Citizens left behind?

It has been 16 years since the government embarked on the upgrading of HDB estates, with mature estates such as Marine Parade and Toa Payoh being given a facelift and a new lease of life. While most of the island has undergone some measure of upgrading or improvement works in some way or another, there are glaring omissions – in the form of the Potong Pasir and Hougang constituencies.

The reason for such as explained by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan is because residents of the two constituencies have refused to give the Government their mandate to carry out such policies, by remaining defiant and voting for the opposition. However, what perturbs me as such is that while the Government explains and defends its position in a seemingly rational and calculative manner in implementing its selective development policy it seems to contradict its official stand on upgrading in general.

“The Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) was launched by the Government in 1990 to enhance the overall living environment of HDB estates. It is part of the Government's continual efforts to enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans through its public housing programme.”- HDB

If we are to conclude the above statement in a logical manner, it seems that if the Main Upgrading Programme’s objective is to enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans then the Government has also decided that some Singaporeans should be left behind – or at least kept right in the back of the line. And that’s where the problem lies.

While we pledge to build a Singapore “based on justice and equality,” it appears that our very own leaders are not completely sold on the idea of equality or “one people, one nation, one Singapore”. By keeping Singaporeans that do not vote for PAP behind the rest, we see the arbitrary practice of equality. It is the duty of any Government, PAP-led or not, to ensure that the rights of its people protected, to ensure that the people have enough jobs, to ensure that everyone benefits from an enhanced quality of life of Singaporeans. Moreover, it is public housing that we are talking about.

Next I ask: should we be penalised by what we believe? Should those who exercise their democratic rights be sidelined?

What appears with the case of residents in Potong Pasir and Hougang is that they are being punished for exercising their fundamental liberties guaranteed in the Constitution that our sons, brothers and fathers have sworn to protect and where our ministers have taken an oath to uphold. They have exercised their right to vote: to democracy. By snubbing their noses at the PAP and refusing to hand over the long-held opposition wards, they lost their right and entitlement to a better quality of life. To some in Potong Pasir and Hougang, they may have regretted for making that choice of voting for something they believed in. To the rest of the nation, it sends a signal to Singaporeans: you will be punished for taking part in the democratic process. The whole idea of democracy is to allow people the chance to choose what they want and what they believe in. To be punished for doing so simply deters Singaporeans from wanting to have anything to do with the political and democratic process whatsoever. Whether or not this is the intention of the Government is not for me to judge, but this is the very signal they are sending.

Judging from the Government’s response thus far, it therefore comes as no surprise that Mr Mah was surprised that “bread and butter” issues are not the top concern of voters in this election. The very fact that the PAP attempted to hold voters hostage by threatening to remove welfare benefits in the form of upgrading is a telling sign that perhaps, the PAP has somewhat lost touch with the concerns of Singaporeans.

I think this is a result of some 40 odd years of spectacular development, no less due to the efforts of the PAP, that right now Singaporeans are no longer so concerned about the “bread and butter” as they are before. It is high time we embrace the fact that Singapore is no longer “third-world” anymore. As Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew noted in the title of his book, “From Third World to First”, we are no longer the third world island state we used to be. Singapore no longer has to fight through its teeth for its survival.

Of course, Singapore still faces many challenges. So does the United States, and Australia, and the United Kingdom – pretty much the entire world today. At every stage of a nation’s development there will always be challenges faced, but these challenges evolve and change over time as a country progresses. Do we face the same challenges that we used to 40 years ago? The answer is a resounding no. At that point in time, the primary concern was finding a way to feed, clothe, house and educate Singaporeans. 40 years on and possessing one of the world’s highest GDP rates, our concerns have varied quite a bit. What is the Singaporean dream now?

10 years ago, it might have been the 5 C’s (condo, credit card, car, country club, and cash). Now, it is really up to the younger Singaporeans born after 1965 to decide. From the looks of the recently concluded General Elections where young blood made quite the difference, it is pretty obvious that money-politics and basic economics will not satisfy them. A 66% victory for the Prime Minister against a rookie suicide team of young opposition candidates is by no means a landslide victory for the PAP.

Personally, I may represent the generation of Singaporeans that has never been through the hardships of the nation’s teething years. I can never empathise with what it means to survive on just dark soy sauce and rice, nor can I ever share the same fears of those having to live through the turmoil of the riots, because I thankfully never had to go through any of that. For that precise reason, I have different wants from my parents and my grandparents who have been through all of that. What I want is perhaps less pragmatic than what they wanted; I have lofty goals, but they are no less desirable. I want the ability to make my own choices, and the ability to exercise my liberties, such as free speech, press and so on. This is where the Government is unwilling to let go, and this is where I feel pushed away and disenfranchised by the Government.

Perhaps the Government should let go now, like a parent letting his child go out into the real world. It will be painful, but it has to be done eventually. How well or how badly it is done will perhaps determine the political landscape in Singapore in the years to come.

In 2011, I will be able to vote. Will I be a citizen left behind, or will it the other way around?

Tragedy

7th July 2005 (7/7/2005)...

Never did i expect that as I switched on the idiot box for my daily dosage of cheesy chinese soap operas, that I would yet again witness a sick and deplorable act of inhumanity by insane fanatics bent on creating a world on destruction. The deaths are indiscriminate; those innocent people maimed or killed by such acts have nothing to do for their plight or their cause. Why is the innocent always the enemy? It is frustrating trying to comprehend or rationalise the actions of terror masterminds.

It started 4 years ago in New York with the bombing of the WTC twin towers, and it was Madrid. Now, it is London. One by one, the greatest cities in the world are falling victim to this invisible enemy. The enemy that is refuses to negotiate nor engage in open fight, but rather, it chooses to engage the civilians. How many more millions must perish before anyone has enough sense to realise that it is a never ending vicious cycle? Bomb a city; country gets invaded... It goes on and on. Who dies? Neither the perpetrators nor the politicians, that's for sure. The fight between the two conflicting ideologies was never about religion, neither was it about security or survival... But politics. It is political powerplay with civilians; innocent lives as pawns. It is simply repulsive to just fathom the thought that lives... no more precious and certainly no less precious than that of politicians have unwittingly become the tools of political fights... In the hands of the rich and powerful.

The casualties of this senseless fights are not only those physically hurt or had their loved ones perish in such a tragedy either. Today is the 2nd day of the G-8 summit in Gleneagles. 8 of the world's most powerful men gather over the course of these few days to discuss the issues that plague the modern world today... One of which is the worsening poverty in Africa. As i sit in the relative comforts of my room typing this, hundreds of poor African children die as a result of poverty. This poverty that they suffer from is unnecessary either; the G-8 can do much to alleviate the situation IF they CHOOSE to do so. Yet for decades, they have done nothing. Sometimes I do not know which is the lesser of two evils; the fact that hundreds of poor Africa children die as a result of poverty, or the fact that this poverty could be prevented or stopped. This year however, we see a shimmer of light in the oppressive loom of dark clouds of despair now that the G-8, led by Tony Blair, are willing to confront and discuss the situation at Gleneagles, Scotland. Yet, the senseless acts of violence by these terror perpetrators have dashed the hopes of many Africans who were counting on the G-8 summit to give them a helping hand. It is clear that with the bombings, we can forget about G-8 focussing on the real pressing issue at hand - of poverty. Perhaps! Perhaps, right now our dear pretzel munching President of the U.Ass.A, Mr Bush is discussing the possibility of a military strike against "the axis of evil" - just pick one; oil producing nation with a seemingly oppressive and non-western regime, Iran anyone? Oh look, what do we have next? Instead of millions of African lives saved, we have millions more to die, in addition to war casualties. Thanks, alot mr terrorist.

Of course, I've yet to make my point about the causes that these terrorists champion. Simply because, I shall not presumptous and place the blame at some Islamic terror organisation; It could be the CIA for all you know!

Extract From BBC News:

"London rocked by terror attacks

Two people have been killed and scores have been injured after three blasts on the Underground network and another on a double-decker bus in London.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "reasonably clear" there had been a series of terrorist attacks.

He said it was "particularly barbaric" that it was timed to coincide with the G8 summit. He is returning to London.

An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said blasts occurred between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street tube stations; between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations; at Edgware Road tube station; and on bus at Tavistock Square.

The Queen said she was "deeply shocked" by the terrorist attacks and sent her sympathy to those affected.

London's police chief Sir Ian Blair said there had been "many casualties" but it was too early to put a figure to those killed or injured.

It's particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty and Africa Tony Blair

More than 182 casualties and one of the dead were taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel but that 123 people had since been released.

And St Mary's Hospital said it was dealing with 26 injured people, including four with critical injuries and eight in a serious condition.

Sir Ian urged people to stay where they were and not to call emergency services unless it was a life-threatening situation.

He reassured the public that an emergency plan was in place and the situation was "steadily coming under control".

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking from Singapore before flying back to the UK, said Londoners would not be divided by a "cowardly attack."

He said it was an "indiscriminate" attempt at slaughter with no consideration for age or religion.

Blasts occurred: Between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street tube stations Between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations At Edgware Road tube station On bus at Tavistock Square

All London Underground services have been suspended indefinitely and bus services in central London (Zone One) have been halted.

Early reports had suggested a power surge could be to blame for explosions on the Underground but this was later discounted.

Describing the bus blast in Tavistock Square, eyewitness Belinda Seabrook said she saw an explosion rip through the bus.

"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double-decker bus was in the air," she said.

She said the bus was travelling from Euston to Russell Square and had been "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.

There was immediately smoke everywhere and it was hot and everybody panicked. People started screaming and crying Jacqui Head

"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air, I think it was the number 205," she said.

"There must be a lot of people dead as all the buses were packed, they had been turning people away from the Tube stops."

One caller to BBC Five said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines and bodies everywhere".

Loyita Worley, who works for a City law firm, said she was on the underground train when an explosion took place in the next carriage, while it was in a tunnel.

The 49-year-old said: "All the lights went out and the train came to an immediate halt. There was smoke everywhere and everyone was coughing and choking, but remained calm. We couldn't open the doors."

Once the doors were opened they were taken along to Liverpool Street station.

She said the carriage where an explosion happened was "black on the inside" and she saw people who appeared to have their clothes blown off.

She saw bodies lying inside the carriage."

To the Londoners, my condolences. Indeed, it is a great pity for such a great city to be desecrated as such, especially since they have had their elation and joy of winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics robbed from them in so cruel a manner.

If only the world took the time to listen to the pleas of those that are truly suffering...

Stop poverty!

Live 8 – The Long Walk to Justice

They don’t want your money; they just want your name in the long walk to justice. That is the goal of Bob Geldolf and the organisers of Live8 who worked tirelessly to bring to us the world’s largest concert ever, with venues spanning 4 continents in 9 cities around the world and featuring some of the world’s greatest pop and rock musicians like U2, Coldplay, Pink Floyd and many more. All of whom are united for a common cause – to put an end to poverty.

The day that rocked the world

A total of 3 billion people were treated to a musical marathon on Saturday, 2^nd July 2005 as Live8 was beamed live to television screens all over the world. In a span of over 10 hours, more than 150 of the biggest names across the music industry played continuously in 9 different cities. The line up for the event was spectacular, ranging from legends like former Beatle Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, political pop-punk rockers Green Day, pop divas Madonna and Mariah Carey, rapper Snoop Dog and many more.

The global ‘live’ feed was kick-started at Hyde Park in London with U2 and Paul McCartney playing a rousing rendition of the Beatles’ classic, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts’ Club, followed by a slew of U2’s classic hits. Notable highlights would include Men in Black star, Will Smith, bringing out the Declaration of Independence in the Philadelphia as he led the audience in snapping their fingers every three seconds, signifying the death rate in Africa and Madonna’s performance her 80s hit, “like a prayer”, hand in hand with Ethiopian Birham Woldu who appeared in the footage of 1985’s Live Aid as a malnourished toddler who was on the brink of death.

Besides drawing record crowds to the respective venues, Live 8 also created history at Hyde Park in London when Pink Floyd reunited with the original line up that brought us the creative genius of 1973’s Dark Side of the Moon and the 1979 epic, The Wall. The band unravelled in the 80s with bassist and leader, Roger Waters leaving the band and ever since then relations between Waters and the rest have been far from ideal; they communicated only through their lawyer. However, after nearly 20 years they decided to come together once again for a reunion to show their support for such a noble cause.

Musicians were not the only ones who shared the passion and zeal for this cause. American heartthrob and star of Mr & Mrs Smith, Brad Pitt, showed his support by appearing at Hyde Park in London to encourage people to lend their support and their name. His co-star “Mrs Smith”, Angelina Jolie also lent her support to the cause by appearing on stage. Even billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates, who was in Singapore just a day before appeared with Bob Geldolf on stage at Hyde Park to urge people to do support this noble cause.

All across the world, billions were tuned in to catch their idols perform in support for this noble cause. In Singapore, local telco, Starhub, screened the live feed of the event at CHIJMES at the fountain and lawn area which was hosted by Perfect-10 DJs Carrie Chong and Justin Ang, and also featured pre-show performances by the Fireflys and local rock sensation, Electrico. The night was rather humid however, and food and drinks were rather expensive – a jug of screwdriver costs a whopping $52.45!

Really, what is Live 8?

It would not be surprising that for the 3 billion viewers around the world enjoying the free concerts, many would miss the point of the concert or get confused by the aim of live8 itself. Tempting as it may seem to assume Live8 as a sequel to 1985’s Live Aid, they are not the same. Bob Geldolf’s message to the world explains it all:

“This is not Live Aid 2.

These concerts are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison.

This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children.”
– (www.live8live.com )

The difference between Live Aid in 1985 and Live 8 lies here: In 1985, the goal then was to raise money to help feed the people of Ethiopia who were starving as a result of a famine in 1984/5. Live 8 however, has a much loftier but just as noble cause. It wants to put an end to poverty in Africa it wants to do so by putting pressure on the world’s most powerful countries when they meet for the G8 summit at Gleneagles hotel in Scotland from 6-8 July to take action by doubling aid, fully cancelling debt and delivering trade justice for Africa. Live 8 is not but charity, but about justice and equality.

Poverty in Africa comes across as a strange phenomenon in today’s globalised world. Today’s world is one which is richer than never before, yet the people of Africa are becoming poorer as they are being left behind and ignored by the rest of the developed world. It is very difficult for us to imagine the grave situation of poverty in Africa; it is not just about being poor. For us, the most basic of ailments like diarrhoea or the common cold would scarcely seem as anything life threatening. However, deprived of the most basic medical treatment and medicine, these poverty stricken people stare right into the face of death every time they fall ill. Not that the conditions that they are living are any helpful in preventing sickness. The situation is so bad that every 3 seconds, a child dies as a result of it; in just a snap of a finger, yet another child dies.

The reasons for such a situation are far and between and complex because they impact on each other like that of colonialism, lack of good governance, the Cold War, the unfair trade practices of the West etc. The West has been extremely irresponsible towards Africa, and it is time for them to account for their actions and attitude. Since the 1970s, the G8 has been handing out aid and loans to Africa through their mouthpieces like the IMF (International Monetary Fund); their actions did little to alleviate the situation and instead lead to further worsening. The loans which were given to these African nations were often with strings attached and carried high interest rates; these served no purpose in helping to develop the African economies, but rather help protect their own interests and lock these African nations in a vicious cycle of incurring further debt.

By cancelling the debt, doubling the aid that is given to Africa, and delivering trade justice, poverty can be stopped. Free from the chains of the never ending cycle of debt repayment, the African governments can finally make good of the aid to improve on basic infrastructure and education which is the basic for ingredient for growth. The delivery of trade justice would ensure that the African economies need not stagnant due to the unfair advantages that the G8 has created for them.

Why We Should Care

We should care because the situation in Africa is quickly approaching a critical flashpoint. Should it worsen any further, it could move to destabilise the political situation in today’s world and wreak further damage on our fragile environment. Besides that, the spread of disease in Africa has become so rampant and that if poverty ensues, the rest of the world will be threatened by the wildfire spread of diseases exacerbated by the shrinking of today’s world.

We should care because we believe in equality and justice. Justice needs to be served to the Africa which has been be exploited and plundered over the years. Africans should be given equal opportunities; African children should be given access to education, proper healthcare, and African products should be allowed to trade on fair terms.

We should care because we do not live alone. The earth is a small place and it is our responsibility to show consideration and care for thy neighbour.

Finally, we should care because as human beings, we possess the ability to empathise, show compassion and exhibit love for our fellow kind. These are also the qualities that define us as humans and also the qualities that separate us from being complete monsters.

What We Can Do

As individuals, regardless of whether or not one is Bono or Bob Geldolf, our impact is limited. However, as a collective entity, we can make use of the power of the people to put pressure on the G8 when they meet at the G8 summit in Gleneagles in Scotland from July 6-8. These are 8 men who have the power to truly make a difference and finally put a stop to poverty, IF they choose to do so. Help them to the right choice to end poverty, and log on to http://www.live8live.com/whattodo/index.shtml to place your name in the petition or wear a white band which is the global symbol for Global Call to Action Against Poverty http://www.whiteband.org/Lib/take_action/faq/en

For more information, log on to these websites:

Official Live 8 website:http://www.live8live.com/

Global Call to Action Against Poverty:http://www.whiteband.org/

The Commission For Africa Full Report: http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/report/thereport/english/11-03-05_cr_report.pdf

Debt Aids Trade Africa: http://www.data.org/

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!