Gaza crisis spotlights need to revitalise multilateral system: UN veteran Noeleen Heyzer

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For qns on the effectiveness of international efforts in solving global problems....

PUB to build world’s largest facility to help remove CO2 from ocean

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Qn: How far is technology the answer to environmental problems? (CJC Prelim 2023)

CCE lessons such as on Israel-Hamas conflict help students process emotions, reflect on cohesion: Chan

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amid concerns from some parents about the CCE materials. They had put up social media posts expressing their unhappiness with the lesson content and how their children were taught about the conflict, accusing the Ministry of Education (MOE) of taking sides, among other criticisms.

Already, students and Singaporeans in general have been flooded with unverified information, images and misinformation being circulated online

Qn: Can we eliminate violence with education? (CJC Prelim 2018)

Taylor Swift vs Trump: Can America’s sweetheart move needle for Biden?

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In all, her Eras concert tour is estimated to have added US$5.7 billion to the US economy,

No one doubts Swift’s potential to influence voters. One in two Americans said they are her fans, and she has more than 280 million Instagram followers.

Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of a largely unknown young black senator from Illinois helped Mr Barack Obama’s 2008 White House campaign. Studies have put her support as being worth over a million votes in the Democratic primary race.

For issues on the media/celebrities' impact on politics, economy....

Why some Taiwanese want to boycott the viral ‘Ke Mu San’ TikTok dance

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Others complained that the dance was a Chinese propaganda tool to “brainwash” Taiwanese youth, and more than one Facebook event was created to boycott the dance competition.

there are concerns in some quarters over the growing popularity of the app, which some argue could become a powerful tool for China to wage “cognitive warfare” against Taiwan and spread narratives favourable to Beijing.

One Chinese term they have been using is shi pin to refer to “video”, instead of ying pian, which is traditionally preferred in Taiwan, he noted. Some users have also started using the mainland Chinese slang niu bi to describe something that is awesome.

It seems harmless, but what if that content creator keeps pushing ideas including how Chinese make-up products are better than Taiwanese products, and then use that to talk about how China is better than Taiwan in other ways?

For issues on how the media influences our mindset....

Florida passes sweeping Bill to keep young people off social media

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Florida’s legislature has passed a sweeping social media Bill that would make the state the first to effectively bar young people under the age of 16 from holding accounts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Many parents, paediatricians and politicians are worried about the potential mental health and safety risks to young people due to prolonged social media use.

For issues on control of the media....

Trump urges Alabama to protect IVF access after court ruling

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Justices on Alabama’s top court last week recognised unimplanted human embryos as children, a decision that critics said will make it more difficult for people to conceive via fertility treatments.

The ruling though was seen as emboldening anti-abortion groups, who have sought to build legal support for foetal personhood.

For qns on science and ethics....

Budget 2024: Middle-income workers get their day in the sun

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one objective of his government is to reduce wage inequality by improving the pay across different professions. “There will always be differences in wages in any society. But too large a gap creates unhealthy levels of anxiety and stress… 

The measures in Budget 2024 are like the building blocks towards a new Singapore where technical jobs are better paid, where all workers take greater pride in their work and go for training regularly to keep up with technology and trends, and where Singaporeans regard those with hand and heart skills as highly as they do those with head skills.

the introduction of the Workfare Income Supplement in 2007, a wage support scheme for lower-income workers.

Another blockbuster move to help lower-wage workers was the introduction of the Progressive Wage Model and its expansion into the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) in Budget 2022. At its heart, this is a programme where tripartite partners work together, sector by sector, to lift wages of workers at the bottom by creating a skills ladder to boost productivity. ....In Budget 2024, DPM Wong raised the Government’s co-funding of the wage increases from a maximum of 30 per cent to 50 per cent for 2024. 

the Workfare and PWC schemes together have reduced income inequality by providing a boost to wages at the bottom.

Qns: 

1. Is inclusivity for all a mere utopian idea?

2. ‘Education has led to greater inequality.’ How far is this true of your society? (TMJC Prelim 2023)

World Pangolin Day: Animated video for kids spotlights world’s most-trafficked mammal

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To educate children on the illegal trade of pangolins, international anti-wildlife trafficking group Traffic launched an animated story about the animal on its website on Feb 16, a day ahead of World Pangolin Day.

Qn: How far is technology the answer to environmental problems? (CJC Prelim 2023)

Scam victims in S’pore lost $651.8m in 2023, with record high of over 46,000 cases reported

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For qns on the media....

Why ‘Quarrels during Chinese New Year’ became the top-searched topic in China

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big fights at home over their marriage and career prospects, the discussion of which they said violated their boundaries and privacy.

this year’s reunions appear to have been an especially difficult time for Chinese youth as the gap between older relatives’ expectations and the young people’s own aspirations has widened.

The country’s slowing economy coupled with societal changes have meant that an increasing number of young people are choosing to stay single or not have children.

China’s population fell by 2.08 million in 2023, more than twice the decline in 2022, ....The country’s birth rate hit a record low of 6.39 births per 1,000 people in 2023, compared with 6.77 births per 1,000 people in 2022.

the phenomenon of kong gui zu, a term used to describe those who have jitters about going home for the festivities.

the percentage of Chinese who do not contact their families has been increasing with each younger generation, according to an October 2022 online survey of 1,200 young people on the subject of duan qin – when young Chinese cut off ties with their parents or their extended family

SkillsFuture help for mid-career workers a way to prevent inequality growing: President Tharman

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The newly announced SkillsFuture Credit top-up for mid-career workers is meant to help all Singaporeans progress through life and prevent inequality from growing

new SkillsFuture Level-Up programme targeted at Singaporeans aged 40 and above. It included a $4,000 top-up of SkillsFuture credit to be used for selected courses with better employability outcomes....The programme also includes a monthly training allowance for Singaporeans aged 40 and above who enrol in selected full-time courses, as well as subsidies for them to pursue another full-time diploma.

Another critical reason why Singaporeans must make learning a way of life is that Singaporeans are not just getting older but living longer...when people keep their minds working and are socially active, they live healthier and more fulfilling lives. This reduces the chances of dementia setting in later.

Qns: 

1. Is inclusivity for all a mere utopian idea?

2. ‘Education has led to greater inequality.’ How far is this true of your society? (TMJC Prelim 2023)

Budget 2024: Lower-wage workers to get larger Workfare payouts

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The Workfare Income Supplement scheme, or Workfare, was instituted to supplement the incomes and Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings of lower-wage Singaporean workers to encourage them to work regularly. 

Enhancements to Workfare are part of a slew of measures he announced to create more paths towards equality and mobility.

In many developed countries, rising inequality and slowing social mobility have fractured cohesion and deeply divided their peoples. These can create similar pressures here.

Workfare and progressive wages are key strategies to uplift lower-wage workers

More support will also be provided for employers who raise lower-wage workers’ salaries. In 2022, the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme was introduced, where the Government co-funds the wage increases of lower-wage workers with employers.

Income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, has declined to its lowest level over two decades

Qn:

Is inclusivity for all a mere a utopian ideal?

2024 Singapore Budget

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Useful to note the top three expenditures from our national budget: Defence, Healthcare and Education....and how the latter two have increased by 5%.

As our population ages, healthcare expenditures continue to rise and have overtaken education in the number 2 slot.

Note also the stats of about S$20b for defence and healthcare.

Singapore’s first youth gaming survey: 17% feel bullied online, 14% engaged strangers beyond games

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Note the useful stats in the title...

For qns on youth, social media and mental well-being....

If marriage has become optional, let’s try to understand why

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=low fertility rate 1.04 (in 2022), way below replacement rate of 2.1

=70% of young Singaporeans aged 25- 34 felt it was not necessary to get married (survey conducted by IPS)

For qns on marriage...

Daft, elitist posts from wealthy bloggers and TikTokers will hurt Singapore

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"Thatasianmama", who posted on TikTok that it takes up to $40K a month to raise a family "comfortably" in Singapore. 

We love to amplify these individual posts, making them bigger, but in the process, making us seem smaller.

the median monthly household income was around $10,869. The average monthly wage is just over $5,000. 

Traditional media can often feel like a trawling exercise through social media, falling for the click-bait and reeling in one narcissistic post after another. 

For qns relating to the media....

Debate smoulders over beloved Chinese New Year fireworks tradition in China

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Nowadays, those booms and bangs have disappeared from many towns over fire safety and air pollution concerns,

Fireworks are a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Without fireworks, you feel there’s a lack of Chinese New Year atmosphere and happiness

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

Better not do the laundry: Chinese New Year practices you might not know about

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Note the examples of superstitions, cultural customs, rituals, beliefs, etc....

Dragon mural put up at Tampines North HDB block for CNY removed

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We keep talking about fostering a ‘kampung’ spirit, but when people want to do something nice for the small community here, they are not allowed to do so.

decorating shared living spaces builds a community spirit, but “lawfully it is not right”, as it may be considered vandalism.

Qn: To what extent are rules and regulations desirable? (ACJC Prelim 2023)

Singapore is not China and the problem with equating race with allegiance

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For qns on loyalty and relevance of national identity....

Playing badminton with balloons and wheelchair floorball: Adaptive sports keep seniors active

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For qns on the elderly....and 'O' level SW......