The nasty train experiences have blown into a huge commotion in Singapore. Several times, the trains in Singapore have stopped in between stations, leaving thousands of commuters in the lurch. Electrical power supplies to the train were stopped, and the light and the air-conditioner were off, making it suffocating in the vehicle. Worse, announcements were unclear to those trapped in the trains. Even after they exited the train about half an hour later, their problems did not stop there. They had to hike between the stations, and many people were stuck in the train underground system. Also, the public transport like buses and taxis were very cram as a result of the multiple breakdowns at around the same time. In addition, both the people who were and were not affected by the train breakdowns were angry they found out that the company had sent a message to their company’s taxis. “Incoming opportunity. Dear Partners, there is a breakdown in our MRT train services from Bishan MRT to Marina Bay MRT stretch of stations.”
The blunt message made it seem that the company did not sympathize with the commuters, but instead, they took advantage of them to earn more money even though they had publicly apologized already. Such a big incident like this has not occurred in Singapore’s transport system. As a result, the people grew very dependent on it, and seemed to even take it for granted. Thus, when an accident like this happened, they felt that the government was not doing enough to keep the transport system in good shape. When a tourist from Spain who once lived here commented that even though there were often riots occurring and stalled the transport system in Spain, the people did not complain about the government. This person was later scolded by other netizens, who said that the government ought to keep the country in good condition since the ministers were paid so much salary. I feel that the response that the Singaporeans voiced out were fine, but the root of the problem is that the people are taking everything for granted. Some creative netizens came up with the slogan – “Saw Must Resign Today”, and they also threatened to vote against the People’s Action Party in the General Elections in 2016 if she did not agree. A portion of Singapore society refuses to see the hard work put in by the government to serve the people, and using this as an excuse to vote against the majority ruling party is ridiculous.
SMRT, which is the only MRT service in the country, has attributed these incidents to not just one maintenance issue, but a few isolated reasons. On the first few times, they claimed the incidents occurred because of the misalignment and wear and tear of the connector shoes of the train and the third rail on the track. However, three days later, they reported that the problems occurred because of a signaling problem in the system. For example, a problem with power rail in some of the train tunnels, and another problem with the signaling systems. This might represent the falling standards of SMRT’s services after such a long time without competition from other companies. I feel that the government should not need to force the CEO of SMRT to step down from her post, as this will not solve the problems. The problem may not necessarily stem from her to begin with. It could be possible that the technicians and the engineers felt that they did not have to put in so much effort, and believed that the system would continue working well if they did not regularly check the system. However, they did not check with their superiors about whether it was okay not to check so often. Even if the problem did stem from the CEO of the company, forcing her to resign now will not be the right solution. If she was the one who caused all the problems, she should know best about the situation and how to solve it.
All in all, I feel that the problem lies with both the people and SMRT – both need to improve. The people need to start understanding how much effort is needed to run a company, and not take all services provided by the transport companies for granted. On the other hand, SMRT needs to understand its importance to the country as a vital part of its transport system and make sure that all its equipment is always ready.
MRT Problems
The Rise of Burma
Slowly, the political situation in Burma is revolving. The military government, which used to be headed by Than Shwe, has finally been overthrown, and the first ever democratic elections have been held. The previous one was laughed off as a joke, as the military government’s parties overwhelmed the opposition in both number and in strength. One-quarter of the seats were also reserved for the army, thus rendering the opposition useless.
However, it is evident that the rule of military governments has reached its limit, with most people despising it. I believe that the world is now mostly headed towards a more peaceful world where violence is not accepted. In fact, one major reason why Burma is so poor now is mainly because of the country’s violent behavior towards its citizens. Therefore, the country was sanctioned by many other humanitarian countries like Western states and peace-keeping organisations such as the United Nations. Thus, it shows that hard power is now unacceptable by many countries’ standards, and that violence will not bring a country or its ruler prosperity, but instead ruin and death. Soft power is the way to go.
The hero of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, has finally relented to taking part in the elections this time. A clear example of the respect for her would be obvious to anyone there. The country is filled with pictures of her and her father, and she was named “the Lady” by supporters. In addition, the United States is here to help. Hillary Clinton visited the country recently to “repair” relations between the two countries. I believe that this will also give the Burmese a sense of safety. After the US visits Burma, the people will feel that there is a strong Western power supporting it, giving them to spirit to work harder towards improvement. The country is now the second poorest country in Asia, and it obviously has a long way to go towards improving. Suu Kyi’s opposition party, National League for Democracy, NLC, has managed to win the hearts of many citizens in Burma. As a result, they are willing to vote for her and thus will make things easier for her government to rule in the future. The results are already out and for all to see – the parliament has already passed a bill to allow certain Burmese to protest, something that has not been allowed since a long time ago. It can thus be expected that the country, with the help of others, will be able to lift the sanctions, allowing Burma to further develop as a democratic country.
Besides the political suppression that the country has been experiencing, Burma also has to solve many problems, most importantly health and education. The country is wilting from AIDs, and the children of the towns are not going to school, but are instead fishing from mud ponds. If the situation continues, then there will be almost a certainty that the next few generations will bring low economic development due to the low education of a great portion of society. In addition, Burma’s next working generation and perhaps even the generations after that will be weak and unhealthy. Hopefully, when the NLC is voted into parliament, it will be able to slowly turn the situation around. Burma has been entrenched in violence and misfortune, but we can now hope that the new beacon of peace will finally be able to reach the people, and bring happiness and a better life to them.
As the world revolves with time, so do countries. They develop both physically and politically, and although the chance to change Burma is within grasp, it is now the job of the new government to make things happen!
My Hamster Cookie
Recently, I was hoping for an animal that I could talk to and watch in my free time. I thought that it would be fun to have another smaller companion, and I felt that I was able to take on the responsibility of raising a pet. However, I noted that it was impractical to choose a big domestic pet like a dog or a cat due to the huge costs of raising it and the trouble it would bring. Thus, my considerations shifted towards the smaller ones – either a hamster or a terrapin. To my excitement, my parents agreed to buy me a small pet as a birthday present. However, they warned me that a pet was a big responsibility and when I got my pet, I needed to be ready to spend time to care of it. After reassuring my parents that I would do just that, we embarked on a “learning journey”.
Firstly, we discussed and decided that we would get a pet hamster. A terrapin moved too slowly and it was harder to “read” its emotions. On the other hand, a hamster looked much more adorable and lovable. After this, we read up on the different species of hamsters. We discovered our ignorance in this area not too long after – we all thought that there was only one species of hamster. However, to our surprise, we found that there are two distinct types of hamsters – dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters. There are quite a few differences between them. First and most distinctly, dwarf hamsters enjoy company while Syrian hamsters despise it. For the latter, they are territorial and will kill other hamsters that are in the same cage as it. Also, when there are two hamsters of different gender in the same cage, they will start breeding and this will result in the birth of more hamsters, which would then become more of an expensive and time-consuming activity to raise the hamsters. Second, the dwarves do not like being touched by humans, but Syrians enjoy being held, and we felt that one of the joys of raising a hamster would be to feel it. Syrian hamsters are also much easier to tame compared to their smaller counterparts. Thus, after careful deliberation, we decided to get a Syrian hamster.
After making the decision, we went out on physical journey to different stores in Serangoon North to check out the prices. We took pains to look for best things that we needed at the best price – the cage, the food, the bedding for the hamster and the hamster itself. We visited countless pet shops, and finally found a cage that we liked. It was a blue, double-floored cage complete with a water bottle and a silent wheel. It was the biggest sized cage we could find, stretching 53cm in length and about 43cm in width. I was quite sure that my hamster would like the new cage! We also purchased, from the same store, a 50L bag of beddings as well as a larger wheel for the hamster in preparation for when it grows into an adult-sized hamster. However, we could not find suitable hamsters to buy. In many shops, we found that the hygiene conditions were not very good, and we were worried that the hamsters would not be healthy. If the hamsters were weak and sickly, then they would not last for long as our pet. Thus, we decided to go to a cleaner environment where we could find some hamsters that would be more likely to be healthy and active.
To solve the problem, we visited the biggest pet chain in Singapore, “Pets Lover’s Centre” (PLC) to buy the small animal. I have not visited a pet shop in years, so everything inside was quite new to me. The seemingly infinite rows of accessories for bigger animals like dogs and smaller animals like hamsters were shocking, and even finding the hamster section was difficult! Once there, I looked into the glass box containing all the small, eight-week old hamsters. They were playfully rolling and burrowing all around the box. We then searched for a colour that we liked, and found two. However, we wanted for a male hamster as many people had said that males were easier to tame and would not overheat as the opposite gender would. As a result, we were left with one option as only one out of the two were male! After observing him for a while, we noticed that he was quite active, and then the deal was set! His head and lower body is a pleasant toffee brown, and is banded with white in the middle. A brown stipe of fur stretches to join the two bands of brown, and he always has an inquisitive look on his small face. In the end, we decided to name the adorable hamster Cookie!
It has only been a day since I got Cookie, and he still seems nervous. Despite this, his cute movements and sudden spurts of boldness never fail to make us happy. I noticed that although the cage was a new concept to him, and that he did not even have a wheel to run on in the glass cage, he quickly adapted and was soon running on it as if he had done it for the whole of his life. Another interesting thing he does – sometimes, he would go into the sand pit that we provided for him and start rubbing his face profusely. This funny action all made us laugh! Later, we read online that it was common with newly bought hamsters. They would rub their faces to leave their scents around in the cage. Hamsters are short-sighted, so they rely on their acute sense of smell to “see” the things around them. They would mark different spots in their cages for their different activities, and would use their noses to sniff the places out! By the same method, the hamster recognizes who approaches their cages!
What a great and fun birthday present this has been for me!
A New Alternative
The diesel industry is headed for change – an alternative for the fuel has been found. Now, biodiesel in the form of vegetable oil is gaining its popularity. The fuel is easily accessible and cheap as it can be homemade given that one has the right “ingredient” and is careful. Here is the “recipe”:
1. Filter out the food and the water from the oil using a mesh screen
2. Warm up the oil and add sodium hydroxide and methanol (the sodium hydroxide) breaks up the oil molecules into fatty acids and glycerol, and the methanol reacts with the fatty acids to form esters.
3. Drain the glycerol away.
4. Wash the remaining substance with water to remove any impurities and extra sodium hydroxide.
5. Drain the water away.
6. Aerate the remaining substance with an aquarium bubbler to remove the moisture.
The manufacturing cost of this biodiesel is a fraction of the price of petrol at US$44 for 175 litres, and this is enough to drive a pickup truck for 1,200 kilometres! However, despite the low cost of production, the price at which the biodiesel is high – and although environmentally friendly people are willing to pay the cost, this alternative biodiesel costs 30% more than petroleum-based diesel.
However, this may also change! With the device to make their own motoring equipment of this biodiesel bought from Oilybits, a person is able to produce batches of 120 litres of biodiesel! What’s more, this fuel is free of tax if a person manufactures less than 2,500 litres a year. There is another astonishingly fact that can be said about this diesel. Even if there was a lower cap on how much biodiesel a person could produce, there would be another solution to the problem. These people could modify their engines slightly to use raw, untreated vegetable oils to drive their cars. The most common way of doing this is to fit the vehicle with two fuel tanks, one filled with petroleum-based diesel until the radiator gets heated up. Here, water is channeled from the radiator to the tank with the vegetable oil. Then, the driver can start burning the vegetable oil when the solution gets more watery.
In the modern world with well-developed technology, we can slowly start finding alternatives such as this waste vegetable oil to replace the commonly seen fuels. Despite this, nobody would start using this new technology if it is not promoted or is too expensive. Make a wise choice – choose the environment-friendly diesel over the conventional fuel!
Information from: The Economist: “The fat of the land”
Brain Boosting Drugs - To Take or Not to Take?
Recently, two students taking an examination in Singapore blacked out as a result of taking brain boosting drugs. The practice of taking brain boosting drugs has become increasingly common in the country. I believe that this is because of the “kiasu” mentality. In Singapore, there is strong competition, and this will cause the children as well as their parents to do almost everything in their power in order to achieve good marks.
However, “self-medicating” like this has its disadvantages. Firstly, there will be the peer pressure that will eventually cause almost all students to be taking brain boosting drugs sooner or later. After seeing that many of their friends and classmates taking the drugs, they will be under pressure to take the drugs too, as they will feel that they will be left behind everyone else if things continue.
As a result, there will be more people experiencing the side effects. With advantages to the brain boosting drugs also come their side effects. What happened at the examination hall is a good example. Provigil may cause anxiety, lower the user’s mood and can trigger serious skin reactions. Furthermore, the drug is addictive and this may even lead to a country where the students become drug addicts. In addition, the students may be desensitized to the idea of taking drugs. They might have the wrong mindset that since they are already taking brain-boosting drugs, then other drugs should not be that harmful. This ultimately harms the child and society as a whole. The problem even may be further exacerbated since these drugs are so easily available.
Some argue that since nobody sets a ceiling to a person’s mental abilities and if the person is fine with cognitive enhancers like coffee and private tutors, then there is no need to fuss over the pills. However, I feel that this statement is not applicable here. Coffee and private tutors do not cause any harm or damage to a person’s body, but this is not the case with drugs. As stated earlier, brain boosting drugs can cause harm to the body, such as skin problems, and in some cases can cause heart rhythm problems. We can also take example from “The Mind of A Mnemonist (1987)” where the scientist’s patient had limitless memory. As a result, he could remember so many facts and events that his mind was overwhelmed by details. Although this is an extreme example that is not likely to happen, the effect intended remains. We cannot always be seeking to be the top, at the risk of our health. The effects of the drugs are not long-lasting, and to keep at the standard, we need to continue taking the drugs, which then have harmful effects on our health. Even if the effects were everlasting, I feel that the health risks stand.
Even so, the drugs are not a super pill where the students are immediately top in their classes. First off, if everyone takes the drugs, is it possible for everyone to be top? Secondly, hard work is still necessary for one to do well. With or without the drugs, the student still needs to trudge over his work and take pride and effort in whatever he does to achieve success. Thirdly, there might still be long-term effects of the drugs that are unknown to us.
In my opinion, I believe that taking these drugs are not the way to go. The drugs, which although have effects to one’s ability to remember things and improves the brain’s functioning ability for a limited time, pose health risks that will unquestionably cause damage. Believing in oneself, hard work and the right mindset will bring a person to great heights.
Movie Review: Coach Carter
The Second Egyptian Revolutions
Not once, but twice. The Egyptians have surprisingly, again, revolted against the Egyptian government. After being overseas recently, I had not caught up with the news. Thus, when I first heard about it, it seemed odd that the Egyptians, after getting what they have wanted, are now complaining. However, after reading the article, I realized the reason for it.
After dictator President Hosni Mubarak was shoved off stage, the military generals seized power over the people. The military then continued the autocratic regime, making past striking efforts and all casualties during the street protests seem worthless and unnecessary. My first reaction after reading this was that the Egyptians did not react in a way that would be best for them. Instead of asking for changes nicely and protesting non-violently, they were again going for the violent option. It even occurred to me that the Egyptians were starting to seem “addicted” to rebellion.
However, the article went on to say that although the numbers of protestors were large, they were nothing compared to those who massed against Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. This reminds me of the “Occupy Wall Street” peaceful protests. Although the people had the same end goals in mind, they no longer believed in the way in which it was done. Also, I realized that there was no other choice for the Egyptians. Unlike the United States, they lived under autocratic ruling and even protests which started out peaceful would turn bloody in no time.
Egyptians now live in a hard time – with no forms through which they can change things, even by a little, except through violence and the overthrowing of the state government. Egypt has had its first truly democratic elections on the 28th of November. Also, it has been pointed out that while some liberalists first supported military rule over democratically elected parties due to supposed Islamist influence, they now recognize democracy as the way to go. Hopefully, things can calm down soon and the violence will stop. Even if this did happen, however, the shift to democracy will be a painfully long process through which new policies have to be crafted out. It will be a hard time to come for them, indeed.
Comparatively, Singapore has a better government. Although it is true that there is no complete free speech, there are still means through which Singaporeans can voice out their opinions. They can have a meeting with their GRC’s MPs and still voice out suggestions. Moreover, I think that Singaporeans are still not very aware of the good plight they are in. Singapore already has a low unemployment rate of 1-2%, and compared to USA’s 9% and Spain’s 20%, it is a minute section of the population. Most Singaporeans are thrifty, and many own flats of their own. The government has clear plans for the future, and is not in any debt. On this note, the Occupy Raffles Place attempt was totally uncalled for and unnecessary.
China VS India
India and China are now surpassing other long-standing powers like the United States with their booming economies and intricate cultures, while European and Western countries are now sinking into abyss with their debts. The two countries house many citizens, have economic and cultural similarities, and might spearhead global growth in the future. However, at this point, the two countries seem more of rivals then partners.
Rivals or Allies?
In the past, both races despised each other, with ugly perceptions of each other. However, in the modern world, since education has been largely emphasized in these developing countries, they have learnt to better embrace other races and tolerate each other. As a result, there have been changes to the way both races see each other. This makes me remember my history lessons – in the past, as a result of the misunderstandings between the races in Singapore, numerous riots broke out throughout the country, causing much unrest. The situation turned tables when Singapore developed into a harmonious, multi-racial country – now, neighbours of all races make good friends, helping each other in times of need. Soon, I believe that the racial barriers between the two countries will be broken down.
Even if the racial differences did not exist, the two countries still would not be friends. As a result of the two countries trying to develop their economies, China established a “string of pearls” in the Indian Ocean, while India is trying to do oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, angering New Delhi and Beijing respectively. There might actually be a hint from this that the two countries are vaguely trying to provoke each other – both want to be the greatest power in the world, and are competing for the title. As a result of this mindset, the two hardly invest in each other, with Chinese investment in India being 0.05% of its total investment worldwide. This even extends all the way into the air travel industry – astonishingly, although the two countries are so huge, they hardly even have many direct flights connecting them.
Getting themselves in order
Before the ambition sets upon them to save the world’s economy, the countries have their own worrying problems that they have to solve first. China’s bubble is deflating, and exports are sliding, and inflation is devastating in both countries. The most obvious problem is probably the income gap – with the rich being ridiculously so, and the poor hardly even surviving. China is leading when it comes to bringing its citizens out of poverty, but the task of solving the problem is still daunting. While reading the article in the Times magazine, I spotted an interesting line – “While China doesn’t follow the rules, India has too many rules to follow.” Upon some thinking, I found this statement to be quite true. I just returned from Beijing, and realized that many laws in Singapore are not found much in China. The two most obvious ones I found were namely the ban on spitting, and the restrictions on smoking areas. Corruption is rife, and this has dented India’s reputation as well.
Perception vs. Reality
Western countries impressions of the two countries are through romantic and ideological prisms. Thus, India is gentle, with articulate and urban leaders, like those in New York. On the other hand, China is a scary country, represented by a fierce and fiery dragon which is threatening. This is because of Beijing’s profile and swagger. Beijing uses its power more often than India – they oppose anything and everything they dislike, from US actions to cracking down on political dissent and cyberspace activity. On the other hand, New Delhi was more accepting and tolerating of anticorruption protests. However, I feel that the main reason for this would be the differences in the political systems between the Western countries and Beijing. The Western countries ultimately believe that the best form of political ruling is democracy, while Beijing is an autocracy, so there may be some disgust at China’s method of ruling. However, not all democracies are countries with stable governments. There are many instances of human right abuse in India too, and though one man has one vote, it does not mean that he has equal voice. In the end, it is still the rich and the powerful that make all the difference.
Although China and India seem promisingly powerful, and the world will depend on their strength to pull through one day, they will have to be able to solve most of their current problems. With the corruption, will aid really reach other countries? With the poverty and violence, will the country be able to control itself? These questions need, and will be answered soon, and I believe that both countries really have to cooperate sooner or later.
Beijing Train Trip
The 16th of November marks the day during which I embarked on a train trip to the capital city of China, Beijing with my parents and grandparents. This trip would be of two “firsts”. One being my first 24-hour train ride in a cabin, and the other being my first trip to Beijing. The rest of my family had already been to the country before, and I was anxious to go there too. I had read much about the country on the newspapers before, and wanted to visit the tourist spots, most of which were remains of Chinese culture.
The train cabins were very small, with a one-person width, and about three metres long. The cabin did not have any door, and had two bunk beds of three levels each. Looking back, the cabins seemed quite badly furnished. The top and middle layers were not even tall enough to sit up straight! Luckily, the bottom layer allowed more head space. The train we took there was quite empty, with most cabins only having one or two people inside. As a result, our cabin ended up being the most cram.
During most of the trip, we played a four player card game to keep us busy. There was not much else to do on the train – there was no television, and the train rocked too much for me to read my book. What was worse was that we had not brought enough snacks to eat! The people from other cabins were all prepared, bringing along snacks like peanuts and instant noodles. As a result, we were forced to buy the food from the train. To my surprise, the food, although relatively cheap, was quite good!
The train ride was a good chance for us to rest well before our hectic schedules in Beijing. I really enjoyed the experience – the small place proved its coziness, and I managed to interact more with my grandparents and get to understand them better. At the end of the trip, my feelings about the trip were bittersweet - a mix of enjoyment yet a feeling that I did not want to take such a train ride in the near future. This reminded me that I still had to take the train back to Hong Kong, making me think of how I should prepare for it!
The Important Factors of a Good Education
In today’s world, more and more countries recognise the importance of educating the younger generation, especially Singapore, who has already risen in its academic ranking to above that of USA’s. In my opinion, I believe that it is important to work hard. Firstly, there a person needs to work hard in order to improve himself. Malcolm Gladwell found out in his calculations that even supposed natural need to work hard for at least 10,000 hours before he has a chance to achieve success. Secondly, it is important to have a conducive learning environment with people that are better than you. This gives a person the incentive to work harder to try to surpass the people around him. This forms health competition in which one is driven to excel. For example, when John sees that Tom’s results are better than his, then he will want to work harder in order to do better than Tom the next time. Thirdly, the students must feel motivated to work hard and do better. If John wants to become an expert in the area of science, and eventually become a respected and reputable scientist, then he would be motivated to work hard towards that goal. People without an aim in mind cannot achieve much. In the end, it boils down to what the parents teach their children about. If society’s parents are relaxed on their children, and do not expect them to work hard, and most of the children will just influence each other and the average academic grades in the country will drop. Parents trying to force children to work hard will discover that this technique only works on younger children. Nevertheless, it is also important to groom a child from young. If parents inculcate the right learning values and attitude, learning, instead of being a chore, can become an enjoyment. Also, teaching them good learning habits such as working ahead of time and not procrastinating, then they would be much more motivated to work hard.
An example of this is the US education system. Californian public schools used to be the finest in USA, were well-funded and well-run, with excellent teachers. However, they are now a disaster, ridden with so many problems that it has become irreparable. The US’ results have been sliding, falling behind many countries in Europe and Asia, like Singapore, to the 26th overall.
The result of a poor education system like the one in the US obviously has its toll upon society. In USA, the dropout rate it 25%, and 14% of high school dropouts unemployed. As such, we can also observe that academic results are directly linked to a person’s future. Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration – it is nevertheless important for a country with many talents to work hard to groom them. If the country continues like this, then the next generation will find that they are lagging behind other countries in Europe and Asia, and will find it harder to compete in the job market.
Population Explosion
The world population has recently risen to 7 billion- 6.5% of the number of humans ever born. Even though that is already a gigantic number of people that we have to care for, clothe and shelter, the good news is that we have the resources available to support this huge number of people in the world. Especially since almost 50% of the world’s population is made out of youngsters, those below 25, it means that education and healthcare is especially important in today’s world. The world definitely has the schools and hospitals to serve all these youths – they are abundant in the Western countries, and are now starting to pop up all over Asia too.
However, the main problem we have now is that these hospitals and schools are not always where the people are. For example, populations are booming in places like Africa and Somalia, but these places simply do not have the ability to support the growing population in their country. As a result, the surplus resources cannot reach the citizens of other countries. The current situation is as such – there are 1 in 8 people who are undernourished, 1 in 3 people lack a hygienic toilet, and 1 in 3 city dwellers lives in a slum. Essentially, we see that people who need help don’t get it. As a result of this, many people from poorer countries are now migrating over to the countries which provide more welfare and more protection. Consequently, the people in Singapore are complaining about the heavy influx of foreigners here.
The population explosion now may cause many problems, but there is always a silver lining to every cloud. Although the huge number of people may seem overwhelming at first, it is important that we are prepared for the future. Also, it is important to note that the young will soon enter the workforce, then boosting general economic growth.
Some interesting facts: 50.4% of the world population is male. This shows the obvious change from the past, especially in China, when the people no longer have a preference for male children. Women are now provided more power and rights- more job opportunities and such. Although the Internet now seems extremely widespread, with the growth of computer and android companies, there are actually 73% of people who do not use the Internet – this is probably because of the huge number of people in poorer states and nations like Africa.
Should fines be proportionate to income?
Should a person be fined proportionately to his income? This is a topic worth pondering.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
Law is meant to uphold the five tennets of justice- restitution, where what society has lost due to a crime is given back to it, retribution, where the one who commits the crime is punished, deterrence, which instills fear in the hearts of the people who commits crimes, isolation, which isolates the criminal to make him repent for his crimes, and rehabilitation. In this case, restitution, retribution and deterrence are involved.
After all, it makes no difference at all whether it is a rich person, or a poorer person who parks at a lot reserved for the disabled- the end result is still the same- the disabled have nowhere to park. Since both cases inflict the same damage upon society, they deserve to be punished equally.
Also, the law should treat people equal- in the eyes of the law, all Man are equal. Thus, they should be fined equally regardless of how much he is paid. For example, if a person with an extremely high salary is charged for a petty crime such as shoplifting, it is not right for him to be charged 10,000 for it.
However, on the other hand, fining should be a form of deterrence. When people are deterred, they are less likely to commit the crime for fear of having that fine taken from him. However, in current situations, having 5000$ taken from him is nothing, on the other hand, it is a lot to the poorer person. For both the rich and the poor to be equally deterred from committing crimes, the fines need to be higher for the rich person.
Also, when companies are fined for crimes like worker abuse and pollution, the fines definitely need to be proportionate to how much they gain. For bigger companies like SMRT, they monopolize the Singapore transport market. If the same fine is charged, then they can easily pay for the fine, and simply not change. For example, SMRT was charged only 10,000 for train delays. This amount is extremely small for such a big company, and was easily paid. Therefore, we see that we need more fines in order to force them to improve their standards.
Thirdly, governments like Singapore have income tax, and since progressive tax is used in such cases, we can also apply such a case in the situation of fining. The rich are able to pay more without having too heavy an impact on their lives, and can support the higher fines. After all, the fines go back to the government to help other sectors of Singapore, and the money obtained will ultimately go towards helping the people in the country.
In conclusion, imposing fines that are proportionate to the offender’s income will lower the number of offences.
The Tea Party
The Tea Party is a populist political movement in America which is considered conservative and libertarian. It has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009. It pushes for a reduced government spending to reduce the national debt and the federal budget deficit, is against taxation. It has no charter no published manifesto and no governing council.
The Tea Party’s main concern is the amount of money America is spending on bailing the financial institutions out, as well as the expansion of the government-supported healthcare bills. Many of them think that the next generation will not have enough money to live the current lifestyles that they are living right now, and the leaders of the country are messing it up even more. Many candidates also disagree with Obama’s healthcare reform bill.
The Tea Party supports protests, and some of these protests were in response to several laws that have been passed, for example a series of healthcare reform bills.
The Tea Party's most noted national figures include Republican politicians such as Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, and Ron Paul. The Tea Party movement is not a national political party, but is lead by Republican candidates- polls show that most Tea Partiers consider themselves to be Republicans. People have suggested that the movement is not a new political group but simply a rebranding of traditional Republican candidates and policies. The Tea Party is supported by those who are dissatisfied with the current mainstream Republican Party leaders.
The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Positioned below the snake is the legend "DON'T TREAD ON ME." The flag was designed by and is named after American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden. It was also used by the United States Marine Corps as an early motto flag. The current flag is still the American flag, but the alternative is the Gadsden flag.
Poem On Old Major (Animal Farm)
Old Major said
Men were no good,
And wished so bad
For just a tad
Of freedom, when
Animals would rule forever.
The time did come
But not before
He kicked the bucket.
Old Major’s dream was shattered,
His hope lost.
Oh, how wrong he was back then.
He had said that
All the milk had been drunk
By the hateful bunch of Man.
Yet, when Napolean was in rule,
All the milk still had been drunk.
He thought that
All animals would be free,
When Man let them be
Oh, how wrong he had been!
For Napoleon had become
The tyrant, and the animals
Slaves.
Old Major’s life was so sad
For no one remembered a tad
About what he had done.
All his efforts seemed nulled,
His hopes and dreams liquefied.
Alas, what a sad life he had led,
For what he expected
Not having affected
The doomed future of Manor Farm
Wake up 30 Minutes Earlier Every Day
Today, I urge all of you to wake up 30 minutes earlier in the morning from now on. Why? Allow me to enlighten you on this.
I know that this is a typical day for some of you. “Ring!” goes the alarm bell, you gobble down your breakfast wolfishly, zoom down to the bus stop, and once again lose to the elusive bus in a game of catch. In the end, you reach school late. This is a bad start to a good day!
To break this vicious cycle, wake up 30 minutes earlier every day. I know that at least 75% of you will have problems waking up early in the morning. What can you do to solve this problem-causing situation? You can set multiple alarms that ring one after another or place your alarm in another room.
But first, before I decide to wake up early, what can I do in such a short time? You may ask. You can indeed do many things in this time. You can take a hearty breakfast. You can walk to the bus stop, and not dash there for once. You can avoid the morning crowd and reach school early. You can go for an energizing exercise. You can finish your undone homework. You can learn a music instrument.
So many interesting things can be done in such a short time. Time is precious. Don’t waste it sleeping. The time to reach school early is here. The time to improve your skills has come. The time to change your life forever is upon you. Wake up half an hour earlier from now on!
Yemen Riots
Newsweek, March 28 2011
A Future Up in the Air
In the past weeks, there has been fierce fighting in Yemen. Troops that remain loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh are locked in fights with the protesters. The demonstrations were sparked off by other recent ones in other Middle Eastern countries. The people of Yemen felt that their government was unfair, and wanted to overthrow it too. Tens of thousands of people from both sides are in a stalemate at “Change Square”, and the government’s snipers have killed 52 people from the crowd, and it is evident that the number of deaths will increase.
I feel that all of us should feel fortunate to live in a peaceful place like Singapore, and should not complain about small little things that they are unhappy with. After reading about all the riots in Libya, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and now Yemen, I know the importance of an honest government and peace in the country. Any lack of these will result in the loss of many lives and the ruining of the whole country.
In Singapore, the current government is doing well in managing the country, and the crime rate is low. However, we cannot take this for granted all the time. We must keep in mind the time when there were racial riots just a few decades ago, and there is no reason why it will not happen again. This applies greatly to Singapore. Singapore is known as the little red dot, and such a small country like us will be thrown into chaos and destroyed much more easily than the bigger Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, it is important to prevent anything, no matter how small, from destroying our social fabric. We must treat other races equally, and understand and appreciate racial harmony. In order to prevent what is happening in the Middle Eastern countries from occurring here, we must be careful with our words, and not openly criticize other races. It is not only about respecting other races. It is about understanding and inviting others with open arms.
The Tissue Issue that won’t go away
Straits Times, April 28 2011
When we step into a hawker centre in Singapore, it is common to see tissue packets left on the benches. Instinctively, we know that this seat has been “reserved” by someone else. Many people are complaining that this reflects the selfish attitude of Singaporeans, but some disagree, sparking debates over this issue.
Does anything have to be done? Let me express my opinion. When tourists step into Changi airport nowadays, the first few things that they see are red and white posters put up by Singaporean telecomm service Singtel saying “Tables with tissue packs are usually reserved”, as part of the “Tips for a great stay in Singapore” campaign. Although it may be out of good intention, I think that the government should do something to stop this behavior. One may argue that this action is unique to Singaporeans, and are part of our culture and habits. However, think about all the unwanted and negative effects of this behavior. When the tourists see these posters, they will think that Singapore is an ungracious society, and will not come back to Singapore again. Even though they do not see these posters, when they go visiting around Singapore, they will definitely find out about it, and will consequently have a bad impression of Singapore.
I think that the government should remove the posters at Changi Airport, and instead, add other posters in hawker centres that discourage the patrons to be considerate and not “reserve” the seats. However, there will be people who try to find a way around things, and will place things like their umbrellas to reserve the seats. Therefore, it might be more effective to put up posters to tell patrons not to even reserve seats at all. The government should also constantly tell the people that they can remove these items if they feel that the people who placed them there are inconsiderate and selfish. I hope that the people will also realize that they are inconsiderate and selfish if they continue to place their items on the seats.
If all these measures are taken, I am quite sure that Singapore will become a more gracious society and will attract more tourists in the future.
All steamed up over nasi lemak
Straits Times, May 2, 2011
One popular food now is nasi lemak, especially among school children. It is a local delight, and is widely sold- you can find it in schools, hawker centres, and even in restaurants. However, some people feel that eating it is unhealthy, and has caused health problems, especially in primary schools. They say that the message is clear about the health problems it brings, since the direct translation of nasi lemak is “fatty rice”. The government has restricted stores to only sell it once or twice a week.
The government says that the nasi lemak causes more obese children in the country. However, students being obese may be due to the foods that they eat after school. For example, they would be obese if they visit fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, which contains more calories and fats than nasi lemak. Furthermore, there are currently many stalls that mainly sell nasi lemak, and if there is a sudden restriction on nasi lemak, many of these businesses and stores will lose a great amount of income, and this will result in a lot of these stores closing down. Consequently, there will be an increase in the unemployment rate, which will slow down the economical growth rate. If the government wants to ban nasi lemak, then other unhealthy foods such as roti prata should also be banned. Why do they need to single out nasi lemak?
In my opinion, it would be better to gradually reduce the amount of nasi lemak that can be sold per week- from twenty-four hours, seven days a week, to six and a half days, and then six and so on. I feel that this will slowly reduce the sale of nasi lemak, and give the storeowner more time to change what they sell, and give them a “warning” first before lowering the cost. The government should also increase the number of health campaigns and promote more healthy food, and give them the negative effects of nasi lemak and fast foods, to push them away from unhealthy food and towards healthy foodstuff. I think that that is a more effective way to reduce the obesity rate instead of immediately banning the unhealthy foods.
Poly grads look to rack up experience
Straits Times, April 30th 2011
Many more polytechnic graduates have a preference to work for a few years before going back to school for further studies.
This may be because more companies are providing them with job offers that entice them to stop their further education on hold. However, some of them still decide to finish off their education before looking for a job. They think that it would be better to finish off their studies, or have the financial means to continue, while others feel that it is important to get some experience in working life first, or might not have the financial ability to fund their university fees, and have to obtain funds for it by working.
So, is it better to continue one’s education before entering the corporate world, or is it more preferable to start working first before continuing his education? In my opinion, I feel that the answer to this question is different for differing situations. When one is lacking money to continue his or her education, it is obvious that they need to work first. If one does not even have the financial means to go on studying, then there is no need to talk about whether they want to work.
However, for the students with the financial ability to continue their education, I feel that it is more important to start studying first. This is because, schools are a microcosm of society and the workplace, and it might be better for them to continue studying to get a better feel of how the corporate world is like. They can sharpen their skills at cooperation when doing group projects, and can improve their Emotional Quotient by trying to make friends with more people to understand how to react around different people to improve the relationship. When they have these improved skills, then they will have a significant advantage over their colleagues. Some of these students feel that it is a waste to not take on jobs that they are offered by companies at first, and are afraid that they will not be able to find back that job. However, with their improved skills, then it will be even easier to find another job, and even better, stand a greater chance to get another job that they have a passion in.
In my opinion, it would be better for these polytechnic graduates to continue their studies first before working if they have to financial ability to do so.
Extend Edusave to home-schoolers
Straits Times Forum, April 30th 2011
Most Singaporeans start going to primary school at six years of age. However, there is a minority that decides otherwise, they want their children to be homeschooled. For example, a family feels that their children will benefit under their own teaching, and think that they can teach more effectively than schools.
However, they have to provide full details on the curriculum and a detailed timetable. Furthermore, the cut-off marks are higher than those who attend school. Most importantly, they are not given Edusave at all. This denies them of the chance to go overseas for attachment programmes. This definitely puts them at a disadvantage, as they can learn many things on these overseas programmes. The parents nowadays are very concerned about what the children learn, both in the short and long term.
Many parents who home-school their children are now frowning in disagreement. They complain that although they still have to be taxed all the same, and the parents still make sacrifices, their children are put at a even higher disadvantage. They think that they are unfairly penalized just because they want to take responsibility over their children’s education. However, I think that they are actually not really helping their children when they home-school them. This is because, when their children are homeschooled, they do not interact with others of the same age. They will therefore not have enough experience on how to make friends and get along with other people, which can be learnt greatly in school, where children have to do compulsory projects. Also, they will not know much about cooperating with others, which is vital in the corporate world, where they have to do many group projects and have to cooperate with others. School is a microcosm of society, and they will have an insight on what society is like.
I agree that Singaporeans should be disincentivised to home-school their children. This is because they may not learn the things that the government thinks is necessary for them, since they may not study the same syllabus as their friends that go to school. Therefore, I think that it is fair for the government to give disincentives to discourage children to be home-schooled.
Inside the Danger Zone
Newsweek, April 11 2011
On 11th of March, the infamous tsunami and earthquake struck Japan, and caused huge damage to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The damage has been extremely widespread, and the situation is as bad as the Chernobyl incident. Japan has set an exclusion zone 20 kilometres from the power plant, and do not allow anyone to enter. It has been measured that the area within this 20 km has radiation 4 times the level that is considered safe for human beings. Although no one has been killed by the radiation, the seas and the ground have been poisoned. This has led to worries of the people that their dietary staples- fish, produce and drinking water will be unsafe for consumption.
Many countries are now venturing into the area of using nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels, as the amount of energy produced is huge, and the nuclear power plant can operate 24 hours a day. Unlike fossil fuels, most of the waste can be recycled, and the byproducts do not harm the environment. However, I think that using nuclear power should be discouraged. This is because, although the accidents are rare, the amount of damage caused by one incident is so huge that it is not safe to even risk it once. For example, in the case of Japan, the land and water in the surrounding area has been polluted, and will affect the produce and the fish caught, endangering the lives of the citizens who eat these poisonous foods. Although one might continue to argue that it would be okay to set up a nuclear power plant in countries that are less prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, it is still unsafe even with these security measures. Japan’s government made sure that the nuclear power plant was built in a “non-earthquake prone place, yet the earthquake still struck the power plant.
In addition, the waste disposal methods are dangerous. When the waste is disposed, it is possible for the radiation to leak out, polluting the ground and waters again, thus affecting the lives of the people. The radiation is not only widespread, but also long-lasting. If any waste leaks, then the amount of damage done will not only be high, but will also last for many years, affecting the people and the country in the long term.
Thus, I think that countries should try not to invest in nuclear power, and instead focus on using other alternative sources, such as solar, geothermal and hydroelectric power.
What is the role of the opposition?
Straits Times Forum, April 12 2011
Through the years, the opposition parties have grown in strength and influence. Many of them are getting more votes, and their popularity has risen. Some examples of opposition parties include the Worker’s Party and Singapore Democratic Party, and they are all getting more support from their fellow Singaporeans.
In my point of view, the opposition parties have a certain role if they get into Parliament. Firstly, they represent the voices of the general public in Singapore. This makes sure that the opinions, whether good or bad, from the people are taken into consideration, and are not swept under the carpet and go ignored. I think that this is important. The voices of the people are fundamental as they are opinions, and they can help the ruling parties to make adjustments in the system. The opposition voices out the comments of the people to the Government such that they can be taken into consideration.
The opposition can also result in a two-party or multi-party system. If the Government fails, there will be more people in different parties to act as a backup and support the Government, easing the ruling in times of crisis. The opposition can also act as extra brains to help think of suitable solutions palatable to the current situation and the problems.
More importantly, the opposition provides a check-and-balance where all the initiatives of the other parties are reviewed, and if they are unreasonable, taken down. The purpose of this is to make sure that all alternative ideas are seriously considered before being implemented. For instance, if one of the ruling parties comes up with a initiative, and the opposition decides that the net help provided is too low, they can look through the initiative and debate with the current ruling party on whether the initiative is reasonable and helpful.
Currently, the Singaporean government is trying to include more seats in Parliament for opposition parties. Hopefully, the opposition will carry out their roles well and benefit Singapore and its citizens on a whole.
“Teach less” burden shifted to parents
Straits Times Forum, April 9 2011
Recently, the Ministry of Education has implemented the “teach less, learn more” policy in Singapore, resulting in the decrease in the amount of things taught in the classroom. Some parents feel that this is unreasonable, as they say that they have to go to work, and therefore, the children are not able to ask any questions.
In my opinion, I think that this policy is good to a certain extent. With the policy, the students can plan out their time carefully, and focus on what they need improvement. If a student is extremely good at graphs, and the school is focusing on graphs, the student will end up wasting time in school. This policy is also good because it allows the student to focus on his interests and have more time to study in depth topics that they find fascinating. For instance, if a student enjoys learning algebra, he can study it in more depth, while research on other topics like geometry less.
More importantly, the students will have to learn at home either from their parents, tuition teachers, or search for their own information. This is because not all the tested syllabus will be taught in school during class. However, it instills a sense of independence on the child, gearing him up for the future. When the student grows up, he has to eventually step into society and enter the corporate world. In the corporate world, there is nothing much taught to you by the office. Therefore, one needs to be resourceful and independent. Allowing them to find out ways to learn things will give them these skills for them to be successful person in their working lives.
However, there is a problem with this policy. If the students are not taught the basics first, they might not know which part of a broad topic to learn. I feel that the students should at least be taught the basics, and for students of younger ages, they should be told what topic of each subject will be tested, aiding in their preparations.
Sportsmanship in Sports
Have you been injured when playing sports? I am sure most of you have. Almost everyone has been injured before, and a graze or cut is common due to falls or skids. However, there are some cases where people are intentionally hurt by the opposite team because their opponent's team has won the game. I am sure that most of us have heard about the ugly brawl broke out between the ACSI and St Andrew's secondary schools after a rugby match. A St Andrew's Secondary School student punched ACSI's flanker Leonard David Wee when his school lost 8-7, leaving the ACSI student with a bloodied mouth and nose. This incident put the spotlight on sportsmanship. The Committee on Safety in Sports Schools made it clear in a report that the parents also had a role to play in their children's upbringing in sportsmanship, together with the coaches and the teachers. I agree with this point of view. Although it is still the responsibility for the teachers or coaches to teach them, they only teach and supervise them on their ability in the sport, and the parents are responsible for the child's behaviour. Children learn more quickly from their parents and they are with them for a longer time than the coaches are with the children, so the parents have more time to teach them how to behave. Additionally, they can teach them the values of fair play, integrity and respect through stories or games. They should also behave in a sportsman-like manner as the children will learn from them. The coaches should also do more than just teaching the children. The government has made it compulsory for coaches to be qualified in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator. I think that this is a good idea. When the student faints during training sessions, the coaches would be able to help to provide medical help before professional help arrives. This will decrease the chance of a student dying from his injuries. Extra safety measures should be implemented, however, for sports like basketball, judo, taekwondo, rugby and soccer, where there are high degrees of contact between competitors. There is more chance of injuries in such sports, and coaches need to be more alert and careful. In my opinion, the children should also play a part in their behaviour. They definitely should be more disciplined and not allow their emotions to get the better of them on the playing field. If they lose, they could just accept the fact that they did not perform as well as their opposition during the match. That way, I am sure that fewer fights will occur, naturally leading to the decrease in injuries. For example, when Roger Federer met Rafael Nadal's family along the corridor, they greet and hug each other warmly even though Nadal had just lost the match to Federer in the ATP World Tour Finals. This is the spirit that the children should adopt- to sincerely congratulate the winner even if you have lost. Competitions are not all about winning. They are also about having sportsmanship. Some people have no sportsmanship if they cheat just to win a competition. Shouting at the referee or opposite team when one loses is also considered having no sportsmanship. Winning is just an additional bonus that you get if you are stronger than the other side, and the process of preparing for the competition is the most important, as that is when you learn the most things.
My First Day at My Secondary School
"Hwa Chong, Ke Ba Ba! Ole Ole Ah Ah!" I was seated in the hall, watching my seniors cheer loudly. It was my first day at my new secondary school. I was in Group 2 and my group had two buddies who would lead us for the orientation days. I was very astonished that such a small group of people could cheer so loudly! The buddies led us to our classroom to play some ice breaking games. One of the games was Whacko and its objective is to remember who the people in your group are. To start the game, one person stands in the centre of a circle of people. One person that is seated had to yell out someone's name. The person in the centre would need to run to the person and hit him with a stick before he says somebody else's name. That person would have to say another person's name before he is hit by the person in the centre. I was the one standing in the centre. I ran around, trying to hit one person. "James!" Someone in my group shouted. I ran to James and was about to hit him. Suddenly, he shouted out, "Alex!" Everyone roared with laughter. He was only allowed to call the other people seated and he was not supposed to call me. Later, we found out that he did not know who I was and had just memorised it earlier, when we were introducing ourselves! I felt that the games were interesting, and also allowed us to know each other. That day, we also practised our cheers. We were asked to cheer as loudly as possible. The freshman beside me complained, " Cheering gives me sore throat! Why do we need to cheer?" We were still very soft because we were self-conscious- I had never done this sort of things before! "Come on everybody! Cheer louder and put your heart into the cheers! We cheer to show that we are proud to be part of Hwa Chong, and we love the school!" Our buddies reminded. Later on, we cheered louder and louder and before I knew it, I was cheering at the top of my voice. Magically, the cheers made us high-spirited and made us feel like part of the school! During lunch, we rushed to the canteen. I was happy that there were not many people there yet. I queued up at the noodle store and saw that there were two queues. "The store must have made two queues due to the crowds," I thought. I chose the shorter queue and was excited that it was almost time for me to buy the noodles. The aroma coming from the store was so nice! To my dismay, when I was reaching the front, my friend in the other queue told me that I was queuing in the wrong line! That was not the ordering queue- it was the queue to wait for your noodles. By then, the ordering queue was so long that it snaked to the stairs behind. Since recess time was almost over, I had no choice but to switch to the mixed rice store because it had a much shorter queue. That day, we also had many other activities, including the Amazing Race, the learning of the school song and painted our group flag. These activities were also very interesting and made us know our school better. The first day at my Secondary school was one to remember and I had lots of fun. All of us looked forward to the next day and I hoped that the next day would be just as fun.
