Singapore Democrats
In the last several years, local environmental NGOs have been making important contributions to the debate on climate change. Recently, the Nature Society of Singapore produced a position paper on the effects of tampering with the Bukit Brown Cemetery ecology.
The Young Democrats believe that the environment is an issue that Singaporeans should become more aware of and, in their own way, make a contribution to preserving.
As part of a series of climate change workshops organised by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), two Young Democrats attended a three-day workshop in Cebu, central Philippines to exchange insights and gather ideas on how to better address climate change concerns.
Youth leaders from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore met with Filipino, American and Australian lawyers to identify challenges in working towards better environmental protection in their own countries.
Citing difficulties faced by civil society groups to save the historic Bukit Brown Cemetery in Singapore as well as the limited effectiveness of water education, the Young Democrats were able to hear how environmental campaigning is done in neighbouring countries.
On the last day of the meeting, the workshop participants, local and international attorneys, and activists from the Filipino NGO, School of the Sea, supported the children of Bantayan Islands near Cebu to call on their government to improve the transport system.
Young Democrats Coordinator, Clarence Zeng, who represented Singapore together with Jufri Salim, said, “It is very humbling to see the younger generation of the Philippine people take responsibility for the future of their nation. I hope that civil society in Singapore can work together on similar issues of concern such as the preservation of the remaining sections of Bukit Brown.
Jufri Salim noted that the Young Democrats have organised a visit to Pulau Ubin to talk to residents there and offer their help in preserving the natural environment which, he believes, is a crucial part of our ecological balance.
The youth arm of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats aims to promote liberal and democratic values among Asian youth; create synergies among young people on issues affecting their communities; and increase their participation in mainstream politics. Since its formation in 2010, CALD Youth has held international workshops on strategic planning, leadership training, and communications and participated in international youth programmes with counterparts in Europe and Latin America.
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Young Democrats is the youth wing of the SDP. It organises a range of activities, both social and more formal. Watch out for our upcoming Youth Forum in June. If you are between the ages on 18 and 35 and would like to find out about the Pulau Ubin initiative or know more about the Young Democrats in general, you are most welcome to email:
[email protected].