This elegant - and affordable! biodynamic wine is only produced in small quantities from Loire Valley vines aged between 18 and 24 years old. A Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay blend, it offers smoky, vanilla oak notes and a nice balancing acidity. Better yet – this wine is unfiltered and is produced with organic grapes before being matured on lees to provide additional complexity.

HK$150 | Pair with seafood, cheese and white meats.

Eric Bordelet Poiré Granit deluxe sparkling pear cider, France Produced from pear trees estimated to be 300 years old, this truly unique libation has been described as Bordelet’s “Grand Cru” pear cider. Complex in both the nose and mouth, Poiré Granit has 75-80gm of sugar per liter, yet doesn’t taste particularly sweet.

The product is only lightly filtered in order to preserve the texture and flavor of the pears, and Bordelet farms his orchards organically and biodynamically.

HK$250 | Best as an aperitif or with cheese or dessert.

Find biodynamic and organic wines at La Cabane á Vin, B/F 97 Hollywood Road (entrance on Shin Hing Street), Central, Hong Kong +852 2517 0186

TRAVEL

“

A REDEFINING SABBATICAL Words and photos by Lance Diaresco

After 23 years leading marketing and brand strategy at Disney, Colgate and Levi’s, I decided to take a purposeful sabbatical. I traveled from Asia to Europe, America and Africa, and reconnected with people I love. It was empowering to reboot and to re-examine my definitions of success and happiness, and along the way I rediscovered the joys of simple living.

”

AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY Lance in Berlin; his base while travelling Europe.

Photo taken by Riccardo Ulpts.

THE FIRST ENTRY IN MY TRAVEL JOURNAL WAS This is my radical sabbatical to value more transformation, less information to embrace more curiosity, less judgement to collect more moments, less things to have more gratitude, less worries to allow more space, less clutter to focus more on being, less on doing.

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Redefining Integrity We live in a world where we embrace moving faster and gaining more. Yet we also yearn for that reflective pause, a space where we can focus less on what to do, and more on what to be. Integrity is our relationship with ourselves – a relationship that is often neglected. I started my journey with a meditation retreat in Bali. Our mentor reminded us, “it is a short distance between the heart and the mind, but it is the longest journey we will take.” Silence is when our mind descends to the heart.

I traveled across 12 countries in Europe with Berlin as my base. Committed to nurturing the mind, body and spirit, I kept a few simple practices: I started my day in silence - alone; I enjoyed my meals - without multi-tasking; I made time for nature walks, yoga, reading, writing; and ended each night in gratitude. I became a better listener, not necessarily to the loudest voice, but to my authentic self.

Redefining Success While on a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey, a friend asked how I had the courage to leave my job. I admitted I had my fears, perhaps more than 50 shades of them. However, it was through recognizing those fears that I was able to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

It was like peeling away layers of an onion, and letting go of a belief system that no longer served me. Within myself, I became more present with my values: unconditional love, creative self-expression and positive contribution.

Success comes from self-mastery. It has less to do with my title, bank account or connections; real success is the joy that comes from deeply knowing and loving myself, following my passion and using my strengths to contribute to the community.

Financial gain is useful, especially if it is channelled to make a difference. However, it is clearer to me now than ever that, while wealth and status are external markers of success, they do not guarantee happiness.

“When we are purposeful, the possibilities are endless.”

Lance Diaresco

Redefining Spirituality In Israel, I was impressed with Jerusalem, a place shared by so many different faiths. Not defined by one specific religion, I joined the other pilgrims and their prayers, following them to the West Wall. I was so humbled by this experience that all I could do was pray to be more loving and joyful - from within.

As I tuned in, I also learned to trust God more, to go with the flow, and to embrace the unknown as part of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventure.

My relationship with my Source is like the relationship with a best friend. At one point on my travels, I was led by a friend along a rugged narrow path in China, with a steep drop on either side. I was at peace, though, because I had complete faith in my friend.

He knew the way and I followed his lead, step by step.

Redefining Happiness I travelled across Asia and spent time with Studer Trust, building schools in rural areas of Myanmar. The children reminded me that happiness comes from being mindful and grateful for what we have. We slept on the floor, learned from each other, and played football barefoot. Although we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak the same language, I sensed even more that we were all connected, and that giving back is simply part of our DNA. Happiness is appreciating what is.

When we need reasons to be happy, we often become attached to these reasons.

Expectation reduces joy.

From the proceeds of my photo exhibition, Lancescape, in Hong Kong, I bought medical supplies for ChildHaus Philippines; a shelter for children fighting cancer. I also volunteered in Africa with Wildlife ACT and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, supporting their conservation research and community development programs.

Living in the bush, I once again relished the simplicity of life.

Redefining Growth In New York I started writing a book, integrating lessons from both my corporate and sabbatical journey. I was invited to speak to companies and universities about transformational leadership.

This journey has been one of the best decisions Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made in my life. My world has expanded and so have I. I am clearer with my purpose and my passion. I have learned the importance of self-love, and I have opened my heart to be in a relationship again. I am more mindful moving forward with my next career move. I now envision joining a company that taps into combined resources to make a real difference in the community.

NO PASSPORT REQUIRED

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ESCAPE HONG KONG’S URBAN BUSTLE WITHOUT PACKING YOUR SUITCASE 2

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ir travel is one of the greatest contributors of CO2 into the Earth’s atmosphere, and since 1990 CO2 emissions from international aviation have increased by more than 83 per cent. One person flying economy from Hong Kong to London releases the equivalent of 0.92 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air.

Sure, we all love exploring new destinations… but it does add up to a lot of CO2!

You can buy gold standard carbon offsets to mitigate your impact, but we have an even more radical suggestion: stay local. Holiday at home.

It’s more fun than you would have thought, and a whole lot less costly on the Earth.

Here are ten great Hong Kong escapes to get you started.

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1 Kick back at a beach bar Sitting with your feet up on a rustic bamboo table, with a rum in hand and an ocean view, is something one might traipse halfway across the world to find. But spare those greenhouse gas emissions (as well as your $$$) and do it all at Ben’s Bar, a quaint beach bar found at the back of Shek O village. Let yourself be lulled by the ocean’s gentle lapping and the soft reggae beats from the old-school speakers. Tip: Bring your swimmers for a dip in the ocean.

Details Ben’s Bar, 273 Shek O Village, Shek O +852 2809 2268

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2 Greet the day with Tai Chi

3 Camp under the stars

It may feel counterintuitive, but to combat the effects of working late, socializing late and feeling rough as a result, try getting up early for a morning Tai Chi class. In China it is believed that Tai Chi can prolong life, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and aid in the treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, depression, and many other illnesses – but all that aside, once you get the hang of this ancient art you may find it just plain cleansing for the soul.

Details Free Tai Chi classes are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8-9am at Sculpture Court (in front of the HK Museum of Art), TST, Kowloon +852 2508 1234

There’s no need to fly to exotic places for a week of camping under the stars – you can do it right here in Hong Kong. Lantau Island’s Ooh La La Beach Restaurant and Bar offers private camping facilities for up to 200 people. Just imagine… a stunning sunset, icy cold drink in hand, a herd of wild buffaloes bathing in the water, a 3.5 km deserted beach surrounded by cliffs and jungle… It’s all just a ferry ride away.

There are loads of wonderful nature walks you can easily embark on from Pui O Beach, too.

Details oohlala-hk.com

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4 Explore Sai Kung’s beautiful islands It’s easy to forget you are living in one of the most densely populated cities in the world when it’s just you, a boat captain and the sea, with a swathe of rugged uninhabited islands to explore. For an adventure particular to Hong Kong’s geography, head to Sai Kung and rent your own sampan for as little as HK$35. Or, go luxe and charter a 47ft sailing yacht, crew included, for $14,000 a day.

Details The cost of renting a sampan at Sai Kung Public Pier is negotiable, and it’s advisable to confirm a price before jumping on board. For sailboat charters, visit saffron-cruises.com

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5 Take a lesson in traditional tea An hour spent tucked away inside the LockCha Teahouse - a peaceful Oriental haven nestled discreetly in the heart of Hong Kong Park - has an effect on the soul not unlike a weekend retreat in China’s Yunnan Valley. Be mesmerized by the ancient art of Chinese tea preparation in the traditional tea classes, held free of charge three times a week in the Feng Shui inspired surrounds.

Details Tea classes are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-5pm, at the LockCha Tea House, Hong Kong Park, Admiralty.

Bookings essential. lockcha.com

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6 Spend an afternoon on the farm Dedicating an afternoon to learning about permaculture, among lush gardens tucked away in a hidden valley in Clearwater Bay, is one sure-fire way to reinvigorate the soul.

We recommend taking part in the weekly Sunday Permaculture Social Day, where you can embrace the permaculture lifestyle for a day through gardening, picking your own fresh vegetables to make lunch, and joining in environmental discussions with fellow permies.

Details Permaculture Social Days are held on Sundays, 10-6pm at the Perma Club, opposite 38-44 Hang Hau Wing Lung Road, Clearwater Bay, New Territories +852 6110 0093

7 Pamper yourself at the spa For an uplifting escape from the city’s frantic rhythm, consider treating yourself to a soothing afternoon at the InterContinental’s I-Spa. Sparing no effort, the property hired one of the world’s leading Feng Shui masters to help design the sleek space according to the ancient principles of inner and outer harmony. The luxurious private suites are clad in polished green granite from floor to ceiling, each with its own sauna, steam-shower, Jacuzzi and massage facilities. We recommend the organic massage – 90 minutes of absolute bliss. Other top treatments include Oriental Healing and Jetlag Relief. After your treatment, head outside for a fresh fruit smoothie at the Pool Terrace, where unique three-temperature infinity spa pools offer a stunning vantage point over the harbor.

Details I-Spa at the InterContinental Hotel, intercontinental.com

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8 Hike to a magical beach Accessible only by boat or by hiking trail, Tai Long Wan sits at the tip of Sai Kung’s scenic coastline and feels a thousand miles away from the metropolitan hubbub. Against a backdrop of lush mountains, the fine sand beach and clear waters have the ability to wholly reinvigorate the spirit. Looking up at the stars at night (if you opt to camp), one can easily imagine that civilization, with its noise, traffic and daily grind, is very, very far away. Be sure to bring your own water and take away your rubbish away with you.

Details From the Sai Kung bus terminus, take bus 94 to Pak Tam Au and then follow the MacLehose Trail eastwards to Ham Tin Beach at Tai Long Wan. The hike takes 90 minutes each way.

9 A Night at the Tai O Heritage Hotel

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Between soaking up the architectural charm of the Tai O Heritage Hotel and exploring the quaint fishing village that surrounds it, checking into this colonial-style property for a weekend away promises equal perfect doses of nostalgia and relaxation.

The revamped 112-year-old former police station is now home to nine exquisitely decorated rooms and is quietly nestled on a private headland overlooking the traditional “stilt village” of Tai O. Watch sunset from the regal glass-roofed restaurant atop the hotel, or enjoy it while chilling at one of the unique coffee shops perched on stilts over the nearby tidal flats.

Details taioheritagehotel.com

10 Dive the Ninepins

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The Ninepins are a cluster of 29 islands in the easternmost waters of Hong Kong that offer scuba diving enthusiasts a fantastic glimpse of the region’s impressive marine biodiversity. Although the water visibility can be very touch and go – from less than 1m on a rough day to 15m on a good day - if you are lucky you will be delighted with the unique and varied marine life just metres below the water’s surface. Just be sure to leave the area as you found it, and keep those hands off the coral!

Details Causeway Bay-based company Diving Adventure aims to promote sustainable, secure and eco-friendly diving. Visit divinghk.com for info.

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LUXE ESCAPES For the Sustainable Globetrotter WAKATOBI DIVE RESORT Indonesia

“Protected today, unspoilt tomorrow” is the mantra of this stunning resort which, over the years, has implemented myriad ecological strategies, including a fantastic collaborative reef conservation program, and earned a swathe of prestigious eco-awards. The emphasis at Wakatobi is on demonstrating to locals the economic and long term benefits of responsible dive tourism, so that they might be liberated from dependency on foreign commercial fishing boats that come to the area and damage the reefs. As a guest, spend the day exploring one of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world with your own private diving instructor, and finish the day with a soybean and yoghurt splash spa treatment at the Wakatobi Spa. Eco awards include: 2009 SDAA Ocean Award for Ecological Awareness, ‘World’s Leading Green Resort’ – World Travel Awards 2007.

From HK$2326 per night | wakatobi.com

SONG SAA PRIVATE ISLAND Cambodia

Tucked away in the Gulf of Thailand’s untouched Koh Rong Archipelago, this exclusive island nirvana offers luxury Over-Water, Jungle and Ocean-View villas, all built using sustainable materials and with the deepest respect for the natural environment. The group of islands it belongs to are affectionately known by locals as ‘Song Saa’ - meaning ‘sweethearts’ in Khmer - and Song Saa is indeed every bit as romantic as it is eco-friendly.

Resort initiatives include the creation of Cambodia’s first-ever marine reserve, the establishment of a solid waste management facility in a nearby village and the creation of a dedicated sustainability centre and training program. With world-class spa and wellness sanctuaries positioned in the rainforest and along the shore, plus a yoga and meditation centre on the shoreline, Song Saa is the perfect place for citysiders to recharge their batteries.

Eco awards include: ‘Leaders in Sustainable Tourism 2013’ by HSMAI/ National Geographic Traveler, ‘Global Vision Award for Sustainability’

by Travel and Leisure 2012.

From HK$10,361 per night | songsaa.com

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TRAVEL

ALILA VILLAS SOORI Indonesia

Sweeping rice fields, panoramas of the Indian Ocean and picturesque volcanic-sand beaches greet you at this contemporary Balinese hotel. As Bali’s first recipient of EarthCheck’s ‘Building, Planning and Designing Standard’ certification, this resort is the embodiment of sustainable luxury. Sensitive site planning, use of local building materials and native landscaping were given paramount importance during construction. Designers even took into account the natural cooling properties of indigenous volcanic rock and nearby plant life when designing the villas! Perched on 5,250sq m of beachfront landscape, the rooms offer fabulous uninterrupted views of the coastline or lush rice paddies.

Eco awards include: Winner, ‘Green Good Design Award 2012’ by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

From HK$5041 per night | alilahotels.com/soor

HOSHINOYA KARUIZAWA Japan

Just one hour from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo lies a secluded sustainable spa resort surrounded by hot springs, an active volcano, forests and mountain streams: Hoshinoya Karuizawa, the perfect balance to the hyper-stimulation of Japan’s capital city.

The resort harnesses geothermal heat and is almost completely powered by hydroelectricity generated by the area’s mountain streams, while all its food is sourced from local farmers. It has its own non-profit conservation organisation, Picchio, through which it runs award-winning eco tours such as twilight treks to see flying squirrels. Guests can unwind at the Hoshinoya Spa; its traditional Japanese therapeutic baths feature mineral-rich hot spring water locally reputed as ‘the water for beautiful skin’.

Arigato gozaimasu.

Eco awards include: The Picchio Wildlife Research Center won first prize at Japan’s first Ecotourism Awards.

From HK$650 per night | hoshinoyakaruizawa.com

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TECH

GREEN

LOWER YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

GADGETS

WITH THESE BEAUTIES

SATISFY YOUR INNER ECO GEEK

Innovation is at the core of creating a more sustainable (and enjoyable!) world. From chic bamboo speakers to solar-powered GPS tracking, everywhere is evidence of the inspired search for smarter, greener, cooler technology to improve our daily lives. it up 01 Crank Environmentally-conscious designer

Anatoliy Omelchenko, of Triangle Tree, created the simple-yet-chic iBamboo from a single piece of bamboo. Production requires only a few alterations to the bamboo, minimizing manufacturing and energy waste. This remarkable speaker does not require electricity – with a convenient slot for the iPhone, it simply uses its natural hollow body to amplify the tunes!

HK$155 | ibamboospeaker.com

ma, no hands!

02 Look The Belkin Wi-Fi enabled WeMo

Switch and WeMo Motion Kit provide you with wireless control of your home appliances and electronics, through sensory detection. The sensor is able to detect motion from up to 10 feet away and send a signal to the WeMo Switch to turn a connected device on or off, simultaneously saving you money in electricity bills and saving the planet. It’s a win-win!

HK$620 | belkin.com

protection 03 Invisible The Hövding airbag for cyclists is a

revolutionary ‘helmetless helmet’ from a company known for quirky products that combine sustainability, fashion, and technology. The helmet has been extensively safety-tested and actually provides the best shock absorption in the world for cyclists.

The best part? It comes in multiple cool designs, all made of waterproof and dirtresistant fabric.

HK$4,220 | shop.hovding.com

04 Style it eco

These Bioplastic Phone Covers, available for iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy S3, are made using renewable biomass sources, such as plant starches and microorganisms, allowing you to protect your phone in style and with a clean environmental conscience.

HK$232 and up | bioserie.com

05 Bamboo-tiful The beautiful iZen Bamboo Keyboard

and Mouse set is fully handcrafted, environmentally friendly and biodegradable, due to its being made almost entirely of bamboo.

HK$698 | izenbamboo.com

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power 06 Portable The Yeti 150 Plug-and-Play Solar

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Generator is a compact, gas-free source of portable power weighing just 13 pounds!

Just think: for every 5 to 10 hours of direct exposure to sunlight, the Yeti 150 can provide enough power to light a lantern for 50 hours, power a smartphone for 15 hours or recharge your laptop…twice.

HK$3,102 | goalzero.com

07 Not just a flashlight

The MoMA Bulb Flashlight features three interchangeable functions: a regular LED bulb, an emergency flashlight, and a socket lamp. It screws into any standard socket and produces as much as a 40W bulb using just 6W of electricity! How clever is that?

HK$349 | momastore.org

08 Green thumbs

Never worry about neglecting your plants’ health again with this convenient sensor device; the Parrot Flower Power.

By downloading the free app (available for Apple and Android devices), you can receive real-time alerts of your plants’ needs, such as soil moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and air temperature conditions. By simply planting the sensor next to your plant, indoor or outdoor, you can monitor up to 256 plants through your smartphone!

HK$498 | store.apple.com

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on 09 Shine The Lumio Book Lamp is a compact,

low-energy, foldable lamp in the shape of a book – with incredible adaptability! By turns a table lamp, wall sconce, pendant or reading light, the Lumio Book Lamp is adjustable to suit your needs. It’s also cordless, thanks to its rechargeable battery that provides up to eight hours of light.

HK$1,241 | hellolumio.com

your stuff 10 Find Behold the world’s first self-powered

GPS tracking device! No larger than the HK dollar coin and less than an inch thick, the Retrievor RET-100 will locate your phone, pet, or any registered object within five feet accurately. And, for your convenience, trackers can be viewed and controlled by web, Android, or iPhone apps.

HK$1,544 | retrievor.com

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TESLA MODEL S

Tesla absolutely nailed it when it launched the battery-powered Roadster in 2008, and with the new Model S the company isn’t resting on its laurels. The world’s first premium electric sport sedan is a game-changer. At 265 miles on a single charge, it offers the greatest drive range of any electric car on the market. But make no mistake; the Model S is a high-performance vehicle in more than just an environmental sense.

It does 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, claims a top speed of 130mph, and is ultra light and responsive to drive. It’s just as sexy inside, with an iPad-like 17-inch touchscreen control panel and luxurious finishes. teslamotors.com

THAT DON’T COST THE ENVIRONMENT RANGE ROVER HYBRID Land Rover has set the bar high with this 2014 release, the very first luxury SUV in history to combine diesel and electric power. Though the vehicle doesn’t scream “green” from the outside, Land Rover has developed a solid offering to salve the consciences of conflicted SUV fans. The Hybrid’s carbon dioxide emissions are 26 percent lower than a gasolinepowered equivalent, and fuel economy stands at 44.1mpg on the combined cycle (compared to 37.7mpg for the standard diesel equivalent). Combine that with a spacious, well-appointed, opulent interior, and here you have the ultimate family vehicle. landrover.com

From hybrids to EVs and even a hemp concept car, the latest hot rides merge sustainability and innovation

LOTUS ECO ELISE

The Eco Elise concept car is the first truly holistic green car on the market. Or, at least it will be; the one you see here is a concept car, for now. Not satisfied with just focusing on tailpipe emissions, Lotus carefully considered every part of the car’s life cycle - production, usage and end of life – to ensure it creates as little an impact on the environment as possible.

As a result, this gorgeous little marvel incorporates biodegradable materials such as hemp, wool, and sisal into its design, has solar panels embedded into its roof, and weighs in at a feather-light (and super efficient) 830kg! lotuscars.com

BMW i8

The BMW i8 accelerates from 0 to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds – perfect for those with a need for speed – and is inarguably beautiful to look at. Offering maximum efficiency, the i8 promises exceptional, sporty performance with low consumption and emission figures. It takes just three hours to fully charge, and can travel up to 22 miles on electric power alone, while the combined range in hybrid mode is over 310 miles.

If this is what the future of driving looks like, sign us up! bmw.com

TOYOTA PRIUS

Prius was one of the first to market in eco-cars, and still holds its own against newer entries.

Considered by many to be the ‘original hybrid’, its 4th-gen 2014 model features a sleek new exterior design with improved aerodynamics.

A patented Hybrid Synergy Drive autoselects the most efficient drive mode (petrol engine, electric, or a combination of both) and it averages a cost-saving 42.35mpg. With over three million sold to date, Toyota must be doing something right. toyotaprius.com.hk

FISKER KARMA Sustainably designed without compromising on aesthetics, the earth-friendly and fully electric-powered Karma consumes no petroleum for the first 50 miles, and when its battery power runs low, no problem – it taps automatically into a 3.3-kWh on-board charger.

The Karma flaunts a stunning interior trim that bows down to Mother Nature – in the EcoChic edition you will find yourself surrounded by an animal-free showcase of high-end, low carbon textiles, faux suede, and rescued California wildfire hardwood. While production was halted 2 years ago, the good news is that the Fisker Karma will return to the market this year, so stay tuned! fiskerautomotive.com

Double Duty

Ethically made, ethnically inspired the perfect style for summer

Photography Red Dog Studio Creative Direction Lisa Christensen Styling Nissa Marion Models Jocelyn Luko-Sandstrom, Rosemary Vandenbroucke Hair Stylist Emmanuel F., Duan Giang Makeup Artist Karen Yiu Creative Advisor Marie Lebailly Image Production Emil Tse, Andy Lai Location Support Sean Baylis

Opposite page: Vivid colours complement ethnic prints for the perfect summer mashup Rosemary (left) wears a dress by Stella Jean; bangle by John Hardy Jocelyn wears silk shirt, shorts by Stella Jean; necklace by John Hardy

Bold batik and strong accessories channel Amazonian seduction Swimsuit, cover-up by Marie France Van Damme; earrings, bangles and ring by John Hardy

Face the hottest months head on, with bright shades and a bold attitude Bangle, ring by John Hardy; bikini by Marie France Van Damme; sarong, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own

Release your inner wild child with heavy metals and rich, earthy hues Bikini, cover-up by Marie France Van Damme; necklace, bracelets by John Hardy

Vivid, evocative colours and patterns are a sign of summer Necklace by Stella Jean; bangles by John Hardy; bikini by Marie France Van Damme; scarves, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own

Advertorial

SKIN DEEP

The Emmanuel F Story

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aking healthy choices about beauty products is as important as the choices we make about the food we eat. By choosing organic and natural products, we can reduce the negative health and environmental effects caused by synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, growth hormones, chemical preservatives and other harmful additives. But one of the most challenging things about going natural is finding the places that offer certified organic products and services, especially in Hong Kong.

One such place is emmanuel f. salon and spa.

This revolutionary organic spa and salon is beautifully designed with eco décor, from bamboo walls to LED lights.

There are no harsh chemicals used, and no strong-smelling odours or burnt hair. Instead,

advanced techniques using organic hair colours have been developed to offer clients infinite options for natural and on-trend tones. Clients can also find certified organic skin care products and spa services ranging from body rituals and facials to makeup.

Natural and organic brands available at emmanuel f include Organic Care & Color Systems (from UK) Couleur Caramel, Phyt’s (from France) and more.

The inspirational story behind this special place is a unique one. Founder Emmanuel Faipoux headed a well-known salon brand and was leading a very successful career in Taiwan, until he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy.

His career came to a halt, and at the same time he became aware of all the potent chemical products he was

touching and breathing while working in the hair and beauty industry.

A change was needed.

Through a physical, emotional and spiritual journey with naturopathy, Emmanuel realized how much he was responsible for his own wellbeing, and as he recovered from his ordeal, he made a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. He explains, “We began by eating organic food and buying eco-friendly products at home, and I felt that using chemical products in our salon was not in harmony with that lifestyle and philosophy. So we started to source organic hair products, which naturally led us to extend this philosophy to other areas of beauty and wellness.”

Emmanuel decided to create a beauty concept

using exclusively natural and certified organic products in an eco-friendly environment – and the emmanuel f salon was born. Today, he is proud to offer high-end hairdressing and spa services without compromising health. Not only is his staff happy about working in a healthy environment and with products that are safe and effective, but customers always come back, because they can be assured that the services they are receiving are as healthy as they are beautiful.

Emmanuel f is located at: Nexxus Building, Level 2, Shop 211-213, 41 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2167-8280.

For more information about emmanuel f, visit www.emmanuelf.com

STYLE Facial Scrub, Pangea Organics

This formula is packed with antioxidants including Egyptian geranium, adzuki bean and cranberry, to gently, but effectively, slough away dead skin cells and leave your skin bright.

HK$369/110mL | Nest Beauty

Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, Aesop

Geranium Leaf oil soothes and calms skin, while “a precise blend of Pumice and Bamboo Stem” cleanses and stimulates, leaving skin perfectly prepared for hydration.

Bonus: it smells divine!

HK$270/170mL | Aesop

Himalayan Salt Body Polish, Purearth

100% natural, this scrub softens and conditions rough skin and is infused with the earthy, sensuous scent of cedarwood, mandarin and cinnamon. Made by women in the Himalayas to promote fair trade.

HK$320/100g purearth.asia

FACE + BODY

Silky smooth skin for summer?

Yup… naturally.

We sampled dozens of products to find you these winners for silky smooth summer skin, each made with effective natural ingredients that sound good enough to eat.

Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask, Lush

With fresh fruits, ayurvedic herbs and ground almonds, one could mistake this body treat for a dessert – but in fact it’s a super moisturizing, all-natural nourishing mask for tired city skin.

HK$125/62mL | Lush

SPF30 Mineral Matte Tint Organic Unscented Sunscreen, Coola Turkish Rose & Rose Geranium Tranquility bath salts, IKOU

An Australian hand blended formula of mineral-rich salts and essential oils not only relaxes the senses but nurtures and tones the skin, for an allover feeling of wellness.

HK$690/850g | ECOLS

Ecozine.com

Preservative and paraben-free, this mineral-based screen has nourishing organic shea butter and rosehip oils, provides a matte finish and is rich in free radical fighting vitamin C. HK$485/50mL | Lane Crawford Beauty

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My Essentials S haron K wok

Founder and Executive Director Aquameridian Conservation & Education Foundation A multitalented visual artist, writer, producer and well-known screen beauty, Sharon founded the ACE Foundation to have a flexible platform for making a difference, with a focus on educating about the importance of protecting nature and marine life.

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{ y u My keychain: I always have my USB stick and “Octopus” embedded tuna fish with me v Reusable dining utensils: These are made of bamboo, so they’re lightweight and portable w Chinese herbal flower oil: It works as a natural antibiotic as well as insect repellent x Divine Organic Chocolate: These are fair trade and so delicious y Airtight reusable water bottle: I don’t believe in disposable plastic waste z Writing tools: To draw, create and capture anything that inspires me { Melissa shoes: Completely made of rubber. I feel better when I don’t have to wear animal skin | Marine capsule toys: I sculpted these to raise awareness of our ocean’s biodiversity.

They come in biodegradable and recyclable paper capsules (as opposed to the usual plastic ones!)

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My Essentials K arim A zar

General Manager Retail Leasing, International Finance Centre Management (IFC) Karim was a green fiend long before he bought his Tesla Roadster. Laser-focused on success during the week, the weekends invariably find him hiking, skiing, boating and otherwise enjoying the great outdoors – and often cleaning it up as well.

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u u Steel water bottle: Every time I take my boat out I clean up pointless plastic trash on the beach v Keys: To my beloved Tesla Roadster and my house in Sai Kung surrounded by greenery w Polarized Maui Jim Sunglasses: For hiking, boating and being outdoors on the weekends x Penhaligon’s Esprit Du Roi Eau De Toilette: This lush, woody fragrance comes from a 135-year-old perfume house and smells like nature itself y Vertu & iPhone 5s: I am constantly on the move and in communication, and I count on these to keep me organized z Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino: We diffuse this scent in IFC mall to enhance the experience – it’s a sublime blend of crisp citrus and sultry amber { Valextra cardholder: This Italian brand has been making luxury leather accessories since the 1920’s; I love their focus on quality and attention to detail | Cartier pen: Thomas Kwok gave me this 8 years ago. It’s the only pen I use – it’s made to last, and I haven’t lost it yet!

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STYLE

M

irrors don’t lie – but wardrobes do.

Opening my wardrobe a few years ago, a ‘you have nothing to wear’ whisper taunted me from deep within a cluster of dresses and shirts. I’m sure most of you have experienced this.

If I’m considered to be the average British fashion consumer (albeit living in Hong Kong), then I’m buying 60% more clothes than I did 10 years ago, my wardrobe contains 14 never-worn garments and 30% of my clothes haven’t been worn in the last year.

To put a price tag on this, Brits have around HK$388 billion worth of clothing hanging in their wardrobes that they haven’t slipped into in over a year.

Fortunately for my wallet and for the planet, I’m not as gullible as that; but many consumers do fall for the wardrobe’s taunts, and they are driving the production of 80 billion new garments every year.

This “addiction” to buying brandnew clothing is ramping up textile waste in landfill.

In Hong Kong, an average of 217 tonnes of textiles enter landfills every day, according to the Environmental Protection Department. By a conservative estimate, this could equate to Hong Kongers discarding 10,000 garments into landfill every hour!

These disposal estimates are at odds with a recent WWF Hong Kong survey that found that almost 80% of local respondents do not believe that they buy more clothes than they need.

To prove my wardrobe wrong, I recently completed a radical experiment to show that other people’s wardrobes do have something in them worth wearing: last year, I challenged myself to dress entirely in other people’s clothes. But I didn’t source these clothes from their wardrobes. I sourced them from the bins.

It was called ‘The 365 Challenge’, and for a whole year I wore only secondhand clothing. If it wasn’t 100% dumped, discarded or donated to a used clothes recycling centre, I wasn’t donning it. I did this, with support from Friends of the Earth, to demonstrate that dumped clothes are still full of fashion potential. The secondhand clothes carried me from slinky cocktail parties to the slopes, to the boardroom and the beach, with style and comfort.

Throughout the experiment, I discovered that all that is needed to maintain a longlasting, stylish wardrobe is inspiration,

I discovered that all that is needed to maintain a long-lasting, stylish wardrobe is inspiration, information, time, and an occasional needle and thread.

Get Redressed...

Ecozine.com

Words by Christina Dean Photo by Luke Casey

Join me in Bringing Stained Clothes Back to

information, time, and an occasional needle and thread.

Now it’s your turn to Get Redressed.

I challenge you to change the way you dress so that you get more fashion and financial value from your wardrobe and help reduce clothing waste at the same time.

Download Redress’ Style Guides from the 365 Challenge website (redress.com.hk) for inspiration. In the meantime, here are some to get you started: Get to know your wardrobe Empty your entire wardrobe to assess how much and what exactly you own. Separate what you have worn in the last three months from everything else, then scrutinize why you’re not wearing certain clothes.

Get Repairing Identify clothes that simply need some TLC and fix them. Loose buttons and seams take just minutes to repair. For anything tricky, see a tailor.

Get Swapping Organise or attend a clothesswapping party as a fun, social way to pass along unwanted clothes and get ‘new’ items for free.

Get DIY-ing Be creative and personalise your clothes by snipping, sewing and embellishing!

Life!

Get recycling After you’ve selected the clothes that will stay in your wardrobe, you can recycle unwanted pieces at Hong Kong’s 160 ‘used clothes recycling banks’ (visit had.gov.hk for locations).

Get sharing Share your ‘new’ outfits and experiences with the world – remember to hashtag #Getredressed on Instagram!

What’s next? I’ve always loved a challenge - so naturally I am involved in this year’s Get Redressed Challenge, where we will explore how fashion designers can reconstruct unwanted used clothes into ‘new’ clothing, by swapping, DIY, smart shopping and more. Later in the year, we will focus on sustainable laundry care - but where I’m involved there is a dirty twist: I will be challenging myself to wear some of Hong Kong’s toughest and dirtiest stains to show that even I (who haven’t washed my own clothes for years) can bring stained clothes back to life. If you’ve got a stained garment that you’re considering dumping, I want to see it, scrub it, style it and show it off as part of the Get Redressed Challenge.

Please can I have your stains? If so, get in touch at info@redress.com.hk.

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GO RUN

I train to be not just a better runner, but a better person.

Rachel Jacqueline on pain, personal bests and preserving

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our country parks

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Words by Rachel Jacqueline

e all know running is good for us. It gets the heart beating, keeps us fit and provides an escape from the daily grind.

Plus, running outdoors on Hong Kong’s many trails gives us a good dose of fresh air – or at least a slightly fresher dose.

But that’s not why I run.

I admit, I love how healthy and strong I feel hoarding kilometres under foot. The conversations I have along the trails with friends lends insight into their personality that hours in a bar never would. Climbing high on one of many Hong Kong’s peaks and witnessing the sprawling metropolis is a reminder of how small I am. Somehow your problems seem less significant at that height.

Yet that’s not what propels me. I run on the trails – often for hours on end – because running is where I learn what I’m capable of. Running has taught me the patience I wasn’t born with and the gratitude I don’t always show.

I knew I was strong, but now I believe it.

I run because when all your energy is burnt out; when your feet hurt and you’re hungry; when you’re uncomfortable – you are confronted with a decision. Give in, give up or give

it all you’ve got. And it’s what you give that defines you.

Running is like a training simulator for life, where I train to be not just be a better runner, but a better person.

Interested? Not yet running Hong Kong’s trails? Here are my tips for getting going: Pick a race

1 From October until March

there is a race on almost every weekend. Races are the best way to get started because they give you a goal; they also force you to get out of bed on Sunday morning.

But most of all, races explore parts of Hong Kong you would never have known existed. Races help to build familiarity and comfort with the concept of chucking on your shoes for an active Saturday morning adventure.

Find a running buddy

2 Running buddies keep

you motivated, but together your fearless duo can also venture on yet-undiscovered trails. Don’t have one? Not to worry. The best place to start is Hong Kong Trail Runners; an informal community of runners that holds casual runs several times a week.

Get some gear

3 You don’t need much to get

out on the trails, but a few bits of gear will make a huge difference.

Trail running shoes are a must

on Hong Kong’s rocky trails. A hydration pack will also keep your thirst quenched – but don’t buy one too big. Based on a rough estimate of 500ml per hour (more in Hong Kong’s steamy summer), it’s unlikely you’ll need a bag that carries more than 1.5 to 2 litres for your sojourns.

Preserve yourself

4 Running is fun, and

before long it’s likely you will become hooked. But you can have too much of a good thing.

Resist the temptation to sign up to every race you come across, in the enthusiasm to show off your new superhuman abilities.

Take time off. Spend the odd Sunday morning sleeping in.

Enjoy the valleys as much as the peaks.

It's not always easy

5 It’s natural in life that

we seek the easy route, the comfortable way. And while we don’t need to push sh*t uphill constantly, it’s also good to know that the easy way isn’t always the most rewarding.

Sometimes it’s going to be tough, and I can guarantee that sometimes it’s going to hurt.

But stand at the finish line of any endurance event and you’ll see hundreds of winners – everyone’s conquered a personal achievement that day.

Preserve the road ahead

Hong Kong is blessed with incredible trails a mere stone’s throw from the city. But these national treasures are under threat. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is progressively concreting the trails and building more stairs to keep the trails “safe” for hikers. If the Lantau Development Council has its way, the beautiful countryside on the island will be soon marred by more development.

Thoughtless runners and hikers often leave rubbish littered throughout the country parks.

And horrendous air pollution has runners wheezing many days of the year.

If you get the chance, make your voice heard and help prevent the gradual deterioration of the beautiful running environment we have been gifted with here in Hong Kong. Sign petitions. Take part in cleanups – the Hong Kong Cleanup is a great start. Be aware and generate awareness. It’s a long road ahead – take care of it.

And then run it.

JOIN A RACE • Swire King of the Hills Mountain Marathon Series seyonasia.com • Vibram Hong Kong 100 Ultra Trail Race hk100-ultra.com • TransLantau 100km + 50km Races translantau.com • The North Face 100 Hong Kong thenorthface100.com • MSIG HK50 Series msig.com.hk • General resource for upcoming races in Hong Kong actionasiaevents.com

CAN’T HANDLE THE HEAT ON YOUR OWN?

Go to the Hong Kong Trail Runners page at meetup.com/HKTrailRunners to find a buddy!

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perspectives

Food, Gloriously Slow Food Words by Bobsy Gaia

I

t’s been a wonderful 25 years and then some since I first started to subtly and slowly wake up to the realisation that something was fundamentally wrong with humanity and the way we treat our beautiful home, planet Earth. This epiphany has now been reduced to a heartfelt awareness that we only have one Earth. This is different to an intellectual understanding of this fact. Bottom line: if I only have one home, then I am going to do my best to look after it.

Knowing this changed everything, from the meaning and value of my work, to my breathing habits, and so forth. And then there is food. “We are what we eat,” say the sages of old. “We are what we eat,” say the modern nutritionists. So, since opening my first ‘Organic Veggie Slow Food Café’ back in 1997, I haven’t looked back.

Food is what we revolve around as humans; eating it is one of the most intimate things we share. We gather around food on birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. We are made of food, and we become food for other living organisms when we breathe our last breath.

There are 7 billion humans living on this beautiful planet and the average person is lucky enough to be able to eat 3 times a day, although some of us eat 6 times a day! But there is a large portion of us who cannot eat at all. In Hong Kong and China, it seems we are drowning in food; eating way too much, and wasting what’s left without a second thought as to how it came to us in the first place. Most of us have mastered the ‘me’ mentality of “I paid for it, so this entitles me to do anything I want - right?” Wrong!

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I will now drop a little ‘wake up bomb’, check this out: 1 billion people are suffering from starvation. 1 billion people are suffering from overeating. Every year we waste enough food to feed 3 billion people.

Wakey, wakey!

The actual cost of a hamburger from your average fast food outlet is more like HK$200 (not HKD$20) once true and transparent accounting is calculated. Once the cost of the so called “externalities” – in other words, the grain and crops fed to the livestock, the water used by the associated agribusinesses, the run-off pollution from the industrial farms, the oil used in production and transportation, the vast forests that are felled to make way for the grazing, and so on - are added to the equation, the true cost skyrockets.

The business of cheap food is a crime against humanity, the Earth and all her living creatures and eco systems. It is a particularly shameful crime against our future generations.

This is the opposite of what is referred to as the ‘Slow Food Movement’; an awareness of, and an inspired new look at, the production of food… all the way from the farm to the table.

Slow food also refers to food that had been produced organically, bio-dynamically or using any method inspired by the wisdom of nature and not business. For example, a slow food chicken takes at least six to eight months to be at a stage where it is ready to be eaten, while an industrially produced chicken takes just six weeks to hit the supermarket shelves.

The same applies to vegetables, fruits and all other food grown for human consumption. It also refers to age-old methods of curing, aging and preparing foods. But most importantly, Slow Food is a culture, and the exact opposite of the modern fast food plague.

It is a healthier and ecological way of living, a conscious lifestyle that is spreading rapidly across the world, rekindling our organic, living connection to food and the role it plays, not only in our health but also in our survival as a species on this beautiful home of ours, Earth Mother Gaia.

At Mana! Fast Slow Food in Central, we have taken this to heart from day one, and are attempting to reinvent the fast food movement - by completely turning it upside down and serving our community food that is served “fast” but consciously produced “slow”.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT AT

SLOWFOOD.COM

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Can the SAR

certainly the talent to implement innovative solutions, leapfrogging outdated, inefficient practices. Doing so will create business opportunities as well as social and environmental benefits. The crux of BEC’s vision is that Hong Kong businesses will one day soon be recognized as world leaders in practicing and advocating environmental protection.

However, business alone cannot transform Hong Kong’s environmental landscape. The Government must be on board.

Fortunately, the HKSAR Government has made notable strides in the past year, and should be applauded for its efforts to move the needle on sustainability issues. The release of “A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong”, provision of subsidies to phase out pre-Euro 4 commercial vehicles, consultation on municipal solid waste (MSW) charging and creation of the Steering Committee to promote Sustainable Development of the Recycling Industry are all welcome initiatives.

Yet much work remains. Time is of the essence, particularly with regard to waste solutions. The idea of rubbish spilling over into the streets in an affluent, developed city may seem absurd, but that is what we are facing unless action is taken soon. BEC put forward suggestions on how to avoid this in our submission to the Chief Executive 2014 Policy Address. Most importantly, a detailed timetable for implementation of landfill extension, MSW charging, integrated waste management, food waste management infrastructure and the broadening of Producer Responsibility Schemes need to be agreed upon.

MSW charging, in particular, is of critical importance, and BEC believes that such a policy should be implemented no later than 2015.

As shown in other cities, MSW charging is an extremely effective way to not only reduce waste but promote recycling. As the recycling industry flourishes, job creation will follow. A reduced volume of Words by Agnes Li waste would mean fewer trucks on the road, leading to less traffic, fewer air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.

013 ended with new challenges for the environment.

In addition to these waste measures, BEC has several Globally, carbon emissions now exceed critical recommendations. These include the adoption of a fuel mix policy thresholds. Here in Hong Kong, the threat of a for Hong Kong, based upon a comprehensive and transparent “waste crisis” looms. Waste generated locally has consultation process; the implementation of BEAM Plus as the increased by almost 80% over mandatory green building standard; the the past three decades, while promotion of low-carbon transport; the Waste generated the population has grown by publication of a SAR-wide sustainability report; just 36%. Hong Kong now expanded cross-border collaboration on climate locally has produces three quarters more waste per person change; and establishment of a new, financially increased by than Tokyo. And, as the HKSAR Government, autonomous Harbourfront Authority, charged almost 80% over communities and interest groups quarrel over with meaningful powers and whose remit covers possible solutions, the threat of garbage piling the entire harbour and harbourfront areas. the past three up in the streets has become a concerning reality.

These are not unachievable objectives. Far decades, while the Yet, as the adage goes, “necessity is the from it! Hong Kong is a dynamic and capable population has mother of invention”. In that case, 2014 could city, renowned for its business acumen, myriad well be the year of environmental solutions. grown by just 36% opportunities and ability to invent and re-invent Positive initiatives to address environmental itself. We should cherish and nurture this city threats are afoot, and both globally and locally, that many of us have the privilege to call home. I companies are leading the way. In Hong Kong, progressive member take heart in the knowledge that BEC and our member companies are companies at Business Environment Council (BEC) have been committed to promoting a vibrant, competitive and green Hong Kong. collaborating on the environment for over two decades.

Companies increasingly understand that sustainability is not a marketing Hong Kong must resolve its pressing environmental issues to exercise. It’s about managing risks and capturing opportunities. Creating maintain its competitive global edge. It has the financial capacity and a healthy, green, liveable city is good for business.

reinvent itself?

Business Environment Council’s CEO on Hong Kong’s Environmental Challenges

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S O S

> Scalloped Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna Lewini) caught in gillnets off Santa Rosalia, Gulf of California, Mexico. Photo taken by Brian J. Skerry for National Geographic & WWF.

AVE UR

HARKS

Words by Dr. Andy Cornish

A

fter decades of neglect, overfishing and population crashes, the plight of sharks has never been quite so alarming. Earlier this year, a new study revealed for the first time the full extent of the issue: over 25% of the more than 1,000 sharks, rays and related chimera species are now threatened with extinction.

Sharks are one of the most ancient lineages of fishes. Fossil records show they first appeared around 420 million years ago. Many of today’s sharks are remarkably similar to their early forefathers, as their predatory ways have proved as successful in today’s modern oceans full of more evolved prey as they were amongst the prehistoric creatures they hunted hundreds of millions of years earlier.

However, shark’s tightly honed ability to track down and kill prey is now one of their greatest liabilities. Sharks are extremely easy to catch where they exist - a big hook, rope and stinky bait is often all you need.

One of the most misleading myths about sharks is that they are usually caught by accident. In fact, the demand for shark fins - and in some parts of the world, shark meat - has led to the development of fisheries that specifically target sharks. Fishermen also commonly catch and keep sharks while fishing for other fish, due to their highly lucrative fins. This is particularly true of long line fisheries for tuna, which catch most of the sharks in the tropical high seas.

Saving sharks from the looming threat of extinction from overfishing will be no small feat. If they are to survive in our planet’s oceans, we need to see an immediate and drastic reduction in the number being caught.

Fortunately, awareness-raising campaigns around the world are undoubtedly causing a drop in demand. In Hong Kong – a longtime global hub of the shark fin trade - groups including WWF and more recently Bloom, the Hong Kong Shark Foundation, and Shark Savers

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have had noticeable success in changing consumer habits. According to WWF-Hong Kong, shark fin imports to Hong Kong have fallen by 30% since the launch of campaigns to stop airlines and shipping lines from transporting them. Exact figures are difficult to come by, but the shark traders themselves are reporting declining sales. Even more encouragingly, the Chinese government’s decision to ban shark fin from official banquets was matched by the Hong Kong Government last year.

The biggest breakthrough for sharks to date took place in March 2013, with the decision to list five species of shark and two manta species on the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international treaty that protects wildlife against over-exploitation. Many countries are participating, and if their fleets are trading any of the CITES listed species internationally, they are required to demonstrate that the shark or manta was fished sustainably.

CITES has given 18 months (until September this year) before the regulations come into full force. Major improvements in most shark fisheries, including those managed on the high seas outside of national jurisdictions, need to be undertaken in order for the regulations to be met. There are major challenges to improving fisheries so that shark populations - which in some cases have plummeted by more than 95% - can start to rebuild, particularly for larger species that are slower to grow and reproduce. Already, a number of countries in the EU, as well as international environmental groups such as WWF, TRAFFIC and Pew, have redoubled their efforts to support the transformations needed.

Many will be watching closely to see whether countries - particularly Indonesia and India, which land more sharks than any others - are taking the necessary measures.

The next few years will be critical in determining whether or not populations of these ancient and magnificent creatures can be restored, for the health of our oceans.

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