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Press Releases & Speeches
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SPEECH BY DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN, MINISTER FOR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS AND
SECOND MINISTER FOR INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS
AND THE ARTS, AT THE WORLD KINDNESS MOVEMENT
CONFERENCE, ON 17 NOVEMBER 2007, 10.05 AM, GRAND
PLAZA PARK HOTEL
Mr Noel Hon, Chairman of the Singapore Kindness Movement Council,
Members of the World Kindness Movement,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
- I am pleased to join you for the 5th World Kindness Movement (WKM)
Conference this morning. I would like to first extend a warm welcome to all our
friends from overseas. Singapore is indeed honoured to host the World
Kindness Movement Conference again after seven years.
- We support your objective to spread kindness to every corner of the
globe by encouraging people to perform small acts of kindness. This will foster
goodwill and understanding among all nations.
- This conference is an excellent platform for like-minded people of
different nationalities and backgrounds to exchange ideas, experiences and
discuss possible collaborations. Since the last conference, France and Brazil
have joined the WKM family. Through the years, the number has grown from
seven founding members to the current 19 strong.
- The WKM members recently produced a book capturing stories of
kindness contributed by people from all over the world. Called “Kindness
Around the World”, I am sure it will serve as a source of great inspiration to all
of us to try a little kindness in our everyday lives.
The need for kindness in this modern age
- We live in a world where the spotlight in the media is often on violence.
Not a day goes by when we do not hear of some senseless fighting, killing or
acts of violence whether here or in other parts of the world. It is during times
like these that we need to focus especially on acts of kindness. “No act of
kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted,” as Aesop aptly quotes. From
the selfless efforts of volunteers, including tourists who rendered assistance
during the Tsunami crisis, to the account related by an 11-year-old
Singaporean boy who was impressed by a man’s thoughtfulness when he
offered his seat to a pregnant lady and volunteered to escort her and her two
young children down the escalator at the train station. These are clear
reminders that kindness and humanity are inherent in many of us.
- Another sterling example of kindness from the book, “Kindness Around
the World”, is the Coin-spiracy campaign founded by KindActs Canada. It
involves the launch and tracking of a kindness coin called a UNI, short for the
universal nature of kindness. The "Coinholder" performs three kind acts – one
for self, one for the environment and one for another, and passes the coin on
to the recipient of the kind act, who in turn performs the three kind acts and
passes it on. The first Coin-spiracy campaign which piloted in November 2002
was a heart-warming success with 63 schools participating, over 100,000 acts
of humanitarian service performed. A sum of $30,000 raised in donations for
communities in need, 14 countries reached, and more lives touched than can
ever be measured. The second Coin-spiracy launch in November 2003 saw 77
schools and youth groups in 12 countries investing over 171,571 hours in
creating a kinder world, raising over $190,784 to provide essentials for others
in need in Canada and over 35 other countries. As the UNI Coins continue to
pass hands and spark more acts of kindness, the ripples of kindness will
continue to spread and touch more people’s lives.
- In Japan, the Small Kindness Movement, which began in 1963,
instituted the Kindness Action Award to acknowledge those who perform small
acts of kindness. Into its 43rd year, it has honoured over 4.7 million recipients
and the latest group to be recognised comprises five primary school pupils in
the Ibaraki prefecture. These students have volunteered to pick up trash and
clean the school environment, making it more pleasant for everyone.
Ground-Up Efforts
- It is thus of paramount importance that we build kindness from ground
up and in all spheres. In a multi-cultural society like Singapore, we know that
kindness is key to our social harmony. It is the thread that runs through our
social fabric, binding us even more tightly and cohesively. We also have to
inculcate the sense of compassion and humanity in our younger generation
from the outset, with parents and teachers as the natural role models. They will
learn that kindness connects people in a powerful and magical way.
- The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) has contributed much to
these ground-up efforts to promote kindess in its 10-year history. It has
organised community projects like the Annual Kindness Week, Good
Neighbour Day, and courtesy programmes in schools like the Friend of Singa
Award.
- Extending its efforts to the industries, the SKM has also worked with
transport companies, the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police to
introduce the Transport Gold Award. This award commends Singapore’s finest
transport courtesy ambassadors, and has been given out to over 1,300
recipients to date. In the hospitality industry, where kindness is of particular
importance, over 500 Service Gold Awards have been given out to exemplary
hotel staff for playing a significant role in contributing to the nation’s vibrant
tourist industry. Ultimately, the aim is to reach out to as many Singaporeans as
possible from different walks of life to inspire the practice of kindness and
graciousness.
Conclusion
- I hope the WKM delegates will seize this opportunity to come up with
creative ideas to spread the spirit of kindness, both in your own countries and
around the world. Kindness knows no borders and transcends race, language
and religion. The seeds of kindness we sow today will enable our future
generations to reap the harvest in time to come.
- I wish all of you a fruitful conference.
Thank you.
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