[New Event] Hong Lim Park Countdown

Democracy Dogs anf Freedom Fries
Monday, 22 December 2008
Singapore Democrats

Fancy chowing down some Democracy Dogs with Freedom Fries on the side? And how about washing it all down with Justice Juice? That's exactly what is going to be served during the Hong Lim Park Countdown on New Year's Even at Speakers' Corner.

Starting at 6 pm we'll get a BBQ going to get the hotdogs ready for everyone on a first-come-first-served basis. Tickets? What tickets? All you need is an empty stomach and a ready voice for the sing-along after the grub.

We've also lined up a couple of speakers to honour the memory of the late J B Jeyaretnam as well as to talk about what lies ahead for Singapore in 2009. We're also inviting you to help us construct a candlelight display to signal our desire for a free Singapore. And while you're doing this why not post a message on our Wishes for 2009 board?

Come midnight, we'll be passing out glowing light-sticks while we sing and usher in the New Year. Bring along your torchlights and add to the atmosphere.In addition, Dr Chee Soon Juan's latest book A Nation Cheated and other publications will be on sale. Tak Boleh Tahan and democracy t-shirts will also be available.

So instead of going to some hotel and blowing a hole in your wallet on celebrations, why not join us at Hong Lim Park for a meaningful evening. It will be a time of reflection of the past and rejuvenation of our will for the future.

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Source: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/1637-democracy-dogs-and-freedom-fries

[Event Update] Tan Kin Lian's Address to the Nation, 6 Dec 08

Social Justice and Fairness: First-World Country in the 21st Century

Event: The Online Citizen’s 2nd anniversary celebration plus celebration of the United Nations’ 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

TOC’s focus will be on the poor and needy.

Title of Event: “Social Justice and Fairness: First-World Country in the 21st Century”.
Date: 6 December, 2008
Time: 5pm to 7pm
Venue: Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park (Clark Quay MRT station, Exit A).

Who:
- 5 TOC members will be making speeches
- Group of volunteers collecting signatures of support for Mr Tan Kin Lian to contest the elections
- Members of U60 to give their support to the event
- Tan Kin Lian to update minibonds/structured products investors on the latest

What:
- TOC will give out namecards to its members as a form of acknowledgement for their contribution. A simple gesture.
- U60 leaflets will be given out
- U60 to provide banners for the event
- Promotional leaflets for Mr Leong Sze Hian’s latest book, “Issues That Matter – Uniquely Singapore: F1 or F9?”

Speeches:

Choo Zheng Xi will provide updates on TOC’s two years of existence
Leong Sze Hian will speak on HDB policies and how they are affecting the poor
Ravi Philemon on “distributive justice” and our education policy
Andrew Loh on Public Assistance and why the Government should do more and update on town councils’ replies to investments.
Tan Kin Lian on egalitarianism and why our elected leaders should represent the people.

Source: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/12/programme-for-speakers%e2%80%99-corner-event-tomorrow-%e2%80%93-saturday/

[New Event] Tan Kin Lian's Address to the Nation, 6 Dec 08

Speaker's Corner 6 December, 5 - 7 pm

Social Justice and Fairness
First World Country in the 21st Century
How are our poor faring?

Speeches: Tan Kin Lian
1. Our society should be more egalitarian2, Elected leaders should represent the people

Leong Sze Hian:
1. HDB – how the poor are faring and affected by HDB policies

Ravi Philemon:
1. Distributive justice; especially about how our education system does not equip people to be self-reliant, but to be workers.

Others:
1. Tan Kin Lian – Update on investors' situation (if any)
2. Andrew Loh – Update on town councils' replies to residents' query

[New Event] PEACE VIGIL FOR SRI LANKA, 15 Nov

PEACE VIGIL FOR SRI LANKA

Speakers Corner (Clarke Quay MRT Exit A)
Saturday, 15 November 2008
5pm - 7pm

The civil war in Sri Lanka is one of the world's deadliest ongoing armed conflicts, causing significant harm to the civilian population, environment and severe damage to the economy of the country. Now 25 years running, it has claimed at least 215,000 lives and displaced more than 1.5 million people.

The possibility of a lasting peace was raised when a cease-fire agreement was signed with international mediation in 2002. However on January 2, 2008 the Government of Sri Lanka formally announced unilateral withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement and since then, the conflict escalated to critical levels in recent months. Donor countries such as the United States, Canada, Norway and Japan have expressed deep regrets on this decision by the Sri Lankan government.

On September 9, 2008, the Government of Sri Lanka ordered all local and international aid agencies to leave the northern areas of conflict and take their equipment with them. UN agencies and international relief organisations including Oxfam, Save The Children and the Danish Refugee Council that have been delivering food and medical aid to nearly 200,000 refugees in the affected region have started to pull out.

History has demonstrated that such wars can never be won. The international community must take decisive steps to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka to abandon the path of militarism and opt for a negotiated political settlement. Our prompt intervention will avert the loss of many more precious lives.

Join us at Speakers Corner this Saturday, Nov 15 to light a candle and show your support for peace in Sri Lanka.

http://worldwithoutwar.sg
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http://singaporeindianvoice.blogspot.com/2008/11/press-release-peace-vigil-for-sri-lanka.html
Organiser: Seelan Palay

[New Event] High Notes Investor Meeting, 18 Oct

Taken from: http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2008/10/meeting-of-high-notes-investors.html

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Organisers have decided to call off the meeting at DBS headquarters tomorrow (Wednesday).

They are arranging a meeting at Speaker's corner on Saturday from 5 - 7 p.m.

Investor of the High Notes will be asked to sign a Collective Letter to DBS Senior Management requesting a meeting to address:

1) To review the Statement of Account for each of the High Notes as to the total amount collected, the amount paid out as commission, the premium collected from the list Credit reference list and the Credit Debt Obligations and the expenses incurred.

2) To discuss how DBS propose to remedy our investments.

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[Event Update] Gay Pride Parade, TBC

Originally scheduled for 15 Nov 2008.

Date of event to be re-confirmed closer to the date.

p.s. Thanks Roy

[New Event] Tan Kin Lian Weekly Speeches at Speakers' Corner

Taken from: http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2008/10/weekly-speeches-at-speakers-corner.html
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Weekly Speeches at Speaker's Corner
I have registered to speak at Speaker's Corner, Hong Lim Green as follows:

Date: Sat 18 Oct, 6 to 7 pm
Date: Sat 25 Oct, 6 to 7 pm
Date: Sat 1 Nov, 6 to 7 pm
Date: Sat 8 Nov, 6 to 7 pm

My speech will be short, for about 10 mins.

After hearing my speech, the investors can gather in groups (according to distributor, product or postal district) to exchange views and discuss collective action.
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p.s. Thanks Andrew for the heads up!

[Event Update] Petition to Singapore Government on Credit Linked Securities, 11 Oct

Taken from : http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2008/09/speakers-corner-saturday-11-october-5-7.html

Speaker's Corner, Saturday 11 October, 5 - 7 pm
CONFIRMED:Venue: Speaker's Corner, Hong Lim Green

Date: Saturday 11 October from 5 to 7 pm.

Topic: Petition to Singapore Government on Credit Linked Securities.

Speakers:
1. Tan Kin Lian
2. Leong Sze Hian

As a large crowed is expected, it may not be possible for some investors to hear the speakers. The authority allow a loud hailer to be used, but not a powered loudspeaker. I will keep my speech short and give a handout to people who are not able to hear me.

Signs will be put up for the attendees to meet other investors who have invested in similar products, e.g. Minibond, High Notes, Pinnacle Notes, Jubilee Notes. The main purpose of this event is to show a large gathering of investors.

[New Event] The Big Hong Lim Show, 5 Oct 08

Event: The Big Hong Lim Show

Organisers - Clarence Chua, Kiezin Teng & Choo Zheng Xi (Facebook group admins of "Stand Up for Media Freedom on Campus")

Contact: kiezin@gmail.com

Agenda: A group of NTU students and alumni will be protesting against NTU’s recent censorship of a campus newspaper article

They will make a series of speeches mainly to:

1. Raise awareness on this issue for both the public and the university population

2. Talk about the experience of having a neutral news article cut for fear of its subject

3. State their values and stand on press freedom

4. What they have done thus far regarding this issue, and what they hope to see regarding higher levels of freedom of information in the future

5. Highlight how this incident has undermined the very education that the University hopes to provide to students

6. Engage university or school professors if possible

Sources: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/10/ntu-students-to-hold-stand-up-for-media-freedom-event-at-speakers-corner/
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39594160711

[New Event] In Memoriam: JB Jeyaretnam, 4 Oct 08

Event: In Memoriam: JB Jeyaretnam

Agenda: In Memory of JB Jeyaretnam

Organisers: Melvin Tan & Jacob George

Details: Bring flowers & candles. Wear black. No speeches

Sources: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=37798650773
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/10/remembrance/

31 registrations at Speakers' Corner

If anyone has information on any of theses 31 registered events, please email me so that I can add them to the calender.

The attached report highlights that the demographic for attendees at speakers' corner events largely do not use the internet and get their information form the Mainstream media or through word-of-mouth.

Times are changing and I'm sure everyone is well aware of the benefits of using the Internet to spread information.

I hope this platform can help cross some of these informational divides. If successful, I will explore other means to keep interested parties informed of event changes in schedule.

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31 registrations at Speakers' Corner one month after relaxed rules
01 October 2008 1746 hrs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/379598/1/.html
SINGAPORE: It has been one month since rules were relaxed to allow public outdoor demonstrations at the Speakers' Corner and it seems the site, which is Singapore's version of London's Hyde Park, is seeing a little more activity.

Singapore's National Parks Board which took over the management of the Speakers' Corner from the Police said it received 31 registrations in September - of which 11 were indicated as public protests.

This is a far cry from the seven or so registrations received each month, over the past three years.

One group, called Hearers of Cries made history in Singapore on September 1. They were the first to hold a legal public outdoor demonstration here. Despite a brief appearance to raise awareness on the plight of abused maids, the group did manage to gain some exposure for its cause.

Some critics may want to see civil and political space in Singapore open up beyond the Speakers' Corner.

But this group said it's really up to Singaporeans to make Speaker's Corner a success.

Mike Goh, founder, Hearers of Cries, said: "We can complain that nobody goes there but if you really want to make it work, you can send an e-mail to inform your friends, relatives to lend support to go there or even advertise."

Observers said the new rules have given netizens a face.

Gillian Koh, senior research fellow, Institute of Policy Studies, said: “Now you can actually mobilise to make sure that there's an audience and that's what's different. Previously if you mobilised, it would be viewed as an illegal demonstration. Clearly the online activists are trying to see how they can make a real world impact.”

Speaking on the topic of Singapore's public transport system, bloggers of The Online Citizen - a socio-political website, attracted what could perhaps be one of the biggest crowds seen at the Speakers' Corner in recent years.

The website's editor Choo Zheng Xi said : "I think it's important for The Online Citizen not to barricade ourselves behind an online platform, but bring our discussions offline once in a while.

“Many of those we interacted with at the Speakers' Corner were passers-by or people who had heard of our event through the mainstream media or word of mouth, who actually don't use the internet. It's a different demographic out there."

“So perhaps the key is in Singaporeans taking full advantage of the liberalised rules.”

Before demonstrating, Singaporeans must register at the National Park's website at http://www.nparks.gov.sg/.

And those who've done so said it was a breeze and they might even make a re-appearance at the site. Now the true measure of success for this space is how it will impact the lives of singaporeans.

Observers said this should be a space where people can voice issues and educate fellow Singaporeans to make some real-world impact. - CNA/vm

Lets go to the park!

In his 2008 National Day Rally speech, PM Lee announced new rules governing the space for political engagement and activism in the country. Part of these changes includes the opening of the Speakers’ Corner at Hong Lim Park for Protests from 1 Sep 2008.

For Singapore citizens, there is no longer a need to apply for a police permit as the administration of Hong Lim Park is now under NParks.

According to the NParks website, Singapore permanent residents can also take part in a demonstration at Speakers' Corner and are required to apply for a police permit only if they want to organise a demonstration themselves or to speak at the Corner. Foreigners however will have to apply for a permit to conduct or take part in any activity at the Corner.

Whether you regard this as political generosity or tokenism, every channel of expression (political, artistic … etc) has the potential to garner attention to issues and change public mindsets and perceptions.

As such, every attempt at utilising these channels, no matter how trivial or grand, deserves some attention. Hence this blog was created to serve as a shared calendar of events at Hong Lim Park.

If you are planning an event or know of an event at Speakers’ Corner, please let me know so I can update it on the calendar.

I can be contacted at: letsgotospeakerscorner@gmail.com