Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) cares about its image. A video clip featuring MDA senior managers dancing and singing - in an odd hip hop style, sort of - is currently a hit on the Internet.
The video was also a hit with “LeWeb3″ organizer Loïc Le Meur. In a message on his blog from Dec. 1, Le Meur finds “very interesting the fact that the Singaporean government is able to create this kind of video, and above all, that the Web is aimed at playing such a great part in its development strategy.” Le Meur, a businessman, is thinking of a partnership between MDA and Seesmic, his own video website.
The Web3-live.net team invites you to watch first the video – very funny according to some people, rubbish for others.
Big city, big money… big brother?
In 1965, Singapore declared its independence from Malaysia. Free-market economic policies allowed massive Western investment, notably in electronics. Today, Singapore is a 4-million-strong city-state, whose main assets are trade and the finance, high-tech, chemical and oil industries.
Many human rights organizations such as Amnesty International criticize constant slander and libel lawsuits brought by the government against their political opponents, in order to force them into silence and/or bankruptcy. Chee Soon Juan, general secretary of Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), regularly faces jail time for illegal public speech. Singaporean cyberspace is also under the tight control of the authorities – and the MDA plays a key role in this policy.
The economic success story of Singapore deter the last internal protests and any serious criticism from the world community.
In February 2007, the French weekly Courrier International dedicated a special edition to Singapore. Here are some extracts, written by the Singaporean novelist & essayist Catherine Lim:
“The Singaporean political model is the outcome of a highly sophisticated strategy aimed at containing, controlling and manipulating society…”
“The Singaporean government considers that security, job stability and a quiet and proserous life are the biggest concerns of the population…”
“The governement is close to its goal: an ideal society, headed by a small group of irreproachable, honest and hard-working people, who guarantee their successors’ probity thanks to a system of permanent self-control and self-renewal”.
We invite you to watch the video again. Does it still makes you laugh?
Some things banned in Singapore (source : wikipedia)
It is strictly forbidden to go on strike; for men to have gay sex; to possess a satellite dish; to sell chewing gum or Malaysian newspapers; to eat and drink while on public transportation.
Between 1991 and 2005, 420 people - mostly drug dealers - were hanged in Singapore, according to an Amnesty International report. The group says Singapore has the highest rate of death penalties in the world.
So … the winner of the Web3 Startup Competition has been announced! The prize goes to French startup GooJet (i.e. Good Gadjet). GooJet beat out around 120 other companies for the honour. GooJet has created different widgets for mobile phones, in order to give access to community services and tools.
GooJet is also a partner of […]
French designer Philippe Starck has just finished speaking for more than 40 minutes… his topic? what social design is about. Here’s a sample of his metaphorical presentation of one of his collections of lamps dealing with war. His French accent and Jean-Claude-Van-Damme style make it all the more fascinating…
See PhilippeStarck’s profile.
