Reenita's Wisdom

Hong Kong women are celebrated for their style, glamour and a certain je ne sais quoi that is commonly perceived to result from the power of their purse. But even though women are freer, more educated, and enjoy more legal protection than they did just 20 years ago, “success” is still a long shot.

Young women fill in application forms at job fair (The Standard)

In 1997, Hong Kong signed the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which calls for 50 percent female representation in leadership positions in governments, political parties, trade unions and other groups. Despite this, startling gender inequalities are woven into Hong Kong’s socio-economic fabric – creating a huge barrier to female success.

Various research points to a clear gender gap vis-a-vis leadership positions, especially political leadership.

“People generally think there is equality,” says former legislator Mandy Tam Heung-man. “But, in fact, the inequality is subtle, because now women have higher educations, and there are more female professionals. Even in the government’s senior posts, there are more women, but if you look closely at the government’s structure, only two to three females are officials.”

In corporate life, with lower salaries and fewer promotion opportunities than men, women do not share an equal voice in decision-making – a huge cause for concern in a society where women comprise 54 percent of university graduates, and 47 percent of the workforce.

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The only surviving suspect, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, in a photo taken during the attacks.

The media has been closely following the fallout on diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan. It has questioned whether the terrorist attacks on Mumbai last week should lead to stronger action by both India and Pakistan to ferret out these terrorists from their training camps in Pakistan.

Gauhar Ayub Khan, Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan who was interviewed on NDTV today evaded questions about whether Pakistan would or could deal with terrorist groups openly operating on its own soil, by focusing instead on a massive security failure in India. When the NDTV journalist pressed the issue quoting US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice’s statement today,  “Non-state actors, that’s still a matter of responsibility if in fact it somehow relates to your territory. ” But Khan continued to point to the uselessness of Indian intelligence, its national security and anti terrorist forces. He even suggest that India has orchestrated the killing of its own Top Guns and has “cooked up” information about the 10 Mumbai attackers.

As much as I stand aghast at the lack of sensitivity and intelligence shown by our Mumbai politicians, it amazes me that a man like Khan could be appointed such a high post in any state.

Whose war is this anyway? Mr. Khan… is this not your state’s war against terrorism as much as it is anybody elses’s?  Have you forgotten Benazir Bhutto’s assassination just a few months ago?

Do people like Khan not understand that it is statements like his that inflame the sensitivity of a highly emotional group of people? Mr. Khan..what will we achieve with this attitude? The last thing we need right now is an India-Pakistan war which given the history of hostility between these two neighbors, is always a possibility.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving suspect in the deadly attacks on Mumbai has reportedly given up information, including his name, the identity of his father and details on a three-month training stint in Pakistan, Indian police said Wednesday. He has confirmed that he is from the village of Okara in Pakistan’s Punjab province and that he has spent the last 18 months at training camps run by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba — a Pakistan-based terror group allied with al Qaeda. (CNN)

Listen to Condoleezza Rice’s words today:

“Non-state actors sometimes operate within the confines a state … and when that is the case, there has to be very direct and tough action against them.”

When it comes to terrorism, it is not just a matter of punishing the crime, but also a matter of preventing the people that continue to plot and plan these events in the future. At this point many nations have expressed a desire to help India in flushing out the people who contribute to the global war against terrorism….Britain, U.S. to name a few. Like all nations, Pakistan also has a responsibility to address this issue fully, transparently and urgently.

Image Credit: Associated Press

Jordana Gustafson from SustainLane recently appeared on Roberta Gonzales’ CBS web show with Green Thanksgiving wisdom. I was particularly thrilled as I helped her gather the props from my dining table right before the show. If it weren’t for two brats and homework, I would have escorted her to the studio but the show was great anyway. To view the complete show, click here.

Are you wondering how you can get your kids involved with Thanksgiving? Have them create your table centerpiece. Sound complicated?  It’s actually much easier than you might think.

I spent the morning with NBC11 today as they were recording an interview about how to have a Green Thanksgiving (they air the first segment this Thursday at 6.45pm Pacific as part of their Green Week programming, so set your tivo). As SustainLane’s Lifestyle Editor and classified foodie, I am always looking for an excuse to visit the Farmer’s Market, play ‘Martha Stewart‘ at home and basically… talk Turkey!  But this one I could not have managed without the kids. I put together this simple video to show you how they helped.

By the way for more tips on green living ideas, visit www.SustainLane.com.