Whether or not you are a policy holder of NTUC INCOME affected by the new management recent changes to cutting the annual bonus - you should check out what Tan Kin Lian has done to stand out for the policy holders interest. This is something very rarely happen in Singapore, almost never. There are many other changes that the big corporations or government has make allegedly in your interest but too complicated for many of us, layman to understand let alone to make a stand with conviction like what Tan Kin Lian did.
Similiarly, what the media tells us such as the recent tibet riots, Myanmar cyclone, anti eating of sharkfin etc - In Singapore, as in most places its is hard to hold alternative view. It is easy of us to just adopt popular view espoused by the media and other interested parties without too much thinking, let others do the thinking for us.
I take a comment from one visitor to Tan Kin Lian blog ...
Take for example Warren Buffet's description about one of his senior managers at Geico, Louis Simpson : "He derives no pleasure from operating with or against the crowd. He is comfortable following his own reason.".
I would add it is important before we believe everything we are told especially from interest groups, do our own research and reasoning, understand the context and agenda of the groups - find a balance view without anger, fear or prejudice, Be prepared to change your opinion in light of new information and through critical objective debate with all interested parties.
Reject slanted news and twisted truth especially from groups with vested interests and agenda who only keen to present you their one sided story without balance or acknowledging other alternative views. Ask those who adopt a position and views for supporting fact, reject generalisation and flawed reasoning. Question your own view and agenda vigourously.
Stand up for the truth sincerely. Start thinking independently.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Cheap housing ideas
True as what Than Win and some of us already foreseen, the numbers of refugees lining the delta roads looking for donations and free food are increasing and getting more unmanageable - the uncordinated donations are becoming a big problem.
Some of us are also thinking ahead of the situation even if our resources to help are limited, nevertheless the local people have practical ideas which should be explored and shared by all concerned parties. I saw a big Singaporean based company Yoma is working together with the Singapore Red Cross in a big way and taking care of Haingyi island, a place in the West Delta where the cyclone came ashore and where we had intended to help in our small way.
Than Win was already working out a design for making cheap version of the local huts using material available locally. During our visit to the delta, we visited and saw the simple bamboo structure which I noted were most suitable for the local environment, its design withstood the test of time over hundreds of years, being the most practical and comfortable way of housing for the delta people. So it is no wonder no one like to stay in tent.
I still wonder why the foreign aid agencies are sending mosquito nets - is it really practical? Why water purification when its the Monsoon season and rain water are readily available? There was also no disease outbreak even as we could see after the first few days? Am I missing something or the outside media are hyping this cyclone for their own purpose and agenda? or just ignorance?
I have yet to see any outside media objectively reporting what has been done by the regime. I think they are more interested in playing to the gallery, asking clever trick questions to put the regime in a bad light. No wonder the "clumsy" regime is clamming up. This again, of course play into the outside media hand. Sad that we are still unable to communicate properly. We shoiuld all be paying more attention to co-operating with one and all, including the regime to help the cyclone victims as everyone is claiming they wanted to do.
Today, as I go through the internet, the Moe Gyo blog came up with some similiar practical way of helping and sharing ideas of the type of huts they plan to build .....
We call such huts 3x2 and 1-attached. Meaning there're six small rooms in a hut (with an attachment). One room is big enough to comfortably house 2 persons. A hut can house 12 people. Building five huts cost about 1,000,000 kyats ($850). A hut costs 200,000 kyats ($170) and one person's cost will be about 20,000 kyats ($17). These are actually really affordable housing.These are more necessary now than big permanent houses (taking months to build) for them. The villagers can build the huts themselves. We provide the meals while they are building. By having them take part in building these huts, they also get a sense of contribution and understand that not everything can be given to them as gifts. After such huts are built, we will work together with other related NGOs to arrange sanitation and water.
Some of us are also thinking ahead of the situation even if our resources to help are limited, nevertheless the local people have practical ideas which should be explored and shared by all concerned parties. I saw a big Singaporean based company Yoma is working together with the Singapore Red Cross in a big way and taking care of Haingyi island, a place in the West Delta where the cyclone came ashore and where we had intended to help in our small way.
Than Win was already working out a design for making cheap version of the local huts using material available locally. During our visit to the delta, we visited and saw the simple bamboo structure which I noted were most suitable for the local environment, its design withstood the test of time over hundreds of years, being the most practical and comfortable way of housing for the delta people. So it is no wonder no one like to stay in tent.
I still wonder why the foreign aid agencies are sending mosquito nets - is it really practical? Why water purification when its the Monsoon season and rain water are readily available? There was also no disease outbreak even as we could see after the first few days? Am I missing something or the outside media are hyping this cyclone for their own purpose and agenda? or just ignorance?
I have yet to see any outside media objectively reporting what has been done by the regime. I think they are more interested in playing to the gallery, asking clever trick questions to put the regime in a bad light. No wonder the "clumsy" regime is clamming up. This again, of course play into the outside media hand. Sad that we are still unable to communicate properly. We shoiuld all be paying more attention to co-operating with one and all, including the regime to help the cyclone victims as everyone is claiming they wanted to do.
Today, as I go through the internet, the Moe Gyo blog came up with some similiar practical way of helping and sharing ideas of the type of huts they plan to build .....
We call such huts 3x2 and 1-attached. Meaning there're six small rooms in a hut (with an attachment). One room is big enough to comfortably house 2 persons. A hut can house 12 people. Building five huts cost about 1,000,000 kyats ($850). A hut costs 200,000 kyats ($170) and one person's cost will be about 20,000 kyats ($17). These are actually really affordable housing.These are more necessary now than big permanent houses (taking months to build) for them. The villagers can build the huts themselves. We provide the meals while they are building. By having them take part in building these huts, they also get a sense of contribution and understand that not everything can be given to them as gifts. After such huts are built, we will work together with other related NGOs to arrange sanitation and water.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Family Dinner
Last night was one of the few times in a year we gather the whole family to have a meal at a local restaurant. It was indeed a joyous and meaningful occasion for me and my wife. We have reach a certain age in life when we could enjoy and appreciate the warmth and love of the family knowing that we have fulfilled our responsibilities in bringing up our children in a good way and being quite confident they will do well in life and become useful people.
Cyclone Nargis change our perspective too - We are proud of our children response in their donations to our relief effort in Yangon. We all feel lucky to be living in Singapore and having everything we could have wanted in life and more. In contrast to the poor villagers living in the Irrawaddy delta, fighting for survival everyday under conditions which are hardly different from what it must have been a hundred year ago. It is good we feel a need to reach out and help in the small way we did, that we empathise with our fellow human being, that we are not superior to them, we are fellow travellers in life adventure, just that a lot of people has been dealt a lousy card by lady luck... thousands lost their life just like that... karma?
As we reflect on this matter, our thoughts also goes to the people suffering from the Sichuan earthquake......
Cyclone Nargis change our perspective too - We are proud of our children response in their donations to our relief effort in Yangon. We all feel lucky to be living in Singapore and having everything we could have wanted in life and more. In contrast to the poor villagers living in the Irrawaddy delta, fighting for survival everyday under conditions which are hardly different from what it must have been a hundred year ago. It is good we feel a need to reach out and help in the small way we did, that we empathise with our fellow human being, that we are not superior to them, we are fellow travellers in life adventure, just that a lot of people has been dealt a lousy card by lady luck... thousands lost their life just like that... karma?
As we reflect on this matter, our thoughts also goes to the people suffering from the Sichuan earthquake......
What is the actual situation on the ground?
Since I return from Yangon, I have practically everyday been browsing the internet and trying to figure out if the situation is getting better or worst?
I think it is not easy for anyone to declare the situation to be under control - when the regime did that some days back, no one believe them. And it is so hard to come up and say maybe there is some truth in there because when browsing through whatever information, for example, I did not see the predicted outbreak of diseases which was quoted almost everyday by all the experts and non experts - these experts did say earlier in the days and still saying that there were lack of drinking water which again I was doubtful because I thought the Monsoon rain will bring fresh water to the delta area? How come no one come up and say fresh water no longer needed? my point is that if so, the available resources can be channeled into more useful area.
Another matter which I do not understand concerns mosquito nets - why is this necessary and is it really useful - I have seen the villagers in the delta, they are running around barefooted. How effective are mosquito nets when they are almost always up and about and without protection from mosquito until bedtime?
Then there is the question of co-ordination - there are so many people like ourselves who loaded food and other material on the back of one or two lorries and then go out to the delta area. Most would try to determine where the supply they carry would be most needed, but invariably, it is also a case of whoever is standing along the roads or the nearby villages along the road that gets the supply. So distribution is rather uncordinated. This would probably be OK during the first few days when it is important to just send whatever we can in there to the delta but sooner rather than later - it is better to have some co-ordination. Again here almost no one trust the regime so, politics and mistrust again gets in the way of helping the people. How do we avoid these thousands of people waiting along the road from becoming dependent on the goodhearted donors with lorries of food etc.
Instead of setting up tents - is it not better to get the local villagers to organised themselves to repair or build their traditional bamboo huts which stand the test of time and environment for hundred if not thousand of years?
Many of the more organised help groups are already asking such questions and sharing their views and practices with others.
I hope the UN and ASEAN more active involvement will go some way in making the situation clearer, I hope the whatever allegations make against the regime should be moderated as such shrills condemnation will only adds to the difficulties of helping the delta people., unless of course if proven true.
Moe Gyo is a good blog to check out - they are really dedicated people there who have not involves with politics. They just concentrate on helping and providing useful information to concerned parties. Please read their field reports May 22 etc.
I think it is not easy for anyone to declare the situation to be under control - when the regime did that some days back, no one believe them. And it is so hard to come up and say maybe there is some truth in there because when browsing through whatever information, for example, I did not see the predicted outbreak of diseases which was quoted almost everyday by all the experts and non experts - these experts did say earlier in the days and still saying that there were lack of drinking water which again I was doubtful because I thought the Monsoon rain will bring fresh water to the delta area? How come no one come up and say fresh water no longer needed? my point is that if so, the available resources can be channeled into more useful area.
Another matter which I do not understand concerns mosquito nets - why is this necessary and is it really useful - I have seen the villagers in the delta, they are running around barefooted. How effective are mosquito nets when they are almost always up and about and without protection from mosquito until bedtime?
Then there is the question of co-ordination - there are so many people like ourselves who loaded food and other material on the back of one or two lorries and then go out to the delta area. Most would try to determine where the supply they carry would be most needed, but invariably, it is also a case of whoever is standing along the roads or the nearby villages along the road that gets the supply. So distribution is rather uncordinated. This would probably be OK during the first few days when it is important to just send whatever we can in there to the delta but sooner rather than later - it is better to have some co-ordination. Again here almost no one trust the regime so, politics and mistrust again gets in the way of helping the people. How do we avoid these thousands of people waiting along the road from becoming dependent on the goodhearted donors with lorries of food etc.
Instead of setting up tents - is it not better to get the local villagers to organised themselves to repair or build their traditional bamboo huts which stand the test of time and environment for hundred if not thousand of years?
Many of the more organised help groups are already asking such questions and sharing their views and practices with others.
I hope the UN and ASEAN more active involvement will go some way in making the situation clearer, I hope the whatever allegations make against the regime should be moderated as such shrills condemnation will only adds to the difficulties of helping the delta people., unless of course if proven true.
Moe Gyo is a good blog to check out - they are really dedicated people there who have not involves with politics. They just concentrate on helping and providing useful information to concerned parties. Please read their field reports May 22 etc.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Humanitarian Information Centre for Myanmar
Just when I was writing my previous post and think what great idea it would be if we can have a website to co-ordinate and provide information and other resources for the organisations involved in helping the victims of cyclone Nargis - I also have a feeling that there is no new ideas anymore in this modern world, someone would probably have started already - . True enough, someone already done so. I checked out what's available there on the HIC Myanmar, the website framework is good but need more content for it to be more useful.
For the smaller guys who organise informally, the blog Moe Gyo has already got similiar idea of co-ordination and sharing of information. They have prices of rice and other medical items etc, plus many other useful stuff.
Bravo - and kudos to the guys behind these two sites on the internet. There is no need to reinvent the wheels - and there may be more lurking around already, perhaps even right here in Singapore, maybe it's in Myanmar language.
For the smaller guys who organise informally, the blog Moe Gyo has already got similiar idea of co-ordination and sharing of information. They have prices of rice and other medical items etc, plus many other useful stuff.
Bravo - and kudos to the guys behind these two sites on the internet. There is no need to reinvent the wheels - and there may be more lurking around already, perhaps even right here in Singapore, maybe it's in Myanmar language.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Research on the latest situation
I have been spending my days just doing research on the internet for all sorts of information and update on the latest situation. The most useful and reliable are of course those expert and non partisan NGO such as the Red Cross, UNICEF, Reliefweb etc.
From Reliefweb I got all sort of detail maps which really give a very good summary of the situation. In Yangon, I was searching for a suitable map, high and low without good success. There are also some blogs which I come across through BBC - I can find some useful information there too.
I wonder if there are blogs or websites out there that may serves to make available such information such as prices of material, where supply are needed most, what the authorities are doing and who are the coordinating person and contacts etc - I think this will be very helpful to people like us who are not expert in this and are just delivering material and cash as and when we believe are most suitable based on our own limited local knowledge. It must be more effective if we could share such information and recieve other information from other likeminded group that would better help each one of us operate better and look for possible co-ordination if operating in the same or nearby area and for sharing of resources.
The big NGO such as the Red Cross can perhaps have a few pages on their website giving out recommendation to people like us who operate locally including teaching us some basic safety which we may not be aware of, what to look for, how to deal with likely situation in the field etc. This should be in English and local language like Myanmar language in this instance. An online help for people who need immediate assistance, and for us to field our reports and survey statistics etc. I may just send such a suggestion onwards somewhere suitable, what do you think? Or maybe someone with this capability, can start one after reading this posting.
I would be very happy to co-operate if someone take the lead here. Perhaps a Myanmar guy based in Singapore, known and trusted by most of us, have no political or government connection would be best. Commercial or religious organisation should be acceptable. Maybe someone can fund this startup. Such a website or its format can be make available to use and easily modified for follow up operations in Myanmar or use for other emergency situation anywhere in the world.
From Reliefweb I got all sort of detail maps which really give a very good summary of the situation. In Yangon, I was searching for a suitable map, high and low without good success. There are also some blogs which I come across through BBC - I can find some useful information there too.
I wonder if there are blogs or websites out there that may serves to make available such information such as prices of material, where supply are needed most, what the authorities are doing and who are the coordinating person and contacts etc - I think this will be very helpful to people like us who are not expert in this and are just delivering material and cash as and when we believe are most suitable based on our own limited local knowledge. It must be more effective if we could share such information and recieve other information from other likeminded group that would better help each one of us operate better and look for possible co-ordination if operating in the same or nearby area and for sharing of resources.
The big NGO such as the Red Cross can perhaps have a few pages on their website giving out recommendation to people like us who operate locally including teaching us some basic safety which we may not be aware of, what to look for, how to deal with likely situation in the field etc. This should be in English and local language like Myanmar language in this instance. An online help for people who need immediate assistance, and for us to field our reports and survey statistics etc. I may just send such a suggestion onwards somewhere suitable, what do you think? Or maybe someone with this capability, can start one after reading this posting.
I would be very happy to co-operate if someone take the lead here. Perhaps a Myanmar guy based in Singapore, known and trusted by most of us, have no political or government connection would be best. Commercial or religious organisation should be acceptable. Maybe someone can fund this startup. Such a website or its format can be make available to use and easily modified for follow up operations in Myanmar or use for other emergency situation anywhere in the world.
Donations from the fleet
As usual, donations from the Myanmar crew onboard our ships are very fast in response to our appeal, despite that quite a number of our crew or their relatives will be personally affected by the cyclone. Some crew have even before our appeal donated, ask their family members to report with cash and used clothings, rice etc.
They all give generously. From the many ships that responded, we have a big amount now to sustain our operations for another few days ... I am sure the remaining ships will be coming in soon....
They all give generously. From the many ships that responded, we have a big amount now to sustain our operations for another few days ... I am sure the remaining ships will be coming in soon....
Vesak day
I am a free thinker - so I am free to think about religion, free of religion - recent events should make us reflect on the meaning of life this Vesak day - is it define by disasters such as the Myanmar cyclone, the Sichuan earthquake and on a closer note, yesterday news about the little boy 13years old who died and whose mother is now arrested for murder ...
We are alive by chance, what happen today or tomorrow cannot be determined by us but one thing we can do. Lets be nice to each other and help others as much we can....
Our hearts and thoughts goes to those suffering and struggling especially in this two recent big disasters and to the family of this little boy so close to us.
Lets all remind ourselves, work hard, enjoy a good life while we can same time, take care our health, our family, especially - love our children.
We are alive by chance, what happen today or tomorrow cannot be determined by us but one thing we can do. Lets be nice to each other and help others as much we can....
Our hearts and thoughts goes to those suffering and struggling especially in this two recent big disasters and to the family of this little boy so close to us.
Lets all remind ourselves, work hard, enjoy a good life while we can same time, take care our health, our family, especially - love our children.
Local helps
Rich or poor - It's the culture in Myanmar, part of the lifestyle - everyone help the poor and needy even during normal time, what more in time of this perhaps greatest of disaster for Myanmar? Monsoon effort is mainly driven and planned by our Myanmar senior managers. Our office staff and crew just came long to help out, donate money etc without thinking of gaining any thing in return.
Below is an extract of an article from from the Irrawaddy magazine....
From shopkeepers handing out free rice porridge to medical students caring for the sick, ordinary people in Burma are stepping in to help cyclone victims .......
Taxi drivers, factory owners, college students, teachers and other Rangoon residents—some of whom lost their own homes—are among those organizing grueling trips into the Irrawaddy delta, the hardest-hit region by the May 2-3 cyclone.
Below is an extract of an article from from the Irrawaddy magazine....
From shopkeepers handing out free rice porridge to medical students caring for the sick, ordinary people in Burma are stepping in to help cyclone victims .......
Taxi drivers, factory owners, college students, teachers and other Rangoon residents—some of whom lost their own homes—are among those organizing grueling trips into the Irrawaddy delta, the hardest-hit region by the May 2-3 cyclone.
UNICEF
UNICEF teams reach remote areas - Myanmar situation dire for childrenGENEVA, 16 May 2008 – UNICEF missions throughout the flooded regions of Myanmar report that the destruction of homes, schools and water and sanitation systems are posing terrible threats to children’s lives and well-being.
In the 14th day after the cyclone struck, UNICEF warns that children who survived the cyclone are now at increasing risk of disease and of the consequences of cyclone not receiving timely assistance. Thousands of children are in temporary shelters under frequent rainstorms, particularly in the Yangon region.
More than 70 UNICEF assessment and relief missions are in the regions, distributing essential survival kits, including plastic sheeting for shelter, water purification materials, medicines and mosquito nets, and cooking materials.
Current United Nations estimates put the total number of severely affected people at up to 2.5 million. UNICEF teams report that in the areas they have visited some 40 per cent of those severely affected are children. If the patterns UNICEF staff are seeing in the devastated areas are representative, there may be as many as one million children in need of urgent assistance.
A flight due to land tomorrow -- UNICEF’s fourth –will carry several tonnes of therapeutic food for malnourished children. Thirty-four trucks, small enough to travel safely over the damaged roads and bridges, have been dispatched throughout the Yangon and Irawaddy districts.
UNICEF has also arranged radio broadcasts to help reunite separated children with their parents or close family members. Child-friendly spaces have been set up in several locations, where children can receive education, psychosocial support and health/nutrition services.
UNICEF is working in close collaboration with the Myanmar Red Cross and other partners.
In the 14th day after the cyclone struck, UNICEF warns that children who survived the cyclone are now at increasing risk of disease and of the consequences of cyclone not receiving timely assistance. Thousands of children are in temporary shelters under frequent rainstorms, particularly in the Yangon region.
More than 70 UNICEF assessment and relief missions are in the regions, distributing essential survival kits, including plastic sheeting for shelter, water purification materials, medicines and mosquito nets, and cooking materials.
Current United Nations estimates put the total number of severely affected people at up to 2.5 million. UNICEF teams report that in the areas they have visited some 40 per cent of those severely affected are children. If the patterns UNICEF staff are seeing in the devastated areas are representative, there may be as many as one million children in need of urgent assistance.
A flight due to land tomorrow -- UNICEF’s fourth –will carry several tonnes of therapeutic food for malnourished children. Thirty-four trucks, small enough to travel safely over the damaged roads and bridges, have been dispatched throughout the Yangon and Irawaddy districts.
UNICEF has also arranged radio broadcasts to help reunite separated children with their parents or close family members. Child-friendly spaces have been set up in several locations, where children can receive education, psychosocial support and health/nutrition services.
UNICEF is working in close collaboration with the Myanmar Red Cross and other partners.
An Unacceptable Trait
I am a keen browser of social and political blogs in Singapore and Malaysia - of course the Malaysian has a lot of interesting things to say about us Singaporean and vice versa. Just an example arise now with a report from the star and posted on little speck blog, part of which I reproduce below (without permission at risk of being boorish :') - My initial reactions is that let us not be the one to cast the first stone, look at ourselves first, how about our children - do we or our kids give up their seats on the MRT? I am sure we find Malaysian and others who do similiar boorish acts. Perhaps as Singaporean being the more prosperous coutry, we have to accept we are expected to behave better, rightly or wrongly just as we get more annoyed by bad road behaviour from Mercedes drivers?
On a more serious note - how we Singaporean - comfortable as we are - are responding to the disasters that befall our much poorer neighbours while we are lucky - can we relate, empathise and understand the realities of such disasters? I would say Singaporean are generous in helping out, reaching deeper into their pockets and going way out to help such as during the tsunami and now Myanmar cyclone and Sichuan earthquake. I am proud to be Singaporean but we can always do more, besides it is good for our souls too ...
"China’s quake throws up an ugly side of Singaporeans that frequently makes them disliked abroad. By Seah Chiang Nee.May 17, 2008
JUSTIFIABLY or not, the disastrous Sichuan earthquake has sparked off a re-look here at a Singaporean characteristic that overshadows his economic achievement.
In a TV interview, a tourist who just returned unhurt complained angrily about his encounter with airport delay and telephone breakdown at a time when the Chinese were frantically rescuing people.
One viewer commented: “He kept complaining bitterly as if the whole world owed him an explanation about the airport delay.”
Another added: “the man was practically shouting at the camera. His behaviour was really shocking.”
In the face of the terrible suffering, the middle-aged Singaporean’s insensitive complaint about his personal inconvenience spread consternation and a sense of shame among viewers."
On a more serious note - how we Singaporean - comfortable as we are - are responding to the disasters that befall our much poorer neighbours while we are lucky - can we relate, empathise and understand the realities of such disasters? I would say Singaporean are generous in helping out, reaching deeper into their pockets and going way out to help such as during the tsunami and now Myanmar cyclone and Sichuan earthquake. I am proud to be Singaporean but we can always do more, besides it is good for our souls too ...
"China’s quake throws up an ugly side of Singaporeans that frequently makes them disliked abroad. By Seah Chiang Nee.May 17, 2008
JUSTIFIABLY or not, the disastrous Sichuan earthquake has sparked off a re-look here at a Singaporean characteristic that overshadows his economic achievement.
In a TV interview, a tourist who just returned unhurt complained angrily about his encounter with airport delay and telephone breakdown at a time when the Chinese were frantically rescuing people.
One viewer commented: “He kept complaining bitterly as if the whole world owed him an explanation about the airport delay.”
Another added: “the man was practically shouting at the camera. His behaviour was really shocking.”
In the face of the terrible suffering, the middle-aged Singaporean’s insensitive complaint about his personal inconvenience spread consternation and a sense of shame among viewers."
Latest Situation - Nargis
When I came back two days ago, it is with some comfort knowing that the professional people are being allowed in in increasing numbers to properly assess the situation and mobilise the help that the delta people need now and for rehabitation.
As I continue now to monitor the situation on the various newswebsites and also on site such as the Red Cross - their latest update being pasted into my earlier postings - the information on the casualties are really overwhelming and frightening.
Now with the western world aggresively pressing the regime - I only hope that the regime will be able to find a way to response appropriately so that the focus is on helping the delta people and not cause more political and social upheaval at the expense of the Myanmar people.
I can only hope that sometime, an adversity can actually turn into a blessing in disguise, at least for those alive.
As I continue now to monitor the situation on the various newswebsites and also on site such as the Red Cross - their latest update being pasted into my earlier postings - the information on the casualties are really overwhelming and frightening.
Now with the western world aggresively pressing the regime - I only hope that the regime will be able to find a way to response appropriately so that the focus is on helping the delta people and not cause more political and social upheaval at the expense of the Myanmar people.
I can only hope that sometime, an adversity can actually turn into a blessing in disguise, at least for those alive.
Report from the Red Cross website
Myanmar: Red Cross Red Crescent launches 50 million Swiss franc emergency appeal16 May 2008 With forecasts of further heavy rain and with concerns growing about the worsening humanitarian situation in the cyclone-ravaged Irrawaddy delta, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is today launching an emergency appeal for 52.8 million Swiss francs (USD 50.8 million / € 32.7 million).“The cyclone was a monumental disaster and we are now facing a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering proportions,” said Markku Niskala, the secretary general of the International Federation. “Estimates suggest up to two million people have been affected, and our reports suggest that many of them don’t have shelter, they don’t have access to clean water and food, and there is little access to even basic health care.The appeal aims to assist 500,000 people (100,000 families) over the next three years and focuses on five operational sectors: relief; emergency health and care and psychosocial support; water and sanitation, emergency shelter, food security and livelihoods support.“In the immediate term, our focus will continue to be on meeting the basic survival needs of survivors – on emergency shelter, distributing relief and working to prevent epidemics,” explained Dr Thomas Gurtner, director of programmes and coordination for the International Federation.“In the longer-term, we aim to help people to recover, to try and make their communities safer against future disasters, and to strengthen the Myanmar Red Cross and its volunteers.”With access to the worst affected regions still challenging, the International Federation is now looking to establish a series of regional hubs in the delta, staffed and run by local Red Cross volunteers and other trained community members.“These people know the language, culture and context,” said Mr Niskala. “They have been the first to respond and we need to continue to support and use this expertise and experience to reach as many people as possible.”As of yesterday (14 May), 16 Red Cross Red Crescent relief flights had landed in Yangon. A further five are scheduled for today. By day’s end, more than 180 tons of Red Cross Red Crescent aid will have arrived via this relief pipeline. Since the storm, 21 expatriate Red Cross Red Crescent aid workers have joined the team that was already in place Yangon and now supporting the tireless work of an estimated 27,000 Myanmar Red Cross volunteers.This appeal replaces the preliminary emergency appeal that was launched on 6 May, calling for approximately 6.3 million Swiss francs (US$ 5.9 million/€ 3.86 million).For more information on the Red Cross Red Crescent operation visit www.ifrc.org/myanmar
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Cyclone Nargis - field report from the delta
I just got an updated report from Than Win, 16th May, a part of which I would like to share with you to give an idea of the situation in the delta - we try not to dramatised or trivialised the situation but report what we see and compare it with other information we have elsewhere to get as accurate picture of the situation as we can - then we share this with you and you form your own opinion and take action as logically and sympathetically as possible.
"Around 1300 hours I see my brother Aung Aung who came back to (Yangon) see the eye specialist for his infected eyes. He went back to frontline Phyar Pone the same evening, after seeing the doctors. He explained the situation as people on delta area are very much resilience and no infectious diseases has been indicated so far. They saw about sixty corpses floating in the river and asked help from monks to burry those corpses. They arrived a village were 400 over people used to live but now populated with twenty peoples staying as commune and on the verge of running out of food supply, Aung Aung and group managed to help them.
He is strongly against un-organized donations as it is encouraging the people to become lazy. He is trying to support for planting of paddy back in this area. The specialists OG and Cardiologist as well as GP doctors has nothing to do as they could not find the sick people in the villages ( almost all are healthy except those died in the storm )."
"Around 1300 hours I see my brother Aung Aung who came back to (Yangon) see the eye specialist for his infected eyes. He went back to frontline Phyar Pone the same evening, after seeing the doctors. He explained the situation as people on delta area are very much resilience and no infectious diseases has been indicated so far. They saw about sixty corpses floating in the river and asked help from monks to burry those corpses. They arrived a village were 400 over people used to live but now populated with twenty peoples staying as commune and on the verge of running out of food supply, Aung Aung and group managed to help them.
He is strongly against un-organized donations as it is encouraging the people to become lazy. He is trying to support for planting of paddy back in this area. The specialists OG and Cardiologist as well as GP doctors has nothing to do as they could not find the sick people in the villages ( almost all are healthy except those died in the storm )."
Influential News
I have for sometime been interested in how news are presented by the major media as compared to the version which are seen by other interested observors.
The recent tibet - olympic torch incident how it is being viewed by the influential West and of course Cyclone Nargis and the almost worldwide condemation of the Myanmar regime response or lack of response.
Another recent episode, I read that our foreign minister George Yeo went to North Korea and found out that the situation was not as bad as portrayed by the Western media.
This should set us thinking. It should be the responsibility of all readers to be alert, critical and have a healthy sense of skepticism. Nowaday with the internet and alternative sources such as blogs - we should be able to get information other than the mainstream media and then we should be able to decide for ourselves where the truth lies (:-)
I hope for the day when the mainstream media will not be our main or only source of information and news so we are not unduely influenced by vested interests - nationalistic, political, religious or commercial vested interest - in any case the responsibility is with you and me to find a balanced and fair view of the world and act accordingly.
The recent tibet - olympic torch incident how it is being viewed by the influential West and of course Cyclone Nargis and the almost worldwide condemation of the Myanmar regime response or lack of response.
Another recent episode, I read that our foreign minister George Yeo went to North Korea and found out that the situation was not as bad as portrayed by the Western media.
This should set us thinking. It should be the responsibility of all readers to be alert, critical and have a healthy sense of skepticism. Nowaday with the internet and alternative sources such as blogs - we should be able to get information other than the mainstream media and then we should be able to decide for ourselves where the truth lies (:-)
I hope for the day when the mainstream media will not be our main or only source of information and news so we are not unduely influenced by vested interests - nationalistic, political, religious or commercial vested interest - in any case the responsibility is with you and me to find a balanced and fair view of the world and act accordingly.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Return from Myanmar
I got home last night from Yangon - Many friends has been asking about me and I like to thanks everyone for their kind concern and friendship. It has been an eventful week for me. My colleagues in Yangon has help me very much in mobilising some support for the affected people in the Irrawaddy delta due to cyclone Nargis - still much need to be done and there are many people out there trying to help as best they could.
Hopefully in the next few coming days, we see much more professional involvement by the many NGOs who has in the meantime send in much needed material to help the local efforts. We hope there will be meaningful and fruitful discussion between the Myanmar government and the international NGOs as well as the UN etc resulting in as much help as possible being extended to the delta people.
This is not the time to bash the regime which everyone loves to hate. I think we have to be smarter and more sensitive to the local culture if we really want to help in an effective way. We are neither pro or anti the regime as far as this event is our concern in our own small way. We just help with the resources we can muster.
Finally - thanks to my colleague Capt Lee who has updated you in this Monsoon blog and also in helping mobilise from this end for donations etc. I am very proud of our Monsoon people both in Yangon and in Singapore, both shore and sea staff who has gone beyond their call of duty to help out as we should.
Thanks also to the many friends who has pledge donations big and small for which we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Every dollars will go towards alleviating the difficulties now being faced by the delta people.
Hopefully in the next few coming days, we see much more professional involvement by the many NGOs who has in the meantime send in much needed material to help the local efforts. We hope there will be meaningful and fruitful discussion between the Myanmar government and the international NGOs as well as the UN etc resulting in as much help as possible being extended to the delta people.
This is not the time to bash the regime which everyone loves to hate. I think we have to be smarter and more sensitive to the local culture if we really want to help in an effective way. We are neither pro or anti the regime as far as this event is our concern in our own small way. We just help with the resources we can muster.
Finally - thanks to my colleague Capt Lee who has updated you in this Monsoon blog and also in helping mobilise from this end for donations etc. I am very proud of our Monsoon people both in Yangon and in Singapore, both shore and sea staff who has gone beyond their call of duty to help out as we should.
Thanks also to the many friends who has pledge donations big and small for which we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Every dollars will go towards alleviating the difficulties now being faced by the delta people.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Myanmar Situation - Update 4
Dear All,
It has been many days since our last update on the situation.
Basically, not much has changed except that the heavy rain is returning. Myanmar is currently into its annual raining season. This would greatly hamper the relief work on the ground.
We are beginning to received news that some of our crew members’ families were affected by the storm. There have been some casualties and property damages. Such information is still very much incomplete but we continued to put in our best efforts in collating such news.
Monsoon (Singapore and Yangon) is helping out with some relief work in two nearby towns around Yangon. We have remitted USD30,000 to our Yangon office to start up a relief fund for the purpose of buying food and medical supplies for the township that we are helping. We know this amount is small in comparison with what needs to be done, however, our intention is to help out in whatever way we can at our level. Some of our crew who are on leave had also voluntarily offered their help to assist our office in despatching the supplies. Manpower besides financial aid is equally important too!
Yesterday, we had sent out an appeal for donation to many of our business associates and friends. We hope to be able to collect some funding to further support our Yangon office in prolonging their relief efforts.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
It has been many days since our last update on the situation.
Basically, not much has changed except that the heavy rain is returning. Myanmar is currently into its annual raining season. This would greatly hamper the relief work on the ground.
We are beginning to received news that some of our crew members’ families were affected by the storm. There have been some casualties and property damages. Such information is still very much incomplete but we continued to put in our best efforts in collating such news.
Monsoon (Singapore and Yangon) is helping out with some relief work in two nearby towns around Yangon. We have remitted USD30,000 to our Yangon office to start up a relief fund for the purpose of buying food and medical supplies for the township that we are helping. We know this amount is small in comparison with what needs to be done, however, our intention is to help out in whatever way we can at our level. Some of our crew who are on leave had also voluntarily offered their help to assist our office in despatching the supplies. Manpower besides financial aid is equally important too!
Yesterday, we had sent out an appeal for donation to many of our business associates and friends. We hope to be able to collect some funding to further support our Yangon office in prolonging their relief efforts.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Appeal for Donation
Dear Sir/Madam,
Append is an URGENT message from both our Managing Director, Mr. Pan Boon Pin and our Yangon Country Manager, U Than Win to appeal for donation to help out with the disaster caused by Cyclone Nargis.
Mr. Pan is presently in Yangon since 07th May 2008 to assess the situation in our Yangon office. He has decided to stay on to help out with the relief work at the ground level.
Kindly assist to circulate this appeal to those within your circle of friends and/or business contacts.
Our Singapore office full-style is as follows:
Monsoon Maritime Services Pte Ltd
137, Telok Ayer Street,
#04-08. Singapore 068602
Tel: (65) 63278662
Fax: (65) 63278676
Email: operations@monsoonmaritime.com
Here the is the message from our Yangon office:
QUOTE
Like many others in Myanmar, Monsoon are mobilising in whatever way we can to assist the victims of cyclone Nargis. It has been 10 days since the cyclone hit. Last few days, we had been assessing the situation, liaising with a local NGO (Myanmar Egress) and other interested parties to organise emergency supply of food and materials to the various camps for refugees, some of which are actually just outside of Yangon while others further out in the delta area are still unreachable.
It was only yesterday, 12th May, we went to the town of Kungyangone (70 KM from Yangon) to see for ourselves the grim situation on the ground. Supply there are short both in material and manpower. We are now urgently organising supply of rice, cooking oil and medical material etc to this township and the surrounding area. As you will know from the news, there are many other areas which are badly hit by the cyclone. The local authorities, NGOs, business and private individuals here in Yangon and other parts of Myanmar are assisting, co-ordinating or pooling their resources to help the victims as much and as quickly as possible.
Monsoon has established an emergency relief fund of US$30,000 which we have available now and from which already medical and food supply has been purchased and sent to the affected areas. We have identified a few areas ie Kungyangone and some other areas within the Yangon division and another badly affected area in the far west of the delta, Hyne-gyi where access are still being explored. We chose these two area because we assessed that other badly hit area such as Bogalay and Phyapon area are being covered by NGO and business groups known to us. We will continue to assess the situation and liaise with all interested parties and review our operations accordingly.
The fund we have setup will probably be exhausted soon unless we get additional help from wherever we can. We will be appealing firstly to our crew onboard to donate generously but this will have to be supported by other sources especially from our ship owners and managers and possibly from our families, friends and business associates.
By this report, we are now appealing for your kind donation in cash which we will use for purchase of material in Yangon mainly for food and medical supplies.
What we can assure you is our personal involvement and accountability for the purchase and distribution of these supply which will reach the affected people quickly and as directly as we can organised. With your contribution, we will send you a personal report, including photograph if possible, identifying what we have purchased, where and when the supply will be sent to and who are benefitting from your donation. You are also free to indicate your preference in this regards to us which we will try our best to comply with.
The situation is rather urgent. Before this disaster has time to recover, the world is now face with the serious earthquake in Sichuan which is competing for attention and probably donations. The situation on the ground here is very serious. Much help is needed here. We hope you will be able to help in whatever way you can with your kind donation.
Our Singapore office will be distributing this report and appeal by email and coordinating the donations received to be sent to us. We look forward to your kind and urgent consideration.
Pan Boon Pin & U Than WinMonsoon Maritime services
12th May 2008, Yangon.
UNQUOTE
Append is an URGENT message from both our Managing Director, Mr. Pan Boon Pin and our Yangon Country Manager, U Than Win to appeal for donation to help out with the disaster caused by Cyclone Nargis.
Mr. Pan is presently in Yangon since 07th May 2008 to assess the situation in our Yangon office. He has decided to stay on to help out with the relief work at the ground level.
Kindly assist to circulate this appeal to those within your circle of friends and/or business contacts.
Our Singapore office full-style is as follows:
Monsoon Maritime Services Pte Ltd
137, Telok Ayer Street,
#04-08. Singapore 068602
Tel: (65) 63278662
Fax: (65) 63278676
Email: operations@monsoonmaritime.com
Here the is the message from our Yangon office:
QUOTE
Like many others in Myanmar, Monsoon are mobilising in whatever way we can to assist the victims of cyclone Nargis. It has been 10 days since the cyclone hit. Last few days, we had been assessing the situation, liaising with a local NGO (Myanmar Egress) and other interested parties to organise emergency supply of food and materials to the various camps for refugees, some of which are actually just outside of Yangon while others further out in the delta area are still unreachable.
It was only yesterday, 12th May, we went to the town of Kungyangone (70 KM from Yangon) to see for ourselves the grim situation on the ground. Supply there are short both in material and manpower. We are now urgently organising supply of rice, cooking oil and medical material etc to this township and the surrounding area. As you will know from the news, there are many other areas which are badly hit by the cyclone. The local authorities, NGOs, business and private individuals here in Yangon and other parts of Myanmar are assisting, co-ordinating or pooling their resources to help the victims as much and as quickly as possible.
Monsoon has established an emergency relief fund of US$30,000 which we have available now and from which already medical and food supply has been purchased and sent to the affected areas. We have identified a few areas ie Kungyangone and some other areas within the Yangon division and another badly affected area in the far west of the delta, Hyne-gyi where access are still being explored. We chose these two area because we assessed that other badly hit area such as Bogalay and Phyapon area are being covered by NGO and business groups known to us. We will continue to assess the situation and liaise with all interested parties and review our operations accordingly.
The fund we have setup will probably be exhausted soon unless we get additional help from wherever we can. We will be appealing firstly to our crew onboard to donate generously but this will have to be supported by other sources especially from our ship owners and managers and possibly from our families, friends and business associates.
By this report, we are now appealing for your kind donation in cash which we will use for purchase of material in Yangon mainly for food and medical supplies.
What we can assure you is our personal involvement and accountability for the purchase and distribution of these supply which will reach the affected people quickly and as directly as we can organised. With your contribution, we will send you a personal report, including photograph if possible, identifying what we have purchased, where and when the supply will be sent to and who are benefitting from your donation. You are also free to indicate your preference in this regards to us which we will try our best to comply with.
The situation is rather urgent. Before this disaster has time to recover, the world is now face with the serious earthquake in Sichuan which is competing for attention and probably donations. The situation on the ground here is very serious. Much help is needed here. We hope you will be able to help in whatever way you can with your kind donation.
Our Singapore office will be distributing this report and appeal by email and coordinating the donations received to be sent to us. We look forward to your kind and urgent consideration.
Pan Boon Pin & U Than WinMonsoon Maritime services
12th May 2008, Yangon.
UNQUOTE
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Myanmar Situation - Update 3
Dear All,
Here is our latest update.
The communication and email correspondence with our Yangon office has improved significantly. The Yangon district itself is slowly recovering from the aftermath of the storm although power supply is still down.
Our Yangon office will resume operations as ‘usual’ from today onwards. Electrical supply to the office is powered by our own generators, however, our diesel stock is only enough for less than a month. Replenishment of fuel supply remains a problem due to the long queue at the rationing centres.
Crew change can now be effected. The travel agents are back in business and the SECD is opened for processing of exit formalities. Some foreign embassies have also resumed their operations for the purpose of visa application.
Our staff are continuously checking on the well being of all our crew members’ families. We fully understand that your crew will be anxious to know what is going on back home. We hope to be in a position to deliver some good news to you soonest possible. Kindly assist to explain this to your crew.
As you are the contact person on this email list, kindly also assist to circulate our updates to those who may need such information within your company. Thanks.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
Here is our latest update.
The communication and email correspondence with our Yangon office has improved significantly. The Yangon district itself is slowly recovering from the aftermath of the storm although power supply is still down.
Our Yangon office will resume operations as ‘usual’ from today onwards. Electrical supply to the office is powered by our own generators, however, our diesel stock is only enough for less than a month. Replenishment of fuel supply remains a problem due to the long queue at the rationing centres.
Crew change can now be effected. The travel agents are back in business and the SECD is opened for processing of exit formalities. Some foreign embassies have also resumed their operations for the purpose of visa application.
Our staff are continuously checking on the well being of all our crew members’ families. We fully understand that your crew will be anxious to know what is going on back home. We hope to be in a position to deliver some good news to you soonest possible. Kindly assist to explain this to your crew.
As you are the contact person on this email list, kindly also assist to circulate our updates to those who may need such information within your company. Thanks.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Myanmar Situation Update
Dear All,
We have some good news from our Yangon office today. Some amenities were restored but it would still take time before things can be returned to normal.
The telephone and email services to our Yangon office are back in operation albeit slow.
Our Managing Director, Mr. Pan, is currently in Yangon to assess the situation and to render his assistance. We hope to be able to help out in whatever way we can for all our Myanmar friends.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to all our principals who had voluntarily extended their assistance to all our Myanmar crew within the individual fleet. This is something very comforting to our crew members especially when all contacts with their families cannot be established. I am sure that such kind gesture will definitely go a long way for them.
We hope to bring more good news to you.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
We have some good news from our Yangon office today. Some amenities were restored but it would still take time before things can be returned to normal.
The telephone and email services to our Yangon office are back in operation albeit slow.
Our Managing Director, Mr. Pan, is currently in Yangon to assess the situation and to render his assistance. We hope to be able to help out in whatever way we can for all our Myanmar friends.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to all our principals who had voluntarily extended their assistance to all our Myanmar crew within the individual fleet. This is something very comforting to our crew members especially when all contacts with their families cannot be established. I am sure that such kind gesture will definitely go a long way for them.
We hope to bring more good news to you.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Overcoming Nargis - We have to help
Since Nargis, we have been monitoring the internet for the latest news and updating our seamen, friends and customers on the situation in Myanmar. We are heartened by the offer of support from our friends and customers. We are now coming out with our plan and course of action to help out in whatever way we can.
I will be going to Yangon tomorrow morning. I will assess the situation and find out what sort of assistance will be required. We will try to mobilise whatever resources as we may be able to offer to our staff and their families and to the affected communities.
We will have to leave the big scale humanitarian efforts to the professional such as the Red Cross, WorldVision and other government and NGO organisation. While we should perhaps more focus to the community closest to us, extending from our staff, their families and their relatives.
We are reaching out to the local Myanmar community in Singapore to find out what arrangement are being made by the religious organisations, business associations, students and unions, embassy etc. and see if we can work together with them or offer our support in cash or in kind.
The local shipping community in Singapore are quite closely connected to Myanmar due to employment of Myanmar seamen and shore staff and no doubt they will be most willing to contribute to whatever deserving efforts to help Myanmar overcome this natural disaster.
Like what we have done for the 2004 Tsunami, Monsoon will quite likely be asking for donations from our seamen and our friends and will match such donation with a suitable amount from our company to be donated to a professional organisation like the Red Cross.
This is certainly a time for all of us to work together and avoid the politics which the outside world and media are still engaging in when they report on this disaster.
We are glad the Myanmar government has agreed to accept help from the outside world, they are also Myanmar and being responsible for the country, I cannot see how they will not be mobilising to help their own people as being alleged by some media and opposition group. Lets move away from such issues and concentrate on the relief effort.
I will be going to Yangon tomorrow morning. I will assess the situation and find out what sort of assistance will be required. We will try to mobilise whatever resources as we may be able to offer to our staff and their families and to the affected communities.
We will have to leave the big scale humanitarian efforts to the professional such as the Red Cross, WorldVision and other government and NGO organisation. While we should perhaps more focus to the community closest to us, extending from our staff, their families and their relatives.
We are reaching out to the local Myanmar community in Singapore to find out what arrangement are being made by the religious organisations, business associations, students and unions, embassy etc. and see if we can work together with them or offer our support in cash or in kind.
The local shipping community in Singapore are quite closely connected to Myanmar due to employment of Myanmar seamen and shore staff and no doubt they will be most willing to contribute to whatever deserving efforts to help Myanmar overcome this natural disaster.
Like what we have done for the 2004 Tsunami, Monsoon will quite likely be asking for donations from our seamen and our friends and will match such donation with a suitable amount from our company to be donated to a professional organisation like the Red Cross.
This is certainly a time for all of us to work together and avoid the politics which the outside world and media are still engaging in when they report on this disaster.
We are glad the Myanmar government has agreed to accept help from the outside world, they are also Myanmar and being responsible for the country, I cannot see how they will not be mobilising to help their own people as being alleged by some media and opposition group. Lets move away from such issues and concentrate on the relief effort.
Nargis update
Thank you very much for all your kind concern regarding the situation in Myanmar.
We managed to established some communications with our Yangon office today. Telephone call is still very difficult and email is completely down. Situation as we understand from U Than Win (UTW) is still very chaotic and most offices including all government agencies remained closed.
We understand that some flights have resumed yesterday but how many locals are able to travel remains unknown. It is worth noting that crew change is almost impossible as we are unable to connect with SECD for all outward formalities. This includes most foreign embassies for those who needs visa for their travel. Same goes for the travel agencies who are still unable to operate because of the flooding.
Currently, the power supply is still off and drinking water is not available. Fuel supply is also badly affected and there are long queues at all the petrol rationing stations. The dead toll is going to be more than what is currently reported.
There is no immediate news of any casualties from our crew members’ families as communication is difficult due to the damaged land line and also many of the mobile phone transmitters were knocked down by the storm.
Please take note that our Yangon office will only be operative between 9am-1pm daily. This will be the case for the next two weeks until the situation is stabilised. Accordingly to UTW, it is unlikely that the situation can be restored to ‘normal’ in the short term and he reckoned that it may take up to two months before some of the damages can be fixed.
We will continue to monitor the situation and update you accordingly.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
We managed to established some communications with our Yangon office today. Telephone call is still very difficult and email is completely down. Situation as we understand from U Than Win (UTW) is still very chaotic and most offices including all government agencies remained closed.
We understand that some flights have resumed yesterday but how many locals are able to travel remains unknown. It is worth noting that crew change is almost impossible as we are unable to connect with SECD for all outward formalities. This includes most foreign embassies for those who needs visa for their travel. Same goes for the travel agencies who are still unable to operate because of the flooding.
Currently, the power supply is still off and drinking water is not available. Fuel supply is also badly affected and there are long queues at all the petrol rationing stations. The dead toll is going to be more than what is currently reported.
There is no immediate news of any casualties from our crew members’ families as communication is difficult due to the damaged land line and also many of the mobile phone transmitters were knocked down by the storm.
Please take note that our Yangon office will only be operative between 9am-1pm daily. This will be the case for the next two weeks until the situation is stabilised. Accordingly to UTW, it is unlikely that the situation can be restored to ‘normal’ in the short term and he reckoned that it may take up to two months before some of the damages can be fixed.
We will continue to monitor the situation and update you accordingly.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
Abuse of access to internet
Recently, someone onboard chalked up tens of thousands of dollars in a period of about two months for internet access onboard. How is this possible? I suspect someone responsible has fraudulently misuse this facilities onboard.
I know of another case - the Captain's wife incurred thousands of dollars of phone calls and when confronted by the office, claim ignorance about the high cost.
How to control? I think it is important we learn to trust each other, both ashore and at sea but a few black sheeps ....
I know of another case - the Captain's wife incurred thousands of dollars of phone calls and when confronted by the office, claim ignorance about the high cost.
How to control? I think it is important we learn to trust each other, both ashore and at sea but a few black sheeps ....
I am still to find out what exactly is facebook but JG has already help me setup my accounts. I have now quite a few relatives accepting me as their friends. What I like best for now is the ability to post photoes to share but only with people who are accepted by you as friends.
Just as I have used the MSN now very successfully for communication between our Singapore and Manila offices and among our staffs, and this blog which is linked to our Monsoon website, perhaps facebook can be used for our company communications.
I am trying to find ways to include our seamen in a suitable convenient communication network.
Than Win introduces me to Pfingo - a way to phone overseas and sms etc for almost free. I have installed it on my laptop but still have not found out how to get it to work.
We need to keep up with the latest trends and see how to use it in our daily life and work.
Bets of all, the software are mostly free.
Just as I have used the MSN now very successfully for communication between our Singapore and Manila offices and among our staffs, and this blog which is linked to our Monsoon website, perhaps facebook can be used for our company communications.
I am trying to find ways to include our seamen in a suitable convenient communication network.
Than Win introduces me to Pfingo - a way to phone overseas and sms etc for almost free. I have installed it on my laptop but still have not found out how to get it to work.
We need to keep up with the latest trends and see how to use it in our daily life and work.
Bets of all, the software are mostly free.
Monday, May 5, 2008
NTUC Income - bonus cut
As a family, we have a few insurance policies affected by this bonus cut - I have been a keen admirer and follower of Mr Tan Kin Lian and his blog. He is just about the most sensible person you can find in Singapore. He is, one of the few Singaporeans who will take a stand, starting a protest against organisations, in this case, NTUC Income - when he think the bonus cut is an unfair practices against the public and consumers.
I should take a stand too and support his effort.
If you have an affected insurance policy from NTUC INCOME, you do well to check his website.
It will be interesting to see how INCOME response.
I wonder what is CASE stand on this issue - our consumer association who is supposed to stand for Singaporean consumer rights - perhaps they are not aware yet. - now - can they remain on the sideline?
I should take a stand too and support his effort.
If you have an affected insurance policy from NTUC INCOME, you do well to check his website.
It will be interesting to see how INCOME response.
I wonder what is CASE stand on this issue - our consumer association who is supposed to stand for Singaporean consumer rights - perhaps they are not aware yet. - now - can they remain on the sideline?
Nargis - counting the casualties
It is with a dreadful sense of deja vu, just like the 2004 tsunami - initial casualties figures slowly then rapidly rising to fearsome and unimaginable figures. I am sure this cyclone will not be anywhere near the castatrophic dimension of the tsunami but it remind me of the 29th April 1991 cyclone that hits Cox Bazaar, Bangla Desh, killings more than 138,000 people and left millions of homeless. I am sure it will not be that scale even then....
As I tried to get in touch with my office in Yangon, I continue to search the internet for the latest news of this latest cyclone which perhaps only now the outside world is becoming conscious of, a concern gradually becoming more and more alarming - slowly unfolding it's magnitude that even after two days, one can only imagine the worst, that the estimate official casualties figures from a few tens, now gathering into the ten of thousands...
Our thoughts are with the people of Myanmar.
As I tried to get in touch with my office in Yangon, I continue to search the internet for the latest news of this latest cyclone which perhaps only now the outside world is becoming conscious of, a concern gradually becoming more and more alarming - slowly unfolding it's magnitude that even after two days, one can only imagine the worst, that the estimate official casualties figures from a few tens, now gathering into the ten of thousands...
Our thoughts are with the people of Myanmar.
What has Nargis wrought?
HK - I feel for those affected folks in Myanmar. They are already so disadvantaged and yet nature is giving them a hard blow – I just cannot understand why the down-trodden always get the end of the stick – sad......
I hope they can recover as best as they could.......
BP - Same feeling here - and those of us coming from humble background, growing up when Singapore were at same level as Myanmar, some of us will remember living in village and slum condition and then being hit by flood, storms, fire (remember Bukit Ho Swee), racial riots, strikes, confrontation, sickness etc. Strangely in those days, as a kid, I never felt deprived but looking back, how hard it was on my parents and those with similar background.
When we were taking photos in Myanmar few months back, we see a small extent, gain a little more understanding of the poor and downtrodden – and now this storm that ripped through their lives - in some cases, end of their lives – Myanmar deserves better.
I hope the political and economics system, the much more richer countries nearby and the powerful nations may somehow find a way to help more progress and development to Myanmar after this latest and potentially terrible disaster.
Lets stop playing politics, stop the more moral posturing and lecturing, stop encouraging upheaval in Myanmar.
Myanmar in our thoughts for today and until we have more comforting news.
I hope they can recover as best as they could.......
BP - Same feeling here - and those of us coming from humble background, growing up when Singapore were at same level as Myanmar, some of us will remember living in village and slum condition and then being hit by flood, storms, fire (remember Bukit Ho Swee), racial riots, strikes, confrontation, sickness etc. Strangely in those days, as a kid, I never felt deprived but looking back, how hard it was on my parents and those with similar background.
When we were taking photos in Myanmar few months back, we see a small extent, gain a little more understanding of the poor and downtrodden – and now this storm that ripped through their lives - in some cases, end of their lives – Myanmar deserves better.
I hope the political and economics system, the much more richer countries nearby and the powerful nations may somehow find a way to help more progress and development to Myanmar after this latest and potentially terrible disaster.
Lets stop playing politics, stop the more moral posturing and lecturing, stop encouraging upheaval in Myanmar.
Myanmar in our thoughts for today and until we have more comforting news.
News on Nargis
News about the aftermath of cyclone Nargis are still scarse but we know that Yangon has been badly hit saturday. We now can only hope that casualties has been minimised due to advance warning but still fear for the worst.
In this case, no news is not good news.
Many of our seamen onboard must now be badly worried of their families back home and make worst by the breakdown of communication network.
Anyone with relevant information about the latest situation are requested to help us to provide such information to all concerned parties.
I had a call from U Than Win reporting saturday night that everyone he has been able to get in touch with, namely our office staff are safe. Property damage is something else to be assessed but it seems our office came through without any serious damage.
In this case, no news is not good news.
Many of our seamen onboard must now be badly worried of their families back home and make worst by the breakdown of communication network.
Anyone with relevant information about the latest situation are requested to help us to provide such information to all concerned parties.
I had a call from U Than Win reporting saturday night that everyone he has been able to get in touch with, namely our office staff are safe. Property damage is something else to be assessed but it seems our office came through without any serious damage.
Notice issued by Monsoon Singapore concerning Cyclone Nargis
As you may know, Myanmar had been hit by Cyclone Nargis on Saturday. Five states including Yangon were declared as disaster zones and under state of emergency.
This is to inform that we managed to made telephone contact (with much difficulties) with our Yangon office. As reported, our office and all our staff are safe although the office building was also affected by the heavy downpour.
Power supply is still down at this moment and communication to Yangon is almost impossible. All flights in/out of Yangon were cancelled but we understand that this may be resumed soon as the weather is clearing up. We will try our best to establish further contact with our Yangon office and hope to be in a better position to update you accordingly.
We anticipate that crew changes for your fleet, if any, for the next few days will be affected by this unexpected situation. Please note that we will try our best to extend any assistance to our crew’s families should there be any such need.
Kindly assist to keep your fleet informed. Your kind understanding on this matter will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Best Regards
Lee SC
Monsoon Maritime Services (Singapore)
Mobile: (65) 96607191
Friday, May 2, 2008
Manila Seaman Market
Today, a good friend sent me some photoes of the seaman market in Manila. I have make a posting of this market before. Its like a fish market, not so dignified. So many agencies' posters each trying to outdo the others by offering higher wages.
Supply and demand - this is how the open market works - if it really works then why do we have such great disparity in supply and demand - mostly more supply of seaman than demand but in recent years, it turns the other way. Many conferences and seminar blames the industry players for not planning ahead and being shortsighted etc. It is easy to make such grand statements, but does the guys who make such statements, did they have the foresight to prevent this from happening now or in future? Did they have any good solutions? Can they tell us what we should do next? What if the situation turns again, too many ships and no demand and consequently, too many trained seamen out of job?
Think, we must think both short and long term. We are trapped within this economic system.
Supply and demand - this is how the open market works - if it really works then why do we have such great disparity in supply and demand - mostly more supply of seaman than demand but in recent years, it turns the other way. Many conferences and seminar blames the industry players for not planning ahead and being shortsighted etc. It is easy to make such grand statements, but does the guys who make such statements, did they have the foresight to prevent this from happening now or in future? Did they have any good solutions? Can they tell us what we should do next? What if the situation turns again, too many ships and no demand and consequently, too many trained seamen out of job?
Think, we must think both short and long term. We are trapped within this economic system.
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