Free Hugs – Spread the Movement by Juan Mann

A hug is like a magic blanket. No matter how dim my day is, a little hug from Elkan brings great joy and comfort. No needs for words, a simple hug heals my day. It is magical and I call them “happy power”.

“Free hugs Campaign” is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann– A man from Sydney whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. This campaign was banned in 2005 by the official in Sydney but Juan’s movement inspired a worldwide phenomenon. The ban was lifted after a petition of 10,000 signatures the following year.

We were shopping in Times Square today and what we witnessed this afternoon can only be described as awe inspiring. Hugs can be very infectious. It removes the “zombie” in us and brings the jolly old spirit back. A group of strangers, with smiles on their face, carrying flash cards and offering hugs for everyone. Silently and magically, they changed the atmosphere. Gone were the monotonous zombie-like shoppers. Perfect strangers from different walks of life came together and hugged. This simple unison between strangers brought out the most sparkling smiles from within. For a rare moment, we witnessed a priceless portrait of joy and the true spirit of humanity.

Free Hugs Campaign – How it started on 30th June 2004

By Juan Mann (Abstract from his website): I’d been living in London when my world turned upside down and I’d had to come home. By the time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carry on bag full of clothes and a world of troubles. No one to welcome me back, no place to call home. I was a tourist in my hometown.

Standing there in the arrivals terminal, watching other passengers meeting their waiting friends and family, with open arms and smiling faces, hugging and laughing together, I wanted someone out there to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me.

So I got some cardboard and a marker and made a sign. I found the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city (Pitt Street Mall) and held that sign aloft, with the words “Free Hugs” on both sides.

And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.

Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven’t compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.

Marching with 220,000 Hong Kongers (七一遊行)

Hong Kong celebrated her 14th Handover Anniversary with the biggest march turnout in 7 years (500,000 in 2003). While Donald Tsang was staging a big celebration at Queen Elizabeth Stadium last night, a record of more than 200,000 protesters turned up on the streets to vent their anger and frustration against his government and major social issues.

Many of the protesters were unhappy about the skyrocket property prices and the growing gap between the rich and poor. Pegged with the falling US currency, Hong Kong dollars have fell sharply since the day I arrived. Property prices are ridiculously high and young families can never afford the down-payment. (The young generation of Hong Kong is going to slog their entire life just to pay for a pathetic small roof to sleep at night!) Many called for greater democracy and demanded Chief Executive Donald to step down. Large printed banners of characterized “Devil” Donald and “Blood Sucker Vampire” billionaire tycoon Li Ka-shing marched down the streets – the protesters accused the government and property tycoons for manipulating the property prices.

Tracy and I decided to lend our voices and joined the evening march from Wanchai to Central.  There was a commotion at Wanchai where police were out in force handing out warnings about “illegal public gatherings” (according to protesters) and closing off a ballpark.  This is the first time I took part in a march. It was an eye-opener for me to “see and feel” the passion and frustration of the Hong Kong people. Streams of protesters stopped traffic and won supports (waves and cheers) from the bystanders along the streets. It was a powerful united force.

Sadly, the property issues cannot be addressed or solved overnight. Property is one of the most abused necessities that should never be allowed to be speculated for greed. Already, some protesters are crying that it may take them 2 generations to pay off their housing debts. Real estates should never exhaust the value of one’s life. The high cost of real estates are adding significant cost to the food we eat, clothes we wear and the space we nurture our next generation. Freedom in this perspective doesn’t exist. It will take many years of fundamental and political changes before the Hong Kongers can break away from their current “property slavery”.