stories of a foreign land

As I am sure all of you are aware these “occupy” demonstrations have been occurring all around the world’s financial districts. The people are protesting against corporate greed, social and economic inequality and the influence of corporate money on the government (thank you Wikipedia).

Sure enough Singapore also jumped on this bandwagon and set up a facebook page to organise an occupation of Raffles Place in the center of Singapore’s CBD. I can’t say I have ever been much of a protester or demonstrator (although I have inadvertently walked out of the University library into student protests and thought sure who doesn’t love a good protest chant?)  but this was something I had to see.

The police/government issued a warning that protesting is an unlawful activity (unless you have a permit) in Singapore, this coupled with the fact that Singaporeans love to shop I was pretty sure no one would show up. Nevertheless I was intrigued and my curiosity got the better of me and I went to check it out.

I am not sure if it was Singapore’s love of retail therapy or their obedience to the government (which I am sure many governments around the world are extremely jealous of), it was what you would call a demonstration no show (apart from the 30 media personnel). So it was somewhat of an anticlimax but sure enough a true Singapore protest experience.

fin

tumbleweed

I think Singapore may have taken this occupy wall street sign a bit to heart

(source: egotvonline.com)

Singapore’s lone demonstrator (and when I say demonstrator I mean I was demonstrating that my favourite Public Enemy song is “Fight the Power”)