ASEAN has became closer to
the society
We can be grateful that after the signing of
the Bangkok declaration, 17 years ago ( year 1967 ), ASEAN has grown increasingly
stronger. Fraternal bonds, mutual trust and cooperation amongst its member states are
becoming even more closer, thus ASEAN emerges as a forum of regional cooperation which
impresses the world. With the admission of Brunei Darussalam as ASEAN's sixth member-state
( 7 January,1984), ASEAN becomes an even more extensive forum of regional cooperation. We
must further consolidate and reinforce the strong cohesion and solidarity of ASEAN which
we have been promoting so far.
ASEAN has firmly determined not to allow
itself to become the area of conflict between the super powers, which is definitely
against our interest. For this reason, therefore, ASEAN must continue to reflect the
resolve of its member states to chart and to determine their own future, in conformity
with the means and ideals which we regard as suitable for our peoples. It is also for this
reason that ASEAN is determined to establish this region as a zone of peace, freedom and
neutrality. It is in this framework that we can't remain indifferent towards a situation
which disrupts the stability and peace in our region.
Clearly, ASEAN has no intention in
interfering in the domestic affairs of the Kampuchean people, because ASEAN has no
interest whatsoever to be directly involved in the conflicts that are taking place in
another country. If ASEAN starts to interfere in the domestic affairs of other
countries-even of its own member-states-this means that we are destroying our own
fundamental principles. What we are doing is to find actively a way out through a
political solution, whether by direct or indirect approaches.
Furthermore, another development which has
greatly encouraged us is the fact that ASEAN has become more deeply and extensively rooted
in the midst of our society. Apart from cooperation on the government level, we are
witnessing day by day the growing cooperation between members of the society. These are
the indications that give significance to the fact that ASEAN has become closer to the
society. The popularization of ASEAN is indispensable, because it serves as a guarantee
for the solid growth of our association. This also illustrates the existing close
cooperation amongst ASEAN member-states in the socio-cultural fields.
ASEAN has also succeeded in establishing
cooperation particularly in economic field, with other countries or groups of countries.
In fact this cooperation is not merely limited on a Government level but it also involved
private sectors.
As a forum for regional cooperation situated
in the Pacific area, ASEAN must also strengthen its cooperation with countries that are
located in our surrounding areas, whether with Dialogue Countries or with the increasingly
developing archipelago states.
The right to dream, even in
hospital
-Philippe Bouteloup, Musician, Director
of Music and Health, France
Playing music to improve the welcome and
living conditions of children in hospital, such is the idea of the Music and Health
Association. To play with sounds, to sing, are to appeal to everyone's imagination and
creativity-parent's, children's and carers'. It is, quite simply, making room for
pleasure, for life.
On the face of it, nothing could be
further from the hospital world than music, which is, by definition, festive and loud. It
may be seen bizarre, even inappropriate, but to the hospitalized child, cut off from his
everyday life and reference points, music has an important place in the world of
pediatrics. Why deprive a child of his favorite song on the pretext of illness or
hospitalization? Music may enable him or her to maintain contact with their world, to form
bonds and to enter into conversation through this poetic dimension.
Improving the quality of life of the child,
of its family and of the nursing team by including music in the pediatric departments
would be the musician's watchword in the hospital. He will set himself up in a corridor to
play and sing with some of the babies and their parents. He will take time to play and to
listen while life bustles on around him. The song learnt in the hospital room will go with
the child to the operating theater and will enable the child, like Hop o' my Thumb, to
find its way back. The percussion instrument will become its "security blanket"
or an object to explore.
Time for playing and listening: Music brings
people together and pulls down the barriers of age, language and culture. The waiting room
becomes a music room. Children discover instruments. Their reactions and participation
astonish parents. They as us "how does it work" when they see the rain rod,
whereas the children have already gone off to play.
Carers who sing to the new-born when changing
or bathing them give the parents permission to sing in their turn and thus make it easier
for them to become part of the department. In the neonatal department, the mother will
make contact again with her baby through a nursery rhyme from her own childhood "I
like knowing that my child is hearing something other than beep-beeps, because there are
so many things that are done through music". Parents feel worthwhile and music helps
them communicate better with their baby.
This action also has the effect of making the
nursing teams aware of noise pollution, which is considerable in the neonatal and
intensive care units, and of thinking about improving the baby's sound environment.
Finally, for the Association, to train the nursing staff in music is to pass on our
passion, our know-how, but also the theoretical and practical tools so that they may be
the daily intermediaries for our work. |
