Spread the Love!

If you were anywhere near Singapore’s landmark Takashimaya Shopping Centre on the 14th of May last year, you would have been greeted by an astonishing sight - 400 people, frozen in place despite the sweltering heat.

No, they’re not malfunctioning robots dispatched by the government to spy on citizens. They’re agents on a mission to bring fun and joy to people’s lives. They are Mission: Singapore! Mission: Singapore is a group that plans and organizes flash mobs, affiliated to Improv Everywhere from the United States. Participants gather in a public place, perform unusual and often bizarre actions, and disperse soon after (from Wikipedia) Their latest mission is due to land on Valentines Day. Instead of freezing in place, Mission: Singapore ‘agents’ are tasked with a nobler cause: distributing free hearts and hugs. From 14:30 to 17:00, the space outside shopping mall-cum-office building Wheelock Place will be transformed into a haven of ‘free love’. Volunteers will paste paper hearts on and hug complete strangers. It is a move that ‘aims to spread the message against indifference amongst strangers... [promoting] friendliness and conversation between people, regardless of differences,’ according to its events page on Facebook. Over 100 people have signed up to be a part of the event, and everyone is welcome to join. In this period of economic uncertainty, this flash mob looks like a low cost and effective way to encourage everyone to think about those in need of love.