Defiant Umbrellas

Demonstrators, wearing prison uniforms, march in protest at the jailing of the Umbrella Movement student leaders in Hong Kong, August 20, 2017. Reuters pic

 

Yesterday, thousands of Hong Kong citizens braved the oppressive heat to stream from the eastern district of Wan Chai to the Court of Final Appeal in the heart of Hong Kong Island, protesting the jail terms of Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow, leaders of the 2014 Umbrella Movement rallies.

 

They held signs including: “Give back hope to my children” and “One prisoner of conscience is one too many” as they gathered to show support for the threesome.

Democracy is fine but throughout its history, I don't think Hong Kong has ever been democratic!

 

I'm in a really lousy mood. I need to exorcise this emptiness living inside me. A gnawing void. A blankness that eats me up. 

And who else can I turn to but Yoko Ono's screaming?!

 

I support this view:

I'm Jealous

I shared a music video on the Lectern KL Toastmasters Club Facebook page – Ladies of Soul’s “That’s What Friends Are For”, a Dionne Warwick classic. I was basking in the afterglow of an enjoyable Toastmasters meeting on Friday, that’s why.

 

I was checking out the music videos on YouTube when I stumbled upon this video clip – a moving rendition of Labrinth's "Jealous". And the way it was sung, tugged at my heartstrings too – which makes me want to share this on my blog.

Only because my mood had already taken a sudden 180-degree turn.

I feel what the singer feels. I recognize it all too well. And the pain of emptiness pierces my heart as he sings it.

 

Two lines pertinaciously pin themselves onto the inside walls of my throbbing head:

 

"It's hard for me to say, I'm jealous of the way

 You're happy without me".

 

And I become teary-eyed.

Of course, I didn't lose a best friend as Josh Daniel did.

I just lost me and I'm left with only an empty shell. I'm a dispirited soul cursed to wander this earth until the end of time.

Never mind, I am rambling. I guess I am in the doldrums today.

Some might say I am on emo overdrive.

Still, it doesn't hide the fact that I am feeling the blues. Correction. I feel I am dead inside.

Prison Time for Umbrella Trio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFP photo

 

Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow who had spearheaded Hong Kong’s huge Umbrella Movement protests were jailed Thursday for their role in the 2014 pro-democracy protests – and dealing a fresh blow to the campaign for political reform.

 

Wong, Law and Chow were given terms of six months, eight months and seven months respectively after the court upped their previous non-custodial sentences. The sentences handed down by the city’s Court of Appeal came as fears grow that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city and that rule of law is being compromised.

 

The Umbrella trio were found guilty last year on unlawful assembly charges for storming a fenced-off government forecourt known as “Civic Square” as part of a protest calling for fully free leadership elections in September 2014.

 

Their arrests sparked wider rallies which exploded two days later when police fired tear gas on the crowds, triggering mass demonstrations that brought parts of Hong Kong to a standstill for more than two months in an unprecedented challenge to Beijing.

 

Wong and Law received community sentences and Chow a three-week suspended sentence at magistrates’ court last August over the Civic Square protest. But Hong Kong’s justice department had sought to enhance those terms, with prosecutors arguing they should receive harsher punishment. Indeed, their wish has come true.

 

Methinks, Hong Kong can expect more protests because this is not the end.

There is apparently this survey involving 1,000 Malaysians by BlackBox Research for Tourism New Zealand that our passion for food is a key focus even when we are holidaying overseas.

 

The study found that eight in 10 Malaysians ranked indulging in a country’s local delicacies as the activity they enjoyed doing most.

Duh! As if we don't already know that!

#OpenYourWorld

An intelligent commercial – Heineken presents ‘Worlds Apart’ An Experiment.

 

A beer advertisement that shows two strangers with opposing views provide proof that there’s more that unites than divides us. #OpenYourWorld

 

I must urge you to watch this commercial!

 

I came up with these two promotional posters for District 51’s Semi-Annual Conference – the last one apparently – in Penang this November.

 

Doing my bit to help the Organizers:

 

 

Tasteless Ad that Features Nude Air Hostesses

Image credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-4760904/Kazakhstan-s-Chocotravel-site-uses-naked-models-ad.html

A travel company's tasteless advertisement featuring nude air hostesses went down like a lead balloon with their customers.

 

Kazakhstan's Chocotravel had released a video promoting their budget flight services, which adds nothing to the price of a plane ticket.

 

But the offensive footage hasn't had the desired effect, with customers lambasting the company as sexist.

 

The advert starts with just a head shot of one hostess as she gasps in apparent ecstasy at the offer. Then a second stewardess blows a kiss to the camera.

 

But it is only when the camera pulls back that it is revealed that the seven stewardesses in the lineup are naked apart from their caps and neckerchiefs.

 

Only a strip running across the screen like a booking form hides their breasts from view.

 

Then as the camera pulls back even more, they whip off their caps to protect their modesty and hide their private parts from view.

The ad looks like a spoof that would not be out of place on a show with Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy Kazhak creation Borat.

 

Really, what were they thinking of?!?!?!

 

I was at the Speakers Dream Toastmasters meeting today. And I delivered an Ice-breaker – titled “Born to Speak”. This is my CC Round #44!

D51 Annual Conference 2018: Testimonials

I knew, right from the start, marketing would be critical if I am to make the D51 Annual 2018 a success.

 

I need to do it differently. Marketing textbooks refer to it as "targeted marketing".

 

And so, I went personal. I build relationships. I go to the ground.

 

I connect with Toastmasters everywhere and anywhere.

 

To enhance communication, I also added visual assets. These can be photos, videos, illustrations and infographics and they surely help me to effectively promote the District 51 Annual Conference 2018. Primarily on social media.

 

Toastmasters organize conferences annually. And in peninsular Malaysia, there are already two “competing” conferences. Simply claiming to be "the best" is not enough to convince people, more so Toastmasters to sign up.

 

One marketing method I am using is “testimonials”.

 

'Testimonials in marketing' is powerful. Always has been. For those who know, it is easy-to-use and certainly, it is a 'cheap' marketing tool. When you are in my situation – where the marketing budget is capped at zero – testimonials are a godsend. Really. 

 

Testimonials create an emotional appeal. They increase trust. They increase my social media engagement.

 

The people I have invited to give testimonials represent the Toastmasters universe in this part of the world. They are the most representative of my target audience – I have made it as diverse as I possibly can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above are been released daily over 30 days. Since July 16.

 

The theory behind this, if you don’t already know, is “implicit egotism” – the psychological phenomenon that explains why we gravitate toward the choices made by people who resemble us.

 

Testimonials, therefore, are an integral part of my social media marketing strategy.

 

Footnote: My "testimonials" are different in that my conference registrants may have "bought" the product, i.e. the conference package” – BUT that is all there is to it! There is NO CONTENT as yet. Absolutely zilch.

 

I am "selling" the so-called conference with only a venue in place, an admission price and a conference theme. And oh yes, I am letting it known that I am the Organizing Chair. That's it!  

D51 Annual Conference 2018: The Origins

Sometime in January of this year, an innocuous proposal was brought to my attention – to seriously consider hosting the District 51 Annual Conference 2018.

To be honest, I was disinterested, detached and just plain indifferent about  it. It was an immediate and expected response. Most likely, I was spooked by the gargantuan responsibility that came with the job. I already knew it would be one onerous obligation that was best avoided. 

 

For some strange reason, I did not say 'No'. 

 

On April 28th, two Toastmasters made a "bid" presentation at the D51 Annual Conference 2017 in Penang and two days later, I received the "flag" – affirming that the hosting right had been awarded to me.

 

And from thereon, I realized very quickly that this was not just another Toastmasters event. It was bigger in terms of scale and scope, definitely demanding and certainly, very much more challenging.

 

Still, I was not cowed, daunted or even fazed by it all. You can say, I took it in my stride. And slowly but surely, I began to put a team together.

Soon after the ideas came fast and furious. And just as speedily, they were translated into action plans.  

 

The following were some of the initiatives developed to promote and sell the event! Obviously, it has to begin with marketing, my area of specialty:

 

Anwar Ibrahim Defends Arch Nemesis

On Sunday, Anwar Ibrahim stoutly defended his former arch nemesis Mahathir Mohamad against detractors who questioned the former premier’s prominent involvement in Pakatan Harapan.

The jailed Opposition leader said he understood and accepted the skepticism that many “loyal and caring friends” have towards Mahathir, who is now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and PH chairperson.

However, he offered assurances that the Opposition would not be veered off course by the former prime minister as the pact’s brand of politics does not limit power to the elite few.

Anwar said that Mahathir's and PPBM’s presence was strategically part of a plan to increase the network of support for a struggle that is more widely agreed upon.

“Personally, I welcome Dr Mahathir’s readiness to join us in this struggle”, Anwar added.

“The personal pain and injuries are small compared to the people’s interests and the future of this country”, he declared.

And his plea: “He should be given the space to help expand the people’s movement”.

I thought it was well-put but only time will tell whether Mahathir is an ally or he is pushing his own agenda.

We can only wait with bated breath.