Robots to wipe out 20m jobs by 2030: Study

Click HERE

Up to 20 million manufacturing jobs will be lost globally to robots by 2030, a new study has found.

Lower-skilled regions are much more vulnerable to the job losses

The implications are huge. We will see a significant boost to productivity and economic growth and some new types of job we can't even yet foresee  (note the potential rebuttal that robots can create new and better jobs instead of just destroy jobs)

business models will be disrupted or upturned and millions of existing workers will be displaced - and the impact will affect lower-skilled and poorer economies... most

Those workers in Singapore that are displaced by technology will have to adapt their skills to the evolving demands of the future economy but the government already has put in place schemes to help to retrain workers displaced by technology,

Singapore also has an ageing population (more so than most) and restraints on inward migration, so robots may be particularly helpful in keeping the economy growing.

Qns:

1. In an age of rapid technological advancement, is a single career for life realistic? (Cam. 2018)

2. ‘People today do not work as hard as they did in the past.’ How true is this of your society? (Cam. 2018)

Hurdles aplenty for Asean World Cup bid

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

Expert says hosting may rack up US$20b bill, transport networks would require overhaul

Brazil spent about US$15 billion (S$20.32 billion) to host the 2014 World Cup, while Russia spent some US$14 billion to host last year's edition.

The estimated bill for 2022 hosts Qatar, meanwhile, are astronomically higher - around US$200 billion - primarily because of the need to build roads, airports and a metro that did not exist prior,

But a tournament in Asean has its allure, with tourism being one of them... The tourism would be a boost to the economy," noted Walton.

uplift football in the region...A successful bid... would see the global football community focus their attention on the region. This is turn will galvanise the sport here and lift it to the next level. It would be most visible in the long term... especially with improved football infrastructure.

Qns: 

1.     Hosting major sporting events creates more problems than benefits. Do you agree?
(Cam. 2005)
2.     Does sport merit the vast sums of money that are spent on it? (Cam. 2010)

Germany struggles to reconcile green goals with reality

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

Germany decided to stop using nuclear energy after the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, and to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases wherever possible. Solar panels were installed on roofs, and windparks were built to generate electricity.

Politically, the country is trapped between trade unions wanting to protect jobs, and the conservative wing of the industry that is afraid of further green laws that will weaken its position in global markets.

Twenty years ago, nuclear power made up almost a third of the German energy mix. Today, it is a mere 10 per cent. Replacing this source with other means led to a huge energy gap which, at least in part, was filled by fossil fuels that produce a high level of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Renewables cannot compensate as fast as nuclear energy and hard coal are disappearing. Eventually, gas and oil had to be imported from abroad - in particular Russia - to fuel German power plants...So the paradox is that Germany, which wants to be eco-friendly, is still a massive user of fossil fuels and thus emitting considerable quantities of CO2.

a CO2 tax might be a significant burden on the low-income group...Critics are afraid that putting the new tax on the shoulders of the "little guy" could lead to mass demonstrations in Germany like the "yellow vest" protests in France.

Qn: Assess the view that attempts to control climate change can never be truly effective. (Cam. 2017)

Cooking blind with talking tech

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

many members of the disabled community here who have turned to such assistive or inclusive technologies to live more independent lives.

Note some of the examples here which can be useful for ur essays....

Qn: Does modern technology always improve the quality of people’s lives? (Cam. 2006)

Singaporeans have world's longest life expectancy at 84.8 years

Click HERE

Useful stats for BANGING!

Singapore topped the world in life expectancy in 2017 with an expected lifespan at birth of 84.8 years, surging ahead of traditional chart-topper Japan by more than half a year.

The average Singaporean also enjoys the longest span of living in good health - 74.2 years - but there has also been a rise in the number of unhealthy years people here live.

"The years that Singaporeans have gained are too often spent coping with age-related health problems."...What it means is that Singaporeans born in 2017 can "expect to live for 84.8 years, but that 10.6 of those years would be spent in poor health", according to the recently released report.

Qns:

1. Consider the view that we do not take enough responsibility for our own well-being.(Cam. 2018)

2. Longer life expectancy creates more problems than benefits. Discuss. (Cam. 2016)

3. How effectively is public health promoted and managed in your society? (Cam. 2015)

Madonna still in vogue

Click HERE

Can the arts still entertain(i.e. bring joy and amusement) if they insult others' or your religion/race?

She is still ruffling feathers, just like in the 1980s...When she staged her first concert in Singapore in 2016, the content had to be altered, with religiously sensitive content removed...Several religious leaders have spoken out against the concert, including Archbishop William Goh, who had expressed the Catholic Church's concerns that Madonna's music and props were blasphemous and disrespectful to the Catholic and Christian faith.

Qn: 
1. Do the Arts have the power to bridge the social divide? (CJC Prelim 2018)
2. "The arts are more than just a form of entertainment.” To what extent is this true?

Different faiths share their connections through art

Click HERE

Qn: Do the Arts have the power to bridge the social divide? (CJC Prelim 2018)

Culture meets couture

Click HERE

Some of us did the compe AQ on fashion some time back....here's an excellent example of fashion that incorporates culture....

Aside from the ornate nature of her designs, Guo is also known for incorporating Chinese culture and motifs into many of her gowns....focus her efforts on designing bridal wear that pays homage to Chinese culture.

Qn: Fashion is as much a good thing as a bad thing. To what extent do you agree? (Cam. 2009)

Well-informed citizenry needed for consultative governing style

Click HERE

In the light of the current HK protest against the controversial and deeply unpopular extradition Bill, the role of education can be examined.....It is education that bring to light the implications of this Bill to the people, whether an educated, critical mind that is the product of school education, or the informal education of the public via the media, that inform the people on how the Bill may affect them....But for education to lead to positive outcomes, people need to be well-informed of the big picture and not take to the streets to protest at the slightest 'provocation' without a sound understanding of the issue, esp if the media has been fanning the flames and spreading fake news...
But in the case where the govt has been corrupt or implementing harmful policies on the country, then the education of the society to bring about this awareness of the govt's failings can lead to justified protests or a vote of no confidence in the govt, leading to a change in govt...This is the basis of an effective democracy -- which is only as effective as the people are discerning (i.e. educated)

The bedrock of a sound democratic system depends on an objective, mature, balanced, pragmatic and well-informed citizenry....To have a more constructive discussion, we need to educate, or even re-educate, the people on how to conduct thorough research, and think critically.

Qns:
1. Discuss the claim that education guarantees progress. (ACJC Prelim 2015)
2. Can we elimination violence with education? (CJC Prelim 2018)

Learn your mother tongue through the arts

Click HERE

As people lament the falling standards of mother tongues in Singapore, where English has long been the favoured lingua franca, experts suggest that arts activities can be a fun and less intimidating way to spark interest in these languages.

a teaching toolkit that shows how drama techniques can be incorporated into the teaching and learning of Chinese.

Songs, too, can help a person improve his grasp of his mother tongue.

"The stiffness of the student-teacher relationship can be loosened through music... When a child is joyful in learning the language, he learns it for life."

"Drama and theatre create platforms where children can practise languages. Cultural content such as idioms and folklore are also introduced in theatre, deepening children's learning experience.

Note that the entertainment value of the arts can be harnessed and exploited for other uses or objectives.....


Qn: “The arts are more than just a form of entertainment.” To what extent is this true?

Poster child of 'Umbrella Movement' re-enters the fray

Click HERE

Good example of a youth activist. Became a protest leader when he was just 17!!!:
Scrawny, with gaunt features and a studious frown, the then 17-year-old spearheaded the mass "Umbrella Movement" protests, which were a reaction to restrictions from Beijing on how Hong Kong's next leader would be chosen.

For other teenage activists eg, think Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala,  and the latest Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg (Click HERE)

Note that education into awareness plays a big role in firing the spark of acitvism in students...

Relate also to last yr's 'A' lvl AQ on youth and politics.

Qns: 
1. To what extent do young people in your society take an interest in politics? (Cam. 2006)
2. Discuss the claim that education guarantees progress. (ACJC Prelim 2015)
3. Can we eliminate violence with education? (CJC Prelim 2018)

Sonny Liew tackles antibiotics

Click HERE

If can't access above link, click HERE

Award-winning Singaporean cartoonist Sonny Liew has dealt with Singapore's political history, dementia and depression in his works. Now, he turns his hand to an unexpected new subject: antibiotics.

His next comic, The Antibiotic Tales, is a collaboration with infectious diseases expert Hsu Li Yang to explain antimicrobial resistance - the ability of microbes to evolve and resist the drugs used to kill them - to the lay reader.

the use of comics will make these issues "more accessible to many others outside the healthcare profession, and explained in a relatable manner".

Qn: “The arts are more than just a form of entertainment.” To what extent is this true?

Distance lends enchantment to life

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

Beautiful imagery:
"The scenes in our life resemble pictures in a rough mosaic. They are ineffective from close up, and have to be viewed from a distance if they are to seem beautiful. 

We would be wise, then, to acquire the habit of often taking a step back from our daily affairs, and viewing our lives, as it were, from afar. From that perspective, our minor anxieties and irritations will assume less importance, and the important things in life will reveal themselves more clearly.

Other than the imagery of the mosasic, another common imagery used to denote this idea is that of Monet's impressionist paintings -- upfront, one only sees a mash of dots or paint blots; but step back and these blots will merge to unveil a coherent and beautiful piece of art work.

Qn: 'There is no value to nostalgia.' Comment.

Abe negotiates minefield of bias as he plays peacemaker

Click HERE

Sometimes, interference by a third party is needed if two countries at loggerheads with each other cannot see eye to eye and are highly anatagonistc and resentful towards each other. In such cases, a third party which is objective, and more crucially, a friend to both countries (and hence respected by both), can come in as the intermediary to help defuse the tensions and broker a peace agreement. Japan can be seen to be playing such a role here, sending messages from the US to Iran.

Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

Chernobyl TV series sparks selfie tourism boom - and anger

Click HERE

The nuclear plant and the abandoned town that neighbours it in Ukraine have witnessed a spike in visitors since the HBO drama aired last month to rave reviews.
In one posting, an Instagram user posed in front of an abandoned building in Pripyat, the ghost town once home to 50,000 people who mainly worked at the plant, with her hazmat suit open to show off her G-string....Another made a victory gesture while smiling at a viewpoint overlooking the nuclear facility, and others struck glamorous poses against a backdrop of a nuclear wasteland.

"No respect for those who died in this catastrophe

For qns on tourism....

Qn: Do films offer anything more than an escape from reality? (Cam. 2014)

Hong Kong's long-term economic outlook at stake

Click HERE

If u follow the argument that education often leads to protests (given that protests are often initiated by or involved intellectuals or students fighting for their rights or certain social injustices that education has opened their eyes to), then u can go on to argue that such protests may impede the economic progress....the logic for this can be seen in the latest ongoing HK protest over the controversial Extradition Bill:

There are immediate, localised effects: Pacific Place, a luxury shopping mall, closed on Thursday due to ongoing protests in the area. Dragon boat races scheduled for yesterday, which had been expected to draw around 60,000 spectators, were cancelled.

Hong Kong's economic growth had slowed in the fourth quarter of 2014 from the previous period, and the government back then partially blamed that weaker performance on the protests, saying it "affected tourism, hotel, catering, retail and transport industries". The government also said then that "prolonged political bickering is detrimental" to Hong Kong's international image as a stable and efficient city.

recent social contradiction and economic instability" that would negatively affect Hong Kong's commercial property market.

Prior to the protests, the Hong Kong government's official forecast was for the economy to grow between 2 per cent and 3 per cent this year. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg saw the expansion coming in at 2.2 per cent this year, down from 3 per cent last year.

"If Occupy Central and Sars didn't stop foreign investments in Hong Kong, I don't think this will


Qn: Discuss the claim that education guarantees progress.

Stocks fall, cash demand up as protest escalates in Hong Kong

Click HERE
This gives u an idea of how riots can slow down the economic progress of a country....this is useful if u r answering the qn with the point that the educated are more prone to riots. Note most of the rioters are infamously students, just like the Tiananmen Incident. When elaborating, u need to explain:
a) why educated people are prone to riots
b) why riots can stall progress (relevance of article comes here; without this part, qn is not fully addressed)

Hong Kong's financial markets came under pressure yesterday, with stocks falling and demand for cash surging, as protesters clashed with police during a mass demonstration against legislation that would allow citizens to be extradited to China.

the clashes on the streets provided the impulse to sell...."This is a normal initial reaction, when you have social unrest or tension,

This time around, people are really concerned about political risks, and worried about foreign capital leaving Hong Kong

Qn: Discuss the claim that education guarantees progress.

Taiwan govt backs protest against Hong Kong Bill

Click HERE

Taiwan's interference here obviously also involves political agenda, as its fate is in a sense intertwined with the fate of HK, as both are territories which China is trying to reclaim....

Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

China repeats warning to US against arms sale to Taiwan

Click HERE

Obviously, the US interference here has a political agenda....

China has repeated its warning to the United States not to sell arms to Taiwan, and to stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

The Pentagon has in recent months increased the frequency of naval patrols through the Taiwan Strait, in what officials call freedom of navigation exercises.

China will not tolerate any attempt to divide the country...There is only one China in the world; Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and Taiwan has never been a country

Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

Malaysia's economic minister Azmin Ali: Sex videos a vicious libel to destroy me

Click HERE

If can't access above link, click HERE

Pending the outcome of this saga, this can be a good current example of fake news....Relate to the HCI Prelim on the pervasiveness of lies in politics for those of u who had just done it....

It can also be a good critiqute of the democratic model, which has long been criticised for being afflicted with character assassinations and associated 'gutter politics'.

Think also about the role of social media and the invasion of privacy, where hotel rooms can have hidden cameras (think of of the spycam culture in South Korea's toilets, and of course, our Monica Baey's incident)
To come to Singapore's context, we did have some examples of sex scandals involving politicians who eventually lost their political careers......3 came to mind, one from opposition and 2 from PAP, the most notable of which was PAP's Michael Palmer, who was the Speaker of the House in Parliament. All three were involved in extra-marital affairs and all three eventually stepped down from their positions.

distract the public from the pressing concerns of the nation and the successes of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the planning and implementation of national development policies that are sustainable and inclusive

The WhatsApp groups were created by anonymous individuals who added in the names of journalists and PKR politicians as members of the group, before releasing the clips - a clear sign that this was a pre-planned political attack.

the sex video was taken without his knowledge on May 11 during a by-election last month in Sandakan, Sabah, at a hotel room

Qns:

1.     The key criterion for good government is how well the economy is managed. Is this a fair assessment? (Cam. 2012)

2.     As long as people in the public eye do their job well, does it matter what they do in private? (Cam. 2009)

3.     Consider the view that efficient government is more important than democracy.

4.     To what extent can the regulation of scientific or technological developments be justified? (Cam. 2014)

5.   To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your country? (Cam. 2009)
6.   Should the public care about a politician’s private life? (CJC Prelim 2018)

Russia's meddling in US polls spawning copycats: Report

Click HERE

Facebook ... removed 2.2 billion fake accounts from January to March, nearly double the 1.2 billion accounts it disabled in the previous quarter...These accounts pretended to be located in the United States and Europe and impersonated legitimate news organisations in the Middle East, posting anti-Saudi Arabia posts and sometimes contacting authentic users who later posted content associated with this activity.

Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

China accuses US of meddling for voicing concerns over Bill

Click HERE

China's Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Hong Kong matters are purely a Chinese internal affair, and demanded that Washington cease interfering in them

The US shares the concern of many in Hong Kong that the lack of procedural protections in the proposed amendments could undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and negatively impact the territory's longstanding protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic values as enshrined in the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration....The US is also concerned that the amendments could damage Hong Kong's business environment and subject US citizens residing in or visiting Hong Kong to China's "capricious judicial system

Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

Beijing backs HK government, opposes 'foreign interference'

Click HERE

Interference in the domestic affairs of another country is mostly a matter of perspective....

FOR:
-it is the duty of BIG countries to look beyond its own affairs into the affairs and well-being of others, esp the weakers countries or the weaker lot in another country. In short, it is a moral duty of the Big Brother, the strong and powerful, towards the weak and the oppressed
-political agenda to contain a growing threat. The US may see it as a convenient way to contain the growing influence of China by helping dissidents in China, much like how perhaps the US aided the rebels against the autocratic Syrian govt

AGAINST:
-collusion with external countries undermines stability of country (riots, scares off tourists and investors...)
-undermine sovereignty of country (fate of country should not be decided by outsiders
-if external interfering countries are small and weak, such interference is futile and might even incur the wrath of the BIG country one is meddling with. EG: Singapore's 'interference' in the South China Seas disputes resulted in the freezing of relations with China and our army vehicles being detained at the Hong Kong port, allegedly on China's orders
-domestic affairs of another country should be left to the country to deal with itself as we may not be privy to the cultural and historical settings of that country to judge the events....
-it is not a serious issue where lives are lost and people are tortured, i.e. not a crime of humanity, esp if conflict arises out of a difference of opinions which can be subjective, as opposed to  a clear cut right vs wrong issue

------------------------------------------------------------

Consider also the example of Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Russian marched troops into Crimea on the justification that the security of the ethnic Russians in Crimea was in jeopardy. The Russians may argue that this is not meddling as they are safeguarding the welfare of their own people.
The international community retaliated with sanctions against Russia. Such 'meddling' is on the justification of protecting Ukraine (of which Crimea is a part of it) from the bullying and aggression of Russia, much like how the US marched troops into Kuwait to save it from Iraq during the Gulf War.


Qns: 
1.To what extent is it acceptable for one nation to meddle in the affairs of another? (CJC J2 Midyr 2019)
2. ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)

Stereotyping is not benign

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

Stereotyping is a fixed, over-generalised belief about a particular group or class of people. It generalises people and ignores the differences among those of the same race, religion, profession or interest group, assuming all members of the group to have certain common characteristics.

fosters an "us against them" divide which militates against societal harmony.

suffer from stereotype threat, which occurs when a person fears doing something that would inadvertently confirm a negative stereotype about their group. This can happen even if the person does not believe in the stereotype. Stereotype threat is known to generate spotlight anxiety, which causes emotional distress and vigilant worry that may undermine relationships and the personal sense of well-being of those who are being stereotyped.

Media coverage of Islam-related issues often involves stereotyping of Muslims. For instance, they are commonly portrayed as being violent and using religious justification for waging jihad, or holy war, against the unbelieving infidels.

The media should resist negative reporting and, instead, portray Muslims in a positive light.

A good example is the "Obama effect". According to an American study, whenever former United States president Barack Obama drew press attention for positive, stereotype-defying reasons, stereotype threat effects were markedly reduced in black Americans' examination performance.

Note the idea how the media both contributes to, as well as is capable of eliminating stereotypes....Think of the Chinese proverb: "Untying the bell requires the same person who tied it there in the first place." In short, the solution to a problem lies within the problem itself, or the cause of it.

Qn: Can prejudice ever be eliminated? (Cam. 2011)

HSA warns Singapore-based Riway to stop making false cancer cure claims

Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE

If u did the HCI prelim AQ recently on the pervasiveness fo lies, relate this to misleading branding of products...

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned a Singapore-based company to stop making false and misleading claims that its health supplement product can treat or cure cancer.

"Sellers who falsely advertise health products are liable to prosecution and, if convicted, may be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000."

The materials also promote the health supplement as a form of live cell therapy, in which stem cells are used to treat diseases, simply through consuming pills.

China blocks Washington Post, Guardian sites

Click HERE

The extensive censorship software now blocks more than 10,000 Web domains and is powered by artificial intelligence algorithms that tirelessly sharpen its ability to sniff out VPNs.

The Tiananmen incident ("massacre"?) is a good example of suppression/censorship of news, as well as one in which the govt refuse to acknowledge the existence of (until last week) and apologise for.
This can be seen in tandem with Japan's refusal to acknowledge and apologise for the Nanking Massacre....In both cases, there appears to be an attempt to erase or blot out unsavoury asepcts of the cuntry's history, where it was either suppressed or not given full explanation of just vague ones, giving it a deliberately murky feel....The Singapore equivalent would be Operation Coldstore -- an incident in our history where the ruling PAP govt allegedly used of the label of communists as an excuse to detain the rising opposition using the controversial ISA (Internal Security Act)....

For qns on govt censorship, the truth value of history, govt apology, etc.... go think urself lah...

Lee getting a lesson in history and seen as insensitive to genocide by Khmer Rouge

Click HERE

A good example for the qn below is ASEAN's policy of non-interference, out of respect for member country's sovereignty (i.e. the country concerned should have the power of decision-making in determining the outcomes concerning issues affecting own country, esp domestic issues). Another reason for the non-interference could be that member countries may not be well-acquainted with the workings and cultural settings of the country involved to justify any intervention. Realise that compared to the EU, the ASEAN bloc is relatively more diverse.
But as seen in the article, the example of Vietnam's 'invasion' of Cambodia and Myanmar govt's treatment of the Rohingyas show that things may not be so simple sometimes, and that the policy of non-interference may be objected on moral grounds; consider the oft-cited quote: All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. After all, Hitler rose to power as a result of the policy of appeasement adopted by the Allies in the lead-up to WWII.

The Asean region has specific rules of engagement and a policy of non-interference in the affairs of member states but this is eroding in the face of the disruptive era with the power of social media

the invasion of a smaller country by a larger neighbour, the deposition of a legitimate government by external force and the imposition of a proxy by a foreign power became a direct challenge to the fundamentals of Singapore’s foreign policy and opposing the invasion was a question of principle. Singapore had no sympathies for the Khmer Rouge regime..

There was heated debates between Malaysian and Myanmar on the breaking of the ruling of non-intervention and the issue has split the two nations on rights issues.

Qn: ‘Countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2016)