China's fight against food waste clashes with tradition

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"We have a tradition where we believe that being hospitable means having leftovers, if only empty plates remain then it looks bad on you as a host."

This is what Beijing is up against with its latest "Clean Plate" campaign, launched last week by President Xi Jinping, who called on Chinese diners to stop wasting food.

Calling it "shocking and distressing", Mr Xi said in comments carried by the official People's Daily that habits of frugality must be cultivated. To drive home his point, he quoted a Tang Dynasty poem: "Who knows that each grain in your bowl, is the fruit of pain and toil".

The average Chinese diner throws away 93g of food per meal when eating out, according to a 2018 study by a Chinese research institute. This is about 11.7 per cent of his meal.

it is "rare for a modern, developed country to interfere in people's lives in such a manner".

"Some people might find this quite laughable. If you make laws that you cannot implement then people will stop respecting the law,"

Qns:

1. 'Science is the only answer to global hunger.' Discuss. (Cam. 2019)

2. How important is it for people in your society to retain a sense of tradition? (Cam. 2010)

No place for discrimination in Singapore: Halimah

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=a useful recent local example....

=think also how the hijab (or any part of our dressing for that matter) is part of our physical appearance

She said that the rules Tangs had were "very ridiculous", adding: "The last thing we need is discrimination and unfair treatment my part-timer and I were put through."

"The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices make it clear that recruitment and hiring are to be based on merit and the ability to perform the job,"

Qns: 

1. Consider the importance of physical appearance. (TJC J2 Mid Yr 2020)

2. Should people be forced to obey all rules?

People helping one another a silver lining amid Covid-19 crisis: Janil Puthucheary

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For those whom we did the compre on loneliness recently, relate to the point on the pressure to 'stand on their own two feet', which results in loneliness....The article above can be used to show this need not be true....Think SGUnited

3 die as Facebook post sparks clashes with police in India's Silicon Valley

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An example of how offensive posts online can spark off violence and result in bloodshed, esp when it involves religion.....it is this kind of posts that our Sedition Act is targetting....It is also in recognition of this potential for violence that the internet can cause that some countries impose a 'lockdown' or shutdown on the internet access of its citizens, most notably by the Chinese govt on the Xinjiang province, The Indian govt on the Kashmir region, and the Myanmar govt on Rakhine region due to the Rohingyas issue...

At least three people have died in clashes overnight with the police in the Indian city of Bengaluru after a Facebook post offensive to Muslims sparked protests in which a police station was attacked, and a politician's house and vehicles were torched.

the person responsible for the offensive post has been arrested. The post, which reportedly involved Prophet Mohammed, has since been deleted.

Qn: To what extent should the government regulate the media?

Divisions emerge as EU considers political conditions for aid

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For divisions are emerging over the political conditions which the European Commission (EC) - the EU's executive body - may impose in return for cash disbursements.

We can't tell French, Polish, Hungarian or other European citizens that we should have financial solidarity in Europe, yet not care how the basic rules of democracy, free media and equal rights are respected

France has led the argument in Europe that the two countries cannot expect to rely on EU solidarity when it suits them - such as when they need access to European recovery funds - but decline to apply EU obligations, which include equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, and support for multi-ethnic societies.

Imposing political conditions on member states could shatter European solidarity - precisely what the recovery fund is supposed to cement.

During the recent Polish presidential electoral campaign, several of the country's cities controlled by right-wing mayors declared themselves as "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-free zones". These cities have now discovered that their applications for EU funding have been rejected.

Qn: How far do you believe that disaster relief is best handled by coutnries on their own? (EJC Mid-Yr J2 2020)

Hit-and-run case a hot potato for Thai government

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Note the role of the media here in applying pressure on the relevant authorities to take the proper action...Under the glare of the media, it is more difficult for privileged people or powerful organizations to get away with their actions, and for the govt to engage in corruption.

Realise also that the power of the people today is very much tied to the role of the media. The voice of the people means little if it cannot be heard; the media helps to make this possible by bringing like voices together, as well as amplifying it....

Compare also to the Monica Baey incident, as well as recent peeping or sexual assault cases by local university students who were allegedly let off with a lighter sentence as university students are seen to have a 'promising future' ahead of them. In such cases, public outcry over the media is instrumental in exerting pressure  and sending a signal to the relevant authorities to relook the case and even the law itself....

"This is probably the first case where the prime minister has appointed such a committee in response to a public outcry," Dr Pareena Srivanit, dean of Chulalongkorn University's law school and a member of Mr Prayut's panel, told The Straits Times. "It's a demonstration of 'people power'."

For now, Thais who grew up watching the rich buy their way out of the system are refusing to ease off on their demand for answers.

Thailand's richest 10 per cent owned 76.6 per cent of the kingdom's wealth

Young people have staged demonstrations, which have grown, in recent weeks. They have broached even erstwhile taboo topics like Thailand's powerful monarchy. It is not surprising then, that protesters have seized upon Mr Vorayuth's case as a glaring example of government corruption

"The Red Bull case reflects (the entitlements of) young elite businessmen who come from high society and whose families are closely linked to those in power."

"If the government does not do anything about it, society will say it is trying to protect this family,"

Qns:

1. 'Power now lies in the hands of individuals.' Discuss. (CJC Mid-Yr J2 Prelim 2020)

2. To what extent is it possible ‘to make the punishment fit the crime’? (Cam. 2013)

Anger mounts in Lebanon amid mourning for blast victims

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Anger is growing in the city over the government’s slow response to the disaster

French President Emmanuel Macron, making the first visit by a foreign leader since Tuesday’s (Aug 4) blast which killed at least 145 people and injured 5,000, arrived in Beirut on Thursday along with specialist rescue personnel and equipment.

Other nations have also sent in search and rescue teams and medical aid and equipment.

Economy Minister Raoul Nehme said Lebanon, with its banking system in crisis, a collapsing currency and one of the world’s biggest debt burdens, had “very limited” resources to deal with the disaster, which by some estimates could cost US$15 billion (S$20.6 billion). 

Health officials reported that hospitals were running out of beds and equipment to attend to the injured.

Gulf states were among the first to respond, with Qatar sending mobile hospitals to ease pressure on Lebanon’s already strained medical system. 

Kuwait also sent medical supplies, while a Greek C-130 army transport plane bearing a dozen rescuers had also landed.

The authorities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Poland offered an array of assistance including doctors, police and firefighters, together with rescue experts and sniffer dogs. 

The World Bank said on Wednesday that it would work with Lebanon’s partners to mobilise public and private financing for reconstruction and recovery. 

Qn: How far do you agree that disaster relief is best handled by countries on their own?  (EJC Mid-Yr J2 GP 2020)

KL raids offices of 3 broadcasters in probe over documentary

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Qn: To what extent should the government regulate the media?

Forum: 'Cancel culture' does more harm than good

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Ruining a person's life for making a mistake, even if it was made years ago and the person has changed for the better, has become a trend on the Internet also known as "cancel culture"

There have been cases of people being "cancelled" over past mistakes, even if they have changed for the better, which tells me that "cancel culture" encourages a refusal to forgive and accept that people can change for the better.

We should create an environment that encourages education and forgiveness to truly progress

But if we follow what the writer advocates above, then what do we make of the Me-Too movement for the sex crimes of powerful people like Harvey Weinstein? Do we forgive him and five him a second chance too? Or does it depend on the nature of the wrongdoing? After all, punishement serves the three functions of retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation......we cannot just focus on rehabilitation alone in all cases....
For qns on forgiveness, social progress.....