Risk of home-grown terrorism in Hong Kong, security chief says

Click HERE

This can be a possible example of how governments may abuse their power by invoking the need to limit pple's rights to curb terrorism as an excuse.....It may be possible for the Beijing/HK govt to label the pro-democracy movement activists as terrorists can then use the law against them in order to further their agenda of reunification with China....curbing funding to the pro-democracy movement is one such way, and of course arresting the activists in the name of terrorists allows the govt to quell any dissidents that oppose the pro-Beijing camp.

 using terrorism-financing legislation to freeze the assets of those involved.

Critics say the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing are increasingly using the threat of what they term terrorism to justify calls for new national security laws. A previous attempt to draft a national security law for Hong Kong was met with mass protests.

Qn: Considering the increasing threat of terrorism, are governments justified in limiting people's rights?

Jane Goodall: Pandemic is a wake-up call

Click HERE

Quite a few gems in this piece that resonates with GP:

"We've had other epidemics. They've all started from viruses crossing the species barrier from animal to us and the reason is we're destroying habitats and also crowding them together.

"Some of them are coming into greater contact with people because they're moving out to try and find food. Then, we're hunting them, eating their meat and trafficking them. This pandemic started in the wet markets in China, possibly

HIV epidemic began similarly, with people killing and eating chimpanzees in Africa. "We've also had epidemics coming from factory farms in the Western world, where animals are kept in cruel and confined conditions

a wake-up call. Perhaps it will help us realise we need to respect the natural world, think about future generations and not always put economic development ahead of protection of the environment

we are in the middle of the sixth great extinction of life on the planet, if we carry on this materialistic, greedy worshipping of money and power, then there isn't much hope for us

every individual has a role to play and makes a difference every single day. We can make ethical choices in what we buy, eat and wear unless we're in extreme poverty

New training academies in prisons to help inmates establish careers

Click HERE

Relate to the rehabilitation of criminals in our criminal justice system....

Qn: Do all criminals deserve a second chance?

No violations at stalls selling live animals for food: SFA

Click HERE

Seems like we also have our own version of wildlife market here in Singapore....

Covid-19 shows why tackling inequality benefits everyone

Click HERE

The current Covid-19 crisis brings to light the appalling conditions of the accommodation of our foreign workers....
Think how we are only as strong as our weakest link, like in the analogy of a chain....
Link also to the kindness compre we did recently....and Prof Tommy Koh's comment that Singapore is a first world nation (by GDP per capita) but a third world nation in terms of behaviour and the way we treat others.....

Qn: In your society, how far is equality for all a reality? (Cam. 2012)

Coping with Covid-19: Surge in surveillance apps in India raises concerns over privacy

Click HERE
If cannot access above link, click HERE

Qns:
1. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your country? (Cam. 2009)
2. How far should a state have a right to monitor the actions of people within its borders? (Cam. 2007)

Working from home: Productivity, staff engagement likely to be hit

Click HERE

Qn: Consider the view that most work these days could, and should, be done from home. (Cam. 2010)

Changing minds about eating meat

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

Related issues:
-celebrity influence
-media (book, movie) influence
-cruelty to animals; animal rights (think battery chicken; foie gras)

Natalie Portman went vegan after reading Eating Animals, the 2009 non-fiction bestseller detailing the dark side of factory farming...But although the Oscar-winning actress (Black Swan, 2010) has produced and narrated a documentary based on that book...

She does, however, want to educate people about the toll that large-scale industrialised farming has on animals, small farmers and the environment.

The documentary examines the impact of what are known in the United States as "concentrated animal-feeding operations" or large-scale factory farms. This includes the effect on small farmers as well as the degradation of the soil and implications for animal welfare.

$30m for local farms to grow more, grow faster

Click HERE

the Republic's 30 by 30 goal, or to produce enough food here to meet 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030. Currently, less than 10 per cent of food consumed here is grown locally.

the recent Covid-19 situation has exposed to the forefront our need for food security as food supply chains are affected by the various lockdowns that paralyse major transportation....Other than water security, food security and manpower security are crucial to Singapore....Recall how the 300,000 Malaysian workers we have been depending on becomes obvious in recent weeks as Malaysia implemented its lockdown....

Qn: How far should countries aim to be self-sufficient? (Cam. 2011)

Two teens arrested over video prank at FairPrice supermarket

Click HERE
For qns on humour, social graciousness, and social media...

Qn: Can humour ever be serious? (Cam. 2012)