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The novel coronavirus has spread faster than any epidemic in recent memory. It’s called the “stealth virus” for a reason: patients are infectious even before they have symptoms. That means fully eradicating COVID19 could hinge on the development of a vaccine - which may be more than a year away. Today, we are going to talk about why a vaccine could be a long term solution, what types of vaccines are under development, and the progress The University of Hong Kong is making to create a novel coronavirus vaccine. Guests:Professor Malik Peiris, Chair of Virology at HKU School of Public HealthProfessor Leo Poon, Head of Public Health Laboratory Sciences at HKU School of Public HealthFurther Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteJoint JMSC and School of Public Health Workshop for Journalists on COVID19 If you have some questions you’d like us to answer, record a voice memo and send it to us by email to fightCOVID-19withHKU@gmail.com. Your questions might be answered on on

There is a lot of discussion these days about how the novel coronavirus is dividing out between the sexes. Men are dying from the virus at a much higher rate. Yet women represent 70% of global health workers, and are at greater risk of contracting this disease while working on the front lines. How are we as a society managing these gender differences during this COVID19 crisis? Is the burden of elderly and childcare being shared equally between men and women? And what is the impact on the domestic workers here in Hong Kong?  Dr. Karin Grepin, The School of Public Health,The University of Hong KongFurther Listening and Reading:Fight COVID19 with HKU websiteDr. Grepin Research on the Ebola CrisisInterview with Johns Hopkins Professor about why men dying higher rate than womenFeminism and Women’s Rights in the Atlantic MonthlyIf you have some questions you’d like us to answer, record a voice memo and send it to us by email to fightCOVID-19withHKU@gmail.com.  Your questions might be answe

The novel coronavirus has hit the world like a bombshell. Many of us are quarantined and frankly pretty nervous....But one of our best strategies to deal with this pandemic is to try to understand why COVID-19 happened..and maybe how we can prevent it in the future. In this episode, we speak with Professor Thomas Abraham who helps teach the MOOC "Epidemics 1 & 2" at the University of Hong Kong, about viruses and infectious diseases.Guests: Thomas Abraham, The University of Hong Kong  Further Listening and Reading:Twenty First Century Plague: the Story of SARS, Thomas AbrahamPolio: The Odyssey of Eradication, Thomas AbrahamHistory of Epidemics I & II MOOC Video and Online RegistrationFight COVID19 with HKU websiteIf you have some questions you’d like us to answer, record a voice memo and send it to us by email to fightCOVID-19withHKU@gmail.com. Your questions might be aired an one of our upcoming episodes. Stay safe, stay healthy. Production credits:Producer and Host: Marc

The novel coronavirus COVID19 pandemic has hit the world like a bombshell. But it's not the first coronavirus to hit Asia. In 2003, the SARS coronavirus brought Hong Kong to a standstill, but medical and research centers like The University of Hong Kong (HKU) led the efforts to bring the deadly epidemic to an end. Now they are leading the charge to fight COVID19. Ten episodes walk you through the leading research coming out of HKU to make sense of this global pandemic. Music: San Diego Sunday by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Vietnam is the world’s second largest destination for the illegal trade in pangolins after China. The Southeast Asian country is also a major transit hub for trafficking of the endangered mammal into China. And yet, there is very little awareness of this issue within Vietnam, and despite numerous seizures of pangolins and pangolin parts, there are few prosecutions. In Malaysia too, loopholes in wildlife protection laws have allowed a thriving online marketplace in exotic pets to develop – it’s not hard to find someone who’ll sell you a pangolin should you want one for your Instagram feed. But there’s an even more serious problem facing the pangolins, which used to be common in Malaysia’s forests – and habitat destruction isn’t just a problem for pangolins – it’s a problem for all of us. Guests:Trang Bui, The Pangolin ReportsXu Jiaming, The Pangolin ReportsElroi Yee, R.AGEDr Xavier Jayakumar, Malaysian Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources Further Listening and Reading:Pangolin trad

Before releasing the final two episodes of The Pangolin Reports, Marcy and Bonnie take a brief look at China's coronavirus outbreak that kicked off just as we started releasing this podcast series - an epidemic that has completely changed the face of China's wildlife trade.Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinSend us a note on twitter @SustainableAsia or email us sustainableasia.co@gmail.com

How illegal pangolin trafficking is encouraging criminal activity in AsiaPangolins have been around for over 80 million years. Yet China’s demand is pushing them to the edge of extinction…How are these pangolins being trafficked from their natural habitats in Africa and Asia into China? We interview journalists from Myanmar, Nepal, and Indonesia: they explain why this trafficking is damaging the social fabric of their countries. Guests:Jiaming Xu, Chinese Investigative JournalistTin Htet Paing, Myanmar NowKunda Dixit, Nepali TimesSonia Awale, Nepali TimesWahyu Dhyatmika, Tempo JakartaCredits:Executive Producer and Host: Marcy Trent LongProducer: Bonnie AuAssistant Producer: Amber HouSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators hereSubscribe for the latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Transcripts in Mandarin and English at chinadialogue and chinadialogueocean.  

Why are pangolins so sought after in China?Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, in large part due to demand from Chinese consumers. Scientists are pointing to these peculiar creatures as a possible source of the coronavirus outbreak in China, where a temporary ban on all wildlife trade is now in force. Could this mean fresh hope for pangolins? Why are they so sought-after? And why, despite laws preventing their trade, have they been hunted to the point of extinction?Guests:Jiaming Xu, The Pangolin Reports Tin Htet Paing, Myanmar NowWander Meijer, GlobescanDr Lao Lixing, University of Hong Kong (retired)Credits:Sound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators hereSubscribe for the latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Transcripts in Mandarin and English at chinadialogue and chinadialogueocean.  

Last year, China published its Arctic Policy white paper, positioning itself as a stakeholder in Arctic governance and making waves internationally as countries tried to understand China’s intentions. Why is China so interested in the Arctic region? And how do the impact of warmer temperatures and climate change shift China’s priorities in the North Pole? From Belt and Road initiatives to bans on fishing, China performs a delicate balancing act working with the sovereign nations of the Arctic. Guests:Dr Zhao Huiyu, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDr Marc Lanteigne, Arctic University of NorwayDr Anne-Marie Brady, University of CanterburyDr Liu Nengye, University of AdelaideDr Henry Huntington, Ocean Conservancy Dr Shi Yubing, Xiamen UniversityDr Mia Bennett, University of Hong KongDr Peter Winsor, World Wide Fund Marc-Andre Dubois, Canadian Parks and Wilderness SocietyDr Timo Koivurova, University of Lapland Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer:

The Antarctic landscape has been changing drastically with warming temperatures, and with the changing geopolitical tensions in the world, China has become a big player on discussions about the use of Antarctica's resources. Why is China so interested in this icy expanse in the South? And how is China positioning itself on conservation issues in Antarctica in the face of climate change?Guests: Dr Liu Nengye, University of AdelaideDr Cassandra Brooks, University of Colorado BoulderDr David Bowden, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchZhou Wei, GreenpeaceJulian Chen, Greenovation HubFrida Bengtsson, GreenpeaceDr Matt Pinkerton, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchCredits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators here

Not just anyone can dig up the ocean floor, you would first have to make an agreement with the International Seabed Authority. As it turns out, 21 countries have contracts now and are preparing to mine the seabed. But is the world ready for that? Is the ISA up to the task? Now that we know what deep sea mining is and what risks are involved, we decide why deep sea mining should or should not go ahead in 2020.Guests: Gerard Barron, DeepGreen Dr Gregory Stone, DeepGreen Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Duncan Currie, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Dr Helen Rosenbaum, Deep Sea Mining CampaignDr Richard Steiner, University of Alaska Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators here

Why are companies so eager to start harvesting metal rich nodules from the ocean floor? In Episode 3 we are following Deep Green, a company founded by former Nautilus management. This company is eager to start harvesting nodules in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific. Could this be a more sustainable way of getting minerals?Guests: Gerard Barron, Deep Green Dr Gregory Stone, Deep Green Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Dr Chong Chen, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Dr Julia Sigwart, Queen’s University, BelfastDuncan Currie, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators here

In Papua New Guinea, mining company Nautilus was hoping to start deep seabed mining by 2018. Things were looking good, but the company had to fold over grassroots resistance and financial trouble. Why were these Pacific Islanders so opposed to deep sea mining? How bad could it really be?Guests: Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace Dr Helen Rosenbaum, Deep Sea Mining Campaign Dr Richard Steiner, University of AlaskaDr Stephen Simpson, Exeter UniversityGerard Barron, DeepGreen Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators here

The concept of deep seabed mining has been around for decades, but our growing demand for renewable energy is making this far fetched idea... a reality. Renewable energy resources are perceived to be the solution to the world’s climate change problem. But, their production requires a lot of rare minerals which often come from questionable sources. What do we have to gain and lose from Mining the Deep?Guests: Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace Dr William Brazelton, University of UtahDr Julia Sigwart, Queen’s University, BelfastDr Chong Chen, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodINTRO/OUTRO Music: Alex MauboussinTeaching Guide for Educators here

We've been nominated for Asia's best podcast by the Asia podcast awards. So it's time to get out the vote. If you like what you hear, please go to Asia podcast awards, and cast your vote for the sustainable Asia podcast. Our next season coming out in November is about seabed mining in the deep oceans. Again, we're partnering with China dialogue, the best news available on China and the environment. Their website is bilingual By the way, it's both Chinese and English.  Speaking of bilingual, we've started producing sustainable Asia actually in Mandarin. So an in depth Podcast Series just like the English sustainable Asia but in Mandarin. Finally, if you're passing through Hong Kong, look up sustainable Asia live radio on Facebook events. We try to have monthly meetups when we launch our podcast seasons, to highlight some of the key issues that we're discussing, and more importantly, have a cocktail. In fact, if you're passing through Hong Kong at all, give us a shout or reach out to us on our website, sustaina

Why is the protected totoaba fish maw on sale in Hong Kong dried seafood markets? Enforcing international trade agreements on endangered marine species is a challenge everywhere. But in Hong Kong the punishment doesn’t befit the crime when it comes to trading in endangered marine species. And research has shown that some of the same traffickers in endangered wildlife are also trafficking in illegal drugs. What can we do to get control over this trade that is driving some marine species to extinction? Guests: Sophie le Clue, ADM Capital Foundation Joyce Wu, Traffic (formerly)Yvonne Sadovy, University of Hong KongBonnie Tang, GreenpeaceGary Stokes, Oceans Asia Stan Shea, Bloom Association Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Writer and Editor: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodTeaching Guide for Educators here

Marine species are often regarded as food first, and wildlife second. For conservationists seeking to protect these creatures, controlling international trade routes are key. A global agreement that came into force in the 1970s, CITES – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - is considered a cornerstone of international conservation. But does it make any difference on the ground in trading hubs like Hong Kong?  Sound engineer and mixing by Chris Wood.Guests: Sophie le Clue, Director of Environment at ADM Capital Foundation Yvonne Sadovy, University of Hong KongGary Stokes, Oceans Asia Stan Shea, Bloom Association Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Writer and Editor: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodTeaching Guide for Educators here

Sustainability is now part of the seafood conversation in Hong Kong and China thanks to local NGO seafood guides that help shoppers make the right choices and apps that collect data on individual fish in an effort to prevent smuggling. And in Chinese medicine, researchers are testing the efficacy of traditional ingredients such as the seahorse, and working to find substitutes. But are these efforts enough to protect Chinese traditions and the ocean creatures it threatens?Sound engineer and mixing by Chris Wood.Guests: Gloria Lai, WWF Hong Kong Dr. Yvonne Sadovy, University of Hong KongStan Shea, Bloom Association Evan Sun, World Animal ProtectionDr. Zhang Yanbo, University of Hong Kong Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Writer and Editor: Sam ColombieSound Engineer: Chris WoodTeaching Guide for Educators here

In Hong Kong, seafood is an integral part of both cuisine and culture. The region’s trade in fish products was worth US$3 billion last year. Rare and exotic species are highly valued as signs of status, and the presence on the banquet table of delicacies such as shark fin and sea cucumber is often expected. But where does all this seafood come from? In this new podcast series, we explore the extensive networks that make it possible for a grouper from the Seychelles to end up in a restaurant’s fish tank in Hong Kong, and the damage this is doing to species and biodiversity. We look also at the efforts being made to promote a more sustainable approach, changing what’s on the menu in Hong Kong to save the animals in our seas from the ever-growing threat of extinction.Sound engineer and mixing by Chris Wood.Guests:Stan Shea, Bloom AssociationDr. Yvonne Sadovy, University of Hong Kong Gary Stokes, Oceans Asia Gary Stokes, Oceans Asia Credits:Producer and Host: Marcy Trent Long Writer and Editor

There is a new type of mari-culture called “marine ranching” off the coasts of China. In fact, China’s 13th Five Year Plan calls for billions to be spent on artificial reefs and seeding juvenile fish in the ocean - using scientific and sustainable methods. Can the local provinces implement marine ranching pilot programs with sustainability in mind? How is this program impacting ocean habitat and marine protected areas in China?Guests:John Mimikakis, Environmental Defense Fund Zhang Chun, ChinadialogueTian Tao, Dalian UniversitySun Bin, Shanghai UniversitySonglin Wang, Qingdao Marine Conservation Society and China OceanTeaching Guide for Educators here