Eight Million

We have some good news we can’t wait to share with you…. including a brand new series launching in January 2021 that differs from our previous shows.  And it gives us the opportunity to wish you Seasons Greetings from the entire Sustainable Asia team!!

We are wrapping up Season 10 with highlights from our #AskSustainableAsia livestream event with guest speakers Jiliang Chen of Greenovation Hub and Zhou Wei Greenpeace East Asia.  A lively discussion about the outcome of the recent CCAMLR meetings and what it means for China’s fishing interests in Antarctica waters.GuestsZhou Wei, Senior Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace East Asia, BeijingJiliang Chen, Senior researcher, Greenovation HubHighlights:04:07- 04:40 China’s motive on krill fishing (Zhou Wei)05:02- 05:55 The profitability of krill fishery industry (Zhou Wei)07:42- 08:22 The main reasons why China opposes MPA proposals (Jiliang Chen)08:34-09:23  The political mismatch of China’s CCAMLR position (Jiliang Chen)Further Reading and ListeningLivestream: https://fb.watch/2hIE-cOx-l/ Website:https://lewispugh.com/antarctic-protection/Reading:https://chinadialogueocean.net/5035-china-antarctica-ccamlr/Reading:https://chinadialogueocean.net/15723-un-decade-ocean-science/Webinar:https://www.wilson

Guest host Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center, talks with UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh and renowned freediver JesSea Lu about why they chose to plunge themselves into the frozen seas off Antarctica. How are they using this amazing feat as a platform with CCAMLR members China and Russia to advocate for preserving one of the last undisturbed regions on earth? GuestsJessea Lu, Female freediver Lewis Pugh, UN Patron of Oceans Highlights:03:16 Jessea Lu walks through her Antarctica Diving Experience06:36 Jessea Lu takes the experience back to China to promote Antarctica conservation08:58 How Lewis Pugh decided to use athletic diplomacy to preserve Southern Ocean12:10 Lewis Pugh harrowing experience swimming through ice tunnel in East Antarctica13:36 Why marine protected areas are needed to protect the animals of AntarcticaFurther Reading and ListeningWebinar: Protecting Antarctica in the Postponed "Super Year of Natur

Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center, talks with Dr. Liu Nengye and Julian Chen. How does China’s investment in new fishing vessels and icebreakers bound for Antarctica impact their decision to approve three new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean?GuestsDr. Liu Nengye, Macquarie Law School Julian Chen, Greenovation HubHighlights:03:27 China’s history with Antarctica governing body CCAMLR07:12 Why did China agree to the Ross Sea marine protected area proposal in 2016?11:25 China’s marine research capability and challenges15:40 Is it likely for China to want to protect more areas in Antarctica?Further Reading and ListeningWebinar: China's Role in Saving the Wild Southern Ocean from The China Environment Forum of the Woodrow Wilson InstituteWebsite: Protecting Antarctica’s Southern Ocean from The Pew Charitable TrustsProduction credits:Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer: Chermaine LeeSound Engineer: 

Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center talks with two Chinese experts about rising ocean conservation awareness in China and why protecting the pristine southern ocean ecosystem of Antarctica is good for the planet...and good for China. GuestsDr. Bin Bin Li, Duke Kunshan UniversityDr. Julia Xue, Shanghai Jiaotong UniversityHighlights08:20 Why are marine protected areas important?15:37 China’s goal to protect 5% of its territorial waters by 202011:45 Rising ocean awareness in China and pressure on policy makers to protect it14:30 China’s commitment under Biodiversity Convention to protect 10% world’s ocean 16:35 Right to fish may be important now to China. But China's leadership on the environmental movement is important for the next generation.Further Reading and ListeningWebinar: China's Role in Saving the Wild Southern Ocean from The China Environment Forum of the Woodrow Wilson InstituteWebsite: Protecting Antarctica’s Southern O

Over this season, we’ve explored how the problem of the Plastic First Mile is being tackled in countries across Asia. In the final episode of the season, we explore the bigger picture. We speak to Doug Woodring of Ocean Recovery Alliance and Brenda Haitema of First Mile about the state of plastic recycling in Asia, the challenges of financing small and large waste infrastructure, and the future of material recovery in the region.Guests:Doug Woodring - Founder/Managing Director at Ocean Recovery Alliance Brenda Haitema - Head of Operations at First MileProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer and Sound Engineer: YuFei WuIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website. 

The way Chinese cities are handling plastic waste is changing dramatically - with new household waste separation rules starting in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. There are interesting projects, along with updated waste management laws, designed to encourage increased recycling and better waste separation. But, will this be enough to tackle the insurmountable disposable plastic waste crisis?Guests:Chris Cui - Director at Closed Loop PartnersHu Xichao - CEO of TianqiangRessella Wang - Beijing ResidentProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer and Co-Host: YuFei WuShanghai Tianqiang on the ground reporting: Sarah LiSound Engineer: Chris WoodIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website. 

Indonesia has more than 3 million tons of plastic leaking into the ocean every year. Its government announced a plan to cut marine plastic waste by 70% by 2025, so they reached out to the World Economic Forum’s plastic waste initiative for help. But who are the women driving this process and how are they going to put Indonesia on a roadmap to solve their plastic waste dilemma?  Guests:Helen Pananggung - Restaurant Captain at Lembeh Resort, Green Guru in the village for Lembeh FoundationKirana Agustina - Policy Specialist for Global Plastic Action Partnership at World Resources InstituteNani Hendiarti - Director for Maritime science and Technology in the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment AffairsKristin Hughes - Director of Global Plastic Action Partnership at the World Economic ForumTiza Mafira, Associate Director at Climate Policy Initiative, co-founder and Executive Director of the Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet MovementFurther Reading:NPAP Report: Radically Reducing Plastic P

Bali’s natural beauty attracts many tourists from around the world, but with that comes plastic waste...a lot of it! We speak with people at McKinsey.org to understand how they developed a plastic bottle recycling pilot program in Bali… that may change the course of waste collection and recycling across all of Indonesia.Guests: Shannon Bouton - Global Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, McKinsey.orgElla Flaye - Regional Director for Asia, McKinsey.orgAbieta Billy - Fellow, McKinsey.orgDhia Fani - Fellow, McKinsey.orgProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer: YuFei WuSound Engineer: Chris WoodIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website. 

Hong Kong’s tall buildings, narrow streets and small retailers present a challenge for plastic beverage bottle collection and recycling. In this episode, we continue the story of Hong Kong’s Drink without Waste consortium - a group of over 40 organisations in Hong Kong involved in beverage production and distribution. After a great deal of research, this group has narrowed down on the best solutions to the city’s currently lacking plastic recycling system.Guests:Paul Zimmerman, Drink Without WasteNigel Mattravers, ALBA Integrated Waste SolutionsHo Ki Keung, Wong Tai Sin Community Recycling CentreHelga Vanthournout, Wealth of Flows ConsultingDana Winograd, Plastic Free SeasFurther Reading:Drink Without Waste WebsiteDrink Without Waste ReportHong Kong Community Recycling CentersHong Kong Environment and Conservation FundPlastic Free Seas WebsiteProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer: YuFei WuSound Engineer: Chris WoodIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinFollow

When it comes to plastic recycling, Hong Kong is falling behind. In the face of government inaction, local organisations are stepping in to fill the gaps. In this episode, we look at the alliance Drink without Waste - a group of over 40 organisations in Hong Kong involved in plastic beverage waste. Without regulation tackling the issues of plastic waste, this consortium is coming up with interesting solutions to the plastic bottle crisis.Thanks to our guests:Paul Zimmerman, Drink Without WasteDana Winograd, Plastic Free SeasWilliam Davis, Swire Coca ColaFurther Reading:Drink Without Waste Website - https://drinkwithoutwaste.org/Plastic Free Seas Website - https://v1.plasticfreeseas.org/Production credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer: YuFei WuSound Engineer: Chris WoodIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter @SustainableAsia and Facebook. Sign up for our email updates at sustainableasia.co.

Taiwan went from being nicknamed “Trash Island” to becoming the world’s premier supplier of PET recycled plastic. What did it take to get there? We walk through Taiwan’s unique approach to getting plastic beverage bottles from the hands of consumers and to plastic recycling plants - with a bit of education, love for the environment, and a few key government incentives.Guests:Brenda Haitema, Head of Operations at First MileTina Hong, Asia Sales and Operation Manager at Fuze BiotechGaby Liu, Impact Manager of First MileFurther Listening and Reading:99% Invisible: Separation Anxiety (Episode 213) (podcast episode)Waste Not, Why Not: How Taiwan solved waste (podcast season)Plastisphere by Anja Krieger (podcast)How Taiwan Has Achieved One of the Highest Recycling Rates in the World: Smithsonian Magazine  Production credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Associate producer:  YuFei WuSound Engineer:  Chris WoodIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

We speak with HKUMed Dr. Tommy Lam to learn the science behind how the coronavirus emerged from animal populations and can’t be man-made, why the pangolin could be an intermediary host, and whether we can be sure that the virus originated in Wuhan China. Guests:Dr. Tommy Lam, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteDr. Lam ResearchDr. Lam Research linking pangolins to coronavirusChannelnewsasia Video on How Coronavirus StartedScripps Research That COVID19 From NatureCNN article Scientists Debate Origin TheoriesVanity Fair article on how man-made origins of COVID19 spreadVox video on how wildlife trade creates a coronavirus Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: YuFei WuIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we are spending a lot of time at home. While some see this as an opportunity for quality time with their loved ones, it can also pose more chances for arguments and quarrels. So we reached out to Dr. George Lee, a clinical psychologist who focuses on families and couples...who is also getting his PhD at HKU’s Buddhist Studies Program.Guests:Dr. George Lee, Lecturer, Center of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong KongFurther Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteDr. George Lee Research Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  YuFei WuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive by Chad Crouch and Jani Hirvonen

Hong Kong’s economy is contracting for the first time since the 2009 financial crisis. We talk to economist Dr. Heiwai Tang from HKU about how the Hong Kong government can support small businesses and low income citizens during COVID19… and is it time for Hong Kong to start reopening the economy now that new cases are dropping?Guests:Professor Heiwai Tang, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteDr. Tang ResearchProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongAssociate producer:  Crystal WuContributing Editor:  Bonnie AuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive

A story about how our behaviour during COVID19 ...is affecting ocean wildlife. Luxury seafood tourism in Hong Kong and China has halted under lockdown. While good for endangered reef fish in Indonesia in the short-term, we may be losing a leading sustainable fishing company for the long-term. Dr. Yvonne Sadovy of HKU tells the story. Guests:Dr. Yvonne Sadovy, honorary professor of Biology, The University of Hong Kong Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteRTHK TV Series Fishy Business Ep2: Where do our Fish Come From?Sustainable Asia Season 3:  Trade in Endangered Marine SpeciesYvonne Sadovy Live Fish Trade Research IYvonne Sadovy Live Fish Trade Research IIYvonne Sadovy Live Fish Trade Research III Production credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongAssociate producer: Yufei WuContributing Editor: Bonnie AuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive Chad CrouchRTHK audio from Fishy Business tv series directed by Jerry Tai. &nb

Elderly people are getting the short end of the stick during this coronavirus pandemic. Because they have a higher risk of complications under COVID-19, they are being asked to socially isolate for up to months on end. While this may be saving their lives it also could be risking their mental wellbeing...Guests:Dr. Tatia Lee, Head of the Department of Psychology and Professor of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong.  Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteDr. Tatia Lee researchCDC video COVID-19 risk in elderlyProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongAssociate producer:  Crystal WuAssociate producer:  Yufei WuContributing Editor:  Bonnie AuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive

Life online during coronavirus social distancing…has lost its luster. So why not learn something new during this COVID19 pandemic...We talk to Ruby Yang who teaches documentary filmmaking at HKU. We laugh and learn about how famous directors approach a documentary, where you can take a course online to make your first ever documentary…and how maybe...this might help with your online teaching and conference calls!Guests:Ruby Yang, Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Fellow in Humanities at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteFree online art and culture online resourcesHong Kong Documentary Film InitiativeRuby Yang Documentaries Production credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongAssistant producer:  Crystal WuContributing Editor:  Bonnie AuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive Dee Yan Key

Clinical Professor John Nicholls from the Department of Pathology at HKU Medicine responds to questions from #askHKUMed with the latest coronavirus research:-Can people that test positive for COVID-19 become reinfected?-What parts of the body are affected by the coronavirus?-What antiviral drugs have had the best clinical effects?The #askHKUMed initiative from LKS Faculty of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong takes questions from around the world.Guests:Professor John Nicholls, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Further Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteLatest Videos from #askHKUMedProduction credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongAssistant producer: YuFei WuContributing Editor: Bonnie AuIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from free music archive Unbroken by Uncan

Pangolins do not survive well in captivity. In fact, when seized by border authorities, their rescue often turns into a death sentence. But when a local NGO in China tried to save a handful of these seized pangolins by releasing them back into the wild, it stirred up a storm of controversy. Why is saving the pangolins such a thorny issue? Will the Chinese government’s recent ban on the trade and consumption of wildlife meat – a response to the coronavirus outbreak – do more to help these embattled, scaly mammals? What else can we do to stop their rapid disappearance?Guests:Kunda Dixit, Nepali TimesWahyu Dhyatmika, Tempo.coElroi Yee, R.AGE MalaysiaSophia Zhang, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development FoundationXu Jiaming, the Pangolin ReportsDr Tim Bonebrake, The University of Hong KongAstrid Andersson, The University of Hong KongWander Meijer, GlobescanProduction credits:Executive producer and host: Marcy Trent LongProducer and host: Bonnie AuAssistant producer: Amber HouSound engineer: Chris Wo