#Hong Kong sustainability

[k00299471]

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Beads are an interesting way to add a 3D to a design, it is glitzy and eye catching and will flow with the models walk, to me it almost going back to ancient Asian tradition with such detail added to each piece.

[sustainabilitytravel]

Paving the Way for a Greener Future: Cathay Supports Hong Kong’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plan

Cathay backs Hong Kong’s push for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), embracing policy recommendations to strengthen the city as a global green aviation hub. Continue reading Paving the Way for a Greener Future: Cathay Supports Hong Kong’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plan

[aention123]

Elevate Your Outdoor Space with Aention's Expert Gardening Services

Transforming your garden into a vibrant and inviting outdoor space can significantly enhance the beauty and value of your home. At Aention, we understand the importance of a well-maintained garden, and our expert team is dedicated to providing personalized gardening services tailored to your specific needs. Based in Hong Kong, we specialize in creating lush, thriving gardens that reflect your style and complement your lifestyle.

Our process begins with a comprehensive consultation where we listen to your vision and assess your outdoor space. We consider factors such as sunlight, soil quality, and local climate conditions to design a garden that thrives year-round. Whether you desire a colorful flower bed, a serene landscape, or a functional vegetable garden, our skilled team works closely with you to bring your ideas to life.

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at Aention. We believe that a beautiful garden should also be environmentally friendly. Our team utilizes eco-friendly practices, selecting native plants that require less water and maintenance while promoting local biodiversity. We implement sustainable gardening techniques, such as organic fertilizers and natural pest control, ensuring that your garden flourishes without harming the environment.

In addition to our design services, Aention offers comprehensive maintenance packages to keep your garden in top shape. Our dedicated team handles all aspects of garden care, including weeding, pruning, fertilizing, and seasonal planting. With our expert maintenance, you can enjoy a beautiful garden without the stress of managing it yourself.

At Aention, we pride ourselves on our commitment to customer satisfaction. Our goal is to create outdoor spaces that not only meet your expectations but exceed them. We understand that each garden is unique, and we take the time to develop tailored solutions that suit your preferences and lifestyle.

Let Aention help you elevate your outdoor space into a stunning garden that enhances the beauty of your home. With our expertise and passion for gardening, you can enjoy a thriving, eco-friendly oasis right outside your door. Contact us today to begin your gardening journey!

[interpreterhongkong]

ESG 行銷在香港企業界的影響

近年來，環境、社會和治理（ESG）的概念已成為全球企業關注的焦點，香港也不例外。隨著企業和投資者越來越認識到可持續和負責任的實踐的重要性，ESG 行銷已成為提升企業聲譽和推動業務增長的重要工具。但是，ESG 行銷在香港的企業界真的有影響嗎？公司如何利用 ESG 行動獲得競爭優勢，這對其整體成功有何影響？

ESG 在香港的重要性不斷提升

由於多種因素，包括監管變革、投資者需求和社會期望，香港的 ESG 重要性顯著提升。香港交易及結算所有限公司（HKEX）實施了嚴格的 ESG 報告要求，要求上市公司披露其環境、社會和治理實踐。這些法規旨在促進企業部門的透明度、問責制和可持續性。

此外，投資者在投資決策中越來越重視 ESG 因素，認識到具有強大 ESG 表現的公司更能管理風險並抓住機會。這種投資者行為的轉變促使許多公司加強其 ESG 行動，並通過 ESG 行銷有效地傳達這些努力。

ESG 行銷的角色

ESG 行銷涉及向投資者、��客、員工和社區等利益相關者推廣公司的 ESG 行動。有效的 ESG 行銷可以幫助公司建立信任，提升其聲譽，並在競爭中脫穎而出。以下是 ESG 行銷在香港企業界帶來影響的方式：

建立信任和可信度：

透明地傳達 ESG 努力的公司更容易贏得利益相關者的信任。例如，一家公司如果強調其減��碳排放、支持本地社區和確保倫理治理的承諾，就可以建立積極形象並建立可信度。這種信任對吸引和留住顧客、投資者和人才至關重要。

吸引投資：

投資者越來越尋找具有強大 ESG 資質的公司。有效的 ESG 行銷可以突顯公司的可持續實踐和長期價值主張，使其對 ESG 專注的投資者更具吸引力。通過展示其可持續性的承諾，公司可以接觸更廣泛的資金來源並提高估值。

增強顧客忠誠度：

香港及全球的消費者越來越關注其購買行為的環境和社會影響。有效地行銷其 ESG 行動的公司可以區分自己並吸引優先考慮可持續性的顧客。例如，一家推廣其使用環保材料和公平勞動實踐的時裝品牌，可以吸引道德消費者。

改善員工參與度：

員工越來越希望為與其價值觀一致的公司工作。有效的 ESG 行銷可以通過展示公司對產生積極影響的承諾來提高員工士氣並吸引頂尖人才。例如，一家科技公司強調其減少碳足跡和促進多樣性和包容性的行動，可以創造一個更有動力和忠誠的工作團隊。

案例分析：香港的 ESG 行銷成功

幾家公司在香港成功利用 ESG 行銷來提升其聲譽並推動業務增長。以下是一些例子：

太古地產（Swire Properties）： 太古地產在可持續發展方面一直是領導者，其行動集中於能效、綠建築認證和社區參與。通過有效的 ESG 行銷，該公司傳達了其可持續成就，贏得了利益相關者的認可和信任。

中電控股（CLP Holdings）： 作為主要能源公司，中電控股強調其向低碳經濟過渡的承諾。該公司的 ESG 行銷努力突顯了其在可再生能源和創新技術方面的投資，使其成為能源行業的前瞻性領導者。

滙豐（HSBC）： 滙豐將 ESG 因素整合到其業務策略和投資決策中。通過推廣其可持續金融行動和支持綠色項目，滙豐加強了其作為負責金融機構的品牌。

ESG 行銷的挑戰

儘管 ESG 行銷帶來諸多好處，但也存在挑戰。公司必須確保其 ESG 聲明可信且有實際行動支撐。綠色洗白（greenwashing）——即公司誇大或偽造其 ESG 努力——可能損害聲譽並侵蝕信任。因此，透明度和真實性對於 ESG 行銷至關重要。

此外，公司必須跟上不斷變化的 ESG 標準和法規。聘請 ESG 顧問（ESG 顧問）可以幫助公司制定健全的 ESG 策略並有效地傳達其努力。ESG 顧問提供有價值的見解和指導，確保公司的 ESG 行動符合最佳實踐和利益相關者的期望。

精英亞洲的全面 ESG 行銷服務

精英亞洲（Elite Asia）可以幫助您提供全面的 ESG 行銷服務，從 ESG 行銷策略、品牌知名度、ESG 品牌訊息、ESG 活動推廣等方面，協助您的公司在這一領域取得成功。

結論

ESG 行銷對香港的企業界產生了重大影響。通過有效地傳達其 ESG 行動，公司可以建立信任，吸引投資，增強顧客忠誠度，並改善員工參與度。然而，成功的 ESG 行銷需要真實性、透明度和對可持續性的真正承諾。隨著 ESG 重要性的持續提升，香港的公司必須利用 ESG 行銷來應對不斷變化的環境，實現長期成功。您的公司準備好利用 ESG 行銷的力量來產生影響嗎？邁向可持續未來的旅程始於對負責任實踐和有效溝通的承諾。

[notanannoyingfangirl]

Challenges of Corporate Secretarial Duties in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, with its unique position as a global financial center, presents a dynamic yet challenging landscape for Corporate Secretaries. Their role, pivotal in ensuring corporate compliance and governance, faces several specific hurdles in this vibrant business hub.

One of the main challenges is keeping up with the ever-evolving legal and regulatory frameworks. Hong Kong's legal system, while robust, is subject to frequent changes, often influenced by both local and international economic climates. For Corporate Secretaries, this means constant vigilance and continuous education to stay abreast of these changes and understand their implications for their organizations.

Another significant challenge is the complexity of corporate governance in a diverse and international environment. Hong Kong's position as a gateway between the East and the West means that Corporate Secretaries must navigate a business culture that blends various international practices. This requires a deep understanding of different corporate governance models and the ability to adapt and apply them effectively in the Hong Kong context.

Furthermore, the role of the Corporate Secretary in Hong Kong is expanding beyond traditional boundaries. Today, they are expected to play a more strategic role in the boardroom, contributing to major decisions and policies. This requires them to have a broader skill set, including strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of business operations and risks.

Managing shareholder relations is another area that poses challenges. Corporate Secretaries are responsible for ensuring effective communication between the company and its shareholders, which can be particularly challenging in a market as diverse as Hong Kong's. They must navigate cultural differences, language barriers, and varying expectations to maintain transparent and productive relations with all stakeholders.

Moreover, the increasing focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability presents new challenges. Corporate Secretaries are often tasked with ensuring that their companies not only comply with relevant laws and regulations but also operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This adds another layer to their role, requiring them to be knowledgeable about CSR practices and sustainability issues.

In conclusion, Corporate Secretaries in Hong Kong face a unique set of challenges. From staying up-to-date with changing legal requirements to playing a strategic role in corporate governance and managing complex shareholder relations, their role is multifaceted and demanding. As Hong Kong continues to thrive as a global financial hub, the abilities and skills of Corporate Secretaries will remain crucial in navigating the complexities of this dynamic business environment.

[emilywongchuenfung]

AGNES B - TARA EXHIBITION HONG KONG 2021

[reasonsforhope]

"Discarded shells from restaurants and hotels are being used to restore damaged oyster ecosystems, promote biodiversity and lower pollution in the city’s bays...

Nestled in between the South China Sea and the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong has been seen historically as an oyster hotspot. “They have been supporting our livelihood since ancient times,” says Anniqa Law Chung-kiu, a project manager at the Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Hong Kong. “Both oysters and their shells are treasures to humans.”

Over the past five decades, however, the city’s sprawling urban development, water pollution, as well as the over-harvesting and frequent seafloor dredging by the lime industry – which uses the crushed shells to make construction material – have destroyed Hong Kong’s oyster habitats and made the waters less hospitable for biodiversity.

The more oyster colonies falter, the worse the problem gets: oysters are filter feeders and purify water by gobbling up impurities. Just one Hong Kong oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water a day, more than any other known oyster species. But decades of rapid industrialisation have largely halted their water-purifying services.

The depletion of Hong Kong’s natural oyster reefs also affects the ability of local farmers to sustainably cultivate their oysters in a healthy environment, denting the reputation of the city’s 700-year oyster farming tradition, designated by Unesco as an “intangible cultural heritage”.

Inhabitants of the coast feel abandoned, says Ken Cheng Wai-kwan, the community leader of Ha Pak Nai on Hong Kong’s Deep Bay, facing the commercial city of Shenzhen in China. “This place is forgotten,” Cheng says. “Oysters have been rooted here for over 400 years. I ask the question: do we want to lose it, or not?”

A group of activists and scientists are taking up the challenge by collecting discarded oyster shells and recycling them to rebuild some of the reefs that have been destroyed and forgotten in the hope the oysters may make a comeback. They’ve selected locations around the island where data they’ve collected suggests ecosystems still have the potential to be rebooted, and there are still enough oyster larvae to recolonise and repopulate reefs. Ideally, this will have a positive effect on local biodiversity as a whole, and farming communities.

Farmers from Ha Pak Nai were among the first to hand over their discarded shells to the TNC team for recycling. Law’s team works with eight oyster farmers from Deep Bay to recycle up to 10 tonnes of shells every year [over 22,000 pounds]. They collect an average of 870kg every week [over 1,900 pounds] from 12 hotels, supermarkets, clubhouses and seafood restaurants in the city, including some of its most fashionable establishments. About 80 tonnes of shells [over 176,000 pounds] have been recycled since the project began in 2020.

Restaurants will soon be further incentivised to recycle the shells when Hong Kong introduces a new fee for waste removal – something that is routine in many countries, but only became law in Hong Kong in July and remains controversial...

Preliminary data shows some of the restored reefs have started to increase the levels of biodiversity, but more research is needed to determine to what extent they are contributing to the filtering of the water, says Law.

Scientists from the City University of Hong Kong are also looking to use oyster shells to increase biodiversity on the city’s concrete seawalls. They hope to provide tiny, wet shelter spots around the seawall in which organisms can find refuge during low tide.

“It’s a form of soft engineering, like a nature-based solution,” says Charlene Lai, a research assistant on the team."

-via The Guardian, December 22, 2023

[mybeingthere]

Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire in 1965, Alison Crowther is a sculptor and furniture maker working exclusively with English Oak. Having first studied 3D design at Buckinghamshire College and then Furniture design at the Royal College of Art, her first notable commission were the pews she created for the Prior Silkstede Chapel at Winchester Cathedral (1996) followed by Lover’s Seat at Chatsworth in 1999. Over the last twenty years, she has produced significant, site-specific works for international, corporate clients such as Swire Properties in Hong Kong: the Sheraton Hotel at Ghuangzhou, China; and the Shangri-La Hotel’s iconic Ting restaurant at The Shard in London. She has also undertaken many private commissions throughout Europe and the USA, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island.

The way Crowther observes and responds to her material, taking cues from the density, grain and growth pattern creates what Madeleine Bunting described as a ‘dialogue between material and human intervention'. Using tools that range from chainsaws to chisels, she produces work that is sometimes domestic in scale and functional in use, such as Glyndebourne Kissing Benches and sometimes monumental, as with Scale Tree I, created for One Shenzhen Bay. All her work is painstakingly hand-carved from great trunks of unseasoned oak, taken from responsibly managed woodlands within the South Downs National Park. Guided by the natural characteristics of the wood - often embracing the gnarly surface texture - her forms are true to the organic nature of the oak, while also complementing the environments in which they are to be ultimately used and displayed. The wood itself is on a continuous process of change and refinement as the timber ages and weathers, adding to its beauty and character.

[plagueddead]

Technoverse - A guide for interaction roleplay and insert wise.

This was EXTREMELY requested

This blog exceeds to help newcomers to my AU environment. This blog will be updated over time if I see fit to change how this works interacts with itself. This blogs images will be updated over time if I find more suitable matches.

Photos have been found through Pinterest and art station. I will try and credit the source if I can.

This is an AU inspired by Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is a free to join au. Major canon characters are prohibited from being claimed. Villains are up to discussion.

This is a isn't the backstory post of the turtles but the world they live in.

THIS AU CONTAINS TOPICS OF RACISM, ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES AND ACTIONS, AND VIOLENCE. Though I've done my best to try and make it as friendly as possible. This AU is a 16+ story due to these warnings.

Current AU time

25 years after the ROTTMNT movie.

AU Theme

Cyberpunk dystopia

Fantasy

Dark fantasy

Major city settings within AU

New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, London

City Summary

After the integration of Yokai as independent civilians and free citizens world wide, and with the collaboration of their technology as well as krang salvage, a new system of buildings and interlinks have been created to accommodate citizens. Buildings stacked overhead that pierce the clouds, the old world was left to turn into slums and poor living areas on ground zero. Due to permanent clouds caused by pollution and overhead cities, these major empires are in a permanent state of darkness. Neon signs often light these cities to create a spectacular aroura of lights and designs. Though with a permanent overcast comes with a cost, as rain clouds mix with polluted smog to create a toxic like rain that causes many illnesses. It's common among every citizen to keep an oxygen mask at all times in case of rain.

City main inspiration and reference: Altered Carbon

Major cities as listed above are unique as floating SSC (Solar System Cosmopolis) Cities cover most of the dense populated area. These floating cities serve as purpose as secured homing for politicians, celebrities, and mostly the rich. Though they are also engineered mega labs founded by Barron Draxum and Donatello Hamato. They serve to bring back and study extinct species, cultivate cures for major diseases, and help improve on already futuristic technology. They spin very slowly and resemble that of a solar system. Hense the nickname.

These cities are held afloat by a self sustainable gravity generator that uses the gravity of a man made miniature star; created by Donatello Hamato (age 20).

Main inspiration from CMD Studios recent project!!!

Hidden cities

These main cities are focused world points for another reason. They rest above other hidden cities in which they have their own theme and setting.

New Yorks hidden city belongs to Big Mama, a spider Yokai who deals in illegal gambling and the distribution of illegal mystic items. NY Hidden city remains as a hub for traveling species of Yokai from all around the world.

Hong Kongs hidden city belongs to [REDACTED TBA]- A Dragon Yokai who deals in illegal sales of mystic items and krang salvage from the old battle.

This hidden city is less developed than the others, as most accomodation plans have been denied to preserve its pristine buildings and history. This hidden city resembles deep mountain caverns with buildings built into the sides. Common mystical creatures from Chinese mythology live within this city and rarely travel. Humans are not allowed.

Main inspiration by David Noren!

London's hidden city belongs to [REDACTED TBA] A plant like fairy Yokai who often helps with creating forged ID's to help Yokai find a better place to live. She also is known to sell potions that aren't approved by the hidden cities overlords and FDA.

This hidden city has developed slowly over time, but due to quick overgrowth of plants and trees. Most buildings have been built into large glowing trees that hang over the city in beautiful rainbow colors. The ground is a great hub for growing fruits and herbs for medicines. The Yokai in this hidden city are spirits from English folklore. They have spread over different cities over time.

Main inspiration found on Thin blue line on Pinterest!

Seouls hidden city belongs to [REDACTED] a Polar Bear Yokai who deals in illegal weapon distribution and species trafficking.

This hidden city is up to date and mostly in an indoor environment due to this hidden city being within a freezing temperature climate. More artic themed Yokai live within, but this hidden city is popular as a summar retreat by humans and other Yokai looking to stay cool for the summer. But this hidden city isn't as welcoming to humans as the others.

Main inspiration by Annabale Siconolfi!

Tokyos hidden city belongs to Yeosobai. A jellyfish Yokai who deals with handles most black markets and distribution of illegal substances.

This hidden city is completely underwater. Surrounded on a deep voided ocean under Japan, pod cities have been added to accommodate air breathing citizens, though most buildings were air tight even before. This hidden city is also a large hub for tourists due to its underwater appeal. This city distributes most seafood around the county. Known for its large amount of attractions and adult clubs, it's also a very crime ridden city.

This is also where Current Donatello resides.

Main inspiration creator unknown

Human and Yokai stances

With the sudden booming population of mutants and Yokai integrating into human society, of course tensions and protests by humans were bound to happen. A world they were so used to was building into something unknown before their very eyes after all. And so, tensions between species rose.

Humans with a deep dislike towards other species either hide their hate, or become extremists. Often getting tag as cultists as over years hate crimes toward Yokai and mutants became a world wide situation. Yokai were often kidnapped from their homes to be found barley recognizable by their attackers. Yokai would retaliate, and after much tension, civil wars broke out. Protests for safer living for both species were in demand, and so most governments integrated an artificial intelligence police force that contained mostly droids to prevent race picking. Most countries have adapted this form of law enforcement.

Cultists are still a major problem though their numbers have thinned.

The term Mutant has become a word to target Yokai and mutants in a hateful way, and this word soon became outdated. All non humans are now under the identification of Yokai. This includes mixed races between the two.

It's common for Yokai and humans relationships! Often by now the first generations of Yokai and humans hybrid children are born!

There are even schools for these rare breeds as they are still being studied as a new species.

It is illegal for most countries to have discrimination between species. No Yokai only or human only living spaces, restaurants, or shops.

Though within most slums there is a secret rule to separate the species as mostly disgrunted humans and Yokai live here.

And now we're here!

I want my character to join the au, but I don't know what's allowed!

This part of the blog aims to help you adapt your character into this new universe.

What should my character wear?!

It's really up to you! Most humans and Yokai wear mostly cyberpunk themed clothing! Often I find Pinterest as a source of inspiration. I think your character would fit better if it comes from a certain part of the world. Armor and glowing clothes are welcome and encouraged! Get creative!

I want my character to have cool robotic limbs and mods in their body! Is this allowed?

Yep! And encouraged! This is a futuristic setting! So modifications to the body aren't uncommon!

Can my characters have cool unique weapons?

Of course! And I'd love to see them!! 🔥🔥🔥

Do I have to ask before joining this AU?

Nope! But I'd love to see/read your creation! Or see that you're inspired to join!

Does my character have to be human?

Nope! Any species welcome!

Can my character already know personally main characters?

That's up for discussion. Current time Donatello isn't open to being known nor talkative to strangers. I'd like it if you didnt. He's playing dead unlike the rest of his brothers. Leo's up for discussion but with Mikey and Raph, they are more social and I can see them having multiple friends. Leo's treated more as a police officer and doesn't have a lot of friends due to his work.

Can my character work for the main boss Yokai of the hidden city.

Yes! I'd like you to stay close to what they do in terms of how they run things!

Can I claim ships with these characters?

NO.

Claiming ships with only your characters and main cast is prohibited. That's why Y/N is created as a medium for all 18+ participants that want to ship their characters with main cast. Ships are fun and welcome! But you cannot claim it as a you only ship.

Thank you for reading what I have for now! More to be added!

[xxxdragonfucker69xxx]

Hey! I've just started playing ttdfts and I've got some questions on behalf of my group. How do you think solely knowledge based rolls should be resolved? At this stage we're just rolling Yin + Metal but it doesn't feel quite right. Should I just hand out that info without a roll? I'm also interested in what direction you intend to take the dock district, I've got some players that are interested and I have some ideas but I wanted to know first what you're intending. Finally, do you pay the qi cost of sustained forms every time you invoke their effect, or is the qi cost just for sustained forms just for technique activation? Thanks!

I'll answer these backwards:

you pay qi cost of all forms once, upon activating technique

babble alley is based both on admiralty in hong kong and on the foreigners street in dali, and also on chinatowns around the world. it borders buntin, so there's this tension between all these foreigners washing up and forming these tight knit little enclaves, vs the island's earlier settlers who consider most of this lot blow-ins. but the every living thing clan's ancestral hall is probably on the border between these, because ultimately both groups are driven by identity and community. 鬼話街 is a great place to find someone and a great place to get lost

ok this answers gonna be a bit longer

so when you're resolving an action, like "knowing things", there's a ladder of resolutions:

does knowing or not knowing play into my current arc? would knowing fit one of my highlights? or not knowing? if so, i have the option to automatically know or fail

if that says nothing, then do i have a skill that would reasonably know, or a treasure, or can i get in contact with a connection who knows? if so, you know

if not, then you can roll, and you can pick whatever suits your method of knowledge. yin + metal would be a very common one and an easy default, but if you are drawing on ancient tradition you might use earth, if you're canvassing the phonebooks you might use wood, if you're throwing yourself into a risky gamble it might be fire or metal.

and if you're in a contest, either someone's trying to stop you from knowing this or racing you to learn it, you can turn it into a kung fu battle.

[talonabraxas]

The Central Galactic Sun Talon Abraxas

The energy of the Central Galactic Sun is concentrated fire energy that can either be extremely repelling (literally burning off disturbances or energy cords into the karmic worlds) or extremely loving (sustaining, nurturing and transmutative) depending on one’s intention and karmic purity. Mysterious Alignment of Stars Near the Galactic Center When the stars align! Planetary nebulae are clouds of gas expelled by stars at the end of their lives. The ejected clouds are ‘ghosts’ of their dying stars, forming beautiful structures such as an hourglass or butterfly shape.

Almost a decade ago, Manchester PhD student Bryan Rees discovered the alignment of planetary nebulae. However, it remained unexplained.

A collaboration of scientists from The University of Manchester and the University of Hong Kong have found a source for the mysterious alignment of stars near the Galactic Centre. Along with confirming the alignment, scientists found a particular group of leads that is responsible, namely close binary stars.

Scientists investigated a collection of so-called planetary nebulae in the Galactic Bulge, close to the Milky Way‘s center. These nebulae are unrelated, originate from distinct stars, were born at various times, and live their entire lives in multiple locations. However, the study discovered that many of these shapes align nearly parallel to the galactic plane (our Milky Way) in the sky and similar patterns.

This is in the same direction as found by Bryan Rees a decade ago.

The alignment is only present in planetary nebulae with a close star companion, according to the latest study directed by University of Hong Kong student Shuyu Tan. A tighter orbit than Mercury has to the Sun is taken by the companion star around the primary star at the planetary nebula’s center.

The alignment is not present in the planetary nebulae that do not exhibit near partners, which suggests that the alignment may be related to the initial separation of the binary components during the star’s formation.

[solariscrescentart]

FINALLY, IT TOOK FOREVER TO FINISH THIS!!  This piece was based off of the Hakka village, Lai Chi Wo, located in Hong Kong and is known for its sustainability and protection of its mangrove forests.

[Image ID: Pixelated artwork of a walled, Hakka village with Chinese-style architecture surrounded by dense forestry. There are mountains in the back, farm fields to the left, and a body of water in front of the village. Within the village, there is a diverse range of people standing outside houses. /END ID]

[akfamilyhome]

YouTube 2023 Year in Review

Welp! Guess it's that time of year again. I'm sure 2023 has been a...pretty interesting year to say for quite a few people. And for me personally, it's also been a weird little year that's great in some parts and could be better in others.

What have I been up to?

My life right now is kinda divided into three parts:

A) the "IRL" stuff, as in working on my editing day job and spending time with family.

B) working on YouTube videos which I still have the passion for,

and C) playing video games, collecting cool things and socializing with my online friends.

I've always felt that it's difficult for me to put equal attention to all three, and lately, it definitely feels like I'm focusing on 'A' and 'C' more. Of course, my day job is kinda how I make a living at the moment so that obviously gets priority, but that doesn't mean I want to ignore my YouTube stuff! It's just hard to sneak in a few lines of script-writing while multitasking at a day job, and only being able to freely spend time on 'B' and 'C' during night isn't the most productive way to go about things, especially with other things that aren't YouTube production. I also have games I want to play, art I want to draw, folks I'd like to hang out with etc.

And that's a fine, healthy way of going about things online for regular folks! But I don't want my YouTube channel to stagnate as a result of this, because I still love making videos! I have support from folks on Patreon, and I still hope to continue growing the channel so that it becomes more sustainable to do frequent updates.

Part of me has always thought about just quitting my day job once I have a decent amount of money saved up and just try doing YouTube full-time and rely on Patreon, even if there's a very low chance it'd be sustainable. Of course, that's a big gamble, and I'm not truly sure if that's really the best way to go about things. But those are just my inner thoughts and I've rambled long enough...

So, I apologize for the above situation sort of being the root cause of the recent slower pace of my YouTube channel! The pace of the channel this year is about the same as in 2022, if not a little slower. I didn't really get a lot of dormant scripts from 2020-2021 off the ground, but being true to what I said in last year's Year in Review, I did end up working on a lot of spontaneous ideas even if there wasn't a "big" core video! In fact, I think almost every video released in 2023 that we'll discuss below were spontaneous ideas.

I'll talk more about what's to come for the channel in the end of the post, but for now, as usual, we'll take a look at each video I made during 2023 and I'll share my thoughts and some fun facts about each!

A Trip to the Hong Kong Kirby Pop-Up Store

Various things were put up on the channel from January to March, including a funny little short for Mario Day and a new trailer for a revamped Patreon, but the major thing I put out was a look at the Kirby Pop-Up Store in Hong Kong! This was my first time doing a scripted documentation of an in-person event, and Nintendo Hong Kong would eventually do more events like Nintendo Live 2023 Hong Kong, and I'll definitely be talking about them on my channel eventually!

As for fun facts...uhh...I suppose Patreon patrons get to see the full unedited raw footage I took from the event lol

Top 10 Nintendo Trivia You NEVER Knew

This year's April Fools video...was also a last-minute sort of idea, if I recall correctly! The concept is simple: it's a parody of generic Top 10 trivia videos in terms of presentation, but the curveball is instead of just doing other blatantly obvious fun facts, the facts would actually be super obscure, inconsequential Nintendo facts that barely anyone would've known about, so in the end it's kind of a legit trivia video in a twisted way. The facts in the video were sourced from new research, me asking friends for suggestions and some of my old posts on Twitter, so there were a few 'fun' facts that were left on the cutting room floor, and here's a good place to share them!

In an early version of the GameCube instruction manual, Mario 64 was used as a placeholder game

The infamous 'black box' in Super Mario 64 DS is not a visual glitch as commonly believed, and briefly appears in E3 2004 footage

Prototype screenshots of Mario 64 have appeared in an early print of the game's box art...and on a Nintendo Monopoly board in 2006 (next to the ? Block on the right side of the board if you're looking)

The Onion in Hey! Pikmin has white and purple in its colors, even though white and purple Pikmin never appear in the game

The original 3DS had two separate sets of black & white colors, for some reason

And to finally come clean...yes, around 30% of the video's script was generated using ChatGPT, as part of the joke. Mostly the introductory bits at the beginning of each segment, since it definitely did not give me the results I wanted when I asked it to describe the specific details of each fact, so y'know, hopefully that's a sign it's not coming for my job of talking about obscure Nintendo things! And don't worry, this will probably be the only time I ever use AI in my videos.

The Better N64 Wavebird Experience

This is a follow-up to a 2021 video where I also used the N64 Switch Online controller on an original N64, albeit with a different adapter! This actually isn't a case where I received a free product to do a review on, I just happened to read about a better alternative, pre-ordered it online, it arrived in April and I decided to knock out a quick review/comparison video in 2 days!

As such, this is more of standard informative review video, but in all honesty, I still really like this setup, and it's in my opinion still one of the best controller options for original N64 games. So much so, that I recently completed my NSO controller collection by picking up a Sega Mega Drive 6-button NSO controller to eventually use with my original Mega Drive! I'm still looking for the compatible 8bitDo adapter though, so maybe when I eventually do, that can be a quick little video on the Plus channel for patrons!

The Most Expensive amiibo

This is my favorite video I put out this year! The Qbby amiibo has always been in my sights for a while, and I've gone on record saying that I'd make a video on it if I got my hands on one.

Back in 2019, I once saw a Qbby amiibo being offered on Yahoo Auctions for a relatively cheap price, but to afford it I asked for extra donations via Ko-fi. Looking back on it now there were probably better options I could've taken, but either way the listing got cancelled and I refunded everyone who donated for that. Then sometime later I saw another relatively cheap BOXBOY package in a local listing, but then the seller never replied and deleted the listing, so the amiibo has eluded me until now, and there seems to be no signs of Qbby stock going down any time soon. My hope for a Qbby reprint continues, and hopefully this video still serve as a little awareness boost for folks who are wondering why he's one of the most expensive amiibo around!

Some of the gag editing on this one got spruced up a little bit which I enjoyed doing, but you also probably noticed that I got a turntable specifically for those glamour shots! ...yeah, I'll probably get more use of that thing later on as well.

The Kirby Battle Royale online joke wasn't exaggeration: I couldn't find anyone to play online with! I suppose that is to be expected for, y'know, playing a mid 3DS game in 2023, but it's a shame that Kirby Battle Royale doesn't at least offer a option to play with friends, and from some experimentation, it seems that two of my US-based friends were able to match with each other online while I couldn't, which also suggested some region-based matchmaking was at play. Oh well! There are some better 3DS games out there that I'd still like to play online one last time before their servers shut down this April.

Tetris...on a McDonald's Nugget

Continuing the trend of 'make video on a recent find' for the third video in a row, it's the China-exclusive McDonald's Tetris Chicken McNugget! For an unscripted Things of Interest video, it turned out pretty well, kinda like the Rhythm Tengoku arcade video in 2022! Compared to the first unscripted TOI back in like 2018, I've definitely gotten a bit better at rambling since.

I was kind of a few days late to the party, and some other videos about the Tetris Nugget from larger channels have racked up more views since, but that's not really the point! As a casual Tetris fan that happens to be in proximity to mainland China, something as bizarre as this is totally right up my alley. Covering China-exclusive gaming stuff just kinda reminds me that I have yet to do a video on the iQue Player though, which I really want to...

FlashBoy Plus: The $95 Virtual Boy Flashcart

I haven't really taken a YouTube sponsorship deal yet, but I do get emails about doing reviews or ad reads of items on occasion, like new Switch gaming accessories from different third parties and whatnot. Unfortunately, that's not really the type of stuff I do regularly on the channel unless I find a great angle to tackle it from, so the only review offer I've done on the channel until now is a limited Switch physical release in 2020.

When I was offered to review the FlashBoy Plus, I was definitely intrigued despite having already previously covered the HyperFlash 32, a technically better option! Virtual Boy flashcarts are already a very niche thing, so I gladly took the opportunity to take a look at any new option out there, and even if it's not a mainstream topic at all it does kinda appeal to me specifically.

In the video, I mentioned the (very cool looking) clear cartridge shell was not a publicly available option yet at the time of the review, but looking at the order site now, it has been added since! So hey, good for them! It is honestly pretty sick to have a transparent Virtual Boy cartridge.

Playing PC Games with the SNES Mouse & Famicom Keyboard

I started work on the next core video right after the FlashBoy Plus video (more on that in the last section), but getting sick during early December forced me to delay it, so for that month I decided to do one last spontaneous idea: a followup to the 2021 video where I used the Famicom keyboard and SNES Mouse on a computer...but this time on a proper PC!

A thing that was brought up in the comments was one setting in particular: when I was changing the mouse settings in the Control Panel, there was a 'Enhance pointer precision' option that I didn't uncheck, which presumably slows down the mouse for precise movements. There wasn't a super noticeable difference when I unchecked it during further testing, but when I coupled it with further increasing the mouse sensitivity in games that allow you to change it in-game, I was actually able to get the SNES Mouse to move at a decent pace in some games! Of course, that requires tweaking with additional settings that would normally be overkill for a regular mouse, so it's still not practical, but at least there was a setup that would alleviate some of my complaints in the video.

Akfamilyhome Plus videos

Over on my second channel Akfamilyhome Plus, once again there's a variety of stuff! There's Mario Wonder memes, a new high quality video game rip album, archival footage and more. If there's one thing you should check out though, it's the supercuts of me playing Everybody 1-2-Switch with my Discord server. It's the best kind of chaos. Long live Kitchen Timer 4.

This year, 8 new unscripted bonus videos were released publicly! You can enjoy watching me:

Visit the 3DS eShop on its final day of operation

Check out the Nintendo DSi XL Demo Video carts

Look through gaming goodies on a Chinese second-hand market

Unseal Captain Toad Treasure Tracker for the 3DS

Read through the 2010 Nintendo Anti-Piracy Manual

Unbox a complete copy of the original GBA Play-Yan

Compare the two popular 3DS capture card models

And check out the Nintendo Power...rewritable cartridge!

And over on Patreon, 8 more exclusive videos are also available, featuring things like a slew of Nintendo cleaning kits, iQue DS games, the Chinese Mario Movie DVD and more! As always if you don't want to wait till some of them rotate into public availability, they're all available on Patreon for just $1 USD a month!

The fuuuuture

Okay, so what's next for 2023?

I mean 2024. Oh god the typos are already starting.

Right before the FlashBoy Plus video came out, in late June 2023, I did a video topic poll on Patreon, asking what idea I should do next. Out of the four options given, one of them is a continuation of a limbo project from 2021, and the other three were spontaneous new core video ideas I came up with and wanted to do.

Well, one of the spontaneous new ideas won the poll, so the next core video is...

A look at the camera and sound apps on both the Nintendo DSi and 3DS! I originally wanted to get this out in December, and you all know what happened to that plan, BUT the script is done, the VO recording is done, footage recording is well underway and I am confident I'll be able to get it out this January. I really like how the script for this one shaped up and am commissioning some banger thumbnail art for it (🐦), so I REALLY hope you'll look forward to it!

Afterwards, there are a few in-progress ideas that I also want to work on for quick videos afterwards. As mentioned above, I visited Nintendo Live 2023 Hong Kong which was hosted on November, and ALSO the Nintendo Hong Kong Pop-Up Store which is running from December to January, so both of those would make for a perfect video in a similar vein as the Kirby Pop-Up Store video last year!

I also went on a trip to Japan last August, and took quite a bit of photos and footage. I still want to share my findings and experiences of being in Tokyo for the first time that I could remember, so there will be a fun little piece about that going on the Plus channel in the future!

And don't forget, I'm making a video about every game I beat during 2023, continuing the thing I started last year!

And after ALL of the above is done, I still have the remaining core video ideas from the June Patreon poll I did, since I did say I'd eventually love to do all of them, and that desire still hasn't gone away. I don't know how the rest of 2024 will go for this channel but I'd say this is a fantastic starting point, and I hope it'll all go up from there, since I'd really love to be more productive on here, while trying to keep that A-B-C balance in check!

So yeah! That's it for the 2023 Year in Review. If you've made it all the way to the bottom, thank you for reading! Here's a 25-use invite link to my Discord server as a little something! Thank you to all of you who've supported me this past year, whether you're a viewer or a patron, and I hope to keep up the work this year and try to strive for better!

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Investigation: Hong Kong’s role in illegal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil

If major import markets, such as China and Hong Kong, were to restrict trade to slaughterhouses with more transparent supply chains, industry experts believe it could have a major impact on the sustainability of the Brazilian meat sector. 

At first glance, there is little to link a handful of featureless Hong Kong office spaces to the world’s largest tropical rainforest. But supply chain data – obtained by non-profit organisation Repórter Brasil and shared with HKFP – reveals that at least four businesses in the city have imported beef products farmed by a man whom Brazilian police have called “the greatest devastator of the Amazon.”

Cattle farming is “the number one culprit of deforestation in virtually every Amazon country,” according to environmental NGO the World Wide Fund for Nature. Roughly 17 per cent of the Amazon rainforest has already been lost to habitat conversion, with trees felled to make way for cattle pastures and the dusty roads that transport Brazilian beef from the forest to the global marketplace.

Among those profiting from the degradation of the Amazon is rancher Bruno Heller, whose family owns farms that have been fined US$5 million for illegal deforestation, and who has been accused by Brazilian federal police of clearing 6,500 hectares of forest – an area almost five times the size of Lamma Island.

Through a process known as “cattle laundering,” where cows raised at illicit locations are transported to those with a clean record, Repórter Brasil tracked cattle from Heller’s family farms to a slaughterhouse, 163 Beef Industria & Comercio De Carnes Ltda, and traced beef products from that slaughterhouse to Hong Kong.

Continue reading.

[beardedmrbean]

China underwent rare scrutiny of its human rights record at the United Nations on Tuesday.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which all UN member states must undergo every five years, focused on Xinjiang, a remote region where China has incarcerated more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities and is accused of crimes against humanity.

The political situation in Hong Kong, where Beijing has imposed a strict set of "security" laws, was also taken into consideration. 

More than 160 countries addressed the hearing in Geneva, Switzerland, and each only had 45 seconds to speak.

China once again denied any allegations of human rights abuses.

"We embarked on a path of human rights development that is in keeping with the trend of the times and appropriate to China's national conditions and scored historic achievements in this process," China's UN Ambassador Chen Xu said through an interpreter at the meeting.

Uyghur and Tibetan groups each held small protests outside the UN offices in Geneva.

Western countries slam Beijing

Canada's representative to the UN, Leslie Norton, called on China to end "all forms of enforced disappearances targeting human rights defenders, ethnic minorities and Falun Gong practitioners" and to repeal the controversial security law in Hong Kong.

Danish UN ambassador Ib Petersen called on Beijing to implement UN recommendations in Xinjiang and to "release writers, bloggers, journalists, human rights defenders and others arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and guarantee this right, including in Hong Kong."

Meanwhile, Czech ambassador Vaclav Balek also urged China to "end the criminalization of religious and peaceful civil expression by ethnic and religious groups — including Muslim, Uyghurs and Buddhists, Tibetans and Mongolians — under the pretext of protecting state security" and "stop cross-border kidnappings and intimidating Chinese citizens living abroad."

Germany, Japan and Ireland also called for better protections of minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet.

Praise for China

Diplomats told Reuters news agency that China had pressured its supporters to fill up their allotted speaking time with praise.

First secretary Ilia Barmin of Russia's diplomatic mission advised China "to consistently improve the understanding and capacity of citizens to use standard spoken and written Chinese in Xinjiang."

South Africa's political affairs counselor Frankye Bronwen Levy called on China to strengthen laws against domestic violence that were introduced eight years ago.

The Indian representative, meanwhile, urged Beijing to "continue taking steps to ensure fullest enjoyment of basic human rights by its people, through inclusive and sustainable development."

Some African countries like Ethiopia and Cameroon lauded China's efforts on human rights.

Eritrea's representative for instance urged China to "to comprehensively promote ethnic unity and progress."

Iran also praised China's "national action plan for human rights," while Bolivia commended China's efforts against deforestation.

[solarpunkbusiness]

Start-up launches new solar-powered, self-driving boats to clean up ocean waste

Hong Kong-based marine tech start-up Clearbot is set to launch a new generation of bigger solar-powered autonomous boats to boost its efforts to clean up polluted waters in India.

Clearbot's latest fleet of self-driving electric boats will each have the capacity to pick up around 500kg of plastic waste and other rubbish from the ocean when they are expected to be deployed in March. That is double the capacity of each of the company's current water-borne robotic cleaners operating in the seas and lakes of India.

The start-up founded by University of Hong Kong graduates is hoping to electrify the marine services industry, according to Utkarsh Goel, co-founder and chief technology officer.

"We want to build these boats that do this dirty, dirty job that is happening with [manned, diesel] boats around the world and automate them and make them more sustainable," said Goel in an interview.

Established in 2019, Clearbot started off as a student project to help Indonesian surfers clean up waterways efficiently, as locals were unable to deal with the flow of rubbish. The project led Goel and co-founder Sidhant Gupta to understand the demand for sustainable infrastructure in the marine services industry globally.

In the past year, Clearbot has deployed 13 boats which can each collect up to 250kg of plastic waste per day to tackle projects in Hong Kong and India, Goel said. The self-navigating electric vessels collect waste from the surface of the water and deposit it in designated areas for collection and recycling.

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