Devotional No.6

Scripture：Genesis 2:1-3

(Prayer→Reading→Meditation+Contemplation)

My meditation:  

The first reference to God's ordination and sanctification of the Sabbath (Hebrew shâbath or shabbat) in today’s verses is a very special event. It is not difficult for us to see that God is both working and resting in his Creation. We have seen before that God is well-planned and orderly in His Creation. His order includes the law of working and resting. This law is important to us and the rest of the world. It is very important to know how to work and rest for it not only affects the human body but also the human mind and spirit.

Through faith, we see not only God’s creation, but also His appreciation of His creation in a relaxed and restful manner. Indeed, shabbat means to stop, cease and repose. As we are like God, we should follow His law of work and rest. Even after the Fall of Adam and Eve, God’s sabbatical law is still valid and it should be respected by all of us. Why? God not only stopped on the seventh day but also consecrated this day as a holy day (Genesis 2: 3). God blessed the seventh day and “sanctify” (Hebrew qadash) it. Sanctify is mentioned the first time here in the Bible.

Coming back to Sabbath, does God need to rest? We know that God is supreme and almighty. The Bible [Psalm 121: 4] even says that He does not slumber or sleep. We therefore cannot say that God needs to rest! Why did He set up the Sabbath then? A reasonable speculation is that it is set for mankind and the other creatures. The Bible [Heb 4: 9] also says, “There remaineth therefore a rest (Sabbath) to the people of God.(KJV)”  It is obvious that the Sabbath in question is not the present-day Saturday (or Sunday) but the ultimate and eternal promise of rest! No wonder that it says in Judaism that "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."..........

Question:

Is resting important to you? Do you have room for the Sabbath in your life?

Howard

中譯

Devotional No.5

Scripture：Genesis 1:1-31

(Prayer→Reading→Meditation+Contemplation

My meditation:  

I would like to summarize the teachings and enlightenments given to me in Genesis 1. Today’s Scripture tells us that:

1.       God is the Creator of the universe,

2.       His creation is well planned and orderly,

3.       God created man according to their image and entrusted mankind with the stewardship over His creatures.

As believers, the emergence of the world is neither accidental nor purely physical. There are profound mysteries embedded in the wisdom and power of God as manifested in His creation. For example, we do not know why darkness can exist in the creation by God who is both light and perfection.

The Bible, as a book of religious truth, should not be understood by purely historical or scientific standards. Neither should we take it to be merely a human literature. The basic reason comes from the teaching by the Apostle Paul, namely, "the Bible is God inspired" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, the ultimate author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit and this is our conviction as Christians. To the atheists, the Bible is only one of the various religious writings among the various human cultures such as Taoism, Buddhism and Islam. In fact, we will not easily take the books of the latter to be sacred writings as inspired through heavenly revelations.

What is the meaning of the Bible to the believers? Obviously, it is the basis of our faith and truth as God’s Word. It is also the authority and standard for us to follow and rely on. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to have an objective reason to support our faith let alone the question of eternal truth!

Let me demonstrate the application of the Bible with the "the spectacles of God (Faith)”. Though we cannot see God, we should be able see that this world is created by God as told in Genesis through “the spectacles of God". Even though an atheist would see things very much as we see them, his materialistic view however could only tell him that the world is purely made of matter and that the ultimate source of matter is again matter (today's science would call it mass and energy).

Question:

How would you see the world and its events as a believer?

Howard

中譯

Devotional No.4

Scripture：Genesis 1:11-31

1.           Prayer

2.           Reading

3.           Meditation

My meditation: The third point that attracts my attention in today's Scripture is that God created man in their image. What matters is not only the plurality of God (Elohiym) but also the IMAGE of God. We have reason to believe that people are indeed looking like God even physically. Of course, the Bible also said that no man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. (John 1:18; KJV). Fortunately, the Lord Jesus Christ did come in flesh to us so that we can see that God really looks like a man. A person’s name and hence his image is kind of equivalent to the person as someone’s name is the conduit of someone’s soul energy (liveliness) in Orthodox Judaism. Just as Christ is the visible image of God the Father, Adam was the representative of God in His creation. In fact, we can see that man is God's delegate over His creation according to Genesis (1:28). This representation gives human beings both special rights as well as solemn obligations. Yes, rights and obligations are inseparable.

On the contrary, we can ask, “How much difference would it make if no man in the image of God is made? Here are some of the possibilities I think of:

Ø   There are no people to manage the Earth and the living things. Of course, God can select another living creature to look after His creation. Nevertheless, such an arrangement might lead to "equality" issues.

Ø   Unless there are other non-human creatures to be made after the human personality and characteristics, the universe may become mechanical and dull as "fun and the human emotions" will not exist in the unmanned universe!

Of course, you can think of other possibilities as well. However, you may arrive at a similar conclusion as mine, that is, there will be a shortfall if no one were made in God’s image in His creation. One of the reasons will be read in subsequent Biblical verses which tells us that the spirit of man is coming from the breath of God. Thus, man is a living soul. Remembering that God is a Spirit, only a spiritual man can communicate with God spiritually. Indeed, human beings partake God’s divine personality and nature (2 Pet 1:4) which reveals the importance of spirituality. The aforesaid also brings out the concept of the Earth as the spiritual center of the universe.

Question:

If God did NOT create human beings, how would His Creation be different?

Howard

中譯

Devotional No.3

Scripture： Genesis 1:11-31

1.   Prayer

2.   Reading

3.  Meditation

 

My meditation:

Today’s scripture tells us that God begins to create the living things starting from Day 3. The order of which is:

Day 3: grasses, vegetables and trees are created

Day 4: the sun, moon and stars are created

Day 5: fishes and birds are created

Day 6: cattle, insects, beasts and human beings are created.

God's creation was finished on the 6th day and there are 3 things that attracted my attention. As God made plants on the 3rd day and yet the sun and the stars had yet to appear. We know that plants cannot carry out photosynthesis without light. How can there be plants without the sun? Well, we’d remember that God had already installed the pro-living environment already, namely, the combination of light, water and land. Hence, there was light even though it was not from the sun or the stars.  Where did it come from? God is definitely the answer. As the creation is basically physical in nature, light coming not from the stars was then shining. This phenomenon is a mystery and very fascinating. I have no answer to what exactly is the light in question even though I have my views.

Let me share with you the first two things that have drawn my attention

There were evenings and mornings since the first day. Thus, the light should be coming from one direction rather than coming from all directions in order to produce the night and morning phenomenon. If it is so, how light can exist before the stars were created? We shall leave it to the scientists to solve this mystery. Of course, there are other possible explanations besides the above speculation.

The second thing is that the "Earth" was the center of Creation. Though it is not explicitly mentioned, the Earth appears to be the center of the universe. Such a view doesn’t fit in well with today’s scientific discovery as the Earth is found to be only a small planet in a solar system. How can it be the center of the universe? This question could be answered easily be presuming that the Creation story is purely a fictional one. Thus, Genesis is basically a mythical composition. However, such an interpretation would mean that the biblical record is not necessarily factual. If this is the case, it will be difficult to ascertain that the Bible is composed of eternal truths. It will be even more difficult to convince people that the miracles in the Scripture are true (such as Jesus' resurrection).

On the other hand, we cannot rule out that the earth is really the center of the universe arising from God’s omnipotence. Yet, how can we explain the idea of an earth-centered universe? Obviously, a possible suggestion is that the Earth is really  the physical center of the universe such as the explosion centre in the Big Bang theory. Another possible explanation is that from the spiritual perspective, namely, all spirituality is focused on the Earth. We shall explore this possibility tomorrow.

Question：

What are the implications of an Earth-centered universe?

Howard

 

Chinese Translation

基督徒環保關注組 (Christians for Eco-concern)

我們是誰？ Who are we?
我們是一群基督徒，深信聖經的教導和應許。

我們很注重神賦予世人的管家職分。

我們注意到地球很多資源正被濫用和破壞，這當然是罪對於世界的一種影響，如果人類不及時改正，它會危害我們和子孫的生存。

所以，我們因信主耶穌救恩的功效和應許，走在一起，呼籲世人應及早回到神為我們預備的祝福裏，讓大地成為我們生活的樂土。好叫世人和大自然能融洽地發展下去。 

我們的使命宣言 Mission Statement
我們相信 神創造了美好的世界，而我們是 神所召命作大地的管家。

我們深切關注 被造萬物正被濫用和破壞─這就是罪，並且危及我們的生存。

我們相信基督徒需要心意更新及調較生活方式來投身關顧自然環境。

我們深信藉著耶穌基督，教會應有獨特貢獻來帶出醫治被造萬物的盼望。

因此，我們委身於提醒基督徒群體，從本港眾教會及信徒開始，對地球生態作出適切的關注及行動。

歡迎你加入我們的行列 You're welcome to join us!

Howard, webmaster

從盟約神學反省香港的環保問題

香港和世界今天都充斥著環境污染，濫砍濫伐，貧富懸殊和氣候暖化等問題；作為基督徒，我們可以從聖經的教導和神學反思來檢視一下本港處理固體廢物面對的環保問題，並從中思考作為信徒的應有態度。以下是網主參考和整理了早前由Galaxysnail 讀者之意見文稿後，總結出信徒可從「盟約神學」來反省香港的環保問題的撮要。

環保問題的癥結

以香港的固體廢物問題為例，它的癥結與現代人自我中心及消費主義是息息相關的，若不對症下藥，會對生態環境造成不可逆轉的破壞，人的健康和生存亦會受到嚴重威脅。

中國神學院余達心牧師認為消費主義或環境生態問題是根源於與深受歐洲啟蒙運動的影響；余牧指出啟蒙運動高舉理性與科學主義，認定人是獨立而存的「自我主體」﹝ego-subject﹞，理性是人類達至真正自由的動力，結果建立了「以人為中心」的世界觀。現代人又以機械科學理性建構機械宇宙觀，將大自然與生命約化成純物理結構，將「價值」、「意義」局限於「非聖化」﹝desacralized﹞及「非仁化」﹝depersonalized﹞的範疇，剝奪了大自然的神聖內涵。

科學主義亦將人視為只是進化過程中的一組由某些物質組成的生化結構，所以人的道德責任頓成一模稜兩可的東西；意義、價值根本地被約化成分子化合作用的產物。西方文化世俗化便在這種精神背景下形成，使基督教義中的人應順服 神及追求屬神的公義之傳統失落，取而代之的是極度個人主義、真理失落導致的道德相對主義，以及誠信、承擔的道德情操的萎縮。當資本主義下的市場經濟與個人主義結合時，便形成為20世紀西方特有的自戀文化﹝culture of narcissism﹞，這是生態危機最直接的禍首。

然而，聖經的記載讓我們可以從盟約觀來理解「神-人-自然」之應有關係及態度，創世記一章告訴我們天地萬物﹝包括人﹞都是三位一體的神創造的，是屬於 祂的；只有 神才有支配宇宙萬物的主權，人和其他生物只有被 神賜予使用大地的權利。神認同地上一切生物有活命的需要，所以賜予所有生物賴以存活的食物。從創世記可見，在洪水前後，神賜給人的食物既豐富且與其他生物不同，故彼此不應存在惡性競爭，因為神的供應是藉祂所設立的互惠互助「盟約」伙伴關係去成就。人在當中不但擔當了「盟約」的「中保」角色，亦是被神差派在地上作祂「治理」和「管理」的代表。

從神命令人「修理」、「看守」伊甸園去理解祂讓人作「受托者」的心意時，可以看到「修理」、「看守」在舊約聖經中常用於表達人對神的服侍上。同樣「看守」亦常用於宗教責任上，表明人要謹慎遵守、維護 耶和華與人所立的約及 祂給人的命令。這兩個詞的宗教含義表明 神要人用謹慎、充滿敬意的態度對待他要「治理」和「管理」的大地、動物、植物﹝下稱「自然」﹞。所以神給人「治理」和「管理」的吩咐，就不應被理解作「轄制」和「統治」。

此外，人能擔當「中保」和「受托者」的角色全因為人與其他被造物不同。創世記凸顯了人的兩個特質：

1.   人可以和 神相交，也擁有知識、理性和道德意識，且可用愛心與人和其他被造物交往及建立道德關係。因為人是按 神形像而被造的生物。

2.   人和地有著一種本源的關係：人由大地而出，耕耘大地是他的工作，死後他要歸回它。

所以，聖經展示的世界觀是一個「神–人–自然」互動而充滿動感的世界，其焦點不是「誰在中心」，而是在「歷史的展現過程」中「神–人–自然」的盟約關係。

可惜這「盟約」關係卻因人吃了「分別善惡樹」的果子而破壞了。「分別善惡樹」在希伯來文是由三個名詞組成：「知識、善、惡」。「善」「惡」是希伯來人以兩個對立詞來代表「一切」。亞當及夏娃以為吃了神禁止他們吃的「分別善惡樹」果子，就可以超越創造主與受造物的界線，能像神一樣「能知一切事」，有百分百的「自主和自決權」，想做甚麼就去做。

不過當亞當及夏娃吃了「分別善惡樹」的果子眼睛明亮後，他們「看見」自己不是「能知世上一切事」，而是與蛇一樣的「狡猾」。自此人與人的關係不再坦然，變成互相「轄制」與「詭詐」。人違背神命令的罪，使人與神的關係出現障礙和鴻溝，人亦被逐出伊甸園。「地」亦因人的罪受咒詛，人和地的關係破裂，彼此處於矛盾和對立的狀態；人要終生與地辛苦搏鬥，才可得吃。

人在伊甸園裏時，因聽從神的吩咐和祝福而有力量去執行神托付的「治理」和「管理」工作。但在伊甸園外，人與造物主隔離，失去了神的祝福指引，以致在地上管理不善，帶來很多負面影響，最終亦導致神毀滅性的審判。

從以上的分析，可以知道人天生就需要 神，但犯罪遠離 神後，人有偏差的神觀、人觀、自然觀，故會自設自造其他的偶像去代替真神來崇拜。

反省回應

神鍾愛與珍惜祂所創造的萬物，當人類受神差遣作「神–人–自然」「盟約」的「中保」及管理大地的僕人時，就必須要以謙卑僕人的心，按主人的旨意和指引去完成責任。人與自然有伙伴拍擋的關係，大地更是他的本源，人在地上不能把自己抽離於大自然之外，對自然漠不關心。當創世記論到 神授權人類去管理和看護大自然時，人無得到授權為一己的貪慾去侮辱自然和另一個人的尊嚴，因為那是對創造主的不敬和蔑視。人類該醒覺自己是環境人 (the environmental being)，生態環境的變化正在警告人類要回轉歸向 神，重建與 神、自然、他人、個人、四重關係。否則當這些關係產生矛盾，並激化成仇敵時，人類必然會自招咒詛和災禍。

當然，當我們批判消費主義時，我們需要警惕和關注我們所高舉的會否變成另類偶像？會否毀壞 神與我們所立的約？我們一旦違約，加上拜偶像必換來「困惑、壓迫和恐懼的後果」。

此外，聖經倫理基礎是神與世界的復和，是以恩典為主導的生命轉化倫理。神諭倫理所關注的，是神的主權遍及一切，包括與神立約的子民的價值觀和他們的生活方式。「盡心、盡性、盡意愛主你的 神」和「愛你的鄰舍如同自己」這兩條誡命是律法和先知的總綱，其焦點是教導上帝子民如何透過「愛你的鄰舍如同自己」這命令，重新理解和實踐摩西的律例。即是說，要完成律法的要求，人必須在待人處事時顯出慈悲和愛心，而不是去剝削和盜取。崇尚及跟隨消費主義或激進的「主義」只會令基督徒與鄰舍﹝人和自然﹞的關係失去倫理道德的基礎。

今天教會的宣教事工都強調傳福音、拯救靈魂、使人悔改歸主、加入教會，我們很易忽略了對大自然這位鄰舍的公義和憐憫責任；聖經宣教神學的內涵來自 神的啟示。神整全的話語清楚的告訴我們，神的大使命不僅只包括人類，也包括了補救因始祖墮落而導致對大自然的禍害。因此，整全的宣教不可能不觸及其他受造物與 神之間的復和。

身為基督徒，我們需要更積極參與解決問題，將「神–人–自然」盟約的責任付諸實踐，將保護上帝的創造融入日常生活中。這亦是教會的先知性契機，是教會效法昔日舊約先知和主耶穌基督，回應神差遣到世上作鹽作光的使命，好把在 主耶穌裏的盼望和祝福帶給大地眾生。

Howard

參考資料目錄表：

1. 余達心：〈生態危機尋禍根〉，《中國神學研究院期刊》，第26期，﹝1991年1月﹞

2. 李思敬，〈「上帝形象」與「管理大地」〉，《中國神學研究院期刊》，第26期，﹝1991年1月﹞

3 何崇謙，〈生態神學：自然與我〉，中國神學研究院期刊第26期，﹝1991年1月﹞

4 鄭順佳： 〈基督教倫理基礎 ： 一個神學倫理學的進路〉，《中國神學研究院期刊》，第35期，﹝2003年7月﹞

5 王福義，〈氣候變化的神學反思〉，《中國神學研究院期刊》，第51期，﹝2011年7月﹞，頁138‐142

6. 葉智仁：〈「消費主義的反思 – 如何實踐愛神愛人的教導」〉，《真理報》，﹝2001年2月﹞。

社區環保倡議海報

社區環保倡議行動

新福事工協會聯同基督徒環保關注組將會在今年十月一日 (星期六)舉行一項名為社區環保倡議行動的活動。目的在信徒群體中建立支援綱絡，推廣關愛上帝創造的信息和行動。


活動將會在新福事工協會粉領辦事處舉行，當日上午有主題講座及分組研討會。新福事工協會將安排一頓地道午餐，下午會到附近的創姿園農莊進行導賞工作坊及參觀。大會將安排由粉領火車站往返場地的接送交通。費用為每人一百二十元 (包午膳及往返粉嶺火車站接送費用) 。有興趣的教會或信徒，請聯絡新福事工協會 (2729-1201) 楊小姐(Susan)。名額有限，先到先得。


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Christians for Eco-concern's Response to EPD's Climate Change Consultation 2010

Dear Friends,

As you might know, the Environmental Protection Department has been seeking the views through a public consultation regarding Hong Kong's Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda. Christians for Eco-concern has just sent in our views yesterday (31st Dec. 2010, HKCEC's Submission) to voice out our concerns. We wish to emphasize that we would agree with all measures for the betterment and sustainability of our living environment regarding such issues as combating the projected climate change. We as Christians believe in the advantages and sustainability of a simple style of living by humankind according to Biblical teachings and principles. At the same time, we do give an equal emphasis to facts and scientific discoveries.

We therefore hold the following principles as essential to a sustainable future:

• Aspiring to a simple, non-consumerism based life-style would bring about real contentment and enhance the harmony among humans and nature.
• Caring for people and nature affected by our actions, wherever they are, is our fundamental responsibility as individual and as a society.
• Obligations and rights are complimentary. Responsible leaders and officers must lead by example in order to boost confidence and endorsement by the general public in terms of social policies and actions.
• The prudent application of appropriate technologies, based on fundamental scientific research, discovery and knowledge, would improve people’s livelihood.

As far as we know, there are at least 7 different theories explaining the phenomenon of climate change the most well known of them is the anthropogenic global warming theory in which man-made green house gas (GHG) emissions are a major cause of climate change (see The Seven Theories of Climate Change for details). These theories are neither exhaustive nor mutually exclusive. Even though there are debates about the validity and reliability of the theories, each of them bears valuable insights which might be combined to give a fuller picture of what is going on in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Indeed, we note a clear spelling out of uncertainty in the ERM’s consultancy report under s.4.3 (see also s.3.4.6) on UNCERTAINTIES IN CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE. Consequently, one may ask how accurate are the IPCC predictions on climate change and how well is Hong Kong prepared to tackle the uncertainties and contingencies? The HKSAR government should set up an effective mechanism to assess and ascertain the most likely impacts locally with regard to the various scenarios of climate change.

We also suggest that the government should :
a) Conduct a massive public consultation on our core values as to what the citizens want and put the options with the give and take honestly stated (e.g. more money vs. less time, more pollution, poorer health …etc.),

b) Conduct a massive and sustained program to educate the public on healthy and sustainable (simple) life-style with our top public officials serving as examples,

c) Conduct or support the necessary and sufficient investigations and scientific researches into existing or anticipated problems according to their potential or verified harms and threats. These investigations and researches must be done objectively and carefully with a view to producing results and practical guidelines sensibly and responsibly, and

d) Devise and formulate the necessary policies and/or legal framework to put forward the best practicable means to alleviate or eliminate the problems and risks according to their priorities as a result of the aforesaid investigations and researches mentioned in (c).

May the Lord Jesus guide and help us to contribute to the betterment of Hong Kong and the globe. Amen.

Hong Kong Christians for Eco-concern

From Kenya to the Sabbath

CEC member Christopher Fung attended the Micah Network 4th Triennial Global Consultation held in Limuru (close to Nairobi), Kenya between July 13 – 18, 2009. Kenya was just hit by a drought recently because it received less than one-third of the usual rainfall during the rainy season this year. It is the first such occurrence in living memory of many Kenyans who have no doubts that climate change is the cause and fear that this is a portent of things to come.

These events have prompted Christopher to reflect over our traditional theology on God’s Creation. He finds that it would be deficient if such theology does not relate to Jesus, the flesh and blood person who walked this earth and the centre of our faith. He believes that “the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” holds the key to a creational theology. The main points of this framework are:

1. Jesus was killed because he knowingly and purposely challenged his Jewish contemporaries’ interpretation of the Sabbath.
   
   
   
2. The Sabbath points to a cosmic ending in which each worker is endeared to the works of his hands and each part of creation entering into a mutuality with each and every part therein.
   
   
   
3. In Old Testament times, God was guiding his Creation forward through three institutions based on the Sabbath: Sabbath Day (man towards his destiny when he is endeared to the works of his hands), Sabbatical year (nature towards its destiny of being in harmony with man) and Jubilee (common destiny of God, man and Nature). Man is the lynchpin in all these under God, hence the Sabbath day is foundational.
   
   
   
4. Jesus transformed these three institutions through his death and resurrection, declaring that he – the flesh and blood man – is the Christ and proclaiming the fulfillment of the Jubilee. These institutions then become the Lord’s Day, the Church and the Kingdom of God, respectively.
   
   
   
5. By vesting upon God’s cosmic cause of the Sabbath in his life (through challenging deviant interpretations and practices) and paying his life for it and then through God accepting him for resurrection, Jesus has become the cosmic Jesus Christ, leading his wholesome Creation forward.
   
   
   
6. Man’s task is thus to partner with God in this forward movement that started with man’s first and only mandate (to rule over the God’s Creation (Gen 1:28)) and ends with the renewal of Creation when the Kingdom comes on earth (Rev. 21&22).
   
   
   
7. There is only one mandate for man, but also one obstacle to overcome, namely our sin, to reach the final Sabbath. This otherwise insurmountable obstacle is overcome in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and because of this, our doing the Lord’s work – fulfilling our only mandate – will not be in vain (1Cor 15:58). We are thus to follow the Son of man, Lord of the Sabbath, to our final Sabbath.
   
   
   

Besides a holistic theology of Creation Care centred on Jesus Christ, the degree to which the perception of churches are changed resulting in cooperative actions to do the Lord’s work, i.e. in caring for God’s Creation in all its many aspects, is crucial in responding to the Divine call for us to be the stewards of Creation. Towards this end, Chris is also engaged in a dialogue with a Kenyan farming leader to push for simple solar technologies to replace firewood.

Dear brothers and sisters, next time you walk under the heat of the noonday sun or hurry through the gusts of a tropical storm battering Hong Kong, let’s ask the question “What is our role as redeemed stewards and how are we to exercise this stewardship as vested in us by God our Creator?”

Christians for Eco-concern

基督徒環保關注組的環保教材套

各位環保之友

基督徒環保關注組已完成編寫第一版的環保教材套，計有
1. 創造被破壞
2. 水
3. 空氣
4. 廢物處理

歡迎各界(特別是教會的主日學和有興趣環保工作的學校或團體) 使用，並給予意見 。

如有查詢，可致電基督教協進會23687123 (找尹先生)或電郵：wan@hkcc.org.hk

基督徒環保關注組

Film Showing - Can We Save Planet Earth? (by BBC)

There will be a very interesting and informative event on Friday 30th November 2007. It is 'Directing Climate Change: global warming on film' sponsored by The British Consulate-General Hong Kong and Wildscreen. The venue will be Rm 606-607, 6/F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Interested members of the public could call the Bristish Consulate-General HK at 2901 3277 or visit its website for registration.

Christians for Eco-concern

Our Submission to The Council for Sustainable Development re "Clean Air - Clean Choices"

In response to the Invitation and Response Document (the Consultation Document) of the The Council for Sustainable Development, we DISAGREE that air quality in Hong Kong has become an emotive issue. Pollution problems are basically scientific (technological) and moral problems. Scientifically, we could trace the current air pollution problems to their linkage to the industrial revolution in the 18th century in England which subsequently spread throughout the world with the undesirable by-product of generating and aggravating the earth’s pollution burden. Morally, it can be seen that the extensive scales of the problems are the result of greed, selfishness, incompetence and a lack of foresight on the part of the advocators and enterprenuers advancing industrialisation without due regard to ecology and social responisibility.

However, we do agree with Mr. Rafael HUI, Chairman of Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) that we should all work together for the well-being of our future generations, which is built upon every effort we contribute to the sustainable development of our home city. For this reason, we would like to forward our views on the Consultation Document as follows:

a) If we could only implement measures to deal with the relatively minor and peripheral aspects and yet leaving the major polluting sources unabated, our citizens would easily be frustrated owing to non-proportionate expectations. Therefore, the authorities must present a clear and thorough picture with commitment and determination to the general public before launching any ambitious program.

b) We are well aware of the complication, difficulties and obstacles in pursuing a Regional clean-up strategy. Nevertheless, our citizens deserve the right to be informed of a reasonable outlook for the abatement of air pollution problems in the Pearl River Delta region such as cross-border negotiations and joint investigative and research efforts.

c) In terms of the proposed road-pricing scheme to alleviate pollution, we advocate the principle of “The polluter pays to remedy its own mess" (污者自負，用在環保). Obviously, the revenues (if any) to be collected through such road pricing scheme should be appropriate in terms of deterring unnecessary use of polluting vehicles and be reasonable so as NOT to cause undue public grievances or dissention. Reasonable exemption should be applied to use of vehicles for the under-privileged or for reasons of emergency situations. The revenues should go to a separate Environmental Fund set aside to deal specifically with the more urgent and imminent problems.

d) The HKSAR government should take immediate initiative to encourage vehicle owners to replace their polluting vehicles by vehicles with acceptable emission standards. Simultaneously, the government has to provide realistic traffic alternatives to commuters as an encouragement for avoiding congested areas. The government should also take a pro-active role to regulate the likely or anticipated traffic flows together with their pollution potentials which will come about with major developments like the Hong Kong – Zhuhai –Macau Bridge project.

e) Periodic review and announcement of the relevant statistics should be made and publicized by the government for the purposes of information, follow-up and education to the public on the matter of reducing air pollution in good time. We also favor the setting up of an early alarm system to warn the public of any imminent pollution episodes with practical advice for the sick, elderly and the children in particular and the public in general.

f) “Local sustainability” is a rather confined and partial concept before the horrendous trend of globalization. Air pollution problems in particular see no geographical boundary. Any real and lasting air problem created somewhere in the world will eventually affects others elsewhere. The Council should therefore take up a global perspective in dealing with issues even locally.

Submitted by:
Christians for Eco-concern
Date: 15 October, 2007

N.B.:
The above is only a summary of the Full Submission.

Christian for Eco-concern's views re HONG KONG’S Constitutional Development

1. We are Christians for Eco-concern of Hong Kong, an environmental network supported by the Hong Kong Christian Council. We notice that the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is conducting a three-month public consultation to widely collect views on the options, roadmap and timetable for implementing universal suffrage for the CE and LegCo of the HKSAR. The following paragraphs spell out our views accordingly.

2. As members of the HKSAR, we support the basic policies of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong” and “a high degree of autonomy” for Hong Kong’s internal affairs. We also welcome The Joint Declaration of 1984 which prescribed that the current systems in Hong Kong would remain unchanged.

3. We respect the political structure of the HKSAR as prescribed in Chapter IV of the Basic Law and Annexes I and II therein. We have no problem with Article 45 of the Basic Law which provides that “The CE of the HKSAR shall be selected by election or through consultations held locally and be appointed by the Central People’s Government of China.”

4. Similarly, we agree to Article 68 of the Basic Law which provides that “The LegCo of the HKSAR shall be constituted by election. The method for forming LegCo shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the election of all the members of LegCo by universal suffrage.”

5. We take note that it is the HKSAR government’s view that in the process of attaining the ultimate aim of universal suffrage and in designing a model for implementing universal suffrage, we must ensure that, inter alia, the four principles on constitutional development under the Basic Law could be fully implemented, namely,
(a) meeting the interests of different sectors of society;
(b) facilitating the development of the capitalist economy;
(c) gradual and orderly progress; and
(d) appropriate to the actual situation in the HKSAR.

6. As an eco-concern group, we urge the government to take the long term environmental interests of Hong Kong, China and also that of the world in its formulation of any policy. Being a cosmopolitan member of the global community, Hong Kong should do no less than taking a leadership role in the fight against global warming and other environmental issues. We owe it to ourselves and our future generations to engage this fight NOW with commitment, determination and commensurate policies and programs. Our children will not forgive us for doing anything less.

7. Since a sustainable economy is inextricably based on a healthy ecology and the thriving of the human race, we propose that one extra principle be incorporated into the four principles on constitutional development under the Basic Law, namely, we need to undertake and strive for harmony with people and nature, starting locally and extending globally.

8. The above would call for, as a start, the addition of a commensurate and representative (sizeable since it involves everyone) environmental sector (including the NGOs) as part of the functional constituencies in the current system and to strive for greater representation in future constitutional revisions.

Submitted by:
Christians for Eco-concern
Date: 10 October, 2007

中國气象科学数据共享 (China Meteorological Data Sharing System)

各位朋友：

謹向各位介紹中國氣象局的气象科学数据共享服務，有很多氣象資料放於網上，讀者很易找到，例如廣州地區往50年(1951-2000年)的氣溫變化可在它的地面30年整編的圖集檢索中找到，大約是提升了0.6攝氏度，換句話說在過去的一個世紀中，廣州的氣溫大致可推算為1.2度，這跟天文台公佈香港上一個世紀的溫度上升相若。

基督徒環保關注組

We ask The Secretary for the Environment for immediate and decisive actions to tackle the climate crisis.

Dear Mr. YAU,

We are Christians for Eco-concern of Hong Kong, an environmental network supported by the Hong Kong Christian Council. We have already obtained 140 local signatures in response and support to Mr. Al Gore, the former vice-president of the US, and Avaaz.org’s call for a joint effort by governments of the world to tackle the imminent global warming crisis.

The concerned signatures include 122 paper and about 18 web signatures. The English version of our petition is as follows:

As informed by many scientists and leaders worldwide, climate change is an imminent threat facing our world today. We urge you to tackle the said problem now, decisively and together with other leaders of the world, especially those of the Pearl River Delta and the central leaders of Peoples’ Republic of China. We promise to join our efforts as citizens of HKSAR with yours.

Please note that all phone numbers and email addresses in the enclosed petition forms are meant for your official verification ONLY. They should be treated strictly as PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL.

As a local eco-concern group, we hope to meet you in person in order to exchange our views on how we may cooperate with the government towards the goals of resolving the climate crisis and that of protecting the environment in general.

We look forward to meeting you at your earliest convenience. Regards.

(Howard Lai)
Moderator, Christians for Eco-concern.

香港"冬季"可能在50年內消失

綜合新聞報導，香港天文臺預測，如果全球暖化及都市化持續，香港的冬天將在五十年內消失。

香港通常將氣溫低於攝氏12度的日子視作冬季。香港天文臺長林超英說，根據該預測，未來溫度低於12度的日子將每年減少一天，也就是冬季每年減少一天。

林超英表示，從一九六一年到一九九〇年，香港平均每個冬季有二十一天，但在2000年已減少一半。在過去的一個世紀裏，香港氣溫上升攝氏一點二度，較全球平均高一倍。如果考慮城市化的速度，香港的冬季將提前半個世紀消失。

基督徒環保關注組

中國環保總局：7月1日起禁止全氯氟烴物質生產

據人民網報導，中國環保局宣報了根據《中華人民共和國大氣污染防治法》和《中國消耗臭氧層物質逐步淘汰國家方案(修訂稿)》的有關規定，按照中國政府與聯合國多邊基金執委會簽署的《中國化工行業全氯氟烴生產整體淘汰計劃》和《中國全氯氟烴和哈龍加速淘汰計劃》的有關要求，自2007年7月1日起，任何企業不得生產除藥用吸入式氣霧劑用途、原料和豁免用途以外的全氯氟烴（CFCs）物質，各相關企業應於2007年8月15日前拆除附件所列全氯氟烴物質的生產裝置。

基督徒環保關注組

Submission to EPD & Panel on Environmental Affairs, LEGCO, HKSAR

Views regarding The Proposal on An Environmental Levy on Plastic Shopping Bags

1. According to government statistics, more than 23 million plastic shopping bags are disposed of at our landfills every single day. This translates into more than three plastic shopping bags per person per day, which is much higher than our overseas counterparts. An environmental levy, which is in line with the 'polluter pays' principle, to provide a direct economic disincentive to reduce the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags.
   
   Our View: We support the polluter pays principle. Also, we advocate that the money so collected should be used directly to deal with the specific or other priority environmental problems. Hence, it pays to resolve the problem. As on the matter of plastic bags, we expect the government to take a more pro-active role to implement the 4 “R” principles, namely, to replace, reduce, reuse and recycle the concerned plastic bags and their production so as to achieve a meaningful target of plastic waste reduction.
2. Under the scheme, EPD proposes a phased approach with the banning of free distribution of plastic shopping bags at chain or large supermarkets, convenience stores and personal healthy and beauty stores and the introduction of an environmental levy of 50 cents on each plastic shopping bag at these retail outlets in the first phase.
   
   Our View: The EPD should take immediate initiative to either replace or reduce the use of plastic bags distributed by newspaper stalls to their customers when newspapers are purchased as well.
3. A public opinion survey conducted in 2006 showed that close to 90% of the respondents believed there was scope to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags in their daily life, while more than 85% of respondents said that they would reduce the use of plastic shopping bags if an environmental levy of 50 cents was imposed. A proposed levy of 50 cents would strike a right balance between public acceptance and effective disincentive and would encourage the customers to think twice before asking for a plastic shopping bag, or to bring their own bags at all time, which was a more sensible choice with the levy in place. In doing so, they not only avoid the levy but also help save the environment.
   
   Our View: EPD should encourage local residents to use environmentally friendly bags by making available reasonably priced bags at major supermarket, chain stores, etc… for their customers’ purchase. One way to do it is by cooperating with local concerned groups or manufacturers with a funding incentive to produce or promote the use of such environmentally friendly bags.
4. It is estimated that the proposed 50 cents levy will reduce about 1 billion plastic shopping bags, or about 50% of plastic shopping bags at the retailers covered by the scheme.
   
   Our View: Periodic review and announcement of the relevant statistics should be made and publicized by the government for the purposes of information, follow-up and education to the public on the matter of reducing plastic wastes.
   
   Submitted by:
   Christians for Eco-concern
   Date: 11 July, 2007

活力地球好約會圓滿結束

雖然在倉卒中我們未能完全按著原來的全部計劃進行先前訂下的程序，但是大體上我們都得到與會者的認同，當中更有回應希望能再次觀看「絕望真相」(An Inconvenient Truth)一次；另外，天文台梁榮武先生的分享亦帶給大家一個既專業、深入和很有人情味的分享，在場人士都聽得津津有味。

在此，基督徒環保關注組謹向所有來賓、工作人員，三育書院和佑寧堂致謝，但願我們能攜手同心來對抗氣候變暖，並祝各位 主恩更多！

Howard, 基督徒環保關注組聯絡人