Human Rights, Harmony And Balance

Human rights, including the freedom of expression, have to be balanced with social harmony, said a former judge at an event to mark Human Rights Day on Saturday – ST, 11/12/11

Balance… Hmmm. Reminds me so much of Tao Te Ching.

The Tao Te Ching says :
” If a country is governed with tolerance, the people are comfortable and honest. If a country is governed with repression, the people are depressed and crafty.”

Let us be comfortable and honest with ourselves. Let us freely express what we feel, what we think… let us not be full of pretence. For the mark of social harmony is tolerance and understanding.

Many Singaporeans are depressed and some are being crafty. There is repression. Where is the harmony there? This is not in keeping with the Tao.

Social harmony is important. But harmony depends on human rights. If we do not have rights, how do we live in harmony with ourselves and with people around us?

When human rights are respected, harmony shall flourish.

“Those who try to control,who use force to protect their power, go against the direction of the Tao. They take from those who don’t have enough, and give to those who have far too much.”

Not through coercion, but through mutual respect, that we learn to live in harmony. We must express ourselves, and let others express themselves.

Not brute force, but a sense of responsibility between individuals with differing views. We can agree to agree, and agree to disagree, without resorting to blackmail,threats, or other use of force.

Only by so doing, do we understand each other. As we understand, we shall be in harmony.

Human rights and social harmony must be balanced not with each other, but with economic aspirations. Singapore have many economic aspirations but little human rights. That is why there is little social harmony.

Understanding this is key.

Media Release : 400 Copies Of Singapore Sucks! Have Been Held From Entering Singapore

The organisers of the book launch for Singapore Sucks! were informed that MDA (Media Development Authority) has contacted the book importer who was supposed to take delivery of the 400 copies of Singapore Sucks!.

The copies were expected to arrive on Thursday, the 8th of December, to faciliate the launch on the 11th. However, all 400 copies have been held back from entering Singapore since Thursday.

The organisers were not privy to the conversation between the book importer and MDA, but understand that the title has attracted MDA’s attention, and approval has not yet been granted to allow passage of the books into Singapore. The organisers were also informed that MDA might be paying bookseller Kinokuniya, who has been selling Singapore Sucks! for the past few months, a visit. The organisers are not dismissing the possibility that Singapore Sucks! may be removed from the shelves.

What I Learnt On 4th Dec

On Sunday, the 4th of December, I went to 2 events. One was held by the  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Federation (Singapore), and the other was Slutwalk.

Go SlutWalk Go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday, December the 4th, will be the SlutWalk Singapore event at Hong Lim Park.

Their demands are:
No to rape
No to victim-blaming
No to slut-shaming

I condemn rape, an act of violence, in every way.

I condemn victim-blaming.

I give you an analogy.

What if you get picked on and beaten up by gangsters one day. You try to seek help and everybody just ask you things like “Why didn’t you call the police then?”,”Why did you offend them?”,”Why didn’t you run away?”, instead of offering help.

Nobody asks “How do we stop them from beating others?”,”How do we protect potentially vulnerable people?”

How would YOU feel?

I condemn slut-shaming.

Slut is a deragotary term used most often against women. It is especially used against women who defy the convention of what a woman should be in a male chauvinist society, ie. docile,meek and gullible. A form of name-calling, it is often used to cast the victim into an undesirable corner of society.

The truth is anybody and everybody can be called a slut.

I stand in solidarity with the demands of SlutWalk Singapore.

No to rape
No to victim-blaming
No to slut-shaming

SlutWalk website, click here

On Jason, Christian and so on and so forth

So there was Jason Neo, and Christian Eliab Ratnam… And then there was Donaldson Tan.

Freeport Workers Struggle And Colonialism In Papua

This article was taken from this Thought and Action blog. I have attempted to translate it into English, as I feel it important for the world community to stand together with the Freeport workers in this trying time. My grasp of Bahasa Indonesia is not very good. If there are any discrepancies,  please do point it out so that I can make the relevant editing. Thank you.

Zely Ariane

The potential in Papua is only limited by imagination – James Moffet, Freeport owner

Solidarity action in front of Freeport office, Jakarta

On 11 October 2011, around 200 people participated in solidarity action for the strikers at PT. Freeport Indonesia. They protested corporate intimidation of the Freeport union and demanded responsibility from the police force for the shooting and violence inflicted upon the Freeport strikers and surrounding native communities. This solidarity action was supported by 25 unions, student, LSM, youth and poverty groups, in Jakarta.

Singaporean Activists Commemorates the 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty

On Sunday, 9 October 2011, nearly 20 local activists and supporters gathered together at the Speakers’ Corner to commemorate the 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty. The event, jointly organised by the Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, We Believe in Second Chances and Think Centre, is part of a global movement started since 2003, to mark October 10 as a World Day against the death penalty across the world.  This year’s World Day focuses on the inhumanity of the death penalty as a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment.

In Dedication

A bang in Indonesia,

as loud shots ring in Burma,

a blast in Gaza,

genocide in Darfur.

The Role Of Education ( Pt 1 )

As I read through this article ( A degree is nice, but we need something else ), a central recurring question seemed to manifest itself.

Does education emphasize upon the individual’s enrichment or the benefit of the market ?

Presidential Election In Retrospect

First of all, I would like to congratulate Tony Tan for winning the post of President. Even so, winning is only the start of the battle.

I did not vote for you. So, you would have to prove your worth to myself and the other 60% of Singaporeans who had voted the other candidates. All the best and may you succeed.