Indonesia’s challenge: How to push biofuel without aiding deforestation

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Like EV, solar panels manufacturing, sale of renewable energy via external powerful grids to other countries (think Laos to Singapore), biofuels export can be seen as the clean energy sector contributing to economic growth without harming the environment (biofuels are carbon-neutral). 

But unfortunately, in the case of biofuels, if the growth entails the clearing of forests/peatlands which function as carbon sinks, and the burning of forests to clear the land which contributes to the haze, then such economic growth may not be so green after all.....

Can Indonesia’s growth be “greened”, or will sustainability efforts take second place?

One key driver for growth will be the boost in production of biofuels. These have a plus side of potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels, which are part of Indonesia’s emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Qn: Should countries prioritise economic growth even if it harms the environment? (MI J3 MYE 2024)

2 RI students disciplined and counselled, after 1 seen dressed inappropriately for Racial Harmony Day

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Qn: Have our efforts to address discrimination made us overly sensitive? Discuss this in relation to your society. (RI 2021 Y6 Prelim)

Charlotte Dujardin: Britain’s golden girl loses lustre

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an “error of judgment during a coaching session” in a video that emerged from four years ago. The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) said it was investigating after it received the video “depicting Ms Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare”...the footage showed Dujardin using a whip multiple times to strike the legs of a horse

struggled with mental health issues. She was depressed and punished herself by not eating, losing nearly 13kg. After American gymnast Simone Biles’ public struggles in Tokyo, Dujardin opened up more about her own issues. “It is hard being successful,” she said. “It is a hard place to be with the pressure and the expectation. Those are quite hard things to have on your shoulders... 

Qns:

1. Evaluate the claim that sports personalities make good role models for young people. (Cam. 2023)

2. Winning is all that matters in international sporting events. Do you agree? (JPJC 2024)

World breaks hottest day record for second consecutive day

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Useful mention for opening/closing BANG to highlight urgency on issues regarding climate change... Also, useful reference about SE Asis as being 'in a frying pan' a few months ago, and how 'global warming' has escalated to become 'global boiling'....

Even the Arctic is enduring a heatwave. Fairbanks, Alaska was set to hit 31 deg C on July 24

Toymaker Mattel unveils blind Barbie

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the doll’s plastic perfections have generated criticism for their promotion of unrealistic beauty standards. In response, toymaker Mattel has tried to create versions that are more representative of a broader range of people.

The blind doll was released alongside Mattel’s first black Barbie with Down syndrome, which was developed with input from the National Down Syndrome Society. Mattel noted that the doll’s palms “include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome”.

Mattel launched in 2009. It features dolls with different skin tones, body types and disabilities, including a Barbie that uses a wheelchair, a Barbie with vitiligo and a Ken with a prosthetic leg.

For qns on inclusivity, toys and play....

CrowdStrike crash: When protectors become the problem

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useful read, if u r still wondering what the global outage caused by CrowdStrike is all about...

Qn: "We have placed too much confidence in technology." Do you agree?

As stigma fades, Paris Olympians prioritise mental health

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When Biles, a four-gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, pulled out of most of her events at the Tokyo Games three years ago as she struggled with her mental health and the disorienting spatial disorder called the “twisties”, some were sympathetic. But plenty of critics branded her a quitter who cost the US team gold.....the decision by such a high-profile athlete helped lift the stigma – a boon for competitors in all sports.....it used to be almost shameful to talk to (a therapist)

Swimming superstar Michael Phelps has spoken candidly of struggling in the wake of his glittering Olympic campaigns, saying in 2018 that after every Olympics he fell into a “major state of depression”.

Qns:

1. Evaluate the claim that sports personalities make good role models for young people. (Cam. 2023)

2. Winning is all that matters in international sporting events. Do you agree? (JPJC 2024)

Global tech outage begs the question: Why no backup plan?

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For qns on tech efficiency and downsides.....note this eg is about tech, not science.

Qn: "We have placed too much confidence in technology." Do you agree?

China graduates are going back to school amid abysmal job market

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relate to 'lying flat' compre AQ for EJC Prelim 2023...

Instead of giving up and 'lying flat', some Chinese are going for further qualifications in an attempt to up their game....

The official rate of youth unemployment hit a record 21.3 per cent in June 2023

China’s Education Ministry said in May that it had worked with companies to create 3.76 million jobs for fresh graduates. Political analysts described this as a move by the ruling Communist Party of China to absorb a third of 2024’s graduating batch of about 11.8 million students, to minimise the risk of social instability caused by high youth unemployment.

Renewal of Singapore-Laos clean power deal stuck over transmission issues, sources say

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Note the difficulty of Singapore depending on regional power grids or external grids (one of our four 'national switches') for energy security and for cutting carbon emissions...

 

the extension of a multilateral deal by Singapore to import hydropower from Laos is stuck due to disagreements over how the energy will be transmitted through Thailand and Malaysia

Extending the deal was also complicated by competition among economies for access to renewable electricity.

In December, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the country had informed Laos that it will not allow electricity to pass through to Singapore as it wanted to purchase the power itself,

Loneliness in China spurs growth of companionship economy

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The companionship economy has emerged as more people stay single, forgoing the traditional path of marriage and children, amid an economic slowdown and an increasingly educated population.

China’s previous one-child policy has also led to younger generations of Chinese being dubbed “China’s lonely generation”.

“But the bedrock of this industry is about fulfilling emotional and psychological needs, as younger Chinese are not as concerned about physiological needs such as food and housing, compared with older generations,” 

more professional companions will be needed as the country ages, to accompany older Chinese for medical checks, including doctor visits and physiotherapy.

Tiny Japanese start-up is turning ‘Her’ AI dating into reality

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Something sensational that can be used for ur opening/closing BANG!

For two months, he exchanged messages with five or six potential partners, but it was not long before he was seeking out just one – a 24-year-old named Miku. Three months later, they got married. The catch: Miku is an artificial intelligence (AI) bot. And Mr Shimoda knew that from day one.

Qn: 'Technology is a threat as it might replace us.' Do you agree?

China launches 3-year battle against the bulge as growing obesity crisis weighs heavy on future

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My weight gain is mainly caused by the large amount of oil and calories in my diet, combined with little to no exercise,

China’s obesity rates have soared in recent decades, with more than half the country’s 1.4 billion population overweight

There are 2.5 billion adults in the world – 43 per cent of the population – who are overweight, including 890 million adults living with obesity, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

attributes China’s obesity crisis to changing lifestyles brought on by rapid urbanisation and economic growth, which have altered the Chinese diet significantly to one packed with sugar, fat and calories.... physical activity among the populace has fallen, compounded by habits such as smoking and drinking, and an increase in psychosocial stress. Environmental pollution and poor health literacy also play a part,

While China’s obesity crisis has led to calls for a sugar tax, which has been widely adopted by more than 100 countries, experts caution about the implications.... “China is vast, and different regions have different dietary habits, and legislation may impose restrictions on such diversity. Respecting and preserving these food cultures while guiding people through non-compulsory measures is,...a more appropriate approach.”

China launches online crackdown on ‘harmful’ content targeting children

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The ruling Communist Party strictly regulates the domestic web, censoring content deemed vulgar, ostentatious or politically subversive.

It targets diverse behaviours such as broadcasting videos that appear to glorify school bullying, adding “violent and gory” content to classic children’s cartoons and songs, and generating profits from underage “internet celebrity kids”.

It also aims to eradicate “softly pornographic” and sexually suggestive products from e-commerce platforms, as well as information that draws children into “harmful friendships” or “transmits harmful values... (through) maliciously fabricated online jargon and vulgar buzzwords”.

Censors blocked multiple well-known influencers after another Clear and Bright campaign was launched in April against “ostentatious personas... (who) deliberately display extravagant lifestyles filled with money”.

Finding common ground by talking to one another

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Report on cooking oil transported in fuel tanker trucks sparks food safety fears in China

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For qns n food safety....and profit vs ethics debate of doing business....

Squirt guns and ‘go home’ signs: Barcelona residents take aim at tourists

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Makes for an interesting Opening BANG!: 

Residents of the Catalan capital took to the streets on July 6 with water guns, squirting them at diners eating al fresco. --- a hilarious twist to the water-splashing Songkran festival in Thailand!

For qns on (over)tourism....

‘Food pornography’: Philippines eyes ‘mukbang’ ban after food vlogger’s death

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“It’s a bad practice because people make content by overeating, and overeating is not healthy. It will lead to obesity,” 

“(That’s because) you are promoting unhealthy behaviour to the Filipinos. So I can ban it locally. I can propose… banning mukbang locally,...to stop those sites (from showing and broadcasting mukbang) because it is basically food pornography. They are making people eat like gluttons,

Timeout, parental consent: How countries try to protect their young from online addiction

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Tampines residents no longer see red after town council repaints HDB wall

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Relate to the clamour over the Samsui Woman mural....

feedback from a resident who was unhappy with the aeroplane design. That resident wrote to him saying it gave the impression of “four missiles on target” or “dropped bombs targeting the block”.

For qns on whether govt should listen to the people.....

Why parents must protect young children from excessive screen time

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Excessive screen time for children can lead to a myriad of issues, including myopia, speech delay, autism-like symptoms and obesity.

Coal use reaches record in Indonesia and Philippines, endangering climate goals: Study

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Coal is a concern because it is the single largest source of carbon dioxide pollution heating up the planet, and a leading source of deadly air pollution.

Despite this, the entrenched reliance on coal remains hard to change, in part because of the influence of the coal industry and the need to ensure energy security, despite the climate risks, experts say. Coal is abundant in Indonesia, which is the world’s top exporter of the fuel burned in power plants.

China is the world’s largest coal producer and consumer, but it is also the largest investor in and producer of green energy. This is helping the nation to slowly reduce its dependency on coal for power generation, falling from 81 per cent in 2007 to 60.7 per cent in 2023,

renewable energy technologies have become a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels

Qns: 

1. ‘Fossil fuels should no longer have a part in the production of energy.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2023)

2. Is it possible to protect the environment when many countries require increasing amounts of energy to progress? (Cam. 2007)

Minor Issues: Would you let your child take up an activity that is ‘useless’?

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Qn: Education should only be concerned with what is useful in life. Discuss. (Cam. 2013)

askST: What are the ethical concerns of using animals such as insects in cyborg technology?

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In a building collapse, the cyborg cockroaches can crawl through rubble, and into crevices and confined spaces, to find survivors – a task which is dangerous for humans – and provide front-line responders with critical information.

If you think about malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, there is a very good reason why we do research on them, as there are clear benefits to humans. “For the mitigation of infectious diseases, it wouldn’t be defensible to actually abandon such research

A best-practice recommendation for scientific research is that devices borne by animals, such as birds and dogs, should weigh less than 3 per cent to 5 per cent of their body mass.

replacing live insects with robotics.“ Drones are already being used by some for surveying disaster areas. And the question would be – could you not replace insects, for example, with relatively small robots that you could build to crawl into tiny crevices?

Qn: Can the use of animals for scientific research ever be justified? (Cam. 2017)

NTU's cyborg beetles: Netizens upset over 'animal torture'

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the project's purpose is to "control the flight of the beetle", which will be used for "peaceful applications" like finding trapped people using heat signatures.

Netizens expressed their disapproval on Facebook. ... called the project "animal torture". .... "If someone were to control a wasp or venomous invertebrates, he can commit a perfect murder."

With the advances in technology, use of live animals for such purposes should be replaced by use of technology to avoid suffering."

Would we one day allow the use of the same technology to control higher animals and people?"

Qn: Can the use of animals for scientific research ever be justified? (Cam. 2017)