Corruption is a curse and a root cause of the world’s many problems. Corruption is inducedby human nature and greed. However strict the rules and tight the system, some individuals still are tempted to break the rules.
To seta high-level goal of cracking down corruption and money laundering, the Anti-Corruption Declaration was signed by countries onthe inaugural Anti-Corruption Summit in London this week.
The International Monetary Fund said that bribery withdraws between US$1.5 and US$2.0 trillion dollars annually around the world, pulling down economies and damaging social services for the poor.Accordingly, 2 percent of global gross domestic productis now paid in bribes every year.
It has been said, that corruption is a stubborn cultural phenomenon. The late Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew proved it wrong.
Singapore is globally recognized as a country that has a clean and incorrupt system, because of three factors – strong political leadership, a robust anti-corruption framework, and a culture that scornscorruption.
The Singaporeans do not condone giving or accepting bribes to get things done. Their government system applies to all, enforcing the laws without fear or favor.
In Singapore, businesses have confidence that rules are transparent and fairly applied and the nation’s leaders are determined to uphold the highest standards of integrity from the top level of the Government down.
Singapore Prime Minister said, “Our reputation for being against corruption is hard-fought and hard-won, but that does not mean we can let our guard down.”
The Philippines is now on the brink of a new administration that resolved to fight corruption in this country.
Given this new door of opportunity, let us work together and expect and demand to ourselves and the government a clean working system towards a better future for all.
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Tidbits:
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) have joined forces to protest at the sentence of 81-year-old former captain of the Greek-owned Prestige oil tanker to prison for widespread oil pollution.
The ETF and ECSA say the latest legal decision is nothing less than a further proof– one time too many – of the ill-treatment of seafarers.Seafarers are too often used as an easy scapegoats upon whom to shift all the responsibility for possible environmental damages. (By Edgar Allan J. Tac-an)