Article: Indonesia's dilemma over foreign domestic workers
Summary:
During a recent visit to Malaysia, Indonesian President Joko Wisdodo expressed shame when discussing the issue of Indonesian women working overseas as foreign domestic workers (FDWs).
Thoughts on this issue:
Indonesian women have less rights than men in Indonesia which results in them being less educated. Thus, also with their limited education and poor family financial issues, they have less choices of jobs. Many of them are influenced then to become domestic helpers also known as maids, at foreign countries.
From the perspective of the leaders of Indonesia, I believe the reason why they would want to reduce or fully prevent women in their country to work as domestic helpers at other countries is due to national pride. To be honest, who would want a country of women who work as maids in other countries? This national pride not only affects the moral as a country itself, it also affects their reputation as a developing country. The country might feel ashamed when this topic is being raised up.
However, in the perspective of the women in Indonesia, they willingly go overseas to become domestic helpers in foreign countries is because of their family financial difficulty. Many of them who willingly work as maids are poor back in their hometown. Who would want to be alone in a foreign country, separated by seas and oceans to work as a domestic helper should they be financially capable? With little education and rights as women, they willingly become domestic helpers in foreign countries so as to lessen the burden of their financial difficulty back at home.
Looking from the perspective of employees, I believe that most Singaporeans would prefer to have a domestic helper at home to aid in the house chores. Many Singaporeans, especially adults, are working full time. They may not have time for the young and old back at home. Thus, they employ domestic helpers to aid in the taking care of these 2 age groups. However, this has resulted in the bonding of a family's relationship such as a child and parents. The child spends much of his/her time being alone with the domestic helper. This would allow them to be more attached to their domestic helper than their very own parents.
In our perspective, given a choice, we will not reject having a domestic helper at home. With a domestic helper to help out with the preparing of dinner, house chores like cleaning up the dishes and house, we will have more personal time or even time spent with our family. But a domestic helper should not affect the bonding between a child and parent.
Wong WeiNing (18)
Cheng Jing Wen (26)
Sunday, 26 April 2015
Friday, 17 April 2015
Tighten rules on smoking near buildings
The author of the article is a non-smoker who is concerned every time his wife, his four children and him pass by smokers along the passages and outside the entrances and exits of public buildings. He thinks authorities should consider increasing the prohibited zone to 20m from a building and locate designated smoking areas at the back of buildings instead of at the entrances, and step up surveillance and enforcement in public areas, as well as putting up more warning signs and conducting more promotional activities to spread the message.
I(We) agree with the author. It is unhealthy for non-smokers who pass by as they are forced to inhale the smoke. It is also a bad influence to youngsters, as they may learn how to smoke due to interaction with other smokers, which can ruin their health. We can create an area specially for smokers, so that they cannot smoke wherever they want to. That way, we can limit the contact between smokers and non-smokers, so that non-smokers are in no danger of taking in the smoke or becoming a smoker, and at the same time not risk the anger of smokers.
Shuang Ching and Jing Yi
I(We) agree with the author. It is unhealthy for non-smokers who pass by as they are forced to inhale the smoke. It is also a bad influence to youngsters, as they may learn how to smoke due to interaction with other smokers, which can ruin their health. We can create an area specially for smokers, so that they cannot smoke wherever they want to. That way, we can limit the contact between smokers and non-smokers, so that non-smokers are in no danger of taking in the smoke or becoming a smoker, and at the same time not risk the anger of smokers.
Shuang Ching and Jing Yi
Clever girls, stupid boys?
Clever girls, stupid boys
The article states that girls are more witty than boys and boys are beginning to lose out to girls. There might be a possibility that males could be seen as a new form of social disadvantage.
I dont agree with this statement as I believe in equal rights. I believe that this is just a stereotype statement and I believe that we have different strengths and weaknesses. I agree with the author's opinion as i do believe that the environments that the students live in can influence one's growth and interests. The article states that there is a higher percentage of girls entering university as compared to the boy's percentage. However I believe that this does not show that the boys's cannot perform well academically. They have their own strengths and their pros and cons may differ from the girls. In the study, it also shows that boys are much more stronger in subjects such as math and science. Also in our society today, many males have become top successors, on pile with the females who are so called "smarter"
Therefore in conclusion, I believe that not all girls are clever and not all boys are stupid. Different people have different strengths and weaknesses and we should certainly not stereotype the genders on their strengths.
Emma and Zhiqing
The article states that girls are more witty than boys and boys are beginning to lose out to girls. There might be a possibility that males could be seen as a new form of social disadvantage.
I dont agree with this statement as I believe in equal rights. I believe that this is just a stereotype statement and I believe that we have different strengths and weaknesses. I agree with the author's opinion as i do believe that the environments that the students live in can influence one's growth and interests. The article states that there is a higher percentage of girls entering university as compared to the boy's percentage. However I believe that this does not show that the boys's cannot perform well academically. They have their own strengths and their pros and cons may differ from the girls. In the study, it also shows that boys are much more stronger in subjects such as math and science. Also in our society today, many males have become top successors, on pile with the females who are so called "smarter"
Therefore in conclusion, I believe that not all girls are clever and not all boys are stupid. Different people have different strengths and weaknesses and we should certainly not stereotype the genders on their strengths.
Emma and Zhiqing
Changi Airport Outdated Systems
This article is about a passenger criticizing the Changi Airport security systems, owing to an older version of windows that is vulnerable to hackers, he mentions that Changi Airport should not do such a thing and that they should give full protection to passengers.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
YingHan 14 WenZhen 16
THE GUARDIAN
Bullied teenagers increasingly want to have cosmetic surgery, says survey.
From the annual survey carried out by anti-bullying charity, Ditch The Label, it was found out that more than half of the teenagers who responded felt they had been bullied about their appearance. One in two went on to say they wanted to change how they look, some even though cosmetic surgery. As known, the implications of appearance-based bullying are “significant” and can have “devastating, long-term impacts”. The popularity of image-based apps such as Instagram and the fashion for taking “selfies” may also be contributing, experts say, as the vast majority of bullying is now online or via social media.
Even though the survey results in this article is based on that obtained in the UK, bullying is a serious issue in schools, and now even online, all over the world, especially about one's appearance. As stated in the article, posting images of a person's self or "selfies" online is undeniably a trend in this day and age of social media. Thus, teenagers following this trend may become more self-conscious about their outer appearance, in hope of impressing others and becoming popular. Sometimes, mean comments are found on the photos of those whose looks do not come over as visually appealing. These people who are being 'cyber-bullied' may have the desire to change their outer appearance by undergoing cosmetic surgery or going on diets. We feel that mean comments should not exist, whether virtually or in real life. However, it takes all kinds of people to make a world. There ought to be people who enjoy saying mean things about others for their own satisfaction. Hence, we would like to suggest a few ways for bystanders to stop bullying and for victims to stop destroying their own bodies just to keep themselves from being bullied. Bystanders should not just watch absent-mindedly while someone else is being bullied. Step into the victim's shoes and empathize with him. This will give you the determination to speak up for him, not to the bully himself but to a trusted adult. As for the victims, do not think about your appearance too much. Yes, you may feel dejected when someone whose looks you admire makes fun of you and calls you ugly, but always remember that inner beauty is so much more important than outer beauty. Those who bully are thus ultimately the ugly ones.
No one is perfect. Everyone has their own strength and weakness. We should not judge someone by their outer appearance and make fun of them. Instead, we should put emphasis on their inner beauty, as that is what really matters in a relationship or friendship.
Sent from my iPad
THE GUARDIAN
Bullied teenagers increasingly want to have cosmetic surgery, says survey.
From the annual survey carried out by anti-bullying charity, Ditch The Label, it was found out that more than half of the teenagers who responded felt they had been bullied about their appearance. One in two went on to say they wanted to change how they look, some even though cosmetic surgery. As known, the implications of appearance-based bullying are “significant” and can have “devastating, long-term impacts”. The popularity of image-based apps such as Instagram and the fashion for taking “selfies” may also be contributing, experts say, as the vast majority of bullying is now online or via social media.
Even though the survey results in this article is based on that obtained in the UK, bullying is a serious issue in schools, and now even online, all over the world, especially about one's appearance. As stated in the article, posting images of a person's self or "selfies" online is undeniably a trend in this day and age of social media. Thus, teenagers following this trend may become more self-conscious about their outer appearance, in hope of impressing others and becoming popular. Sometimes, mean comments are found on the photos of those whose looks do not come over as visually appealing. These people who are being 'cyber-bullied' may have the desire to change their outer appearance by undergoing cosmetic surgery or going on diets. We feel that mean comments should not exist, whether virtually or in real life. However, it takes all kinds of people to make a world. There ought to be people who enjoy saying mean things about others for their own satisfaction. Hence, we would like to suggest a few ways for bystanders to stop bullying and for victims to stop destroying their own bodies just to keep themselves from being bullied. Bystanders should not just watch absent-mindedly while someone else is being bullied. Step into the victim's shoes and empathize with him. This will give you the determination to speak up for him, not to the bully himself but to a trusted adult. As for the victims, do not think about your appearance too much. Yes, you may feel dejected when someone whose looks you admire makes fun of you and calls you ugly, but always remember that inner beauty is so much more important than outer beauty. Those who bully are thus ultimately the ugly ones.
No one is perfect. Everyone has their own strength and weakness. We should not judge someone by their outer appearance and make fun of them. Instead, we should put emphasis on their inner beauty, as that is what really matters in a relationship or friendship.
Sent from my iPad
To cull or not to cull pesky monkeys
the writer writes the issue about culling monkeys. since the rate of monkeys has been decreasing drastically because of the culling. this is good news in a way, because people have been complaining lesser about the disturbance of monkeys attacking people or being overly dependent on human beings for food. however, animal associations have been complaining about the in humane and excessive culling of monkeys. they hope to explore more humane methods of controlling monkey's population or avoiding disturbance in general by doing things like herding the family out of a place or planting more fruit trees to avoid the monkeys being overly dependent on human beings for survival.
in our opinion, we think that killing monkeys is in humane especially in large numbers. there could be other ways to tackle this problem of the disturbing monkeys other than just killing them. we agree with the method of making the monkeys less dependent on us for survive. we do not think there is a need in killing the monkeys. as long as they do not affect us negatively in anyway, we can just let them be. after all, they are living organisms just like us and it's not like we get killed if there's overpopulation, right? I think this culling method is extremely cruel and they should cut down on it. in the mean time, we can do our part as well by not feeding the monkeys everytime we see them because that makes me them more dependent on us for survival and they will not bother to find their own food. instead, we should let them find food in their own forests where they live so they can be independent. also, it is also stated that they are planting more fruit trees to create a better environment for the monkeys to stay in and not mix and create trouble by running across roads or snatching foods. this really would help the monkeys to be more independent.
By Mingxuan and Jordan
"To cull or not to cull pesky monkey"
The Straits Times, 16/4/2015
Singapore is at a crossroads in its management of wild monkeys and to cull or not to cull these native creatures has emerged as a key question. Public feedback on monkeys, mostly complaints and related to safety and nuisance concerns, fell sharply from 1860 instances in 2013 to just 750 last year. But that had stirred controversy over the cause, given that there had been extensive culling of the animals recently.
So should monkey be cull or be controlled using other method? We have come to a conclusion that monkey should and should not be culled. Culling refers to the killing of removed animal. The other methods stated include sterilization, herds monkey away from home, installing monkey proofed bins, etc. Culling of the monkey is the fast and most efficient way of getting rid o the monkey. It reduce both the number of monkey and the number of breeding monkey in a short term, but it may be needed to be done again in later years as monkey will breed. However, if all the monkeys are sterilized, it will cause an aging monkey population, resulting in a possible extinction of monkey in the wild in Singapore, affecting the natural eco-system.
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Wen Rong & YiXuan
Singapore is at a crossroads in its management of wild monkeys and to cull or not to cull these native creatures has emerged as a key question. Public feedback on monkeys, mostly complaints and related to safety and nuisance concerns, fell sharply from 1860 instances in 2013 to just 750 last year. But that had stirred controversy over the cause, given that there had been extensive culling of the animals recently.
So should monkey be cull or be controlled using other method? We have come to a conclusion that monkey should and should not be culled. Culling refers to the killing of removed animal. The other methods stated include sterilization, herds monkey away from home, installing monkey proofed bins, etc. Culling of the monkey is the fast and most efficient way of getting rid o the monkey. It reduce both the number of monkey and the number of breeding monkey in a short term, but it may be needed to be done again in later years as monkey will breed. However, if all the monkeys are sterilized, it will cause an aging monkey population, resulting in a possible extinction of monkey in the wild in Singapore, affecting the natural eco-system.
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Wen Rong & YiXuan
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