Blog work for 26/1/15 Predict the Future Scenario of Singapore

My prediction is that in the future, there will be an increase in the number of elderly in Singapore. I also predict that due to the dwindling population growth, there will be lesser new generation babies to replace the ever-growing number of elderly. Singapore might have lesser potential leaders in the future to help lead the nation. There will also be an increase in medical needs since the elderly will need an increase in healthcare to maintain their health. 

Singapore could attract more females to give birth by giving those new-born babies a package, like the SG50 package, to pay for the growing cost of milk powder and diapers. Singapore can also educate the young generation now in all aspects to secure a foothold for them in Singapore by having fun, educational and enjoyable programs for all students to prepare them for the future. The government can also build more easily accessible hospitals for the public for example in the Jurong Area since there are lesser hospitals here.  

Life in Singapore in 20 years

I think Singapore in 20 years time may either be really advanced or poor. Firstly, we are a first world country now and is a really prosperous country. However, we depend a lot on other countries for resources etc. If we continue to prosper, our country can be really successful and be technology-advanced so on and so forth. However, if more foreign people enter out countries, the number of jobs available for us Singaporeans would not be enough and we may be really lazy or go against the government. If this is the case, we will be less successful than before. Hopefully, life in 20 years will be more relaxed and carefree. 

Dwindling population in Singapore

My prediction:

If the population growth in Singapore continues to decline, I predict that in the future, the population of the elderly will be much higher than the younger generation. This will in turn cause the economic growth of Singapore to decline as the efficiency of work will also decline. This is because with lesser younger people but more elderly, there are lesser people working, which results in lesser man power in Singapore since the elderly needs retirement. Furthermore, Singapore is a busy trading port so man power is very important. In the worst case scenario, the port might come to a halt or jammed. So if the population growth in Singapore continues to decline, this will affect Singapore greatly in terms of economic growth.

Singapore can give bonus money for those who give birth since most of the citizen's excuse was not enough money to give birth. The government can welcome more foreigners to work at Singapore so that there will be no worries in lack of man power. Singapore can also educate the young generations and develop them to have a successful career and contribute for the country. 

Broken Telephone

Today, our lesson was very interesting. It was to test us on our communication skills. Firstly, our team members stood in line. Basically, the first person was given a picture and needs to describe it and pass the information of that picture to the second person so on and so forth. The end product drawing of each group were different and we all missed out lots of points and some drawings were simply opposite to the actual picture itself. Through this, I believe some of us learnt that effective communication isn't as easy as it seems. If so, the drawing would have been nearly perfect. This links us back to a thought about OELP. We would be traveling overseas with our friends and thus communication is really important. We have to listen carefully to teachers' instructions as we are in a foreign place.

Below is a picture of our group' end product drawing and it bears only a little resemblance to the actual picture. 

Poverty in Singapore

Poverty in Singapore mainly reminds Singaporeans of the aunties and uncles selling tissue papers at hawker centers. I think that it is a good thing that Singaporeans do not simply wait at home in their old age, but try to earn a living for them selves. Even if they are poor, they do not wait for assistance. Singapore has a very efficient social structure, so it is uncommon to see a lot of beggars. I think that the poor should try their best to earn a living, and not simply wait.

Poverty in Singapore

http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/field/image/OurGlobalHome_3.jpg

Poverty in Singapore is commonly seen. From streets to outside mrt stations or outside the malls.

Poverty can be shown in the form of old people selling tissue papers to earn money or collecting newspapers or cardboards to sell them.

Most old people that sells tissue paper appear outside the mrt and in coffee shops. They would buy packets of tissue papers and sell them at a higher price to earn a living. The old people are probably people who lost their families and have to earn money themselves. There are also cases when people cannot find a job. Because they need money to eat or buy necessities, they have to find a job. However, it is now difficult to find jobs as there will be certain job requirements. People may not be able to reach the job requirement and hence cannot get the job. Therefore they have to collect newspapers, cardboard, or other recyclable materials from the neighbourhood to earn money.

Poverty in Singapore

Photo source: http://singaporematters.blogspot.sg/2013/06/wait-our-prime-minister-does-have-point.html

This is a quite common sight for us in Singapore, a simple picture yet displaying a scene of poverty. This is an elderly woman lying on a bench at night with her belongings in a small plastic bag. From my recent research online, according to some campaigners, they said that $5 is what nearly 400,000 Singaporeans are left with paying for utilities, rent, school, loan installments and healthcare. This is a rather shocking find as what can you do with $5 per day to survive? Nowadays, life in singapore becomes more and more tough and poverty gets worse. Hopefully this situation will improve soon and the government will take action.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26349689

My experience:

I have seen many poor people and sights of poverty in Singapore. Most of them sell packets of tissues while some with musical background play instruments to cajole people in giving them some money, earning a living. There's an old man below my block, always playing a instrument and begging for money. I gave him a couple of cents before and he thanked me. I always feel happy when they smile and thank me as it makes me feel that I have helped someone in need and that makes me feel good. However, I feel sorry for them as they are already aging and yet need to resort to begging to survive. This makes me appreciate what I have in my life and I shouldn't take things for granted. 

Poverty in Singapore

,The 

Souce: theindependent.sg

After my research, poverty in Singapore grew from 16% in 2002 to 28% in 2013. The poverty line in Singapore would be someone who earns less than $1500 every month. I once witnessed a kind person who was approached by an disabled woman who sells tissue paper. He gave the woman $20 but didn't take the tissue paper that the woman offered. He was quite a touching scene to watch. 

If you look at the CPF Annual Report in 2011, where the distribution of the monthly wages of Singaporeans were last available (the government omitted this information from 2012), 458,257 Singaporeans were earning less than S$1,500 every month. This represents 26% of the Singaporean and PR population (Chart 1).

As such, it can said that 26% of Singaporeans are living in poverty in Singapore.

Chart 1: CPF Annual Report 2011

Sources

Picture:http://theindependent.sg/blog/2013/11/23/poverty-a-varsity-forum-raises-pertinent-questions/

Poverty in Singapore

Source: http://yoursdp.org/Population/poverty.png

Reflection:

In this picture, these people pick cardboard sand o not have a proper place to sleep at. I think their main income is from selling the card boards and other rubbish. Most of them are th elderly. It was actually a shock to me as Singapore is a prosperous country and its actually quite rare to see people who does not have a proper place to sleep at. To me, poverty in Singapore means your income is small but you are still able to have a proper place to rest and sleep. 

I have read a report online. It says that in Singapore, poor means people who earns less than $3000. But at year 2002, it means people who earns less than $1000. The poverty rate in Singapore has increased. Furthermore, if Singapore were to compare to other high-income countries, Singapore may be the richest country but we also have the highest poverty rate among them. I initially thought that poverty rate in Singapore should be low since Singapore is so prosperous. But after I researched about poverty in Singapore, the result is actually a shock to me. I realized that I have been oblivious to the society in Singapore. But i also realizes that the definition of poverty in Singapore and other countries is different. For example, in Singapore, people considered poor are those earning less than $3000. But in Africa, the definition of poverty would means people lack of basic human needs such as food and water. However, these people still needs help. I think that if possible, we should help them whenever we are.

Sources

http://thehearttruths.com/2013/10/28/poverty-in-singapore-grew-from-16-in-2002-to-28-in-2013/

Life experience:

Sometime, I would see people performing while begging for money and they are mostly disabled. Some sell tissue paper and snacks. Once there is a man in wheelchair selling 4Ds. A woman took pity of him and give him a $2 note. The man, instead of being grateful, he threw the money away and shouted at the lady for looking down at him. I realized that even though they are poor and their income is low, they have pride and do not want to be looked down at.

Group reflection on our word

Our word is 'Pitiful'

Reflection

We feel that the child in this picture is very pitiful. The child is starving. Not only that,her body is so skinny that we could only see bones. Furthermore, there is no one to help her. We feel that it is too much for a child like her to suffer so much and thus the initial word that came to our mind is ' Pitiful'.

Poverty in Singapore

Source: therealsingapore.com

According to my research , I've found out that poverty in Singapore is a constant problem. As seen in this article found at therealsingapore.com, "It comes as a surprise to most that a country this prosperous is the second-most unequal economy in the developed world." There are many beggars to be seen in Singapore everywhere, most of them being the disabled and the elderly. 

Below is an excerpt from yoursdp.org:

'The elderly poor in Singapore lead just as tragic lives. Many have to, literally, work until they die:

In 1999 monthly wages for low-skilled workers decreased by as much as 34 percent.

• Nearly 30 percent of households were not earning enough to afford the minimum standard of living. The Government estimates that the subsistence level in Singapore is US$600 for a household of four people—a conservative figure for a country that is consistently ranked among the most expensive cities in the world to live in.
• Between 1998 and 1999, the average household monthly income of the poorest 10 percent of the population decreased by nearly 50 percent. The following year, the figure nose-dived by another 54 percent.
• In 1990, the richest 10 percent of households earned 15.6 times more than the poorest 10 percent. (Households with no income-earners are excluded from this category.) By 2000, the gap widened: the richest 10 percent earned 36 times more than the poorest 10 percent.
• The number of households with monthly incomes of less than $3,000 was 40 percent in 1998 but increased to 42 percent in 1999.
• According to the 2000 Census, 12.6 per cent of households earned less than $1,000 per month. A monthly gross total household income of $1,500 and below is considered "poor” in Singapore.
• A more recent survey found that 16 per cent of the respondents had family members who often went hungry.
• In 2004 37,823 households could not afford to buy their own flats or rent homes in the open market.' 

These two sources show the severity of poverty in Singapore. Even though the government have done efforts to decrease the rate of poverty, there are still many elderly selling tissue packets at MRT stations and picking up cans and cardboards. These are only some of the examples of poverty in Singapore. 

Below, I will be sharing my experience. I have once encountered an elderly lady selling tissue packets at a hawker centre. She was stopping at every table, asking if the patrons would want to buy some tissue packets, most of them would just ignore her and continue to eat their food. But on that day, a generous couple in their thirties gave the lady a $10 note. The lady gave them 3 packets and was about to find change for them when the male said, "Auntie, it's okay, you don't have to give me change." The elderly lady was shocked but because of her pride, she still wanted to give them change. The woman then said, "Auntie, we'll take more tissue packets, so there's no need for change." The elderly lady reluctantly nodded and gave them more tissue packets. 

From this experience, I think that will buy things from the elderly since that may be their only way of getting income. In the future, I will not ignore them but instead give them some money, even a $2 note will do.  

Sources:

Picture 

Image from http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/field/image/OurGlobalHome_3.jpg.

Excerpts:

http://therealsingapore.com/content/singapore%E2%80%99s-widening-wealth-gap/

http://yoursdp.org/publ/the_truth_about/hard_truth_of_current_singapore/poverty_in_singapore/16-1-0-244

~Shihui

Reflection on Lesson on 12/1

During that lesson, we were shown two different pictures: the first depicted a man holding a piece of cardboard that wrote that the items he lost and that he just needed a small amount of money to make a phone call. The other depicted a woman carrying a baby while holding out her hand to beg for money. Our CID2 teacher, Mr Wong, asked us, "If you were given a $100 note, who would you help and why?" In our group, most of us chose to help the woman carrying the baby since they looked pitiful. But I chose to help the man holding the cardboard, because there were many reports about begging syndicates kidnapping children or babies, forcing them to drink or eat medicine that would let them sleep and walk on the streets with them to gain more sympathy and more money. I think the man seemed more trustworthy because he had clearly stated the things he lost and his needs. After some discussion and presentation of our answers, Mr Wong showed us the background of the two beggars and it turned out that I was right! 

This lesson taught me about the importance of the background of people or countries. It had also taught me about poverty, something that can be seen in every country. 

~Shihui

December Holiday Reflection

I spent my holiday going for CCA, staying at home and traveling to Phuket. I enjoyed traveling to Phuket the most because I get to see a relaxing part of the world. Phuket has many road side stores where they sell food like fried banana, fried fish and many others. In Phuket, the beaches are relaxing because it is very clean and the sceneries are very nice. I had a lot of different experiences in Phuket such as Wakeboarding, shooting a real gun and so on. At first, wake boarding seemed really scary to me as I have never tried it before. However, after riding it for a few times it was not as scary. Although I kept falling into the water, it was definitely a fun experience for me. I also went shooting and realised that what I thought about shooting was different from what it felt like. The gun was very big and very heavy. When the gun shoots, it is very loud and therefore I have to wear ear gear. The gun was also very hot. In conclusion, I had many new experiences in Phuket and it was a really fun family trip.

December Holidays Reflection (Calyn)

During the November and December break, I enjoyed myself thoroughly after the stressing EOYs and really let my hair down. Even though there were still the tiring CCAs, I went to Australia (Melbourne and Adelaide) for a 2 weeks holiday.

The scenery there is very breathtaking and beautiful. We went sightseeing and visited tons of tourist attractions such as "The 12 Apostles". It was a once in a lifetime experience for me as the color of the waves was around turquoise and dark blue, sand was bright golden and the "apostles" stood at its finest.

There was a day when my family decided to do some strawberry picking. It was my first time and I was really excited. Once I entered the area to pick the strawberries, I was amazed. The strawberries were all very fresh and red and it looks really juicy as well! We could taste some of them and it tasted delicious. We picked the strawberries and weighed them. It was a great experience and I'll definitely do it again in a heartbeat!

In Melbourne, there are lots of shopping outlets which I was glad about as it means I could literally shop till I drop! The food there is great too and the people there are warm and friendly. I also went to the famous Queen Victoria Market. The things sold there are ranging from bottle of jams to candies to skin care products. It was a fantastic experience for me as I could learn about other people's cultures and understand how they live and heir standard of living etc. I love traveling overseas and had a great time last December! :)

-Calyn ^_^

Group Picture and Profile

From left to right: Tong Yizhi (20), Leong Shi Hui (14), Calyn Seah (02), Hoe Jian Ning Jan (08), Chuan Han Wei (26), Luo Tian Hong (32)

All from 2H. CID Group 2 Giovanne

December holiday reflections.

During the December holidays, I went to Malaysia on a 2 days trip with my uncles and cousins. On the first day of the trip, we drove to Malacca, dubbed Tthe Historical State", is the smallest Malayisa state after Perlis and Penang. One of the attractions we visited was the Famosa. It is a Portuguese Fortress located in Malacca. It is the oldest surviving Eroupean architectural remains in South East Asia. I've learnt that it is built in 1511 and used to be a fortress. After the trip, we went to a famous traditional Nonya restaurant to try their local delicacies. I especially like the curry fish head there as the curry sauce was very fragant, not too spicy nor light. After long of sightseeing and walking, we quickly check in a hotel. This trip was an exciting but tiring one as a lot of walking has to be done to really understand and appreciate Malalcca. My cousins like it, I like it too.  

December holiday reflection

During the December holidays, I went to Bali, Indonesia, on a 7 day trip. My most memorable expereince is going to lembonggan island to scuba dive. They equipped us with scuba diving gear, and drove us on a boat to the ocean a distance away from the coast, and we went down to the ocean to scuba dive.

   The scuba diving was memorable as we get to see a lot of beautiful coral, and trying out the scuba gear was a new experience. When I first started using it, I drank a lot of sea water, but I carried on, and soon, was able to use the gear. I was very happy that I was able to scuba dive, and I stayed there for a long time. The coral was really very beautiful and colorful, and there was a lot of fishes darting about. I would really want to come back next time again, and see the coral.

  On our return to the beach, our guide caught us some hermit crabs on the beach.

    The hermit crabs were very small, and the guide held it in his hand for us to see. I even held it in my hand(first pic with the hand in blue sleeves), and it was really fun to feel them scuttling about in your hand. It was my first time seeing a hermit crab up close, and it was really fun and entertaining for me.

  In conclusion, the trip to Bali was very fun and I would want to come again.

December Holiday reflection

For my December holiday, I spent majority of the days at home eating snacks and watching anime. But on 5/12/14, I went to AFA(anime festival asia) with Shi hui and Gloria. It was held at Suntec city convention hall annually.

On that day, I was very excited. We meet up early in the morning so that we do not have to queue for a long time for the tickets. It was very fun and everything was new to me since it's my first time going. There are lots of cosplayers and I took photo with them. They look awesome and cool. I also met a famous voice actor for an anime I like and it was an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, there was DJ called DJ TEKINA//SOMETHING aka Yuyoyuppe from Japan and the atmosphere was very high and exciting. But it's a bit disappointing as there were no cafés this year. It was a tiring day but fun and I bought a lot of souvenirs.

That day was very memorable, it feels magical to see all those anime characters to come to 'life'. I hope to go there again next year with my friends.

~yizhi

December Holiday Reflection

During the December Holidays, the most memorable thing was that I went to Anime Festival Asia, held at Suntec City Convention Hall, with my classmate and group mate Yizhi and my primary school friend. This event was held from 5 December to 7 December. We went there on the first day. Even though it was a morning, there were many people there queuing to buy the ticket and lining up to enter the hall.

We entered the hall at about 9.30am and separated to buy things. I had met the minimum for a lucky draw, so I participated in it. I got a pair of earphones from it! We met and a booth and started to roam about. We took pictures with cosplayers and even went to the DJ-Stage!

The most memorable thing that happened there was that I got an autograph from a popular seiyuu (a job that voices the characters in an anime)! I even managed to hold a proper conversation with him in Japanese! I also managed to get the autograph of a famous cosplayed too!

But, I think that this event is made special because I was with my good friends. We roamed the grounds for approximately 8 hours and only rested for 10 minutes or so for lunch and to rest our feet.

In conclusion, i think that AFA was a memorable event for me in the December holidays.

~Shi Hui :3