http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295856/1/.html
More people will get to benefit from the subsidies that the government is giving out towards the needy. Those who are already under the subsidy will receive even more help. I believe that this change is very beneficial to those that are involved.
Singapore's economy is currently at one of its peak and most people are having economic prosperity. Despite all the economic wealth that most of the Singaporean population, we have no doubt agree that some of Singaporeans are still living in difficulty. Some people are homeless and do not have the ability to buy or rent a flat. They sleep in park benches, HDB void decks and some even public toilets. These homeless people have even brought their family along with them. This is a very serious problem as the homeless deserve better than what they are going through now.
Some of the homeless people here although know very clearly that there is help available provided to them such as grants as stated above and shelters, they are not willing to accept it. They believe that it is more independent of them to stand on their own two feet themselves. Some think that asking for help from others is a disgrace to their self-pride, that they are incapable of supporting themselves. This has caused a social stigma that has backfired against the help agencies.
However, I believe that this grant is to target those that need help but they are not able to get it or that the help given until now is simply not enough to support themselves. It is a worrying fact that most of the families needing support due to a low income are huge families, with many to support from a single breadwinner. The salaries are not enough to feed the whole family yet to even buy a flat for them to live in due to the expensive property prices in Singapore. There are also many that are in borderline cases of ability to receive help. They earn just enough to “escape” being recognised as the needy by the government. It is those people in this area who suffer the most. Not only are their burdens just as high, the family have to bear it themselves and work even harder. This will take a toll on everyone especially the children who need a good home and environment to learn and grow. Singapore is also an ageing society with increasing numbers of pensioners. They are not able to support themselves financially and have rejected help from their children. With the ageing population trend nowadays, there will be less employed people to financially support the retirees. Thus, the children’s burden of supporting their parents and will definitely help the governments’ help.
Thus, by just extending the reach of help given for Housing Grants in Singapore many more people will be benefited. It is also the correct time for the government to help the needy due to economic growth and the ability to charge higher taxes that will in turn benefit the poor.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Internet game of Virginia Massacre Sparks Outrage
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/276739/1/.html
This act is outraging and despicable. How can someone be so heartless and turned a tradgedy that affected many and into a fun-minded game? If I was in the shoes of the victims' families, I personally would be deeply outraged as well. Creating the game shows that he is heartless and does not think about others. He only cares about his own enjoyment and not by the saddness and trauma of the families of losing a loved one.
I think that the worst part is that the creator will not remove it at all cost even though some disturbed members of the public has asked him to do so. Not only did he reject, he even asked for money. Only if his demands are fullfilled will he remove the games from the websites and apologise. He will not do so as well even if the victims' families ask him to do so.
He stated that the game was just a funny thing and its motive was jsut to make more people angry. How could he say that? Killing people although virtual is still wrong as it was based on a real incident. Making people more angry is just wrong. I think that not only is he insulting the victims' and their families, he is also insulting the killer and his family. He is just rubbing the sadness of the incident in everyone's heart. Although he stated that he empathizes with the families of the deceased including the killer, I belive that it is insincere as proven by his act of creating this game.
He used IT that is so advanced and readily availablet to everyone to make a mockery of others and to have fun. IT is meant to do good for the society, he just misused the power given to him. Although the internet is indeed open to everyone and everyone has the freedom of speech, we should still use the internet responsibly and not post hurting comments about other people.
While others are grieving over the incident, he decided to use it as a publicity tool to himself and in the process insult others. This is a just a cold-blooded act. We can all understand that he had a painful teenage. However, he should not vent his anger on others and seek help instead. I think instead of understanding that the killer was merely stating a fact in a large way, he was insulting him by showing the killer to be a cold, ruthless killer in the game.
In my personal opinion, he should remove the game from the websites and apologise immediately. His act is disgusting, and humiliating to others. If he is not willing to do so, the authorities should do so and remove it by force (through the administrators of the websites).
This act is outraging and despicable. How can someone be so heartless and turned a tradgedy that affected many and into a fun-minded game? If I was in the shoes of the victims' families, I personally would be deeply outraged as well. Creating the game shows that he is heartless and does not think about others. He only cares about his own enjoyment and not by the saddness and trauma of the families of losing a loved one.
I think that the worst part is that the creator will not remove it at all cost even though some disturbed members of the public has asked him to do so. Not only did he reject, he even asked for money. Only if his demands are fullfilled will he remove the games from the websites and apologise. He will not do so as well even if the victims' families ask him to do so.
He stated that the game was just a funny thing and its motive was jsut to make more people angry. How could he say that? Killing people although virtual is still wrong as it was based on a real incident. Making people more angry is just wrong. I think that not only is he insulting the victims' and their families, he is also insulting the killer and his family. He is just rubbing the sadness of the incident in everyone's heart. Although he stated that he empathizes with the families of the deceased including the killer, I belive that it is insincere as proven by his act of creating this game.
He used IT that is so advanced and readily availablet to everyone to make a mockery of others and to have fun. IT is meant to do good for the society, he just misused the power given to him. Although the internet is indeed open to everyone and everyone has the freedom of speech, we should still use the internet responsibly and not post hurting comments about other people.
While others are grieving over the incident, he decided to use it as a publicity tool to himself and in the process insult others. This is a just a cold-blooded act. We can all understand that he had a painful teenage. However, he should not vent his anger on others and seek help instead. I think instead of understanding that the killer was merely stating a fact in a large way, he was insulting him by showing the killer to be a cold, ruthless killer in the game.
In my personal opinion, he should remove the game from the websites and apologise immediately. His act is disgusting, and humiliating to others. If he is not willing to do so, the authorities should do so and remove it by force (through the administrators of the websites).
S'pore exploring legislation changes to help older workers stay employed
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/276748/1/.html
I think that this change by the government is a very good one. Singapore is an ageing society, thus, there will be a higher concentration of elderly in the society year after year. With a higher number of elderly depending on a smaller number of working people, there will be a huge problem in society. The burden of the working people will be increased. Thus, it is important that the old people are able to work and support themselves. Only then there will be a balanced income in the society. Not only are the elderly able to help themselves, the burden of their children is greatly reduced. However, everyone has to be understanding to make this change.
Many employers have a misconception that all elderly workers are either slow or outdated in their techniques and information. As a result, there will be less efficient compared to their younger counterparts. This is not only false, it is the exact opposite. Elderly workers have more experience accumulated over their working life. Thus, they will be more able to confront problems in the industry. Older workers are also proven to be more understanding to their fellow workers.
Furthermore, why should people be stopped from working only because they have reached a certain age limit. If the elderly have a sharp mind, enough knowledge and a good attitude towards work, they should be allowed to work even though they are old. Some elderly are refused from some jobs even though they have the necessary qualifications just because of their age. This is discrimination against the elderly. Even if they are not qualified yet, they are able to learn. Older people are also more enthusiastic in learning new skills and more determined.
We sometimes forget how important the elderly workforce is towards the running of the society. Go to a food court and notice that a lot of those working as stall helpers and cleaners are often elderly. From their looks, they are about 50 and above. This shows, that steps are being taken to ensure that the elderly are continously being employed. However, more improvement can be done as more jobs can be opened up, with jobs in the managerial position towards the elderly.
If this change is implemented, the government will get to benefit too. There will be less problems regarding the elderly. Less elderly will resort to begging on the streets just to earn a living. Social servcies will also have to help to ensure that they are hired. They also benefit as the needy will be less and the social service can then focus on the few who really are unable to earn their own living due to various reasons such as chronical illnesses. With the poverty level reduced, the whoe society will benefit. As more people work, the annual GDP of the country will also increase slowly but surely.
I still think that some improvements can be made towards this social trend. Maybe, the government can make a law that forces major companies have a certain percentage of employees above the age of 55. The minimum pay could be increased as some elderly often think that just relying on social services is a better option as working does not give a significant increase in income. This will encourage more elderly to embrace themselves into the work force again. Social Services can also help by recommending their elderly to some jobs and support them financially as well during their first month or two of work as the money earned may not be enough yet to support themselves. The government can also create a special working hour schedule for elderly as many elderly are afraid of getting tired of working. With shorter hours, they can work without tiring themselves.
This is indeed a good change. Singapore is following the example of Japan which has the highest ageing population in the world. There are however can be more improvements made to this change to make it more beneficial to the people that matter most, the elderly.
I think that this change by the government is a very good one. Singapore is an ageing society, thus, there will be a higher concentration of elderly in the society year after year. With a higher number of elderly depending on a smaller number of working people, there will be a huge problem in society. The burden of the working people will be increased. Thus, it is important that the old people are able to work and support themselves. Only then there will be a balanced income in the society. Not only are the elderly able to help themselves, the burden of their children is greatly reduced. However, everyone has to be understanding to make this change.
Many employers have a misconception that all elderly workers are either slow or outdated in their techniques and information. As a result, there will be less efficient compared to their younger counterparts. This is not only false, it is the exact opposite. Elderly workers have more experience accumulated over their working life. Thus, they will be more able to confront problems in the industry. Older workers are also proven to be more understanding to their fellow workers.
Furthermore, why should people be stopped from working only because they have reached a certain age limit. If the elderly have a sharp mind, enough knowledge and a good attitude towards work, they should be allowed to work even though they are old. Some elderly are refused from some jobs even though they have the necessary qualifications just because of their age. This is discrimination against the elderly. Even if they are not qualified yet, they are able to learn. Older people are also more enthusiastic in learning new skills and more determined.
We sometimes forget how important the elderly workforce is towards the running of the society. Go to a food court and notice that a lot of those working as stall helpers and cleaners are often elderly. From their looks, they are about 50 and above. This shows, that steps are being taken to ensure that the elderly are continously being employed. However, more improvement can be done as more jobs can be opened up, with jobs in the managerial position towards the elderly.
If this change is implemented, the government will get to benefit too. There will be less problems regarding the elderly. Less elderly will resort to begging on the streets just to earn a living. Social servcies will also have to help to ensure that they are hired. They also benefit as the needy will be less and the social service can then focus on the few who really are unable to earn their own living due to various reasons such as chronical illnesses. With the poverty level reduced, the whoe society will benefit. As more people work, the annual GDP of the country will also increase slowly but surely.
I still think that some improvements can be made towards this social trend. Maybe, the government can make a law that forces major companies have a certain percentage of employees above the age of 55. The minimum pay could be increased as some elderly often think that just relying on social services is a better option as working does not give a significant increase in income. This will encourage more elderly to embrace themselves into the work force again. Social Services can also help by recommending their elderly to some jobs and support them financially as well during their first month or two of work as the money earned may not be enough yet to support themselves. The government can also create a special working hour schedule for elderly as many elderly are afraid of getting tired of working. With shorter hours, they can work without tiring themselves.
This is indeed a good change. Singapore is following the example of Japan which has the highest ageing population in the world. There are however can be more improvements made to this change to make it more beneficial to the people that matter most, the elderly.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Lower COE premiums drive many people to car showrooms
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/260440/1/.html
There are both good and bad things about the COE premium dropping to such a low level in Singapore. Of course it will be good the general public or the consumers. Having a lower COE also means a lower car pricing. This will allow more people to have their own cars and help them in their day-to-day transport. Cars will then no longer be luxury available to the rich but having a car will also now be available to the middle class citizens. Having a car can help these people by a lot. For example, a car will help one to get from one place to another much faster than taking the public transport system. Thus, people will be able to use time for more productive purposes. Furthermore, having a lower car price will also mean that one can spend more on the servicing of the car, thus maintaining it in better condition. Those who buy the cars now will also have to pay less insurance fees in the long run, generating huge savings. Of course, the public will also have to deal with a new menace. Since there will be more cars on the road, the roads around Singapore will definitely get more congested and more traffic jams will happen especially during peak hours. This is the price to pay for having more cars on the road. Pedestrians also have to pay more attention for oncoming traffic when they are crossing the roads.
For the government, there are also good and bad points. Having more people that have cars reduces the burden of the public transport system. Public transport can be made faster as there will be less passengers getting on and off at lesser stops. Thus, transport time can also be reduced. The roads in Singapore can also be more fully utilized as the number of vehicles increase on the road. However, there are also quite a few bad points. As there will be more vehicles, the government has to look into enlarging or adding more roads. This will then solve the congestion. Secondly, there will be more pollution as taking private transport is not the most environmentally friendly way to commute. The public transport industry will also take a toll as there will be less commuters and leading to less business. The URA also has to do more planning in ensuring that the extra number of cars have places to park especially in the Central Business District area where parking as it is now is already a huge problem. It is also harder to have maintenance works on the public roads, as there is a heavier traffic flow.
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to allowing more cars onto the roads of Singapore. I believe that the government has to look into the long term effects before deciding on the most appropriate action to take for this case.
There are both good and bad things about the COE premium dropping to such a low level in Singapore. Of course it will be good the general public or the consumers. Having a lower COE also means a lower car pricing. This will allow more people to have their own cars and help them in their day-to-day transport. Cars will then no longer be luxury available to the rich but having a car will also now be available to the middle class citizens. Having a car can help these people by a lot. For example, a car will help one to get from one place to another much faster than taking the public transport system. Thus, people will be able to use time for more productive purposes. Furthermore, having a lower car price will also mean that one can spend more on the servicing of the car, thus maintaining it in better condition. Those who buy the cars now will also have to pay less insurance fees in the long run, generating huge savings. Of course, the public will also have to deal with a new menace. Since there will be more cars on the road, the roads around Singapore will definitely get more congested and more traffic jams will happen especially during peak hours. This is the price to pay for having more cars on the road. Pedestrians also have to pay more attention for oncoming traffic when they are crossing the roads.
For the government, there are also good and bad points. Having more people that have cars reduces the burden of the public transport system. Public transport can be made faster as there will be less passengers getting on and off at lesser stops. Thus, transport time can also be reduced. The roads in Singapore can also be more fully utilized as the number of vehicles increase on the road. However, there are also quite a few bad points. As there will be more vehicles, the government has to look into enlarging or adding more roads. This will then solve the congestion. Secondly, there will be more pollution as taking private transport is not the most environmentally friendly way to commute. The public transport industry will also take a toll as there will be less commuters and leading to less business. The URA also has to do more planning in ensuring that the extra number of cars have places to park especially in the Central Business District area where parking as it is now is already a huge problem. It is also harder to have maintenance works on the public roads, as there is a heavier traffic flow.
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to allowing more cars onto the roads of Singapore. I believe that the government has to look into the long term effects before deciding on the most appropriate action to take for this case.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Surge in dengue cases in Jakarta as flood-hit residents return home
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/258152/1/.html
The article's main issue is to highlight that the number of people that are suffering from dengue fever is on the rise. The Indonesian capital of Jakarta has been hit by the worst floods in the last 5 years. Thus, it brought the whole city to a standstill. Although the flood waters have receded, the people of Jakarta are still picking up the pieces slowly and painfully. Many have lost their houses and personal belongings from the flood. As the hygine standards are not up to par, many are suffering from various water-related diseases such as dengue fever and cholera. Medical help is also not properly equipped yet to handle the large number of patients seeking medical attention. The people who have been worst hit by the flood are those suffering from poverty. They have no choice but to live in substandard housing by the riverside. As they do not have proper waste disposal systems, they just dump their rubbish into the rivers, blocking the flow of water. This issue is the main cause of the flood as excess water is not able to drain away fast enough. To build a better water system by the means of enlarging the river, these people have no choice but to move elsewhere. This is a huge problem to them as they have no proper permanent shelter to live in.
After reading the article, I feel lucky to not have gone through such a traumatic experience. Those victims affected will have a changed life forever. Although we are not directly affected, we should symapthize the victims and try to help in whatever means possible. Singapore may be prone to natural disasters but that is not something that we should take for granted. Instead, we should take the chance of not dealing with such situations to better prepare ourselves for a national emergency, be it from terrorism etc. A disaster does not choose its victims, so everyone anywhere must always be prepared.
This disaster also highlights the importance of a proper planning for the people. The government should also do more to help those people, especially the poor and the needy. THis is an essential guide to make any country prosper as a whole. This is especially important to advance.
The article's main issue is to highlight that the number of people that are suffering from dengue fever is on the rise. The Indonesian capital of Jakarta has been hit by the worst floods in the last 5 years. Thus, it brought the whole city to a standstill. Although the flood waters have receded, the people of Jakarta are still picking up the pieces slowly and painfully. Many have lost their houses and personal belongings from the flood. As the hygine standards are not up to par, many are suffering from various water-related diseases such as dengue fever and cholera. Medical help is also not properly equipped yet to handle the large number of patients seeking medical attention. The people who have been worst hit by the flood are those suffering from poverty. They have no choice but to live in substandard housing by the riverside. As they do not have proper waste disposal systems, they just dump their rubbish into the rivers, blocking the flow of water. This issue is the main cause of the flood as excess water is not able to drain away fast enough. To build a better water system by the means of enlarging the river, these people have no choice but to move elsewhere. This is a huge problem to them as they have no proper permanent shelter to live in.
After reading the article, I feel lucky to not have gone through such a traumatic experience. Those victims affected will have a changed life forever. Although we are not directly affected, we should symapthize the victims and try to help in whatever means possible. Singapore may be prone to natural disasters but that is not something that we should take for granted. Instead, we should take the chance of not dealing with such situations to better prepare ourselves for a national emergency, be it from terrorism etc. A disaster does not choose its victims, so everyone anywhere must always be prepared.
This disaster also highlights the importance of a proper planning for the people. The government should also do more to help those people, especially the poor and the needy. THis is an essential guide to make any country prosper as a whole. This is especially important to advance.
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