posted May 17, 2012 3:59 AM by Daniel Clarke
 In the third week that Living Lamma members have been involved as ambassadors for Lamma's glass recycling pilot scheme. Friday's collection more than doubled the result of the previous week with 759.32 kgs of glass collected.
This was mostly due to the participation of more bars and restaurants - particularly Diesels, the Man Fung, Pizza Milano and the Sampan, as well as the efforts of individuals to rescue glass from landfill by removing it from bins.
This week may prove even more successful with more restaurants seen keeping baskets of glass with the words "有用" (useful) written on them. Certainly, there has been a noticeable decrease in the amount of glass being left at the bins.
What you can do: - Keep bringing glass for recycling
- Rescue glass for recycling
- Organise community collections
- Write to tellme@1823.gov.hk to ask for better bin facilities and permanent glass recycling areas - be sure to make it a COMPLAINT if you want action to be taken (see the 1823 Walk event, right)
We particularly need people for Saturday afternoon this week. The recycling booths operate from 1pm - 4pm on Fridays next to the toilets by the Island Bar and on Saturdays next to the entrance of the Football Pitch. Don't forget, you can also bring down your plastics and small electrical items!
Many thanks to volunteers Nick, Roz, Olga, Barbara and Richard who helped move glass on Friday and Saturday last week. If you would like to help this week, please call/text Jo on 90423241 or email livinglamma@yahoo.com.
Lamma clearly needs a rethink in the way that waste is collected. A suggestion made this week was that we should have our own glass crushing facilities. Custom baby garbage trucks, better designed bins and cleaner refuse collection areas, and community recycling facilities are also ideas up for discussion. Let us know your thoughts by writing to livinglamma@yahoo.com. |
posted May 5, 2012 1:31 AM by Daniel Clarke
 Last Friday the Chairperson of Living Lamma, Jo Wilson, became a voluntary ambassador for Lamma's pilot recycling scheme for glass, plastic and small electrical items.
The scheme operates twice a week from 1pm to 4pm: on Fridays, with a booth next to the toilets by the Island Bar, and on Saturdays near the entrance to the football pitch. Last Friday, Jo and EPD Officer, Michael Liu (thank you Lamma-gung for the photo!) went together to the businesses along Lamma Main Street to ask people to support the scheme.
In the 3 years since Living Lamma started, we have written numerous reports on Lamma's waste problems, presented these issues in front of Legco and to senior members of the Environmental Protection Department, appeared on radio shows, shared on-line presentations, campaigned with green groups across Hong Kong for better recycling facilities, and carried out our own clean ups.
 Though many of the problems we face could be remedied with improved facilities for waste collection, sorting and recycling, changing an inert and bureaucratic system is no mean feat. What we can do is demonstrate Lamma's commitment to environmental improvement through the support of this pilot scheme. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the need for better services and to show that Lamma people care about where their waste goes.
So, bring your glass, plastic and small electrical items down to the booth this Friday or Saturday. Jo will be once more sweating in the blue nylon jacket (and there are spares for anyone who would like to join her). Please participate to ensure the scheme's success. Tell your friends and ask the bars and restaurants to recycle their glass, not just put it at the bins to be sent to landfill as it is now.
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posted Jan 10, 2012 6:39 AM by Daniel Clarke
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updated Feb 5, 2012 3:43 PM
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Here are the details of the CPA Plan No. PW-GS11-009 The plan can be clicked on to enlarge or right-clicked to download.
Attached at the bottom of this page is the Scheme describing the construction.
It doesn't go into a lot of detail. Further investigation may provide more information.
The Scheme refers to Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Chapter 370) which is available here for anyone who has the stamina for it. |
posted Jan 6, 2012 8:44 PM by Daniel Clarke
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updated Jan 7, 2012 1:55 AM
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The Government has formally announced their intention to carry out reclamation on the Yung Shue Wan foreshore to build a Cycle Parking Area near to the ferry pier. The project is PW-GS11-009. To read the public notice click on the image to enlarge. Since April 2009, when the CPA was first proposed, Living Lamma and other members of the public have tried to engage with representatives of District Office by writing letters, attending meetings and preparing reports with alternatives and improvements.
Our primary objections are: - The proposed CPA will not solve the problem of bicycle congestion due to poor design and location.
- The proposed CPA ignores current bottlenecks and choke points.
- The HK$18million budget could be used far more effectively.
- The CPA as proposed will concrete over the last remaining section of undamaged coastline in Yung Shue Wan Harbour
- The design of the CPA is not integrated with the terrain and will create a concrete eye-sore in full view of all who arrive by ferry.
Not only have District Office ignored all objections, but they have doggedly stuck to a flawed plan that contradicts the planning intention for Lamma Island. This plan is a waste of public funds and will have a negative visual impact for people arriving on the island.
The full details of this construction project are not available online. We will attempt to make a scanned copy available as soon as possible. Otherwise you have to view them at one if these offices: Central and Western District Office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, Unit 5, GF The Center, 99 Queens Rd Central Islands District Office, 20F Harbour Building, 38 Pier Rd, Central District Lands Office/Islands, 19F Harbour Building, 38 Pier Rd, Central Any person who wishes to object to the works should address their objections in writing to the Secretary for Transport and Housing, 22nd Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong Objections must reach the office of the Secretary before 6 March 2012
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posted Jan 6, 2012 7:03 PM by Daniel Clarke
Our chairperson, Jo Wilson, was invited to participate in a panel discussion of the recently approved Shek Kwu Chau incinerator. She appears on the RTHK's Backchat along with Elvis Au, Assistant Director of the EPD, Martin Williams founder of Hong Kong Outdoors and Edwin Lau , the director of Friends of the Earth
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posted Dec 17, 2011 6:01 PM by Daniel Clarke
The Town Planning Board (TPB) has rejected the plan to build an enormous development on the South side of Lamma. In their decision they said that it would set an undesirable precedent to allow conservation areas to be rezoned for development. So this is a victory for all of Hong Kong.
Living Lamma and our supporters are, of course, thrilled by the decision and applaud the TPB for its strong stance in favour of Hong Kong and our environment.. Special thanks also go out to everybody who supported the campaign against the Baroque - protesters, letter writers and everyone who helped - Good job, well done! |
posted Nov 30, 2011 9:19 PM by Daniel Clarke
IMPORTANT - the TPB meeting is at 2.30 p.m. (not 9 a.m.) North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong You can observe the proceedings (but not participate) by phoning 2231 5061 to reserve a place. There is no opportunity for protest inside the building, but if you are in the vicinity and want to reuse your banner, T-shirt, turtle outfit, or just make some noise, we will be there 20 minutes before the meeting starts. Many thanks to everyone who has taken part in the campaign to save South Lamma. We have raised our objections through the proper channels. The protest on Saturday was not only a demonstration of common sense and care for nature, but also a great show of "the Lamma spirit", which we found to our delight extends to friends throughout Hong Kong who, like us, lobby for environmental improvement and a sensitive approach to development.
Thank you also to those who signed our petition. We have now copied and distributed these to 20 senior government and Legco members, as well as our local district councillor. We had more than 1100 hard copy signatures and 580 on-line, and we keep receiving more. We will keep the on-line petition open and accept completed hard copy petitions - they may be needed after Friday! Please scan and send to: livinglamma@yahoo.com or drop us a line and we will arrange to get them from you.
Finally, we hope the meeting will deliver an emphatic NO to the development of South Lamma by the Baroque. However, we hope that this threat to Lamma's ecology will result in the area being properly protected as a marine and country park in future. This will require further campaigning and we look forward to your support. |
posted Nov 22, 2011 4:23 AM by Daniel Clarke
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updated Nov 22, 2011 3:25 PM by Living Lamma
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The next stage in the developers' plan to build The Baroque on Lamma is to try to re-zone protected coastline and environmental areas for residential buildings. The Town Planning Board meets on 2nd December to consider their application.
Living Lamma and others who oppose this project have already raised objections through the proper channels. But in advance of the TPB meeting, it is important that we raise further awareness of the permanent damage this project would cause to one of Hong Kong's most beautiful natural assets.
We have recently discovered that the Baroque employs a member of the TPB, who has been actively campaigning for the project. While we assume that the member has declared his interest and will not be voting, this highlights the additional challenge to green groups if members of the TPB responsible for decisions on Hong Kong's ecological assets show themselves to be so development minded.
We are therefore organising a petition and protests in advance of the TPB meeting and invite you and your organisation to participate.
For more information and how you can help please read this page.
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posted Oct 27, 2011 6:23 AM by Daniel Clarke
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updated Oct 27, 2011 6:23 AM
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Living Lamma is not a political organization. However our concerns for the environment, community and public spaces of Lamma mean that we are keenly interested in the local government and it's activities.
To help Living Lamma members and all those who strive for a better Lamma to be informed about the issues we have asked the Candidates questions about our favourite topics.
The questions and their answers can be found on our new Election 2011 page.
So if you are interested in: - The design of the bike park proposed by the government
- The proposal by the Baroque to develop SouthLamma as a hotel, marina and housing complex
- The government's proposal for a PhaseII reclamation of Yung Shue Wan harbor
- The government's proposal to develop the quarry site as a housing complex
- The design of minor public works on Lamma
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posted Oct 9, 2011 2:56 AM by Daniel Clarke
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updated Oct 9, 2011 2:57 AM
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 On October 5 the Lamma Ramblers did a fantastic job cleaning up Powerstation Beach. The got rid of 11 bags of rubbish and 3 abandoned tires. You can see more of their photos on their website.
Another Lamma beach clean up will be next Sunday (Oct 16) in Tung O. It's going to be a big one so check out the details here.
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