Entry 3- 30/08/01

"It is I, Leclerc!"- Leclerc, 'Allo 'Allo. Courtesy of Cafe Rene

GP Prelims just over. Did the essay question that went "Reading is a lost art. Discuss" and celebrated the widespread love for good books that follows globalisation. Incidentally, is it  "globalization" or "globalisation"? One tends towards the one with a "z", seeing the US of A taking the key role lately.

Went to watch "Cats and Dogs" with Gabriel in Tiong Bahru Plaza, a compromise between our residential districts. Also playing was "Heartbreaker", "Rush Hour 2"- not very good choices. "Cats and Dogs" plays homage to all action/spy/thriller movies with high-tech gizmos, a team of 4, a world canine council dedicated to Mankind. The movie survives on mainstream references to pets- dogs upsetting furniture, cats coughing up hairballs, mice and their love affair with cheese, rich owners coddling pets and so on. Also featured was a trailer for the latest Julia Roberts flick- Julia dyed her locks brown! But she looks as devastating as ever (striking resemblance to Liz Hurley somehow)

Bumped into Johann at Buona Vista MRT (which, btw, is now EW21 ). Mentorship tea today- he- Alfian Sa'at, Grace- Angeline Yap, Ann- Prof. Lee, David- (will fill in when he tells me). Ms Ho's taking Toh Bao-En under her wing. More updates pending.

Maybe I'll make a list for every entry. Today's will be "Things Singapore Government tells its citizens" aka Government Campaigns since '65.

These years may see the formation of a viable civil society movement in Singapore. Already the feeble/foetal kicks are evident, with the Singapore Broadcast Authority getting fidgety and demanding the shutting down of Sintercom. One sees the need for formal organisations to break the apolitical mould so many have adopted, and be the millstone for political parties in power to grind against. One evidently cannot look to the media to play a pioneering role, due to its critical status balancing between PR woes as a publicly listed company, as well as MITA threatening to take over management.

Government response to societal mishap? Campaign. Population's reponse to individual mishap? Complain.

Another Quote: ... people increasingly resent being overwhelmed by government campaigns. People get bored with repetitive activities and it does not seem to square well with a modern, democratic, responsible society.

Source: http://campus.fortunecity.com/media/330/process.html

• Eat Frozen Fish - I am told this has something to do with the Russian/global fishing industry somewhere in the 70's)
  
• Be Courteous - Nothing further to be said about its  existence; save that it was renamed "Singapore Kindness Movement" for an unknown reason. Could you help?
  
• Speak Mandarin Campaign - I'm concerned about the drowning of the dialect voice as a result of government policy. Though Hokkien and Cantonese are violently asserted during the 2.5 years National Service (in more ways than one), the dearth of such dialects does isolate Singaporean Chinese from other overseas Chinese as well as Taiwan, Hongkong. Not to mention the cultural gaps left behind.
  
• Productivity Campaign (annual): Affiliated with National Productivity Movement. "To stay ahead, we must keep on improving our skills, knowledge and productivity. Only then can Singaporeans enjoy high and rising standards of living."- Goh Chok Tong
  
• Singapore's Clean Public Toilets Campaign
  
• Successful Software Piracy Education Campaign
  
• Speak Good English Movement
  
• National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign
  
• Crime Prevention Movement
  
• Fire Safety Campaign
  
• National Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign
  
• Clean and Green Campaign: One I support mainly because of the incredibly adorable Littoria (tree frog) mascot. He was more appealing in the early nineties, before he was given the dubious role of environmental superhero with cape to match.

Up to you to decide which are more ludicrous.