My Journey to the unknown...

YOUTHS TAKING STEWARDSHIP

2007-05-17T05:36:00.000+08:00

Been awhile since I last blogged. Was given a chance to write for the National Weather Study Project (NWSP). So since I stayed up almost all night to write it, don't want to waste it. So i'm posting it here for anyone who passes by to read it. I hope it will inspire some of you.

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YOUTHS TAKING STEWARDSHIP, EVERYONE A WINNER

Global warming is taking its shape into reality for many governments and corporations who have once chose to ignore its existence. However, they are now actively doing their bit to educate the public to start taking action by reducing their carbon footprint. This is a daunting task that will not work unless everyone comes together to make that stand and change his or her lifestyle to be a more sustainable one.

As a youth, I personally feel that we each need to start taking the lead an ownership of our planet. As the world moves towards globalization, what we do here will affect someone, somewhere out there and vice versa. When we talk about saving the world, it is really about saving ourselves from extinction. Way before human came into the picture, this blue planet has been surviving well. The evolution of mankind and phasing in and out of specimens of life are just part and parcels of what’s happening on Mother Earth. This is our world and it is in the matter of time before we are bestowed with this planet’s responsibilities and stewardship of our own kind. Hence, it’s time for us to do something if we want to inherit a world that allows us to continue to survive as a race.

Senoko’s initiative of the National Weather Study Project (NWSP) is one that allows the stakeholders of tomorrow, the youths, to have another avenue to start doing some level of research and understanding of what is happening to our planet instead of just hearing from the news and reading from books. The students who have participated in this project actually gained quite an extensive knowledge on what global warming is and why is it happening while they are involved in the project. It takes learning to a whole new dimension where the students have to start thinking and ask questions. This is a good fundamental build up for them to start taking ownership and knowing why they need to do so.

Given the opportunity to volunteer as a judge last year and also the chance to be the moderator for the secondary schools for this year, I can see the standard of the projects have significantly improved. It is gratifying to see the amount of efforts the students have put in and what is even more satisfying is to see students who took part in last year’s project hand over their findings to the younger batch. A sense of proper handing over can be observed and students are able to work on earlier findings and move forward to more defined and focused results that couldn’t be achieved last year. To top that, the students who participated this year have not only learned from their own projects, but also learn from their seniors who have participated in the project the year before.

In this article, I hope to firstly congratulate all participating students for volunteering yourself to be involved in this project despite your hectic schedule. Especially so for this year, where there is the Singapore Youth Festival going on. By getting involved, all of you are winners by your own ways. You have learned how to work as a team and also learn more than what your fellow schoolmates have form the textbook. You have had the chance to learn about critical thinking, to filter information from the vast resources of the Internet age and also learn from the judges who comes from all walks of life.

Secondly, I’d like to take the opportunity to urge all of you to take it further from NWSP, to go beyond the school if you dare. Now that you have a better understanding of what global warming is and what are the various environmental issues are happening, you can start doing something now. Being a youth is an asset that you should cherish to your advantage. None of you are too young to do anything. The only thing that will stop you is yourself. This is your world and no one is allowed to tell you what cannot be done. You owe it to yourself to have a world that you want when you take over from the adults of this century. Start taking ownership and share what you know to get people to take action to keep this planet a more sustainable one for us to live in.

Let me share with you an example of a young boy who started out his simple dream to just “Save the World” in hope to inspire every to not stop just here. He was primary three where he realized he wanted to make the world a better place because he wanted to help people to live better. And with this simple dream, it kept him going at least for the next sixteen years.

He began to get involved and read up about what is happening to the world. He started to pick up an old folder from home and started to do some newspaper cuttings and go to the library once in awhile to learn more about what is the environment and what are the existing interesting technologies. He kept doing that before he made his first step to take action by volunteering with an existing organisation to help people. But after couple of years, he felt that he wanted to do more, he felt that he could do more. So he went on to organize small groups to volunteer and to serve people. By then, he was already in his upper secondary school days. He carried on doing these simple things to until he was in his polytechnic days where he realized that if he were to be in an organisation and leverage on that platform, he could bring more like minded youth together to organize bigger outreach program. This could benefit even more people and hence his active involvement during his tertiary education years in various societies and union to help save the world in his own little ways. However, shortly after doing so, he left school and got into national service. But prior to that, an ASEAN Youth Conference on the Environment has given him a jolt to realize that if we don’t care about our planet now, we’d need to find an alternate space to live in time to come. This further probed him to look at the need to improve the environment if he wanted to save the world. We need to have an environment to live in order to survive.

The spirit or flare of trying to “Save the World” did not just end there. It kept burning in his heart and he wanted so badly to do something about it. He went back to paper reading and internet search. Finally, he chanced upon a trip to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and made headways for it. The trip proved to be an enriching and worthwhile one. It inspired him to find an organisation to focus on getting youth to take ownership and educate the people to lead a more sustainable lifestyle by simple everyday decision.

It seemed simple but it wasn’t, along the way people come and go and many adults didn’t really believe him enough when he started. They did not take him seriously and were waiting to see when he will give up and walk away from this little dream of his. A dream of saving the world or making the world a better place. Doubts came from not only from the adults but also from family members, working colleagues and also from fellow counter parts.

Nonetheless, he kept pushing forward and kept organizing activities to reach out to more youths and slowly, he was recognized for his effort. His friends turned from laughing at him to taking a step forward to ask him “I want to know why are you so passionate about what you are doing.” And some of these friends ended up becoming his generals in running the organisation. These friends who were inspired then in turn inspire more others and organize activities to educate more youth and reach out to more individuals.

Fellow environmentalist from both the local and international scene also started to appreciate his flare, his persistence and his sincerity. They began to partner him to work out better programs and events to reach out to more people. The government began to take notice of he and his group and lend their support. Corporate partners slowly took interest in what his organisation is doing and offered whatever they could to help him expand his outreach. Some even took him in and mentor him to realize his simple dream. Till date, he is still working very hard to realize his simple dream, “To create and maintain a culture of a more sustainable lifestyle.” This is his way of “Saving the World.”

The idea of sharing this little story is to have all of you realize two things. Firstly, no one is too young to do something to start realizing his/her dreams. You can do anything at any age. Start small, start simple. Build on small success and slowly you will infect more and more people who will take you seriously about saving the world.

And secondly, you will need to always persevere in order to achieve what you want. Stay focus and dreams will come true.

For those who did not win any prizes, I hope you realized you have already won the experience of a lifetime when you embarked on this journey. The friends you made and the knowledge you gained will help you more than you know it. Treasure it and share it to as many as you can.

For those who have won prizes, this is a bonus for you. And with the bonus, a certain level of obligation should fall upon your shoulders to take on the challenge to share what you have learnt.

For all participants of the NWSP, I’d challenge you to do take this opportunity to work together to reach out to your school community. Partner with your school and reach out to your own neighborhood.

This is your world to inherit in time, so you do have a say in it. Start taking stewardship of it now and by the time you are handed the rein, you’d be glad you did so because everyone will benefit from it, including you, your peers, your family and your loved ones.
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Any thoughts?

Dream on and make it happen cause dreams DO happen!

Choices...

2007-03-10T02:29:00.000+08:00

Thanks to Shoop, I have had the chance to attend a Basic course by Asia Works. And it got me thinking a lot. Although a handful of things I have already known or learned prior it from my various mentors, but I think what the course helped is to reflect. I do reflect or have quiet time for myself every once in awhile I haven't done so for a long time. And this few days, it allowed me to do so. And today, I guess what i would like to share is about "Choices".

Firstly, just to lay the ground about "Choices", there are 2 things we have really no choice. To be born (by your biological parents) to this world . And to die (in any ways). Between these two ends of life, everything is a choice. Even the way we die is a choice. Maybe you can tell me if you feel otherwise and quote me a case.

Imagine this, if James Bond were to drop himself into a chamber with the wall closing fast on you. There you see two holes. One states "filled with 5ft of poo poo" and the other states "filled with 10ft of poo poo". How many choices do we have here?

He'd have three. Jump into hole 1, jump into hole 2 or do nothing and get crushed to death.

So being a smart human being and a top notch spy, He'd make the best choice and choose to jump into one with 5ft of poo poo (Doesn't take a rocket scientist to decide that). So as he pounce into it..it fills up to his neck/chest (or somewhere there).

Next, he can choose to again the following ways to think/look at his current situation:
1. Whew...lucky shit. I made the best choice to be in 5ft of poo poo compared to 10ft. If not, I'd either staying afloat in 10ft of poo poo or be crushed to death. And take a deep breath of relief. Another great escape!

OR

2. Man.....this sucks, I've no choice but be here, in this stinky hole filled with poo poo. I could have been at the beach, enjoying the sun bathing and checking out some babes. This sucks. Why do I have to be in this situation? This is shitty man....

Try to relate for option 2. How many of us actually experience at times where we "have to" do something. In a negative way. Made it felt as if that we were forced by situation. Make ourselves feel like we are the victim and we need people to save us. And kept saying we had "no choice".

A lot of times we keep telling ourselves that we have no choice but the fact is that we do! And we make it day in and day out. We are human and we are very much capable to make the best choice out of the situation we are given. We are the largest single brain to body proportion animal!

Get this, relate to the story of James bond again for option 2. The choice of being at the beach was not an option to start with nor choice that was available at that point of time! So stop making yourself sorry for yourself or others feel sorry for you. Many people will often then put themselves in a victimized situation. Which in fact is not. It was a result of a choice!

If one wants to argue that "James Bond had no choice because he was trapped in such a place.". But the counter argument to that statement would be James Bond chose to be a spy and he would have already known that he would make life and death decision everyday. This situation where he was caught in was a result of his earlier choice. DUH~

So whenever you think you have "no choice", think again. The situation you are in is based on an earlier choice you have made. But perhaps you weren't aware of it anymore.

Another scenario, some people might beg to differ saying that they have no choice because his/her boss ask him/her to do certain things. But who chose the job to start with? And after that, who chose to stay on with the job even if it sucks? Some might say they need the money to live comfortably, so now who wants to live comfortably? Who chose that? Can he/she chose to live more frugally? Could he/she chose to save enough money just in case he/she wants to leave the job? All the choices are linked! Many people chose without thinking clearly. That is the main problem. If you have chosen what you have, you must think thoroughly what comes with it. It is your choice.

For those with kids and feel you are a "slave" to them (somehow), you'd say you had no choice. Is that true? Who chose to have the kids and bring them to this planet? How can one not expect to take care of their kid when they are born? Unless your baby will wake up in a middle of the night and check out to see if the parent's are awake and try to sneak out so the parents will not be woken up and check his/her own diaper or even make their own food? The fact is you chose to do so and you have to be responsible for it and NOT tell yourself that you have no choice!

Why do people say "No Choice". I am not sure. Either they perceive that they really had none (i hope they do after they read this blog) or they are trying to find a way out. Go to a state of denial. To get sympathy. For what? For attention I guess.

Whatever happens in life or the results that turns out are results of choices. There is no right or wrong choices in life. It is just a choice. When you do so, think clearly what you'd be taking on with that choice. Don't afterwhich regret.

I guess I have blabbered about "Choices". I hope readers do get the point that nothing is "no choice". Doing nothing is a choice as well. And stop trying to be a victim of the situation. Take control of it and be responsible for your choice.

Readers, do take some time to think about the choices you made in life. Think or reflect how it affected you. Think again how many times you said "I have to..." or "...no choice..." when you actually have. Just that you chose to do "A" to "B" for certain reason which only you will know.

That's all for now... I hope someone very very close to me would be able to read this and take some time to do some thinker as well. I hope this helps. In the next few days, I'll pen down as many things as possible I've learnt I n hope that she will learn from me too.

The Interview

2007-01-12T20:23:00.001+08:00

Friends around me has been asking about my interview so perhaps I can share here how I have "screwed up" for my interview in my own opinion. I think/know I did my best, as best as i could at that point of time thou after leaving there, I felt I could have done better. But what's done is done. Now the fate awaits in the handfs of the selection committee.

Couple days back, I just had the interview. I was the last one. I went in and faced the panel:
Mr Abdullah Tarmugi
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Mrs Lim Hwee Hua
Mr Low Thia Khiang
RAdm(NS) Lui Tuck Yew
Mr Mah Bow Tan
Ms Denise Phua
Mr Sin Boon Ann

They were warm. They tried to make me feel comfortable although I was tensed. Or at least I know I clearly told them I was at one point...and the panel laughed and joked a little to make me feel comfortable.

Questions and answers that I remembered during the interview (base on "agar-ation") and my improved answers;
Q: What do you see your role as an NMP?
A: To be one of the collective source of info/feedback to the government and facilitate better environmental policies

Q: There are already existing feedback units and blogs, so why do we need you?
A: Because I do not think these channel are that effective to channel the views and I'd be able to better relate to the youth to bring out their genuine issues. Feedback unit somehow has too many layers and we never know how many of them really reach the parliament level. A direct voice is always better and someone closer to teh ground and youth would be better to relate.

Q: Do you think Singaporean Youth lack of direction and no sense of belonging and they might find themselves lost eventually. (Actually this question so long that even thou I asked the MP to repeat, I can't remember. *faint* But this is my summarized version)
A: I disagree to the statement. They all ahve a dream. they do know what they want o do. Well, most of them do. At least those around me. It is just that we all need to survive, so earning money to be financially free is the main priority. But then I have learnt from one of my mentor that getting to be financially free is only a means to an end. WE need to first identify what we want to achieve. If not, we'd always be in the rat race trapped. I am lucky to have had the chance to find out my dream, passion and took the leap of faith to pursue it. Leaving a comfortably paid job to reach for my dream to make the world a better place.

Q: So something like you want to save the world lah?
A: Yup. to make the world a better place. My personal goal is to be able to create and maintain a sustainable lifestyle and culture.

Q: So what are the issues you want to raise up?
A: I don;t think I have any one in particular. And sides, my aim is to be a collective source of feedback, I'd rather do the collection on informatino and feeddback before presenting up.

Q: I know but now what is the burning issue you have? Inside of you that you want to bring up.
A: Well, there is alot, but I have no idea where to start. I can't think of any right now off my head, maybe because i think i somehow feel....tensed.

~laughter filled the room~

Comments: Hm....i think the buring issues is causing some haze so he can't think well

~ more laughs~

A: Well, true i'd say. And as you brough up, haze is an issue. Something that we hope to be able to address to as well. And the haze issue clearly shows that environment is trans boundary. It affects all of us. In the recent haze breifing held, we were told a special tasks force for haze was formed and all the ministries were involved less the Finance. This clearly shows how important environmental issues is and how it affects us. I am sure all of us is aware environment affects all of us. From the recent implementation of Euro IV emission taxi to the two initaitives by MND. IT shows how our daily life is affected. I do hope that perhaps we can have mroe subsidy for hbrid to encourage more people to drive hybrid. And for MND end, instead of volunteer green mark scheme, why not make it mandatory and all Singapore buildings be green? We are in a position to be able to do so.

Environment is something that I hope we will be able to look from an economic stand point on how it will benefit us financially. With the recent signing of Kyoto, it opens w hole new market, a green economy. Also, we must be able to see what are the social impact of the environment has. And how politics affects all these things.

Q: You mentioned you like to use it to build the "heartware" and the "heritage" of Singapore. How do you intend to do so?
A: Well, the heartware part comes in by engaging the youth to more activities. To make them feel they belong. To be more invovled in environmental activities. and for heritage, what inspired me was the story of bukit chandru, it was done by the Raffles Musuem and they used nature and heritage to capture me my interest. At least I felt a sense of belonging after that. I could relate. I felt as if this was aprt of me. Something I am proud to share with anyone who comes to Singapore. The story of bukit chandru.

Q: Do you blog?
A: Yes i do...interesting wuestion that you should bring this up thou.

Q: Do you use this to gather feedbacks?
A: Yes and no. My personal blog, which you might have come across, is a blog for me to share my journey that I have taken. Giving up my comfrotbale life in the airforce to do what I am passioante about. To share my journey to the unknown. Which it is. But it has been so exciting. And I put it in short stories and hiopfully people who reads it will be able to digest it and they will also get to be motivated that think that "hey, Wilson did this before and maybe I can or should". Hopefully it will motivate them. It is a life story to share.

For ECO's blogs on our projects and stuffs, these are channels for us to improve our activities and also constantly to gather feedbacks on what we are doing and also a means to have our volunteers interact with those who might be interested or want to know mroe about what we are doing. It is a two way communication medium.

Q: So what is your relationship with Dr Yaacob and Dr Geh Min? Have they been responsive and how close do you work with them?
A: They have been very good to me. Have worked closely with them and they share advices as well on what I should do or how I should improve myself and the organsiatoin and the activities. Dr Yaacob has been very responsive and has graced our annual National Youth Environment Forum and Dr Geh min has always been there to share her opinion and someone I am very much grateful to with regards to sharing ehr wealth of experience and knowledge.

Q: So you write to the MPs and how have they responded?
A: Well, couple of "unlucky" Ministers have gotten my email and perhaps due to my hot headedness I have written to both Dr Yaacob and Dr Vivian on my opinions and they have been very forth coming in terms of response and even got someone to touch base with me to work somethings out. Thing slike the kyoto protocol and also our education system. On how rigid it was and how to improve on it.

Q: So I belive you have been folowing the parliment proceedings and what is going on, so do you see yourself as what Dr Geh Min does?
A: Yup, very much so. And top of that be the collective source of info and feedback to better facilitate environmental policies.

Q: But there are already existing systems, why do we need you?
A: Well, as mentioned, I do not think it helps to bring out the full potential of the feedback that is really happening on the ground. Sides, there are alot of levels that it will need to go through before it can be raised up in parliament. I will be the link direct to the parliament as well. And being able to relate better with my peers help to better have them bring out issues close to their heart.

Q: Any other questions panels? Wilson, thank you for your tiem to come down for the interview. Do you have any questions for us?
A: Nope.

Thank you

Then I stepped out......it lasted about 20mins. I don't think i have put down everything, but it is as much as i can remember.

I honestly do not know what will the results will be but I do look forward to be able to be part of the team. I really want to be in it and contribute my share.

That's all for now.

Cheers!
Wil

A blessing...

2007-01-08T04:15:00.000+08:00

Been awhile since I last update the blog. Alot of things has happened and I think I have been very very very lucky for the past few months.

I was busy preparing the forecast and future of ECO and also at the same time, my passion was recognized by a fellow senior environmentalist! Her name is Dr Geh Min. I guess this time I'll focus on the blessing that was bestowed on me just few months ago.

It was in November 2006 that Dr Geh Min suddenly dropped me an email to asked me of my interest to be in parliament as a Nominated Member of Parliament. I was taken aback. I was and still am happy about this. I mean, I honestly felt I have not done enough but she actually has the faith in me and what I do and asked me to take a more proactive role to bring an environment youth voice into the parliament.

It was an offer that I thought is once in a lifetime. To have someone who was an NMP to actually recommend me, to me it was an honor. But at the same time, I did not want to jump into it so I have had the chance to bumped into her for the next 3 days to seek out her views as an NMP and also what are the commitment levels. I mean I do read up about the parliament and also do occassionally read up about he parliament, but getting involved, I need to know the commitment level.

Other than her, I spoke to Ms Claire Chiang, whom I was seeking mentorship from. She gave me a good talk on ther opinion as an NMP for about 30-40mins just before she departed for Korea. It was insightful. Others that I had the chance to seek advices from are people like:

1. Ms Elim Chew: Founder 77th Street
2. Mr Raymond Huang: Founder Heartware Network
3. Ms Charissa Ee: Chairperson Promiseworks
4. Ms Tan Chee Koon: CEO National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre
5. Mr Jack Sim: Founder World Toilet Organisation
6. Mr Howard Shaw: Director Singapore Environment Council
7. Mr Ng Weng Hoong: Founder/Director Energy Asia

These are people who have served the community and also the reason why they are or some are not interested to be involved as NMP. They shed some light in their views and that helped alot.

After a long while, I finally decided to press on with it. I know what I want to do. I have my life mission to guide me. This is one avenue I can work on. And also at the same time, I can look at myself as one of the collective soruce of info/feedback to the government to facilitate better environmental policies. There are so many things to be done for the environment. I have no idea where to start. From the transportation system, to enforcement of littering, to building schemes and even environmental impact assessment mandatory policy.

Never knew that the news got to the ears of the media that fast. They asked if I was fine with disclosing my intention, I gave the green light and from there on, it was just news that flashes quickly across various main stream media. And to my surprise, I happen to be the youngest nominee. I guess that adds on to the spice of it.

The coverage was great, loads of coverage and pictures appearing even without me knowing where the pictures came from. And finally, on the last day itself, I went to submit the completed forms. First time in my life i felt like a celebrity. When I arrived in the cab, the camera kept flashing until i got into the parliament house. I was later interviewed and woah..the question asked. It was somehwo challenging.

I have learned on that day on how to handle media. Something perhaps I would like to share:
1. Nothing is OFF the record
2. You do NOT need to answer anything
3. SMILE and walk away
4. Be confident

I have never been in that position but I think i am sort of glad I was put in that situation because I have learnt how to better manage the media. It was interesting and well i guess for a first timer, I think I did well.

Days pass and I was thinking that all hope were lost and the interview wouldn't happen to me. Then, I saw on the papers my face yet again! And this time, they disclosed that there were actually 48 nominees compared to 37 for the last round! I never knew there were so many applicants. And on the same day, I received a call from the parliament house that I have been shortlisted for an interview. WOOHOO! I jumped with joy and glad that at least I wasn't booted out in the first round.

As the date drew nearer to the interview, i got tensed. Suddenly, there was a growing urge and want to have the post of the NMP. It was weird, but as days pass, I wanted it badly. I have no idea why. I look at this as something that will change my life forever. It will allow me to make even more changes and be able to help more people! I was afraid to lose it. I wanted to have it. I want it.

And just in the nick of time, one of my mentor told me to watch Star Wars 3. And from there, I learnt a lesson. "Overcome the fear of losing what you loved/treaure most". Things should be as the way it should be. Let it be.

On the following week, someone also told me that I should go on with it like as if I do not need it. Because whether or not I have it, I am still able to do what I want to do. Be confident of myself.

I went back and spend about 2~3 days thinking over the lesson learnt. And indeed, I think I have been very lucky to have been where I am. Without this good fortune that fell on my lap, I have already ironed out the whole 2007 what I am going to do to push for mroe environmental awareness and engaging more youth to take ownership. And sides, the NMP nomination has already given me alot of exposure for the past month that I found at least 5 news paper article of myself with pictures in both the chinese and english papers. That excludes the TV telecast as well and also the ernomous amount of media friends and corporate partners I have came to contact with where i managed to establish a good relationship. I am already very blessed. The past one month has given me enough "ammunitions" to effect more change. Fellow leaders from environment groups and youths groups have also came forward to give their support when they heard about it. All of them gave their supoprt and told me if I needed their vote, I can count on them. My fellow youths. It felt good. Honestly, I think I have gotten more that what I had expected or wish for. It was indeed a blessing.

Then, another of my mentor also told me to treat it as an experience. Which I realized has been really helpful. I do not think anyone aged 25 will have had the chance to be exposed to what I am exposed to. I am very fortunate to have all these blessings. The mentors that are around, the friends that are supportive, the volunteers that "fights" with me, the Environmental and youth NGOs who are ever supportive in what I am trying to do and of course my loved ones who never knew what I am doing but finally realized what I am doing is worth it. I have been blessed.

Love

2006-06-25T01:09:00.000+08:00

While doing my search, I have also gone home more often now and try to strike more conversations with my parent and some of my relatives. I took a walk back at my own "hometown" slowly. I began to see alot of things I never saw before. Many things have changed. People have grown up and alot of them have moved on. New faces appeared. But there are also things that remained the same, like some of the coffeeshop stall owners. I began to question myself why are they still around and doing what they do when their children have all grown up and they can have a relaxed life where they can travel the world. I see glimpses of happiness at these coffeeshops as they engage in the little conversations within themselves. They started to share their own stories in life and what it used to be like. It was a great. Slowly, my relationship with my family members seem to have strengthen as I slowly begin to see what they think from others and themselves. they too have also slowly come to terms with what I am doing and began to support my dream by constantly sharing with me ideas they have.

I miss those good old days where we do not need to think too much and just do what we feel without knowing our limits. I remember jumping off three stories and survived. I was trying to mimick Superman. It's a small example of how as a kid, we dare to make mistakes. We do not think too much, we just do it. Gut feel. I was lucky to not have injured any part of my body. But hey, it has always been the case. I guess I am blessed because I have been involved in my share of accidents, but I have always walked away unhurt. To quote my friend, "Wilson, you are indestructable and you are very destructive." I have to agree with him on the later especially I too have my own share of things that I have spoilt which seems impossible by most people.

All this search seems to be going well as I also rekindled the childhood in me. I still remember how I always was talking to these aunties and uncles. I felt like a kid again. I felt warmth. I also feel I want to do more for them. I wish I could. Perhaps one step at a time. Now, I'd focus on the environment. There is so much love going on and I really hope this will never end. I felt it and I hope everyone feels it. I want to make this world a better place. By the small things I do, I hope there will be ripple effects to affect people who will do the same. By the small things we do, I hope we can reach a tipping point.

Just a thinker for the readers..."Love is about giving, when was the last time you give in to your partner?"

2nd Relationship....gone~

2006-06-02T21:28:00.002+08:00

It's about 2am in the morning here in Singapore as I pen down this chapter. It wasn't too long ago that my relationship has ended. Well, perhaps it was deem to end a while ago. We have been on broken terms for the past few months. Relationship has been really jerky. On and off.

I guess if any of my friends is reading this chapter, some of you are really confused about my relationship status. By the time you read this, I can tell you that it is already over. Fully over. Gone. Period.

It is a result of my own self. She has been great. She has always been there. She has been tolerant. But I guess it is me. I have two major problem; Confidence and Temper.

Confidence:
Part 1 -
I am afraid she leaves me. Maybe I can't take it that what is mine has to be mine. No one else can share her. It is my absolute right to have her for myself only. I cannot imagine her with someone else. In someone else's arm or someone else's care. But she told me she has her rights and I agree. I guess i am too MCP. I think i am afraid she'd leave me. I don't have the confidence that i am special. I am afraid people will say " your gf go around hanging out with other guys you ok meh?" Or perhaps I am afraid one day she will walk away with someone else. And it sucks.

Part 2-
I guess I have always feared that she will outshine me. As much as I have told people, I am ok with my partner being better than me, I think I am really not that prepared after all. I am not what I claimed to be. She has found a new job and pays her much better. She is outspoken. She is a people person. She can make people trust her. She is better than me in many ways. What am I left with now? I am only someone with a dream. A dream to save the world. Maybe I am not that capable at all. Maybe this is all wrong. I don't know. I have always failed in my life. I mean since my younger years, almost all of the project i organize i have failed. But after I met her, all seems to go well. I worry that without her, i cannot cope. I was always made to feel by her that without her, i'll crash. That she is my lucky star. Soon, i started to ponder if the reason I am with her is because I need her to help me in the organisation or am I being with her because I love her. I want it to be the latter...somehow...it slowly felt otherwise.

I have shared so many things with her. Outside of org, for those who know about my family issues, you know I hate to be like my dad. I want to do so many things. I want to save the world. But she prick me when she tells me "you are like your father". It sucks. It stinks. It hurts my EGO again. HAven't i been trying very hard not to be like him? It was just that I wanted to use the conveyor belt instead of walking, she told me that "I thought you don't want to be lazy like your dad?". It hurts. Very very deep. Already I am tired and trying very hard not to live in his shadows, here she is pointing it out.

Next on, it has been really awhile since I last felt she is listening to me and what I have to say. It is always her view and she always think I am narrow minded and I am being selfish. Make me feel so out of place.She told me before she liked me because I had a big heart. So now I am selfish, am I the same person she use to like or love? I don't know. I am scared now, will she leave me because I am different now? That built another layer of wall. Whenever I want to bring up things that I feel about, I can't bring it to her. She is now busy. Busy with her own life. Busy with work. Busy with part time school. She has to sleep by 11PM everyday, if not, she will not be able to function the next day. She work tills about 6+ everyday and sometimes 8+. And when she has to study, she reach home only at 10+. So literally, we can't speak to each other. I have my org to concentrate on especially on weekend because that is where the volunteers are free and I can spend time to grow the org and the volunteers.

As time passes, my confidence of us fell and the future got bleak.

TEMPER:
With all the above going on, i flared up. I flare up so easily. For the past year we have never failed to quarrel over the phone after 5mins of conversation. I don't know why but I can't feel that she understands me and she finds talking to me very difficult. And I only flare up to people who are close ot me. My family and her. And when I flare up and throw my temper, things break. I destroy things. I raise my volume and destory anything in sight. That includes my HP. It has been a long while since I flare up with her. It wasn't like that in the first 3 years. I was tamed and I controlled really well. I can understand her and so could she. Whenever I was about to flare up, she will calm me down and I will try to control. Now, I don't control myself and she say I am being "ridiculous". What happened? I have no idea.

I have one of the worst temper anyone can ever imagine. No one wants to see me ever flare up. And I mean really flare up. I ever tore a busstop apart by bending the roof, chairs, signages, smashing the bins and breaking the light bulbs. I bled, but I didn't care. I keep going on like a mad man. I didn't feel any pain. Maybe because I was too pissed. But I would never do anything to hurt ladies and kids. No matter how flared up or angry I maybe. I guess I just wanted to divert my energy and make myself feel painful so it hurts me physically more than it hurts my heart.

Because of her, I teared again. I used to not tear because my my previous relationship. Now, I swear i will not tear for another lady ever again. I have to be strong.

I don't think anyone will ever suit me. Maybe I am destined to be alone. Maybe it is for the better. No one to share my joy or sorrows with anymore. I know it will hurt me real bad to see her with someone else, but I guess it is for her good. She needs to move on and I need to be alone.

She smsed me "We have been together for 5 years....our relationship is, Stagnant."

It was always with her that I feel that I can do things. She has always been there. Now, I feel decapitated. I feel that without her, I cannot make anything happen. she was the miracle. Now, I have to make my own miracles. I am not confident anymore.

I still want to save this world. Even if it is to save it for another 10 seconds. Enough time for us to tell the people whom we love, "I love you". I can't find anyone to tell anymore, I hope you find someone you can tell when that day comes.

I guess I can now better focus on my org. Focus to save the world. I hope I still can.

My thoughts are not in sequence...it is all around. I pen this page down out of pure emotion. Mixed emotions. Mixed feelings. If you don't understand, it is ok. Neither do I understand how I feel now. I want to cry, but I can't anymore. No tears coming out. I want to hurt myself, but I want to stay in good shape to save the world. To make this world a better place.

good nite.

Search

2006-06-02T21:28:00.001+08:00

Well, i have recently start to relook at how I am doing and what am I doing. I was lucky to have spoken to a few more experienced people in the field of what I am doing. Social start ups and founders of these organisations in Singapore. Also experienced people who have been diligently doing their due in the world of youth and volunteerism as managers or executives. And not to forget to hear out those who think things are not as easy as it seems. People who have tried to walk the talk but did not make it.

I call this stage of my life "Search". I am fortunate that one of my mentor organisation has took me in and gave me a temp job. There, I have and still am learning alot about managing the daily operations of an organisation. This also gave me a chance to think through what I am doing now as well. My cash flow is running low. My relationships has been strained. Support in what I am doing has slowly been reduced. Many eyes are looking at me and thoughts of "Let's see how long can he survive" has been coming from many, both directly and indirectly.

Suddenly, I am starting to doubt my capability. My low self-esteem slowly started to take on the better of me. I am trying very hard to find what I am good at doing. What is/are my strength/s. Can I bring the organisation to the next height? What does it take to be the "leader" of the organisation? Do I have the necessary knowledge?

I toned myself down and focused on the existing projects that i am dealing and try to brush it up. There are loads of projects but it is still managable. I am glad I have volunteer teams to do it. I just need to be there to motivate them and bring in contacts for them in to move further. To bring out the best in them.

While doing the earlier stated, I'll continue to search for my strength, if any. and polish it so that I can bring the projects that are under my care to greater heights. Even the organisation. I need to also look at my personal intellectual grooming. I slowly found that I like to know more about political and social sciences as well as econs. People around my age have already finished their degree program and I have not even start yet. Not that I care about the certificate, but the training they have on the program of the topics that I am interested seems to be very useful and be able to help sharpen their thinking on current affairs issues. At least that is what I think. Sadly, no local university is willing to accept a D grade student like myself so I guess I have to learn by reading up books on my own.

I have been blogging!

2006-05-18T01:20:00.000+08:00

Just for those who think I have not been blogging. I did! I went for a UN conference, leading a team of 4 from the organisation I started. The site is http://www.eco-singapore.org/csd

Also, I am now officially LTA (NS) Wilson Ang.

More blogging to come..now I need to catch up with a few things at ECO.

Zonking now...trying to cope with my jet lag....

Link: http://www.eco-singapore.org/csd

An encouragement....

2006-04-21T02:25:00.000+08:00

It's been awhile since i last blogged. I have been so wanting to blog and I wrote one halfway when I acidentally lost it. However, this is an interesting song someone introduced to me. Very meaningful. It has become an encouragement to me to do things now. It is worth listening to if you the time to find it or "d/L" it.

Here's the lyrics:

------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’97
Wear sunscreen
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

(Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, and I know I've been waiting to be there
for you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.)

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

(Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, and I know I've been waiting to be there
for you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.)

-------------------------------

Coincidentally, it addresses the batch 1997, which was the year I graduated from my secondary school. If I have heard this song, I'd have start doing what I do even earlier. Not too late now thou. It is an encouragement to me.

Do you know what is the song yet?

it is by Baz Luhrmann, a song names - "Sunscreen"

A good food for thoughts. I hope it serves as a good encouragement to you as it has to me.

That's all for now. Buzzing off to save the world in my own little ways...

ToOdLeZ

ECO's office....a sneak preview on the inside.

2006-03-20T01:41:00.000+08:00

InQ?Buzz Map
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

For those who don't know where ECo's office is, here it is! The Red Bus is our office. And this is NOT a joke! heh~

Upon entry..the welcome sight
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

When you step in the door, this sight will welcome you in. Take a walk in to look at the pictures.

Office meeting room on level 1
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

This is where all our meetings are usually held. Great place to sleep at night with the air con on

Also known as the cold room...try it at night...ALONE!

My messy side of the office...heh
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

Well...for those who knows my involvement with ECO but has yet to visit our office. Here is the preview of what my work desk is like...

So tell mum that you room ain that bad...heh~

Office Companions
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

At office, I am not alone....friends that I have met and learn alot from

We all have a part....

2006-03-12T18:28:00.000+08:00

Many things happened. Met many different people. Had a quarrel with someone. And suddenly, i came to realize something:

We are all interesting people.
Just that do we take enough efforts to look at the interesting side of that person.
Unique by our own ways..we are brought here together to make this world a better place to live in.
The usual Naive self i guess.
I've slowly learnt that we all are pieces of a big puzzle.
And we have a place to fit in this world
But whether or not we accept it is another thing.
EGO i guess also plays a big part for that acceptance sometimes.
And to some, denial of acceptance because it is not who you want. Your expectation.
Many a times, we try to be someone who we aren't.
And keep tryin to be one by going all around the shop and end up not achieveing anything but being depressed.
Is it worth it?

Some argue that we can change. I agree. However, not all of us are lucky enought to be taught or given the right guidance to change the right way. I guess the first thing we should all do is relfect on ourselves and know who we are by how we have performed. Identify our strengths and work to it's best.

My little thought for the day.

Duty, Honor, Country

2006-03-12T00:43:00.000+08:00

Heh...today i was been "arrowed" to go back to the place where I was trained to be an officer, Officer Cadet School (OCS), at Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). I was the host for the newly graduting batch of officers. My juniors.

Before the dinner, i was there watching their comissioning parade. As I watched them, a strong feeling passed me by. I think the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has done a great job to instill a sense of pride as an officer of the SAF. It brought back good memories where I was a trainee. The sweet and sour days. Fond memories filled me. Retard to some, but at that instance when i watched them, and as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan delivered his speech to the new batch of officers-to-be....I feel a sense of pride. Thou I am leaving the service soon, I feel proud to have ever made it into the officers' corp and walk tall with the responsibilites given.

The creed is important..I remember when I proudly shouted it out at the parade ground...In july 2001:

I am an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces.
My Duty is to lead, to excel and to overcome.
I lead my men by example.
I answer for their training morale and discipline.
I must excel in everything I do.
I serve with pride, honour and integrity.
I will overcome adversity with courage, fortitude and determination.
I dedicate my life to Singapore.

As the cadets (or Officers-to-be), marched up the stairs as a part of their ceremonial, it filled me with tears. These are steps towards getting their rank after months of hard work, months of turmoil. Each bang are filled with the zest to look forward to their reward as an officer. The song they sang as they marched up the stairs still echo in my head after so many years. Song that I will never forget:

We come from many places
All across the land
Of many different races
Together hand in hand
United we stand
Divided we fall
Ready to serve our nation's call

We come from OCS
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more

Loyalty to country
Thats wat we all believe
To lead, Excel and Overcome
Is what we must achieve
Forever strong and Valiant
We'll give our lives and more
Never ceasing to serve Singapore

We come from OCS,
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more.

And it was such a sight when they came back to the parade ground where their parents and loved ones helped them change into their officer rank. I still remember mine. My parents were proud of me. My siblings were so happy. My friends too. I remember it so clearly. Tears continue to fill my eyes.

The procedures are still the same after so many years. Finally, the long awaited announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the new batch of comissioned officers!" and the song "Congratulations" was aired. These newly commissioned officers threw their peak caps into the air as high as they could. Then running towards each others and hugging one another. My tears flowed down my cheek. I still do so as I write this.

I am glad to have been able to attend this parade before I leave the service. It reminded me of the good old days. It reminded me that this will forever be an unforgettable chapter in my life. Things I have learnt. People whom I have met.

Life is great. Today is great. To any newly commissioned officers:

Even thou you will hear people saying things bad about being an officer, or even being an officer is no big deal. But ask yourself inside of you, feel it, it makes a difference in you did it? At least it did for me. I wish you all the best in your next appointment, be it as a regular or an NSF. Don't forget your roots. Once an officer, always an officer. Live with the right values. Respect is to be earned and to be well respected doesn't always make you well liked. You have to be prepared. Hold your integrity no matter what. And it will lead you through the adversities that you will face.

Subsequently..i went on to host the table where we had a hearty meal as I chat with the families of the newly commissioned officers. To assure them, their son has grown up. He is now an officer. :)

That's all from me today....

Leadership...an ongoing search

2006-01-17T06:45:00.000+08:00

Woah...got my off today! Slept till 11+, guess I am really burnt out. But have to go back to my stuffs soon. I need to quickly move my teams. Publication team, Forum Team, International Affiars and the HR team. Yup..the various department in ECO.

This brings me to a point on Leadership. I am still searching for it. Infact, I have been searching for it for awhile. My quest for this had made me learnt a handful of things that is required of a "Leader". SAF advocates Leadership as one of the requirements needed as an Officer. Going through the officer course, the thing i learnt from there is about leadership is that he/she need to be able to handle situations and do the "right" choice. Choices that benefits the bigger picture, no matter how unpopular it may be.

Back in school days, being involved in various clubs and activities taught leadership by saying "A good leader must first be a good follower". So what does it really mean? It was also told that not all follower can be a leader. Why not? So how do I know if I am a follower and not a leader? I still question that today.

After leaving school, out of SAF, in ECO, I have failed many times. I have ran away from problems before and have came back to fix things (However, Ihave to admit I still run away sometimes. But I come back faster each time). Also, I have gone through a handful of projects and handled a lot of volunteers. Slowly, in ECO, it came to me that leadership is about "Bringing the best out of your team". Well, people might beg to differ, but this is my opinion. It is about taking time to meet up your team members one by one, know them, understand them, position them to their strength and built their confidence and their profile. To bring them to the next level and help them built their strength so they can excel in that area.

I followed the later theory of my own and found joy in my role as the president and head of various things I do. And this has given me strength to keep taking up such role to develope the people around me.

My search or quest does not end here. There is more than just that in leadership i believe. But for now, my "Leadership" style that I have adopted are as follow:
1. Bring out the best in the team and individuals
2. Listen to them
3. To be respected and well liked are different thing. No point being well liked and not get things done to only loose respect and credibility.

That's for me...for now. What about you?

My short story on leadership for today.

Adios!

Dreams and Ideas....it's how bad you want it to be a reality.

2006-01-14T02:34:00.000+08:00

waddya know! I got recall to work yesterday when it was my duty off. Oh well, no choice. I signed on the line and gave my life to the air force. Just doing my due i guess. Look on the bright side, someone thanked me, that's a good enough reward.

Today, I'm going to share the power of dreams and why some remains the way it is and some becomes a reality. Same for ideas too. I had a conversation with Ryal, another mentor I claimed to be, and a new friend he recommended me called Abby. Abby has a very interesting concept on "Reality Travel" that is exactly what my organisation's International Affairs would like to do but we term it as "ECO Tourism" and have it incorporated with our Sustainable town building. It just suddenly struck me that we are just talking but we already got ourselves very excited to make it happened. But this has happened one too many times, to one too many people. All talk but no action. All of us have to agree that this always happen to us. We have tons of wonderful ideas, million dollars worth and some very inspiring dreams. But how many of it really make it to reality? Ever happened to you that when something someone came up with was what you thought of earlier but just that you did not execute it. Yes, it happens to all of us. You and me.

Weng, my first mentor as stated in my first blog this year, thought me the same lesson and my second mentor, a successful financial advisor. One called it as the "Motive" while the other call it the "Desire" respectively. Basically, it is how bad you want it to make it happen. Willing to give what it takes and take the first step to get it into action. Most of us are endulged in our life or what is infront of us that we do not bring out Dreams or Ideas to the next step. My first mentor has called off our partnership for the third forum many times along the way because he felt that my interest have faded. He kept insisting on my motive. And how badly I want things to happen. It made me ponder. This was one of the few lessons Weng taught me that I will not forget. He kept cutting me off and spiked me into thinking and I kept pestering him and not willing to let the whole thing go. I wanted it bad but not bad enough to move further. But this little episode has made me thought through how important it is to want it so much that you can see, smell and feel it and you will not give up. It gives me the strength to barge through walls after walls and to continue moving on. Before barging through all these walls, I have learned to picture what I want to see at the end of it, no matter how many walls there are. I just keep moving. I guess this is the lesson he taught me that made the third forum a success that allowed me to earn my 5mins worth of speech infront of Sir David King, principal of Singapore Management University, their staffs, and all the participants. Thanks Weng.

Ryal have also reiriterate that it is called focus. To see the target, lock on and fire! I am the missile and the target is my designation. I will only go forward! Nothing can get in my way. My financial advisor mentor calls it "Desire to have it". Whatever it is, it is as said previously, how bad you want it to happen. And taking the calculated risk to go for it. Next would be getting the right people in the team and work together on it.

Another short story to bring up the point is my very first project I did back in school days. I sent my proposal to 1,200 people and companies, changing it time after time to improve on it to finally get a sum of SGD1,800 (about USD1,000). If I didn't want it bad enough, I would have given it up, maybe the 200th time? Or 10th time? Each time I failed, it was a lesson learnt. But I didn't take up this lseeon untill I hit about my 150th proposal that I sent out. I wanted to give up. I wanted to resign. I thought my perserverence has given me enough to do so much and that is all I can do. Theni thought through, by chance of miracle, the words "Failure is the mother of Success" struck me that I have let all these "Failure" go to waste. I relooked at them and take each rejection a challenge and eventually I got my reward. Little it may seem to most, but it is the first little step of confidence it has given me. Later in life, my financial mentor taught me that we need to fail faster in order to succeed faster. I couldn't agree more. If 9 out of 10 business fail, it means I only have to fail 9 times. So the faster I do it, the faster I hit the successful 1 out of 10.

Well, that's all for now...cycling off to power98 to get my radio interview that was aired over last year's Christmas eve.

TaZzzZzzzz....

Our potential...

2006-01-11T17:54:00.000+08:00

Hmm...was having dinner at Cineleisure and went to the new mac shop to to take a look. It's like an "IKEA" shop for Mac. EVERYTHING IS THERE! I'm using a 15" G4 Powerbook and I have this temptation to buy all the protectin stuffs there is for my notebook. I wanna protect it because this little lappy has been serving me well.... I love me MAC! :P

Just had a conversation with a friend and he reminded me a story I'd like to tell about "Our potential".

It was back in my officer training days. We were in Brunei jungle survival and there was a part of the training where we had to live in the wild for a few days. Then, we'd be taken out of the site to somewhere and navigate ourselves back to base camp.When we were taken to the "somewhere", we were given some new food raion and fresh water supply and grouped into teams. Each of us carried our own food and some stuffs to support our navigation part of this training. Things like Signal set and battries, spare battries, map, compass, extra water supply, small signal sets, smoke grenade and stuff like that. I happened to be carrying the battries of the signal pack, the spare batteries. So we were walking up and down with our limited resources and strength. We had to find our way and we had to work in teams. There are fast one and slow ones, some good in map reading and some morale booster who will help to motivate the team. So in a team ,we trekked, walking up and down the hills, forestry. And we made lots of mistakes. But it was ok, we pressed, we trust our path finders. We had a few breaks and discussed and shared ideas. Then one of the team members look rather worn out. He was the signal pack carrier. The signal pack plus the batteries is heavy but it is a necessity to carry and keep constant communication with HQ to let them know we are safe. And if emergency strikes, we can contact them for help. I was holding on to the spare battries. I took over his pack and pour my battries into that pack and told him to take my pack with the food supply only. Then we started to travel. From the first few on the team, i fell behind to the last few in the team. But i went on. Suddenly, I fell on my knees. Then i told myself, "Gotta go. can't stop.", then i lifted myself off the groud. I realized that my mind had pushed me off my limits. Or at least I presumed it. So i continue walking, then to test it again, i told myself, "argh...tired..." THUD! I fell on my knees again. Then I told myself, "The faster we go, the earlier we can reach base camp and we can all rest." Then my legs somehow found strength to stand up again. Realizing how interesting this finding is, I tried it a few more times to confirm my presumption.

My point is this, one's potential can be easily unleashed when you set your mind to it. Trust in it, believe in it, and it will make things happen. How miracles happen is because in a critical situation, the person just focus so hard on getting something done, that things just happen. It is your mind power. It is unleashed! Go to thousand and one seminar and motivational talks and they will tell you the same thing. You are only who you think you are. You don't have to go into a crisis to unleash your stregth or potential, you can do it now. Just focus. BE it- Be like you have already achieved it. Tell your mind you ARE it. DO it- Then act like you are it. HAVE it- Then you will have it. And when you have it, it will enforce your thinking that you are it. It's just that simple. BE-DO-HAVE!

My little story to share today...taZzzzz.....

The recorded speech

2006-01-11T04:32:00.000+08:00

Found a place to upload the speech. For those who are interested, feel free to download it. It's about 50mins and the file is 46MB in size.

WARNING: There are at least about 20 "OK"s used in the first 5mins. Your ear has no problem.

SRJC Speech

Importing my previous blogs...

2006-01-10T18:05:00.000+08:00

Have learnt slightly more about this blog today. We can actually set the dates. So instead of going to my previous blogs, I'm gonna cut and paste it here and using the same date and time as when I blog it. So you guys who bother to come here..thank you! You can scroll down more.

Haha....slping liaoZ. TaZzzzz.....

whew....done~

2006-01-10T14:37:00.000+08:00

Yup yup....finally delivered my speech. Leg wobbled and tongue tied. Having the whole JC1 Cohort staring at me looking at what I can offer them. Thinking" Why is this guy gonna talk about?", "Who is he?", "It's gonna be boring!!!". I can't help but try to get everyone's attention. Then I took a deep breath, told myself that not everyone would be interested. So long as I can get as much people who are interested or some partially interested, and inspire them, that's good enough.

The script that I had prepared, I threw it away on the stage after 2 sentences. I slowly break up these stories into bits. Part by part I shared with them. And when we reach the Q&A portion, it was quite rewarding to get some very interesting questions that helped me to share more. And at the end of the whole session, a handful of 10~20 students come forth to ask more and how they can get involved. I have recorded my whole speech and I'm looking for somewhere to upload it so those who are interested can listen. Hope it doesn't bore you and kill ya...hahaha! And just note, the first 5 mins I was really tensed, I used the word "ok" for more than 20times. And I got the audience to close their eyes and imagine stuffs, that was also to buy me time to calm myself. For those who hate to close your eyes, lucky you weren't there! haha!

While sharing, it sent a great sensation down my spine. It made me feel good. Real good. If i can inspire them and they do great things or eventually find their purpose in life, I would be thrilled. I really wanna work on my presentation skills and be a great motivational speaker...

After the session, a young boy named Kai actually continued to have me talk to him. We went to the canteen and I shared more with him. The sparkle in his eyes was the best reward I can ask for. I can't believe I had actually inspired him so much that he wanted more. Just like a spoonge, he kept absorbing. It was cool, and he compared me with his elder brother.

I told him, "I can choose to be like most people on the street, living it day by day. Find a job and do what most people do. That's it. But that would be against my concious. I know that deep in me I want to do something big. Something that can make a difference to people's life. I cried at pri 3 almost everyday to ask myself what is my purpose in life. This thought kept haunting me. At that age, I told myself I just want to do good things. Create jobs for people and make people happy. And it wasn't until after I left poly that i finally found the sentence to state my purpose in life. I want to create a sustainable lifestyle and culture. "

The speech is about 50mins including the Q&A. To most, you guys may find it a pain and not listen to it and for some you will listen to it halfway and for some, you may complete it...whatever it is, listen at your own RISK!!!

That's all for now. This has been a very interesting and challenging day. I will improve and do better next time.

TaZzzz.....

SUPERMAN

2006-01-10T01:38:00.000+08:00

supershield
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

My Idol since young. The insignia of justice and truth. I guess that's why I always try to be one and don't stop working, sleeping only about 3 hours to maximum of 5 daily. Think it's catching up on me. Recently, I have to have more rest and my health has failed me. I need to live a more healthy and disciplined lifestyle.

Nonetheless, I will still work like one. To make a difference to this world and to save this planet by doing my little part to create a sustainable lifestyle and culture.

Superman Returns will hit the big screen on 31st June 2006. I can't wait! Thou the actor don't resemble Christopher Reeves, but well, he looks ok. Reeves has lived up to my image of Superman. He is one by himself and his dream and passionate is something I will never cease to remember and learn from.

Check out the show at http://www.supermanreturns.com

Tatazzzzz..

Journey to the West Bunch

2006-01-10T01:30:00.000+08:00

On E MRT
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

Okiez..during the event, we are the "MRT Bunch", always travel..westernly...haha. Bo bian, we are at the extreme east of Singapore, west is the only direction. From Left: Yifang, Elaine, ME, Victor, Shyarul. Infront: Wan.

Check out their blogs too...hahaha.

First time can upload foto..enjoying it lots! Ha! Only can use flickr coz mac cannot D/L the "Hello" software.

After the whole event entertainment

2006-01-10T01:27:00.000+08:00

After the whole event entertainment
Originally uploaded by wilson_ang81.

After the event, Giving Tree @ North East, before the contractors tear down the site, we had our XBOX linked up to a projector and use a stage speaker for the sound. EXTREME!!!

Docent retreat and the 5 new strength i discover of myself...

2006-01-09T14:46:00.000+08:00

Today I woke up late and got to my Docent retreat late. Oh, I am also a volunteer with the Singapore Zoological Gardens Docent (http://www.szgdocent.org) as the head of Recruitment and Training or RATS as what we commonly term it in the organisation.

The retreat is meant for the executive committee to plan out what to do next for the year and also a time to look at where we are and how to move on, how to motivate others forward as a volunteer. This retreat was unlike the previous years. We have a professional trainer and had tried to compress as much information as we can on leadership and team efforts. A compressed course which also teaches us a handful of stuffs on the technique used to trouble shoot problems in the organisation. To think of what we really want in life, the importance of mission and vision and how these things can help us reach what we want. How powerful dream is and how a clear vision can get us to work towards our goals. All of these through various interactive games and explanations.

Some of it mey not be new to be but it had certainly helped me to further fine tune what I want in life. As in my previous blog, my life rotates around this sentence, "To create a sustainable lifestyle and culture". Whatever I do will not deviate away from this general guide. Afterwhich, I had two of my ex-trainees whom have graduated successfully as a docent last year. I shared with them on my vision in life and also how the organisation operated and why I had started this up and how it drives me on. It was really a great sharing session. It sortof boosted my confidence on tomorrow's tasks.

oh, I've recently bought a book call "Now, discover your strength". It's a great book and it had an online accessment of about 180 questions and not allowing you to take more than 20 seconds for each question to judge what your strength is. It also brought out a very valid point, about our vocabulary. If we really sit back and think, we actually have a whole list of vocabulary words on negative attributes that we used to describe people of ourselves. But when it comes to naming of strength, it is so much lesser. We usually hear, "People skills", "sales skills" and stuff like that. But all of these description are so, vague. Hence, they have taken out 34 theme of strength that people have and used the survey to allow the candidate who sits through the surveys to be able to access their top 5 strength and work on it. I was surprised to find mine. They are in order of the strongest to the weakest;

Communication
You like to explain, to describe, to host, to speak in public, and to write. This is your Communication theme at work. Ideas are a dry beginning. Events are static. You feel a need to bring them to life, to energize them, to make them exciting and vivid. And so you turn events into stories and practice telling them. You take the dry idea and enliven it with images and examples and metaphors. You believe that most people have a very short attention span. They are bombarded by information, but very little of it survives. You want your information-whether an idea, an event, a product's features and benefits, a discovery, or a lesson-to survive. You want to divert their attention toward you and then capture it, lock it in. This is what drives your hunt for the perfect phrase. This is what draws you toward dramatic words and powerful word combinations. This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.

Relator
Relator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people-in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends-but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship. You want to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and you want them to understand yours. You know that this kind of closeness implies a certain amount of risk-you might be taken advantage of-but you are willing to accept that risk. For you a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust yourself to the other person. The more you share with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and you take them willingly.

Woo
Woo stands for winning others over. You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build rapport. Some people shy away from starting up conversations because they worry about running out of things to say. You don't. Not only are you rarely at a loss for words; you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection. Once that connection is made, you are quite happy to wrap it up and move on. There are new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet-lots of them.

Self-Assurance
Self-Assurance is similar to self-confidence. In the deepest part of you, you have faith in your strengths. You know that you are able-able to take risks, able to meet new challenges, able to stake claims, and, most important, able to deliver. But Self-Assurance is more than just self-confidence. Blessed with the theme of Self-Assurance, you have confidence not only in your abilities but in your judgment. When you look at the world, you know that your perspective is unique and distinct. And because no one sees exactly what you see, you know that no one can make your decisions for you. No one can tell you what to think. They can guide. They can suggest. But you alone have the authority to form conclusions, make decisions, and act. This authority, this final accountability for the living of your life, does not intimidate you. On the contrary, it feels natural to you. No matter what the situation, you seem to know what the right decision is. This theme lends you an aura of certainty. Unlike many, you are not easily swayed by someone else's arguments, no matter how persuasive they may be. This Self-Assurance may be quiet or loud, depending on your other themes, but it is solid. It is strong. Like the keel of a ship, it withstands many different pressures and keeps you on your course.

Strategic
The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allowsyou to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, "What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?" This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path-your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: "What if?" Select. Strike.

Interesting findings I'd say. For those who know me, what do you think?

haha...signing off for today....taZzzzzzz

first MAJOR public speech

2006-01-08T18:41:00.000+08:00

Yup...first MAJOR one. And I thought the last time I gave a presentation to foreign government representatives at an international forum and a speech on a local Climate Change Forum was a tough one. This time, I was given an opportunity to do so my my other mentor, Raymond. Oh, the first mentor which we previously had talked about half way gave me an opportunity to address the audience infront of the VVIP from UK on a speech of the organisation and the volunteer. It was a two mins speech but i had really practiced is very hard. It was given to me because, according to him, I've earned it for the efforts put into the third forum.

Oh well, this third one was because Raymond hope that what I do can inspire other youths to also do the same. I will be at SRJC on Monday afternoon 2pm giving this speech. No time limit, no theme. Just talk to inspire the youths.

After much thoughts, I guessed I finally think I will label this talk as, "What do you want in life?" Maybe I can write what I'm gonna talk about it here sorta to prepare myself.

XXXXXX START XXXXXXX

Good Afternoon Principal, head of departments, teachers and fellow youth stake holders of the future.

Today, I've been given this opportunity to talk to all of you about what I do, in hope to inspire as much of you as possible. When I was told about this, I was both excited and tensed. To be honest, this is my first time speaking to such a big crowd. To me it is a challenge and I am glad to have taken this up and be here now. My role here is to share my little experiences I had been through for the past 24 years of my life.

To start off, I'd like to ask everyone of you to take a moment to think through this question that I am going to ask you. What do you want in life? Some of you might have thought of it and for most, you might not have. But if the later which is the case, should you start thinking of it now? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Say 20, 30 or even 40? What do you want to do? What do you want to achieve?

Just last friday, I asked an SAF Scholar this question. His was, to do the best in whatever he does. And when he asked me the same question, I told him, "Bro, you gotta be prepared for a loooong answer". And his reply sortof brought me into deep thoughts. He just said, "In one sentence. What you want in life should be put in one sentence." Looking back at what I am doing, what I am heading and the plans I have already laid out for myself, I told him, "I want to create a sustainable lifestyle." He replied, "the you will need to get people to understand what 'Sustainable' and 'lifestyle' means". I replied, "Sustainable=Using today's resources w/o jeopardizing tomorrow's or other's resources" and "Lifestyle=making an everyday decision".

So, what is yours?

Some or most of you will choose being "Rich". But think again, how rich is rich? What is meant by rich? Is it 1 million, 2 million or 1 billion? I have met a handful of very successful businessmen and woman who are in their 40s, well established and "RICH" they call themselves. But is that it? Is life about just being rich? At their age, they crave for something more important in life, they look for something to fill them up, they look for a worthy cause to champion or live for. I call them the lucky bunch. They were freed from the financial "burden" early and had a chance to live their dreams. If you know the 80/20 rule, they are the 20. What about the rest of the 80? The work hard for money only to end up complaining that it is not enough and yet time and again getting into more debts and end up being enslaved by their job. Their dreams? What they want in life? For those whom I have known, they just take the dream as a dream, they just want to get find a better job and get rich quick.

I remember engaging with a good old friend just before I wanted to tender my resignation from the Air Force. He told me that not everyone dared to go after their dreams. And I was lucky. For them, they are bounded their financial situation.

I have brought up some of these dreams related examples because I have realized how important it is to dream and go for it. Getting rich is only a mean to reach your dream. Or you don't even need to be rich to reach your dreams! You just have to live it. I've learnt from one of my mentors, quite a famous guy on finances that, "It's not how much you earn, it's how you manage it and how much of it goes to the bottom line every month." "How?" some of you may ask, my advice, simplify your lifestyle, it's that simple.

Another mentor I had in life taught me another important rule, "It's about giving." And if you study most of the rich people out there, they give. I've accepted that to get you must first give. So I cringe whenever I hear people saying, when I have enough money, then I'll give. So how much is enough? Giving doesn't come in term of monetery, it can be in terms of heart, times and even words. Words like "Don't worry, I'm here" means so much for those who are in the verge of life and death. Put it this way, if you don't give your time by working, how do you get paid?

Because of the dream I chose, a group of friends and myself setup a NPO,NGO called Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore) or ECO for short. It targets at youth like ourselves to be able to get us realized something called Global Citizenship. To have environmental issues looked at holistically and how we need to change our lifestyle to have a more sustainable future. Look around you, why is oil prices going up? Why does poverty prevail? Why is the climate changing? Are you the problem? Or do you want to be the solution? Your day to day decisions will make a differences. We don't need you to make a major change, we just you to make every change count. Small ones at a time. Bit by bit. That is enough. But how many of us really bother?

Our mission, To increase AWARENESS in environmental issues HOLISTICALLY in order for YOUTHS to choose sustainable LIFESTYLES. How we are going to do it? By getting youth to be more aware of global, regional and local issues through hip and innovative and interactive means.

Eventually, I will setup an empire to deal with all the research into sustainable development, a foundation to support such efforts and a system or degree that is called "Degree in Sustainable Development". I want to be able to create jobs to be able so that for those who need a job can bring home the dough and for those who inspire to do more research in this area can be in the R&D department. In all, I want to change the culture and create a sustainable lifestyle. Being clear on my dream allowed myself to be clear in the jobs I choose. Since i want to setup an empire or a coporation, I need skills like management skills, strategic planning, marketing, human management, leadership and so many others. And when I choose my job, I look at what I can learn about in there, I look at the job if they allowed me to learn skills I need to succeed in life. I sometimes even offer some of my mentor my time for free. "Crazy" some of you might term it. Infact, that's what my dad called me. But if you can see what I see, you will come to realize it is not. It's planning to be what you want to be. So what is your dream? What do you want in life?

I hope I what I have said could make you ponder a little more today, even for just that few seconds. It all starts from there. The rest is up to you, how you want to achieve it. In life, there are greater things than what money can buy, it is your dream.

Thank you for being such a wonderful audience and have a great holiday tomorrow.

XXXXXXX END XXXXXXX

Not sure if I will use it, but it sure helps...

that's all for now...taZzzzzz....

My cycling trip after...8 months?! Grrgh~

2006-01-08T10:30:00.000+08:00

Ha...what do you know. I fell sick. Argh~

The last blog i had, i went for duty. Well, the next day when i returned home from my duty, i felt energetic. So happily brought my bicycle, which haven't been used for cycling for about 8 months, for servicing. Ha...went to service my bike and the uncle told me the bike is darn old and some of the parts are too tight to make any changes/modifications. So I paid about 120 bucks just to change the rear wheel along with a new gear. Well, he also told me if I were to really be keen into cycling, I can always visit his youner brother's shop somewhere at Bukit Timah, 2nd Avenue. There, is a wide range or variety of racer bike that I can choose from. But they are at least 1K in price. Oh, my bike IS a racer bike and it uses tubeless wheel. And tubeless are really expensive. The bike was given to me free by one of my colleague's husband who has at least 8 bikes in his store. He was an avid cyclist. The racer bike he gave me was the first bike he had configured himself. And based on the bike shop uncle who serviced my bike, he told me that this bike was worth at least 1K for the body. The fork, gear, breaks, peddle are worth about 5~6 hundred each. This bike was worth about 3K back then.

Happy after the bike has been serviced, i cycled it home. I packed up my stuff to made my way down to orchard, to ECO's office. Hence from Boon Lay, I followed the MRT track and cycled to Chinese gardern, then to Jurong East and when I hit Clementi, i heard my rear wheel going "cluck cluck cluck" or something like that. Woah...something is seriously wrong. Alighted from my bike and realized my bike had got itself puntured and the air is leaking out real fast. Oh well, asked around but no one seems to know if there is any bike shop nearby. So, hailed a cab and took it down to the uncle's younger brother bike shop. In the shop the bike variety was huge! It has 2 levels and all the racer biker was like..wow!

Oh well, he did a check on the bike, he recommende I change to a tube wheel, it would be cheaper if I ever need to change the tyre. On top of that, I'd need to change by rear wheel gear again! Argh! This time, it costs me a total of 420 bucks! OUCH! It hurts my pocket real bad...

As he was changing the bike parts, we chatted and came to know that they are a family of 4 brothers. This shop is run by the 3rd bro. The one in jurong east is run by the eldest brother and they have one more in Tampines which is run by their youngest siblings. the 2nd Bro works outside, he's not really into this family business.

As we were chatting, someone came into the shop, it was the youngest brother. Haha...and we all had a nicee chat. The mechanic for the shop also returned and they were all commenting about how old this bike was. And how in the 1980s this was a GREAT bike. The youngest bro told me the body is worth keeping as it is made of steel and it is really lasting. However, they all refuse to have me change all the mechanics of the bike such as the gear beside the pedals and the fork unless I am really hardcore into it. They told me if I'd gotten addicted into it, I'll see them in two month's time. I concured and went off with the newly configured bike. The wheel looks nicer and well..it just looks great. Even cycling on it feels different. Smoother and faster!

As I zoomed off, the scorching weather has suddenly started to drizzle. Then it started raining cats and dogs as I continue to cycle sown orchard. By the time I reached the bus, i was really wet. Went into the air conditioned office to dry myself. BAD MISTAKE. Shyaral visited me in the evening with a friend and sortof showed off my place to them. Oh well, then I went to sleep only to wake up next morning about 6AM to feel nothing less than TERRIBLE! Argh~ Quickly took a cab to see the doc and had an MC for the day... Well, that was Friday morning.

Felt better by Friday evening and had a revelation. An idea or another project how to educate the youth or people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. And it has got to do with Cycling. Why not have cycling be a way of life. It is healthy, energy sustainable, less pollution and fun! But the problem is this, in Singapore, cyclist like myself have alot of problem. We are not suppose to cycle on the pedestain walk. And while cycling on the main road, it is pretty dangerous as most motorcyclist don't really notice us cyclist. I guess that's something we need to iron out and hopefully some policies can be made so that it would be safer for cyclist to cycle and hence ablee to enourage more people to cycle instead of driving to safe our environment and be a more healthy lifestyle...

Well, today we had the Docent retreat at Costa Sand function hall. It was an interesting 3.5Hrs of planning on where we are currently and where we will be heading. Tomorrow...it will be more interesting. It will touch on leadership stuffs and how to motivate the team...

Thatz all for now...taZzz

I am free now to continue..for awhile...

2006-01-04T03:33:00.000+08:00

Ha...didn't blog yesterday eh... whatever....(oh ya, i wanted to blog yesterday but realized my work computer did not allow me to login to bogeer..sucks~)

Anyway, today I am on duty later at 5pm and I was suppose to meet my bridgade commander at 11AM but he is still at a meeting. I was suppose to have an interview by him regarding why I intend to leave service. Well, just 30 minutes ago, it has been cancelled because he was busy. (ha...how important can I get? Bah~)

Ok, back to Weng. We did embarked on the second climate change forum. Before that, he told me that he will be doing a follow up report of the forum by having an article on it. And we rallied interested volunteer and met up with the forum speakers one by one and eventually did up a publication on that. It was an interesting journey as he shared with me how the publication should work and how interviews are conducted.

Next was the july forum that we had agreed to work on. But he clearly stated to have me and my volunteers deal with getting sponsorship by writing emails to corporate partners and stuff like that. To be honest, I was hesitant. I really wanted to do MORE than just that. I wanted to be invovled in the planning and stuff like that. He was most of the time overseas and I was most of the time slow in responding because of my reluctance of the job I was allocated. I didn't know why and I didn't really like it. We communicated via email and I can feel that he was really pissed from it because I wasn't quite responsive. However, the forum did carry out but I did not get the money in. It was he who did it. The other contribution I had was just being down as a photographer.

oh ya, and it was because of him I had learnt how to use skype too...haha...cheapest way of communication. And he taught me a lesson from there, "Email cannot communicate properly sometimes. Should have a talk over the phone or in person in order to get the right message and tone across". And indeed I have been practising this till now.

We had a talk after that. Sort of sorted things out. He let me know where I went wrong and he had expected more from me. And I told him I had other expectation as well. This wasn't what I came to him for. Then he detailed out step by step why he did so and what's next. Only then did we manage to come to an understanding. Well, a lesson not gone unlearnt I'd say. So the next forum will be in October where Sir David King, Minister equivilant in a local context, of UK will be down. That will be an even bigger one. And this time I sware to myself I'd make things better. With ECO, I hunt for volunteer coordinator to do this forum, learn from it and to eventually have ECO's own forum on the Environment.

Oh well....think it's a little long now...I will continue about the third forum in the next blog when I have the time. Now it's back to communicating with some UN guys to get the organisation I am in recognized and the effort we do as well. Oh ya, if anyone who ever read my blog wants to know more about this organsiation, please go to http://www.eco-singapore.org.

Tha't all for now...till the next blog...taZ....

A new year...a new resolution?

2006-01-03T03:51:00.000+08:00

It's been a awhile since I last blogged but it wasn't on this site. It was at http://blogs.richdad.com/wilson81.asp . So much for the promise I kept there about one year ago on my last blog. Started with lost of enthusias, but look at it now? It is so not updated until now. Since then, I have done many things in the environmental organisation I have started. This journey has changed, in many ways. As I parted this blog last year March, I have met many people that changed my life. I call them mentors. They may not know it, but I acknowldge it as such. So many lessons learnt on how to hold myself and how to manage people, how to set up a proper system, what is leadership and so much more! Perhaps I would take time to slowly talk about it in the next few days if I continue my disciplined lifestyle of blogging.

That initial blog name was "Journey to financial Freedom with RK". Now, it has turned into a life journey. The past year has been a real turning point. I met tons of people and they have played a part in me to slowly get me to realize life is more than just, being financially free. However, one should not deny that being financially free is important as well. Perhaps I am going to spend the next few blogs talking about what happened for the past year.

One of the few mentors I have met along the way is Mr Ng Weng Hoong. He is the founder and director of his own publication, Energy Asia (http://www.energyaisa.com). Many lessons he has taught me. And the uptmost important one is about promises. I met him at a forum he had organised in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (based in Singapore) and it was talking about climate change. Weng, what we all called him, is very passionate about this. He is happily married to a wife and has seen the world. He has been in the oil and energy industry for the past 30 years at least to see what is dramatically changing. From a journalist in the local leading newspaper, The Straits Times, to Wall Street Journal and to his current publication he have setup, he felt that Singapore government is not doing anything about it and felt very strongly that if we do not prepare ourselves well enough, crsis will hit and we would not even be prepared. he named 3 significant changes that will be coming and slowly, his words are coming true.

Ok, back to meeting him at the forum. Then, I wanted to start a publication within my organisation and I needed help. Hence, I just walked up to him and introduced myself. I told him what we, the organisation, is doing and stated my intentions. He was very welcoming and introduced me to the other speakers of the forum as well. After which, he promised to call me up to discuss further on how we could work on things.

Few days later, he called, as promised. We met up with his wife and has a little tea session by the Singapore River on a Sunday afternoon. It was indeed a nice relaxing day to talk over things. There, I further into details what I do and also to know him better. There, he shared why he was so passionate about Climate change and Energy. He shared his many years of experience and it was very enriching. There I was, downloading as much information as I could from his database. I grabbed as much as I could. And thru the conclusion of the little discussion was to engage in the next forum, 3months away, and from there, we'll see how thing goes.

will continue again on later...need to crash.

My online Resume

2005-11-21T06:21:00.000+08:00

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name
Wilson Ang
Appointment
Founder and President, Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore)
Date Of Birth:
15th July
Location of Birth:
Singapore
Nationality:
Singaporean
[edit]INTRODUCTION

Wilson's efforts can be summarized as a person who:

- Pioneered Environmental Movement among Singapore Youths,
- Founded Centre for holistic environmental learning, and
- Established Singapore as a regional hub for youth environmentalism

[edit]OVERVIEW

Wilson is the founder and President of theN Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), also known as ECO Singapore. The organisation was established on 7 January 2003. It has since expanded with an outreach of empowering more than 2,000 youths and educating up to 60,000 members of the public, all geared to doing their part to protecting the environment. Thou being involved in volunteering work since the age of 9 in various volunteering sectors, his awareness on the environmental sector only got more attention when he attended the ASEAN Youth Forum on the Environment in 2000. Subsequently, his trip to the United Nation’s World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002 inspired him to take on the path of the environment as the focus to make the world a better place for all humanity.

Wilson was a full time air traffic controller in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from 2002 to 2006 while he pursue his passion. Despite the job intensity during his working days, he was still involved in various environmental movements, activities, and projects. This includes the formation ECO Singapore and used it as a platform to reach out to more youth as drivers to educate the general public. He left on 30th April 2006 to pursue his passionate full time.

Having seen the state of the environment in many developed and developing nations, Wilson believes that the only way to create a better planet for human survivability is for every individual to take responsibility of their own action by being more conscious about their daily choices in consumption habits as global citizens. He strongly believes that environment plays a very vital role in society that his life mission can simply be phased into one sentence, “To create and maintain a sustainable lifestyle and culture”. At current, apart from bringing ECO international, he is also building several small green businesses to be able to create green jobs with the goal of creating 10,000 green jobs by the age of 35.

This is his way to try to make a difference and in his words, “… to save the world”.

Personal Blog:
http://www.journey2eunknown.blogspot.com
[edit]ACHIEVEMENTS

ECOFRIEND INAUGURAL AWARDS 2007 RECIPIENT
NGO and Grassroots Volunteers Category
http://www.nea.gov.sg/ecofriend/

DHL YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS for SUSTAINABILITY (YES) AWARDS
Second Runner up for the Award at the national level, in Singapore. The award aims to identify and recognise the contributions of young people who are implementing new and innovative methods and practices to bring about positive social change in their communities. We call these young individuals 'social entrepreneurs'.
http://www.dhl.com/publish/g0/en/about/sustainability/yes_awards.high.html
http://www.dhl.com.sg/publish/sg/en/press/sg_press/2007/270707.high.html

INAUGURAL BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INSPIRATION AWARD WINNER
10 October 2008

British Chamber of Commerce Recognises Singaporean for Outstanding contribution in raising environmental and sustainable development awareness.

Singapore 10th October 2008 – The British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore will recognise the accomplishments of Mr Wilson Ang, founder and President of the Environmental Challenge Organisation (ECO Singapore), with its inaugural Inspiration Award to be given at the annual British Business Awards Gala Dinner to be held at the Shangri-La Hotel on the 14th October 2008.

The British Chamber of Commerce Inspiration Award recognises thought-leaders within the Singapore community that have demonstrated leadership in raising awareness for Corporate Social Responsibility issues. The inaugural 2008 award focuses on sustainable development and environmental awareness, the topic of the Chamber’s CSR Seminar to be held on the morning of the 14th October 2008.

Mr. Wilson Ang will receive the award for his demonstrated thought-leadership, his success in raising awareness for several environmental issues and for his achievements with his numerous initiatives.

President of the British Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Terry O’Conner commented, “Wilson stands out as an example for the whole community. He is a young man who has taken the lead, engaged and encouraged society to really step back and be conscious of our daily choices. The British Chamber of Commerce is honoured to recognise his outstanding achievements and hopes this award will drive him and others like him to greater successes.”

Mr. Wilson Ang will receive the award at the British Business Awards Gala Dinner held on the 14th October 2008. Launched by the British Chamber of Commerce in 1999, the British Business Awards annually recognises outstanding British businesses in Singapore and Singapore businesses with a significant U.K. link. This year’s awards dinner will be graced by Guest of Honour Alderman David Lewis, the Lord Mayor of the City of London. who will address the audience on the current status of the global financial markets. Also present as a guest speaker will be Dato' Justin Leong, Head of Strategic Investment &Corporate Affairs for The Genting Group.
The British Chamber of Commerce is recognised as an authoritative voice of International Business in Singapore. Founded in 1954, the Chamber has a long and proud history providing a unique platform for building networks, connecting business and creating opportunities. www.britcham.org.sg

[edit]INVOLVEMENTS (NATIONAL)

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE ORGANISATION (SINGAPORE)
Since 7th January 2003
A group of youth volunteers who feel there is a lack of exposure and environmental protection action in Singapore and hence came together to form this new and unique organization. We aim to educate the public as much as possible on environmental awareness through unique, innovative and creative ideas to get the maximum exposure to our audience and ultimately be able to integrate it into everyone's daily lifestyle. This by youth for youth organisation fully run by volunteers!
ECO aims to plant the seed of sustainable development in our future leaders through interesting and empowering activities to create a better world to live in for the many more future generations to come. ECO is a vehicle for them to express their interest/passion on environmental issues freely both locally as well as internationally. To get our youth voice heard out there. And also a platform to allow them to formulate activities to affect more people to do the same.
For more information on the organisation, go to http://www.eco-singapore.org

SINGAPORE ZOO VOLUNTEER DOCENT
Since 2003
Perform monthly duties to educate public and clarify on the myth and believes of animals and their characteristics. Engage public to appreciate animals and wildlife and also promote the message of conservation.

SINGAPORE ZOO VOLUNTEER DOCENT RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING HEAD
Since 2004
Organize publicity for the annual recruitment of new volunteers to be a part of the Docent. Garners the various stations support and expertise within the Docent, the Zoo and Night Safari to plan and execute of the volunteer training program. The training program is made up of 12 weeks held on every Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

COORDINATE ECO TRAIL AS PART OF GIVING TREE @ NORTH EAST 2005
December 2005
Open Field Near Tampines MRT
ECO, together with Heartware Network, will be co-organising the Celebration Tree @ North East 2005. In particular, on efforts to coordinate with most of the local environmental groups for this upcoming “ECO Trail” in December 2005. ECO Trail aims to propagate messages of environmental issue holistically. Where it will allows us to raise public awareness and motivate the public to play a part in the conservation of the environment.
ECO Trail has been divided mainly into 2 major segments. The first segment is the outdoor “ECO Art Park” where we have brought in various sculptures made of recycled materials to be exhibited. There, we have also included Christmas tree sculptures done up by schools during an “Adopt-A-Tree” competition prior to the event where student compete with their creative juices in creating the best recyclable Christmas Tree!
The second segment is an indoor exhibition where 15 environmental groups have come together for the first time to exhibit for a month long event. They will present who they are, what are the efforts they have contributed for the environment. More importantly, how the public can get themselves involved. To gear up the public’s interest, the exhibit is done up as a walk through style where the public would walk through these exhibits to find out more about the organisations and the exhibit will end with a mini theatrette where all these organisations’ effort are showcased.
The 15 environmental groups that are involved for this event were:
1. Animal Concerns Research & Education Society - ACRES
2. Blue Water Volunteers - BWV
3. ECO 4 the World - E4W
4. Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore) - ECO
5. Raffles Museum ToddyCats! - RMBR
6. Restroom Association - RAS
7. Nature Society of Singapore - NSS
8. Nature Trekker - NT
9. Scholastic Environmental Fund - SEF
10. Singapore Environmental Council - SEC
11. Singapore Zoological Garden Docents - SZGD
12. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - SPCA
13. Sunny Island Tree Climbers - SITC
14. Vegetarian Society - VSS
15. Waterway Watch Society - WWS
Further intentions are to bring the ECO trail exhibition to travel around Singapore and enhance it with audio, visual and kinesthetic medium to enhance the youth learning experience.

INITIATED AND EDITED THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF EXPRESS! E-MAGAZINE
September 2005
EXPRESS! is a quarterly electronic newsletter produced by ECO. The e-magazine covers a wide range of topics ranging from biodiversity, climate change, energy, population, poverty, agriculture, pollution, right down to health and sanitation. It aims to be the environmental lifestyle magazine.
This publication is circulated amongst other Environmental as well as Youth Non-governmental and non-for-profit organisations both locally and globally. Circulations are also made to corporate partners and government agencies.
The newsletter is still in the works of refining it’s content before we finally go into print version. There, it will be placed at orchard area as free magazines.
The publications can be downloaded at:
http://www.eco-singapore.org/

ENERGYASIA SECOND CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM
July 2005
Assisted EnergyAsia to do a forum on climate change. The forum aims to bring climate change issues closer to ground and promote environmental awareness. Keynote speaker was Professor Colin Humphreys from University of Cambridge.

ENERGYASIA THIRD CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM
October 2005
Partnered EnergyAsia to do their 3rd Climate Change Forum where the keynote speaker was Sir David King, A ministerial equivalent that advice Tony Blair in his Climate Change policies. Coordinated with SMU and the SMU Verts to organized the forum and invite various environment local environment group and corporate partners to attend.

ASSIST ASSOC PROFESSOR IKEDA MITSUHIRO IN HIS RESEARCH ON SOUTH EAST ASIA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
September 2005
Assoc Professor Ikeda came to Singapore to do a study on the local education efforts on environmental awareness. Coordination was done with as much environmental groups as possible during his one week stay to show case their efforts and concerns towards environmental awareness.
During his second visit, facilitation was done to help him gather more information and paper on the local education institutes’ method of environmental education.
His focus is on Singapore where his other team members study on Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines. They will collate the report and submit it to the Japanese Ministry of Education for review and hope it can help improve the environmental education further in Japan. The paper will be done by June 2006.

TAKING OVER YOUTH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK
March 2006
Other than the passion to promote awareness amongst youth 17 to 27 with Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), there is a need for education for youth 16 and below. Realizing the existence of the Youth Environment Network (YEN) which had went dormant about four years ago, an initiative to meet up with the existing YEN members was arranged and the proposal to take over the baton of reviving and leading YEN was brought up and agreed upon.
YEN is now planning to have its re-launch somewhere in June, Earth Day.

The “ECO Youth Champions” Initiative for National Day Parade 2006
August 2006
Background
At almost every major outdoor event in Singapore, spectators and performers alike generally do not consider maintaining the cleanliness of the event venues as one of their top priorities. Often, after the show or the activity has ended, Singaporeans leave the event premises in filthy and unsightly conditions. To combat such irresponsible behaviour, ECO Singapore has identified Singaporean youth as key agents of cultivating proper environmental behaviour in Singaporeans.
“ECO Youth Champions” Initiative
As the future stakeholders of Singapore, our youth should and would want a clean and green future in which to live, work and play. Such a motivation should make them concerned about the cleanliness of Singapore’s private and public spaces. To help Singaporean youth crystallise their environmental concern into meaningful actions, ECO Singapore has developed the “ECO Youth Champions” initiative. This initiative will mobilise Singaporean youth to make sure that their family members and the public dispose of their trash properly in major outdoor events. The “ECO Youth Champions” initiative will thus empower our youth to directly influence their families and the public to do their part in protecting our environment.
ECO Youth Champions at National Day Parade 2006
The ECO Youth Champions will make their first appearance at a major outdoor event in Singapore at one of the most celebrated events of the year, the National Day Parade 2006. At NDP06, the ECO Youth Champions will have the chance to share with approximately 60,000 spectators and 6,000 performers the importance of keeping our public spaces clean. During the celebrations, the ECO Youth Champions will constantly patrol the National Stadium and encourage spectators to dispose of their own waste in the trash bags provided in their goody bags.

MY SCHOOL SHINES: LITTER FREE COMMUNITY
Partnered with SW CDC to tackle on Litter Free Environment under their My School Shines initiative. Reaching out to 25 schools. And also initiated the No Cleaners Week in the schools who signed up for the program. March to July 2007

COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS WITH BEN & JERRY'S
Promoting Climate change on Cone Free Day (17th April 2007) and for the rest of the year to use their outlet as an education store for consumers to learn how each can do their part to combat global warming.

SPEAKER FOR MAC DONALDS’ YOUTH INSPIRATION SERIES ON VOLUNTEERISM
April 2006
http://www.heartware.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=222&Itemid=51

SPEAKER ON “MY CHOICE OF LIFE” AT SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE FOR YEAR ONE STUDENTS
February 2006

ORGANISER OF THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL YOUTH ENVIRONMENT FORUM (NYEF)
2nd September 2006
Check out http://www.eco-singapore.org/forum

FACILITATOR FOR SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR (SIIA) UNIVERSITY SEMINAR 2006 “UNDERSTANDING ASEAN TODAY TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE”
9th September
Facilitator for the breakout session on "The Role of Youth in Raising Awareness on Environmental Sustainability".

COORDINATOR FOR “THE CAMPAIGN 4 AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”
26th October 2006 onwards
Check out http://www.eco-singapore.org/campaign/ait

NGO REPRESENTATIVE ON SINGAPORE PACKAGING AGREEMENT GOVERNING BOARD
http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=2905

POLICY DISCUSSION: MAKING SENSE OF CHANGING CLIMATE
8th December 2007
Singapore
Panellist
Organised by: People's Association

An indepth discussion of policy and various stakeholders on how to make the best financial sense out of the changing climate.
Guest Of Honor:
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim
Minister for the Environment & Water Resources, MP for Jalan Besar GRC and Adviser to Kolam Ayer GROs

Mr Lee Tzu Yang
Vice-President, Asia Pacific, Shell Global Solutions, and Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore

Mr Wilson Ang
President, Environmental Challenge Singapore

http://www.paym.org.sg/1222614208052.html

Singapore Feedback Unit: REACH Policy Study Workgroup on the Physical And Environmental Sustainbility Committee Member 2007 - 2009
Policy study work group on the given topic to garner ground feedback to the bills to be passed in the cabinent and also seek changes to existing bills.

INSPIRED AND MENTORED THE [MINUS]PLASTIC CAMPAIGN
12th January 2008
A youth-for-youth campaign to encourage youth to reduce (the first among the 3Rs) their plastic usage and instill the habit in them while aiming to amplify the appreciation of responsible consumerism therefore leading to a sustainable lifestyle. The campaign is developed as part of on-going efforts to address a fundamental concern in Singapore – excessive plastic usage.
This final-year project by three undergraduates from the Nanyang Technological University Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information is proudly supported by Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore).
For more information on the organisation, go to http://www.minusplastic.youth.sg

INSPIRED AND MENTORED THE "THINGS YOU CAN DO" CAMPAIGN
"Things You Can Do" is a massive social campaign that is first of its kind — a project that is entirely initiated by youth for youth. The campaign is organized by Raffles One Earth (the environmental club of Raffles Junior College) and mentored by the Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), also known as ECO Singapore.

INSPIRED AND MENTORED THE EARTH HOUR SINGAPORE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT
"Earth Hour Singapore" in 2008 is a massive grassroots initiative that started in Sydney in 2007. Going global in 2008, he approached WWF Singapore to seek the possibility of working on a grassroots movement, which was then agreed upon. With a team of young volunteers, they pushed forth the grassroots movement which eventually had a key event held in Punggol Community Club that brought together 300 youth to go to 10,000 household to spread the message of Earth Hour and energy conservation.
A one stop blog with step-by-step guide on how individuals can play a role:
http://www.earthhoursingapore.blogspot.com

KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR HARMONY @ SENJA EARTH DAY SHARING CONFERENCE
18th April 2008
The Environmental Conference is in conjunction with West Spring Secondary school's Earth Day Celebrations. The objective of the Conference was to provide a platform for sharing of good practices in environmental education and programmes in schools. Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District was the Guest of Honour and Mr Liang Eng Hwa, MP for Holland-Bt Timah GRC was the special guest. The Keynote Speaker was Mr Wilson Ang from ECO Singapore. 150 Principals, Vice-Principals, teachers and pupils representing 71 schools from the North and West Zones attended the conference. Teachers and pupils of Bt Panjang Government High and CHIJ(Our Lady Queen of Peace) shared their good practices. Both had won the Sustained Green Audit (Lotus) Award.

INSPIRED AND MENTORED THE DOUBLE A RE-LIVE @ ATRIUM
5th June 2008 - 15th June 2008
Launched on World Environment Day, June 5, 2008, by Mr. Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and has pulled together more than 1,000 pledges to practise alternative modes of transport and the “7 Easy Green Habits”.

The Double A-sponsored carnival is the largest collaboration between students, governmental and non-governmental organisations and the corporate sector in Singapore. The event was co-organised by students from Earthlink NTU, RJC One Earth, SMU Verts and Youth Connection X. The purpose of the event was to educate and inform the public on the importance of leading environmentally sustainable lifestyles through a wide variety of events and activities.

One of the key attractions, the Bike-a-thon, managed to clock up a total of 22,000 km on stationary bicycles. For the equivalent distance travelled, an average car would have emitted 4,400 kg of CO2. The objective of this event was to gain public support for more eco-friendly modes of transports like cycling through participation. In addition, the carnival saw two Singapore Book of Records challenges broken. Participants managed to set new records for the longest distance travelled on stationary bicycles for six and 12 hours.

According to Mr Xu Yang, 24, Director for Bike-a-thon, “We hope that the Bike-a-thon experience has taught people in Singapore to make more informed choices of the various modes of transport they use everyday. I am glad that the people who took part walked away with this valuable message”.

Another highlight of the carnival was the Green Mile walk which promoted another eco-friendly transport alternative. About 100 participants took part in the 5.5 km walk on June 8, Sunday.

“Organising this walk was very satisfying as it allowed me to share with the participants the many green conservation areas in Singapore’s central district where one can escape to at anytime of the day,” said Ms. Shauna Khoo, Director of the Green Mile walk.

“This is the first time that such a large-scale activity has been initiated and organised by young people,” said Mr. Jeevaneswaran Ramoo, Project Chairman of Double A RE-live! @ Atrium. “It went well with support from several partners in both the public and private sectors. Given the success of the outreach for this event, we hope to hold it again in coming years”

The event has reached out to more than 10,000 members of the public throughout the 11 days of the carnival with events such as a bazaar, contests and games.

YOUTHQUAKE 3: “The Environment - Has Singapore done enough?”
13th July 2008
Singapore
Guests Speaker
Website: http://www.wpyouth.sg/youth/2008/07/youthquake-forum-the-environment-has-singapore-done-enough/

CREATED ECOSPHERE: ECO SINGAPORE'S DOWNTOWN YOUTH ENTERPRISE HUB
August 2008 onwards
Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), or ECO Singapore, Singapore’s only youth focussed environmental organisation, with the creation of the ECOSphere.

The ECOSphere, located at Chye Sing Building along Beach Road, will be a centre where start-up enterprises are given the opportunity to operate from a prime downtown location with many added business benefits like internet access and utilities thrown in free of charge; and all this at a low monthly cost.

“As a Non-Governmental Organisation, ECO Singapore benefited greatly from governmental support, especially during its formative years, to reach where we are. We now want to contribute back and help youths during their enterprise fledging years. Our youth have the energy, enterprise and determination to succeed. We all sometimes only need a little help to get on their feet before we can start running” says Mr Wilson Ang, President and Founder of ECO Singapore.

“Our intention is to have the ECOSphere filled with like-minded enterprising young people abuzz with ideas and positive energy, while conducting business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner“.

Securing one of the exclusive office spaces at this prime location, though, does not come easy. Conditions include being under 35 years of age, having an environmentally sustainable business model, and committing to conducting socially responsible activities or events at least once a year. This is in keeping with ECO Singapore’s mission of promoting a mindset of environmental sustainability in youths. Also, since the spirit of the scheme is to assist start-ups, entities may only harbour at the ECOSphere for a maximum of two years.

“This is to allow as many start-ups as possible to benefit from the ECOSphere”.

So what’s the most important criteria for getting a spot at the ECOSphere? “People make the world a better place, happy people breed a happy environment, and a happy environment generates happiness and success easily. We therefore seek happy people with a positive outlook at our ECOSphere family”.

http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2008/10/non-profit-organisation-helps-young.html

2ND REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR GRASSROOTS LEADER
13th September 2008
Changkat Community Club, Tampines
Speaker on "Individual Actions"
Organised by: North East Community District Committee (NE CDC) and National Environment Agency North East Regional Office

NE CDC and NEA NE Office will be organizing the 2nd North East regional Workshop on Climate Change on 13 Sep 2008. GOH for this event will be Ms Irene Ng MP for Tampines GRC & Advisor to Tampines Changkat. There will be a about 300 Grassroot leaders attending this workshop.

The objective is to promote environmental sustainability and to share the knowledge on global warming, climate change and its effect to the environment. We are sourcing for speakers on the above subject on Global warming/climate change and its effect to the Environment. We are looking towards to your esteemed organization for speakers on this subject matter and we would like to engage them for this forum. The objective of this forum is to equipped the Grassroots leaders on climate change and its effect to the environment.

Social Entrepreneurship Forum
20th November 2008
Singapore
Invited Speaker and Panellist
Organised by: NUS Business School Alumni Association

In line with Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 (GEW’08), NUS Business School Alumni Association will host a forum featuring several prominent social entrepreneurs and various companies that are active in corporate social responsibility projects. At the forum, various speakers will share with us their rich experiences in running or partnering social enterprises, and how such social enterprises or collaborations enrich the lives of the less privileged.

[edit]INVOLVEMENTS (INTERNATIONAL)

SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BY UNITED NATIONS
September 2002
Johannesburg Summit 2002 – the World Summit on Sustainable Development –in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002. The Summit was held in the Sandton Convention Centre, just outside Johannesburg. A non-governmental forum took place at the nearby NASREC Centre and numerous other parallel events also took place around Johannesburg at the same time.
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development. But the best strategies are only as good as their implementation. Ten years later, the Johannesburg Summit presents an exciting opportunity for today's leaders to adopt concrete steps and identify quantifiable targets for better implementing Agenda 21.
The summit brought together tens of thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups to focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
Broad participation and inclusiveness are key to the success of sustainable development. All sectors of society have a role to play in building a future in which global resources are protected, and prosperity and health are within reach for all of the world's citizens. Therefore, in addition to governments, there was active participation at the Summit by representatives from business and industry, children and youth, farmers, indigenous people, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, scientific and technological communities, women and workers and trade unions. These represent the Major Groups identified in Agenda 21.

SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ASIA REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON “YOUTH FOR ENVIRONMENT” BY THE COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PROGRAM (CYP)
August 2003
The Asia Regional Workshop on “Youth for Environment” was held in Ahmedabad , India, from 11th August 2003 to 14th August 2003. The outline of the workshop’s programmes and initiatives deals with countries in South East Asia and South Asia to empower young people there to become responsible citizens of their countries. Sustainable Development as defined by CYP Asia Centre means combining growth with environment concerns. The role of women and young people to conserve the environment was also stressed upon during the workshop.

FORMING AND HOLDING SECRETARIAT OF THE ASIA YOUTH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK (AYEN)
April 2004
The vision of the network is;
- To achieve Sustainable Development through youth participation at all levels.
- To achieve sustainability with youth as partners in development
- To achieve sustainability in all aspect of developments
- To achieve sustainable development
- To achieve sustainable development in Asia
- Socially equitable, and environmentally responsible development
The mission of the network is to establish a model example of sustainable development by young Asians
The objectives of the network are;
1. Networking and mobilization
2. Capacity building
3. Dissemination of best practices
4. Documentation
5. Maintain roster of experts
Participating countries of AYEN are:
- Bangladesh
- Brunei Darussalam
- India
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
Since then, there was a conference for the existing AYEN country coordinator to meet up in April 2005 to discuss strategically on the direction of the network and knowledge sharing.
AYEN is recognized by the participating countries’ youth ministries and the Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP). AYEN is in the mist of getting recognition by the United Nation Environment Protection (UNEP).
AYEN is also in the mist of getting country representatives from China, Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, YOUTH EXPEDITION PROGRAM ON POST TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS AND TURTLE CONSERVATION IN SRI LANKA
October 2005
We went to one of the Tsunami badly hit town, Kosgoda, Sri Lanka. There, we got engaged in a handful of activities. One of which is to assist those staying in slumps and temporary houses to fill some furniture. We made cabinets and beds for those who needed them. Prior to that, we made rounds to every single household to assess the situation and decided on the total amount of beds and cabinets that was required to be built.
We carried out beach clean up at the beach and also did mangrove replanting on the coasts. At a nearby old run down school, we refurbished the interior of the school, brought in old books form Singapore and did a handful of murals on turtles on the wall of the library to promote the awareness and how beautiful these creatures were.
Nightly, we followed the local NGO to do patrol on the coast to look out for illegal egg poachers and also locate any turtles that comes up to lay their eggs. We had the chance to see one turtle came up the shore and we assisted in taking the dimension of the turtle for recoding purposes.

SINGAPORE YOUTH DELEGATION FOR THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
MAY 2006
Following up from the World Summit on sustainable Development in 2002. The Division for Sustainable Development provides leadership and is an authoritative source of expertise within the United Nations system on sustainable development. It promotes sustainable development as the substantive secretariat to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and through technical cooperation and capacity building at international, regional and national levels. The context for the Division’s work is the implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Barbados Programme of Action for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
This year, we manage to get the accreditation to send youth delegation down. Wilson led the International Affairs team of 4 that has been formed for this year’s conference. In order to garner a better representative position, a workshop was held for interested individuals and NGOs to raised their concerns on this year’s themes and also follow up with online discussion to form up a local draft for the delegation.
Also through this, we manage to get the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to send their official delegation team and proposed to recognize us as official Singapore Youth delegates in the long run. So we can send teams down every year consisting of interested individuals as well as NGOs to get the local youth more exposed to global issues and be able to have the opportunity to take on leadership role in the global arena.

REPRESENTED SINGAPORE AT MELEKA INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DIALOGUE (MIYD) ORGANISED BY THE WORLD YOUTH ALLIANCE (WAY)
June 2006

INAUGURAL ASEAN YOUTH CAUCUS SINGAPORE DELEGATE
Singapore Delegation Leader
http://ammy.youth.sg/?page_id=12

MEMBER OF GCAP CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING GROUP
GCAP SENCA REPRESENTATIVE
The GCAP national coalitions/platforms are primarily made of NGOs, social movements and other civil society groups (including women, faith, youth, unions among others). They focus on issues of international aid, trade justice, debt relief, gender equality and women’s rights and governance and public accountability. However, many groups within GCAP have experience of working on issues directly relevant to climate change including agriculture, adaptation, fishing, environmental conservation and forestry management.
In recognition of the impact climate change is already having on the world’s poorest and most marginalized people, and the growing impact on the work of many organisations within the Global Call, the GCAP global assembly in Montevideo in May 2007 agreed unanimously to add climate change to the political declaration along with the 5 key political asks articulated around trade, aid, governance and public accountability, debt relief and gender equality and women’s rights.

ASIAN COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE: Strengthening Role of Civil Society and Media in Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Mitigation
23rd April 2008 - 25th April 2008
Chennai, India
Speaker and Resource Person on Climate Adaptation & Risks Reduction
Seven of the world’s ten most populous countries are in Asia. Economies of developing Asian countries are growing, often at a high rate. However, poverty and inequitable development are still prevalent in most Asian countries and migration accounts for 64 per cent of urban growth. Asian countries now have the additional challenge of formulating long-term development policies for a changing climate. In this context, the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) together with the Commonwealth Foundation proposes to organise a three-day Asian Commonwealth Conference on Climate Change from 23 - 25 April, 2008, in Chennai, India.

The event will raise regional awareness and enhance civil society’s capacity for innovative climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation. It will focus on the role of civil society organisations and media personnel in communicating and promoting adaptation practice at the grassroots level. The conference will bring climate change stakeholders including policymakers, local and national civil society organisations, scientific community, academia, development practitioners, environmentalists, industrialists, businesspeople and media personnel, to a common platform where they will share their successes and challenges. The specific objectives of the event include:

1. Strengthen awareness regarding climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation.
2. Enhance adaptation and risk reduction practices at the community and school level using local resources and knowledge.
3. Explore the role of the media in communicating climate change and disasters.
4. Explore effective methods to mobilise climate change solutions and adaptation strategies at the grassroots, utilising existing resources.
5. Enhance the capacity of participants to identify priorities and effect change in their own countries and communities
6. Integrate youth and gender dimensions into future strategies

The conference aims to bring together about fifty key individuals from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam, as well as key regional resource persons. The media will be represented by Asian members of the Commonwealth Press Union, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association and the Commonwealth Journalists Association. They will be encouraged to report on case studies from the grassroots and engage with civil society organisations to raise awareness of climate change and disasters and ways to mitigate negative consequences. Civil society will be represented by two organisations from each Commonwealth Asian country.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & GREEN OLYMPICS
The Third Conference of UN-NGO-IRENE/ASIA-PACIFIC
28rd April 2008 - 30th April 2008
Beijing, China
Moderator on: NGOs and Green Olympics
People are becoming more environmentally conscious, and showing great interest in maintaining the greenness of the Olympic Games. What are the overall impacts of the Olympics on the sustainable development and environmental protection? It has become one of the priorities as for how to ensure sustainable economic and social development in harmony with natural and ecological environment in the preparations and operation of the Olympics, and even beyond. Hence, Green Olympics has been taken as one of the three themes of Beijing Olympic Games.

Chinese NGOs working on environmental protection take active part in promoting the concept of Green Olympics. Some NGO leaders have been invited to be consultants to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad, raising proposals directly to the authorities. Many more organize various activities to raise the public awareness of environment and enrich the contents of Green Olympics throughout the whole society. Panellists will introduce their success stories on Green Olympics. Interactive discussions will be carried out to share experience and reinforce synergies.

Panellists:

1. Mr. Huang Haoming, SG of China Association for NGO Cooperation

2. Mrs. Nittaya Vairojanavong, National Council of Women of Thailand

3. Mr. Zhao Yixin, President of the General Council of Beijing Environmental Protection Foundation

4. Mr. Daniel J. Dudek, Environment Protection Foundation, USA

2nd INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CONFERENCE “CLIMATE CHANGE AS A CHALLENGE FOR POVERTY REDUCTION”
30th May 2008 - 31st May 2008
Bonn, Germany
Speaker and Resource Person on behalf of GCAP
Organised by: Germanwatch in cooperation with Heinrich Böll Foundation NRW, Bread for the World, German Development Institute, Die Klima-Allianz, Church Development Service (EED), Jugendbündnis Zukunftsenergie

Financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Stiftung für internationale Begegnung of the Sparkasse in Bonn

The consequences of climate change are of ever increasing importance for development politics. Climate change poses a significant threat to the goals of the fight against poverty. The UN negotiations for a new global climate change treaty are gaining momentum, but without the consideration of the development politics' perspective an equitable climate treaty is impossible.

In the run-up to the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (2-13 June 2008) Germanwatch and the Heinrich Boell Foundation (in cooperation with other partners) will hold on the 30 May and the 31 May an international conference on climate change and poverty reduction. The conference will serve as a forum for opinion and information exchange, and will send a signal to the UN Climate Negotiations: the path to a just Climate Treaty must be made clear.

ASIAN YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT
16th July 2008 - 19th July 2008
Hong Kong
Guests Speaker and Special Panelist on Climate Change and the Role of Asian Youth
Workshop Speaker: Leadership Building Skills
Organised by: Hong Kong University
Website: http://www.hkclimatechangecoalition.org/aycs08/

ASEAN+3 Public Youth Forum @ SMU
1st August 2008
Singapore
Guests Speaker and Panelist
Topic: Topic: Towards realising sustainable development : A Youth’s Story
Event Partners: National Youth Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECO Singapore

The ASEAN+3 Public Forum segment of this 2-day ASEAN+3 Youth Forum program intends to outreach to the greater part of the vibrant youth population in Singapore. Attaining sustainable development for ASEAN requires the concerted effort of all ASEAN citizens and its strategic partners and so we call upon YOU to rise and take ownership of your role as a key stakeholder in this important process. This forum will allow you to draw upon the knowledge and insights of practitioners of sustainable development, and to envision possibilities and synthesize courses of action which can help us to create together a successful and viable ASEAN future.
The forum will holistically explore sustainable development at the regional and intergovernmental level, how it can be integrated successfully into the economy at a local level and finally a glimpse into the adventures of an experienced youth activist who has long been championing the fight for sustainable future.

Website: http://www.aseanyouthfestival.org/PROyouthforumSMU.html

REGIONAL COMMONWEALTH ROUND TABLE ON
"STRENGTHENING ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND MEDIA IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION IN ASIA"
18th August 2008 - 19th August 2008
Pondicherry, India
Panelist
Organised by: The Commonwealth Foundation and All India Disaster Mitigation Institute

As a follow-up to the “Asian Commonwealth Conference on Climate Change: Strengthening Role of Civil Society and Media in Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Mitigation” held in Chennai earlier this year, the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) together with the Commonwealth Foundation propose to organise a two-day Regional Commonwealth Round Table on Climate Change and Disaster Mitigation from August 18-19, 2008 in Pondicherry, India.

The event will raise regional awareness and enhance civil society’s capacity alongwith media for innovative climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation. It will focus on the role of civil society organisations and media personnel in communicating and promoting adaptation practice at the grassroots level. The round table will bring climate change stakeholders including policymakers, local and national civil society organisations, academia, development practitioners, and media personnel, to a common platform where they will share their successes and challenges. The specific objectives of the event include:

1. Discuss implications of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change for Asia;
2. Enhance adaptation and risk reduction practices at the community and school level using local resources and knowledge;
3. Formulate concepts towards School Safety and Risk Reduction Strategies in Asian countries;
4. Develop an agenda for a workshop/seminar by the Asian network to be held during the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) in Malaysia in June 2009;
5. Discuss Commodity Risk in Asia to discuss the outcomes in the upcoming Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting in St. Lucia; and
6. Formalise Terms of Reference for a Steering Committee to lead on the Pan-Commonwealth Civil Society and Media Network on Climate and Disaster Risk in Asia.

The conference aims to bring together about key individuals from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Maldives and Bangladesh as well as key regional resource persons. Participants will be represented by two organisations from each Commonwealth Asian country.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING: DEVELOPING CLIMATE SOLUTION
20th August 2008 - 29th August 2008
Bogor, Indonesia
Trainer
Organised by: British Council

Project Management and Leadership Training is part of British Council’s Climate Cool programme which aims to expand and strengthen the network of young leaders making a direct impact on their communities across the East Asia.

The course is a capacity building programme consists of the leadership and project management skills training which will be delivered through presentations, workshops and cultural activities. The programme will be held in 24 to 29 August 2008 in Indonesia and gathering young leaders from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Participants will come with project concepts as required in the online application form and the training will help them develop their concepts into workable projects. There is an expectation that the projects will be implemented in their home countries on their return. A small grant will be provided to participants with best projects when matching funding is available.

The objectives of the programme are:
• To share experience and views of the climate issues facing the region
• To deliver capacity building in project management
• To develop individual project proposals which are then submitted to the scrutiny of experts
• To learn how to develop successful bids.

CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATION ON 2008 COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTER MEETING (CFMM)
Theme: The Implication of High Food and Energy Prices For Economic Management
28th September 2008 - 29th September 2008
Islamabad, Pakistan
Country Representative
Organised by: The Commonwealth Foundation and The Pattan Development Organisation

The recent surge in prices of food and energy commodities has affected almost everybody of all countries but differentially. The poorest and the most vulnerable are suffering the most and a large majority of them live in the developing countries. The price surge has also badly affected the import bills of these countries. The hungry people were seen protesting on the streets in some countries. It has shaken the world in so many ways.

As the civil society organizations work closely with the marginalized and poor people, they must stand and channalize opinions and anger of the starving people and inform their respective governments about it.

The Commonwealth Foundation brought the representatives and leaders of civil society organizations from various CW countries in Castries, St Lucia from 8 to 10 July 2008 in order to “assess the impact of the food and energy crisis on achieving the MDGs, review the impact of the commodity crisis on the poor, mobilize civil society opinion and build consensus in advance of the CFMM, and discuss what role we can play to make a meaningful impact on sustainable development and poverty reduction through commodity sector development.”

The objectives of the meeting are:

•To adopt and endorse the statement of the St. Lucia consultative meeting of civil society organizations of the commonwealth countries, and
•To make the governments of the commonwealth countries, the public and the media aware of civil society position on food and energy crises prior to the meeting of the finance ministers of commonwealth countries in October 2008.

We strive to achieve a more informed advocacy and well-prepared CSOs’ engagement with the Asian governments before and during the finance ministers’ meeting in St. Lucia.
Prior to the Islamabad meeting each participant will be requested to study the CSOs’ statement and present a brief on the theme. At the end of the consultative meeting, they would take up the issue in their respective countries.

7th ASIA EUROPE PEOPLE'S FORUM
13th October 2008 - 15th October 2008
Hong Kong
Invited Guests
Organised by: China NGO Network For International Exchanges (CNIE)

With the theme of “For Social and Ecological Justice ”, AEPF 7 is dedicated to increasing understanding and solidarity between the peoples of Asia and Europe and to promoting harmony, peace and development of the two regions.
http://www.aepf7.org.cn

TRAINING PROGRAMME: PROJECT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & SETTING UP AND ORGANISATION
16th October 2008 - 18th October 2008
Hong Kong
Trainer
Organised by: Hong Kong Climate Change Coalition

The course is a capacity building programme consists of the leadership and project management skills training which will be delivered through presentations, workshops and cultural activities.

Participants will come with project concepts as required in the online application form and the training will help them develop their concepts into workable projects. There is an expectation that the projects will be implemented in their home countries on their return. A small grant will be provided to participants with best projects when matching funding is available.

UNFCCC 14th Conference Of Parties
1st December 2008 to 12th December 2008
Poznan, Poland
Representative of Non-Governmental Organisation
Organised by: United Nations

The United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Poznań ended on Saturday, 13 December. Over eleven thousand participants attended the Poznań meeting, which both advanced international cooperation on a future climate change regime and brought progress on key issues. “We now have a much clearer sense of where we need to go in designing an outcome which will spell out the commitments of developed countries, the financial support required and the institutions that will deliver that support as part of the Copenhagen outcome,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Yvo de Boer.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING: DEVELOPING CLIMATE SOLUTION
10th March 2009 - 15th March 2009
Shonan Village, Japan
Consultant/Trainer
Organised by: British Council

Project Management and Leadership Training is part of British Council’s Climate Cool programme which aims to expand and strengthen the network of young leaders making a direct impact on their communities across the East Asia.

The course is a capacity building programme consists of the leadership and project management skills training which will be delivered through presentations, workshops and cultural activities. The programme will be held in 24 to 29 August 2008 in Indonesia and gathering young leaders from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Participants will come with project concepts as required in the online application form and the training will help them develop their concepts into workable projects. There is an expectation that the projects will be implemented in their home countries on their return. A small grant will be provided to participants with best projects when matching funding is available.

The objectives of the programme are:
• To share experience and views of the climate issues facing the region
• To deliver capacity building in project management
• To develop individual project proposals which are then submitted to the scrutiny of experts
• To learn how to develop successful bids.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CLIMATE MOVEMENT
Primary Focal Point

The Youth constituency establishes two focal points to the UNFCCC secretariat: one each from the global North and global South. Gender considerations are taken into account when selecting the two focal points. Focal points will be elected through a global web voting system, similar to the process undertaken for youth focal points under the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Focal points shall liaise with the UNFCCC secretariat. The main tasks of the focal points are:
· Dissemination of information from the UNFCCC secretariat to the international youth delegation;
· Consolidation and transmission of information from the constituency members to the UNFCCC secretariat;
· Act as a watchdog in relation to the observance of decision-making processes;
· Promote the Code of Conduct to the youth caucus;
· Liaise with the secretariat at UNFCCC sessions;
· Develop continuity processes for transition year-to-year.

http://sites.google.com/site/unfcccyoungo/

Danamon Young Leaders Award: Young Leaders Training on Climate Project Management & Leadership
10th July 2009 - 12th July 2009
Bogor, Indonesia
Trainer & Team Coach
Organised by: Danamon Bank

The objectives of the programme are:
• To share experience and views of the climate issues facing the region
• To deliver capacity building in project management and Social Entrepreneurship
• To develop individual project proposals which are then submitted to the scrutiny of experts

[edit]MEDIA / INTERVIEW / FEATURE

INTERVIEWS BY RSI (Chinese Channel)
http://www.rsi.sg/chinese/podcast_c/view/20060804172600/1/gb/.html
LOOK UNDER:
11-08-2006 (about the "Bag It to Win It" event during NDP)
10-11-2006 (about "Clean and Green Week 2006")
30-03-2007 (about "No Cleaners Week")

NVPC Press Release on NDP2006
http://www.cip.org.sg/vscope/viewarticle.asp?aid=701

MAC DONALDS' INSPIRATION TALK SERIES
http://www.heartware.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=222&Itemid=51

INTERVIEWED BY ST Interactive Podcast (6th Feb 2007)
Comment on what is climate change and how we each can play our role to make a difference. A four part podcast feature on STI.

INTERVIEWED BY LIME (June 2007)
Comments on what is World Environment Day and what is climate change in a nutshell and how it affects us.

NMP Interview
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/247227/1/.html

MEWR Milieu
http://app.nea.gov.sg/counter/nea_milieu9.asp

MINISTER'S SPEECH DURING INAUGURAL NATIONAL YOUTH ENVIRONMENT FORUM OPENING
http://app.mewr.gov.sg/press.asp?id=CDS4196

NDP 2006 ECO YOUTH CHAMPIONS
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/222068/1/.html

YOUTH.SG INTERVIEW
http://youth.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1508&Itemid=29

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth: Youth Caucus
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070427/5/singapore272672.html

Channel News Asia (16 December 2007) "Singaporean Urged to Go Green this festive season"
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/317739/1/.html

Weekend Todays' (7 - 8 July 2008) Poll "TOP OF THE GREEN POLL"
Quoted: "Those who chose Mr Ang said he was an “inspiration” to them. Known for his dedication, the 25-year-old is able to connect with the youth and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. His youthfulness and relative inexperience may be a stumbling block, but Mr Ang holds the potential as a future green ambassador."
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/198654.asp
The Straits Times (21 June 2008) "Serious lesson on water gets a splash of color"
http://www.sghousing.com/2008/06/21/serious-lessons-on-water-get-a-splash-of-colour/?wpcf7=json&wpcf7=json

The Straits Times (23 June 2008) "Green Urbanites"
http://www.asiaone.com/Business/My%2BMoney/Property/Story/A1Story20080623-72343.html

Channel News Asia (17 July 2008) "PRIME TIME MORNING"
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/360976/1/.html

Channel News Asia (2nd August 2008) "Govt receives some 500 suggestions since call for eco-friendly ideas"
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/364491/1/.html

REUTERS: Asian media and civil society unite to influence global climate policy"
Quoted: Wilson Ang, CEO of Eco Singapore, stressed the need to engage education ministries in teaching about green growth (economic opportunities that regenerate ecology) in textbooks and classrooms in Asia. Education in Asia is still based around an industrial growth model.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/219824/121612533327.htm

CNN: Eco Solutions (22nd April 2009) "Earth Day 2009: Sowing seeds for a Green Generation in Asia"
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/earthday.asia/index.html

Choose to Be Rich "Learn It!" Review

2005-03-26T20:09:00.000+08:00

Been awhile since my last blog. I was suppose to finish the choose to rich series by Sunday, 20th March 2005. Sadly I haven't. I have been trying very hard. Listen to the audio over and over again and also reading the "Learn It!" session workbook over and over again hoping to get more out of it. Today I've completed the learn it section and made a few new commitments.

In the previous section, it tunes my mind to be more focused now on to getting rich and what would be required of me to go there. To set my mind and commit myself into this area for now to eventually achieve my goal in life. From this section, I've learn the fiver pillars of financial literacy.

Pillar One: Economics.
One has to know how this works. At least in general. The ups and downs, the reason why and some history of why things happen. All of us plays a part in this economy and since the advancement of technology and communications, we become more globalized and hence each country's economy is closely related to one another affecting each other. This is important because it will give us the knowledge to understand the current economy situation and make the appropriate decisions.

Pillar Two: Accountings.
Everyone must know how to work out their OWN cashflow. Managing own finance. It's not so much about going into hard core accoutings, but knowing the fundamentals of it and be able to tell what these numbers are saying. To be able to know the how to read a balance sheet (asset and liabilities) and income statement (income and expenses).

Pillar Three: Taxes.
A better understanding of what is tax avoidance and tax evasion. It makes me better understand that laws are made by the rich. Infact, tax laws are written to force people to be on the B and I side of the cashflow quadrant no matter which country you are in! It forces the Bs and Is to have good accountings. I'd learn to be tax literate and will be looking for local advisers to furnish me on more details. Also included were types of coporations and their pros and cons under the tax laws in the states.

Pillar Four: The BI trangle.
On the outside, The mission, leadership and team is required. This shapes the general direction of the business. By shaping, it helps to find the right kind of team players in to share the common mission.
Next would be talking about INSIDE the BI triangle.
1. Cashflow management- that is the bottom line of anything business. That's why it is the base. This reflects how well the business is doing.
2. Next is communication management- Inernal and external! One must be able to sell the idea out for partnership, sponsors, investors! Sell it to the team to work towards the same direction and mission! No matter where, everyone is selling. Interivewees sell themselves, political sell their ideas and even over the phone conversation, both party are selling their idea...may it be going to somewhere to have lunch or even rejecting it. Selling is not about being able to talk, it's about listening. Knowing the need.
3. System management- a system that will make the business work even when you are not around. The system must be able to kick in and generate income even if you are not around.
4. Legal System- Taling about how important your intellectual property is! PATENT your ideas and have a legal adviser around. Legal fees may be expensive, but to loose your property is even more expensive especially when someone else takes it and make it into a very successful business! Know what kind of patent is available and patent your property well.
5. Product- It is at the top becasue it embodies the business's mission, and the success of it depends of all the factors below it. It is important, but not as important as the rest of the BI triangle because without the rest of the tiers below it, it has nil value.

This pillar magnifies the importance of having a team! No one can be an expert in ALL the BI triangle. Reason why S quad business stay smal is because they try to be the whole BI triangel themselves.

Pillar five: Investings
Investing is a plan! It is not a one off strike rich tips that everyone wants. This program introduces the different kind of investors:
1. Accredited Investor
2. Qualified Investor
3. Sophisticated Investor
4. Inside Investor
5. Ultimate investor
Everyone MUST learn how to invest. You may be from the E,S or B quad, but if you do not know how to invest. You will loose out. Many Bs who do not learn how to be an I, eventually due to their lack of knowledge in being the I, the usually loose everything there. So start learning how to invest now!

First, one have to choose what kind of plan you want. To be secure,comfortable or rich? Do have a protection portion! Should anything happens, at least the family is covered. In the program, it introduces different kind of investment vehicles around.
1. Paper Securities
-Bonds
-Stocks
-Mutual Funds
2. Retirement plans and accounts
3. Annuties
4. Real Estate
-Property
-REITs
-Real estate mutual funds
5. Business
- Franchising
- Network marketing
- Buying business
- Starting business

It states how the above investment vehicles come about, how it is done and also gives the pros and cons of it. One has to make use of all these vehicles to do out their investments plan. One can start on the Safe and secure plan and slowly work up to the plan to be rich. Some safe and secure plans should still be kept. Some basic things like certain savings stay the same. The more you have, the more you have to protect. It'd be good to have a financial adviser to help here.

Well, the "Learn It!" portion is HUGE! I believe I will need to refer it from time to time, have advisers to assist me here as well as reading up more books on the five pillars.

Next, it's time to move on with the DO IT portion. I'm ready!!!!!

26th March 2005, 0409H signing off to DO IT! Cheerios!

Next lesson: Building a business!

2005-03-20T01:49:00.000+08:00

The very next thing I'm learning will be to build a business. Already now, a group of friends and I have already started up a non-profit environmental organisation aiming to integrate environmental issues into everyone's daily lifestyle! It's great to build something and see it running. We are learning alot from this organisation. Managing people, learning how to go around to get funding for events and also event management. Wow! It's wonderful!

And just a few days back, my gf (future wife) and I had this great idea. We have seen pictures or even articles of ways the PCs and their peripherals being disposed at third world countries and causing so much damage to the world. Pollution, diseases and such. We want to start a company to help properly dispose of these computers, also providing service to ordinary home users to maintain their home PCs and to make it last longer so they do not need to dispose them so soon. This will help to reduce such waste as well as save the consumer end some $$$ to buy new PCs, depending on their need.

Based on the B-I triangle; On the outside, we have our Mission. Not sure if we have the leadership but I'll try to lead this business. As for Team, we are looking for people like computer experts as well as companies or people who can fund this. Inside the triangle, Product- we have it. Now what we need to learn is how to build the system management, communication management ,legal management and to generate cashflow. We do not really know how to, but we'll try. My gf is in marketing so I belief she will do well there for this new service. We want to build it so successful that other countires will want the franchies of it so all of us can own this business and at the same time make this world a better place to live in.

I've already told my gf that this will be the business to learn. Expect ourselves not to get any paycheck for at least 2 years and also be prepared to fail. But don't loose the lessons learnt. Should this business succeed, we will use it to fund the environmental organisation we already have so that more beneficial activities can be organised to make people more aware and play a part to protect the environment we live in!

We will succeed! Should any of you have any advices to give us, do feel free to drop your valuable comments. And in case you want to know more about our environmental organisation. It is at http://www.eco-singapore.org

It's 0949Hrs, 19 March 2005 (Sat) here in Singapore. Siging off~

MLM...and learning Real Estate!

2005-03-12T15:01:00.000+08:00

It was the thursday that just passed. 10th March 2005. Have made arrangements to meet a friend who is in the local multi level marketing company. His name is Edwin and he really is a great person. He keeps meeting me up to share the system in this company and how I can build my business with them. They deal in health products. They have training courses for the members. I am really keen to join them. I want to know more about their training program and I want learn from it. I want to learn how to sell.

There are 3 ways of joining the company, firstly as an AP. This is free but one is only entitles to buy their products. Next is TP. This costs about SGD$500. Here, one can start to recruit members and form teams to work towards a sales quota to get bonuses (Which comes from a a part of the company's overall profit). Lastly, it is to join as a WP. This costs SGD$5,500! This allows you to be the whole seller for the company, which means a WP can buy the products at a much lower rate...wholesale! One can also recruit people to work as a team. And upon hitting the team quota, they will get more share compared to the TP.

I'd really want to join as a WP so I can start to do more! But am currently short of cash especially when only not long ago I just signed up for a stock options course for this coming July which caused me SGD$5,100. However, one can climb up to WP from AP. 8AP = 1 TP, 4TP = 1WP. But it will takes a longer time. And of course, I want to do it in a shorter time. I told him my prob, so he just adviced me to join as an AP first as his team and when I have more cash on hands, then I go for the WP. Which means meanwhile, I can go for the courses conducted by this MLM company!

All the above membership in the MLM company does not include the course fees. So if I'd want to attend one of the course, it will cost a certain fee. But the course is made as such that one has to be at a certain level before being able to attend the course so that one can get the RIGHT kind of training for his/her level. The very first course, SCS, will cost SGD$288. A 3 days course. I will be attending the one in April.

Oh yes, before I went to meet up Edwin, I had made an appointment to a school to find out more about the real estate course they are conducting. I was really impressed by the coverage of the topics. And upon completing the course, one will be an OFFICIAL real estate agent in SINGAPORE! This means other than learning more about real estate, I can earn by being an agent too! I really love the course and it only costs SGD$750. I will be signing up for this course! Cheers!

Wow, Thursday was really a very rewarding day! I was given so much opportunities! And I'm glad I had made decisions onthese opportunities to learn more in order to move towards my financial freedom!

I have been reading and listening "Choose to be rich" and I will be finishing it by this weekend. There, I'll give my reviews.Meanwhile, I'll still keep on playing both 101 and 202 ONLINE!

Till my next blog,
Cheerios!

14th March 2005, 1101Hrs... signing off~

Reviews

2005-03-07T17:54:00.000+08:00

Gosh...today was a hectic day. Went out yesterday afternoon for a meeting with my non-profit,non-government environmental group to discuss about an upcoming new e-newsletter. Thereafter, I went to work at about 1900Hrs local time and got off work this morning 0830Hrs. Straight away went to the zoo to do up some recruitment stuffs for the new batch of volunteers and there after went to give tuition to my colleague's daughter. And in the evening, came back home to help my friend to do some video editing. Overall, a very very very EXHAUSTING day! Whew! Glad it ended with me writing this blog.

Next, since I've finished reading Ken's book, The ABCs to Real Estate Investing, I'd like to make a personal reviews on it:
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This book is great! It shows you what he as done and what to look for in any deals. Also in every chapter, there are exercises for the readers to follow up and what they have read. It started by clarifying all the myths and believes that people have. Things/issues that people have set in their mind that prevents them from taking that very first step.It also followed by the a chapter which I feel is the most important one before proceding on to the rest of the book. It is setting GOALS. And the goals set are really SPECIFIC. So much so that one will not loose track of what they are heading for.

It then went to talk about how to go around doing IT. Building a team (knowing who to look for to be in your team), Research, understanding what is a real deal and a swampland. Basically, the preparation phase. A really in dept step by step guide in SEARCHING for that deal.

After locating the deal, next is to analyse it. Calculating the Net operating costs and such. After getting bank loans and what to look for when calculating. From there, one will be able to derive a offering price for the deal. And the book also explains the neccesary stuffs to note when purchasing over a deal. Doing due diligence to make sure the deal is in the expected condition before fully taking it over from the seller. Also, what to do AFTER aquiring it.

He is a believer of buying the right property to hold on to it to generate cashflow. Nonetheless, this book he includes what one should do to sell the property at the best possible price.

Now, talking about the negative points on this book;
IF you are looking for a slow start, you will only find the first few chapters on the preparation part useful. He base his examples on big deals. Like plexes and such. Pretty hard to apprehend especially for newbies like me who wants to start small. But after taking a step back and looking over the book again, I think it can work. Just take his advices and use it on what you are looking for. 2BR1BA or something like that. I definately will give it a shot! No point reading a book and not put it into actions.

I must say, I will follow the advice of this book and work with it. And for all out there who wants to start, it's really a good book to keep as reference. Especially chapter 7: "Is it really a Diamon". This teaches you HOW to caluclate the intigrinty stuffs and puting up offer price.
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Since I've bought the 6 steps in buying a property, I will make a comparison again when I finish that. Which would most probably come after I finish the "Choose to be rich".

While working on shift last night, i ran into the book "7 Habits of Highly effective people". A book which I was quite skeptical about. However, I gave it a shot and read the first chapter. It caught my attention. It made me wanted to go on to finish up the book. But I stopped. I didn't want to deviate from my priority. So now, I'm thinking if i should read up the book "7 habits of highly effective people" or "6 steps in buying a property". Will made a decision again on a later date when I finish what I have now.

Last thing to add, I've listen the first 4 CDs of "Choose to be rich". The first 4 CDs is the THINK IT portion. After going thru them, I've realized how important it is to have a DESIRE for something. Setting a goal is really not enough. There should be a strong enough reason to cause a desire to make one want to achieve the goal set. If not, a goal is just only a goal. A mere target that will eventually be forgotten with time. DESIRE is everything, it will push you through even in the worst situation. Without it, even the simplest tasks would be a chore seem to hard. With it, anything is possible. One's biggest enemy is one's self. You can do what ever you want to. All you need to do is dare to dream, and put your desire in it. Nothing is impossible! Same goes for achieveing financial freedom. The person must find the reason WHY, and hence this DESIRE will push him/her through anything!

I have my DESIRE to be financially free. And I have more of it coming. As said before in my first blog, I want to be financially free so that I can dedicate my life to serving the community without worries! Also, such that my family can concentrate on whatever they want without worrying financially.

0154Hrs, 7th March 2005 Singapore time...signing off~

Stock and shares!

2005-03-03T23:00:00.000+08:00

Woah! Yes, my next step of financial education is heading there! I have signed up to attend a preview seminar last night. It was from http://www.wealth-mentor.com.The coach is Mirriam MacWilliams and she is teaching how to trade in the US market. She has been trading for awhile now, 4-5 years. She made her first million in the US stock within 18 motnhs and turned it into her second million by the 24th month!!!

The course has a 4 day full hands on trading and there after, it gives a 6 months locally! The local advisers will teach and guide you if you are stuck. This is very important to me as I feel that having a support group is very important. Not only that, we have half a year of teleconference support, phone call support, weekly reports from herself direct from the states. It will state what she is investing in and why, so this lady here is actually walking her talk! But this course is hell expensive! It costs SGD$5100!!! Argh! But i really really want to attend it. I have a very strong gut feel about this seminar, just like when i heard about RK's seminar in Singapore. I feel it will benefit me alot.

Since the next course starts in July. I made a down payment of $425. Thereafter, negotiated with the event organiser to do the rest of the 11 months deductions from July onwards as I am pretty short of cash and time now to attend the upcoming course over this weekend.

Well, i guess for the next few months my "investment" piggy banks will be channeling into this new course. I actually signed up for a diving course this coming good friday but I guess I have to cancel it. I have to set my priorities. I can always take my diving classes when I earn more. I want to take it by age 25! But for now, it's investing on my head! Increase my FQ and be financially free by 35 so I can dedicate my life to volunteer work!

Oh, as stated in my first post, a group of friends and I started this non profit environmental organisation (http://www.eco-singapore.org) and jut to update everyone, it's doing swell! Anyone who likes to write for an environmental cause do feel free to email me as our team is coming up with a new e-newsletter to educate the public and get them to be more environmental concious.

That's all for now. I have to go work. It's 0700H, 3rd March 2005 here. Will write again. Cheerios!

~ZoOoOooming Off to worK~

A good rest..i'm back on 101 online again.

2005-03-02T16:58:00.000+08:00

Well, wanted to play 101 once everyday but when i got my 202...i spend time learning how to play with it every night offline trying to figure out what's options, how it works as well as short. Still trying to get the hang of it so playing offline. And gosh...the expenses in 202 comes up so fast...faster than i can aquire enough assests and captial gain...attractive. But i gues i should concentrate on my cashflow firsst and try to leverage the left over with capital gains so it will help me to be able to buy more cashflow. MOre flexibilty in play and definately more interesting!

SO now I'm back ontrack to play CF 101 online again. Just some ammendments/updates to my personal monthly CF from the last blog. Here it is:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Income:
Earned- $2100
Passive- $0

Expenses:
Transport- $300
Food- $300
Parents- $500
Laptop loan- $192
CC loan- $138
Handphone bills- $150

Assets:
Frd 1 (Arm) owes- $304
Frd 2 (Reg) owes- $88
Frd 3 (Pris) owes- $20
Frd 4 (Kev) owes- $20
Frd 5 (Z X ) owes- $50
Frd 6 (L P) owes- $500
Frd 7 (Reg) owes- $88
Frd 8 (Typ) owes- $140
Work Transport claim - $22

Liabilities:
Laptop loan- $3840 (20 more months to go)
CC loan- $2760 (20 more months to go)

Cashflow:
$520

COH:
$577
--------------------------------------------------------------------
And out of my $520 of cashflow, i've decided to do these:

"Savings" piggy bank:
15 years saving plans with bank 1- $200
Accident plan- $65

"Investments" piggy bank:
$200

"Charity" piggy bank:
$55

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Wow...bad management...realise i shld do more to reduce my transport,food and handphone bill expenses. So that it will help me have more cashflow to put into my "Investment" piggy banks. I will do that from next month on!

So many things I'd like to do like going for diving, takin up stock and share courses as well as real estate courses. Basically invest in courses that will up my financial intelligence.

Oh yes, i also wanna acknowleadge the few friends that I got to know when i play 101 online. I have learned lessons from them and I will try to schedule time to have everyone to play together. They are (sequenced in order of when I know them):

Sharon Y. from Taiwan. Same time as me.
Cameleon from Ireland. Behind me by 9hours.
Netsmurf from Australia. Ahead of me by 3hours.
Jodaveowen from Toronto. Behind me by 13hours.
Cr8ton from Atlanta. Behind me by 13 hours.

I will look forward to know more guys out there and will arrange matches/games to be played. OK, I'm playing 101 with Sharon and cr8ton while writing this blog. Oh, sharon left..now I'm only playing with cr8ton.

Gosh..i wonder why sharon can score 990 for 101, didn't get a chance to ask her before she went offline. I've never gotten that high. My max is only 920. If anyone is reading this, can you please advise what constitutes to the scores and how should i play to get such high scores.

Will be meeting up my financial adviser on thursday to get another savings plan and another this friday to analyse how I've done so far. Will give an update of my analysis on friday if it is out then.

Alrite..that's all for now. After playing this game with cr8ton, i will go to bed...it's 12.58AM,2nd March now. Have to wake up later at 5.00AM later..gee~

~PoOf~

My second Blog! (27/02/2005 )

2005-02-28T10:14:00.000+08:00

My second blog! On the last blog, I have just joined the insider access wanting to learn more to help me increase my FQ to achieve my goals. I've placed an order on the 19th Feb and after tracking it EVERY single day, it has finally reached my hands!!!!!

I've bought:
1.Cashflow 202 E-game
2.Road to Riches:6 steps to becoming a successful real estate investor

And they costs me SGD$450!!! I am determined to make the most out of it! This is where my money in my "Investment" piggy bank are spent. Now and then I will invest in my FQ to upgrade myself. But I still spare some of the $$$ in my "Investment" piggy banks and learn to look at stocks and Real estates opportunities in my country so I can invest on them when I have enough.

And just today, I've used my "Savings" piggy bank money to buy a savings plan with my local bank. The thing is, I save about $6 every day and every month, I will save around $200. Hence, I thought of puting it into my very first savings plan. This plan is a long term savings plan of 15 years where there is a non-guaranteed projected minimum and maximum interest per annum.

Meaning:
End of 15 years, I'd have put in $36,000 and the value I will get back (base on the minimum interest project per annum) would be $42,518. Based on the maximum non-guaranteed projection, it'd be $57,298!

I will be looking at other banks to for a 10 and a 5 years savings plan as my pay goes up to put my "Savings" piggy money.

I have also put aside $65 per month to buy an accident plan. Which means IF I should die in any accident or have any permanent disabilities, i will be paid SGD$250,000. In case of death, my immediate family will get it in equal shares (based on the Singapore laws since I have not made any wills as yet). In case of any major illness, i will also be paid SGD$250,000. This is made such that should I loose my ability to work, it will not burden my family for awhile. Reason for the value insured is based on surviving $2K/month for 10 years.

Today I've also made some changes to my personal monthly cashflow:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Income:
Earned- $2100

Expenses:
Transport- $300
Food- $300
Parents- $500
Laptop loan- $192
CC loan- $138

Assets:
Frd 1 (Arm) owes- $304
Frd 2 (Reg) owes- $88
Frd 3 (Pris) owes- $20
Frd 4 (Kev) owes- $20
Frd 5 (Z X ) owes- $50
Frd 6 (L P) owes- $500
Work Transport claim - $22

Liabilities:
Laptop loan- $3840 (20 more months to go)
CC loan- $2760 (20 more months to go)

Cashflow:
$670

COH:
$577
--------------------------------------------------------------------
And out of my $670 of cashflow, i've decided to do these:

"Savings" piggy bank:
15 years saving plans with bank 1- $200
Accident plan- $65

"Investments" piggy bank:
$305

"Charity" piggy bank:
$100

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Whew...what an change! I'm glad I did my statements here, this help me to keep track of what I have done and what I will do.

Next, few things I have set to do for the next two weeks to improve my FQ:
1. Meet up my financial advisers
2. Finish the book "ABCs to real estate investing" by 5th March 05
3. Play 101 e-game at least once a day
4. Learn how to play 202 (Since I've just gotten it!! Hurray!) by 5th March 05

That's all! Signing off now. ~PoOf~

Day One

2005-02-22T14:32:00.000+08:00

Well, since my seminar with RK last's Nov in Singapore. I haven't really done too much. Tried to look at some deals but not really know how to do it. Sheesh, the world (those around me at least) thinks RK's way is absolute rubbish and it's not as easy to be financially free as he claim. Well, I come to think it's more of "Can I even carry out the SIMPLE tasks that RK does diligentfully."

I've bought these books (Those I've finished are marked in *):
Rich dad Poor dad*
Cashflow Quadrant*
Guide to becoming rich*
Rich dad poor dad for teens*
Guide to investing (Halfway, too think, read until I fall asleep)
ABC guide to Real estate investing (Halfway, I have not really done all the little tasks covered by the book so far)
ABC guide to build a successful business team (untouched)

And I've bout the audio on "Choose to be rich" and have watched it's little VCD inside and listen to only 6 of the audio CDs so far. Still trying to do the simple few stuffs. And proudly because of this audio, I started to have the three little piggy banks and put one buck in each bank every single day. When I went to Thailand for my work in Jan, I stopped, now I'm back and I'll start doing it again....today!

I bought the 101 E-game and only just signed up to the insiders today so i can play online with other players. Sadly, so far there ain't anyone who wants to play 101. I guess the guys are more interested in 202. Reason for buying the E-game is because I really don't have anyone to play the board version with and since I am on the computer most of the time, well, an E-game is a fabby idea.

Just last night, I bought two more products:
1. 202 the E-game
2. Rich Dad's Roads to Riches: 6 Steps to Becoming a Successful Real Estate Investor - CD/DVD

I presume these new products will come in by end of the week.

And now I start writing the BLOG. It's my first but I will use this to keep track of myself and try my best to write it diligently and so I know how my progress is.

Oh ya, a rough intro of myself. I work in the Republic of Singapore Air Force as an Air traffic controller. Work's tough but managable. And I am involved in the following community service:
1. A group of friends and I started this non-government, non-profit environmental organisation in Singapore called Environmental Challenge Organsiation (Singapore) at the web http://www.eco-singapore.org

2. A executive committee member of my community's youth group

3. Red cross volunteer

4. Training in charge for my local zoo. at http://www.szgdocent.org

And now for the most important part, my goals:
1. Be financially stable by 30.
2. Be financially free by 35.
3. Spend my life to serve the community and be fully able to emerge in it when I am financially free such as running to be a Minister of Parliment in the Cabinet in my country.

Well, I just send in my application to study in the local university to get a degree in Political Science.

Gee...long essay. I've also taken up other books and courses to improve my brain and above:
1. Silva's Method (the book and the 3 day course locally. )
2. Napoleon hill
3. Guide to stocks
4. Other financial books to get my fundamentals done.

Have spoke to a few bankers and real estate agent. Don't have the time to follow up with them, things seems tough to cope with so many things on hand. But I will take it gradually but firmly.

OK...so far that's all for my first blog. All my back grounds, where I am now and where I want to head. Next is action from tml onwards.

Time now locaaly 2232Hrs. An I'm signing off. Good night.