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"We're Screwed" yells US tabloid, as climate collapses

Submitted by martinturner on 2 October 2009 - 7:02pm
in

A recent 'New York Post' takes on climate change in true tabloid style, from the screaming headline, local politics and bad puns, to celebrity gossip and sports news. It may not be 'the real thing' but the climate facts here are truly mind-boggling.

Check it out:  http://nypost-se.com/

(and some of the threaded follow-ups are as good as the original articles)

Two cheers for the Government

Submitted by martinturner on 19 September 2009 - 9:25pm
in

The government has designated some of those lovely old waterworks buildings at the reservoirs as 'statutory monuments'.  So that's a good thing, even if the associated legislation to protect them isn't as watertight as the Tai Tam Reservoir Dam.

Gov't press release:
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/090918/htm...

Scenes from Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, as Typhoon Koppu approached and passed Hong Kong

Submitted by Martin Williams on 13 September 2009 - 11:15pm

Typhoon Koppu passed Hong Kong over 14-15 September 2009; came within around 120km (to southwest) overnight. Major thunderstorm the evening before - see this video. In post below this, there is video from Cheung Chau, on 14th and 15th.

It was very hot on 13 September - to 34.5C on Cheung Chau; after hot few days following Hong Kong's hottest August since 1963. With a tropical storm forming near Luzon, and headed towards Guangdong, seemed thunderstorms were likely. Even so, this storm was remarkably severe - for amounts of lightning, and tremendous thunderclaps. Phew!

Shek Kwu Chau is a quirky island

Submitted by Martin Williams on 4 September 2009 - 6:19pm
in

shek kwu chau Lying just west of Cheung Chau, off the southern coast of Lantau, Shek Kwu Chau is one of the quirkier islands in Hong Kong.

This is largely thanks to the efforts of people in the Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre: both staff, and reforming drug addicts staying there. They've built various statues, shrines, a pool like a Roman bath, and various other sometimes fanciful structures.

You need a permit to visit the island, which is just a few minutes boat ride from Cheung Chau.

Coastal Cleanup in Hong Kong autumn 2009

Submitted by Martin Williams on 26 August 2009 - 10:51am

Hong Kong will participate in the International Coastal Cleanup Challenge 2009 - when teams of volunteers will head to local beaches, to remove rubbish.

The event will span 19 September to 19 October; you can find info at Hong Kong Coastal International Cleanup Challenge :: 海灘清潔比賽.

Public consultation re HK Air Quality Objectives

Submitted by Martin Williams on 9 August 2009 - 10:35am

Government press release here; you can add your views. Questionable whether health really is key goal in setting objectives, rather than not doing much that might cause ructions in big business whilst appearing to make an effort, and using WHO targets to help befuddle people - might sound good, but these can be far from WHO guidelines re pollutant levels that may be safe.

Mui wo

i think that Mui wo is a very pretty place. I went there last week and it was very windy, but it was a very enjoyable experience. The vocabulary used in this page is very good (y). I went to Silvermine Waterfall, and it was amazing. :) i love mui wo. I go there every month now to explore every inch.

With an abundance of

With an abundance of mountains and trails, your comments couldn't be further from the truth. There is plenty of space for both bikers and hikers in the country parks. The issue is the governments continued failure to provide dedicated, maintained trails for bikers, something we have been pushing for for many years now. HK has the potential to be an outstanding centre for mountainbiking with access to trails a stone's throw from urban centres. Unfortunately, HK's famously bureaucratic civil service does not have the vision to see this. They also refuse to let bikers maintain trails and will not lift a finger themselves, hence the erosion that occurs on some of the more heavily used paths. I have ridden trails in France, Wales, Thailand and Hawaii and ours compare with the best of them - if only we had genuine support from a government that would rather cover its trails in a carpet of concrete than create world class facilities.

thanks martin, did take her

thanks martin, did take her hiking to tai po 4- colour forest and took the 4 km route..

and stroller  along lamma island. wonder if there is any other short route which is sort of (baby friendly).. because will be stopping many times..

 

 

short routes for toddlers in Hong Kong

Hi Reei:

That's good; hope you enjoyed Tai Po Kau.

I've done short piece on taking toddler on Cheung Chau:

Walking in southern Cheung Chau with toddler and pushchair

Circuit of the Peak, and visit to gardens on Mount Austin Road (article on this site) may be good.

Walking around Mui Wo, inc to Silvermine Waterfall (info here too)

Shing Mun Reservoir

From Tin Shui Wai Station, there's good village trail - Ping Shan Trail (also on this site)

Shek O, HK Island, a good spot to visit

Po Toi Island

Peng Chau

Tung Ping Chau - further afield, but mostly flat; tho ants can be a nuisance

- these are ideas occurring to me just now.

Good if you can report back!

Martin

trips with toddlers

I don't know what an ergo is

When my son was this age, sometimes took him hiking in backpack carrier; also on some routes where ok for push chairs. Quite a variety of routes, so didn't feel limited - tho had to stop more often than I might have done normally!

Don't know re cycle carriers.

Take care on less maintained trails

I sent Ben, the poster of comment, email:

Quote:
Did the trail have colour code on countryside series map? - codes can indicate importance of trails, inc those that may be less maintained.  "small pieces of tissue" not official; are some trails done by explorer types

He replied:

Quote:
No, it was not an "official trail" such as Wilson, Mclehose or HK trail. On the country trail maps, it is actually referenced with black dotted line.
I usually find those trails much more interesting and I myself totally understand the potential difficulties that we can encounter hiking on those paths. I was just wondering whether those paths were actually maintained by government people or just by individuals who like the mountain like us...  I am planning on my side to go back there and try to add some additional "tissues" and I wanted to let the people in charge (if any) know but from your response, I understand that there is no such people....

I sent follow-up reply, to effect that must take extra care on such minor yet "interesting" trails

how to get there?

Hi, Thanks for posting all these articles about places in HK but I couldn't find info on how to get to these places on your web. Would you please advise where I could find those info in your web?

It would be even better if you would indicate the length / difficulty / transportation , etc right at the top of each article for readers' ease of reference.

Thanks. YK Lee

Camping at Tai Wan

People camp on the beach

Camping on Tai Wan

My partner and I would like to camp overnight
in Tai Wan, but we can only see a campsite listed
in Sai Wan. Can we camp at unmarked areas I.e
at Tai Wan specifically?

Thanks!!!

US Chamber about turn re climate change - Not!

Also good:

Quote:
The press conference at the National Press Club, ostensibly called by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, was packed with reporters—and the message was stunning. Purporting to speak for Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue was a guy introduced as “Hingo Sembra.” In the wake of high profile defections of companies from the Chamber over the Chamber’s opposition to climate change legislation, “Sembra” said, the Chamber had decided to do an about-face and back the bill. “Without a stable climate, there will be no business,” he explained. “The Chamber believes that if we do not help to prepare a strong climate bill for the President, we will face a new foreclosure crisis, due once again to the shortsightedness of a few.”

“Sembra” went on to hold a Q&A session, elaborating on the Chamber’s purported new position. But suddenly, Eric Wohlschlegel, the Chamber’s real press person, burst in through the back door of the Press Club’s Zenger Room. “This press conference is a hoax,” he said. “I don’t know who these people are, but they don’t represent the Chamber!”

Climate Change Hoax: The Fake U.S. Chamber About-Face

 

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