Passing the Torch

Dear all,

A couple of weeks ago, GYS had their 3rd AGM and the new board has been formed. I am personally very happy to pass on the torch to Chuah Sim Mei, the new director of GYS 09.
I know that she'll do a good job leading the team.
She has the same surname as Choi Kian You(Dir 07) and me..ahaha..the chai legacy rules!

It s been a really good experience leading such a big project, one that i ll never forget. Here, i d like to thank everyone, especially to my Deputy I, Firdaus Husni for being my rock. She s now the Ex-Officio for GYS 09 and i m glad she ll be there to overlook the whole project.

Although I m no longer the director, GYS will always be close to my heart. It s a growing baby and I d like to see it grow steadily and maturedly as time goes by.

To the OC of GYS 09, all the best to u! Make me proud yeah! will see u guys soon!

From the Old hag of 08,
Christine Chai
wow..now i can say this...
EX-DIRECTOR

SELAMAT HARI RAYA!

To all GYS Muslim Friends,

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI!

Greetings,
Chris & gang
:)

THE DECLARATIONS ARE HERE!

DECLARATIONS I ,II, AND III ARE FINALLY HERE!

SORRY FOR THE DELAY.

BUT, PLEASE, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DECLARATIONS.
DON'T THROW ALL YOUR EFFORTS AWAY.
YOU CAME TO THE SYMPOSIUM WITH AN OBJECTIVE : TO TRY MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
SO, FULFILL YOUR OBJECTIVE NOW.
TRY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

KEEP IN TOUCH!

REGARDS,
THE GYS GANG BACK HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

WE MISS U GUYS TERRIBLY!

Pictures taken during the closing dinner

slide show

Christine's Funky faces!

Rumah Hope Multimedia presentation

closing dinner multimedia presentation

TERIMA KASIH! (thank you in bahasa malaysia)

It's been a wonderful journey. No amount of thank you s can i ever say to everyone who were involved in Global Youth Symposium 2008; committee members, participants, panelists, sponsors and our advisers. Although the OC went through lots throughout the 5 months of preparation, we are indeed still in a daze that GYS 08 has ended this quickly.

As we were cleaning up the secretariat and shifting things back to the old one on Sunday(24.08.08), we started recalling those dark days when we almost wanted to give up on things and we were amazed that we pulled it through. We were overjoyed when participants told us that we did a good job but we cannot thank the participants more for having so much faith in us. It was definitely a booster to call for an AGM to put together the new Board of Director of GYS 09 soon.

Just barely a month to the symposium, I almost gave up. Things were not looking good and there were people out there who told us that we will not be able to do it. Being silly, my feelings and thoughts were influenced by them. I wanted to give up. I was exhausted, juggling between work and GYS, I needed a rest, and walking away seemed to be the only way possible. It took me 2 days to realise that I cannot possibly walk away and leave the planning hanging in there. One night, when I was driving alone and was deep in thoughts, suddenly, faces of my committee members started flashing across my mind. They have worked so hard and some were very excited about the symposium. I could not possibly cancel it and leave the project.I could not possibly disappoint them. I had a talk with my advisor, Yung Tat and he gave me lots of support. Not to forget, Choi, director of GYS 07, who was also there to lend me a hand. Hence, I owe all my committee members, especially the Central Committee, a BIG one, for being my rock to continue on the journey till the very end.

To all participants, each one of u made our day! We were anticipating your presence to be with us right from the very beginning. I hope that all of you benefited in one way or another from this project and no worries, the contact list, and the declaration will be up soon. We should all keep in touch via facebook and I hope you can help us spread news about GYS! Be here next year! I personally have made quite a number of good friends within that 5 day agenda! and i think that facebook is one of the ways for us to keep our friendship. It was definitely a relief to hear that almost everyone had a good time here with us. We, the OC, though tired, we had a great time too!

Dear friends of GYS o8, could you also please fill up an evaluation form which will be sending to you soon? Do us this favour please as we need your feedback to show our Vice-Chancellor because we want to 'fight' for the independence of GYS from the students' council of UM. So, please do help us. Thanks! ;) TWO CLAPS FOR EVERYONE ;)

On behalf of the GYS 08 OC, I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for any wrongdoings throughout the symposium. Thousand apologies!

Dont wanna be a grandma, so here once more, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Am missing all of you very much already:)

cheers,
Christine Chai
Director
GLOBAL YOUTH SYMPOSIUM 2008

Read up before coming!

Hi all!

Here are some useful links for you to read up on our topics before coming. Just do a little bit of research and reading before GYS starts so that you'll be able to contribute more in discussions.

For the environment:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/asia/0,9263,501080428,00.html
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html

For economics:
http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/PR_Davos_Gates
http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp

For the media:
http://www.medialaw.org/bloggerlawsuits
http://reid-on.com/archives/000020.htm

For general information about countries around the globe, try this link:

http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abc_world_fact_book.html

An example of what we hope to achieve through discussions:
http://www.earthcharter.org/


May this be a starting point for a well-needed change for our world!

Yours,
Grace

A change in Panellists!

Dear All,

Prof Lim Chong Yah is not able to come for the symposium due to unforseen circumstances. Do not worry though for we have another respected, renowned and wise panellist, Prof Tan Khee Giap from NTU, Singapore.


Dr Tan has extensively advised and guided multinational corporations leading to public listings in the Singapore Exchange, especially for those companies from Mainland China and Taiwan. He is also currently a Lead-Independent Director of the publicly listed Hi-P International and Chung Hong International, and will be on board in 2008 as an Independent Director for Artivision Technologies.

He has also served as a consultant to multinational corporations including Las Vegas Sands and Kerzner International for their bidding of integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa Singapore. He further contributed to policy formulations and participated in activities by international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, Asian Development Bank Institute, United Nations Industrial Development Group, World Gold Council, ASEAN Secretariat, Central Policy Unit, Hong Kong Special Administrative Zone, China.

Dr Tan has consulted extensively with the various government ministries, statutory boards and government linked companies of Singapore government including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ministry of Manpower, Housing & Development Board, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Trade Development Board, Ministry National Development, Maritime Port Authority, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore Design Council, Media Development Authority, Singapore Press Holdings, Yayasan Mendaki, StarHub and Capital Land on policies concerning financial, fiscal, trade, tourism, public housing, labor, telecommunication, tourism, creative industries, media, urbanization, airport and seaport activities.

Upon graduating with a PhD from University of East Anglia, England, UK in 1987, he joined the banking sector as a treasury manager and served as secretary to the Assets and Liabilities Committee for three years, there after he taught at the National University of Singapore. Dr Tan’s has published in international refereed journals including Applied Economics, Asian Economic Papers, Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies, Competitiveness Review in the area of capital flows, economic forecasting, financial sector liberalization and macroeconomic competitiveness. His current research interests include econometric forecasting, financial reforms and liberalization of ASEAN 10 + 5 Economies, and competitiveness analysis on 31 provinces in China, 35 states in India and ASEAN-10 economies.

He is currently an adjunct senior fellow of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Institute of South East Asia Studies (ISEAS), Singapore, the coordinator for PECC Singapore Structural Specialists Meeting, PECC Finance Forum and Deputy President of the Singapore Economic Society, 2004. He served in the 2002 Economic Review Committee (ERC) and as Chairman of the Task Force on Portable Medical Benefits (PMB), served as the Deputy Chairman of the IPS Forum for Economic Restructuring (IFER) in 2003 and served as a member of the Resource Panel of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport and Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Trade since 2007.

NEWEST SPEAKER LINE UP

Here is the MOST updated list of panellists for GYS 2008

Re-branding Capitalism

1. Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram
Assistant secretary general for economic development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN

2. Professor Lim Chong Yah
Professor of Economics and Director of Economic Growth Centre of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

3. Tan Sri Dato Azman bin Hj Mokhtar (suggested)
Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia


Environmental Responsibilities vs. National Development

1. Assc Prof Dr. Alastair S Gunn
Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy
University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

2. Prof. Dr. Khairulmaini Osman Salleh
Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in the University of Malaya

3. Professor Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin
Director General of Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia

Media and its Evolving Role

1. Ms. Sabina Inderjit
Executive Committee Member of the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific

2. Mr. Edmund Bon
Bar Council Human Rights Committee Chairperson

3. Mr. Johan Farid
Head of Regional Youth Projects of Youth Dynamics, ASTRO

To all particpants and participants-to-be

In order to prepare yourself for the symposium, we encourage you to read up on the three topics. Of course, you can focus only on the one you like but because you will be attending all three forums for the sub-topics, it is good to have some knowledge about it.

visit this website http://www.earthcharter.org/ and have a look around. Such a working plan is what we hope that you, as the future of this world, would be able to frame.

All the best no matter what you're doing!

Looking forward to seeing you in August!


Yours truly,

Grace Lim,
Head of Programme and Protocol.

p/s i will be putting the list of panellists up soon.

Just wanted to say Hi!

Hi everyone,

It has been a long trip for the committee of GYS 08 and today, the 20th JUNE 2008, will mark another historical moment for us in our path with GYS. What is important today is that it will be the closing date for participants' registration. However, we will still receive participation forms after this, and will try to fit in as many participants as possible. So, if you are interested to join us, do email/sms/call us beforehand to check with us, how long an extension will be given to you.

I would like to personally thank all participants-to-be of this symposium for taking the time out to complete all the forms and corresponding with us through emails, smses and telephone conversations. It was our pleasure to answer all questions and we hope that we have helped you much. We will be getting back to you soon once we sort out some admin work. Do wait for our replies!

This past week has been all good for the committee as we have received good news from international panelists! Our Asst. Director for the Bureau of Programme and Protocol, Grace Lim, will update as soon as all the other admin works are done. She will soon put up a blog post to share with everyone a little about our confirmed panelist. So, do check the blog from time to time for the latest update about the symposium.

If there are still questions which you will need to ask regarding the symposium, feel free to email, sms or call me. I would gladly help:)

Working for a better tomorrow!

Cheers to GYS '08,
Christine Chai
Director
Global Youth Symposium 2008
The University of Malaya
Malaysia
gysum2008@gmail.com
+6012 - 636 1502

An Undate on Panellists

Great news,

We have received confirmation that Professor Lim Chong Yah has agreed to be a panellist.

Professor Lim Chong Yah is an Emeritus Professor of Economics based in the National University of Singapore. He holds the Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics and is the Director of the Economic Growth Centre in Nanyang Technological University.

For more information on Professor Lim's numerous contributions and publications, do visit
http://www.hssapps.ntu.edu.sg/faculty/econ.asp?u=ACYLIM

In A Nutshell

I love putting things in a nutshell.
It makes life less complex. less complicated
Simplicity is elegance, they say. Elegance = Refined, Finest, Beautiful.

Enough with MY philosophies, moving on to the nutshell . . . .

3 topics to deal with . . .

-Rebranding Capitalism
-Environmental Responsibilities vs. National Development
-Alternative Media & Its Evolving Role

All three issues are well phrased and straight to the point.

Why? We are facing these issues in the present day.
Why now? Simply because we are experiencing the product of this phenomenon we label as 'globalization'
Why bother? Like it or not, these are the realities YOUTHS have to deal with for the sake of the SUSTAINABILITY of HUMANITY.

Allow me to stuff more into the nutshell. . . .

2 of the said issues (Rebranding Capitalism & Environ. Responsibilities v. National Dev) must be discussed under the huge umbrella of economics. In discussing Alternative Media & Its Evolving Role, the social, political and legal implications must be dwelt into.

On capitalism, the question is whether it is still relevant in this globalized stage?
Some suggest that 'pure' capitalism no longer exist as the capitalism exist in the present is built on the fundamentals of a hybrid of economic system. The collision between globalization and capitalism leads to a new branding of capitalism.

On Environmental Responsibilities vs National Development, there must be a balanced equation between awareness on environmental sustainability and awareness of the needs and reality of development.
As for now, the equation is far from balance. My authority by saying so?
GLOBAL WARMING, FOOD INSECURITY, LAND DEGRADATION, POLLUTION.

Alternative Media & Its Evolving Role is another interesting topic.
However, I shall put it in another nutshell for another day.

TAMAN PERTANIAN MALAYSIA

Discussion Board

GYS : AN OVERVIEW

 

Global Youth Symposium (GYS) is an international conference aimed at making a difference. First held in 2007, GYS deals with vital and pressing issues that affect the entire globe. Participants will produce roadmaps and strategies through intellectual and open discussions which are, most of all, practical and workable. It is no ordinary undergraduate conference that ends when participants leave because its impact is far-reaching and long-lasting as the resulting GYS Declaration will be sent to ruling governments, NGO’s and international agencies as we believe that youth have a right to speak up and the ability to provide fresh perspectives to the various problems which plague the global community.

 

Last year, GYS 2007 was organised by the Undergraduates’ Representative Council of the University of Malaya. This year, the University of Malaya’s Undergraduates Representatives’ Council is the organiser once again but GYS is breaking new ground because we are collaborating with UNESCO Club (UM) to make this event an even bigger success. We have set our sights higher, aiming for increased international participation and intensive dialogues. As the GYS Organising Committee president, Christine Chai says, “We not only aim to lift UM in the eyes of the world but to also create awareness among undergraduates of their roles as global citizens.”

 

In line with this year’s theme of Globalization, Global Youth Symposium 2008 will focus on three subtopics, namely:

 

• Re-branding Capitalism
• Environmental Responsibilities vs National Development
• Media and its Evolving Role

 

As many as 150 well-versed and knowledgeable undergraduates from all around the world are expected to participate in this symposium and to be part of the GYS family. For six days, participants will be exposed to forums, discussions and cultural experiences which will broaden their minds and expand their horizons. Panellists of high calibre, knowledge and insight such as Professor Michael Northcott will be invited to share their opinions and expertise which will benefit the participants and guide them in their discussions.

ISSUES TO TACKLE

 

Re-branding Capitalism

 

Capitalism had triumphed in the socio-economic systems battle of the 20^th century and is now practiced practically worldwide. Global capitalism has increased the standard of living of many. Millions of jobs have been created, goods are abundant and food aplenty – up till now. This laissez-faire economy has caused a dramatic increase in inequality between the rich and the poor not just amongst countries but also within a country itself.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the lack of certain values is threatening the global economy as well as the welfare of mankind. There is a dire need for a virtuous, moral or ethical dimension in global capitalism which hitherto were sorely lacking because the very notion is foreign and deemed unacceptable in the doctrine of the primacy of the market. Bill Gates, perhaps the most successful capitalist in the world has pushed for creative capitalism which he described as: “a hybrid engine of self-interest and concern for others”. However, would this ‘hybrid’ still be true to capitalism? We face a minimum of two alternatives: firstly, to modify capitalism and its practices and secondly, to search for an alternative way for the global economy to function. Where will globalization take us?

 

Environmental Responsibilities vs National Development

 

For the past decade, the global community at large has begun to feel the impact of global warming especially on food production, health issues, poverty, natural disasters and so on. Accordingly, nations have come together at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to sign the Kyoto Protocol and most recently, APEC members concluded the Sydney Declaration, which attracted sceptics who question its implementation and effectiveness.

 

There are those who are concerned with the risks of future human-caused climate change while there are those who seek to avoid the risks posed towards economic development and growth. A balance has to be decided upon and adhered to if the earth is to have any hope for the future. However, not all nations are prepared to fully commit to this cause. Furthermore, there is no guideline to ensure each country suffers loss equitably. Aside from formulating protocols and agreements, perhaps it is timely for other alternatives to be identified to tackle this problem.

 

Media and its Evolving Role

 

The role of media is to disseminate objective information to the general public. However, the media is unable to carry out its full responsibility due to restrictions imposed upon mainstream media as well as the pursuit of self-interest. In response to this, the global community has both created and changed the role of alternative media to fill in the void. It has now become an effective ‘check-and-balance’ tool against mainstream media and an accelerator towards greater freedom of speech. However, not all mainstream media are mouthpieces of governments and neither are all alternative media responsible or independent. The emergence of blogging, for example, has brought a range of legal liabilities and unforeseen consequences: releasing proprietary or confidential information leading to political danger, defamation and loss of employment. Therefore there must be a balance between freedom of expression and responsible journalism which will lead to the question of how far does the freedom of speech hold and if laws should be put in place to curb abuse.

 

Note from the Director of GYS '08

This symposium is organized with the purpose of challenging youth to come together and to deal with issues faced by the world today in this era of globalisation, setting aside their differences and work towards a common goal. Recognition and acknowledgement of cultural identities, linguistic diversity and each others’ social responsibilities will also be promoted.

Youth are the focus for the future and therefore we believe this event can accelerate ‘youth empowerment’ while at the same time discouraging ‘youth apathy’.

It is hoped that in the long run, the resolution resulting from this event will assist the participants to prepare themselves in facing the challenges ahead as potential world leaders. Through this symposium, it is hope that practical road maps and plans can be produced and implemented.

On that note, do not miss out this worthwhile opportunity to be part of the global youth community!