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TRANSCRIPT
CROSSROADSRotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 32
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12th
Mar
. 201
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“21st Century Implications on Educating our Next Generation”SPEAKER: Rtn. Jeremy Han
Lunch meeting of the 7th March 2012
Article of the week “ Durban Outcome” by Seleha Lockwood
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Joke of the week“For every man, there is a woman, and he is lucky if his wife never finds out.” From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa MirpuriHAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDYhttp://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html
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Introductory remarks
President Tapan Rao welcomed members to the first meeting for the month of March, during which time, the Club highlights the activities of youths. He noted that the Rotaractors had conducted an entrepreneurship seminar on 3rd March, whilst the Interactors would be holding their annual project “YOUth Got Heart” on 10th March. President Tapan called on members to support this project by making donations, and a total collection of $310.00 was received. President Tapan welcomed our Speaker, none other than our own member, Rtn. Jeremy Han, who is the Director Special Projects of Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group.
Toast
Rtn. Noshir Mistri called upon visiting Rotarian Paul Owen, who is his club’s Membership Director to say a few words about his club, Rotary Club of West Perth, Australia. Rtn. Paul thanked members for the warm welcome and was honoured to be present at the meeting. He advised that the West Perth club meets for breakfast and has 57 members. He added that usually at each meeting, there would be about 40 members present. As Membership Director, Rtn. Paul was pleased to add that his club had inducted five new members and one members had rejoined the club.
Welcome of visiting Rotarians and guests
Rtn. Perlita Tiro welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians
- Guests :Ms. Jasbir KohMr. Thomas NouvianMr. Malcolm BoydMr. Ashley ShaneMr. Jeff Hart
Visiting Rotarians :Paul Owen – West PerthMerle Ricklefs – Mt. Beauty, AustraliaChristian Skroeder – Nyon-la-Cote, Switzerland
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Speaker of the week
PE Jimmy Ooi noted that March was “New Generations” Month for our Club and the speakers for the coming meetings would be related to youths. He introduced Rtn. Jeremy Han as the Director Special Projects of Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group, an entrepreneur and ex-educator. To start his presentation, Rtn. Jeremy showed a brief video which drew attention to the surge of new technologies and social media innovations which were altering the media landscapes whilst reaching a wider audience. Rtn. Jeremy noted that these changes were affecting the way people behaved and were making an impact on the next generation. Rtn. Jeremy noted the three key implications of the 21st Century were the information explosion; increased globalization and increased connectivity. He shared many interesting insights on how we could prepare our youths for these key implications.To end his presentation, Rtn. Jeremy shared the following quotation on the relevance of Rotary:
"The youth of every generation has stood in a critical position, for the scales have been tipped one way or the other by the training they received from their elders. This is particularly true today. Our boys and girls have greater freedom, exercise greater power, and have more opportunities for both good and evil, than ever before. How important it is, therefore, that youth’s great possibilities for good be realized and developed!" Angus S. Mitchell, 1948-49 RI president, address to the 1949 convention in New York City. President Tapan called upon Rtn. C H Tan who warmly thanked Rtn. Jeremy for sharing his interesting views on the implications on educating the future generation. (A copy of Rtn. Jeremy’s presentation material is available from the Secretariat.)
DURBAN OUTCOME ON CLIMATE CHANGE by Seleha Lockwood
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Durban Outcome as observed by Seleha Lockwood, Advisor on the Bhutan delegation
Admittedly the Durban outcome is very far from helping to ensure global temperatures do not rise 2 degrees centigrade. However, the talks achieved the most they could under the political circumstances. Main outcomes included:
Further certainty for investors in the international compliance carbon market of the UNFCCC on the continuation of the second commitment period commitments of the Kyoto Protocol up to 2017 or 2020 the targets for which would be decided at the end of 2012. International is underlined because, of course, the EU were already thinking of buying CERs from CDM projects as part of their EU level targets without setting second commitments under the KP which would be in a multilateral/international context.
A Durban platform that indicates broader level country participation to address climate change from 2020 in an agreed outcome with legal force. The workings of this new agreement would be made in 2015 so not much time to build the workings of this new agreement. This platform was a remarkable milestone including US, China and India in a global platform towards some sort of global legal outcome.The setting up of the Green Climate Fund has been approved – another milestone.Improvement of CDM, existing mechanisms. Introduction of a policy dialogue panel that would work this year on the future of the CDM. The policy panel is constituted of public sector, NGO and private sector high-level figures.
The Durban outcome is being viewed and used differently by different actors. Some government, business and civil society stakeholders have become increasingly cynical of the multilateral process to get to effective agreement, with good reason, and have little hope in the Durban outcome. Some are focusing on national or bilateral agreements. Others are using the Durban outcome to lobby governments believing that the multilateral process is the best incentive for government, private sector and civil society to address climate change
Rather than lamenting that Durban did not achieve what we wanted, we advocate building on the Durban outcome to push for further improvements in the Kyoto Protocol, the Durban platform, the GCF and new mechanisms as part of our policy lobbying work going forward.
Seleha LockwoodAdvisor, Climate Change Policy
Sindicatum Sustainable ResourcesSingapore (currently in London)
Email: [email protected]
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The Guide to Daily LivingBefore doing the things we want to do, consider first, the precept of the guide. Ask ourselves these 4 questions and act upon them:First: Have I spent some time in self-examination?Second: Have I spent quality time with my family?Third: Have I given my best to my work?Fourth: Have I given some time to someone near and far?The Guide, in fact, encompasses the 4 parts of the Object of Rotary.
MARK YOUR DIARYBirthday celebrantsRC wishes Happy Birthday to celebrants this week:March 13 – Dr T K NeoMarch 17– Deepak NagraniMarch 18 – Michael KingMarch 19 – Pradeep Chatterjee
Anniversary CelebrantsRC sends best wishes to Wedding Anniversary celebrants: March 13 – Bharat & Alka MandloiMarch 17 – Saeed & Sajda Khan
This weekMarch 14th 2012
Reception Desk duty: Bharat Mandloi, Jamshid MedoraSunshine Box duty: PP Philip Leong, PE Jimmy OoiSpeaker: Mr. Jeffrey Lee, Ministry of Education CounselorTopic: “Overfed but Underdeveloped”
International Service Date: Thursday, 15th MarchTime: 7.30pmVenue: Moghul Mahal Restaurant, 177A River Valley Road, Novotel Hotel, Liang Court Shopping Centre, 6th floor, S179031Hosts: Rtns. Atul Merchant, Kavita Singh, Ghani Mahtani and Dr. Thomas Perkmann
Next week March 21st 2012
Reception Desk duty: Colin Miles, Peter-Paul NijstenSunshine Box duty: Jean-Philippe Lionnet, Paul PhuaSpeaker: Ms. Joyce BillingtonTopic: To be advised
New Generations Service Date: Thursday, 29th MarchTime: 7.30pmVenue: Pool Terrace, The Pines, 30 Stevens Road S257840Hosts: Rtn. Paul Phua
COMING ROTARY EVENTS MarchMarch 20th Fellowship Dinner with sister club, Rotary Club of Osaka Semba
March 22nd – 25thDistrict Assembly and PETS at Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru
March 24th Visit to Betesda Orphanage in Batam, Indonesia
AprilMagazine Month
MayCommunity Service MonthMay 6th – 9th Rotary International Convention in Bangkok
JuneRotary Fellowships Month
Queries, comments and articles request can be sent toJean-Philippe [email protected]
The Four-Way TestOf the Things we think, say or do:* Is it the truth?* Is it fair to all concerned?* Will it build goodwill and better friendship?* Will it be beneficial to all concerned?