Relating Perception of Risk to Missions

In the book titled "RISK" by Deborah Lupton:

"Research has shown, for example, that members of social groups that are less powerful tent to be more concerned about risks than members of powerful social groups. Women compare with men, and non-whites compared with whites tend in quantitative surveys to rate their concern about specific risks more highly. "

I think that was very true statement. A powerful social group means a social group that has link to social capitals, where people in this group can access to the collective assets, funds foundation, emotional support, connection to others etc. A powerful social groups results in a sense of secure. When a person is secure, he or she is more ready to rest and relax.

Relating Perception of Risk to Experiences
The same concept applied to our daily experiences. For example, when I know I will have enough money in the bank account to pay for the coming month expenses, I would be far more relax and ensured, and being a state of ready to take risk. But when I am uncertain where the money would come from to pay for the coming month expenses, I developed anxiety, and I would be calculating the risks. On the other hand, when I know my church is behind me in every decision I would make; and they will never fail to pray for me in every situation I'm in, I feel more secure and I'm more ready to take risk. A loving and supporting church will help to produce confidence and loving individuals being as missionaries or tentmakers in the light of the Lord.

Instructions for Service...
However, the sense of risks is altered by situations. The perception of risk for taking a step of faith in the life of Christians as an obedient act to the Lord is different all across the Christians. Some would hold an extreme optimistic view that "When the Lord is with me, who shall be against me?" So, when they were called for a task, they'll go without a serious measurement in their ability because there is a principle in their belief system that "we can do all things through Him".

For example, when the Lord call his disciple to go to the nation, he said, "Do nor acquired gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support" Matthew10:9-10. How would people respond? (A) Go, with only an air ticket and no money in the pocket. (B) Go, with an air ticket and cash for a month. (C) Go, but give me time to prepare, to save money for the ministry. (D) Hah, God must be kidding! He is a humorous God, isn't He?

Who sent more missionaries?
The perceptions of risk to this task varies based on the relationship of one with the Lord, the upbringing of a person, as well as the social capital(social support, collective assets that one can access through the groups etc.) that one has. Baptist would send more missionaries compare to other denominations because of their strong social capitals. The same goes with Jehovah witnesses and Mormons.

Meeting no ends.....
We can start off in faith, but then when in practical we meet no end, we become desperate. For a Christian, we pray fervently for our situation. Asking for the Lord to have mercy on us, to deliver us from the crisis, and often when we do that as if God had turned His eyes away from us. An investor begins to develop anxieties, visiting from bank to bank, trying to resolve the crisis in his investment. When this happens, our psychology state in perceive the risks begin to raise to another level. The risks had not changed. From beginning to the end the risk is the same. But then, our perception of risks changed.

Desperato...
Most missionaries struggle to maintain their financial support, and they are no different. Since 1992, they have shared their mission story in more than 100 ...(www.dominicanepiscopalchurch.org/ DrWEBenglish/snowmision/our_story.htm ) Of course, there are many more stories, even the great Father of Missions had his stories of faith.

Men v.s. God
Why are the missionaries worried? A good missionary should not have worries. Our provision is from God and not from man. Then, why do they worry? Is it because they do not trust God?

God provides. Man plays a part too. The book of James has a good teaching in this. In fact, Jesus mentioned about the duties of man be it the believed or non-believed in the four Gospels.

Would a fact that when the church back home cares much about their missionaries in their livinghood and also missions needs, helps to ease the worries of their missionaries?

Duties of the church......
In the biblical sense, God will provides, through men or through miracles. But then God do keep record of the deeds of His own people. The judgment begins in the house of God.

Church, "devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well..."Colossians4:2,3a "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now" Phi1:3-6.

Joining Otaku Club

Is Hikikomori in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, people started to relate themselves with Otaku and fearing Hikikomori. The word "Hikikomori" had been used carelessly these days, especially in the local newspaper, as well as the speeches by the social workers. There were news about like:
1. Living in Tokyo's shadow OBSERVERAlex Lo
South China Morning Post. Hong Kong:Nov 10, 2005. p. 14

2. Expanding ranks of the idle young 'fodder for triads' Social workers estimate about 6,000 young people at risk
Patsy Moy. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong:Sep 4, 2006. p. 3

3. Study identifies teenagers at risk of becoming hermits
Zhuang Pinghui. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong:Sep 11, 2006. p. 1

4. Agency fears 6,000 young hiding from society; Study of secondary schools finds some troubled youth acting like hermits
Patsy Moy. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong:Jul 18, 2005. p. 1


Otaku v.s. Hikikomori

As I was reading the descriptions in the articles, I was surprised how people actually link all these together. People seemingly do not understand what does it mean about an Otaku or Hikikomori. I met someone who think it is cool to be a Hikikomori, and she thinks that she is one of them. The media illustration of the phenomena had been misleading and confusing. My friend is a university student who studies politics and she is friendly, she is not afraid of dealing with people or strangers, she is far from being a "Hikikomori".

Is it a fair link?
Is it fair to link the phenomena in Hong Kong to the phenomena of Hikikomori in Japan? Maybe it is, as a projection of social phenomena in Hong Kong in the next 10 years. But then it is highly nonsense to associate both problems in a equal sense at this moment. Are they aware how serious it is in Japan, and the complications in public health?

RISK......
In a pro-Japan fashion, people think it is cool to act or to follow the Japanese in their live styles. Having a misconception of the truth will install consequences of ignorance. We need to becareful that Hkikomori cases often associated with isolations and internet suicides these days. Hikikomori is a very complicated case. However Otaku is different. I think what is the Hong Kong people are facing now is the phenomena of Otaku.

Taking Balance!
Otaku and Hikikomori are two different phenomena. Relating both freely would be a risk that the social workers need to take. The positive impact is gaining public attention and creating awareness about the phenomena. The negative impact is shallowing the knowledge of the public. Combining both together reduce the awareness of the seriousness of the phenomena.

Wearing Turbans On A Bike

I saw a pizza delivery man on a bike this afternoon. He was wearing a turban instead of a helmet.

Then, I recalled what my Sikh friend said to me, being a Sikh, they don't wear helmet, and most of the time was legal. It's true, when my friend was in Korea, he was the only one who being exempted from wearing a helmet when he joined the DMZ tour. It seems like the turban itself is strong enough to protect him from any head injury.

Of course, the only reason that I could think of for this "legacy" is the sensitiveness when it comes to religion.

And the rasional in allowing it would be "peace". Nevertheless, the people who chose a turban over a helmet had took a risk. In India, most people do not wear helmet, so the risk is not threatening because they fall into majority. But how about places outside India? Why the Sikhs still prefer turbans than the helmet when they are involved in dangerous occupation, such as construction, delivery man etc. ? Maybe the risk of loosing an identity is greater than getting hurt in an accident.

The Sikhs have to face their community "daily". And this community is well known with close social bonding. Accidents do occur, but it might not happen to "me". And when it happens, it will either involving head injuries or non-head injuries. The chances are fifty-fifty. But often, when it involve head injuries, the victim is very unlikely to survive. The impact is great and dreadful, but it became "less" threatening when it does not affect you and me "daily".


Then I wonder, do these people realize that they are taking a risk after some times? Would this risk taking enables them to be more cautious on the road? What is the death rate of a victim who do not wear a helmet? What is the death rate of the victim not wearing a helmet in India? And what is the rate of cause of mortality was deal to not wearing a helmet when accident occurred? Is that something that Public Health Officer can do about this situation?

It's really hard to figure out all these... Help!

Plans for Project/Dissertation

Topic Concentration:

1. School Violence - Hikikomori - Internet Suicide
( A projection of the mortality rate/ health pattern of teenagers in Hong Kong in 10 years later, taking Japan as an example. )

Things to do:
(i)  Obtain data of reported school violence in both Japan and Hong Kong.
(ii) Obtain reports of confirmed or suspected Hikikomori in both Japan and Hong Kong.
(iii) Obtain the Internet suicide figures and plot a trend of recent years in both Japan and Hong Kong.
(iv) Compare the incidents and the factors behind of Hikikomori. Identify the age, economical status, social status and gender.

2. The Aging Society - Public Health Measurements In Corporation of Different Workforce.
( Hong Kong is an rapidly aging society next to Japan in the same region. In fact, the birth rates had dropped rapidly recent years, and the aging population had aroused to an alarming level. Is Hong Kong prepared for this aging population? Had the public health measure been taken to deal with this situation? Is the Hong Kong SARS local government ready for the consequences that Hong Kong is facing in next 20 years? Japan had been long exposed to this risk. Is Japan doing enough then, to improve the public health of the elderly, or to reduce the extra burdens that the public and the government is currently facing. What are the impacts of aging to the society?)


Things to do:
(i) Obtain data of the life expectancy and population of the elderly in both Japan and Hong Kong.
(ii) Analyse the GDP of both countries,  the past 50 years, 25 years, and this year 2006, and also the estimation in next 5 years to 10 years.
(iii) Compare both countries in terms of economic growth, as well as productivity.
(iv) Analyse the policies which had been implemented or in the proposal of both countries. Are there any solutions? If yes, what are they? And how they work?
(v) Compare measurements, plans and actions.
(vi) Analyse the impact of aging in the society of both countries.
(vii) Set a projection for Hong Kong in the next 20 years. Would what the government or public health sectors will be doing going to achieve the goal, taking the experience of Japan as an example? If not, what would be the suggestions?

Risk: "Not To Gamble" vs. Jockey Club

I was taking a bus from Kennedy to Causeway Bay. I was looking out from the window, and I noticed the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Many people were in there, buying numbers. The customers were from young to old. I paid particular attention to this because I was just reading about a news a week ago on the Jockey Club complaint about loosing the younger clients As  I was looking, I saw a small probably A4 size poster that was pasted to the glass. It was written in Chinese, and it went like this, "Do Not Get Hooked By Gambling!". The next poster to it was an ad for the Jockey Club, about horse racing and numbers.

Was it cool? Or was it sarcastic? Ironically, the advice on "Not To Gamble!" was put at the entrance to the Jockey Club, people who went in this place except for the staffs most likely were to gamble. What a good place to put an ad, really! It basically targeted the right crowd. But I wonder how many people paid any attention to the paper that was sticking there.

People know the consequences of gambling. But people still do it, regardless the warning preceding it.

People take risk. Especially in bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, and gambling. Why? Is the warning not clear enough? Or is it perception that plays tricks in human mind?

What would be an effective way to stop people from bad habits? How could we stop people from jumping into the fire, or people who risk their lives to devil? Is it simply telling them the truth would be enough?

Would slamming a bag of cigarette to the face of a smoker, and tell him that he is going to dye of lung cancer in 25years later make a smoker quit smoking?

This is really something that we need to think about.

Execellent Infant Mortality Rate v.s. Declining Birth Rate

Success of Japan In Infant Mortality

Japan had done an excellent job in the maternal and child health. A sharp reduction of infant mortality was observed in 1975. Now, Japan is one of the lowest among the developed countries.

What had the Public Health policies that were implemented to achieve such significant result?

Public Health Practice

Excellent Maternal Care & Follow Up of Infants

It was claimed to be the success of MHC (Municipal Health Center). Pregnant mothers were given free health guidance and preventive medical activities as well as a health record for the child through the course of pregnancy and after birth. Health guidance and consultation by public health nurses may continue after birth especially when the new born babies are weighed 2500mg or less, in which case parents are required to report to the local public health centers to prompt them for quick action.

Mass Screening for Diseases

All newborn babies are entitled for public funded mass screening to detect congenital metabolic diseases such as phenylketonuria, and for the babies born to HB positive mothers, immunoglobulin and vaccination will be provided as part of health insurance benefit.

To detect preventable causes of intellectual impairments such as phenylketouria, cretinism, neuroblastoma etc. mass screening program for neonates has been conducted since 1977.

Insurance

For very low birth weight babies who require intensive care after birth, health insurance coverage starts on the first day of their births as dependent family status of their parent's health insurance. The usually required 20-30% co-payment will be waived by public funding for the babies whose birth weight below 2000g. All babies are entitled to free well-baby check ups twice at the age of 1.5 years and 3 years, all of which are provided by municipal governments.

Efforts of Public Health v.s. Declination of Birth Rate

Looking into these measurements that the government had taken, we could see the weight of attention in the newborns, or with the younger generations of tomorrow. But then, ironically inspite of all these excellent facilities, the birth rate in Japan is continue in decline. The alarming birth rate figure had left Japan into a futureless tomorrow within the next 50 years, accompany with huge aging unproductive problems. What is happening in Japan? If maternal and infant care is not the setback for having a baby, then what is the reason for not having babies?

Values

Risks and Perceptions

Could it be a medical issue? Could it be a moral issue? Or could it be a perception issue? Or could it be the finance burdens in raising up a child? Comparing the baby blooms immediate after WW2 and 1970s, it clearly depicts a change of value in the lives of the Japanese. Could we tell what is happening in the society?

My interest is about is there some kind of "risks" for the Japanese women to have babies? And if yes, what are their concerns?

Another interesting finding is, although there were massive screenings for congenital metabolic diseases for the babies, but in a somewhat odd contrast, intrauterine diagnoses of Down syndrome and other detectable anomalies are not actively performed. Why? Is this a cost problem? Or is this something to deal with the perceptions?

May God help us in understanding.

References: 1. Public Health Japan, 2005