No doubt, few have heard of Occupy Hong Kong. It is located on the first floor of a bank building in Central, Hong Kong Island. The bank is built to be open on the street level. Let me say--it is small--a few small tents, a few people and a few signs. Very few people question capitalism in Hong Kong.
On Sundays, all the domestic helpers from abroad "occupy" Central district because it is their day off. They are the visual reminder of the movement of labor as part of global capitalism. The domestics work for around $500 a month, 6 days a week, 24 hours a day. Legally they must live in the houses where they work and may not pick up any extra jobs. They also work on 2 year contracts. The goal is to use their labor but not allow them to establish residency. We interviewed a few on a Sunday and it was clear that they were financially better off by being in Hong Kong, sending money home to the Philippines or Indonesia. But they are legally vulnerable. On Sundays they sit in all the parks and on the sidewalks of the financial district of Hong Kong.
The open first floor of the bank building, now being occupied by Occupy Hong Kong, is one of the few sheltered places for the domestics to gather on their day off. So on Sundays, the space is shared by Occupy Hong Kong and domestics occupying the financial district. Actually it is more like Occupy Hong Kong has taken space from the domestics. The domestics crowd around the tents, trying to find shelter, with no interest in the meaning of the protest.
Here we have it--young people occcupying a space to protest capitalism; a bank providing shelter for domestics from abroad; the domestics work to send money home to send their young people to school so they can get better jobs; the international domestics are being displaced by the young people protesting the globalization of capitalism.
Doesn't anyone talk to each other?
so interesting!!
ReplyDeleteJan, You lead a most interesting life, and on a Fulbright to boot. You have come along way from Canton Ill. I am very prood of you.
ReplyDeleteYour old math teacher, Eugene Etherton, "E cubed".
And do how did you find my blog???
ReplyDeleteI think someone on Facebook was telling me about you being an author. Then I found your books for sale at Barnes and Noble. Don't remember how I found out about your Blog thou. Interesting blog.
ReplyDeleteWhen your Dad died I posted a note to you on line. I doubt you recieved it thou. Sorry.
I missed your note related to my Dad! Glad to be reconnected! My mother is coming to see me in March--should be fun
ReplyDeleteMe too! Glad your Mother can experience the excitment of Hong Cong with her daughter. She was always a pleasure to work with at CSHS.
ReplyDelete