Umbrella Diaries

Much has happened since “Occupy Central” in 2014 - much of them disappointing and frustrating.  So much so that a lot of people have lost hope in the future of democracy and a more open society in Hong Kong.  In this climate, out of the blue, an excellent documentary on the movement suddenly appeared. 

We had tried to register for a number of screenings without success.  Then I got us into  a screening at a Christian organisation on Thursday.  It was a small, crowded room, with a small screen.  Not the best environment to watch a movie.   But we are grateful for the chance to see the movie.  

The 2 hours of the screening passed rather quickly.  Hardly anyone stirred during the screening. We are all familiar with the outline and many details of the story.  Yet the documentary contains many intimate moments that captured our attention.  I was struck with the realisation that this is not an after-the-fact retelling of the story.  The director had obviously planned to make a documentary early on. He was able to capture many of the most dramatic moments, as if he was able to anticipate them and be at the right place at the right time.  

The movie highlights the consistent and strenuous efforts made by the leaders of the movement to stay non-violent, to use civic disobedience as a tactic to push for changes.  It refreshes our memory of the major events, and challenges us to place ourselves where and when things happened.   It is as if we are being asked: this is what they say and do.  What about you?  Where do you stand?  What are you going to do?

Most stayed for the discussions afterwards.  Many speakers stressed the disappointment and frustration of the developments since 2014.  Yet all stressed the need to remember, and to refuse to give up.   It might looked like a defeat.  Yet there were also many positives.  Many who were not interested in the issues were aroused by the movement.  Many young people displayed tremendous courage, wisdom, maturity and creativity.  The establishment is actually quite scared of the people.  That is why they are so intransigent, refusing to make any concessions, deploying overwhelming political power to suppress all dissent.  

History takes a long time to unfold.  Hence we have to be patient.  There is no guarantee that things will turn better; but it is also not pre-ordained that it will always turn worse.  There really is no hope only if we give up.  Not everyone believes in God.  But I do.  And I have hope.  There is really no other way to live, but to believe and persevere. 

The move is highly recommended.  Watch out for screenings.  In fact, this is only part 1, ending when “Occupy Central” started and the teargas deployed.  Part 2 is coming, depending on our support.   Where do you stand?  And what are you going to do?

What to do at Christmas

After Boxing Day, the Christmas Holidays are officially over.  Looking back, we felt we have had a good time.  Our youngest daughter E came back for a visit. Even though the eldest C could not come back, we have at least 2 out of the 3 of them with us. On Winter Solstice, we had Chinese hot pot for dinner.  Much of the vegetables were grown by the hands of our second daughter A.  

The hot pot was topped with a bottle of wine from Golan Heights - a gift from a good friend and colleague who carried it back from Israel.  It reminded us of treasured friendship, Jesus’ boyhood home in Galilee - a short distance down from Golan Heights, the continued tension in Palestine - Golan Heights was taken by the Israeli army from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, and so much more.  

On Sunday, we heard the reading of the Bible from 8 different languages, a reminder of the universality of the Gospel of God.  

I gave my wife a ram’s horn that I picked up on a beach in Senegal - no kidding!  I was there for a seminar on social responsibility.  I did not spent any money on the gift.  But I did spend a bit of time cleaning it, sanding it, and designing a minimalist stand to display it.  At least I can say that it is unique - there really cannot be another one exactly like it.  

On Christmas Day we went to the farm that our second daughter A is working on.  We helped with some farm work, and pulled up some carrots, turnips. and other vegetables for dinner.  

We also had a good time walking the mix-breed country dogs.  Nature and work is wonderfully fulfilling.

On Boxing Day, we went on a hike up Beacon Hill just above Kowloon.  

At the start, we could look back on Kowloon.  There were some nice views of the Kowloon Tong MTR station.  

We then went through some pretty thick forests where the sun was almost completely blocked.  It was so quiet, yet we knew that we were only minutes from the hustle and bustle of Kowloon.  Then we headed west towards Kowloon Reservoir, which is actually in the New Territories.  When we finally reached home,  we were all tired and legs were sore.  But it was a good kind of sore. 

Throughout the past several days, I had to keep in touch with colleagues and collaborators, setting up the service-learning projects in Rwanda in summer, among other things.  In a way this is work and I probably shouldn’t spend too much time on work at Christmas.  On the other hand, this is also something that my faith compels me to do, something I am sure Jesus would approve, something that resonates with Christmas.  

We didn’t spend a lot of money, didn’t attend any big parties and didn’t travel far.  But I feel we have had a good Christmas.  

Street Sleepers and Christmas

The recent death of a street sleeper near the Parliament in London prompted an outcry.  It reminded me of the many street sleepers that I have seen around the world.  In London itself, outside stations of the Underground. 

In San Jose, USA, amid the hotels and posh shops that serve the elites working in Silicon Valley. 

In Hong Kong, right in the wet market 

In Dakar, Senegal, just off a busy market. 

In Kampala, Uganda, next to a busy bus station. 

And in some many other places.  

At Christmas, the operative words are joy, happiness, family, friends, food, …  We should indeed celebrate the birth of Jesus, who brought the hope of redemption.  But why do we need redemption in the first place?  Is it not because of the sin and suffering - so vividly exemplified by the plight of these street sleepers - that Jesus had to come?   

This morning I attended a worship service in which the Bible was read to us in multiple languages: Dutch, Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, Japanese, Hungarian, Mandarin.   An apt reminder that Christmas is here for all nations - all of us need the good news of Jesus.  

In the afternoon I stumbled upon a church group singing Christmas carols on a street corner in busy Mongkok.  

Christmas is, of course, about the joyful reception of the coming of Jesus.  But it is also about our response to His coming.  How should we respond to Him?   To enjoy life and His presence?  Or is there actually more to it?

The colours of Senegal

The people of Senegal are black, just like the rest of sub-Sahara Africa.  

But the clothes they wear are a riot of vibrant colours.  

The national colours are red, green and yellow, 

as anyone who watches the Senegalese team in the Soccer World Cup knows.  

And there are a lot of these colours. 

But there are also blue, purple, orange, …

It is not just the women, 

but also the men. 

And the buses.

And the wall paintings. 

It is so much fun to watch Senegal.  

Dakar Beach-side Fish Market

The fish market on the beach is a fascinating place.  Over 3 days, I have observed it at different times, from different angles and still only managed to make out an outline of the dynamics. 

In the early morning, the boats go out.  

Birds circle overhead.  At first I thought they were kites.  We have a lot of them in Hong Kong and I was happy to see them there.  But something was not right.  They fly too low, and do not show the slowly ascending soaring movement.  I thought, perhaps, it was because Dakar does not have the high rises that provide the updraft that enable the kites in Hong Kong yo soar so efficiently.  But they also look small. 

The beach is practically deserted.  Most of the boats are gone.  A few stragglers are still loading nets into their boats.  

Many crows are picking from the leftovers from the market last evening. Then I realised what I saw earlier were crows pretending to be kites.  

By early afternoon, some boats are coming back.  Rollers are put under the boats to take them up the beach.  Still no market. 

By late afternoon, the market is bustling with people and fish.  Right at the water's edge.  Sometimes you have to step-in the water to get around. 

They have huge groupers, some must weigh more than 10 kilograms. 

Big, beautiful puffer fish.  I wonder whether they are poisonous.  Perhaps they are just cousins?  Perhaps the puffers eat different foods here, and are therefore not poisonous?

Mahi mahi or some cousins.

Sharks, even hammerheads. 

Morey eels. They don’t look so ominous when they are dead. 

Big, lean, muscular tunas. 

Geometrical fishes. 

Fake fishes.

There is much more.  Fascinating, I say. 

Dakar Sun

Dakar sits on a low-lying hook-like peninsula with the hook pointing south.  

Early in the morning, looking east across a south-facing bay lined with distinctive, colorful, long fishing boats, the sun rises spectacularly.

In late afternoon, looking west across the same bay from the fish market, the sun sets equally spectacularly.   For a moment, if one can ignore the poverty and the filth of the waste water discharging into the bay, one can feel majestic.  

East of the peninsular is the small island of Goree, notorious for being the launching point of numerous slave ships towards America, carrying a significant number of the 20 million slaves captured from West Africa, towards a life that was considered by many to be worst than death. 

It is not often that heaven and earth jostle for position in such a stark manner.  

Today, in this city, people gather to discuss service-learning, social justice, civic responsibility - human beings being kind to other human beings, to themselves.  Perhaps human beings can actually be redeemed?  With God's mercy?