Resolve
iTunes' party shuffle is playing a copy of: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Harry Connick Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas, of which I have the original CD and therefore didn't steal music.
You're meant to make resolutions on New Year's Eve for the new year. Last New Year's Eve, I made the resolution that I would not make any resolutions any more, at least, not in public.
At the very least, though, I will make it a point not to forget Boxing Day, even if at the moment, I am feeling shitty about being an armchair aid-giver, and sitting here now still, doing what some may say is merely dissing local bigwigs for not doing enough. But as some say, at least they're doing something.
ComfortDelgro, the transport giant, has very commendable employees and drivers who have donated $50,000 to the Red Cross fund, OCBC has 'raised $487,000'; Hong Leong Foundation has 'donated $200,000' and will direct all proceeds from their purchase of Russel Wong's exhibition's opening night to the Red Cross fund.
And, 'for SembCorp Environmental Management, it had valuable contacts with those in the karang guni trade. And so it mobilised its network of karang gunis to go house to house in HDB estates to collect clothes for the survivors. Quek Keng Kwang, General Manager, SembVISY Recycling MRF, said, "Most of them willingly donate all the clothing which have been collected and this is their hard earned money everyday."'
There are a lot of people and corporations who have helped, or tried to help, even if they've been a complete moron and donated a pair of high heel shoes (I read this somewhere but I can't find the link). But as I was telling LMD, who was so alarmed at the sudden and uncharacteristic 'righteous anger' on this blog that she thought someone with a conscience had hacked into my Blogger account, I am not about to pat these people on the back and say well-done, especially when they can do a whole lot more. What some of these giant local corporations (quasi-corporations included) are doing right now is akin to someone witnessing a person getting seriously hurt in a car accident and then merely leaving a packet of tissue paper for the victim.
But New Year's Eve is New Year's Eve, and don't let anyone begrudge you for going out and having a good time. Life has to go on, even in a disaster zone. But whatever you do, don't forget Boxing Day 2004, raise awareness whenever you can.
P.S. Sim Mong Hoo, not only are your products ugly, your people are still flogging your iPod killer, while the iPod's people have taken down the Christmas trimmings. (From atypical Singaporean)
posted by Mr Miyagi at 12/31/2004 04:05:00 AM
15 Comments:
No, my point is - it's fine if you don't commend them, but I think it's not right to condemn them (this is the impression I get from your righteous anger posts). Any help, no matter how little, is still help. One packet of tissue paper is better than none.
It ok to give a packet of tissue paper, if you cannot afford to give more than that.
It is not ok to proudly declare outstanding profits year to year, and when the time comes for you to be stand up and be counted, give so little.
I find your analogy a bit off, but this is how I see it - If the someone could have saved the victim's life but only left the tissue and the victim died as a result (because no one else was around to offer help), then ok, condemn. But this isn't the case.
Is this the case that the situation of the victim is so bad that no one can save it, so everyone can give a pittance?
Its not how much you give, its the porportion of your wealth you give.
If you are a millionaire and you give $200,000 its fine.
But if you are a $2000 a mth wage earner, $200,000 is mighty impressive.
Nobody expects you to give all your weath, but please, dun give like 0.0015% of your profits ok?
see my post so see what i mean.
http://atypicalsingaporean.blogspot.com/2004/12/deafening-silence-of-corporate.html
it shows how much you care. For big companies, which have bigger finances,clout,networks, their contribution have as greater impact.
Er, my 2 cent's worth. Ok, I see that everyone has a point but I believe what LMD said is 'more agreeable'.
The measure of the amount of help need not necessary be proportion to what a company earns. You cannot force the companies to donate a certain amount anyway. So, I don't really see the point of condemning the so-called 'paltry' amounts donated.
Every single donation counts and it's all down to the collective help from all over the world. And the whole world is really helping, which is good to see.
The most important thing is that we should be united in helping in whatever ways we can. Cheers and Happy New Year to all!
I've usually been put off by the very miserable monetary donations made by some govt-linked organizations. I can remember that incident when our Singapore Government donated a grand $90k for a recent tragedy and got themselves 1-2 minutes of airtime on national TV. It was quite a joke to me. $90k is something you transfer without anybody knowing, especially if you are the government.
I also tend to believe that proportions matter more, but at the same time it should be noted that net profit doesn't always result in a greater abundance of cash. Some of these dudes make their profits in the stock market, or investing in property, or other stuff, so if they can dish out a few hundred thousand at a time I think it's a reasonably big amount.
This time around I think we should give credit where it's due. SG Govt has put in $5m, and is sending troops, equipment and supplies that amounts to about $20m. Of course since the troops would have been bumming around in Singapore anyway we can't take the $20m at face value, but overall it's still a good contribution.
In the end it's not so much how much we give, but I pray that the money really gets to those who need it. It's going to be a huge task to prevent corrupt officials or opportunistic rebels to seize supplies just like how they do in parts of Africa.
It's also important that we not forget about this catastrophe so quickly and that if requests for aid come in the following months or even years, we should be willing to help in our own little way.
chrischoo
Agree, Chris Choo. What's important is what these people do in the coming months, or years, and how aid is actually moved to the places and people that need it. But as with a catastrophe as tremendous as this, my knee-jerks set off a chain reaction which ends up with shooting my mouth off (transcribed onto the keyboard/screen).
It seems inappropriate to slam others' aid efforts. We are providing military aid, which will cost 20 million for 2-week deployment. Our military bases have also been open for use to transport supplies to Indonesia.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/125044/1/.html
Such aid can boost the aid effort more than what dollars donated to Red Cross can achieve.
Hi, everyone
Thought you might like to know - if you haven't already - that Mercy Relief ("MR") and Singapore Soka Association ("SSA")are jointly coordinating relief efforts for Aceh and Sri Lanka. Not much difference in list of supplies required as already reiterated by international media and blog-owner himself but, ah... heheh, just to re-cap. [Blog-Owner pls don't strangle me for making this redundant]
A. Cash donations:
We already know where to go and / or what to do. We can also contribute through Tele-Mercy donation lines at
* 1900 911 1150 ($50 donation)
* 1900 911 1110 ($100 donation)
B. Donations in kind:
Essentials required are...
1. Medical Supplies: Water purification tablets, paracetamol, antibiotics, dressing, suture materials, disposable syringes, intravenous infusions (saline and dextrose), sanitary pads;
2. Blankets, white cloth;
3. Food, potable water. [Important: Pls do remember to check expiry dates before donating perishables. Thanks.]
Volunteers are needed to help with the packing and general handling of supplies. These are the 4 Collection Centres which have been set up by MR and SSA.
1. SOKA HQ, 10 Tampines St 81.
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Dec 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Tampines
Bus: 293 (green)
2. SOKA Senja Centre, 11 Senja Road.
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Choa Chu Kang / Bt Panjang
LRT: Senja
Bus: Upper Bt Timah - 170, 178, 180, 460, 961
Bt Panjang - 171, 176, 177, 187, 190, 963, 970, 75
3. SOKA Youth Centre, 156 Pasir Panjang Road.
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Harbourfront
Bus: 10, 30, 51, 143, 188, 521, 176
4. The Corporate Building, 144 Robinson Road, 3rd Flr.
Operational Period: Mon, 03 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Tanjong Pagar or Raffles Place
Bus: Robinson Road - 10, 70, 75, 97, 100, 130, 162 (until 7.30/8pm only), 196, 608
Delta Nighthawk
Hi, everyone
Thought you might like to know - if you haven't already - that Mercy Relief ("MR") and Singapore Soka Association ("SSA")are jointly coordinating relief efforts for Aceh and Sri Lanka. Not much difference in list of supplies required as already reiterated by international media and blog-owner himself but, ah... heheh, just to re-cap. [Blog-Owner pls don't strangle me for making this redundant]
A. Cash donations:
We already know where to go and / or what to do. We can also contribute through Tele-Mercy donation lines at
* 1900 911 1150 ($50 donation)
* 1900 911 1110 ($100 donation)
B. Donations in kind:
Essentials required are...
1. Medical Supplies: Water purification tablets, paracetamol, antibiotics, dressing, suture materials, disposable syringes, intravenous infusions (saline and dextrose), sanitary pads;
2. Blankets, white cloth;
3. Clothing: Tops with sleeves, long pants, good underwear (no worn out ones pls) and rain gear, all preferably sorted by gender and age;
4. Food, potable water. [Important: Pls do remember to check expiry dates before donating perishables. Thanks.]
Volunteers are much needed to help with the packing and general handling of supplies. These are the 4 Collection Centres which have been set up by MR and SSA.
i. SOKA HQ, 10 Tampines St 81.
Hotline: 6787 3255
Contact: Ms Tan Gek Noi [Hp 9677 1991]
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Dec 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Tampines
Bus: 293 (green)
ii. SOKA Senja Centre, 11 Senja Road.
Hotline: 6766 8674
Contact: Mr Lam Shyy Jong [Hp 9757 8660]
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Choa Chu Kang / Bt Panjang
LRT: Senja
Bus: Upper Bt Timah - 170, 178, 180, 460, 961
Bt Panjang - 171, 176, 177, 187, 190, 963, 970, 75
iii. SOKA Youth Centre, 156 Pasir Panjang Road.
Hotline: 6473 1711
Contact: Melvin [Hp 9012 9659]
Operational Period: Fri, 31 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: HarbourFront
Bus: 10, 30, 51, 143, 188, 521, 176
iv. The Corporate Building, 144 Robinson Road, 3rd Flr.
Contact: Adrian [Hp 9459 9249]
Operational Period: Mon, 03 Jan 04 - Sun, 09 Jan 05
Operational Hrs: 8.30am to 8.30pm
How To Get There.
MRT: Tanjong Pagar (nearer) or Raffles Place
Bus: Robinson Road - 10, 70, 75, 97, 100, 130, 162 (until 7.30/8pm only), 196, 608
Interested volunteers can go to any of the collection centres or contact Mercy Relief at 6332 6320 or query@mercyrelief.org.
And if you have carton boxes or know where to find some, pls do pass them over to these collection centres. They badly need them to pack the supplies. I just dropped off 23 pieces at SSA Senja Centre and am going out again later to beg some aunties from the NTUC Fairprice branch in my neighbourhood. keekeekee
Okay, that's all. I'm out of here. Have a great blessed 2005.
Delta Nighthawk
Sorry about that double posting! My cat jumped on the keyboard and somehow hit the Enter key.
Delta Nighthawk
stupid cat.
Thank you Delta Nighthawk and cat.
I have been a silent reader for quite some time. And for the first time, I have something to say.
It is always so much easier to comment and judge. So much easier to finger and fault than to appreciate. Far too easy to compare and to critisize. =)
Not wrong there, Tsuyu. That's why blogging's easy.
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