Dragonfly
Friday, May 08, 2009 4:24 PM
Wasn't in a good mood on Wednesday, just need a good drink. Met up with Erica, my ex colleague, and Martin, my ex client, for some drinks at our usual place, Dragonfly. lol.
Drink . Drank . Drunk .
Photos Uploaded
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 12:34 PM
AWARE - Association of Women for Action and Research
Sunday, May 03, 2009 12:25 AM
What's hot on StraitsTimes / Channel news asia / etc. recently in line with the swine flu tragedy? Definitely is the debate whether AWARE members loses their confidence in the new management by the new EXCO members (Executive Committee). Its an eye-opening experience for me as I went to suntec convention personally to attend the conference. I was overwhelmed by the public responses for or against the new EXCO members. The number of AWARE members increased from 300 to a solid 3000 members within days. A good point mentioned by one of the speakers is that the increase in members is not because of the new EXCO. Its because women wants to protect women's rights and that is the reason why members are losing confidence in the new EXCO. Like many other new members, I admit I was unaware of AWARE. For this I will have to give credits to the new EXCO as well as media. They made me realize that I need to protect my rights and the rights of other women. My stand is for the Old Guards and against the new EXCO. I'm so pleased with the eventual verdict. The new EXCO has been given a vote of no confidence, almost six hours after the extraordinary general meeting. The vote of no confidence was passed against the new Exco with 1414 votes to 761 votes. Initially, Josie and her EXCO members were reluctant to resign from the board. However, after much pursuasion from the floor, they were given 5 mins to decide whether they want to remain in the board. Afterwhich, I was alarmed to be informed that these people are not behaving graciously by walking out of suntec premises without announcing that they resigned. Thus, the motion to remove the new Exco from office was passed, and the motion to elect a new president was also passed. Ms Josie Lau (new president of AWARE) and her EXCO have stepped down. Former president Dana Lam was elected as the new President.
Reasons for voting the Old guards against the new EXCO members :
(1) First and most importantly, I believe that a leader of an association should be more tactful in the choice of words used at public conferences or interviews. In the April AGM, they have pointed out accusations against the Old guard. However, they tried to defend themselves at today's press conference that such accusations were untrue. Solid evidence and newspaper articles were well-documented, hence, there's no way they can defend themselves. In addition, during today's conference, one of the new EXCO, Sally Ang shouted at one of the members, "Shut up and sit down!" Is that the kind of language that a leader should use?
(2) The new Exco said it wanted to bring AWARE back to its "original cause", as it alleged that the Old Guard was steering AWARE into becoming a single purpose organisation, overly concerned with promoting lesbianism.
From my perspective, such accusation should be avoided. I'm not a lesbian, friends of mine can definitely vouch for that. However, I'm disgusted by the new EXCO because AWARE is an association promoting women rights. Yet, they are controlling women rights at the same time. Aren't they slapping their own faces by pointing out such issues? Do they mean that lesbians can't have their rights to choose their path? The old guards are not promoting/encouraging lesbianity but allowing women to have their rights to choose what they want to be. If I'm a lesbian and I approach any of the new EXCO members, I will be so concern whether I will be regard as abnormal or morally unright. Is that what the association is capable of doing?
(3) The new president, Josie Lau and 5 other Exco members belong to the same church, Church of Our Saviour. I feel that they are not being sensitive in terms of handling religious disputes. In the April AGM, they promoted christianity and mentioned that homosexuality, pre-marital sex, etc. is against human nature in the books of god. How could these people be so insensitive towards religions other than chritianity? In the books of buddhism, islam, even catholics, are not against such issues (As mentioned by many speakers from different races). However, I felt so proud of many christians who went for the conference today. Some speakers, who are chritians themselves, voted these new EXCO out because they felt ashamed that these people are abusing christianity. They shouldn't gain sympathy votes by promoting their own religion and telling parents that if they vote for the old guards, they are teaching their children the wrong moral values. This is injustice! I was so amused by their feminist mentor, Dr Thio Su Mien, when she came up to speak her views. She obviously didn't think before she speaks. How can I seek for her advices if I have problems?
(4) There was also a financial dispute at issue. Under the constitution, the EXCO is not allowed to spend more than S$20,000 and if they do, they must consult members. Nonetheless, the new EXCO spent S$90,000 in the last month, and this outraged the members who said the money could be put to better use.
Such "cheque book" mentality is unacceptable in a non—governmental organisation, where every cent counts. Josie Lau's expertise is in the marketing field. Yet, she failed to consider asking around for volunteers and sponsers which will definitely lower the cost. Additionally, is there a need to employ an event organizer when they can simply do the job themselves?
(5) One of the members pointed out a very good point also. The New team mentioned that they will, as a paramount objective, seek to empower women to be leaders in our society, in politics, business, the professions and in all areas of endeavour which will benefit our nation. President Josie Lau says, “In these challenging times, the new team will actively seek to collaborate and align AWARE with other women’s organisations with outreach to girls and women who are affected by the current economic downturn.” However, The new EXCO has terminated all the current heads of the AWARE sub-committees, including Braema Mathi, Chairperson of AWARE's CEDAW Committee (Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international bill of rights for women adopted by the UN). The new Exco has kept ex-President, Constance Singam out of Exco meetings, which is unconstitutional. Constance Singam and Claire Nazar have resigned from the new Exco on the grounds that their advice and direction have been totally disregarded by members of the new EXCO. With such treatment to the Old Guards, how do they expect members to have confidence in them?
(6) They are Lacking the Experience. 8 of the 9 new EXCO have been in AWARE for less than 5 months; none of them has served in AWARE committees nor participated in AWARE initiatives as volunteers. All experienced personnel were terminated by these new EXCO. As well, a point well taken, there is no legal advisor in the board. This made them incur unnecessary cost by employing one for the conference.
(7) Locks were changed to magnetic locks and CCTV were placed around the AWARE premises. The new EXCO claimed that AWARE should be open to public. There shouldn't be magnetic locks when you claimed to be open. As well, confidentiality of members were challenged with the CCTVs around the premises. Who the hell will dare to confide in them? They even have the cheek to defend themselves by saying that the reason for such security is because of the break-in in 2004. This humoured the crowd.
(8) I support male feminism as there shouldn't be sex discrimination. By supporting female rights, I believe they're also supporting their own rights. So why can't males be members of AWARE when they sincerely support women rights (e.g. protecting weak women from husband's abuse)? Why should these people disallow male to vote?
(9) During the conference today, one of the agenda includes promoting AWARE and list the achievements by the committee. Its hilarious as these are achievements by the Old guards, not the new EXCO members!! I was laughing hysterically when one of the old guards pointed this issue.
(10) These new EXCO members are so bias by highlighting words like "anal sex are neutral", etc. mentioned by the old guards. The ex trainer of AWARE stood up to challenge these new EXCO by mentioning that these are human rights. Training involves experts. As well, these trainings are conducted for more than 1 and half hour. Yet, they simply highlight these points within 1 and half minute. This is so unfair and misleading.
That's all for today. Tired eyes are killing me.. Night!!
