Comments on British ads banned issue -- Draco

17th Mar. two ads were banned by Britain's advertising watchdog since they “exaggerated” the threat of climate change. The ads indicated that there will be more frequent extreme weather conditions if people do not make any difference from now on. Also, the ads gave people a clear time limit – 25 years, which just seems to be tomorrow.
It makes me recall the movie “The Day After Tomorrow” -- all kinds of extreme weather events take place in several days, tsunami, storms, cold currents, floods… Maybe that is the exact impression the two ads gave to the public.
So it looks like the government has done something right, keeping the public from being panic and maintaining a good order. However, that’s also the main concern in most country’s chairpersons’ minds – “we will never take actions first because we need to maintain the GDP. So keep the public unaware of what’s really happening, and that’s the only way to achieve that under the limit of democracy. But what if the end of world comes some day?”
As a result, people must know the truth and what is going on. So indeed we need ads like that to call up people around world to do something for the homeland, the only homeland of human being.
Sometimes exaggeration can be a effective choice, giving people the sense of crisis and the will to contribute. And sometimes “exaggeration” is just an accusation from some politicians.

Comment on British ads banned over climate change claims -----Hawk

Recently two adverts from the government were banned because of exaggerating the threat of climate change.

As far as I am concerned, these adverts should be banned indeed. First, if the government decides to issue an advert, it should be responsible for the readers. Revealing the nature of climate change is of course helpful for the public to understand the current situation of our global environment. However, publishers of the adverts which contains scientific knowledge should be responsible for the reliability and precision of science. Second, exaggerating infomation may cause panic among the public. A few months ago a movie called 2012 is quite impressive for describing a new style of "Judgement Day"(the end of the world). At first people are merely attracted by the stunning visual effects and how the world ends. However, when the rumor that 2012 may be the real end of the world is spread out, people begin to think. Some say that Maya has foreseen this thousands of years ago, and there are even a group of people who combine the natural disasters with prediction, trying to demonstrate the world that the prediction is not a coincidence. The situation is elevated, and NASA has to come to the front telling the world that nothing is going to happen in 2012. As we can see, the power of rumou can never be neglected. Although I fully understand that these two adverts play a role as an alert for people, but they should not cross the line. This is why I agree that they should be banned.

Comment on local issue: Ride on China growth:SM

With the economy booming in China, more and more young Singaporeans start to hunt opportunities to work in China. However, the story also mentioned that the cheating cases are more common than that in Singapore and young boys and girls need to be street smart to avoid any cheat. And there was a comment below stating the same opinion: S’pore business people usually get cheated by Chinese. Judging from the tone, the commenter should have been cheated this way some years ago, I guess.
Nevertheless, I might hold the same opinion some years ago, but now I no longer think this way because Chinese business men have become much more educated than those several years ago, and the concept among this group is changing, collaboration and double-win has impressed a new generation. It is exactly due to this change in value can the economy goes booming in recent years. So I personally encourage these young people to face challenges and make a big difference in their lives.
Compared with language challenge, the culture shock may be much more challenging.
Just live in China, then one needs to behave like a Chinese, which is quite a ride, not mention starting a business. This may require a even greater sophistication which can take a China born university undergraduate decades to learn, again, not mention a S’pore young man. In all, the idea is just great and is also challenging.
by Draco

Winter Olympics in 2014? -----Reflection by Hawk

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_489975.html

Singapore is preparing to send the ever first athlete to take part in the Winter Olympics in 2014.

When I first came across this title, I was awfully surprised and intrigued. Winter Olympics in 2014 is going to be held in Singapore? No way!! Such Games that require a cold environment cannot be held in a tropical country. No offense, but Singapore is not even close to it. However, when I continue to read the article, the truth is that there will be a Singaporean athele taking part in the Winter Olympics for the first time in 2014. Although this piece is not so astonishing as the "one" I thought; nevertheless, it is still quite encouraging. We all know that Singapore is famous for its badminton in the world in terms of sports. For sports on ice and snow, we don`t really hear much about S`pore. In fact, people understand that because for a tropical country, it is more than hard to train an athlete who can master the game on ice and snow. After all, nature won`t help them with that. However, this time S'pore decides to conquer this difficulty and finally, it`s not too far from seeing the first man for us. I can`t help recalling the similarities with one historical event in China. In 1936, China sent the first athlete to take part in Summer Olympics. Though he didn't manage championship, this event was a milestone. Similarly, the Winter Olympics in 2014 will be a milestone for Singapore, and we can see that S'pore is sparing no effort developing elite athlete in a variety of sports, making a new figure of versatility. Well I am not cursing the outcome of Singaporean athlete; my point is that whatever the result, we join the game and experience it! Isn`t it just the spirit of Olympic Games? Anyway, all the best to this first ever athlete, whoever he is, and all the best to Singapore in Winter Olympics in 2014!!!

Catherine -- Responce to local issue

HDB prices hit new high
url: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_473477.html
HDB ready to build more flats if there is demand
url: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_484049.html
HDB reviews rules
url: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_483677.html

These days, HDB has become a frequently discussed topic. Several articles have talked about this issue, and many people are concerning about it and have given comments. The main things mentioned were the high HDB price and unequal demand and supply of HDB.

In my opinion, the following are the possible reasons that cause the situation now. First of all, the number of foreigners who come to and reside in Singapore is still very big. These people at least need a roof. Thus, the demand of HDB will obviously increase. As the Singapore government aims to a 6 million population country, this situation will continue in the next several years. In addition, some HDB holders rent their houses to others instead of resale the houses. Then more people who want to buy HDB must wait for the newly-built ones. As the average time of building HDB is 3 years, the people who want HDB gradually accumulate. The demand is becoming larger and larger than the supply. Last but not least, the permanent residents of Singapore account for a considerable amount of the holders of HDB as well as the buyers of HDB. All the reason above can result in the large demand of HDB and the increase of HDB price.

The HDB says they are ready to build more flats if there is demand. I think the demand is not a problem to worry. However, the building time and amount are the things to worry. This may not solve the issue now at least in a short period of time.

In order to solve the HDB issue, the HDB rules were reviewed in a conference in January. It is essential to be ensured that people are not speculating on HDB flats. I think, it will be a more efficient way to check whether people have obeyed the rules rather than just building more HDBs.

Hopefully, the situation can get better soon.

NTUC FairPrice loses an average of 200 trolleys per month--Helen

It is reported that nowadays it is a common phenomenon that trolleys found abandoned at public places or taken into possession by shoppers . NTUC FairPrice is losing trolleys at an average rate of 200 per month.

Although most people know that they should return the trolley, but, the customers indicate that because the heavy goods, they just use the trolley to carry the things back home; or because they are too lazy to put the trolleys back.

I think the hypermarkets should definately adopt some efficient measures to reduce or even eliminate this kind of behavior. Maybe some punishment can be exerted or just hire some security to help supervise. But I think the most important thing is to reinforce the public awareness. Only in this way, can this kind of phenomenon be eliminated thoroughly.

Through this phenomenon, we can also see that the public awareness is decreasing, at least, to some extent. It may not be so serious, but it does has something to do with molarity. Because this may reflect the selfish side of the people. They do not realise how much inconvience they have brought to other people and how much lost they have caused to the supermarkets. In addition, this kind of behavior will definately exert a bad influence on the next generation.

The government should reinforce the publicity to arouse the awareness of the public and the supermarket as well, should make some slogens for example, to appeal to the customers that it is a great manner to return the trolleys.

forum--Helen

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_484043.html

Taxpayers should not fund the policing of casinos

This forum mainly discusses whether it is proper to set up the police unit to deal with the crimes in casinos using the taxpayers’ money.

In my own opinion, the government can adopt some measurement to support, and maybe influence in the future, the police unit in casinos instead of totally taking charge of it. It is inevitable that the build-up of casinos will arouse a lot of crimes such as fraud; and as profit-oriented organizations, such behaviors will definitely decrease their credibility and consequently casinos will lose the public interest, not to mention, profit. Although casinos are private properties, normally, they should mind their own business and cope with such issues; but on the other hand, they will bring huge benefit to Singapore, tourism, for example, is one of the influenced industries. In addition, the rise of casinos will cause chaos if the crimes are not dealt well with; and there is no doubt that keeping the society in order is the obligation that Singapore government has.

So, the government should encourage the formation of the police unit in casinos and adopt corresponding measures such as training the police to be specialists in dealing deception, for there has never appeared casinos in Singapore before and the police are not equipped with relevant knowledge. As for the fund, the owners of the casinos should pay for their own properties; after all, they have the capacity, and responsibility.

Liu Yiping (Helen)

Comments: Pu Xiaoheng&Yang Yu