Your Voice: Popularity of fencing, AI hits human jobs, the pros of plastic and the role of philosophy

The gold medals won at the Paris 2024 Olympics by fencing stars Vivian Kong and Cheung Ka-long have brought great pride to our city. Their remarkable achievements are set to greatly enhance the sport’s visibility and increase the popularity of fencing in Hong Kong.

As interest in fencing grows, we can anticipate the domino effect on schools, sports clubs and recreational centres stepping up to offer or expand fencing programmes, making the sport more accessible.

However, fencing is known for its high costs, including expensive equipment and coaching fees. To make the most of this momentum and ensure that all interested youths have an equal opportunity to participate, it is essential for the government to step in. Free or heavily subsidised fencing courses could allow students from low-income families to experience fencing without the financial burden.

The Hong Kong Fencing Association should also build on their existing programmes, such as the Young Athletes Training Scheme, to accommodate the rising interest and ensure that upcoming stars have the resources they need to excel.

Paris Olympics: 7 facts about Hong Kong’s 2024 medal winners

Cherry Chan, St Mary’s Canossian College

Members of the Screen Actors Guild in the US held a strike against the video game industry in July due to disagreements over worker protections against artificial intelligence (AI). Many brought up the possibility of copyrighting their voices to protect them from being cloned to produce content without their permission. Once cloned, these AI voices are more economical than actual employees.

This poses a risk for thousands of voice actors who could lose their jobs to their AI-cloned voices. It also raises questions about whether it is a voice actor’s right to own their voice and stop others from using it. Some say that clients have already bought their services and have the right to do as they wish with the recordings. Others argue that the voices still belong to the actors and that unauthorised usage infringes on intellectual property rights.

There should be laws to protect voice actors. This is just the tip of the iceberg: everyone in the creative industry risks being mimicked and replaced by AI.

I hope more attention could be drawn to these problems and stop such infringement, or that rules are developed to reach an agreement.

Amina Seyd, HHCKLA Buddhist Leung Chik Wai College

While reducing plastic consumption is often touted as a way to combat climate change, the reality is more nuanced.

One key argument in favour of cutting down plastic use is the production and disposal of plastic products. The extraction and refining of fossil fuels required to create plastic generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. The incineration or landfilling of plastic waste can also release potent climate pollutants.

However, plastic also has some benefits that are often overlooked. Lightweight plastic packaging can reduce fuel consumption by making products lighter during transport. Plastic insulation in buildings and vehicles improves energy efficiency. Specific medical equipment made of plastic plays a critical role in healthcare, with minimal climate impact.

The solution does not lie in a simple ban on plastic, but in a comprehensive approach with a priority on sustainable design, improved waste management and the development of genuinely eco-friendly alternatives.

This could involve promoting the use of recycled plastic, investing in advanced recycling technologies and developing compostable or bio-based plastics.

Kathy Sin, St Paul’s Secondary School

Imagine you are a philosophy student. Would you write research papers at school or engage in philosophical discussions on the streets, like Plato and Socrates used to?

According to an SCMP article titled “China philosophy students trade grilled sausages, highbrow theories at street food stall” a group of graduate students chose the latter.

While the traditional path for highly-educated individuals leads to high-end professions, a group of Chinese students has chosen a different route. They promote their philosophical beliefs not through conventional means but by engaging in philosophical discussions on the streets. This unconventional approach spreads the value of philosophy to society and also fosters personal growth.

Rarely do people acknowledge the importance of philosophy. Yet, selling street snacks is an easy way to access the public. These students use Socratic methods to encourage customers to share their thoughts with a series of questions rather than lecturing them. This can teach customers about philosophy by guiding them to think critically. These experiences outside classrooms are one-of-a-kind.