The brain behind Singapore’s first student Humanist group
Trekking in the Footsteps of Wallace: Celebrating Darwin Day 2022 at Bukit Timah
To commemorate Darwin Day 2022, members and friends of the Humanist Society (Singapore) gathered on the morning of 26 February 2022 for a historical nature walk through Bukit Timah. The event paid tribute to Charles Darwin and celebrated the legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace—the British naturalist who independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection.
Between 1854 and 1862, Wallace visited Singapore multiple times during his eight-year exploration of the Malay Archipelago. Seeking proximity to the island’s remaining primary forests, he stayed with French Roman Catholic missionaries at St. Joseph’s Church in the Bukit Timah district. From this base, Wallace trekked daily into the hilltops, collecting thousands of insect and bird specimens.
Led by Hang Chong—an avid naturalist and veteran Nature Society (Singapore) member—participants kicked off the morning with an introductory briefing before embarking on a 3.5 km guided route through the approximate area Wallace once explored.
Starting at 8:00 AM from Beauty World MRT station, the group traversed several key landmarks while observing strict COVID-19 safety measures in small groups of five:
- Old KTM Railway & Rail Corridor: Participants walked along sections of the historic transport artery and green corridor, stopping to observe local flora, such as a notable fig tree along the way.
- Hindhede Bridge & Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge: The guide shared insights on the area’s biodiversity, geological history, and industrial heritage.
- St. Joseph’s Church (Bukit Timah): The walk concluded with a special visit to the historical church where Wallace once resided. Church volunteers welcomed the group for an in-depth tour, showcasing unique site features including a statue of St. Joseph, the church’s distinctive depiction of the 15th Station of the Cross, and the historical headstone of Father Y.M. Mauduit (the French missionary who hosted Wallace).
By 10:00 AM, the tour wrapped up with group photographs capturing the participants alongside their guide, successfully blending Singapore’s rich natural history, evolutionary science, and local heritage into a memorable morning outdoors.
Discussing race and religion; An illustrative guide
Every year on 15 Feb, Singapore commemorates Total Defence Day, the day colonial Singapore surrendered to Japan in 1942 in World War II. The concept of Total Defence was introduced in 1984 as a whole-of-society national defence concept. It has six types of defenses today – military, civil, economic, social, digital and psychological defence. (You can read about the various defences here.)
This year, the Humanist Society (Singapore) wants to contribute to Social Defence – where everyone makes an effort to trust one another and to strengthen the bonds across the different ethnic groups.
In multiracial, multi-religious Singapore, discussing racial and religious issues can be challenging, even when discussion is well intended. Sometimes, we end up self-censoring even though dialogue is still needed to lower tensions and build understanding.
On this day, we release 8 beautiful hand-drawn illustrations to show 8 tips for discussing race and religion in Singapore.
1) Find your common ground
Common ground can always be found between any two people in the world no matter how wide the gulf is. You can start by sharing universally accepted principles (fairness, honesty and charity) and shared life experiences (same school, neighbourhoods).
2) Say something positive
From the common grounds that you have established, say something positive about the other community. This can include achievements by the community, the beauty of their arts and culture, and their efforts to reach out to others. You will be surprised by how much affirmation can achieve.
3) Seek spaces for frank dialogue
If you wish to speak your mind, there are spaces for frank dialogue in Singapore. Many dialogues are facilitated by Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC), OnePeople.SG, Harmony Centre, Centre for Interfaith Understanding (CIFU), Humanity Matters, and hash.peace, to name a few. Follow them on social media to get notifications of such events.
4) Acknowledge self-reflections in the community
People know they are not perfect, and there are existing self-reflections in every community. Look out for speeches by community leaders who are in a position to discuss imperfections within their communities. Acknowledge and celebrate all courageous efforts at self-improvement, however small.
5) Acknowledge imperfections on your side
In the process of acknowledging existing self-reflections of the other side, acknowledge blind spots on your side too. Far from appearing weak, you will be respected for your honesty and moral courage. You might even get a helping hand!
6) Solve one difference at a time
Should relations between communities turn sour, it cannot be fixed overnight. If differences over an issue are too numerous, it is better to address one difference at a time. With patience and consistent effort, walls between communities can be removed.
7) Removing emotional tones
When discussing the most sensitive disagreements, avoid emotionally-charged dialogue that obscure the facts. If you feel that tensions are rising, postpone dialogue and go for a walk.
8) Agreeing to disagree
For differences that cannot be resolved, agree to disagree. Just as any two individuals in the world have common grounds, no two individuals are the same. Keep the door open for future dialogue, and you will be surprised by how much you can learn. Diversity makes Singapore unique and it should be celebrated.
