“On International Women’s Day, let us all pledge to do everything we can to overcome entrenched prejudice, support engagement and activism, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”, said the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

March 8th is International Women’s Day. On this momentous occasion, Creator and Social Enterprise Research Institute proudly honour the achievements and struggles of those who came before us, and acknowledge everybody who contribute to promoting equality and diversity. In some countries, the day looks remarkably like Valentine’s Day, with women receiving bouquets of flowers from their friends and from their partners. On the other hand, legions of activists hit the streets to demand policy changes and to express societal concerns.

On March 8th 2017, women and like-minded individuals around the world recognised and celebrated International Women’s Day in various ways. In Latin America and in Russia, many men reportedly rushed to gift flowers and plan extravagant arrangements for the women in their lives. Behaviours seemed to switch up United States, where women joined forces in a strike titled as “A Day Without Women”, highlighted the important role that women play in both domestic and global economy, and demanded improved working conditions. In countries where certain protests are banned, women face challenges in the pursuit of gender equity.

In Hong Kong, several workers’ organisations staged a protest in solidarity for International Women’s Day, and raised awareness for men and women who silently suffer in domestic violence.

In addition, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Gender Research Centre at the Chinese University Hong Kong held a joint press conference and issued a statement calling on the Hong Kong Government to launch public consultations, and introduce legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status. Supported by wide range of professional sectors in Hong Kong, the statement was supported by 75 other organisations and academics.

On a more encouraging note, while there are generally more girls than boys enrolled in schools in recent years, there remains work to be done in developing countries with regards to limited access to education.

Image sources (used with permission): Eric Thayer, Daniel Garrett, Peter Reading/EOC-HK

(Photo & Article: IWD-CNN / CreatorMag.HK.)

In 2014, along with two other esteemed scientists, Prof. Shuji Nakamura was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the blue LED light. You, a reader of Creator, may wonder what makes the blue-coloured light source so special and…
(Photo & Article: USPTO / CreatorMag.HK.)

When employers navigate the hiring process, there exists a common dilemma between three crucial elements – maximising the profitability of businesses, finding suitable employees, and keeping the loyalty of said employees. When organisations hire on a limited budget, employees are sometimes persuaded to accept low pay or salary cuts due to financial realities. Are there ways to ensure staff retention without blowing the financial budget?

If there is one trait that all successful business owners and employees have, it is strong personal motivation. Besides monetary remuneration, personal motivation often proves to be an important element when individuals consistently invest time and effort into achieving various goals. In certain scenarios, employees are even willing to consider a salary sacrifice for an admirable cause.

In the National Basketball Association, it is known that professional athletes often voluntarily accept a pay cut from a winning team in pursuit of the coveted league championship. The San Antonio Spurs, a small-market NBA team, is admired by athletes around the league for keeping loyal teammates despite paying relatively low salaries, and for succeeding in winning five championships over two decades. Tim Duncan, a legendary retired player who stayed with the Spurs organisation for 19 years, shows through his dedication that sacrificing for the betterment of the team can also bring oneself personal accolades.

Considering that professional athletes earn millions of dollars over the course of their careers, perhaps a local teacher is more relatable to readers of Creator.

The film “Little Big Master” is based on a true story where Lilian Lui Lai-hung sacrificed her own retirement plans for five schoolchildren. She accepts the job of headmistress for a monthly salary of HKD4500, and continues to manage a kindergarten that was once on the verge of closure.

If the story of the headmistress sounds too extreme, there is one more reason to accept a lower pay. Considering that taxpayers must pay high rate of taxes for receiving higher level salaries, perhaps paying less tax can be a reason to be considered for accepting a pay cut.

(Photo & Article: MySanAntonio / CreatorMag.HK.)

Earlier on 28th February 2017, the event Nobel Laureates Series: 5th Social Caring Pledge Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony & Responsible Investment Forum was held at InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong. In the presence of over 150 members from political…
(Photo & Article: SERA (formerly Social Enterprise Research Institute / CreatorMag.HK.)

Yes, there’s an app for that.

Flip through the pages of history books, we may be reminded that water rationing was a constant reality for residents who were living in pre-1960s Hong Kong. During drought periods, residents lined up in queues and waited for their turns to fill up buckets with fresh water. Fast forward 50 years, as the city is provided with abundant and affordable supply of water, it can be difficult for millennials to imagine water as a precious, inaccessible resource.

Speaking of precious resources, it is worth noting that the three landfill sites in Hong Kong are fast reaching their saturation points. Improved solutions to the city’s recycling and waste management are immediate concerns. While the usage of plastic bottles is discouraged and that of water tumblers is encouraged, how do we know where are all the drinking fountains in Hong Kong? Thankfully, a group of hikers and environmentalists came up with a solution that is easily accessible.

Inspired by London-based mobile application Find-a-Fountain, local organisation Go Green Hong Kong (GGHK) decided that developing a similar mobile app can encourage the use of personal water tumblers, and reduce the amount of city’s plastic waste. Partnered with Nuthon IT Solutions Limited and WYNG Foundation, GGHK developed Water for Free, a Hong Kong-based mobile app which maps drinking water fountains located in the city. According to Rachel Pang, spokesperson of GGHK, “almost all of the water fountains listed in our app have water filters installed in them”. Therefore, for those with doubts regarding the cleanliness of public water sources, fret not.

Environmentally-friendly, affordable, and healthy – we can all contribute to reducing consumption while looking great.

(Photo & Article: IndustrialHistoryHK / CreatorMag.HK.)