All That Glistens Is Not Gold.

With life returning to normal this week my mind seems to have decided to take itself off on a tangent of memories and musings. (My charming husband would offer the opinion that this is no different to the status quo – a viewpoint I choose to ignore)!
Yesterday saw a party being held thousands of miles away in a sunny back garden in Wimbledon – my old classmates ten-year reunion.
This was no gathering of a gaggle of girls I spent a mere couple of years with bemoaning our homework overload. I spent my entire youth, from four to eighteen, at the same school sharing every moment with these – now highly accomplished – women. It was an afternoon I was truly saddened to miss.
As the pimms flowed in London my weekend comprised of demolishing my competitive other half at a round of Sunday afternoon board games – well, maybe I have a mild competitive streak in me too – but I wouldn’t like to say…
Monopoly aside, reflecting on the trigger of this week’s state of mind has drawn my thoughts back to an article I read in Time Out.
I have always thought of myself as pretty fair minded and conscientious, however, between having adopted Ginger from the Hong Kong Dog Rescue and ethically sourcing the materials for my next fine jewellery collection, rights – both human and animal – have come to the fore of my consciousness.
The Time Out article on the horrific business of ‘dog dumping’ in Hong Kong was a wake up call to the blood curdling dealings of an industry that hides it’s dark and ugly under belly behind a pedigree exterior.
The jewellery industry also has the means to hide inhumane behaviour behind a luxurious image. Who amongst us has not heard of blood diamonds?
Sadly it doesn’t end there. In politically unstable countries the diligent and honest voices are often drowned out, or worse silenced by corrupt money. The late, famous geologist and conservationist Campbell Bridges was murdered on his Kenyan mine by bandits sponsored by illegal dealings – despite decades of investment in the local area and wildlife. His son is still seeking justice.
Here in Hong Kong the Hong Kong Dog Rescue are one of a number of rescue centres working tirelessly – mainly staffed by volunteers – to make whatever difference is within their power.
These stalwarts in their fields are to be admired, and followed. We should have every right to expect better of ourselves. For every story that makes you angry or every opinion that is bigoted there will be a multitude of silent warriors fighting back.
As such we must each look beyond our own back yard and realise we all have the capacity to initiate change.