A Peculiar Irony
It is a peculiar irony that perhaps the Singapore Government's greatest enemy is not the opposition parties, not our weekend activists, not even our vaunted new media but an age-old ideology birthed when a man split the seas into two and another man got crucified on a cross.
Oh our pure and radiant hearts!
This simmering AWARE controversy has been argued along the lines of homophobia. It is seen as a reaction against the perceived gay-friendly direction of the old guard. That is only one side of the story.
There is the other side of this issue which we Singaporeans have been schooled deeply to avoid. To not touch. To pretend that it does not exist. Religion.
The motivations of the new guard of AWARE stems from religion. There is no doubt in that. Their group cohesion rests on an unwavering martyr-like devotion to their God. To their God as they see it. To their God as they expect others to see it. To their God as they will others to believe in it. To their God. Call them the Elect, call them the Chosen, they are God's warriors.
In every congregation, whichever denomination, whichever sect, whichever religion, whichever ideology, there is always this minority group. The self-styled martyrs. The visionaries. The chosen ones. Like Lenin's Vanguard, those who are closer to Utopia, those who are closer to God, those who are deeper believers, those who understand more. And their self appointed mission is to lead you, to lead me, because they are more right. Because we do not know. Because we are ignorant. We are the flock.
Oh our pure and radiant hearts!
But it is Singapore's peculiar irony that even as we witness this encroachment into a common civil space by this group of believers, we are unable to frame the arguments correctly because of this dirty word: religion.
Instead we revert to PAP-esque frames of reference. The Old Guard and the New Guard. There is even a self-styled Feminist Mentor. A certain Thio Su Mien, related to Thio Li Ann, she who uttered that infamous ultra conservative invective in Parliament that left even the most hardcore PAP MPs squirming uncomfortably in their red leather seats.
A Feminist Mentor no less. Pedestaled like a Minister Mentor. The puppeteer behind the machinations of Government, the puppeteer behind the machinations of these new AWARE guards. Whereas one is schooled in the most extreme sensibility of political expediency and practicality, the other is schooled in the most fanatical sensibility as God's executor. An archangel with the flaming sword of justice.
It is Singapore's peculiar irony that we have in potentiality a movement that can topple the Government with one Word as they toppled AWARE with one Word. That is, sadly, the "choice" we have.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.67
Saturday, April 25, 2009
AWARE - And Why You Should Cancel Your DBS Credit Cards
AWARE - And Why You Should Cancel Your DBS Credit Cards
April 25, 2009
Aware saga
Disagree? Form own group
Founders say those who disagree with Aware's issues should form own group
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
FOUNDERS and longtime members of the Association of Women for Action and Research on Friday slammed the new women in charge for the way they seized power on March 28.
Founder member and former nominated member of parliament Kanwaljit Soin said: 'It is not just a women's issue but the whole issue of how civil society actors behave in Singapore.
'If the new members do not agree with Aware's issues, then they should not join. There is plenty of room to start another organisation.'
In a statement, the old guard attacked the way in which a group of unknown new members showed up at the annual general meeting and put a set of new faces in charge.
If they were unhappy with Aware, they could have complained, invited Aware to a seminar to discuss its programmes, or even written to the media.
'Instead, these women joined Aware in the few months before the AGM and then voted their representatives into the executive committee - without giving any indication that they were acting together. They continued with this stance until Thursday when they told the truth.
'This cannot be the way forward for Singapore. We cannot have people acting like moral vigilantes running around and taking over established organisations.'
...... The old guard said: 'If Dr Thio and her mentees feel that Aware has strayed from its original aims, or that some of the programmes are unsuitable, then go ahead and criticise Aware, but do so openly.
'Better still, form their own association to offer parallel programmes with what they see as the right messages, and let the public choose which they prefer. Their motives and actions will then be visible to all, there will be transparency and accountability.'
I have a lot of respect for Kanwaljit Soin. Through the years, time and time again, I've come across her views on a variety of social issues. And I find that she speaks with a lot of clarity, conviction and good sense. In fact, when I was still a law student, I even had to study Kanwaljit's views. Her speeches and articles formed part of the Family Law syllabus at the NUS Law Faculty.
Today, Kanwaljit is once again her usual self. She slices through all the distracting smoke and fluff around the Aware saga, and gets straight to the heart of the matter. I agree fully with her. In my opinion, the new Aware ExCo has no credibility. They deserve no respect.
Yes, the new ExCo team employed a certain strategy and they won the Aware election. And yes, their strategy was constitutional and legally "correct". But it merely reminds me of the PAP's gerrymandering tactics - the way they brazenly redrew the maps, changed the electoral boundaries to their own advantage, and forced their way to election victories.
Those PAP tactics were also constitutional and legally "correct". But those tactics carry no sense of integrity and deserve no respect. At any rate, they won't gain my respect.
I feel exactly the same way about how the new ExCo members have invaded Aware. Their tactics are as honorable as a terrorist attack.
As you probably know by now, the new ExCo chairperson is Josie Lau. She works at DBS, marketing credit cards. Today, for what it's worth, I am going to make a small, symbolic gesture as a DBS customer.
I will call DBS and terminate my credit cards. The DBS person on the line will ask me why (they always ask for that kind of customer feedback). And I will say that it's because of their Head of Marketing, Josie Lau.
I will say that I have a very poor opinion of her behaviour in the Aware saga, and that for that reason, I have decided to stop using DBS credit cards. Furthermore I will request for my feedback to be given to DBS's senior management.
It's a matter of principle. I am only one customer. But I will do what I think is right.
I hope that those of you who share my views about the new Aware ExCo, and who happen to be DBS customers, will do the same. In addition, I hope that you will forward my blog post to your friends and colleagues, and urge them to do the same too.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.65
April 25, 2009
Aware saga
Disagree? Form own group
Founders say those who disagree with Aware's issues should form own group
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
FOUNDERS and longtime members of the Association of Women for Action and Research on Friday slammed the new women in charge for the way they seized power on March 28.
Founder member and former nominated member of parliament Kanwaljit Soin said: 'It is not just a women's issue but the whole issue of how civil society actors behave in Singapore.
'If the new members do not agree with Aware's issues, then they should not join. There is plenty of room to start another organisation.'
In a statement, the old guard attacked the way in which a group of unknown new members showed up at the annual general meeting and put a set of new faces in charge.
If they were unhappy with Aware, they could have complained, invited Aware to a seminar to discuss its programmes, or even written to the media.
'Instead, these women joined Aware in the few months before the AGM and then voted their representatives into the executive committee - without giving any indication that they were acting together. They continued with this stance until Thursday when they told the truth.
'This cannot be the way forward for Singapore. We cannot have people acting like moral vigilantes running around and taking over established organisations.'
...... The old guard said: 'If Dr Thio and her mentees feel that Aware has strayed from its original aims, or that some of the programmes are unsuitable, then go ahead and criticise Aware, but do so openly.
'Better still, form their own association to offer parallel programmes with what they see as the right messages, and let the public choose which they prefer. Their motives and actions will then be visible to all, there will be transparency and accountability.'
I have a lot of respect for Kanwaljit Soin. Through the years, time and time again, I've come across her views on a variety of social issues. And I find that she speaks with a lot of clarity, conviction and good sense. In fact, when I was still a law student, I even had to study Kanwaljit's views. Her speeches and articles formed part of the Family Law syllabus at the NUS Law Faculty.
Today, Kanwaljit is once again her usual self. She slices through all the distracting smoke and fluff around the Aware saga, and gets straight to the heart of the matter. I agree fully with her. In my opinion, the new Aware ExCo has no credibility. They deserve no respect.
Yes, the new ExCo team employed a certain strategy and they won the Aware election. And yes, their strategy was constitutional and legally "correct". But it merely reminds me of the PAP's gerrymandering tactics - the way they brazenly redrew the maps, changed the electoral boundaries to their own advantage, and forced their way to election victories.
Those PAP tactics were also constitutional and legally "correct". But those tactics carry no sense of integrity and deserve no respect. At any rate, they won't gain my respect.
I feel exactly the same way about how the new ExCo members have invaded Aware. Their tactics are as honorable as a terrorist attack.
As you probably know by now, the new ExCo chairperson is Josie Lau. She works at DBS, marketing credit cards. Today, for what it's worth, I am going to make a small, symbolic gesture as a DBS customer.
I will call DBS and terminate my credit cards. The DBS person on the line will ask me why (they always ask for that kind of customer feedback). And I will say that it's because of their Head of Marketing, Josie Lau.
I will say that I have a very poor opinion of her behaviour in the Aware saga, and that for that reason, I have decided to stop using DBS credit cards. Furthermore I will request for my feedback to be given to DBS's senior management.
It's a matter of principle. I am only one customer. But I will do what I think is right.
I hope that those of you who share my views about the new Aware ExCo, and who happen to be DBS customers, will do the same. In addition, I hope that you will forward my blog post to your friends and colleagues, and urge them to do the same too.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.65
AWARE veterans set the record straight
AWARE veterans set the record straight
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Darren Boon
Turning up in full force (which include several founding members) to set right the inaccuracies lay out by the new AWARE team.
In a press conference on Friday evening, several veteran stalwarts from AWARE turned up to clarify several issues and accusations raised by the new AWARE team a day earlier.
Apart from the familiar faces of Dana Lim and Constance Singam, was Dr Kanwaljit Soin who broke her silence in public on the AWARE debacle. Dr Soin was one of the founding members of AWARE, and the president of AWARE from 1991 to 1993. She had also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore from 1992 to 1996.
“As far as I know AWARE has not deviated from its original purpose,” Dr Soin said.
Dr Soin had made it clear that AWARE had been founded on the principle of inclusiveness, and clarified the misconception of AWARE being pro-gay. “We cannot condemn, deny or exclude any woman because of her sexual orientation, because she’s been abused by her husband or because she’s a single mother. And so we accept people for what they are,” she said.
Dr Soin said that AWARE is an organisation for women that supports the idea of women choosing the lives they want in another founding principle of ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Choices’ or ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’. Dr Soin added that AWARE will offer support to women who approach the organisation for assistance.
Corinna Lim rubbished the talk that the screening of the lesbian movie Spider Lilies showed that AWARE is single-focused and gay-oriented. Lim pointed out that AWARE had also participated in other movie screenings such as the wholesome local family film Singapore Dreaming.
Lim explained that film distributors have approached AWARE to tie-up for charity events and sees this as a good fundraising activity for AWARE. Terms and conditions vary requiring AWARE to sometimes purchase advance tickets or publicising the membership, with AWARE taking a small profit.
Dr Soin also explained there’s a need to address the issue of homosexuality in its sexual education programmes if the programmes are to be comprehensive: “AWARE cannot be an ostrich and buries it head and pretends that it [homosexuality] doesn’t exist. But we don’t go out with this programme and say it’s okay to be lesbian.”
Constance Singam said that the sexual education programmes were introduced in the context of the increasing number of teenage sex, pregnancies and abortions three to four years ago.
“AWARE is not a religious organisation. We do not impose religious values,” Singam said.
She added: “What we are offering are the facts. Kids need space for open discussion where they can get facts, examine themselves, and that is the purpose, objective.”
Dana Lam explained that the education programme had been developed over a period of time with pilot workshops conducted with parental knowledge and involvement. “And we have received good feedback,” she said. “The mention of homosexuality is so miniscule compared to the whole topic.”
Meanwhile, the veterans have also clarified its process for its selection of trainers. In the pre-selection process, candidates have to go through an interview and essay-writing round. After the training programme, the trainers have to go through examinations.
AWARE has so far provided its sexual education training programmes to 12 schools, some of which had approached AWARE to conduct the programmes. The veterans also clarified that the schools have full knowledge of the programmes with teachers having seen and vetted the them before they were given the go ahead. An opt-out form is also provided for those who do not feel comfortable participating in the programmes.
Also present was Veronica Wong who attested to the stringent standards and audits of AWARE having been interviewed by the Public Education Committee and an audit panel of parents and school counsellors before a module for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) Programme was approved. Wong’s programme was designed to get teenagers to understand their basic needs in relation to engaging in sexual behaviour, and getting them to self-evaluate if their behaviour helps or hurts them in satisfying their basic needs.
Wong who is Roman Catholic initially found it unsettling to educate youths about contraceptives and condoms: “Nevertheless, I also realise the kids don’t have much of a fighting chance working on just ‘abstinence’ alone. And teaching them protection in safe sex is still not enough.”
The old guards clarified that teachers and social workers have audited the programme and AWARE has its own auditing process and when necessary made modifications.
Dr Soin also defended her decision to allow associate male members in AWARE. “I realise we cannot change the world for women until we bring the men on board. So we have to work with men hand in hand to change society into a more equal, compassionate and inclusive society.”
The claim that the old guards’ AWARE was trying to get men into the organisation was “inaccurate”, they said. The issue of giving men voting rights first surfaced at the 2008 AGM. A motion was tabled for this purpose but it was defeated. However, it was brought up again at the AGM in March 2009 where the new exco was voted in. At this meeting, the “election took the bulk of the time” and the issue was not debated.
Meanwhile Dr Soin said while she knows who the founding members of AWARE were, she is unaware of any involvement of Dr Thio Su Mien.
“I’ve not heard of Dr Thio Su Mien as being a feminist, so this was a little bit of a surprise for me. But then, we always have closet feminists,” Dr Soin said to laughter from those present.
In her tenure as an NMP in 1995, Dr Soin tabled a Family Violence Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in parliament. The Bill would allow for the protection of victims against family violence and marital rape and police intervention. Although the bill fell through, the issue on family violence has gained public awareness and prominence. The Women’s Charter was later amended by the Singapore government in 1997 and adapted principles and concepts from the proposed Family Violence Bill which gave women more protection from violence.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27837.1
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Darren Boon
Turning up in full force (which include several founding members) to set right the inaccuracies lay out by the new AWARE team.
In a press conference on Friday evening, several veteran stalwarts from AWARE turned up to clarify several issues and accusations raised by the new AWARE team a day earlier.
Apart from the familiar faces of Dana Lim and Constance Singam, was Dr Kanwaljit Soin who broke her silence in public on the AWARE debacle. Dr Soin was one of the founding members of AWARE, and the president of AWARE from 1991 to 1993. She had also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore from 1992 to 1996.
“As far as I know AWARE has not deviated from its original purpose,” Dr Soin said.
Dr Soin had made it clear that AWARE had been founded on the principle of inclusiveness, and clarified the misconception of AWARE being pro-gay. “We cannot condemn, deny or exclude any woman because of her sexual orientation, because she’s been abused by her husband or because she’s a single mother. And so we accept people for what they are,” she said.
Dr Soin said that AWARE is an organisation for women that supports the idea of women choosing the lives they want in another founding principle of ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Choices’ or ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’. Dr Soin added that AWARE will offer support to women who approach the organisation for assistance.
Corinna Lim rubbished the talk that the screening of the lesbian movie Spider Lilies showed that AWARE is single-focused and gay-oriented. Lim pointed out that AWARE had also participated in other movie screenings such as the wholesome local family film Singapore Dreaming.
Lim explained that film distributors have approached AWARE to tie-up for charity events and sees this as a good fundraising activity for AWARE. Terms and conditions vary requiring AWARE to sometimes purchase advance tickets or publicising the membership, with AWARE taking a small profit.
Dr Soin also explained there’s a need to address the issue of homosexuality in its sexual education programmes if the programmes are to be comprehensive: “AWARE cannot be an ostrich and buries it head and pretends that it [homosexuality] doesn’t exist. But we don’t go out with this programme and say it’s okay to be lesbian.”
Constance Singam said that the sexual education programmes were introduced in the context of the increasing number of teenage sex, pregnancies and abortions three to four years ago.
“AWARE is not a religious organisation. We do not impose religious values,” Singam said.
She added: “What we are offering are the facts. Kids need space for open discussion where they can get facts, examine themselves, and that is the purpose, objective.”
Dana Lam explained that the education programme had been developed over a period of time with pilot workshops conducted with parental knowledge and involvement. “And we have received good feedback,” she said. “The mention of homosexuality is so miniscule compared to the whole topic.”
Meanwhile, the veterans have also clarified its process for its selection of trainers. In the pre-selection process, candidates have to go through an interview and essay-writing round. After the training programme, the trainers have to go through examinations.
AWARE has so far provided its sexual education training programmes to 12 schools, some of which had approached AWARE to conduct the programmes. The veterans also clarified that the schools have full knowledge of the programmes with teachers having seen and vetted the them before they were given the go ahead. An opt-out form is also provided for those who do not feel comfortable participating in the programmes.
Also present was Veronica Wong who attested to the stringent standards and audits of AWARE having been interviewed by the Public Education Committee and an audit panel of parents and school counsellors before a module for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) Programme was approved. Wong’s programme was designed to get teenagers to understand their basic needs in relation to engaging in sexual behaviour, and getting them to self-evaluate if their behaviour helps or hurts them in satisfying their basic needs.
Wong who is Roman Catholic initially found it unsettling to educate youths about contraceptives and condoms: “Nevertheless, I also realise the kids don’t have much of a fighting chance working on just ‘abstinence’ alone. And teaching them protection in safe sex is still not enough.”
The old guards clarified that teachers and social workers have audited the programme and AWARE has its own auditing process and when necessary made modifications.
Dr Soin also defended her decision to allow associate male members in AWARE. “I realise we cannot change the world for women until we bring the men on board. So we have to work with men hand in hand to change society into a more equal, compassionate and inclusive society.”
The claim that the old guards’ AWARE was trying to get men into the organisation was “inaccurate”, they said. The issue of giving men voting rights first surfaced at the 2008 AGM. A motion was tabled for this purpose but it was defeated. However, it was brought up again at the AGM in March 2009 where the new exco was voted in. At this meeting, the “election took the bulk of the time” and the issue was not debated.
Meanwhile Dr Soin said while she knows who the founding members of AWARE were, she is unaware of any involvement of Dr Thio Su Mien.
“I’ve not heard of Dr Thio Su Mien as being a feminist, so this was a little bit of a surprise for me. But then, we always have closet feminists,” Dr Soin said to laughter from those present.
In her tenure as an NMP in 1995, Dr Soin tabled a Family Violence Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in parliament. The Bill would allow for the protection of victims against family violence and marital rape and police intervention. Although the bill fell through, the issue on family violence has gained public awareness and prominence. The Women’s Charter was later amended by the Singapore government in 1997 and adapted principles and concepts from the proposed Family Violence Bill which gave women more protection from violence.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27837.1
The Ministerial Musical Chair
The Ministerial Musical Chair
The antics of ex-ministers going on a musical chair are not an uncommon phenomenon. The latest caper is the taking over from Mr. Lim Chee Onn as non-exectutive chairman of Keppel Corp by Dr. Lee Boon Yang, until recently Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts from July 1.
Ministers are equated by the government with chief executive officers (CEO) of multi-national corporations (MNC) in ability if not in status. But then in the history of Singapore politics, has there ever been any ex-minister who is considered a sufficently qualified and viable candidate for any reputable MNC? They can only be suitable for absorption by government-owned or sponsored corporations. MNC's are down-to-earth people and much as they would like to respect the government's evaluation of its ministers, they owe it to their share-holders to ensure that they do not take any unnecessary risk to their corporations by taking in CEO's of unproven quality. The consequence is that one finds ex-ministers being placed in government-owned or sponsored undertakings such as Singapore Press Holdings, Capitaland, Keppel Corp and the like as no reputable MNC's would want to risk employing them.
Which brings us to a pertinent point. The government has often crowed about the intrinsic calibre of its ministers and equated them with the highest echelon in the corporate world. So they pay themselves astronomical sums to give the skewed impression that they are really worthy of their whopping salaries. But the harsh realities of the corporate world give a lie to the government's position.
What the ordinary Singaporeans cannot stomach is that while the rest of Singaporeans, especially those on the poverty borderline and the retrenched, suffer from the economic downturn, the opulent ministers still hung on to their sinful whopping pay. And was it not a sickening joke for the Prime Minister to say that he and his ministers were suffering together with the masses? Like the writer Patriot said in his sarcastic reple to Dr. Lee Wei Ling's letter to the press which mentioned her mother's vaunt that suffering and deprivation was good for the soul. Patriot replied pointedly and sarcastically the Dr. Kee's mother's suffering and deprivation was like utopia to the ordinary Singaporean.
That the Singapore ministers are filthy rich, especially MM Lee's family, is obscenely plain for the people to see. In spite of his opulence, MM Lee is drawing a whopping salary and jetting around at taxpayers' expense to spout poetries to a gullible world audience. As he says when the coffin is closed, you will have the verdict. We all look forward to the day, especially those who survive him.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27983.1
Jackie Chan slams Singaporeans
April 25, 2009
Jackie slams S'poreans
 |  | In that address, Jackie Chan reportedly said of Singapore: 'A lot of people are not like those in USA and Japan who voluntarily have self-respect. When you don't have self-respect, the government will have to control you. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS |
He said this in the same speech at the annual Boao Forum in Hainan last Saturday, at which he said Chinese people need to be 'controlled'.
In that address, he reportedly said of Singapore: 'A lot of people are not like those in USA and Japan who voluntarily have self-respect. When you don't have self-respect, the government will have to control you.
'In Singapore, you have to abide by Singapore's regulations. In China, you can litter, In Singapore, try littering and you will be jailed immediately.' Shin Min Daily news had earlier this week published a transcript of his 'freedom speech' which touched on the issue of liberty in China.
The 55-year-old sparked an uproar after he told a business forum last Saturday that 'we Chinese need to be controlled', lamenting that freedom had made Hong Kong and Taiwan societies chaotic. 'I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not,' said Chan, who added: 'If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want.'
The backlash against Chan has escalated even after his spokesman claimed that he was referring to freedom in the entertainment industry and not Chinese society as a whole.
In China, a prominent Beijing academic is leading a group of locals calling for a boycott of Chan's 'Believe in China' charity concert on May 1, which will be the first music event held at the iconic Bird's Nest stadium.
In that speech, he also lashed out at Singaporeans' lack of social graces, The New Paper reported on Saturday. 'Sometimes, I wonder why I can't eat chewing gum in Singapore. Then, I think it's actually right not to eat chewing gum," he was reported as having said.
''If I let you eat chewing gum, those people will leave them on tables and chairs. They have no self-respect at all.' His comments have drawn a backlash from much of the Internet community here.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27836.1
Aware: Excerpts from Thursday's press conference by new leaders
Excerpts from Thursday's press conference by new leaders
'FEMINIST MENTOR' OR COUP LEADER?
SENIOR lawyer Thio Su Mien, 71, revealed on Wednesday that she became disturbed when she noticed what she felt was Aware's promotion of lesbianism and homosexuality. She then began urging women she knew to join Aware and reset its focus on women's issues. New Aware president Josie Lau is married to Dr Thio's nephew, Dr Alan Chin, who is an affiliate member of Aware. Like several of the women on Aware's new executive committee, Dr Thio attends the Anglican Church Of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive. She described herself as a 'feminist mentor' to working women, and at Thursday's press conference, was pressed on her role in the leadership grab at the Aware AGM.
Q: Dr Thio, why didn't you run for a position in the exco? You have such strong views about everything and you are speaking on their behalf.
Dr Thio: No, I'm speaking on my behalf.
Honorary treasurer Maureen Ong: I want to make a point clear. We are not puppets of Dr Thio. We are mature, thinking professional women. We joined Aware to stand for a cause that we believe in.
Q: Sure, but I still don't understand why Dr Thio didn't run for an exco position, someone with her qualifications and background?
Exco member Lois Ng: Honestly, Aware is too small an outfit for her. It's for newbies like us.
Q: But (was the leadership takeover) orchestrated, planned beforehand? Was she the organiser?
Aware president Josie Lau: I will place on record, no.
Dr Thio: No, no, it depends on what you mean by organiser. Actually it's kind of flattering, in a way...
What I did was that I put down, collected info, I sent to different people. So it's up to you. You want to join? You go and join. If you want me to help you, I will help you.
So I'm quite happy with that because you see, you suddenly discover that networking helps, that if there's a view we want, we network through the e-mail. And I certainly have come out from the Jurassic Age because I'm quite proficient with e-mail and it is an efficient way of educating people.
Q: Dr Thio, are you implying that you have thought of it for a long time, that you planned all this?
Dr Thio: No, no. No, no, I have better things to do than this, okay? I have to earn a living, I work and I do a lot of other things. But the idea came I think round about when (Aware held an AGM and only 29 people attended). So I said, what's happening?
HOW JOSIE LAU JOINED AWARE
AWARE president Josie Lau joined Aware in January after her husband's aunt, Dr Thio Su Mien, suggested it. Aware member Claire Nazar also asked her to join and help with Aware's marketing. Mrs Nazar was elected president at the AGM on March 28, but resigned after 11 days. Ms Lau was then appointed to the post. Asked why she joined Aware, this is what she said.
Aware president Josie Lau: I've been married to the (Thio) family for 20 years. We meet occasionally once or twice a year, during Christmas, Chinese New Year. And she (Dr Thio) has been nagging me for the last 15, 20 years: 'Are you doing something in the public, contributing back to the community? You have such a good life, everything, you're jet-setting all the time. When?' And I wasn't ready.
But now my kids are much older, I feel that it's time for me to contribute and when last year I personally was very, very taken aback by the (choice of the movie) Spider Lilies for Aware's premiere gala, that set me thinking: What actually is Aware doing?
I did not join Aware thinking that there will definitely be a new exco. I just knew that I was joining Aware and if I stood for election and got elected, this is the area where I think I can contribute.'
A CHURCH CONNECTION?
SIX of the women in Aware's new exco attend the Anglican Church Of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive. At the press conference, they were asked if there was a 'church connection' in the power grab at Aware.
Honorary treasurer Maureen Ong: No, the answer is no. We all attend Church Of Our Saviour. We joined the church at various different times. I didn't know any of these people until I got on to the committee.
Yes, we all attend the church. And really I only know Su Mien because I was invited by one of the people who attended her Tanglin fellowship to attend a talk that was given by Su Mien. And that was when I first met her. But I don't move in her circles. I'm a working mother. I don't move in her circles.
And I don't call Su Mien up. I didn't even know her mobile phone or home number until we got onto this committee and really, because of all the problems we're having - the death threats and so on - we went to our mentor to ask if she could help us in what we're trying to achieve. And that was only after we were appointed.'
She added that although Dr Thio held regular fellowship meetings at her home, she did not attend them because she had her own church cell group, which did not include any of the women on the Aware exco.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.57
'FEMINIST MENTOR' OR COUP LEADER?
SENIOR lawyer Thio Su Mien, 71, revealed on Wednesday that she became disturbed when she noticed what she felt was Aware's promotion of lesbianism and homosexuality. She then began urging women she knew to join Aware and reset its focus on women's issues. New Aware president Josie Lau is married to Dr Thio's nephew, Dr Alan Chin, who is an affiliate member of Aware. Like several of the women on Aware's new executive committee, Dr Thio attends the Anglican Church Of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive. She described herself as a 'feminist mentor' to working women, and at Thursday's press conference, was pressed on her role in the leadership grab at the Aware AGM.
Q: Dr Thio, why didn't you run for a position in the exco? You have such strong views about everything and you are speaking on their behalf.
Dr Thio: No, I'm speaking on my behalf.
Honorary treasurer Maureen Ong: I want to make a point clear. We are not puppets of Dr Thio. We are mature, thinking professional women. We joined Aware to stand for a cause that we believe in.
Q: Sure, but I still don't understand why Dr Thio didn't run for an exco position, someone with her qualifications and background?
Exco member Lois Ng: Honestly, Aware is too small an outfit for her. It's for newbies like us.
Q: But (was the leadership takeover) orchestrated, planned beforehand? Was she the organiser?
Aware president Josie Lau: I will place on record, no.
Dr Thio: No, no, it depends on what you mean by organiser. Actually it's kind of flattering, in a way...
What I did was that I put down, collected info, I sent to different people. So it's up to you. You want to join? You go and join. If you want me to help you, I will help you.
So I'm quite happy with that because you see, you suddenly discover that networking helps, that if there's a view we want, we network through the e-mail. And I certainly have come out from the Jurassic Age because I'm quite proficient with e-mail and it is an efficient way of educating people.
Q: Dr Thio, are you implying that you have thought of it for a long time, that you planned all this?
Dr Thio: No, no. No, no, I have better things to do than this, okay? I have to earn a living, I work and I do a lot of other things. But the idea came I think round about when (Aware held an AGM and only 29 people attended). So I said, what's happening?
HOW JOSIE LAU JOINED AWARE
AWARE president Josie Lau joined Aware in January after her husband's aunt, Dr Thio Su Mien, suggested it. Aware member Claire Nazar also asked her to join and help with Aware's marketing. Mrs Nazar was elected president at the AGM on March 28, but resigned after 11 days. Ms Lau was then appointed to the post. Asked why she joined Aware, this is what she said.
Aware president Josie Lau: I've been married to the (Thio) family for 20 years. We meet occasionally once or twice a year, during Christmas, Chinese New Year. And she (Dr Thio) has been nagging me for the last 15, 20 years: 'Are you doing something in the public, contributing back to the community? You have such a good life, everything, you're jet-setting all the time. When?' And I wasn't ready.
But now my kids are much older, I feel that it's time for me to contribute and when last year I personally was very, very taken aback by the (choice of the movie) Spider Lilies for Aware's premiere gala, that set me thinking: What actually is Aware doing?
I did not join Aware thinking that there will definitely be a new exco. I just knew that I was joining Aware and if I stood for election and got elected, this is the area where I think I can contribute.'
A CHURCH CONNECTION?
SIX of the women in Aware's new exco attend the Anglican Church Of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive. At the press conference, they were asked if there was a 'church connection' in the power grab at Aware.
Honorary treasurer Maureen Ong: No, the answer is no. We all attend Church Of Our Saviour. We joined the church at various different times. I didn't know any of these people until I got on to the committee.
Yes, we all attend the church. And really I only know Su Mien because I was invited by one of the people who attended her Tanglin fellowship to attend a talk that was given by Su Mien. And that was when I first met her. But I don't move in her circles. I'm a working mother. I don't move in her circles.
And I don't call Su Mien up. I didn't even know her mobile phone or home number until we got onto this committee and really, because of all the problems we're having - the death threats and so on - we went to our mentor to ask if she could help us in what we're trying to achieve. And that was only after we were appointed.'
She added that although Dr Thio held regular fellowship meetings at her home, she did not attend them because she had her own church cell group, which did not include any of the women on the Aware exco.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.57
Aware Sexual education programme's aims
Sexual education programme's aims
What it is: Aware's Comprehensive Sexual Education programme is aimed at helping young people develop a healthy and positive attitude towards sexuality and empowering them in their decision-making.
Who it is for: Girls aged 12 to 18 in schools and special homes. Aware recently developed a programme for boys as well. Workshops are limited to 25 participants. Parents can sign opt-out forms if they do not want their children to attend. The sessions are held after school hours.
How it is done: Two three-hour sessions are conducted by certified trainers. Topics covered include information on sexuality; sexually transmitted infections; HIV and contraceptives; how to resist peer pressure to engage in sex; clear communication skills; and evaluating one's needs and wants. Games, role-play and discussions are employed to make the sessions more engaging.
What sex education is available in schools: The Education Ministry's sex education programme aims to arm students with information and skills to make informed decisions.
It is premised on the importance of the family and respect for various ethnic and religious communities' values, and that parents bear the main responsibility for their children's sex education.
Sex education in schools is taught throughout curricular subjects like health education, science, civics and moral education. Schools are also encouraged to engage the services of other experts and agencies.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.56
What it is: Aware's Comprehensive Sexual Education programme is aimed at helping young people develop a healthy and positive attitude towards sexuality and empowering them in their decision-making.
Who it is for: Girls aged 12 to 18 in schools and special homes. Aware recently developed a programme for boys as well. Workshops are limited to 25 participants. Parents can sign opt-out forms if they do not want their children to attend. The sessions are held after school hours.
How it is done: Two three-hour sessions are conducted by certified trainers. Topics covered include information on sexuality; sexually transmitted infections; HIV and contraceptives; how to resist peer pressure to engage in sex; clear communication skills; and evaluating one's needs and wants. Games, role-play and discussions are employed to make the sessions more engaging.
What sex education is available in schools: The Education Ministry's sex education programme aims to arm students with information and skills to make informed decisions.
It is premised on the importance of the family and respect for various ethnic and religious communities' values, and that parents bear the main responsibility for their children's sex education.
Sex education in schools is taught throughout curricular subjects like health education, science, civics and moral education. Schools are also encouraged to engage the services of other experts and agencies.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.56
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