Friday 26 April 2013

Strawberry Generation in Singapore

Link to article

Summary: Many say that our youth are soft and crushable like strawberries and lack the toughness of the older generations. According to surveys conducted, only 60% of the surveyed youth were able to perform the simple task of cooking a meal for themselves. Some people interviewed thought that youths  are too sheltered and have not been given the opportunity to face challenges by themselves. Even Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong recently put emphasis on the need for Singapore to have tough youths that are able to turn into leaders.

Opinion: I agree with the article that today's teens are too "soft". I have seen many examples that prove this is true. One such example is when I see some of my school mates having their grandparents or helpers carry their school bags for them. Another infamous example is the picture of a NS man whose helper was helping him carry his army pack that surfaced on the internet. All of these prove that my generation is too soft. I feel that parents should not be overly-protective of their children and should allow them to face hardships on their own to help the develop independence.

Friday 12 April 2013

News Article: Water Scarcity- By Lim Kay Ray

Summary:
Although 70% of our planet is covered by water, we must not waste it or misuse it as only 3% of that is freshwater- the water we drink and bathe in. The rest are unconsumable. This results in 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to clean water, and 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least a month for the year. Water pollution comes from many causes, such as pesticides and fertilizers that is washed away from farms, untreated human wastewater and industrial waste. This water if consumed can be fatal to humans and plants. Due to pollution growth, agricultural use of water is scarce as they need water to grow crops.

Opinion:
I think that as water covers 70% of our planet, many tend to think that it is plentiful. They should not waste water or pollute it as this fresh water that they use to drink and bathe in may be scarce for other countries around the world such as India and Indonesia. Farmlands should change to hydroponics farming as in hydroponics farming, the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used is greatly reduced, resulting in a great difference in cleanliness of the waters nearby as the pesticides and fertilizers would not be washed in. Industrial estates should also put their waste through a filter so that it would not pollute the air and water. Water is precious and not all have access to fresh drinking water.

News Article: Climate Change- By Lim Kay Ray

Summary:
Global warming is a serious environmental threat to both animals and Man at the same time in this time and age. The sea levels are rising and the waters are getting warmer. Longer, more intense droughts threaten crops, wildlife and freshwater supply. This is caused due to the excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, traps heat in the atmosphere by regulating our climate.

Opinion:
I think that scientist should find a way to replace the use of fossil fuels and will thus decrease produce of greenhouse gases. Industrial factories should consider natural, renewable resources like solar energy, wind energy and kinetic energy from running water. These sources of energy are renewable and do not harm the environment, but they may be more costly than burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels take a long time to recover and may not recover fast enough as they are used and burnt at a rapid rate.

Thursday 11 April 2013

Threats to Earth : Pollution

Link to article

Summary:

Our environments and ecosystems are filled with contamination and pollution. Everywhere we go, we can see the effects of pollution on our environment. Even seemingly unharmed environments may have been affected by pollution from a long distance away. Pollution damages our environment and kills wildlife. Many activities that make our modern lives possible contribute to pollution in one way or another. Even the few areas not directly polluted by 21st-century developments can feel the effects of pollution.

Opinion:

I believe that as humans we have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and preserving our environment to the best of our abilities. As seen in the article, humans have harmed our environment in many different ways and I feel that it is highly irresponsible of us to treat our environment in such a way. I think that people should all learn to play a part in the conservation of the environment and to live eco-friendly lives so as to protect the environment. Nature is a blessing given to us and we should never take that for granted.