NATIONAL DAY RALLY- EMBRACE TALENT, TECHNOLOGY TO SECURE S’PORE’S FUTURE: PM (The Straits Times 21 August pg1)
There may be no ‘goodies’ for us this year however Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has prepared us to anticipate potential challenges and has shared ideas for Singapore to remain competitive.
It was heartening to hear that the government has given us opportunities to improve such as the aim of enabling every Singaporean to use IT and provide more job opportunities, which will allow us to improve our skills. In addition diverse or unconventional talents are also encouraged to develop or showcase their skills in Singapore to keep our country vibrant.
However Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has also highlighted the importance for us to give our own input. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has mentioned that we may be in demand in other countries but we must remember that fewer will be in our homeland, keeping it dynamic and beating. Hopefully such a point will cause our locals to stay and shape the society or help bring in new talent when overseas.
Finally we may have technology and talent however the unity in us is important as it binds us together to face challenges confidently and effectively. Terrorism is all over the place and we need to understand each other with faith to prevent distrust that will tear the nation apart.
Therefore although we do not have any monetary incentives, we do have a ‘goodie’ in knowing what is ahead of us, and the rally has given us an idea on how to tackle these challenges.
SO WHO’S THE DOPE? ALL OF US, ACTUALLY (The Straits Times 12 August pgS15)
Floyd Landis was found to have abnormally high levels of testosterone in his bloodstream. Other riders have been disqualified before the race as they were linked to the blood-doping scandal.
But is it really possible to expect extraordinary results from people without some help from science? Many have been using artificial means just to be ordinary such as teeth whitening. Technology is readily available and for athletes to play by the strict rules wouldn’t it be self- sabotage?
So has competition actually raised our standards and allow improvement or has it just made us turn desperate and resort to man-made means? I believe the answer is neither black or white hence should we still be shocked at athletes borrowing some help from science?
BRITAIN FOILS MAJOR BOMB PLOT (The Straits Times 11 August pg1)
Advanced technology has given birth to more advanced weapons like liquid bombs which terrorists manipulate.
THANK GOODNESS the bomb plot was foiled by Britain. Blowing up as many as 10 US-bound planes is seriously ruthless. This proves that all they need is to succeed once to wipe out numerous lives while we have to succeed all the time to avoid tragedy.
Ever since the attempt, security checks have stepped up tremendously such as the ban of bringing in liquids to the plane.
Although the alleged plan was not carried out, damages have occurred. Thousands of flights have been cancelled and shares in European airlines have fell.
I strongly believe that the terrorists are trying to stir up distrust amongst each other, as it will only weaken nations. People now live in fear and suspicion as suspects were British-born.
Right now anyone could be a terrorist and any substance could be a bomb. This world is filled with uncertainty and it is just disheartening. I just hope that the terrorists can wake up and see that whatever they are doing is pointless and if all they wanted was revenge, they have seriously gotten it and should end it here.
VIOLENT GENE THEORY ABOUT MAORIS SPARKS CONTROVERSY (The Straits Times 10 August pg17)
A New Zealand scientist has claimed that Maoris have a ‘warrior’ gene, which makes them more prone to violent and criminal behaviour.
Since I have recently gone to New Zealand as a school trip and have watched them performing their traditions, this article has caught my attention.
Well the article has mentioned that it is a genetic reason to the over-representation of Maoris in violence statistics. Perhaps its true however I believe their violent nature should be controllable as the scientist said the influence is rather small.
In addition, although the ‘warrior’ gene is associated with violence, it does not mean Maoris are aggressive for the wrong reasons. All in all more research has to be done to come up with a substantiated conclusion to the reason for the Maoris being more prone to criminal behaviour.
POLICE WANT DRUG ADDICTS HELPED, NOT ARRESTED (The Straits Times 10 August pg11)
Malaysia has shown us they truly care for the people by getting agencies to rehabilitate drug addicts instead of giving them the handcuffs. The police have decided to take the step of nipping the problem in the bud by tackling the larger task of going after traffickers and pushers.
I feel that the police deserve to be commended for having a clear aim and putting it into action. This is evident in the decline of heroin and cannabis users as effective measures have been taken to dismantle syndicates dealing in such drugs.
A SOFT SPOT FOR SILK (Times 14 August pg60)
Silk is the original Chinese invention, which is tightly tied to the country’s identity.
It is disappointing to realize China’s silk has lost its quality to Italy only to lead the world in the quantity of it silk production. However from the article, it is relieving to hear that there is someone who is determined to restore Chinese silk back to its historical place, as it is part of its heritage.
From here I have realized that with globalization, the future generations are entrusted with the responsibility to keep our traditions alive instead of letting our culture be diluted.
This is important as it helps us unite as a country when we share our distinctive culture. In addition, Singapore is rather dependant on tourism for income. We must not let homogeneity get to us from Americanization, losing our local flavour and in turn our tourists.
HOW TO KILL THE TIGER (Times 14 August pg24)
Economic growth along the border might help many escape from the poverty cycle, however it has also pushed hunters to new levels of greed.
As the ranks of affluent Chinese increase, so does the demand for tiger skins, ground tiger bones etc for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Although the Chinese demand may be driving a poaching boom, conservationists blame New Delhi for failing to protect their tigers.
I believe India has been too occupied in ensuring a constant economic growth thus fails to give proper attention to the poaching situation. This can be seen from its 30- year old conservation effort, which has been understaffed and underfunded.
Hopefully India can react faster and more effectively to this reality, as India should aim to attain all-roundedness.
A RECURRING NIGHTMARE (Times 24 July pg32)
The terrorist attack in India reminded the world that a country with a dazzling economic boom is not immune to problems that threaten cities all over the world.
At first I thought the main aim of the terrorist attack was to break the financial backbone of India, however it did not stop there. Instead it is an attempt to drive a stake into good relations between Hindus and Muslims. In a way this try was a success. Many innocent Muslims have been suspected and harassed by the police, creating tension. Everything India has built will be destroyed not by the attacks but the accusations and suspicions.
On the contrary, we can look at the situation another way. After the attack, everybody came to help the victims such as donating blood regardless of race. This probably shows that despite the tension or discrimination, the people have recognized themselves as a nation.
From the incident, Singapore can learn an important lesson. We may be different in terms of race and religion. We may step on each other’s toes unintentionally however it is vital to recognize ourselves as one to face challenges ahead of us. I dread the day where we start pointing fingers at each other for the cause of a potential attack.
SRI LANKA’S WATER WAR (The Straits Times 9 August 2006 pg6)
The Tamil rebels released water from a disputed reservoir in Sri Lanka, ending a 19-day blockade that had sparked the worst fighting between the government troops and guerillas in four years.
It is gloomy to see the deep mistrust between the two divides in the country. Thank goodness Singapore treats racial harmony importantly especially with terrorism going on. We have to believe in ‘one people’ to face challenges which might divide us where we might start pointing fingers such as bombings.
Hopefully LTTE and the government can resolve their problem, as it does not bring any benefit to the country but injuries to the people and the economy.
ECONOMY SHONE IN FIRST HALF, ROWING 9.4% (The Straits Times 9 August 2006 pg1)
It is heartening to know our efforts have been paid off, having heard from our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long that our economy has grown by 9.4 percent in the first half of the year.
The government has created many job opportunities from the service sector and has further developed our manufacturing sector. With such efforts put in how can we not be proud to have such capable leaders. I believe this would put the PAP in a more favourable light.
However we definitely did our part as after all it takes two hands to clap. I have seen people I know going for courses to bring their skills to a further step ensuring we remain competitive in this global competition.
Although we have come this far, we must not be complacent of our achievements. Instead we have to constantly improve and anticipate potential threats to our growth such as bird flu, terrorism and trade protectionism. Only than can we remain in the cycle of prosperity.
THE WORST OF FRIENDS (Time 24 July pg36)
North Korea's provocative missile tests have strained the patience of their longtime ally China.
Eversince China's economy has been modernized and prospered, the longtime alliance has been increasingly strained.
Not much effective actions have been done as neither countries want to lose out. China worries draconian sanctions such as cutting off fuel shipments will trigger the regime's collapse. Whereas Korea is afraid to lose China as its largest trading partner. Thus the missile tests situation is rather stagnant.
I fear that the longer it takes to find a deterrent for North Korean provocations will lead Kim to be bolder in his stunts.
This tension reminds us the importance of flexibilty to enable good diplomacy. we must also learn not to take advantage of our political relationships with other countries.
