Reminder: Civic Engagement in Hong Kong (Tue, August 27th 7:15pm)

Here is a kind reminder on the upcoming meeting of The Economic Club of Hong Kong “Civic Engagement in Hong Kong: From Yellow Umbrellas to Hardhats”, which will happen next week on August 27th, Tuesday 19:15 at Salon 10 (10 Arbuthnot Road, Central).

Civic engagement is a cornerstone for an inclusive society and flattening the power imbalance. However, how to make it work?

In 2014, Hong Kong’s central business district was “occupied” by activists fighting for universal suffrage and more autonomy. Their tents and barricades have been justified by sympathizers under the principle of civil disobedience. Now, five years later Hong Kong experiences another wave of high civic engagement, with the “extradition bill” being the catalyst. Although the bill has been “shelved”, protests and standoffs with law enforcement continue; so does local and international coverage in the media. The ongoing demonstrations and violent clashes with police and recently thugs illustrate the deep mistrust and divide in society. Civic engagement is a cornerstone for an inclusive society and flattening the power imbalance between haves and have nots. However, how to make it work, without the risk of more fallout and anarchy in the special context of Hong Kong and the “one country two systems regime”?

Join the upcoming event by The Economic Club of Hong Kong themed “Civic Engagement in Hong Kong: From Yellow Umbrellas to Hardhats”, which will be held on Aug 27th , Tue from 19:15 to 21:00 at Salon 10 (10 Arbuthnot Road, Central).


This is a non-speaker event. To support our mission of learning from and with each other, please read/watch the following articles/videos before attending the meeting:
1. Law Now: Civil Disobedience, Environmental Protest and the Rule of Law https://www.lawnow.org/civil-disobedience-rule-of-law/ (REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES)

Please read at least one of the following articles prior joining the event:
Suggested additional material:
2. With jailing of Joshua Wong and fellow activists, civil disobedience loses its allure in Hong Kong as rational thought returns (South China Morning Post) https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2109004/jailing-joshua-wong-and-fellow-activists-civil-disobedience
3. How to turn protest into powerful change? (TED Ed) https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-turn-protest-into-powerful-change-eric-liu
4. How to understand power? (TED Ed) https://www.ted.com/talks/eric_liu_how_to_understand_power
5. Citizen Power Makes Democracy Work https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/citizen-power-makes-democracy-work

Fee: It’s free to attend, but we would buy a drink as a courtesy to the venue.

RSVP for joining the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1812683668877848/

Meeting Format:
The host will welcome you at the venue and start with introduction about the community and the topic of choice. Depending on how many people will attend, we split into sub-groups of 4-5 people for more detailed discussions. Within subgroup we will introduce ourselves (name, profession, hobby and fun fact) and begin a free-flowing discussion on the theme. That’s why it is important to prepare and read suggested materials prior the meeting. Questions, new paths for discussion, personal experience, and opinions are highly encouraged. We conclude the event with everyone sharing their takeaways on the subject.

The Economic Club of Hong Kong is a community of intellectually curious people. Events are organized by a group of passionate volunteers.

Register via Facebook or Eventbrite | August 27th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Central

Best Regards,

The Economic Club of Hong Kong Team

www.econclubhk.org

Follow us on facebook.com/econclubhk and instagram.com/econclubhk

Membership application form | Join our Whatsapp group via link

(Newsletter: Geoffrey Cheng / The Economic Club of Hong Kong.)

Reminder: Synthetic Biology: Risks and Rewards of Redesigning Life (Tomorrow Tue, August 13th 7:15pm)

Here is a kind reminder on the upcoming meeting of The Economic Club of Hong Kong “Synthetic Biology: Risks and Rewards of Redesigning Life”, which will happen tomorrow, August 13th, Tuesday 19:15 at Salon Number 10 (10 Arbuthnot Road, Central).

Critics say we are on a road to lesser life, innately commercial and desacralized, ruled by efficiency goals. Proponents see synthetic biology and gene editing as a breakthrough to combat scourges of mankind like malaria, cancer or death by natural causes in general. We are at a fork in the road, one leading to a utopian future for humanity, the other to a dire dystopia. The question is, which one is which.
• Are we at the brink to become a society of super-humans and the useless class as historian Yuval Harari predicts in his book Homo Deus?
• Should we welcome new options like gene drives that may eradicate entire species (e.g. mosquitos, the carriers of malaria)?
• Are genetically altered crops our best chance to feed the expanding world population and make our food resources more resistant to climate change?

Please join us to discuss these and other related questions.

RSVP for joining the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/452759155503964/

Please read at least one of the following articles prior joining the event:
Suggested readings:
1. The Economist – Technology Quarterly: Synthetic Biology (https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2019/04/04/the-engineering-of-living-organisms-could-soon-start-changing-everything)
2. Nature – International Journal of Science: Ban on ‘gene drives’ is back on the UN’s agenda — worrying scientists
(https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07436-4)
3. Time Magazine: How Humankind Could Become Totally Useless (http://time.com/4672373/yuval-noah-harari-homo-deus-interview/)
4. Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences – Blog: Feeding the World One Genetically Modified Tomato at a Time: A Scientific Perspective (http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/feeding-the-world/)

Fee: It’s free to attend, but we would buy a drink as a courtesy to the venue.

Meeting Format:
The host will welcome you at the venue and start with introduction about the community and the topic of choice. Depending on how many people will attend, we split into sub-groups of 4-5 people for more detailed discussions. Within subgroup we will introduce ourselves (name, profession, hobby and fun fact) and begin a free-flowing discussion on the theme. That’s why it is important to prepare and read suggested materials prior the meeting. Questions, new paths for discussion, personal experience, and opinions are highly encouraged. We conclude the event with everyone sharing their takeaways on the subject.

The Economic Club of Hong Kong is a community of intellectually curious people. Events are organized by a group of passionate volunteers.

Register via Facebook or Eventbrite | August 13th, Tue 19:15 | Salon No. 10, Central

Best Regards,

The Economic Club of Hong Kong Team

www.econclubhk.org

Follow us on facebook.com/econclubhk and instagram.com/econclubhk

Membership application form | Join our Whatsapp group via link

(Newsletter: Geoffrey Cheng / The Economic Club of Hong Kong.)