PCF 860 is a child daycare center in Tampines. What we do is we build relationships with local children by making arts and crafts with them. I didn’t join the service after a few weeks into the season, but with how passionate I was about this service I wasn’t bothered. I enjoyed playing with the kids a lot, they were very funny, nice and very respectful. With the planning we did after every session we were able to have everything planned out before the time we left. I love spending my time with those kids because not only do they do the activity but we also interact with them with small conversations and sometimes do the activity with them. It is a nice way for them to slowly wake up after a nap. Because this service is on a Thursday after school, it is fun to relax a bit and do some activities with little kids towards the end of the week.
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United Nations Poster
Violation of Human Rights: Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech:
I feel like when someone has something to say, they should be allowed to say it. People don’t want to hear others thoughts due to the fact that it might go against what they believe in and what they are saying. This concerns me because I like to speak my mind a lot about different things as I want my voice to be heard but knowing that there are others who don’t have the right to speak their mind just doesn’t feel right. Going to a school for almost 10 years where it is all about speaking out and letting your voice be heard influenced me a lot and made me the person I am today.
Art: The Cure for Depression
He was on his bed telling the doctor he didn’t want to go through chemotherapy anymore. His mind in a place he thought he could never get back from. His mom just recently diagnosed with dementia. How frustrating it is to take care of your own mother? The voices in his head get louder, he wishes he could shut them out. He doesn’t want anymore. No more chemo, no more cancer, no more pain. Scars from his operation, pancreatic cancer, reminding him of the horrors he has gone through. His scar tells a story, his experience through his toughest fight. The screaming voices keep growing, more and more. His eyes fill with tears trying to hold it back. He would rather die than live through this war with himself.
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a serious medical condition where you feel overwhelmingly sad. There are many effects of depression such as lost of interest in activities once enjoyed, loss of appetite, thoughts of death or suicide and etc. According to healthline.com, around 350 million people suffer from depression and according to the Word Health Organisation, around 800,000 people take their own lives every year. Almost every 40 seconds, someone takes their own life.
Depression is caused by many things. One because there is an imbalance of chemicals in your brain. But one of the leading causes of depression is mainly personal problems. Examples of this could be being isolated from a social group, the feeling of being alone, a death or loss and etc. Just like causes of depression, there are many types of cures of depression. Antidepressants and psychotherapy, also known as ‘talking therapy’ are 2 of the most used ways to cure depression. But a not so commonly used but very effective cure is creative therapy. According to everydayhealth.com, creative therapy is one of the most unique ways people treat depression. Creative therapy helps you find out who you are, where you are, what you have, and what you need to get where you want to be in life. Danny Raven Tan who has used creative therapy through painting helps him release. Christina Lau, who was involved in a car accident in 2010 which left her paralyzed from her neck down uses painting as a way for her to escape reality. Christina Lau was an avid diver and an athlete and her accident took a big toll on her.
(Image from TODAY Online)
Sometimes it is hard to express our deepest and darkest emotions to a stranger, friend, family member or anyone. The fear of being judged, showing weakness or being looked down upon. Covering yourself with a mask showing the side of you which everyone is used to. A painting of a flower is less threatening than your painful words, feelings that you keep inside of you. Besides being able to speak through art, art therapy also creates a bridge with your feelings. Being depressed sometimes makes you feel ‘incapable’ of feeling again. Creating art helps you express your emotion and feeling through a different form than words. Once you have created an external part of yourself through a piece of art, the feeling of being able to feel emotion again and realising it has always been there. Since the American Art Therapy Association was found in 1969, many therapists have been trained in both art and therapy. Art therapy include drawing, painting, and sculpting, or other creative methods of expression such as dance, drama, or music therapy. This type of therapy helps people cope with their inner feelings such as anger, guilt, trauma, shame or sadness. This form of therapy can help bring relief to depression.
Danny Raven Tan, a singaporean artist who has gone through pancreatic cancer his mother diagnosed with dementia and his father was dying, creates pieces of art to express how he is feeling. He also uses art as a way to get away from things, to get lost in the moment. Depression took over Danny Raven Tan after his chemotherapy as he didn’t want to suffer anymore, he wanted to end everything. Danny had 1 big scar on his abdomen which he could never accept. A constant reminder of what he has gone through. Danny Raven Tan suffered from pancreatic cancer and never told his parents. The pain, guilt, the voices in his head getting loud. Hiding one of your biggest secrets from his parents and eventually his mom gets diagnosed with dementia. The feeling of never being able to his mother about his cancer hits his soul like a truck.
In conclusion art therapy for depression is one of the most widely used to those who need help the most but are ashamed to tell others. Danny Raven Tan and Christina Lau uses art to get through life by expressing their feelings through art. Art lets you express yourself without you showing all the emotion within yourself. It lets you express your feelings without the use of words, without the rage, without the darkness which is inside of you. According to Semir Zeki, a neurologist, that when you identify a piece of art as beautiful, the amount of dopamine in your brain increases similar to when you feel love.
Bibliography
Parekh, Ranna. “What Is Depression .” Www.psychiatry.org, Www.psychiatry.org, Jan. 2017, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression.
Krucik, George T. “Depression: Facts, Statistics & You.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 28 Jan. 2015, www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic.
“Suicide Data.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/.
Iliades, MD Chris. “The Healing Power of Creative Therapy for Depression.” EverydayHealth.com, EverydayHealth, 30 Aug. 2012, www.everydayhealth.com/hs/major-depression/creative-therapies/.
“Depression & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 20 Oct. 2014, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9297-treatment-options-for-depression/.
says, Linda Morrow, et al. “Art May Aid Depression.” Art Therapy, Art Therapy, 24 Dec. 2012, www.arttherapyblog.com/mental-health/study-shows-art-may-help-with-depression/#.Wokj9ZP1XdR.
Mitchell, LMFT Contributed by Douglas. “Art Therapy as a Treatment for Depression.” GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, Good Therapy, 5 Feb. 2018, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-therapy-depression-expression-0619125.
Collection, Summit Entertainment/Everett. “8 Unconventional Ways to Ease Depression.” EverydayHealth.com, EverydayHealth, 10 Nov. 2014, www.everydayhealth.com/depression-pictures/unconventional-ways-to-ease-depression.aspx#/slide-3.
Images:
Fang, Joy. “Art Pieces at Tiffin Gallery.” TODAY Online, TODAY Online, 11 Feb. 2016, www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/spore-artist-danny-raven-tan-showcases-his-works-flat
Second Image was taken by a teacher during Danny Raven Tan’s talk at United World College East.
Rape Crisis in Japan – Global Perspective Essay
This is was my faith, ethics, and political ideologies essay.
Rape is a major problem when it comes to the modern world. Around 321,500 cases of sexual assault happen every year in the United States for women aged 12 or older. (RAINN) Just recently a lady spoke about being sexually assaulted but not knowing the whole story. The lady named Shiori Ito was drinking one night until she was invited by a man named Noriyuki Yamaguchi for a drink. Ms Ito passed out and ended up in Mr Yamaguchi’s hotel room. In a subject such as rape, people will always walk the other direction because it is just ethically wrong. Because it is very controversial, people tend to keep quiet about the subject.
Being a woman passing out and ending up in a man’s hotel room when you wake up would be shocking as you wouldn’t know what is happening. Though there is no evidence of rape at all. The case was dropped after being investigated for 2 months. (Rich, 29th Dec 2017) To someone who was apparently raped such as Ms Ito, of course, has to speak up as to her rape is just wrong. Being the ethical absolutist she is, she speaks out about it as to her rape is looked down upon and there needs to be something said about it. (Ito, Jan 4th 2018) Because rape in Japan isn’t such a big deal in the highly populated country, the chances of someone being convicted of rape is fairly low. (Yamamoto, May 11th 2017) Ms Ito wanted to change that, being a journalist, she has the courage to speak for those who don’t have a voice and be heard. As of October 2017 #MeToo started to go viral were women who also have been sexually assaulted break from their silence which gave Ms Ito the courage to talk about her experience. (Rich, 29th Dec 2017) Due to Japan’s culture where women can’t speak out about rape so easily also influenced Ms Ito to make a change (Ma, 19 May 2014). It also violates the Universal Declaration of Human rights: Article 19, Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Article 12, No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his/her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. (United Nations) Now in Japan, people are starting to recognise her and thank her for speaking out. People, not just women, finally have a voice against sexual assault and feel empowered to make a change. The Japanese government is also starting to rethink their laws on sexual misconduct and many more. (Ito, Jan 4th 2018)
Because rape is a very controversial topic in Japan, the government doesn’t want anything to do with it. Something stopping the Japanese government from taking action against sexual harassment offenders is the Japanese culture and what it restricts women to speak up as it is looked down upon, showing disrespect to the men in Japan who are the majority. (Yamasaki, 8th Nov 2017) An article in Japantimes quotes “Only 18 percent of sexual assault victims in Japan report the crime to the police, according to the Justice Ministry (some believe the figure is even smaller), and that over half of the reported rape cases are not prosecuted.” (Yamasaki, Nov 8 2017) Something stopping the Japanese government from taking action against sexual harassment offenders is the Japanese culture and what it restricts women to do. In the case, Mr Yamaguchi has close ties with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzō Abe, which might have helped Mr Yamaguchi a bit. (Ito, Jan 4th 2018) Due to the Japanese culture and society where women are exposed to sexism and harassment; the government doesn’t want to change it. The law has been the same for the past 110 years and there is nothing being done about it. (Ito, Jan 4th 2018) Just recently, the year of 2017, they increased the minimum prison sentence from 3 to 5 years. Which is small progress but it is a start.
Personally, I am an ethical absolutist when it comes to the topic of rape. I feel as if rape is wrong because you are sexually harassing a woman/man and forcing her to do sexual acts with you, without his/her permission. I believe that all people are equal and shouldn’t be exploited because of their gender, nationality, sexuality or anything else. At the same time rape violates one of the human rights, Article 12, No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his/her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. The fact that Mr. Yamaguchi violated Ms Ito’s privacy, in this case, a woman who is a minority, is wrong. Mr. Yamaguchi was exploiting her unconscious body for sexual purposes. Invading her privacy for his own satisfaction.
An article made by Monica Kotwani, a journalist based in Singapore in who writes for channel news Asia wrote an article about the Singaporean community speaking out against sexual assault. A big issue in Singapore according to channel news Asia is marital rape where women are getting raped by their husbands. In 1999 A man raped his wife who was filing a divorce against him, was accused of abuse and only fined $4,000. (Kotwani, 21st Oct 2017) But just recently in 2015 the Singapore government are reviewing their laws against martial law and changing it up a bit. (Zhu, 24th April 2017) Since the #MeToo started to go viral with women who feel ashamed about the subject of rape. Because everyone is talking about the topic of rape in the #MeToo trend, people feel as if it is safe to talk about it without any judgment. At the same time, men who are shocked about their family and friends who were raped are starting to make a statement about the role of being a man and what it actually means. A quote from an article from ChannelNewsAsia about women feeling empowered to talk about their experiences about sexual assault quotes “But ‘we’ (as men) can cause harm even without knowingly causing it. How we treat relationships, how we joke about women, how we were educated to think about roles of our gender.” (Kotwani, 21st Oct 2017) This states that this issue isn’t just concerning women who are being assaulted but also men. Men need to rethink their roles in society and be educated about what’s happening with the male gender in the real world. They have got to teach men’s roles in society. (Kotwani, 21st Oct 2017)
In conclusion, I think that those who have been sexually assaulted need to speak out. There is no shame to justice and everyone has the right to the law. An example of somehow whose words have been heard is Ms Ito. Though she spoke out 2 years later, she still got her point across to the public and raising awareness in Japan. Eventually being one of the top stories and having many stories from different news outlets about her. Because of her actions, the Japanese government is starting to make a change in their laws about sexual misconduct. While Mr Yamaguchi got the case dropped in December of 2017. This case and the trend of #MeToo raised awareness for those who have experienced sexual assault and empowering those to speak up.
Bibliography:
Ito, Shiori. “Saying #MeToo in Japan.” POLITICO, POLITICO, 4 Jan. 2018, www.politico.eu/article/metoo-sexual-assault-women-rights-japan/.
Kotwani, Monica. “Sexual Assault Victims in Singapore Feel Empowered to Speak up, as #MeToo Goes Viral.” Channel NewsAsia, 21 Oct. 2017, www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/sexual-assault-victims-in-singapore-feel-empowered-to-speak-up-9328274.
Ma, Karen. “Why Are the Rape Statistics for Japan so Low?” Www.quora.com, 19 May 2014, www.quora.com/Why-are-the-rape-statistics-for-Japan-so-low.
RAINN. “Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics.” RAINN, RAINN, www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence.
Rich, Motoko. “She Broke Japan’s Silence on Rape.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/world/asia/japan-rape.html.
“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations, United Nations, 10 Dec. 1948, www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/.
Yamamoto, Jake Adelstein Mari. “Does Japan Ever Convict Men for Rape?” The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast Company, 11 May 2017, www.thedailybeast.com/does-japan-ever-convict-men-for-rape.
Yamasaki, Alisa. “In Japan, We Too Need to Talk about Sexual Misconduct.” The Japan Times, Japan Times, 8 Nov. 2017, www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/11/08/voices/japan-need-talk-sexual-misconduct/#.Wl8tIZP1XdQ.
Zhu, Melissa. “Behind Closed Doors: Rape and Marriage in Singapore.” Channel NewsAsia, 24 Apr. 2017, www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/behind-closed-doors-rape-and-marriage-in-singapore-7931028.
Christina Lau: “You’ve got to believe in yourself”
Christina Lau who is paralysed from the neck down is a mouth artist. Which means she paints with her mouth. When she came to visit our school she talked about her background and how it encouraged her to get into art. I really wanted to hear things like how was it like when depression hit her and what inspires her landscape art. I know it may sound a bit harsh but I am just being honest. Something I found very interesting was how she was able to view things positively and with that how she recovered from her accident mentally. Nothing really stopped her, she just kept pushing.
Mukul Deva: The Science of Making a Story
I have never been really much of a reader or writer. I always tried to walk the other direction when it came to story writing, reading books and etc. The main reason I never really wrote much was because I didn’t know how to start what to write about. During this session, Mukul Deva showed us the fundimentals when it came to story writing and how to start for each genre.
The fundimentals of story writing:
- Know what your plot is.
- Where will your story be set.
- Characters
- There should be a point of view character.
- Around 3-4 POV characters
- There should be a point of view character.
- What happens in your story? (Incidents)
- Tension, Desire, Danger and etc
- Describe your character through a moment
And afterwards break everything into chapters.
*What story are you telling.
*How are you going to tell the story.
During the session I didn’t really have any questions besides why he doesn’t visit his companies. I know that he answered it saying because he is lazy and he trusts him employees. This session made me rethink if I should write again. Because I of his skills that he has shared with us, I could try it out again.
“You’ve got to prostitute yourself”
When I think about the talk with Danny Raven Tan, I straight away think about how honest he was with his talk. The fact that he just doesn’t care anymore makes his presentation very real and entertaining, really hooking us into his presentation. Danny is an artist who expresses his thoughts through his art. He calls himself a conceptual artist. So in 2010 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had to go through surgery and chemo therapy. His mom was also diagnosed with dementia which really hit him hard. His only way out was through art and getting it out. My big takeaway is something he said “God sends his toughest soldiers to fight the toughest wars.” which really hit me hard. And the only way to cope with it is to get himself out there by being a “Social Whore” which I found funny. He exhibits his art in his HDB flat where anyone can come by and appreciate.
Marc Nair, the Singaporean Poet
Marc Nair who is a Singaporean poet recently just visited our school to talk about his work. Something which I really liked about his work is he makes poems and takes pictures of real life issues and raises awarness about them. Towards the end of his presentation, he sung to us one of his songs about cliches which to be honest was pretty good and pretty funny. Well beforethis presentation, I wasn’t really into poetry as I it just didn’t really attract my attention. Now, Marc Nair who is a spoken word poet shown me that it actually conveys a message aswell as relates to lyrics in a song. Being someone who is really into music and always has an earbud in my ear listening to music as I really relate into the lyrics the song. I love the fact that poetry can help me release some stress and get things off my mind and onto a piece of paper. If I was being honest, I was expecting a cheesy talk about deeper meanings about poems and the story about pictures but it turned out to be what I expected except something I can relate to. Something that Marc said is that when you are just starting out, you always tend to write about yourself and there is justso much to write yourself about.
Transpiration
One challenge on this video was doing the voiceover and how to align it with some specific parts of the video. Sometimes I got really lucky and it would just fit in. Because we already filmed everything, I couldn’t film it the way I would have done it which is why I just went with it. Making this video really helped me in understanding transpiration as at first I didn’t really get it. I would prefer making videos such as this compared to completing worksheets and teacher discussions as it is mostly independant and you get a visual of how it actually works in your own understanding. Unlike worksheets where they are very restrictive of what you do.