Your voice: Why your jeans are bad for the planet; communication is more than memes and emojis (short letters)

Have a look in your wardrobe. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Most people have at least one pair.

Since its invention in 1873, we have not stopped loving denim. However, it has also become a polluting business. When you walk into any clothing shop, you can find a variety of jeans, from skinny styles to straight-leg, bell-bottoms and more.

To understand modern denim’s harm on the environment, I will explain the work that goes into a pair of jeans.

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Denim is made from cotton, a very thirsty plant. Growing cotton requires a huge amount of water and harmful pesticides. After the cotton is harvested, it is blended and spun to make the cotton threads thick enough for denim.

Most denim is coloured with synthetic indigo dyes which cause water pollution and health risks for workers and residents living near the factories. To get a vintage look, denim also goes through water-intensive stonewashing and distressing, which can involve harmful chemicals.

So, what can we do? We should think carefully before purchasing a new pair of jeans. Overconsumption is the root cause of this environmental issue, so it is important to only buy what you really need. Think twice before you purchase anything, or try to shop second-hand.

Tsang Tsz-ching, Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School

More people are expressing themselves with emoticons, memes, buzzwords and abbreviations. Do they weaken the depth of words and make expression more shallow?

For example, sending memes can often ease the awkwardness of conversations. But some of the rich implications they were meant to convey can remain muddled. When these homogenous, superficial and simplistic language symbols become habits, it becomes difficult to communicate complex expressions.

How we express ourselves can affect how we think. The degradation of language could lead to the simplification of thought.

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Expressions composed entirely of memes could gradually take over the space for real meaning and careful thinking. Therefore, we should pay attention to the possible adverse effects of using short form, emoticons and memes, especially for primary school students who are are just starting to learn how to express themselves.

We must give up our excessive dependence on buzzwords and emoticons. Instead, we should compose complete words and sentences and establish strong reading and thinking skills. Together, we can make expression understandable, and our common language will flourish again.

Vicky Tsang Yu-yeung, Valtorta College

Nowadays, some people choose to be “slashies” so they can have more than one job at the same time. The word “slashie” comes from how most people with multiple careers will introduce themselves with a slash – for instance, “bookshop owner/artist”.

The popularisation of this term is commonly credited to American author Marci Alboher, who wrote One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success.

I watched a YouTube video featuring a man who owns two bookshops and is also a butcher. He stays in the bookshop in the daytime and works as a butcher at night. I was impressed by this man since these two jobs are totally different. It shows that we can do what we love and love what we do.

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Some people agree that this way of work can provide opportunities for people to expand the purpose in their lives.

But some argue that this trend is not sustainable for the development of society since people are not giving their full attention to one job.

In my opinion, being a “slashie” is a chance to challenge ourselves and chase our dreams. Having different jobs can help society be more diverse, too.

It is also a way to discover our strengths and habits in order to find our ideal career. It is a good choice for people who have not decided what to do and want to explore multiple options at once.

Hazel Kan, Ma On Shan Tsung Tsin Secondary School

One of the serious issues caused by the pandemic is the rise in domestic violence around the world and in Hong Kong.

More than one in four Hong Kong women have suffered from domestic abuse, according to a survey released in March by the Hong Kong Women’s Coalition on Equal Opportunities.

Enhancing public education on domestic violence is the most effective solution to this. The government should raise public awareness of the problem through schools, social media and television programmes.

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Schools can invite social workers and psychologists to give talks to students and teachers. Pupils and school staff should be taught to recognise the signs of abuse and learn how to seek help.

Educational posts on social media and notices on television can further educate the general public on this horrible issue.

People should be informed that any form of abuse from family members cannot be tolerated. Domestic violence causes mental and physical trauma for its victims. The victims should know that they can seek help from the Social Welfare Department and NGOs. The public can also report suspected cases they encounter.