Hanging herself with her own rope?
SINGAPORE - It was only last week when Dr Thio Su Mien made the following claims regarding AWARE’s comprehensive sexuality (CSE) program especially with regards to her focus on the neutral portrayal of homosexuality:
‘I talked to parents. I said: You better do something about this, otherwise your daughter will come back and say, ‘Mum, I want to marry my girlfriend.’
‘Or your son will say: ‘Dad, I want to marry my boyfriend.”
These parents were flabbergasted, she said, adding that such sexuality education was taking place in the United States and Europe and was not new.
‘What is happening in society is that we are redefining marriage, we are redefining families,’ she said.
‘So I’m a concerned citizen and if people are so ignorant, I think I want to teach them.’
Pointing out that Aware’s programme was already in 30 schools, she said: ‘The suggestion is that in this programme, young girls from 12 to 18 are taught that it’s okay to experiment with each other.
‘And this is something which should concern parents in Singapore. Are we going to have an entire generation of lesbians?’
I was anticipating a response from the Ministry of Education (MOE), and my prediction finally came true. Allow me to kick things off with an elaboration on how MOE-affiliated schools work based on my experience in running workshops in schools, though not in the area of sexuality education. From time to time, schools may decide to run workshops by external bodies or personnels not within the educational service. Such workshops are usually not part of the examinable content within the mandatory syllabus, but are organized to equip students with useful knowledge. Prior to such workshops, the lesson plans and teaching materials are reviewed by the teachers, department heads or their assistants. Thus, any objectionable material will be siphoned out. This review process is meant to ensure that the materials covered during the workshop adhered to set guidelines. MOE was spot on in its reply to queries on AWARE’s CSE, especially on the part in ensuring that the latter adheres to religious sensitivity guidelines. And, it is a norm for other guidelines to be enforced too, such as racial sensitivity.
If a typical man in the street were to read Dr Thio’s statements, he may interpret it in the following way 1) Schools that run AWARE’s CSE promote homosexuality and lesbianism. 2) It seems that MOE is also advocating the promotion of homosexuality and lesbianism in such schools since they are MOE-affiliated. 3) Or MOE isn’t in control of the curriculum and may not have a proper guideline on sexuality education.
Whilst seeking to demolish the old AWARE’s CSE program, what Dr Thio had done at the same time was to cast aspersions on our education service indirectly. She never said it directly, but the inferences can be made. This is a rope she has tried to use to “hang” the old AWARE. But this indirect attack on the education establishment will prompt a response from the latter.
Thus, it didn’t come as a surprise that MOE came out to issue its stand on sexuality education in schools that run AWARE’s workshops. It has also requested Dr Thio to come up with facts to substantiate her claims:
“Last year, 11 secondary schools engaged AWARE to run workshops for their students. The number of students involved in each school ranged from about 20 to 100, and each workshop lasted 3 hours. The objectives of these workshops were to provide students with accurate information on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV, to help students understand the consequences of premarital sexual activity, and to equip students with skills such as decision-making and resisting negative peer pressure.
AWARE also conducted assembly talks, typically of 45-minute duration, for students in a few secondary schools. Some of the areas covered in the talks included body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, teenage pregnancies, sexual harassment and the role of women in today’s context.
The schools that engaged AWARE found that the content and messages of the sessions conducted were appropriate for their students and adhered to guidelines to respect the values of different religious groups. The schools did not receive any negative feedback from students or parents who attended the workshops and talks.
In particular, MOE has also not received any complaint from parents or Dr Thio Su Mien, who was reported to have made specific claims about sexuality education in our schools. MOE has contacted Dr Thio Su Mien to seek clarifications and facts to substantiate her claims.”
Thus, Dr Thio has gotten into some sort of a sticky situation with a government institution with the latter’s disavowal of her claims. Based on the information provided firstly by the old AWARE members and now corroborated by MOE, it is unlikely that Dr Thio is able to substantiate her claims. In other words, she may be hanging herself with the same rope she used to hang the old AWARE.
In light of the new developments, what does that mean for the EOGM? It appears that the anti-homosexuality and anti-lesbianism stance of the new exco and Dr Thio is now becoming some sort of baggage for them. A continual grip on that baggage might prove to be their undoing. And due to the situation with MOE that Dr Thio has gotten herself into, it would seem prudent that the new AWARE exco should start distancing themselves from her. But wouldn’t that mean they would be without a mentor? If they distance themselves from their mentor, would they end up like headless chickens? The build-up to the EOGM on 2nd May is getting interesting by the day.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.141
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Health Minister Says So-Called Swine Flu May be Man Made
Health Minister Says So-Called Swine Flu May be Man Made
Posted: 2009/04/28
From: Mathaba
The North American Influenza (or United States Flu) which is wrongly being called `Swine Flu` is apparently man made as pointed out on independent media networks, and Indonesia`s Health Minister confirms this possibility thus showing true credentials to protect Indonesians
Mathaba.Net - The recent outbreak of so-called Swine Flu has been revealed in several articles on this and other independent news networks, to be man-made according to various experts.
This is not the first time attempts to start a man-made pandemic have been launched, with HIV, Bird Flu, so-called Mad Cow Disease, and Syphilis among other diseases, all having been deliberately spread by Anglo-American military `research` laboratories.
Singapore and other Asian news networks have reported the cautious remarks of Indonesia's Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari as she said on Tuesday that deadly swine flu virus could have been man-made. She urged calm over its spread around the world.
She has said that Western governments could be making and spreading viruses in the developing world to boost pharmaceutical companies' profits. It is well known that senior members of the United States former administration such as Donald Rumsfeld have massive shares in vaccines such as the avian bird flu vaccination.
"I'm not sure whether the virus was genetically engineered but it's a possibility," she told reporters at a press conference called to reassure the public over the government's response to the swine flu threat.
No cases of the disease have been reported in Indonesia, the country worst hit by the bird flu virus which has killed about 250 people worldwide since 2003.
Indonesian authorities have increased body temperature scanners at airports and banned imports of live pigs and pork products, amid World Health Organisation (WHO) warnings of a pandemic.
Supari, a cardiologist, also claimed that the H1N1 strain of swine flu, which is believed to have killed more than 150 people in Mexico, could not survive in tropical countries like Indonesia.
"We have to be alert at all times although swine flu in Indonesia is not a cause for panic," she said.
"H1N1 survives in countries with four seasons. The type A H1N1 virus hopefully won't be able to sustain itself once it enters the tropical climate of Indonesia," she added.
The virus has been found in 11 countries including Mexico, the United States and Spain, while several other countries from Colombia to New Zealand are investigating suspected cases.
Supari said the health ministry had prepared 100 hospitals to handle swine flu cases should the disease enter Indonesia.
The minister has refused since 2006 to share all but a handful of Indonesia's bird flu virus samples with WHO researchers, saying the system is being abused by rich countries to develop profitable vaccines which poor countries must buy.
It is also well-known among informed circles that the WHO itself was responsible for the spread of AIDS to Africa and South East Asia via contaminated vaccines in the 1980's.
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) says “swine flu” is an inaccurate name for the virus that has sickened nearly 2,000 people in Mexico and 40 people in the United States. The OIE says it is more accurate to call it the “North American Flu”, identifying it geographically, because the new virus has characteristics of swine, avian and human virus components and has NOT been identified in any animals thus far.
The OIE calls for immediate scientific research to determine how susceptible animals would be to the new virus and if any additional biosecurity measures should take place, including possible vaccination of any susceptible animals. The OIE says any positive research findings should ONLY lead to trade protection measures of pigs in the areas of countries where human cases have been confirmed.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO) is working to determine if the H1N1 flu virus has any connection to pigs. So far, none has been found.
Western controlled media networks have spread the misinformation and misnomer concerning swine flu, which will lead the world's population to the wrong conclusion. "Whilst the man-made killer disease may be made by human swines, the animal pigs have yet to catch it" an observer noted.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28092.1
Posted: 2009/04/28
From: Mathaba
The North American Influenza (or United States Flu) which is wrongly being called `Swine Flu` is apparently man made as pointed out on independent media networks, and Indonesia`s Health Minister confirms this possibility thus showing true credentials to protect Indonesians
Mathaba.Net - The recent outbreak of so-called Swine Flu has been revealed in several articles on this and other independent news networks, to be man-made according to various experts.
This is not the first time attempts to start a man-made pandemic have been launched, with HIV, Bird Flu, so-called Mad Cow Disease, and Syphilis among other diseases, all having been deliberately spread by Anglo-American military `research` laboratories.
Singapore and other Asian news networks have reported the cautious remarks of Indonesia's Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari as she said on Tuesday that deadly swine flu virus could have been man-made. She urged calm over its spread around the world.
She has said that Western governments could be making and spreading viruses in the developing world to boost pharmaceutical companies' profits. It is well known that senior members of the United States former administration such as Donald Rumsfeld have massive shares in vaccines such as the avian bird flu vaccination.
"I'm not sure whether the virus was genetically engineered but it's a possibility," she told reporters at a press conference called to reassure the public over the government's response to the swine flu threat.
No cases of the disease have been reported in Indonesia, the country worst hit by the bird flu virus which has killed about 250 people worldwide since 2003.
Indonesian authorities have increased body temperature scanners at airports and banned imports of live pigs and pork products, amid World Health Organisation (WHO) warnings of a pandemic.
Supari, a cardiologist, also claimed that the H1N1 strain of swine flu, which is believed to have killed more than 150 people in Mexico, could not survive in tropical countries like Indonesia.
"We have to be alert at all times although swine flu in Indonesia is not a cause for panic," she said.
"H1N1 survives in countries with four seasons. The type A H1N1 virus hopefully won't be able to sustain itself once it enters the tropical climate of Indonesia," she added.
The virus has been found in 11 countries including Mexico, the United States and Spain, while several other countries from Colombia to New Zealand are investigating suspected cases.
Supari said the health ministry had prepared 100 hospitals to handle swine flu cases should the disease enter Indonesia.
The minister has refused since 2006 to share all but a handful of Indonesia's bird flu virus samples with WHO researchers, saying the system is being abused by rich countries to develop profitable vaccines which poor countries must buy.
It is also well-known among informed circles that the WHO itself was responsible for the spread of AIDS to Africa and South East Asia via contaminated vaccines in the 1980's.
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) says “swine flu” is an inaccurate name for the virus that has sickened nearly 2,000 people in Mexico and 40 people in the United States. The OIE says it is more accurate to call it the “North American Flu”, identifying it geographically, because the new virus has characteristics of swine, avian and human virus components and has NOT been identified in any animals thus far.
The OIE calls for immediate scientific research to determine how susceptible animals would be to the new virus and if any additional biosecurity measures should take place, including possible vaccination of any susceptible animals. The OIE says any positive research findings should ONLY lead to trade protection measures of pigs in the areas of countries where human cases have been confirmed.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO) is working to determine if the H1N1 flu virus has any connection to pigs. So far, none has been found.
Western controlled media networks have spread the misinformation and misnomer concerning swine flu, which will lead the world's population to the wrong conclusion. "Whilst the man-made killer disease may be made by human swines, the animal pigs have yet to catch it" an observer noted.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28092.1
Swine flu 'beyond containment'
Swine flu 'beyond containment'
"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.
The swine flu crisis has deepened with the death toll mounting above 150 in Mexico and at least 16 countries reporting confirmed or suspected infections.
The World Health Organisation warned meanwhile that the virus is now too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy.
Mexico, epicenter of the outbreak, said 152 people were now believed to have died from swine flu with more than 1,600 people suspected to be carrying the virus. Twenty of the deaths have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
The number of confirmed cases in the United States more than doubled to 44 and Britain and Spain both said they had registered patients sick with swine flu, the first cases in Europe.
Canada has six cases and Israel and New Zealand confirmed their first swine flu casualties.
Suspected victims were being kept under surveillance from Australia (70 cases) to Sweden and Switzerland which had five each.
While countries tightened borders, the WHO said research since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003 in Asia had shown that border controls were of little use halting the spread of such a virus.
"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.
"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," he said. "We learn as we go on. SARS was a huge learning experience for all of us."
WHO assistant general secretary Keiji Fukuda warned on Monday that the virus would be impossible to contain.
"I think that in this age of global travel where people move around in airplanes so quickly, there is no region to which this virus could not spread," said Fukuda.
Fukuda said that WHO experts decided at a WHO meeting on Monday that the virus is too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy and that the UN health agency did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a meeting of the government's top emergency preparations committee on to discuss the swine flu crisis.
"Swine flu is an international problem now, it's crossed two continents, it's got to be dealt with by international agreements," said Brown.
In Asia, South Korea said it was investigating one suspected infection, while at least three people have been confirmed as New Zealand's first swine flu cases but 10 are assumed to have caught the virus, Health Minister Tony Ryall said.
WHO officials in China said they were investigating several people with suspicious symptoms, but played down the chances that any were likely infected.
Japan said it would temporarily tighten visa restrictions for Mexican nationals as part of efforts to stop the virus entering the country.
It also booked 500 hotel rooms near Tokyo's Narita airport in case infected travellers need to be quaratined, Jiji Press news agency reported.
An Israeli man recently returned from Mexico has been confirmed to have contracted the Middle East's first case of swine flu, Israeli military radio reported.
Dmitry Lvov, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Virology, said that the risk of a worldwide pandemic "is very high. It could reach Russia in a week."
"It all depends on whether the new countries affected can contain its development," said Lvov.
Australian authorities said Tuesday they were investigating 70 possible cases of swine flu and cautioned against travel to Mexico.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vowed to devote "all necessary resources" to the evolving flu threat, as possible cases of the disease more than doubled, covering all but one of the country's states and territories.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned the new multi-strain virus, which is believed to be a mix of a human flu virus and an avian flu that first came from swine, risked triggering a global pandemic.
"We are concerned that this virus could cause a new influenza pandemic. It could be mild in its effect or potentially be severe," Ban told reporters.
"We don't know yet which way it will go but we are concerned that in Mexico most of those who died were young and healthy adults."
Fears the virus disease could further hit the struggling global economy spooked investors, with stocks in Europe's leading markets sliding in opening trade, following sharp losses in Asia.
Oil prices suffered new falls amid worries that the outbreak would hurt air travel and hit demand.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28080.10
"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.
The swine flu crisis has deepened with the death toll mounting above 150 in Mexico and at least 16 countries reporting confirmed or suspected infections.
The World Health Organisation warned meanwhile that the virus is now too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy.
Mexico, epicenter of the outbreak, said 152 people were now believed to have died from swine flu with more than 1,600 people suspected to be carrying the virus. Twenty of the deaths have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
The number of confirmed cases in the United States more than doubled to 44 and Britain and Spain both said they had registered patients sick with swine flu, the first cases in Europe.
Canada has six cases and Israel and New Zealand confirmed their first swine flu casualties.
Suspected victims were being kept under surveillance from Australia (70 cases) to Sweden and Switzerland which had five each.
While countries tightened borders, the WHO said research since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003 in Asia had shown that border controls were of little use halting the spread of such a virus.
"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.
"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," he said. "We learn as we go on. SARS was a huge learning experience for all of us."
WHO assistant general secretary Keiji Fukuda warned on Monday that the virus would be impossible to contain.
"I think that in this age of global travel where people move around in airplanes so quickly, there is no region to which this virus could not spread," said Fukuda.
Fukuda said that WHO experts decided at a WHO meeting on Monday that the virus is too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy and that the UN health agency did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a meeting of the government's top emergency preparations committee on to discuss the swine flu crisis.
"Swine flu is an international problem now, it's crossed two continents, it's got to be dealt with by international agreements," said Brown.
In Asia, South Korea said it was investigating one suspected infection, while at least three people have been confirmed as New Zealand's first swine flu cases but 10 are assumed to have caught the virus, Health Minister Tony Ryall said.
WHO officials in China said they were investigating several people with suspicious symptoms, but played down the chances that any were likely infected.
Japan said it would temporarily tighten visa restrictions for Mexican nationals as part of efforts to stop the virus entering the country.
It also booked 500 hotel rooms near Tokyo's Narita airport in case infected travellers need to be quaratined, Jiji Press news agency reported.
An Israeli man recently returned from Mexico has been confirmed to have contracted the Middle East's first case of swine flu, Israeli military radio reported.
Dmitry Lvov, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Virology, said that the risk of a worldwide pandemic "is very high. It could reach Russia in a week."
"It all depends on whether the new countries affected can contain its development," said Lvov.
Australian authorities said Tuesday they were investigating 70 possible cases of swine flu and cautioned against travel to Mexico.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vowed to devote "all necessary resources" to the evolving flu threat, as possible cases of the disease more than doubled, covering all but one of the country's states and territories.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned the new multi-strain virus, which is believed to be a mix of a human flu virus and an avian flu that first came from swine, risked triggering a global pandemic.
"We are concerned that this virus could cause a new influenza pandemic. It could be mild in its effect or potentially be severe," Ban told reporters.
"We don't know yet which way it will go but we are concerned that in Mexico most of those who died were young and healthy adults."
Fears the virus disease could further hit the struggling global economy spooked investors, with stocks in Europe's leading markets sliding in opening trade, following sharp losses in Asia.
Oil prices suffered new falls amid worries that the outbreak would hurt air travel and hit demand.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28080.10
Swine Flu Update
Swine Flu Update
* The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its alert level over swine flu from three to four - two steps short of declaring a full pandemic.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021827.stm
.
* First case of swine flu was reported on 13 April 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021827.stm
.
* Affected so far…
Mexico: 26 confirmed cases (Mexico puts suspected deaths at 149, more than 1,600 suspected cases)
United States: 40 confirmed cases
Canada: 6 confirmed cases
Spain: 1 confirmed case
UK: Scotland says tests confirm 2 cases
Israel, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia and New Zealand: Suspected cases being tested
.
* There are antiviral drugs, including Tamiflu, that have been shown to be effective, but they need to be taken within days of the first symptoms.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/27/health/main4970352.shtml
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28080.8
* The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its alert level over swine flu from three to four - two steps short of declaring a full pandemic.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021827.stm
.
* First case of swine flu was reported on 13 April 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021827.stm
.
* Affected so far…
Mexico: 26 confirmed cases (Mexico puts suspected deaths at 149, more than 1,600 suspected cases)
United States: 40 confirmed cases
Canada: 6 confirmed cases
Spain: 1 confirmed case
UK: Scotland says tests confirm 2 cases
Israel, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia and New Zealand: Suspected cases being tested
.
* There are antiviral drugs, including Tamiflu, that have been shown to be effective, but they need to be taken within days of the first symptoms.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/27/health/main4970352.shtml
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28080.8
Steer Clear
Steer Clear
A few days ago, I commented on the AWARE saga. One thing I will say about the saga is that the Singapore government did the right thing by not intervening in it; it is a policy I think they should continue.
Despite some internet chatter that the New Guard is a political conspiracy, anyone with half a brain knows that it is nonsense. Why would the Singapore government bother with AWARE when they can just ignore them? So I’m quite perturbed when I read that Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan had commented on the AWARE saga as he warned the two warring groups "keep religion above the fray of petty politics".
Although he interjected that the Singapore government has no intention of intervening in the AWARE saga, as a government minister his words will still represent the government. As I said earlier, I do not believe the Singapore government should get involved in a strictly internal matter within AWARE. To me, this is an issue between 2 groups of women with vastly different views. Despite what people may say about the New Guard stealth takeover of AWARE, I think everyone will agree that their stand against homosexuality is more in line with Singapore society than teaching homosexuality as ‘neutral’ (whatever the hell that means).
The AWARE saga is something that only members of AWARE can clear up and I strongly believe that the Singapore government should steer clear of the whole mess.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27958.12
A few days ago, I commented on the AWARE saga. One thing I will say about the saga is that the Singapore government did the right thing by not intervening in it; it is a policy I think they should continue.
Despite some internet chatter that the New Guard is a political conspiracy, anyone with half a brain knows that it is nonsense. Why would the Singapore government bother with AWARE when they can just ignore them? So I’m quite perturbed when I read that Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan had commented on the AWARE saga as he warned the two warring groups "keep religion above the fray of petty politics".
Although he interjected that the Singapore government has no intention of intervening in the AWARE saga, as a government minister his words will still represent the government. As I said earlier, I do not believe the Singapore government should get involved in a strictly internal matter within AWARE. To me, this is an issue between 2 groups of women with vastly different views. Despite what people may say about the New Guard stealth takeover of AWARE, I think everyone will agree that their stand against homosexuality is more in line with Singapore society than teaching homosexuality as ‘neutral’ (whatever the hell that means).
The AWARE saga is something that only members of AWARE can clear up and I strongly believe that the Singapore government should steer clear of the whole mess.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27958.12
Singapore’s ‘Culture Wars’: Fragmenting Politics
Singapore’s ‘Culture Wars’: Fragmenting Politics
liberal_boy1Every Singaporean longs for the day when ‘race’ and ‘religion’ cease to be markers of difference in society. And to a large extent they have. For most post-1965 Singaporeans, the politics of ‘race’ and ‘religion’ are but ancient and anecdotal lessons hermeneutically sealed in history textbooks unlike the stark realities of a bygone era their parents grew up in. Through a combination of stern warnings from the People’s Action Party (PAP) government and institutions like the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act of 1991, race and religion have never played a significant role in civil society or electoral politics since independence. That’s the good news.
The not-so-bad news is that new issues have emerged over the last decade or so to replace the traditional faultlines of ‘race’ and ‘religion’. A growing list of hot button issues like homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, the casinos, censorship and so on, has become integral to the politics of identity in contemporary Singapore. These hot-button issues have a tendency to divide Singaporeans, irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity, based on their ideological worldview of these lifestyle choices.
Such politics of division are, of course, not new. The American ‘culture wars’ first caught the popular imagination when presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan delivered his famous campaign speech to the Republican National Convention in 1992. Referring to liberal ideologies over controversial issues as abortion, affirmative action, and arts funding, Buchanan urged Republicans to declare “a war for the nation’s soul.” In his book Culture Wars: The Struggle for America, sociologist James Davison Hunter examined the phenomenon as the struggle between the ‘orthodox’ (conservative or traditional) and ‘progressive’ (liberal or modern) camps in spheres of interests like law, education, arts, the family, and politics. For Hunter, the ‘culture wars’ were unlike conventional religious and cultural conflicts that historically divided the nation between the religious and the secular but along ‘orthodox’ and ‘progressive’ ideological worldviews that cut across established moral and religious communities.
These hot button issues are complex because they contain a wide variety of polarities. Take the AWARE saga for example. The conflict currently playing out is not just a straightforward struggle between the pro-gay and anti-gay camps, but also between orthodox and progressive Christians, not to mention between civic secularists and cultural conservatives. The 2007 debate over Section 377A of the Penal Code was similarly complex. The casino debate in 2004 was also more than a conflict between religious and non-religious people but also between moral conservatives and cultural libertarians, and between conservative economists and economic pragmatists. On the immediate horizon is the workshop on so-called ‘end-of-life’ issues by the euthanasia expert Philip Nitschke to be held next month. Dr Nitschke, head of Exit International, a centre that promotes euthanasia, will speak on concerns such as advanced medical directives and will be sure to provoke a backlash.
Simply put, as Singapore confirms its status as a global city, as it engages with the growing influx of ideas and institutions, it will be increasingly become more fragmented along ‘orthodox’ and ‘progressive’ worldviews which, in turn, have a multitude of agenda and interests behind them.
This is why Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan’s recent observation in the wake of the AWARE saga misses the point. He was quoted in the local media as saying:
If you allow these single issues [the gay issue] to dominate and hijack your agenda, I think you are not going succeed and it’s going to be counter productive.
But such ‘single issues’ are both deep and wide in terms of the agenda behind them. 377A and the casino debate were also ‘single issues’ that carried deeply held beliefs by a wide variety of camps. These hot button issues are not ‘single issues’ or one-off debates but symptoms of an on-going conflict between orthodoxy and progressives.
This conflict may not necessarily be a bad thing. These hot button issues will make policy-decisions more complicated. It will make Singapore politics more sophisticated because the PAP will have to speak to a variety of constituents and decide which to court. There would be more bargaining and negotiating as the ruling party will have no choice but to bear in mind the deeply held values of a wide array of people. This fragmentation of identities will lead to a fragmentation of politics.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.140
Singapore-based company collaborating with company owned by Burmese drug lord to build Myanmar’s new airport
Singapore-based company collaborating with company owned by Burmese drug lord to build Myanmar’s new airport
Myanmar’s military government is constructing a new international airport in the administrative capital Naypyidaw that will be able to handle 10.5 million passengers a year. (Source: AFP)
The project is handled jointly by private company Asia World and Singapore-based CPG Consultants which drew up the blueprints:
What’s so unusual about this business collaboration between a Burmese and Singapore company?
The Chairman of Asia World is Lo Hsing Han, a former Burmese drug trafficker and present-day major Burmese business tycoon, with financial ties to Singapore.
In June 1992, he founded the Asia World Company, allegedly as a front for his drug operations. His son, Steven Law (aka Tun Myint Naing), married to Cecilia Ng of Singapore in 1996, runs the company which won many multimillion-dollar contracts in the construction and energy sectors. (source: Wikipedia)
Although Singapore is proud of its mandatory death penalty for small-time narcotics smugglers and heroin addicts, both father and son travel freely in and out of the friendly island-nation. “The family money is offshore,” said a high-level US narcotics official. “The old man is a convicted drug trafficker, so his kid is handling the financial activities.” (source: Burma-Singapore axis)
Singapore’s ventures with Asia World include both government and private investments. Kuok Singapore Ltd., a partner with Asia World in many ventures, was Burma’s largest single real estate investor as of late 1996, with over $650 million invested. 20 Other Singaporean companies are mentioned in Asia Worlds company reports.
In February 2008, the US Treasury placed economic sanctions on Steven Law, his father, Lo Hsing Han, and his wife, Cecilia Ng, as well as various companies in which they are involved, calling them “key financial operatives of the Burmese regime”. (source: DPA)
CPF Consultants is formerly known as the Public Works Department prior to its corporatization in 1999 and was owned by Temasek Holdings:
(Source: CPG Corp)
In 2003, CPG was sold by Temasek Holdings to Australia’s Downer EDI for $131 million dollars. It is not known if Temasek retained any shares in CPG after the transaction.
Singapore is the second largest foreign investor in Myanmar after Thailand. Besides CPG, a host of other Singapore companies including Government-linked companies have considerable business interests in Myanmar.
Collectively known as Singapore Inc, they gather around the $150 billion state-owned investment house Temasek Holdings, controlled by Singapore’s long-ruling Lee family.
With an estimated $3 billion invested in Burma (and more than $20 billion in Australia), Singapore Inc companies have been some of the biggest investors in and supporters of Burma’s military junta - this while its Government, on the rare times it is asked, gently suggests a softly-softly diplomatic approach toward the junta.
Singaporean government companies, such as the arms supplier Singapore Technologies has sent guns, rockets, armoured personnel carriers and grenade launchers to the blood-thirsty military junta of Myanmar. (read report here)
Many Western countries either ban or discourage investment in Myanmar as a way of pressuring its ruling junta to improve its poor human rights record and hand over power to a democratically elected government.
In contrast, Singapore has long advocated engagement with the military junta. Over the years, Singapore companies have invested heavily especially in the oil and energy sector of Myanmar.
A Singapore Association of Myanmar was set up in 1993 “to assist and provide channels of support among
Singapore companies and interests in Myanmar.”
Given the close economic ties between the two nations, it is little wonder that Singapore has an orchid named after Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein (read here).
Will Lo Hsing Han be rewarded one day with an orchid’s name or medal for his efforts in promoting Myanmar-Singapore relations and trade?
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