Coffee Talk

 In an initiative to contain further damage to the environment, prefectures and cities across Japan^* are calling for 24-hr convenience stores to voluntarily shorten their operating hours (link to article below ^**). 

Which is noble, except that C02 emissions by the always-open stores are but mole hills compared to the mountains that are the glitzy lightings and neon signs that adorn every building and street to entertain the multitudes of Japanese who stay up into the wee hours of the nights. 

Which is increasingly the phenomenon these days.  Cities everywhere else competing to be ‘most attractive’ and ‘most livable’, are sprucing up night activities and night sceneries in their efforts.  Think casinos, a.k.a Integrated Resorts, sprouting all across Asia.  Hong Kong - which until recently prided itself as ‘the city that never sleeps’ - is going to have to dream up new unique ‘selling’ features in retaliation. 

Which brings me to the point about how we the human race have ‘evolved’ to associate joy, entertainment and the suitability of an environment for living, with crowd and brilliant lightings.   

Which makes us not unlike insects, thereby taking us a step back. 

It makes me wonder how our parents and their parents had lived through all their years with so little to keep them amused.

If our authorities would pause and go back to the drawing board, perhaps they could navigate lifestyles and reverse the trend.  Hopefully, the future generations will also live enjoyable lives by their definitions, and still be friendly to the environment. 

Footnotes:

^*Japan sees itself as a champion of the environment, especially where CO2 emission is concern.   

^**Read report here: http://www.japancorp.net/Article.asp?Art_ID=18752

Tags: thoughts, news, Commentary //