Foxymoron

Letter of the year: B

I didn't have the patience or time to do a detailed countdown of my favourite albums this year. Besides, Brian at Shot is writing his list and his writing on such matters puts me to shame. For me, 2005, was a good but not great year in music. There were many new discoveries (what did I do before The Weakerthans?) and many concerts (Arcade Fire), but there were also some dissapointments (Ryan Adams live, Coldplay's X&Y). Still, beautiful music was released into the world and this is a list of some of my favourites. Bands that begin with "B" top my list this year:

1. Bloc Party — Silent Alarm
2. Bright Eyes — I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning
3. Broken Social Scene — Broken Social Scene
4. M.I.A. — Arular
5. Metric — Live It Out
6. Sufjan Stevens — Illinoise
7. Shout Out Louds — Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
8. Jason Collett — Idols of Exile
9. Final Fantasy — Has A Good Home
10. Josh Rouse — Nashville

I also liked: Hot Hot Heat — Elevator, The Mountain Goats — The Sunset Tree, Kayne West — Late Registration, Emm Gryner — The Great Lakes, Embrace — Out of Nothing, Fiona Apple — Extraordinary Machine, Kelly Clarkson — Breakaway, Bloc Party — Silent Alarm Remixed

It's over

The WTO meetings in Hong Kong are long over but the discussions about it are not. Here, the debate is mainly about the police performance. You can read my personal opinion in an article from Monday's paper in which I basically say "Police, Koreans just doing their job."

Roland at EastSouthWestNorth translated a couple of somewhat contraditory articles from Hong Kong magazines about the police and Korean relations. The magazines, Next and Eastweek, both applaud Commissioner of Police Dick Lee, but the way each descirbes his negotiations with Koreans is different. Judge for yourself, either way, it's an interesting read and I suggest Roland's site for daily translations of Chinese media.

On the actual WTO meeting side of things, my co-worker Zach writes in today's paper, that HK government did alright in hosting the meetings.

OK, that's it. The last of the WTO-related posts.

(Photo: On Fleming Rd. right after the tear gas.)

WTO MC6 Day 5

Frankly, I'm too tired to write a long account of tonight's experience. I will say this however, tear gas sucks. It's far worse than I thought it would be and since I found mself right in the front when it first reared its ugly head, I got it really good.

I will recount the details in the morning when my eyes stop hurting and I stop yawning. I will say, however, that I have a lot of respect for the Koreans. I may not agree with all of their opinions and acknowledge that a lot of their charm comes from very professional publicity stunts, but I like them anyway. Afterall, they outsmarted the police and broke throught barrier at Central Plaza around 7:30 tonight.

They've been very respectful of Hong Kong and its citizens, first of all. And when I was running up the Flemming overpass, tears in my eyes, gagging and gasping for air it was two Koreans, whom on seperate occassions offerred me water to wash away the pain. Of course, I felt guilty when a desperate Korean stood at the end of the overpass and in his broken English tried to deter people from running away from the protest, "No, don't go!" he said.

I did go, but we returned after some Shanghainese food. The Koreans had taken up camp on Glouchester Rd. and within minutes of our arrival, there was more tear gas. Things settled down and I left. Last I heard, no one was allowed to leave the Wan Chai area and John says the Koreans have started singing and dancing in a congo line again.

Tomorrow, we return for the last day of WTO meetings and what is supposed to be the largest protest/march yet.

WTO MC6 Day 5

Things have been mostly calm but the teleivison is now broadcasting live from Wan Chai and they've broken out the waterguns and my co-worker Wendy just told me she pepper sprayed all over. The Koreans are trying to pull down a fence by the cargo area using rope. After watching the television for another eight minutes, I've decided it's time to go in although the Pearl is telling us to stay away. All I've got is my camera and one pair of glasses so I hope I avoid getting hit and sprayed.

WTO MC6 Day One

When I left the designated protest area shortly before 4pm today, things were very calm. I just finished interviewing my subject for tomorrow's paper and the only "issue" I had was convincing the police officer to let me get out through a shortcut instead of going against the current of protesters still streaming down the bridge. Eventually, he did mainly because the old man behind me who was just a regular Hong Konger had somehow gotten lost and couldn't find another way out. He just wanted to get to the bank to deposit a cheque before his branch closed.

I arrived back at the office half an hour later to find co-workers surrounding televisions. Some Korean peasants had jumped into the water, waving their national flag. Then, others, including Hong Kong legislator, best known as "Long Hair" (because he refuses to cut his hair until Hong Kong becomes democratic) clashed with police and were sprayed with pepper foam. At last count, there were only five minor injuries. But HK government sent out this press release reminding everyone that "No acts of violence will not be tolerated"

I will head back to the protest areas and Victoria Park (where most rallys and protester events are) tomorrow. Part of my fascination with the entire event is seeing the international press gather in one small place and watching all its members do their thing. I'm very grateful for this opportunity. Everyday, I learn something new about the world, journalism and life. Sometimes I think I have the coolest job in the world. I get paid to learn and write.

The Standard is working with journalism students at HKU are working on a blog together while the WTO's sixth ministrial meeting takes place in Hong Kong. It's called Curbside @ WTO. Check it out.

I've also uploaded some WTO pictures on to my Flickr Site.

Junk WTO!

I felt like I had already been apart of the scene in Wan Chai today when WTO protesters had their first march Sunday afternoon. Everything from the face paint, bright t-shirts, coordinated cheers/chants, speakerphones and mood felt familiar. It was almost just like Frosh Week.

I think many were dissapointed that the turnout wasn't more than the approximately 3,500 (depending on who you ask) people. Some groups were somber but most marched with a festival attitude. Excitement overshadowed the nervousness of the 9,000 officers watching from all angles. It will be an interesting week.

I'll post pictures later.

Read The Standard's coverage of the WTO.
My article about the WTO's affect on Wan Chai's business.

Alt-Chiu

For the next week, posts on this blog will be infrequent since I'll be reporting on the WTO events. If you miss me, you can find me at The Standard website where we will have a blog to cover WTO-related issues.

I'm cross-posting a blog I wrote because I, along with friends staring in the media industry are working on a group media. It's called Media Mix (tentatively) and I hope it will generate thoughtful discussion about media. If you like it, I'd appreciate your help with promoting the new blog. As I said in the upcoming paragraphs, I believe more voices means a better discussion. This is what I wrote tonight:

The international media have arrived in Hong Kong for the WTO meetings set to start on Tuesday. These media also include the alternative media many who attended a conference at City University this weekend. I attended the conference called "New Media and Social Transformations" on assignment and out of personal interest because as you may have noticed, I like to blog.

I met people from Indy Media Japan, Pinoy Weekly (a Filipino alt-newspaper), OhMyNews (originally Korean), Real World Radio (from Uruguay) and others. Although attendence was only a few dozen people, there were attendees and speakers from all over the world. Unsurprisingly, alternative media is overwhelmingly leftwing and this conference was no exception.

The discussions were interesting, although not necessarily groundbreaking. I came out of the Friday sessions still uncertain if "alternative" or "independent" online media will ever breakaway from its bad reputation (unaided by the recent Wikipedia issue) for lacking accuracy and authority.

I asked speakers if they believe accuracy is their responsibility, how they ensure there is accuracy and if they don't believe it's their responsibility, then whose is it? No one really answered my question as it was lost due to poor moderation on the conference's behalf. During another session, however, David Kootnikoff of OhMyNews said every story is read by editors and fact-checkers.

But IndyMedia does not believe in fact-checking or much editing said Gabi Hadl from IndyMedia Japan. She said IndyMedia is not about journalism so much as it is about creating a discussion. I've always respected the IndyMedia network of websites but I think Hadl's got it wrong. If I understood her correctly, she seemed to imply, facts are less important than dialog. My question is what's dialog worth if it's not based on truth?

Of course, I say this now as a member of the evil mainstream media so take my opinion for what it's worth to you. Although I blog and consider myself "left wing" (if this scale is applicable still), I guess I'm one of the bad guys who the alternative press argue isn't telling the whole story. They say, Hong Kong media are not addressing the issues of protestor but sensationalizing the isolated incidents of violence. But the truth is, I've always rooted for the underdog. My personal opinion is the world benefits from having more voices. However, intelligent dialog cannot happen without accuracy and facts, regardless of who you are reporting for.

My Morning Smile

I woke up to a LOL e-mail from my mother this morning. For the sake of proving how adorable both my parents are and for the sake of playfullly embarassing them, here is most of it:

Hi Andrea,

I read you blog in foxymoron. Dad was pleased with your comments -- although he will not admit it . He wants to know who Sam is as his/her comment says her Dad is cuter !!!

I like you sense of humour about the fish who is dead but does not know it yet!!

What is this about buying SEVEN T-SHIRTS !!!!!! Watch your budget.

Let me know if you want anything from TO.. send me a list so I can shop for them . I'd like to be prepared if I fnd out at the lats minute that some one is coming to HK.

Ok..I'll stop nagging now.

Love you

Mom

Note: Mom's English is very good, she just isn't a very good typist or she was in a rush. Also, the line about the fish was by Ada. Not me.

Vote because you can

For those of you back home in Canada: the next time you complain about the Canadian federal election or the chore that is your right to vote, think about the above image. Today, tens of thousands, some say up to 250,000 people in Hong Kong marched just to fight for the right to vote.

Don't waste your vote. No matter how cynical you are, how much you hate all the candiates, or how much laziness might prevent you from getting to know the issues, don't let it stop you from being informed and voting. I won't let hundreds of kilometers stop me. Go vote on January 23rd!

Links:
a) My article in The Standard about the conflicting attendance figures
b) The Standard's story about Donald Tsang, our Chief Executive's reaction to the march
c) Reuters's article on the march
d) Local blogger, Glutter's written and photographic account of the day

TGIF

The cool thing about Hong Kong is that there is always someone new to meet. I've never been in the mindset of meeting random people anywhere else except while here in Hong Kong but I know these opportunities are rare in other places, even in Toronto (which is supposedly "meeting place" in Huron). Hong Kong is a place for business and due to that, it's also a gateway into and out of Asia. It makes sense that there are so many people passing through. There's usually someone's friend who is new to the city, visiting or just lost. This can make for some awkward conversation over drinks if you've taken the task of entertaining for one night but tonight, there was a nice mix of interesting folks. After work, I had dinner and a couple of drinks with Paul's friend Doug, a talented web guy, folks working at the UN-affliated NGO the Asian Human Rights Commission and Con and Moe (whom I'll call Coe from now on for convenience but then they'll get mad at me). There were Americans, a Brit and obviously, Canadians sitting around a tiny table, barely large enough to hold the pints of Stella Artois. I know I could always get this kind of UN-meeting setting if I wanted to back home, but the truth is, I wouldn't want to. When I'm back in Toronto, surrounded by my own comfort zone of friends, my curiousity for new people and even new information evaporates. This is why I'm not ready to come home yet.