A Walk Down Memory Lane
Dear friend,
2020 has whizzed by — from Circuit Breaker to Phase 3, it seems as if the COVID-19 pandemic has been a crucial event for many of us. As we invite the new year, all of us from SG Climate Rally wish you well.
This year, we have seen how shortcomings in our system have unearthed societal injustices in Singapore: from the overlooking of migrant worker dormitories’ conditions resulting in a spike in COVID-19 cases to Parti Liyani’s legal case.
In the latter respect, we have recently signed an open letter to President Halimah Yacob for an independent review of Singapore’s justice system, particularly processes involving vulnerable persons such as low-income Singaporeans and migrants. Parti Liyani, a foreign domestic worker, was accused of four charges of theft. After four long and arduous years, these charges were finally overturned by the High Court. Parti’s case has brought to light an opportunity for a thorough and rigorous review of our criminal justice system — a chance to bring about justice for all, without fear or favour. Read the full open letter here. You could also sign the open letter here, or send an email to our President using this template.
SGCR has also grown in many ways this past year. From working on different projects such as the Greenwatch campaign, to recognising the intersectional nature of the climate crisis through the release of our new Calls To Action, we have gained more valuable experience in climate action advocacy and education.
Moving forward, this is the time for us to start working towards the new normal and not look back. May we continue to stand in solidarity and find strength for the various aspects of our lives!
Here’s a toast to you, for overcoming all sorts of obstacles this year.
For a better world,
S G C R R E C A P
THE 2020 SUMMARY
Here’s a quick timeline of initiatives and events that happened this year.
To all those who contributed their valuable time and energy to participate in our teach-ins/workshops or support our campaigns in whatever capacity, we sincerely thank you.
March — Launched our website + celebrated Earth Hour with WWFSG
April — Chiang Mai Forest Fires Teach-in + We need a circuit breaker for the climate crisis too
May — held online workshops on topics of Covid X Climate and Climate Anxiety
June — Release of Workers’ Party and Singapore Democratic Party Greenwatch scorecards
July — Greenwatch campaign in conjunction with GE2020
August — Activism in Crisis + our joint statement on the Migrant Workers’ Situation
September — Statement on SIA’s proposed “flights to nowhere” plan
October — #TakeBack2050 campaign + Project Open Doors + Statement on death and injuries from toxic gas at Jurong Island
November — Asia Climate Rally + new CTAs launched!
C L I M A T E N E W S
THE MONTHLY ROUND-UP
In the city of Chongqing in southwestern China, eighteen lives have been claimed by an accident in the notorious Chongqing coal mines. This was unfortunately due to them being trapped underground with excessive levels of carbon monoxide. Such incidents are not uncommon in the mines with 16 deaths reported in late September after high levels of carbon monoxide trapped miners at the Songzao coal mine in Chongqing. Coal mines not only extract our Earth’s precious resources but also expose those working in the mines to great risks on a daily basis. In order to achieve a sustainable and liveable future, phasing out coal mines and reducing our reliance on coal is crucial.
With Joe Biden being elected as the next President of the United States of America, he proposed to make the country’s electricity production carbon-free by 2035 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. He is ‘focused on what lowers emissions and increases jobs at the same time.’ With the US re-joining the Paris Agreement, it puts the Agreement’s 1.5 degrees celsius goal within a better reach. Read more about this matter here.
In lieu of this common goal, global leaders from 75 countries including Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan came together for the Climate Ambition Summit on the 12th of December. We are heartened to hear that 45 NDCs (nationally determined contributions), 24 net zero commitments, and 20 adaptation and resilience plans were announced during the event. As for Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered a virtual speech where he mentioned how Singapore aims to quadruple solar energy production by 2025, phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040, actively invest in low-carbon solutions, and promote green financing, for instance, through a US$2 billion Green Investments Programme. Under the enhanced NDC, Singapore has committed to the absolute peak emissions level of 65 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent around 2030.
From 2021 onwards, we look forward to seeing more bold and radical climate actions from our government.
S G C R R E C O M M E N D S . . .
SOCIAL CHANGE AND MUSHROOMS
In the book Hope in the Dark by Rebcca Solnit, she crafted a profound metaphor for effecting social change.
“Mushroomed: after a rain mushrooms appear on the surface of the earth as if from nowhere. Many do so from a sometimes vast underground fungus that remains invisible and largely unknown. What we call mushrooms mycologists call the fruiting body of the larger, less visible fungus. Uprisings and revolutions are often considered to be spontaneous, but less visible long-term organizing and groundwork — or underground work — often laid the foundation. Changes in ideas and values also result from work done by writers, scholars, public intellectuals, social activists and participants in social media. It seems insignificant or peripheral until very different outcomes emerge from transformed assumptions about who and what matters, who should be heard and believed, who has rights.”
Before we end off, the team would appreciate it if you give us feedback on what you liked and disliked, and what you hope to see more from our monthly newsletters next year in this short survey.
Throughout the year, we also have seen how the community support grew with mutual aid operated on an Excel spreadsheet. In this season of giving, why not help in any way that you can for a cause? This list created by Wares Mutual Aid provides some avenues where you can donate your time, energy or money to help various groups of people in Singapore.
As always, thank you for subscribing and reading our newsletter(s). We hope we are able to reach out to more readers in 2021, so if you like what we do, please share it with your friends and loved ones! They can sign up for our mailing list here.
Happy New Year!