Labour With a Difference

Just as we are all shouting with so much conviction to condemn child labour, many 'elite' parents fully approve of one special catagory of child labour - underage models. You may have heard that girls as young as 16 model around the global catwalks, now the 12-year-olds join the team. That became the talk of town in Oz as a 12-year old has joined the modelling force. The Australian public opinion shows huge support for that...Now, what do you reckon?

Modelling is such a glamorous 'career' and you work with world-renowned fashion designers, lead a jet-set life, socialise with rich middle-aged businessmen who could be their prospective lovers both short-term or long-term, mix with celebraties, and Hollywood stars, and afford most luxuries. Parents can quit their odd jobs to work as their 12-year-old's agent and manager to negotiate work contracts with big companies. The money keeps rolling in non-stop! It's a win-win situation for both parents and child. The bright future is set for the family and the child. What's more? That will bring the child's nation glory and national pride! She would become every girl's heroin and role model. Bugger schooling, normal growing up and that sort of crap! Only people who don't have a child with world fashion model quality will pour scorn on this splendid opportunity. Of course, private tutors will be hired to teach the young child important social etiquettes, read, write, doing simple sums and probably one or two foreign languages to expand her international clientent!

That's the menatality of the nation and thus reflects the fundamental quality of the people and society.

My conscience and common sense tells me that it is the same whether you make a child work in a factory or in the catwalk business covering her with beautiful make-up and expensive clothes. It's called exploitation. It's called child labour. It is not right! It is shame!

The only difference is parents of the child labour in poor countries do feel ashamed not being able to support their family, provide their children with a normal life and an education, and have deprived them of a normal childhood. However, parents of child models glorify their shameful antics and justify the exploitation - all because of the 'big dollar' sign. Their logic is - if it is about big dollar, do whatever and it's going to be good regardless.

Don't worry about the critics! When money comes, you can hire the best and top public relations officers and help you fight back and shut up all criticism left, right and centre. No matter how many people support child models and their parents' decisions or whatever, I don't buy their 'excuses'. I despise them. Period!

But because money talks and talks loud, I believe, it will not take too long for us to see 10-year-olds modelling close-t0-nothing bikinis and lingerie.

Out of Control

Prices are soaring!
Yesterday when I went grocery shopping, I suddenly noticed that the same bottle of 250ml olive oil which costed about HK$20 six months ago now costs me HK$29.8 (US$3.8). I was alarmed and I looked around trying to find something cheaper...but to no avail. The one I got was the cheapest. Wow!

When I sat down that night and thought about the prices I paid for normal, daily supermarket items, I realised that they have quietly got a lot dearer.

Yes, some people do complain but the voices are weak because the whole economic atmophere looks so very positive. You hear people talking about how many millions they make on the stock market, blah blah blah...and it seems that if you are complaining about prices, you make yourself look incompetent and pathetic. For me, I simply shut up!

When the US sub-prime mortgage market is in crisis and many banks and financial institutions are suffering, Hong Kong and China seem totally unconcerned and haven't even been slightly affected. The Hang Seng Index is making a historical record high almost every single day. Money keeps flowing in and flooding this small city in every way. It is expected that when later this year, China will allow its citizens to directly invest in the Hong Kong stock market, there would be an unprecedented 'Big Band BOOM' and everything is looking 'Awesome'.

How would you feel when an estate agent tells you that a 1100 square feet apartment (in reality the liveable area is less than 800 square feet) that costs 1.5 million US dollars is 'cheap'! Well, my jaw drops but the fact is these 'cheap' apartments were in reality all snapped up within a matter of hours!

Except for the 'left-behind' class which I am unfortunately fall into, much of the social conversation here in HK, besides how well your stock investments go, is around what new sports car you get this year and whether it is one of those limited editions, how many new luxury apartments you have bought or are going to buy; if you are heading to the direction to getting yourself a private jet and a super yacht; how many bottles of Chateau lafite you drank last night; if you have attended the Sotheby or Christie artwork or jewllery auctions the other day... The list goes on and on and it is all around things that are totally unreacheable to people like me!

You could feel absolutely deflated at times! It is hard not to ask yourself or myself - What's the use of studying so hard for so many years to earn your honours degree? What's the use of working over 50 hours a week and drain your brain till it hurts but you are nowhere near the affordability of a cheap '1.5 million US dollar' apartment (well, it's not even in prime residential area). I used to think that I've got a good job and I was doing quite well. But when now being enveloped by the city's unstoppable prosperity and those well-to-doers (not the minority but there is a significant proportion of them around), suddenly I feel small. Occasionally, I wish I was studying something related to economics, finance, investments, banking
etc... but not literature and education.

Well, do I regret?...'Not really'. Yes, I will never be able to afford a jet or a yacht. It is beyond a dream to treat myself a million US dollar painting from an auction. But... I like who I am. And those who like me and befriend me will not be for the reason of my 'assets'. I have one less worry!

I love every bit of my career. I am glad that I watch those lovely animal documentaries instead of World Market Analysis. I am delighted that I read my favourite novels before bed and not 'figures, forecast and statistics'. I am fully enjoying my cup of anti-oxidants-filled and thus anti-ageing tea instead of exceedingly expensive brain-damaging, stomach-eroding and hepatocarcinogenic alcoholic beverage.

On 9/11

Thousand of lives were lost and many more hearts and families were broken and shattered. For many of us, 9/11 is still something we cannot fathom and we are still looking for ways to comprehend its root.



I cannot but wonder why humans 'can' be so cruel! History tells us that humans are the only species who could so brutally torture and kill other species or our own not for 'necessary survival reasons'. I am not saying that human nature is evil but facts have indicated quite clearly that we do have a very bad side.



Occasionally, most of us will experience some dark moments - hatred and having secret wishes that someone or something will 'vanish' or will get 'punished' or will suffer so that they can 'learn'... Such thoughts are mostly kept under control and many will transform them into positive moves. However, there are others who will act in the name of religion, democracy, cultural differences, traditions, defence, crusade and you name it.



Years after the original 9/11, in addition to the World Trade Centre victims, I also remember on this day those who were and are victims of 'terrorism' in other countries. At least most of the world know what happened on 9/11 and we feel for the victims and their families. What about those who were killed in the rest of the world by 'terrorism' who didn't and will never get mentioned in any form of media? Their names and lives simply disappeared into thin air!



When will we stop torturing and killing others in the name of god?

When will we stop war?



Peace will never begin with war.

Religious faith will never gain ground with murders.

Democracy will never stand tall with military intrusion.



But some religious leaders and world leaders believe otherwise. They want their 'desires' to be satisfied with all others paying in blood! At times, I do lose confidence in human nature. We are somehow a sorry species!

Pablo's Holiday Express

Enjoy this first issue of Pablo's Holiday Express!

Jamie's food and our food

Recently, I have been following the programme 'Jamie's school dinners'. I am impressed by Jamie's enthusiasm and what's more, by the dinner lady Nora's transformation. I believe many people have said many good things about them and we should be thankful for their efforts.

Yet, what really shocked me is 'why the children dislike proper food, fresh meat and veggies! Some of them even said that the veggies in the food put them off and they chose to starve. One child went as far as refusing to try Jamie's chicken wrap even when Jamie offered him a hundred pounds. Yes, I would understand if children or young people prefer meat more but these kids don't like proper meat. They only want those plastic like processed and frozen so called 'burgers' or 'sausages'. And they went bananas when the school canteen stopped offering chips for lunch.

The possible explanation for such a phenomenon could be that these children very rarely have 'real' meals made of fresh ingredients. They are accustomed to what their parents have been giving them since however long. Giving them proper food at school is like forcing them out of their comfort zone. I suppose if you go to see the parents of these children, and you understand. Sometimes, I wonder if these parents have ever experienced a proper dinner that is cooked with top quality fresh ingredients. If they had, why would they have such bad taste for food? Their bad taste and horrible eating habits have infected their children! What a shame! By the way, should we consider it as a form of child abuse to fail to provide a balanced diet and nutritious foods to your child?

Another possibiltiy is about cultiving the good taste for good food in children. One's taste for food is not inborn. We need to teach our children what to eat. We should expose them to different kinds of healthy foods. We should give more thoughts to and put in better efforts in making healthy dishes tasty. We need to use different strategies to make sure that they don't become picky on foods. We need to get them into eating what is good and important for their health. If parents have tried to push their kids to eat healthier and eat more vegetables but failed, then it must be that they too easily succumb to their children's ignorance and wrong demands. The problem lies in the fact that parents these days dare not say 'no' to their little emperors because that sounds politically incorrect and socially undemocratic.

The solution for parents is simple - use your common sense. Think long-term. Instead of being desperate to please your kids at every turn, imagine how they would thank you when they grow up and realise that you have laid down a good health foundation for them and passed on a precious and pleasurable tradition of enjoying good food.