e Singapore’s First City Reservoir: A River Runs Through It IN THIS ISSUE • Breathing New Life into Ancient Treasures [2] • Aid for Gaza [3] • Vietnamese Officials in Singapore to Learn English [4] • A New Era in Singapore’s R&D [5] ingapor • I Love SG in Down Under [6] • Weathering the Crisis as a Family [12] s e nc e ri e Issue 36 March 2009 A newsletter of the Singapore Cooperation Programme xp The newly opened Marina Barrage, Singapore’s water icon. e MAKING FRIENDS During his trip with Prof Sen, Minister Yeo visited the Buddhist holy city of Bodh Gaya, Breathing where Gautama Buddha was said to have attained enlightenment. Along with nearby Buddhist sites such as Nalanda and Varanasi, Bodh Gaya attracts thousands of visitors yearly. New Life into Minister Yeo also called on Mr Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of India’s eastern state of Bihar, who graciously offered Singapore, on behalf of his state, two plots of land in Ancient Treasures Bodh Gaya for the construction of a Singapore Pilgrim House. “We will choose one and I hope ANCIENT stupas still stand proud in Bihar, work on this will begin very quickly. I want to India, where centuries ago, the brightest thank the Chief Minister on behalf of the entire scholars from around Asia and the world once Singapore Buddhist community,” said Minister gathered to share expertise in subjects such as Yeo, in appreciation of the kind and generous Buddhism, astrology, mathematics and science. offer by the Bihar Chief Minister. The smoothened surfaces of buildings bear Minister Yeo also explained the significance testament to the golden era during which the of Singapore’s involvement in the project: Nalanda University – the world’s first “The idea of globalisation, of men living in residential university – provided a safe haven harmony with men and nature, of human for intellectuals to come together to learn. beings exchanging freely, travelling along the Top: (L-R): Bihar Planning Commission member Shri At its peak, the Nalanda Unversity had N. K. Singh, Minister George Yeo, Nalanda Mentor modern silk route of the world. It is an idea of housed some 2,000 teachers and 10,000 Group (NMG) Alternate member Professor Wang Singapore...It is an idea whose time has come students, mostly monks. A magnificent Gungwu, NMG members Professor Wang Bangwei at as part of a much larger Asian renaissance. campus with a 9-storey library with towers the Nalanda site. We are caught in the flow and it is right that reaching into the clouds, was the lyrical revival of the Nalanda University. we should participate in the flow.” description by 7th century Tang Dynasty Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wrapping up their discussion, the Nalanda Buddhist monk Xuan Zang. Xuan Zang stayed Mr George Yeo, in his personal capacity, was Mentor Group collectively concluded that the in Nalanda for 12 years, and his odyssey from appointed one of nine members of the Group, Nalanda University should be a secular, China to India and back was mythologised in which is headed by Nobel Laureate Professor postgraduate university. Mr Yeo explained the the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Amartya Sen. The inaugural meeting of the rationale behind the decision: “It should be Unfortunately, Xuan Zang’s beloved Nalanda Nalanda Mentor Group was held in Singapore universal in its orientation; it should be secular was destroyed by Afghan invaders some 800 in July 2007. Subsequent meetings were held so that the emphasis is not on Buddhism but years ago. It laid forgotten in the dust, until the in Japan (December 2007), New York (May on Buddhist studies and other subjects. From Indian Government started excavation works in 2008) and New Delhi last August. the beginning, (it should) be conceived as an 1951, in an attempt to restore Nalanda’s past glory. This February, Minister Yeo visited Bihar, international project and not purely as an In June 2007, the Nalanda Mentor Group – a India for the fifth Nalanda Mentor Group Indian project.” panel of experts and eminent persons from various meeting, which also marks the completion Prof Amartya Sen added: “If we succeed in countries – was established to conceptualise the of the conceptualisation phase of the project. setting out to do what we hope we can do, this A Most Beautiful Friendship TIPPING the scales at just over 20 said Mr Griminelli at the presentation kilogrammes is what has been ceremony at the Singapore Art Museum on dubbed “the most beautiful book in 22 January 2009. Among the guests were the world”, the Michelangelo: La Professor Tommy Koh, Chairman of the Dotta Mano. The 13th copy of a National Heritage Board, Ms Jane Ittogi, Chair limited run of 33 prints was recently of the Singapore Art Museum, and members of presented to Singapore’s President the diplomatic corps. S R Nathan by the Ambassador of Professor Koh told reporters at the San Marino to Singapore Mr Andrea ceremony that this book is a ‘masterpiece’ that Griminelli, as a symbolic gift of a “reminds us of the rich tradition of most beautiful bilateral relationship craftsmanship that we seem to be losing today”. between Singapore and the Republic The Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano is of San Marino, which established dedicated to the artistry of the 16th-century diplomatic ties in 2005. Renaissance master Michelangelo Buanarroti The book symbolised art’s and showcases black-and-white photographs of President S R Nathan flipping through the Michelangelo: La Dotta contemplative and powerful way of Michelangelo’s creations by leading Italian Mano with Mr Andrea Griminelli, ambassador of San Marino. connecting people across cultures, photographer Aurelio Amendola. Also encased 2 experience singapore March 2009 HELPING HANDS university will help to create understanding among people across the whole of Asia, maybe in the world, and help in the cause of peace, which is really something we should never take Aid for granted.” The Bihar state has acquired approximately 182 hectares of land for construction of the new Nalanda International University and the for school will be situated just a 10-minute drive away from the original site. The Nalanda Mentor Group estimates that the entire project may take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to be Gaza In a warehouse in Cairo, members of Mercy Relief paste stickers on palettes of flour finally completed. and sugar meant for civilian victims in Gaza. ORANGE juice, pasta and lentils. Cooking pots, between the NGO and the UN agencies that it is drinking mugs and even rubbish bins. partnering. Mr Gambari had been on a stopover Everyday items that most people take for in Singapore while en route to Myanmar when granted, but necessities for the people of Gaza he met Mercy Relief officials. now seeking to rebuild their lives. And encouraged by their earlier success, A three-week standoff between Israel and its Mercy Relief has since sent over a second neighbour Palestine last December, has led to tranche of supplies worth US$80,000 to the thousands of civilians from both sides left Gaza Strip. The supplies this time consisted of homeless and injured. The Gaza strip, in household items like cooking pots, floor mats particular, suffered the brunt of the attacks with and water cans. reportedly nearly 1,400 lives lost, 4,000 In March 2009, Singapore also renewed its families without shelter, 400,000 Gazan homes commitment to providing the Palestinian without running water and a further 16,000 National Authority with US$1 million worth of other houses in desperate need of repairs. technical and capacity-building courses under Two weeks after the ceasefire, the United the Singapore Cooperation Programme, at the Nations (UN) assessed damages to stand at International Conference in Support of the US$613 million ($920 million) for the initial Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of recovery phase, with a sombre warning that Gaza in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. long term reconstruction could even run into the billions. And when the UN made its urgent global SCP COURSES FROM MAY TO JUN 2009 emergency appeal for aid in January, both the Singapore Government and its people Course ATS Safety Management and Investigation Programme Singapore Cooperation Programme The Chief Priest of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Ven. responded swiftly. Bhikkhu Chalinda gives Minister George Yeo a night tour Training Awards (SCPTA)/Small Islands of the Mahabodhi Temple, said to be where Siddaharta The Singapore Government pledged Developing States Technical Cooperation Gautama (Buddha) attained enlightenment. US$50,000 towards international efforts to Programme (SIDSTEC) provide emergency food, shelter, healthcare When 18 – 29 May 2009 Agency Singapore Aviation Academy, Civil Aviation and protection needs of civilians affected by the Authority of Singapore within the book are detachable reproductions recent conflict in Gaza. And in a collective of Michelangelo’s drawings on handmade effort by both religious bodies in Singapore and Course Executive Course in Disaster Management Programme SCPTA/SIDSTEC folios created according to old traditions. Singaporeans – organised by local When 26 May – 5 June 2009 The book features a cover that is a scaled humanitarian organisation Mercy Relief – Agency National University of Singapore reproduction of the “Mardonna della Scala” a further US$90 million in aid was raised. (“Madonna of the Steps”) sculpted from marble In early February, a team of eight from Course IT & Knowledge Management in Organisations Programme SCPTA/SIDSTEC from the Polvaccio quarries in Tuscany, Italy. Mercy Relief had gone to the Gaza strip to When 1 – 12 June 2009 The book measures 70.5cm by 45cm and the deliver the aid, consisting of medical and food Agency National University of Singapore pages are made from pure cotton, handmade supplies like juice and pasta.