Jeremy Fernando at the NUS Arts Festival 2018

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dreams are always already too long …

730pm
Tuesday, 18 September
NUS Museum

This panel will attempt to explore the space, the time, and the language, of and in dreams. And, we will be doing so — responding to the possibility of dreams, the dreams of possibilities — alongside Goh Poh Seng’s If We Dream Too Long. In our attempt to respond — to the notions raised in the text, to the notion of dreams — we will be bearing in mind the fact that any response is always already a reading; reading being understood as the relation to an other that occurs prior to any semantic or formal identification, and therefore prior to any attempt at assimilating what is being read to the one who reads. As neither an act nor a rule-governed operation, reading needs to be thought as an event of an encounter with an other — and, more precisely, an other which is not the other as identified by the reader, but heterogeneous in relation to any identifying determination. Thus, a relation where what is being read and the reader remain wholly other to each other.

And, since dreams are brought forth by and through the relationality of at least three texts — the written, the aural, and the visual — within and quite possibly always also outside of time, at the same time, as Lim Lee Ching, Mark Brantner, and Jeremy Fernando read out, speak, their presentations, Yanyun Chen and Sara Chong will be sketching, making, drawings, alongside the words, the sounds; bringing forth images that will be projected, that will be seen, as they are being made; presented, staged — theoria in the oldest sense of a staging of thinking itself.

And, even as this is a panel presentation, is a presentation as a panel, is presented as a panel, all five performances are singular: thus, always also in relation with — conversing, turning around (conversare) with (con), quite possibly against (versus), but always alongside — each other.

In this sense, this is nothing other than the staging of a dream.

***

To register, please go to: http://www.apactix.com/events/detail/nus-arts-festival-2018-critical-conversations-dreams-are-always-already-too-long

Tembusu Ambassadors are recruiting!

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Tembusu College is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic students to serve as Tembusu Ambassadors! Submit your application form by 5 September 2018 (Wednesday), 12:00PM.

Your Ticket to the World!

Are you proud to be a part of Tembusu College? Tell it to the world! As Tembusu Ambassadors, we promote and showcase our Home of Possibilities to prospective students during outreach events, such as NUS Open Day or college admissions interviews.

On special occasions, Tembusu Ambassadors also suit up to host external guests such as local and foreign Ambassadors and diplomats or delegates from foreign universities when they visit Tembusu College or UTown. It is a great opportunity to groom your leadership skills and communication abilities.

What do Tembusu Ambassadors do?

  • Promote residential college education to prospective students at various High Schools, Junior Colleges and Polytechnics
  • Welcome visitors and distinguished guests
  • Conduct campus tours around Tembusu College
  • Assist in managing college events (e.g. Tembusu Forums and tour management for Open Day)
  • Be involved in a working group within the team (AY17/18: Alumni, Instagram, Tembusu Tuesdays and Open Day)*

*Working groups are reviewed and formed during our annual retreat so they are subjected to changes

Who is an ideal candidate?

We are looking for responsible, personable and committed Tembusu College students (Freshmen, Seniors, One-year Exchange Students) who are team players and are excited to share their love for the college to prospective students and external guests!

“I was attracted to the role of a Tembusu Ambassador as I treasured the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds whether it was the occasional foreign dignitary that came to visit or the fresh-eyed prospective student. What I most enjoyed about being an Ambassador was representing the college at various outreach events. While sharing about Tembusu, I also had the chance to challenge these students to think more deeply about their university education and in my own way inspire them to see their experience as more than just their academics I saw it as an opportunity to help them imagine how Tembusu could be a home of possibilities for them as well, and that made the experience very meaningful for me.”

— Dawn Tan graduated with a B.Soc.Sci in Psychology and Social Work. She is currently an Associate Librarian with the National Library Board. 

“The privilege of serving as a Tembusu Ambassador was one of the most formative experiences during my stay in Tembusu College. There were many skills acquired and lessons learnt – sometimes difficult ones, that helped me develop into a more confident and perceptive individual. Complementing personal growth was the opportunity to work with my peers whom shared the same passion to serve, and now have become timeless friends. This experience also prompted me to serve the college with greater capacity, having also been a Residential Assistant in my final undergraduate semester. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi”

— Liew Yuqi graduated with Honours in Architecture. He will be pursuing an Architect MArch at UCL.

“I joined the Tembusu Ambassadors because I was interested in serving the College by developing its external image and reputation. I was also keen on engaging with foreign dignitaries on behalf of the College. Here, I learnt important networking skills, as well as how to lead others. The flat structure of the Ambassadors developed our ability to lead each other through respect and service, rather than out of one’s formal position. The main highlight and takeaway is definitely the camaraderie that came out from serving, and organizing events together. Although our tenure lasts a couple years, the friendships forged are timeless.”

— David Wong graduated with a M.SC in Global Governance and Diplomacy. He is currently a Lead at Infrastructure Asia.

“Joining the Tembusu Ambassadors offers you a unique platform and opportunity to serve and give back to the College we all love, as custodians and curators of the Tembusu brand externally. We bring the first impressions of our “Home of Possibilities” into the hearts and minds of prospective students and parents – in other words, in many ways we set the ball rolling for future cohorts of Tembusians – as well as prominent guests at events like the Inaugural and Annual Dinners and Tembusu Forums. A heavy responsibility, yes, but also an immensely exciting one. Along the way, you will find yourself honing your creativity, communication and teamwork, skillsets that will hold you in good stead for life’s subsequent challenges. The diversity within the team, and our own College experiences, only adds to our lustre, and perhaps you too, like me, will find yourself forming the most fulfilling and enduring friendships of your University days among your fellow Ambassadors. Go ahead, give it a shot – for those up to the task, being a Tembusu Ambassador will only make your time at the College all the more richly memorable and rewarding.”

— Vinod Ashvin Ravi graduated with Honours in Political Science. He has served in the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2015.

“The only thing better than giving back to a place you can now call home, is doing so with a group of capable and equally passionate individuals. Joining the Tembusu Ambassadors has given me the opportunity to advocate for, serve and lead the College through many ways. I have planned, executed and headed projects such as the Open Day Videos and Instagram Team, while also having the privilege to welcome guests of different profiles to our College. To me, the Ambassadors is a professional family to grow up with and fall back on.”

— Heather Lee graduated with Honours in Business Administration. She is an Associate Consultant at Capgemini.

“I joined the Tembusu Ambassadors because I believed in contributing by developing the college’s external image, and improve on my communication, organizational and leadership skills, which continue to serve me well in my final year in University. I was able to sharpen my communication skills by sharing about Tembusu College to prospective students at outreaches, develop my organizational skills by supporting the Open Day team and hone my leadership skills by organizing a 2-day training retreat for the Tembusu Ambassadors’ family. Many of these opportunities often challenged me beyond my comfort zone – but that’s where I am grateful for a family of like-minded, deeply passionate peers whom I found valuable mentorship, support and guidance. Many of these peers are now timeless friends.”

— Joshua Eu is currently in his final year of undergraduate study, pursuing a degree in Business Administration.

How to apply:

  1. Download and fill in the Tembusu Ambassadors Application Form.
  2. Drop off the form at the Tembusu College Office reception between 24 August and 5 September 2018, 12:00PM.
  3. Shortlisted candidates will be informed of their interview slots by 7 September 2018.
  4. Interviews will be conducted from 10 – 14 September 2018 (inclusive). Please come for your interview in business attire.

Period of Appointment: One Academic Year (subject to review after first semester of service)

Do come for our information session on 28 August 2018, 8:00PM at the Reading Room. We’d love to tell you more about our experiences and the application process! Please indicate your interest in attending here.

For any inquiries, feel free to drop an email to: tambassadors@nus.edu.sg

Tembusu Reading Pods AY2018/19 Sem 1

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Register for your reading pod at Eventbrite by 27 Aug 2018

Interested in reading a book with a faculty member or student of the college? Select one from the five titles and register yourself at the reception counter of Tembusu admin office. Each book cost only S$10, so hurry and sign up now! Registration deadline: 27th August, Monday. Each reading pod accommodates only 5 participants. Hurry while stocks last.

An email will be sent to participants to make payment and collect their book at Bookhaven (UTown) when it is ready. Participants are liable to purchase the book once registration is confirmed. The facilitator will contact participants via email to provide more details of each reading pod (starting date and venue).

Click on the images for more information.

 

  1. Will Self’s Phone by Dr Eric Kerr
  2. Quentin Skinner’s Machiavelli: The Prince by Dr John van Wyhe

  3. Sonny Liew’s The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Isaac Neo

  4. David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest by Dillon Keshvani

‘On Writing Art’ by Jeremy Fernando at the Central Public Library

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In this performance-talk, Jeremy Fernando will address the manner in which he responds to, the way in which he approaches his attempts to, write on works of art. For, if art is the transformation of something that is brought forth through craft, through tekhnē, into something else, it not only lies potentially beyond us, it might well also transform the one who looks at it. Thus, writing on art – even if one thinks one is picking up a call from the work – not only risks completely missing the point, but is quite possibly always writing art itself.

Wed, 8 August
730 – 830pm
Multi-Purpose Room
Central Public Library

To register, please go to : https://www.nlb.gov.sg/golibrary2/e/on-writing-art-68993122 

Professor Tommy Koh: Moscow holds the key to better Asean ties

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The Russian Federation succeeded the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991. The heart of the Russian Federation is Russia. The medieval state of “Rus” rose in the 9th century. It adopted orthodox Christianity as its religion in the 10th century. In the 13th century Rus was overrun by the Mongols and the Golden Horde. 

Subsequently, the Grand Duchy of Moscow gradually expanded its territory by conquest, annexation and exploration. By the 18th century, the Russian Empire had become the third largest empire in history, stretching from Poland, in the West, to Alaska, in the East.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russia became the dominant component of USSR. The USSR existed from 1922 to 1991. 

In its heyday, it was a superpower, the equal of the United States of America in both military and economic power. During the Cold War, ASEAN and the USSR had polite but low-level relations. This changed in 1996, when Russia was admitted as a full dialogue partner of ASEAN. 

A GREAT POWER

Even without its empire, ASEAN recognises Russia as a great power and has given it a seat at all the top tables, including the East Asia Summit.

Geographically, Russia is the biggest country in the world occupying 11 time zones and one-eighth of the land surface of the earth. By population, at 144 million, it is the nine largest country in the world. Its economy is the 12th largest in the world last year as ranked by the International Monetary Fund. 

Russia has the world’s largest resources of minerals and energy, and is one of the world’s largest producers of oil and gas.

It is a nuclear weapon state with the world’s largest stock pile of nuclear weapons and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It has a high culture civilisation and a talented population. It has world class scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians, athletes, writers, artists, dancers and musicians. 

It is not an accident that the concert master of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a Russian, as was his predecessor.

HISTORY OF TIES

In 1996, Russia became a full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. In 2004, Russia acceded to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. In the same year, the two sides adopted a Joint-Declaration on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism.

The first ASEAN-Russia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2005. The leaders adopted a Joint Declaration and adopted a plan of action to achieve the goals set out in the joint declaration by 2015. They also adopted an agreement to cooperate in economic development.

The second ASEAN-Russia Summit was held in Hanoi in 2010. The third ASEAN-Russia Summit was held in Sochi in 2016. In August 2017, Russia appointed its first dedicated ambassador to ASEAN. Russia has established embassies in all the 10 ASEAN countries.

ECONOMIC LINKS

Economically, the relationship between ASEAN and Russia is sub-optimal. In 2017, the two-way trade was about US$18 billion. Russia’s total investment in ASEAN amounted to US$800 million. 

In comparison, South Korea is the world’s 11th largest economy but in 2017, the two-way trade between ASEAN and South Korea amounted to US$118 billion.

Tourism is a major sector of all the ASEAN economics. The number of Russians visiting ASEAN has been increasing. In 2016, 1.83 million Russians visited ASEAN. In 2017, the number exceeded 2 million. In 2017, 80,000 Russians visited Singapore alone. 

We don’t have the statistics on the number of ASEAN citizens visiting Russia. I am sure the number for 2018 would be substantial because of the FIFA World Cup. Incidentally, Russia had done a superb job as the host country and the Russian people have earned much goodwill for their country.

OTHER AREAS OF COOPERATION

Apart from trade, investment and tourism, the two sides also cooperate in many other areas. Let me give some examples. 

First, in combating international terrorism. Russia has organised annually a number of workshops to enhance ASEAN’s capacity to counter terrorism.

Second, the two sides have agreed to deepen their cooperation in new areas such as e-commerce and the digital economy. 

Third, ASEAN and Russia are examining the feasibility of concluding a free trade agreement between ASEAN and the five member Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The five members of EAEU are: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The EAEU has already signed an FTA with Vietnam and is negotiating one with Singapore.

Fourth, ASEAN and Russia are cooperating in the field of energy. This is an area in which Russia has both resources and expertise.

ASEAN and Russia have adopted a work plan that aims to enhance energy security and sustainability for the two sides through implementing projects and initiatives in: (a) oil and gas; (b) electricity; (c) civilian nuclear energy; and (d) renewable energy.

Fifth, ASEAN has a lot to learn from Russia in the field of culture. The culture ministers of the two sides met in Sochi in 2016 and signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cultural exchanges. 

I hope that the great museum, Hermitage, at St Petersburg, will send some of its collections to exhibit at ASEAN’s museums. I also hope that Russia’s museums will accept to host exhibitions from the ASEAN countries. Art, music, dance and theatre can connect the hearts and minds of the two peoples.

Cultural exchanges will also help Russia to grow its mindshare among ASEAN citizens.

SOCHI AND BEYOND

President Vladimir Putin hosted the 10 Leaders of ASEAN at the third summit in Sochi in 2016. The Sochi Declaration was entitled, “Moving Forward: A Strategic Partnership For Mutual Benefit”. A year later, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and Russia adopted the report of the ASEAN-Russia Group of Eminent Persons. 

The report recommended 18 concrete measures.  Two years later, the senior officials of the two sides met in Moscow to review the state of implementation of the 18 measures. The ASEAN Secretariat reported progress on 15 of the measures. This is a good omen for the future. We need more action and less talk and fewer empty promises.

What is the future of the ASEAN-Russia relationship? The key to the future is in Moscow and not in ASEAN.

Geographically, the larger part of Russia’s territory is in Asia. However, the larger part of Russia’s population is in Europe. 

Historically, the Russians have always looked to the West, to Europe and America. More recently, Russia has been paying more attention to the East.

We hope that this trend will be sustained. If Moscow can give equal attention to the East and the West, then the ASEAN-Russian relationship will have a bright future.

Many congratulations to Francis Lee on his wonderful achievement at the ActInSpace competition in France

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Click to enlarge

Tembusu College sends our heartiest congratulations to Francis Lee, from Shan House, on his wonderful achievement. Francis was part of team Insert Space, one of five teams in the final round of the competition organised by the French space agency CNES and the European Space Agency.

To read more about the competition, please go to : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-team-wins-prize-in-space-tech-contest

By Professor Tommy Koh: Moulding the Future of our Nation: The Role of the Humanities

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Mrs Eugenia Lim, Principal, Mrs Shermaine Tang, Vice-Principal, Madam Ho Hui Ping, Vice-Principal, Teachers and Students. Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts with you this morning.

Tribute To Teachers

It is a special pleasure to speak to 200 teachers.  A few years ago, the Ministry of Education published a small book of short essays, entitled, “If Not For My Teacher”.  I contributed an essay praising teachers, in general, and my first Form Master at RI, Mr Wazir Singh, in particular.  My teachers have educated me and helped to mould me into the person I am today.  Thank you teachers.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

We are living through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  What were the first three industrial revolutions?

The first was the Agrarian Revolution which happened about 10,000 years ago.  Humans stopped foraging for food for survival.  They learned to grow food.  They domesticated animals. As a result, food production improved, the population increased and human settlements grew in size.  This led to the emergence of villages, towns and cities.

The second revolution, called the Industrial Revolution, began in the 18th century and accelerated in the 19th and 20thcenturies.  The revolution was powered by the invention of the steam engine, electricity and mass production.

The third revolution began in the 1960s, with the invention of the computer, semi-conductors, personal computers and the internet.  That is the world we have been living in.

The fourth revolution began at the turn of the 21st century.  It builds on the third industrial revolution as it is also being driven by technology and digitalization.  New technology and innovation have given rise to companies which disrupt the status quo, for example, Airbnb, Uber, Grab, Alibaba, Amazon, etc.  The world is being transformed by computers, robots, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, big data, smart cities, block chain, sharing economy, 3D printing, autonomous vehicles, nanotechnology and financial technology.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is remarkable for its speed and breadth.  It is affecting every sphere of human activity.  Singapore must therefore prepare its young people with the knowledge, skills and mindset to take advantage of the new opportunities.  This is why the Government has emphasized what is called: “STEM”, meaning science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  This is not wrong.  It does not, however, tell the whole story.  The fact is that many of the founders of new and innovative companies are not the graduates of STEM.  The founder and CEO of Razer, Tan Min-Liang, for example, is not a graduate of STEM but law.  He is our youngest self-made billionaire.

Case For Holistic Education

First, I want to make the point that what the world needs is to educate our young people both in the sciences and the humanities.  We need technologists who understand the humanities and humanists who understand technology.  Let me support my case with several examples.

The co-founder and the genius behind Apple, was a man called Steve Jobs.  Steve attended a small liberal arts college but dropped out of the college.  When asked what was the important course he took at the college, he said it was a course on calligraphy.  His knowledge of calligraphy enabled him to design a keyboard for the Macintosh computer, which distinguishes it from its competitors. When unveiling a new edition of iPad, Steve Jobs said: “It is in Apple’s DNA that technology is married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yield us the results that make our hearts sing.”

The co-founder and genius behind Facebook is Mark Zuckerberg.  Mark was a Psychology major at Harvard but he also dropped out of college.  Mark has said that: “Facebook is as much about psychology and sociology as it is about technology.”

I think I have made my point.  What is changing the world is not technology alone.  It is being changed by innovators and entrepreneurs who have been able to marry technology with design, with psychology and sociology.  It is being changed by people like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.

Why Study History?

Second, when parents ask me what should their children study if they aspire to join our foreign service, I tell them that it doesn’t really matter what they study but I hope that some of our diplomats would have studied history.  Why history?  Didn’t Henry Ford say that history is bunk?  My answer is that the ignorance of history can get you into trouble and the knowledge of history can empower you.  Let me give you the following examples.

A Singapore developer had secured a site in Hanoi for development.  The site included the notorious prison which American Prisoners of War had called the “Hanoi Hilton.”  When the Singapore developer had wanted to demolish the prison, it was confronted by protesting Vietnamese veterans.  What were the veterans protesting about?  The prison had been built by the French.  During the long colonial rule, many Vietnamese freedom fighters had been imprisoned there.  Some were tortured and killed there.  To the Vietnamese veterans, the prison was sacred territory.  In the end, a compromise was arrived at and a section of the prison has been preserved and turned into a museum.

I was the Chairman at the National Heritage Board for 9 happy years.  One of my initiatives was to put up markers to honour great men and women who had visited Singapore during their lifetimes.  The first marker was to honour the great Polish writer, Joseph Conrad.  He was a British merchant Seaman before becoming a writer.  Singapore was his base as he worked on ships which sailed between Singapore and the Indonesian archipelago and the island of Borneo.  The success of this first marker encouraged me to put up markers to honour Ho Chi Minh, Jose Rizal, Deng Xiaoping and Jawaharlal Nehru.  Our gestures have touched the hearts of the leaders and peoples of the countries from which these great men came.  In diplomacy, I have learned that, as human beings, we think with both our heads and our hearts.

Why Study Literature?

Third, one of the subjects I studied for my “O” level, in 1955, was Literature.  Sixty three years later, I consider the study of Literature one of the best investments I have made.  Why?  First, through Literature, I acquired a love of books and the joy of reading.  Reading is an educational, joyful and liberating experience. You are transported from your circumstances, no matter how difficult and challenging, to another world, another time and another civilization.  Reading is the key that unlocks the door to the treasury of the world. At the inaugural Book Summit, held in Washington D.C., I was moved by the testimonies of several famous American writers who said that reading had saved their lives.  Second, reading Literature helps you to think, write and speak clearly.  Clarity of thought and expression is a virtue which should be cultivated.  Third, reading literature gives one a better understanding of human nature and the complexity of the human condition.  It makes one less judgemental and more sympathetic.  Literature complements non-fiction in helping us to understand another country and its people.  For example, to understand America, I would recommend young diplomats being posted to the United States to read the following 11 great American novels:

  • Moby Dick by Herman Melville – 1851
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – 1884
  • The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald – 1925
  • The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner –  1929
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – 1939
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway – 1940
  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – 1951
  • To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee – 1960
  • Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – 1961
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin – 1963
  • Beloved by Toni Morrison; – 1987

In the case of Singapore, we should encourage our students, whether they are studying literature or not, to read the works of our poets, playwrights and authors.  I am an admirer of our poets, Edwin Thumboo, Lee Tzu Pheng and Leong Liew Geok.  My favourite playwrights are Kuo Pao Kun, Robert Yeo, Haresh Sharma and Alfian Sa’at.  I recommend the short stories and novels of Goh Poh Seng, Lim Chor Pee, Catherine Lim, Suchen Christine Lim, Philip Jeyaratnam, Simon Tay and Meira Chand.

The Case for the Humanities

Fourth, I want to make the point that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has not made the study of the humanities irrelevant.  Why study the humanities?

We should study the humanities because it will help us to think analytically, to write clearly and to speak persuasively.

Reflecting on my own experience of having studied law at the University, I would say that apart from acquiring domain knowledge in the law, my legal education taught me how to think analytically and how to communicate my thoughts coherently, clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.  Let me give you two examples of the benefit of writing clearly.

Norman Augustine was the CEO of a big American company called “Lockheed Martin.”  The company had 180,000 employees, mostly graduates.  When Mr Augustine was asked what was the most important qualification for advancement in his company, he said that it was the ability to express one’s thought clearly in writing.

The founder and genius of Amazon is Jeff Bezos.  He requires his senior executives to submit written memoranda for their meetings.  If proposing a new product or strategy, the memo must take the form of a press release.  It must use simple, jargon-free language so that a lay person can understand it.

My good friend, Professor Lily Kong, the President-elect of SMU, has written that: “It is in studying the humanities that we learn about humanity, or what it means to be human, in all its beauty and all its foibles.  Through literature and history, we see, for example, the martyrdom of self-sacrificing leaders as much as we see the viciousness of ambition.  We gain insights into what it means to have a kindred spirit but also a cruel enemy.  We witness the tenderness of human love, the pain of loss and the joy of reunion.  Arguably, in an age of hyper-technology, it is all the more reason why we need the humanities – to remind us of the glory and frailty of humanity, to retell the meaning of being human.  If nothing else, where robots can dispense medicines, and chatbots replace human conversations, the jobs that will withstand the 4th Industrial Revolution are precisely the ones that require an understanding of human nature and a reliance on human empathy.”

Conclusion

I shall conclude. First, I want to reiterate my point that what we should aspire for is holistic education.  We want our humanists to understand technology and our technologists to understand the humanities. Second, an education in the humanities train us to think, write and speak clearly.  Third, my message to the teachers of humanities is not to despair.  As long as we are human beings, the humanities will always be at the heart of civilization.  Let me close with an inspiring example.  The most popular teacher at Harvard University is not a Nobel Laureate in the sciences.  He is a professor of moral philosophy called Michael Sandel. His book, “What Money Can’t Buy” is a global best seller.  In it, he warns the world against becoming “market societies”, where everything is for sale.  He shows us that ethics and justice are timeless values and how they apply to our contemporary world.  He is the moral conscience of America.  What is the moral of the story?  The moral is that it is not what you teach but how you teach it.  Be passionate about your subject.  Be imaginative and creative in the way you teach.  Be an inspiring teacher.

Ambassador Tommy Koh is Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, professor of law at the National University of Singapore, and Special Adviser to the Institute of Policy Studies.

This speech was first delivered at the 2018 Humanities Symposium, held at Singapore Chinese Girls’ School on 4 July 2018.

By Professor Tommy Koh: Three ways to improve ASEAN-South Korea ties

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Many people in ASEAN have great admiration for South Korea. They remember that the country had been destroyed by the 1950-1953 Korean War. The country was dirt poor. Some American pundits had even described it as a basket case. Undaunted by the challenges, South Korea has performed an economic miracle.

Today, South Korea is a developed country with a high income economy. It is the world’s 11th largest economy by nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It is the world’s fifth largest exporter and the eighth largest importer. It ranks no. 18 in the United Nations Human Development Index.

ASEAN’s citizens love their Samsung mobile phones, drive Hyundai cars, own Korean television sets and adore Korea’s pop culture.

However, relations between ASEAN and South Korea were slow in developing.

This is largely due to the fact that, until recently, South Korea’s focus was on the threat from North Korea. In its external relations, South Korea gave priority to the United States, China, Japan and Russia. South Korea’s interest in ASEAN and Southeast Asia was driven by its competition with North Korea and by trade and investment opportunities for Korean business.

Paradigm Changes In Korean Policy

Former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye had brought about a paradigm shift in South Korea’s policy towards ASEAN.

During President Lee Myung-bak’s administration, the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Eminent Persons Group was established. The group recommended, among other things, that the relationship should be elevated to the strategic partnership level.

In 2009, the ASEAN-Korea Centre was established in Seoul, South Korea. In 2010, the two sides agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. In 2012, South Korea established a Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

President Moon’s New South Policy

President Moon Jae-in has announced a New Southern Policy. The objective is to elevate South Korea’s engagement with ASEAN, India and Australia, to the same level as South Korea’s relations with the United States, China, Japan and Russia. The new policy has three objectives: to promote mutual sustainable prosperity, to enhance people-to-people exchanges and to build a peaceful and safe East Asia. President Moon’s administration needs to give the new policy more substance.

Already, the economic bridge between ASEAN and South Korea is strong and substantive. There is an ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement which was concluded in 2009. The two-way trade in 2016 was US$118.8 billion, making ASEAN the second largest trading partner of South Korea. South Korea is ASEAN’s fifth largest trading partner. In 2016, South Korea invested US$ 5.1 billion in ASEAN, making ASEAN the second largest investment partner of South Korea.  South Korea is ASEAN’s fifth largest investor.

Tourism is also booming.  In 2016, 5.99 million Koreans visited ASEAN and 2.2 million ASEAN citizens visited South Korea.

In 2014, at the commemorative summit, in Seoul, ASEAN and ROK’s leaders posited the target of US$200 billion for bilateral trade in 2020. The target will not be achieved but it should encourage the two sides to do more to harness the opportunities offered by the ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Agreement.

Cultural Bridge

There is scope for strengthening the cultural bridge between ASEAN and South Korea. The fact that nearly 6 million Koreans visited ASEAN in 2016 and over 2 million ASEAN citizens visited South Korea in the same year is a good sign. However, we should attempt to deepen the relationship.

I would like to see ASEAN’s interest in South Korea go beyond its popular culture. I would like to see ASEAN universities offering courses in the Korean language and Korean studies. At the same time, I hope to see more Korean students studying at ASEAN’s universities, as exchange students, and interning in ASEAN countries.

At present, ASEAN citizens are better informed about South Korea than vice versa.

Koreans tend to hold negatives views about ASEAN. They appear to suffer from a time lag in their perception of ASEAN.

As the ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary General Kim Young-sun noted in an article in The Korea Times in 2016: “Frankly, many Koreans have a distorted image of South East Asians. When they think of South East Asians, Koreans first come up with images of illegal migrant workers. If you want to forge good friendships, you have to know your counterparts properly.”

The opening of the ASEAN Culture House, in Busan, in 2017, is therefore a step in the right direction. Art and culture should be prioritized. The exchange of exhibitions between our museums should be augmented.

Common Challenge

ASEAN and South Korea face some common challenges. They have prospered because of free trade and globalisation. Both are under challenge by the current administration in Washington, D.C.

Indeed, the whole of the post-World War Two liberal world order is being questioned by its principal architect. It is in the interests of ASEAN and South Korea to defend free trade and oppose protectionism. They should seek to conclude negotiations for the Asean-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) regional trade deal this year.

It is encouraging that Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Sunday (July 1), that the deal is on track for a substantial agreement by the end of this year. This was announced at a news conference in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko, after the two co-chaired a meeting attended by trade ministers of the 16 RCEP countries.

Towards the Future

ASEAN and South Korea enjoy a trouble-free, substantive and mutually beneficial relationship. I would like to suggest a few ways to bring this relationship to a higher peak.

First, President Moon’s New Southern Policy, presents us with an opportunity to expand the scope and depth of the relationship. However, in order for this to happen, there must be a mindset change on the part of South Korea. It should move away from treating the relationship as a transactional one to treating it as a long-term and deep engagement.

Second, nine years have passed since the ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Agreement was concluded. It is time to review and upgrade the agreement. I would also urge the two sides to consider concluding an ASEAN-ROK Air Services Agreement. Such an agreement would enhance connectivity, boost tourism and trade. It is a win-win proposition.

Third, the economies of ASEAN and South Korea are fundamentally, complementary and not competitive. The Korean private sector should be encouraged to look more closely at investment opportunities in ASEAN, taking advantage of the bilateral free trade agreement and the ASEAN Economic Community.

The digital economy and ASEAN’s network of Smart Cities are two potential new areas of cooperation.

Finally, ASEAN and South Korea should continue to work together to build and defend a regional order which is open, transparent and inclusive. They should also cooperate to strengthen the international rule of law in Asia. Their shared vision is to work for an East Asia which is peaceful, stable and prosperous.

Exploring Sulawesi, island of natural wonders

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A group of 12 Tembusu and NUS students, led by historian Dr John van Wyhe, Fellow of Tembusu College, undertook an expedition to Sulawesi (Indonesia) from 19-31 May. The aim was to study the state of nature conservation on the 11th largest island in the world and to re-trace the footsteps of the great Victorian naturalist A.R. Wallace who examined the island between 1856 and 1861.

Their first stop was the city of Makassar in the south. Here the students saw historic sites such as the old Dutch Fort and attended lectures and met fellow students at Hasanuddin University. Another unique opportunity made possible by the Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) programme was a visit to the home of the charismatic mayor of Makassar, Danny Pomanto. He regaled the students with his plans for future development.

Not far from Makassar, the group visited the Leang Petta Kere limestone cave where archaeologists have recently discovered that some of the ancient hand stencils (or hand prints) on the cave walls are 39,000 years old- the oldest human handprints in the world.

Next, the team visited the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park with its famous waterfall. This was one of Wallace’s favourite collecting sites. And to this day the area swarms with many species of gloriously coloured butterflies. The river waters above the falls are coloured an astonishing milky-blue colour from the limestone hills.

On another excursion, the team was given an educational tour by ‘Blue Forests’, a conservation organization dedicated to preserving and restoring mangrove forests. This took place in the remote village of Bontomani in the Pangkajene region, about 65km to the north of Makassar. The efforts of conservationists to preserve and restore the mangrove seemed to be an impossibly enormous task.

The team then flew to the port city of Manado on the northernmost peninsula, and other side of the island. From there they made an excursion to the town of Tomohon in the shadow of the picturesque and still active Lokon volcano. The bustling local market contained many shocking scenes because the locals sell and eat fruit bats, rats and even cats and dogs. From the mountains the group descended to the picturesque Lake Tondano. The lake lies in a vast valley which is in fact an ancient volcanic crater. North Sulawesi remains volcanically active. Nearby was Bukit Doa, a volcanic vent and hot spring. The expedition team scrambled up to examine a whole hillside of bare rock of many colours, giving off clouds of steam and sulphur, like a scene from a volcano. Trickling down from the hillside was a stream of scalding hot water.

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve. Here they saw, up close, a troupe of Crested black macaques. Like many of the species in Sulawesi, these tailless monkeys live nowhere else in the world. Further into the dry and open forest, their guide took them to a tree that was home to a family of Tarsiers- the smallest primate on earth. These tiny creatures have enormous eyes to help them hunt at night. While the team watched in breathless amazement, the tiny tarsiers leapt about four feet to a small tree and grabbed grasshoppers with their little hands. These have finger nails not claws. The same tree was filmed by Sir David Attenborough for one of his natural history films.

The final stop was a snorkelling trip to Bunaken Marine Park. The group was treated to a tropical coral reef in all its splendour. Multitudes of fish of endless variety swam in all directions and the entangled forests of coral were equally colourful. The team were lucky enough to see a large pod of dolphins, very close to the boat, and to swim just feet away from graceful Hawksbill and Green sea turtles.

The state of nature conservation in Sulawesi is very serious. Almost all of the mangrove forests are gone. The strange wild pig, the Babirusa, has gone extinct in Tangkoko. The exotic brush turkey, or Maleo, that also lives nowhere else, is now extremely scarce. The Black macaques too used to live all over the island. Now they survive only in a few pockets. And they are still being killed and maimed by poachers as the team witnessed animals injured by snares. Yet there are some glimmers of hope, perhaps, as in the effective reduction (but not elimination) of poaching in Tangkoko by the establishment of long jail terms and harsh fines. The team witnessed breathtaking landscapes and plants and animals that are amongst the most amazing and beautiful on Earth. And they encountered many different peoples with their different languages, cultures, traditions and ways of life. 

By Professor Tommy Koh: Trump-Kim summit in Singapore: From brink of war to peace

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America was attacked by terrorists on 11 September 2001. It caused a paradigm change in United States foreign and security policy. The new priority was to fight terrorism and its sponsors. In his famous address to the US Congress, on 29 January 2002, President George W Bush named Iran, Iraq and North Korea as forming the “Axis of Evil”. Bush accused them of sponsoring terrorism and seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

The President of Iraq, Sadam Hussin, was overthrown and killed. The leaders of North Korea feared that they were on the US list for regime change. They decided that in order to protect their regime they must develop a capacity to deter a US attack. In other words, they must develop nuclear weapons and ballistic weapons capable of striking the US.  A year later, in 2003 – North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In 2006, it conducted its first underground nuclear test. The desire to develop a first-strike nuclear capability to protect its own regime – this is the logic behind North Korea’s seemingly reckless behaviour and ratcheting up of its nuclear weapons programme. Once it has achieved this objective, North Korea’s agenda was to seek a summit with the US President. It was prepared to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in exchange for what it wanted from the US.

And this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the grandson of founder Kim Il Sung, who was succeeded by his son Kim Jong Il, did exactly that.

Peace Initiatives

Despite its reputation as a backward, even rogue state, North Korea in fact has demonstrated remarkable diplomatic skills. Consider the Winter Olympic Games in February in South Korea. North Korea sent a delegation to participate in the games. Chairman Kim sent his sister Kim Yo Jong to represent him at the opening ceremony. She visited President Moon Jae-in, in Seoul and conveyed a message that Chairman Kim would like to hold a summit with President Moon Jae-in, at Panmunjom.

The Kim-Moon Summits

The first summit between President Moon and Chairman Kim was held on 25 April 2018 at Panmunjom. Following the summit, the two leaders adopted the Panmunjom Declaration.

The Declaration stated that the two countries will bring about the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula, and will replace the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean war with a peace treaty.

South Korea sent its envoys to convey Chairman Kim’s message to US President Donald Trump and to persuade him to hold a summit with Chairman Kim. President Trump agreed to do so without the usual pre-conditions.

President Trump sent the then-director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mike Pompeo, to Pyongyang, to see Chairman Kim and to verify his sincerity. As a gesture of goodwill, Kim released the three US hostages detained in North Korea. When Pompeo became the Secretary of State, he would hold a second meeting with Kim in Pyongyang.

The two sides agreed to hold a summit on 12 June in Singapore. However, when North Korea attacked Vice-President Mike Pence and National Security Adviser, John Bolton, for comparing North Korea to Libya, President Trump cancelled the summit. To rescue the situation, Chairman Kim sought a second summit with President Moon on 26 May 2018, in Panmunjom. Chairman Kim requested President Moon to convey to President Trump, his commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula and his “fixed will” to meet with President Trump. President Trump agreed to reinstate the summit on 12 June in Singapore.

The Trump-Kim Summit in Singapore

It was against such an on-off-on backdrop that the summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim was held on June 12 at the Capella hotel in Sentosa.

The meetings were successful, concluding with smiling photo opportunities and a ceremony where both leaders signed a Joint Statement before leaving Singapore. Chairman Kim called on PM Lee Hsien Loong and took a night tour of Singapore. President Trump was hosted to lunch by PM Lee at the Istana. For three days, 10 to 12 June, the eyes of the world were on Singapore.

Some Reflections

Was the summit a success?

First, I want to address the issue of the cost of hosting the summit. Some Singaporeans have asked me whether it was justifiable to spend $20 million to hold the summit.

My answer is an emphatic yes. The publicity and goodwill generated were worth more than $20 million. Already, several marketing agencies have estimated that the cost of publicity from the event over those three days alone would be worth at least 10 times the amount.

Reuters reported: “Andrew Darling, CEO and founder of communications agency West Pier Ventures, said it would cost more than S$200 million to generate the kind of publicity Singapore has received so far by hosting the summit.

“Media intelligence firm Meltwater said the coverage over the three days around the summit equated to $270 million of advertising, while the month leading up to it was worth $767 million. “

But the benefits for Singapore are not just financial in nature. It has enhanced our reputation as a safe, secure, efficient and beautiful city. It has vindicated our diplomacy. It has reinforced our growing reputation as the Geneva of the East.

Singaporeans should remember that we are a very small country. What has kept us on the international map is our ambition to be relevant and useful to the world. By hosting the summit, we are being useful to the world and helping the cause of peace.

Second, many people are sceptical that North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Is Chairman Kim sincere or is he trying to deceive the world? What is the quid pro quo? What did he get in return? The truth is that he is indeed getting quite a lot: recognition of the Kim regime as the legitimate government of North Korea and Trump’s commitment to provide security guarantees to North Korea, and the prospect of sanctions ending at a later stage. A peace treaty is also possible. Mr Trump also promised during the press conference after the signing ceremony, that there would be a stop to the war games carried out annually by America and South Korea.

Did the US give away too much, as critics suggest?

Well, President Trump has gained the following benefits: the “complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”, meaning that North Korea is prepared to give up all of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and the recovery of the remains of prisoners of war and those missing in action from the war. Mr Trump also disclosed that Chairman Kim had agreed to the destruction of nuclear test sites and the site for the testing of rocket engines.

Which side gave away more?

To be honest, it is hard to do a balance sheet accounting at this point, when too little is known, the hard negotiations have not yet taken place, and the world does not know if either of the two mercurial leaders will honour their signed and verbal pledges.

Instead, the world should celebrate the fact that the Trump-Kim summit has taken place as well as its outcome. We should remember that, a year ago, the two nuclear-armed countries were on the brink of going to war.

Even six months ago, the leaders of the two countries were exchanging threats and insults. It is, of course, true that the Joint Statement has to be implemented by subsequent agreements. There is therefore a lot of work to be done in the months ahead.

We should nevertheless salute President Trump and Chairman Kim for changing the course of world history: moving the world from a war scenario to a peace scenario. We should also salute President Moon Jae-in for the indispensable role he has played to make the summit a reality.

I wish to conclude by hoping that Chairman Kim will do for his country what Deng Xiaoping did for China. Perhaps his brief visit to Singapore has shown him what a future North Korea could look like.