bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Try to be happy with what you have
Although many children grow up in a comfortable and harmonious environment, they are  not content. They ask for this and that and want lots of things.  What will happen to them? They will become selfish and greedy.  
Are you content? Maybe only a few  would answer 'yes'. We're all human, after all. 
I'm not content all  the time, either.  But I know  I'm lucky, since I don't have to worry about having enough food to eat or clothes to wear. 
Think about  people living in Africa. They are very poor and  many  survive on one meal a day. Some don't  even have clothes to wear. 
Being content with what we have is important. Even with  money and status, some people are not satisfied.
Macy Chan Mei-sze,  Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College 
Unite to help quake victims
Not long after Haiti was devastated by an earthquake, Chile suffered the same fate. Then Qinghai  was struck. 
Natural disasters like these show how fragile we are.
The survivors of the earthquakes are still struggling, as  countries pull together to provide emergency aid. Our donations and messages of hope  go a long way. 
I believe by working together and co-operating, we can overcome adversity.
Chan So-wa, SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School 
Going green is easier than you think
People  talk a lot about environmental protection. But  the earth is in danger of being destroyed  and we need to take  action to save it. 
Most Hongkongers already know what they can do to protect our environment. For example, we all know about the four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and replace.   Reduce the use of electricity, reuse plastic bags, recycle plastic bottles, aluminium cans and papers. Also, we can  take public transport instead of driving.   
In summer, air conditioners are  important but they use a lot of electricity. 
I suggest  we turn on the air conditioner for 10 to 15 minutes. When the room is cool, switch it off and turn on the fan - it has the same effect but uses less electricity. 
Try your best to protect  the environment. If we're creative, I believe most of us will be able to do more than just talk about saving the earth.  
Siu Wing-yan, Mu Kuang English School  
Women have the right to choose   
Women have traditionally stayed home to take care of their children and parents. I don't think women should have to do that. They have the right to work. 
These days, many women earn more than their husbands. They can make a productive contribution to the workforce.
Women should be free to choose whether they stay at home or  work. 
Staying at home and taking care of a family is not just women's work anymore -  men can do it too.
Kristy Ho
No freedom of speech at forum
The City Forum, which has been running for nearly 30 years, goes largely unreported these days. 
But the April 18 forum  received plenty of coverage after it descended into rowdy debate between Civic Party members and the so-called 'Uncles of Victoria Park'.
The mass media always emphasises political conflict, but I query the purpose of reporting such news - beyond selling newspapers. 
It seemed to me  this  incident was more about the Uncles seeking attention than political debate.
They yelled when the participants tried to speak; there was no freedom of speech. 
I think that disqualifies them from talking about democracy.
Edelweiss Tuet Tsz-ching,  Our Lady of the Rosary College



letters