Time really flies. There goes another semester and soon it will mark the end of my first year of University life. From the start, recalling how embarrassed I was to tell people that I am taking EG 1471 this semester and how reluctant I was to attend this class. I also remembered how I used to dread writing blog every weekend and to comment on others’ blog as well. Initially, to me this was a chore. As compared to this module, I was more motivated and willing to commit my time on other modules rather than putting effort in this module as it was awarded with no Modular Credits (MCs). I felt that there is no point putting in effort in this module since a pass will do.
However, unknowingly, blogging become part and parcel of my life and in fact, I looked forward to each lesson. I started to enjoy the mingling session between my blogging buddies and tutor. CELC has actually been one of my frequent “hangouts”. This module was “warm-blooded” as compared to the rest of my “cold-blooded” modules where there was no form of interaction at all during tutorials. Perhaps this is what made learning enjoyable in EG 1471.
I enjoy reading the meaningful comments given to me by my classmates and the encouraging feedback from my tutor for each assignment. All this valuable comments and feedbacks motivated me to work even harder. I also get to experience the earnest and humble learning attitudes of my classmates. They are ever so willing to improve and so willing to learn. It actually dawned on me that that should be the way of learning and the way of life – to always seek improvement and never stop learning. With these attitudes in life, I believe that success is not far.
The end of this blog marks the end of my EG 1471’s journey. Little did I expect myself to actually miss blogging and attending EG 1471. However, I believe EG 1471 does not end here. The writing skills that we have acquired will accompany us for life. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my EG 1471 classmates all the best for their future endeavours and upcoming exam. Education is not about the results but rather the whole process. Let’s not let academic achievement hinder us from enjoying the process=)
~Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that took our breath away!~
Last but not least, I would sincerely like to thank our Sensei for all the guidance and encouragement that he has given to us throughout the whole semester. It’s been a pleasure to be in your class, Sensei=)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Academic Essay - Final Draft
Deforestation has been pinpointed as a serious environmental problem in Southeast Asia. What are the causes/circumstances that give rise to this problem?
________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. According to Juniper (2007), the current rate of rainforest loss around the world is estimated at near two per cent annually which sum up to an approximate of 100,000 square kilometers being destroyed, with another 100,000 square kilometers being degraded. Juniper (2007) also observed that though, there is inevitably huge uncertainty regarding the present rate loss, and no clue of what it will be like in the future, it is quite plausible that tropical forests will be reduced to between 10 and 25 per cent of their original extent by around 2100.Therefore, in order to cope with this phenomenon, we will have to identify the root for the causes of deforestation. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matters worse, modern machinery, fertilizers and pesticides are introduced to maximize profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.
In addition, logging, both legal and illegal, needs to be answerable for the cause of deforestation in developing countries too. Developing countries have resources that developed countries want. According to Dubay, Tweed, Schoch, and Lapinski (1999), developed countries such as Japan encourage developing countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia to strip their forests of wood, and lumber is being exported to those developed countries.
The clearance of large areas of forest for cattle-raising due to the global demand for beef production has also contributed significantly to deforestation. The beef are often exported to developed countries where there is a huge demand. Hence, this large and profitable market encourages governments from poorer countries to destroy forests and raise cattle for export. This has resulted in the number of forests in these developing countries to decrease at an alarming rate which is absolutely undesirable. As according to Dubay et al. (1999), the destruction of these forests could lead to a total loss of up to 70 percent of the biodiversity on land.
Furthermore, in Indonesia, the rainforests are falling to the march of the palm oil plantation. Presently, palm oil is grown on an ever-increasing scale, providing global commodity markets with huge quantities of cheap vegetable fats. Spincer (2006) has observed that across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, palm oil plantations have damaged the rainforests to the extent that experts predicted the extinction of Orangutan living in the wild by 2020. Hence, immediate attention must be given to prevent such phenomenon from surfacing.
Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the growing population. In addition, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Furthermore, developed countries are actually one of the many causes of deforestation in developing countries. According to Dubay et al. (1999), the advanced deforestation in developed countries during the early days of their urbanization is one of the reasons why they have to depend on developing countries for wood. This statement is further supported by “Save the earth’s future” (n.d), which stated that the rising demand in developing countries such as Japan, Germany and Canada for hardwoods has contributed to the extensive damage of the forests. In addition, with technological advances, modern machineries such as bulldozers and tractors accelerate the process of clearing the rainforest. Hence, this implied that large areas of forests can be cleared rapidly and efficiently in a fairly short period of time.
In conclusion, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it. Such urgent need is to be called for as deforestation has detrimental effects to both human lives and the environment as a whole. I strongly believe that for deforestation to reach a healthy rate, the cooperation between the government and the people is vital. Therefore, both parties should work hand-in-hand to reduce the present rate of deforestation to ensure that the future generation will not have to bear the undesirable consequences of the present generation.
________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. According to Juniper (2007), the current rate of rainforest loss around the world is estimated at near two per cent annually which sum up to an approximate of 100,000 square kilometers being destroyed, with another 100,000 square kilometers being degraded. Juniper (2007) also observed that though, there is inevitably huge uncertainty regarding the present rate loss, and no clue of what it will be like in the future, it is quite plausible that tropical forests will be reduced to between 10 and 25 per cent of their original extent by around 2100.Therefore, in order to cope with this phenomenon, we will have to identify the root for the causes of deforestation. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matters worse, modern machinery, fertilizers and pesticides are introduced to maximize profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.
In addition, logging, both legal and illegal, needs to be answerable for the cause of deforestation in developing countries too. Developing countries have resources that developed countries want. According to Dubay, Tweed, Schoch, and Lapinski (1999), developed countries such as Japan encourage developing countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia to strip their forests of wood, and lumber is being exported to those developed countries.
The clearance of large areas of forest for cattle-raising due to the global demand for beef production has also contributed significantly to deforestation. The beef are often exported to developed countries where there is a huge demand. Hence, this large and profitable market encourages governments from poorer countries to destroy forests and raise cattle for export. This has resulted in the number of forests in these developing countries to decrease at an alarming rate which is absolutely undesirable. As according to Dubay et al. (1999), the destruction of these forests could lead to a total loss of up to 70 percent of the biodiversity on land.
Furthermore, in Indonesia, the rainforests are falling to the march of the palm oil plantation. Presently, palm oil is grown on an ever-increasing scale, providing global commodity markets with huge quantities of cheap vegetable fats. Spincer (2006) has observed that across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, palm oil plantations have damaged the rainforests to the extent that experts predicted the extinction of Orangutan living in the wild by 2020. Hence, immediate attention must be given to prevent such phenomenon from surfacing.
Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the growing population. In addition, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Furthermore, developed countries are actually one of the many causes of deforestation in developing countries. According to Dubay et al. (1999), the advanced deforestation in developed countries during the early days of their urbanization is one of the reasons why they have to depend on developing countries for wood. This statement is further supported by “Save the earth’s future” (n.d), which stated that the rising demand in developing countries such as Japan, Germany and Canada for hardwoods has contributed to the extensive damage of the forests. In addition, with technological advances, modern machineries such as bulldozers and tractors accelerate the process of clearing the rainforest. Hence, this implied that large areas of forests can be cleared rapidly and efficiently in a fairly short period of time.
In conclusion, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it. Such urgent need is to be called for as deforestation has detrimental effects to both human lives and the environment as a whole. I strongly believe that for deforestation to reach a healthy rate, the cooperation between the government and the people is vital. Therefore, both parties should work hand-in-hand to reduce the present rate of deforestation to ensure that the future generation will not have to bear the undesirable consequences of the present generation.
References
Dubay,D., Tweed, A., Schoch.R.M.,&Lapinski,A.H.(1999).Environmental science
(3rd ed). USA: Scottforesman-Addison Wesley.
Juniper,J.(2007). Saving planet earth: What is destroying the earth and what
can you do to help. London: Collins.
Save the earth's future. (n.d.) Retrieved March 10, 2007, from
http://library.thinkquest.org/26993/amazon.htm
Spicer,J.I.(2006). Biodiversity: A beginner's guide. Oxford: Oneworld.
Dubay,D., Tweed, A., Schoch.R.M.,&Lapinski,A.H.(1999).Environmental science
(3rd ed). USA: Scottforesman-Addison Wesley.
Juniper,J.(2007). Saving planet earth: What is destroying the earth and what
can you do to help. London: Collins.
Save the earth's future. (n.d.) Retrieved March 10, 2007, from
http://library.thinkquest.org/26993/amazon.htm
Spicer,J.I.(2006). Biodiversity: A beginner's guide. Oxford: Oneworld.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Timed Paragraph...
Briefly compare and contrast any two waste disposal schemes (e.g. zero waste, land filling and using incinerators or any other methods you know) and decide which one might be more suitable for your country.
_____________________________________
Singapore is often well-known for its rapidly developing economy despite its limitation in land space. Over the years, due to its rapid development, tons of waste is being produced continuously. The government has implemented different waste disposal schemes to dispose these waste product. Zero Waste and Land filling are some of the waste disposal schemes adopted by my country.
In my opinion, I would strongly support and encourage greater use of the Zero waste scheme rather than that of the land filling. This is because land filling will only be a short-term strategy to dispose waste products but in the long-run, with the ever-increasing amount of waste being produced yearly, soon all the available lands suitable for waste dis
posal will be depleted. Furthermore, Singapore has limited land spaces. Therefore, there is an even greater need to carefully plan the usage of these limited land spaces in order to house the growing population rather than using them for land filling. In addition, land filling will also brings about land pollution and even water pollution. Non-biodegradable products such as plastic bottles and organic wastes produce toxic substances that pollute the land and if these toxins were to seep into seas, they will also cause water pollution. Such pollution is undesirable as it will cause harm to human and marine lives. In addition, if land filling is not conducted properly, it could possibly result in the breeding of unwanted pests which in turn will result in the spread of deadly diseases and viruses.
On the other hand, if we are to adopt the Zero waste scheme, we will be able to significantly reduce the amount of waste being produced. Hence, we will be able to adopt lesser of land filling and incineration as our means of disposing waste and this will greatly reduce the pollution and harms that these schemes will bring to our environment. Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, Zero waste should be the long-term scheme that we should adopt as it will significantly reduce the amount of waste being produced yearly. In addition, as mentioned in the passage, Zero waste will also be an alternative income-generating source for the elderly and low-income families. As the nature of Zero waste scheme is to reduce, recycle, reuse and repair used products, not only does this scheme reduce the amount of waste produced, it can also help people to save money when they reuse and recycle their used products.
Currently, though this Zero waste scheme has already been implemented in my country, the respond from the public is not very ideal. However, I believe that this situation can be improved by creating more public awareness through campaigns and incentives can be given to encourage more people to put into practice the Zero waste scheme.
In conclusion, Zero waste scheme has indeed proven to be a much more economic and effective as compared to land filling. Short-term strategies such as land filling will only provide a temporary solution but Zero waste scheme will be able to help us deal with the impending waste disposal problem in the long-run. Hence, I will strongly encourage my country to adopt and put into practice the Zero waste scheme.
No.of Words: 529
My blogging buddy: Mr Blackstone
_____________________________________
Singapore is often well-known for its rapidly developing economy despite its limitation in land space. Over the years, due to its rapid development, tons of waste is being produced continuously. The government has implemented different waste disposal schemes to dispose these waste product. Zero Waste and Land filling are some of the waste disposal schemes adopted by my country.
In my opinion, I would strongly support and encourage greater use of the Zero waste scheme rather than that of the land filling. This is because land filling will only be a short-term strategy to dispose waste products but in the long-run, with the ever-increasing amount of waste being produced yearly, soon all the available lands suitable for waste dis
posal will be depleted. Furthermore, Singapore has limited land spaces. Therefore, there is an even greater need to carefully plan the usage of these limited land spaces in order to house the growing population rather than using them for land filling. In addition, land filling will also brings about land pollution and even water pollution. Non-biodegradable products such as plastic bottles and organic wastes produce toxic substances that pollute the land and if these toxins were to seep into seas, they will also cause water pollution. Such pollution is undesirable as it will cause harm to human and marine lives. In addition, if land filling is not conducted properly, it could possibly result in the breeding of unwanted pests which in turn will result in the spread of deadly diseases and viruses.On the other hand, if we are to adopt the Zero waste scheme, we will be able to significantly reduce the amount of waste being produced. Hence, we will be able to adopt lesser of land filling and incineration as our means of disposing waste and this will greatly reduce the pollution and harms that these schemes will bring to our environment. Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, Zero waste should be the long-term scheme that we should adopt as it will significantly reduce the amount of waste being produced yearly. In addition, as mentioned in the passage, Zero waste will also be an alternative income-generating source for the elderly and low-income families. As the nature of Zero waste scheme is to reduce, recycle, reuse and repair used products, not only does this scheme reduce the amount of waste produced, it can also help people to save money when they reuse and recycle their used products.
Currently, though this Zero waste scheme has already been implemented in my country, the respond from the public is not very ideal. However, I believe that this situation can be improved by creating more public awareness through campaigns and incentives can be given to encourage more people to put into practice the Zero waste scheme.
In conclusion, Zero waste scheme has indeed proven to be a much more economic and effective as compared to land filling. Short-term strategies such as land filling will only provide a temporary solution but Zero waste scheme will be able to help us deal with the impending waste disposal problem in the long-run. Hence, I will strongly encourage my country to adopt and put into practice the Zero waste scheme.
No.of Words: 529
My blogging buddy: Mr Blackstone
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Academic Essay- Cause-Effect (First Draft)
Deforestation has been pinpointed as a serious environmental problem in Southeast Asia.
What are the causes/circumstances that give rise to this problem?
________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to
recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matter even worse, modern machinery, fertilisers and pesticides are introduced to maximise profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.
In addition, logging, both legal and illegal, needs to be answerable for the cause of deforestation in developing countries too. Developing countries have resources that developed countries want. According to Dubay, Tweed, Schoch, and Lapinski (1999), developed countries such as Japan encourage developing countries like Thailand, Borneo, and Indonesia to strip their forests of wood, and lumbers are being exported to those developed countries.
The clearance of large areas of forest for cattle-raising due to the global demand for beef production has also contributed significantly to deforestation. The beef are often exported to developed countries where there is a huge demand. Hence, this large and profitable market encourages governments from poorer countries to destroy forests and raise cattle for export. This has resulted in the number of forests in these developing countries to decrease at an alarming rate which is absolutely undesirable. As according to Dubay et al. (1999), the destruction of these forests could lead to a total loss of up to 70 percent of the biodiversity on land.
Last but not least, in Indonesia, the rainforests are falli
ng to the march of the palm oil plantation. Presently, palm oil is grown on an ever-increasing scale, providing global commodity markets with huge quantities of cheap vegetable fats. Spincer (2006) has observed that across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, palm oil plantations have damaged the rainforests to the extent that experts predicted the extinction of Orang-Utan living in the wild by 2020. Hence, immediate attention must be given to prevent such phenomenon from surfacing.
Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the growing population. In addition, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Furthermore, developed countries are actually one of the many causes of deforestation in developing countries. According to Dubay et al. (1999), the advanced deforestation in developed countries during the early days of their urbanization is one of the reasons why they have to depend on developing countries for wood. This statement is further supported by “Save the earth’s future” (n.d), which stated that the raising demand in developing countries such as Japan, Germany and Canada for hardwoods has contributed to the extensive damage of the forests. In addition, with technological advances, modern machineries such as bulldozers and tractors accelerate the process of clearing the rainforest. Hence, this implied that large areas of forests can be cleared rapidly and efficiently in a fairly short period of time.
According to Juniper (2007), the current rate of rainforest loss around the world is estimated at near two per cent annually which sum up to an approximate of 100,000 square kilometres being destroyed, with another 100,000 square kilometres being degraded. Juniper (2007) also observed that though, there is inevitably huge uncertainty regarding the present rate loss, and no clue of what it will be like in the future, it is quite plausible that tropical forests will be reduced to between 10 and 25 per cent of their original extent by around 2100. Therefore, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it.
No. of Words: 697
My Blogging Buddies: Group 4
What are the causes/circumstances that give rise to this problem?
________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to
recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matter even worse, modern machinery, fertilisers and pesticides are introduced to maximise profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.In addition, logging, both legal and illegal, needs to be answerable for the cause of deforestation in developing countries too. Developing countries have resources that developed countries want. According to Dubay, Tweed, Schoch, and Lapinski (1999), developed countries such as Japan encourage developing countries like Thailand, Borneo, and Indonesia to strip their forests of wood, and lumbers are being exported to those developed countries.
The clearance of large areas of forest for cattle-raising due to the global demand for beef production has also contributed significantly to deforestation. The beef are often exported to developed countries where there is a huge demand. Hence, this large and profitable market encourages governments from poorer countries to destroy forests and raise cattle for export. This has resulted in the number of forests in these developing countries to decrease at an alarming rate which is absolutely undesirable. As according to Dubay et al. (1999), the destruction of these forests could lead to a total loss of up to 70 percent of the biodiversity on land.
Last but not least, in Indonesia, the rainforests are falli
ng to the march of the palm oil plantation. Presently, palm oil is grown on an ever-increasing scale, providing global commodity markets with huge quantities of cheap vegetable fats. Spincer (2006) has observed that across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, palm oil plantations have damaged the rainforests to the extent that experts predicted the extinction of Orang-Utan living in the wild by 2020. Hence, immediate attention must be given to prevent such phenomenon from surfacing.Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the growing population. In addition, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Furthermore, developed countries are actually one of the many causes of deforestation in developing countries. According to Dubay et al. (1999), the advanced deforestation in developed countries during the early days of their urbanization is one of the reasons why they have to depend on developing countries for wood. This statement is further supported by “Save the earth’s future” (n.d), which stated that the raising demand in developing countries such as Japan, Germany and Canada for hardwoods has contributed to the extensive damage of the forests. In addition, with technological advances, modern machineries such as bulldozers and tractors accelerate the process of clearing the rainforest. Hence, this implied that large areas of forests can be cleared rapidly and efficiently in a fairly short period of time.
According to Juniper (2007), the current rate of rainforest loss around the world is estimated at near two per cent annually which sum up to an approximate of 100,000 square kilometres being destroyed, with another 100,000 square kilometres being degraded. Juniper (2007) also observed that though, there is inevitably huge uncertainty regarding the present rate loss, and no clue of what it will be like in the future, it is quite plausible that tropical forests will be reduced to between 10 and 25 per cent of their original extent by around 2100. Therefore, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it.
No. of Words: 697
My Blogging Buddies: Group 4
Sunday, March 9, 2008
"Saving nature, but only for man."
Having read this article, I started pondering whether selfless act is practical in the context of protecting the environment. Truly speaking, the issue on “Saving nature, but only for man” has never occurred to me at all. I always thought that saving the earth was a noble act of mankind, but more than often, we are protecting the earth so as to protect ourselves.
Upon reading this article that I started reflecting on the reason behind man’s continuous efforts in trying to save the world wasn’t entirely selfless but I guess there is nothing wrong with doing that. Not that I am against the ideas and actions of environmentalists going all the way out to protect the nature, but I agree that it should be done with human’s well-being in mind too. Yes, protecting animal and plant species are of great importance as well because they are also part and parcel of the earth. However, if human beings are being sacrificed in the process, won’t that be a paradox? Human beings are more superior as compared to animals in the sense that humans have the ability to think ,make decision and be answerable for their own actions while animals do not have.( I shall not compare the value of human life and that of animals and other living creatures as they are very subjective.) Hence, it is logical and sensible only if we put the interest of human beings as the top priority in whatever we do.
In fact, I agree with the author’s view on how we should go about protecting the environment on the basis that the welfare of mankind should be the top priority. Though the author has indeed revealed the ugly side of human nature, but that’s the reality. This is being practical and logical. If we can’t even help ourselves, in what position are we going to help others? In addition, I also strongly believe that we should not preserve or protect the environment at the expense of the human lives as it will defeat the fundamental purpose of saving the environment --- to protect human beings.
Overall, I do agree with many that this is a very debatable topic due to the subjective nature of the issue. Many will have different views on whether should we always put the interest of human being as the top priority with regards to protecting the environment. Hence, I believe a possible way out could be to strike a balance between both parties where both the interests of human and other living creatures are being protected. However, this results in another ambiguity— does fairness really exists in this unfair world?
My Blogging Buddy was Li Hui.
Upon reading this article that I started reflecting on the reason behind man’s continuous efforts in trying to save the world wasn’t entirely selfless but I guess there is nothing wrong with doing that. Not that I am against the ideas and actions of environmentalists going all the way out to protect the nature, but I agree that it should be done with human’s well-being in mind too. Yes, protecting animal and plant species are of great importance as well because they are also part and parcel of the earth. However, if human beings are being sacrificed in the process, won’t that be a paradox? Human beings are more superior as compared to animals in the sense that humans have the ability to think ,make decision and be answerable for their own actions while animals do not have.( I shall not compare the value of human life and that of animals and other living creatures as they are very subjective.) Hence, it is logical and sensible only if we put the interest of human beings as the top priority in whatever we do.
In fact, I agree with the author’s view on how we should go about protecting the environment on the basis that the welfare of mankind should be the top priority. Though the author has indeed revealed the ugly side of human nature, but that’s the reality. This is being practical and logical. If we can’t even help ourselves, in what position are we going to help others? In addition, I also strongly believe that we should not preserve or protect the environment at the expense of the human lives as it will defeat the fundamental purpose of saving the environment --- to protect human beings.
Overall, I do agree with many that this is a very debatable topic due to the subjective nature of the issue. Many will have different views on whether should we always put the interest of human being as the top priority with regards to protecting the environment. Hence, I believe a possible way out could be to strike a balance between both parties where both the interests of human and other living creatures are being protected. However, this results in another ambiguity— does fairness really exists in this unfair world?
My Blogging Buddy was Li Hui.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Cause-Effect
Deforestation has been pinpointed as a serious environmental problem in Southeast Asia.
What are the causes/circumstances that give rise to this problem?
__________________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matter even worse, modern machiney, fertilisers and pesticides are introduced to maximise profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.
Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the population. In addition, instead of agriculture, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Therefore, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it.
Word count: 224 words
(My Blogging Buddy was Guo Qi)
What are the causes/circumstances that give rise to this problem?
__________________________________________________
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested land for commercial uses such as urban developments and agricultural purposes. There are many causes for deforestation. Deforestation can be the result of deliberate removal of forest cover for urban developments in developed countries such as Singapore or it can be a consequence of intensive farming in developing countries such as Indonesia.
Unsustainable agriculture is undoubtedly one of the major direct causes of deforestation in many developing countries. Farmers clear patches of land in forests to grow subsistence or cash crops. Often, lands are not given enough time to recuperate before the next batch of seeds is sown. To make matter even worse, modern machiney, fertilisers and pesticides are introduced to maximise profits. Hence, due to the delicate nature of the soil and the destructive nature of the modern day agricultural practices, the land is exploited beyond any repair.
Urban developments in developed countries also cause deforestation. Many forests are required to be cleared to make way for the development of infrastructures and buildings to house the population. In addition, instead of agriculture, forests are cleared to make way for industries. These are all irreversible deforestation practices in developed countries.
Therefore, regardless in developed or developing countries, there is an urgent need to address this serious environmental problem before more destruction is done to it.
Word count: 224 words
(My Blogging Buddy was Guo Qi)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Problem-Solution...
As forests in the world are being logged, many animals faced extinction. Identify one such animal, for example, the tiger in India, and explain what measures might be adopted so that it could be saved from extinction.
___________________________________________________
Deforestation around the world has caused many species of animals to face extinction, one of such example is the Orang-utans.
Orang-utans are large apes that live in Southeast Asia. Due to deforestation, the population of the great apes are declining drastically. Orang-utans are being killed as they flee from the burning forest to seek safety from the fires. Male orang-utans usually escape from the area, but females usually stay by their young. As a result, they may be killed or kidnapped for the pet trade.
If orang-utan population are to recover, destruction of the habitat should be ceased and adequate protection must be extended to them. Indonesia takes action and plant trees in effort to save the orang-utans. The main target of the project is to preserve vast areas of forest for conversion to palm oil. If this plan is being carried out, it could possibly lead to 9,800 orang-utans being rescued.
Another approach to conserve the endangered apes is to educate the public and spread awareness among the people. In addition, we should not support products made from tropical hardwood. Hence, when there is no demand, there will be no supply. Making a contribution to the zoo’s fund for conservation of the endangered orang-utans would also help aid the existing situation.
In conclusion, it is vital for everyone to play a part in the prevention of the extinction of the orang-utans so as to ensure that our future generations would still have the opportunity to witness a living orang-utan.
___________________________________________________
Deforestation around the world has caused many species of animals to face extinction, one of such example is the Orang-utans.
Orang-utans are large apes that live in Southeast Asia. Due to deforestation, the population of the great apes are declining drastically. Orang-utans are being killed as they flee from the burning forest to seek safety from the fires. Male orang-utans usually escape from the area, but females usually stay by their young. As a result, they may be killed or kidnapped for the pet trade.
If orang-utan population are to recover, destruction of the habitat should be ceased and adequate protection must be extended to them. Indonesia takes action and plant trees in effort to save the orang-utans. The main target of the project is to preserve vast areas of forest for conversion to palm oil. If this plan is being carried out, it could possibly lead to 9,800 orang-utans being rescued.
Another approach to conserve the endangered apes is to educate the public and spread awareness among the people. In addition, we should not support products made from tropical hardwood. Hence, when there is no demand, there will be no supply. Making a contribution to the zoo’s fund for conservation of the endangered orang-utans would also help aid the existing situation.
In conclusion, it is vital for everyone to play a part in the prevention of the extinction of the orang-utans so as to ensure that our future generations would still have the opportunity to witness a living orang-utan.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Let's start believing for more :)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Once there was a mountain-climbing organisation that caters to businesses that wish to build camaraderie and teamwork among employees. The expedition was an eight-hour trek to the summit of the mountain, anyone with normal walking ability would be able to ascend to the top.
Initially, the group of hikers were full of enthusiasm and could hardly wait to have a group photo taken at the summit and to celebrate their victory. After hiking for several hours, they decided to take a break at a restaurant, approximately halfway up the mountain. Interestingly, after all are energised and full, less than half choose to continue. It is not because they are unable or the climb is too tedious for them but is simply because they are satisfied with where they are. They lose the drive to excel, to explore new horizons, to experience vistas they had never previously imagined possible. They have tasted a bit of success and became complacent.
Often in life, many of us actually came across such scenario. We have a goal that we wanted to achieve in life; kick a bad habit or to lose some weight. Initially, we are full of enthusiasm and drive to achieve our goal; however, we got lazy and complacent along the way. We become comfortable right where we are when we saw a little improvement. Though, where we are right now might not be bad, but we know that it is not where we are supposed to be. We are not stretching our faith and not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts. Let’s step out of our comfort zone today and start believing God for even greater things to manifest in our life. It does not take extra effort to believe and stay filled with faith than it takes to develop a negative and defeated attitude.
Indeed, this is not going to be easy. However, those who witness their dreams come to pass are people who refuse to settle for somewhere along the way or less than their best. Hence, persevere on! We are made for more than good enough. We shall focus on our goal, set our course and have the attitude that we will not settle on anything that is less than our best but rather to reach to our fullest potential!
I have decided to share this motivating story that I have read in a Christian book with you all as it has motivated me to strive for the best that I am and to believe in my God for even greater things to manifest in my life. I believe that many of you out there share the same sentiment as me that often in life, we are too comfortable with the things that are in our life and hence, refuse to strive for anything better. But let’s all remember that this is not where we are supposed to be but rather, we are meant for things that are even much better. For those who are non-Christian, I hope that it will also serve as a remainder to only believe and settle for the best that you are and never become too complacent with things that are in your life now. I sincerely hope that everyone who read this would be able to receive their portion and in some way learn and benefit from this story.
My blogging Buddy was Guo Qi=)
Hebrews 11:1
Once there was a mountain-climbing organisation that caters to businesses that wish to build camaraderie and teamwork among employees. The expedition was an eight-hour trek to the summit of the mountain, anyone with normal walking ability would be able to ascend to the top.
Initially, the group of hikers were full of enthusiasm and could hardly wait to have a group photo taken at the summit and to celebrate their victory. After hiking for several hours, they decided to take a break at a restaurant, approximately halfway up the mountain. Interestingly, after all are energised and full, less than half choose to continue. It is not because they are unable or the climb is too tedious for them but is simply because they are satisfied with where they are. They lose the drive to excel, to explore new horizons, to experience vistas they had never previously imagined possible. They have tasted a bit of success and became complacent.
Often in life, many of us actually came across such scenario. We have a goal that we wanted to achieve in life; kick a bad habit or to lose some weight. Initially, we are full of enthusiasm and drive to achieve our goal; however, we got lazy and complacent along the way. We become comfortable right where we are when we saw a little improvement. Though, where we are right now might not be bad, but we know that it is not where we are supposed to be. We are not stretching our faith and not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts. Let’s step out of our comfort zone today and start believing God for even greater things to manifest in our life. It does not take extra effort to believe and stay filled with faith than it takes to develop a negative and defeated attitude.
Indeed, this is not going to be easy. However, those who witness their dreams come to pass are people who refuse to settle for somewhere along the way or less than their best. Hence, persevere on! We are made for more than good enough. We shall focus on our goal, set our course and have the attitude that we will not settle on anything that is less than our best but rather to reach to our fullest potential!
I have decided to share this motivating story that I have read in a Christian book with you all as it has motivated me to strive for the best that I am and to believe in my God for even greater things to manifest in my life. I believe that many of you out there share the same sentiment as me that often in life, we are too comfortable with the things that are in our life and hence, refuse to strive for anything better. But let’s all remember that this is not where we are supposed to be but rather, we are meant for things that are even much better. For those who are non-Christian, I hope that it will also serve as a remainder to only believe and settle for the best that you are and never become too complacent with things that are in your life now. I sincerely hope that everyone who read this would be able to receive their portion and in some way learn and benefit from this story.
My blogging Buddy was Guo Qi=)
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Increasing the population.
The Singapore's government policy to increase the population will result in more economic activities. However, it does not necessarily lead to the well-being of the environment.
To respond to the population challenge that Singapore faces, one of the key policy that the government implemented other than the incentives given to encourage couples to have more babies, is to welcome foreign talents to churn the economy and to naturalise them as citizens.
However, the prospect of a more densely-populated Singapore would have to require proper planning. With the increase in population, Singapore might not be able to cope with the increasing needs of the increasing population.
With the increase in population, there would be a higher demand for housing. This would be an additional stress on the land-scarce city as more houses are needed to house the increase population. This could possibly threaten the physical environment as more natural surroundings have to be cleared to give way for man-made infrastructures.
With a larger population, not only are more resources being used, more waste and sewage are produced as an increase in the population leads to an increase in consumption of goods and services. Hence, more waste is being produced. Faced with a rapid increase in waste, Singapore might have difficulty in finding suitable places to dispose them especially due to the limitation in land space. This could possibly leads to illegal dumping and thus cause land pollution which is undesirable. In addition, sewage produced by household such as detergents are non-biodegradable. Hence, they cannot be easily broken down into harmless substances which would result in them remaining in the water and cause water pollution. All these pollutions are very harmful to the environment and should be avoided at all cost.
However, in the long run, an increasing population will actually be an advantage as the phenomenon of having an ageing population would not surface. It is predicted that by 2030, 20% of Singaporean will be over the age of 65. With an ageing population, the burden on the working population will increase. As with a shrinking population, fewer people will be in the workforce and hence, each working people will have to pay more taxes to fund the building of more infrastructures. There will also be fewer able people to lead and serve the country resulting in an unproductive and inefficient workforce which in turn affects the country's economy. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the population to prevent such situation from happening.
In a nut shell, I believe that increasing the population has its fair share of both positive and adverse impacts on the human and physical environment. It is up to one to weight which one is actually more important to them– to drive the economy to greater heights with increasing population or to protect the environment. I believe that we would be able to reach an equilibrium stage where we could actually increase the population and at the same time protect the environment from further destruction. This could be achieved when we increase the population in moderation and with careful planning. Thus, I believe the Singapore’s government policy on increasing the population could actually have more of a positive impact on the environment if careful planning and measures are taken.
My Blogging Buddy was Boon Woei=)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Here comes the Question=)
Will the Singapore's Government policy on increasing the population have adverse effects on the environment? Justify your answer.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
My Life's Meaning
What is the meaning of life?
This has become one of the most frequently asked question by all humanity since the beginning of time. It appears to be a very profound question to answer and differ with each individual depending on their circumstances and perhaps, the different stages of their life.
To me, this question can also be interpreted as " What is the most important thing in life?"
To someone living on the edge of starvation, food is the answer.
To someone dying of cold, warmth is the answer.
If we post the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer would most probably be companionship.
But when these basic needs are satisfied, will there still be something that everybody needs? I believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love & care. But there is something else apart from that which everyone needs, and is to figure out our identity and the reasons for our existence.It is the ultimate search for the truth and purpose in life;the reason we were born and our existence.
This search could last for years so can it also last for a life time. Some could actually find the meaning of life during a particular stage in their life while some others could spend their entire life searching for the answer and yet never find it. That could possibly lead to a life-long regret. So could that be avoided?
I strongly believe so because our destiny is in our hands. We choose and determine the type of life we want to lead. To lead a meaningful life is very subjective, different people have different definition of their own meaningful life.
Take life one step at a time. Never be afraid to dream big and go all out to pursue what you want in life. Cherish all that we have including all our loved ones and never take their existence for granted. Never be afraid to show your care and concern and tell them how much you love them.
A meaningful life is one that should you drop death the very next moment, you know you will have no regrets in life.
I believe that in order to lead a meaningful life is to put in our best in everything that we do so even though if we failed, it is contenting enough to know that we have actually tried our best.Hence, in my own point of view, a meaningful life is a life without regrets.
Therefore, let's live life to the fullest!
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