Conversation With DJ Tan on the Singaporean General Assembly
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2023/10/01
DJ Tan is the Vice President of Humanist Society Singapore. Here we talk about the General Assembly of Humanists International to be hosted in Singapore in 2024 and Asian Humanism.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: It has been a while since an interview together, a few years. I was glad to run into you in Copenhagen. That was a lot of fun. There are a few positive notes coming forward over the 2023-24 period, especially regarding the Humanist Society of Singapore. First things first, how was Copenhagen for you? The first World Congress in about a decade. That’s a big deal.
Ding Jie “DJ” Tan: It is exhilarating and nerve-wracking to be nominated to host the 2024 General Assembly! Our previous hosts, Glasgow and Copenhagen, have set a very high bar for hospitality, engagement, and organisation. We can’t wait to show attendees around Singapore, and discuss humanism and interfaith issues over some chai and hummus!
Jacobsen: It was announced that the next General Assembly would be in Singapore, which is exciting. It’s a young organization, so this is ambitious. What is the feeling of getting this opportunity amongst the community?
Tan: We can expect panel discussions with practitioners and stakeholders in humanism/community building; workshops on humanist ceremonies and supporting humanists at risk; spotlighting Asian humanists and activists; socialising and networking with the community over good food!
Jacobsen: What can many of us expect at the GA, though early in the process, granted?
Tan: The theme is “Interfaith Harmony and Secularism”. This explores a thread of humanism that isn’t always widely discussed in our circles.
Jacobsen: What will be the chosen theme at the GA in 2024 in Singapore?
Tan: We are open to collaborations! Feel free to reach out to me at vicepresident@humanist.org.sg if you’d like to help organise the 2024 GA.
Jacobsen: Are other organizations helping with the organizing of it?
Tan: Yes, for sure! We also are in touch with our Southeast Asian neighbours to find ways to get them transport and accommodation here.
Jacobsen: I’m glad to see more Asian nations represented. This will help accessibility for many who, maybe, couldn’t afford previous events. It’s exciting. Is this something of discussion within the humanist community in the Asian region?
Tan: Yes, for sure! We also are in touch with our Southeast Asian neighbours to find ways to get them transport and accommodation here.
Jacobsen: What seems like the major concern of the humanist community in Asia, currently?
Tan: Asia is a large, diverse region; we see that different communities currently face many different issues. Broadly speaking, we see the rise of authoritarian leadership, often on the backs of a majority religion; we see militaries wresting control from democratically-elected governments; we see countries locked in territorial disputes over land and maritime borders. Taken together, these may cause instability in the region and make it more challenging for our work.
Jacobsen: How is your role as VP going now? We talked a bit about this in the earlier interview.
Tan: The role of the VP has been a learning journey. Much like a start-up, we’re operating with limited budget, time, and bandwidth; this challenges us to balance resource allocation. We’re glad to have our volunteers with us, who are our greatest asset!
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