Freedom Week
Monday, October 13th 2014
Meet and Greet Cambodia
Where: Cambodian-German Cultural Center, Meta House, Phnom Penh
When: 17:30 – 21:00
The annual get-together meeting between FNF and its project partners in Cambodia was first organised in 2011. The idea is to provide a platform for getting to know each other more and to expand the liberal networks of FNF, FNF’s partners, friends and local experts to promote freedom and democracy in Cambodia.
Tuesday, October 14th 2014
Freedom Barometer - Malaysia Sneak Preview and Online Discussion
Where: https://www.facebook.com/IDEASMalaysia
When: 09:00 onwards
How does Malaysia perform in the 2014 Freedom Barometer Asia? Before the official launch of the publication, FNF Malaysia’s partner IDEAS (the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) will discuss the publication’s assessment of political and economic freedom and the rule of law in Malaysia.
Jeju Peace Institute and FNF Korea:
9th international workshop: “Historical Reconciliation & the Future of North East Asia: Lessons from the German reconciliation process”
Where: Jeju Peace Institute, Jeju Island
When: Tuesday October 14th, 19:00 – Wednesday October 15th, 18:00
Unlike Germany who made a successful reconciliation with its neighbouring countries, East Asia still suffers from the so-called “Asian Paradox” which refers to the discrepancy between the growing economic interdependence in the region on the one hand and the relatively underdeveloped political and security cooperation on the other. Moreover, Northeast Asia currently lacks mechanisms for effective multilateral cooperation to deal with inter-state conflicts. One of the reasons why several inter-state conflicts in the region persist is the lack of reconciliation between the relevant countries.
Against this backdrop, the 9th JPI-FNF joint workshop will provide experts with an opportunity to review the achievements of the German reconciliation process and to draw lessons from it for the future of Northeast Asia. It will clarify and elaborate recommendations for more effective and efficient policies to create a more peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula and East Asia.
Dream Thailand: 7th Thai People Theatre Project
Where: The National Assembly of Thailand
When: 09:00 – 16:00
‘Creative media’ plays an important role in civic education. It implants the seed of political awareness and interest in our youth today. This audio-visual tool attracts their attention and encourages them to raise questions and thereby increase interest in public affair. The ‘Thai People Theatre Project’ is a short film competition initiated for Thai school and university students to employ their film direction and production skills on politically related topics and issues centred around the areas of liberty and freedom, human rights and promote liberalism.
FNF Philippines: Premiere of Dumb Ways to Vote (Dumb Ways to Die parody)
Where: Online Campaign
When: 19:00 onwards
Dumb Ways to Vote is a three-minute animated video on Philippine electoral candidates. It is an entertaining parody on the qualifications of politicians who keep winning elections – a comedian, the corrupt, or even a murderer! Dumb Ways is a reminder that people should vote intelligently. As the country gears up for presidential elections in May 2016, Filipinos can refer to the video as a tick off sheet when they screen candidates.
FNF Philippines will launch the video on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 as an online campaign. Dumb Ways to Vote has versions in English and Filipino. It is based on Dumb Ways to Die by Metro Trains Australia.
FNF Malaysia: “Freedom Conversation”
Where: https://www.facebook.com/IDEASMalaysia
When: 20:00 onwards
On the night of 14th October, FNF Malaysia’s partner IDEAS will pose 3 questions on their facebook page: (1) What does freedom mean to you? (2) Is freedom more important than national security? (3) Should the state ever restrict freedom of speech? Founding Chief Executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Chief Operating Officer Tricia Yeoh will curate the discussion and respond to the questions from the public.
Thursday, October 16th 2014
FNF Thailand: SIM Democracy Workshop
Where: Thammasat University
When: 09:00 – 12:00
In Thailand, as in many other emerging democracies, youth participation in politics is rather limited. Many young people do not have an interest in politics and do not see how it affects their lives. Moreover, the values democracy is based on, democratic institutions such as parliament and political parties, and public decision-making processes are not well understood. Young people do also not know through which channels they could participate in the community.
In order to change that for the better, SIM-Democracy, a traditional board game, was put together by toy designers and democracy experts with an intention to provide an interactive tool for young adults and first-time voters to gain a better understanding of the basic functioning of a democratic community and of public policy. Furthermore, the aim is not so much to provide answers but to stimulate questions and further inquiry and thereby increase interest in public affairs.
Through the simulation of a simple democratic community, SIM-Democracy allows participants to play different roles in a democratic society – take on the role of a government or the one of an ordinary citizen. The government role involves budget planning and allocation, spending, investment, provision of infrastructure and support to citizens in four policy areas – public health, security, public education and environmental protection. The citizen role includes generating income and paying taxes, taking community initiatives, engaging in charity, and monitoring the government. The implementation of SIM-Democracy targets first-time voters, including high school students and first-year or second-year university students. The players compete with each other to be elected for public office.
At This workshop around 80 high school teachers from 33 schools across Thailand will be trained as ‘Play Coaches’.
FNF Indonesia: Expert Meeting on Religious Freedom
Where: Hotel Sofyan Betawi Jakarta
When: 09:00 – 16:00
Conducted in cooperation with the Gusdurian Network, a network of people concerned with the growing intolerance in society. The activity is an effort at discussing the government’s protection of religions and providing equal services for all religions. It stems from previous experiences of discrimination within the government. Now that Joko Widodo has been elected president, expectations are high for better treatment and protection of all religions. A recommendation will be formulated in the workshop to be submitted to the newly elected president.
Northeast Asian History Foundation and FNF Korea: Historical Conflict and Reconciliation Prospect in Northeast Asia (Roundtable Discussion)
Where: Northeast Asian History Foundation (NAHF), Seoul
When: 15:00 – 17:00
And exchange of ideas between reconciliation experts from Germany and Korea.
Friday, October 17th 2014
FNF Indonesia: Seminar on Religious Freedom
Where: Hotel Sofyan Betawi Jakarta
When: 12:00 – 16:30
The Seminar on Religious Freedom will put the recommendations formulated at the FNF Expert Meeting up for public discussion.
FNF Indonesia: Freedom in Harmony Photo Essay Competition
Where: Hotel Sofyan Betawi Jakarta
When: 14:00 – Sunday October 19th, 21:00
Freedom in Harmony will be conducted in cooperation with the Association of Journalists for Diversity (SEJUK). It is a competition for campus press journalists who have joined SEJUK and FNF’s workshops on religious freedom and tolerance in the past. A series of three to five photos should “tell” the story of Freedom in Harmony in line with the three sub-themes of Religious Diversity, Ethnic Diversity or Gender Equality. The exhibition aims at raising awareness among the youth on tolerance and pluralism.
Saturday, October 18th 2014
FNF Cambodia: Cycling for Freedom
Where: Phnom Penh and surroundings
When: 06:00 – 11:30
Cycling for Freedom Team was established in June 2013. The team consists of IAF Alumni, partners and friends of FNF and interested parties. The team has organized monthly tour in the past and the upcoming tour will be CFT tour #15. The motto of this tour is “Freedom to Education”. The team will ride to visit a high school in rural area to meet and talk to students of Grade 12 to present and discuss about the core value of education.
FNF Myanmar: Launch of SIM Democracy Myanmar Version
Where: Sule Shangri-la Hotel Yangon
When: 14:00 – 22:00
Following the success of SIM Democracy in Thailand, FNF Myanmar will launch the Burmese version of SIM Democracy and introduce it to members of parliament and political parties.
Sunday, October 19th 2014
FNF Philippines – Freedom Run and Concert
Where: CCP Complex, Pasay City, Manila
When: 05:00 – 10:00
At least 3,000 people are expected to run against corruption on Sunday, October 19, at the CCP Complex, Pasay City for the annual Freedom Run. Now on its fourth year, the Freedom Run with the theme “I am free from corruption” has had over 13,000 participants, and has been organized in different parts of the Philippines. The Freedom Run will be followed by a Freedom Concert. The runners will be greeted by the performances of the top 10 finalists of the Freedom Song writing composition at the finish line. Renowned music artist Noel Cabangon heads the jury that will select the best song that reflects good governance and freedom.
FNF Cambodia: Radio Talk Show Youth & Freedom: What does Freedom mean to you?
Where: Voice of Democracy radio station, Phnom Penh
When: 11:00 – 12:00
This weekly radio talk show has been on air since 2009. It focusses on all topics related to youth, freedom, democracy, rule of law, market economy, political and social development, education and environment. This week’s theme will focus on “What does Freedom mean to you?” The uniqueness of this radio programme is that it is designed, prepared, facilitated and participated as speakers by the youth (up to 30 years old) only.