A Special Double

A SPECIAL DOUBLE

ISSUE EDITTON!

A MONTH'S WORTH OF

ESSAYS

TO READ A DAY AT A TIME.

WELOOM= TO YO[-JR 30 DAYWORK OI-J-I k the view of the moiority olwoys right?

(on o belief in lhe supernoturol be susloined in our modern world?

TheArh mnnot chonge lhe world,

butfiey moke it more beouliful. Disruss-

"/ Should poorer counkies develop their

The pen is mightierthon the sword.

lourisi industry when lhe bosir needs o[ fieir own people ore nol beinq met?

(on wriflen longuoge reolly be

fiing os luck. People delermine fieir own lives.

Tfiere is no such lhing os

There h no surh Do you ogree?

(hr.

l)

so powerful?

lu*.

Do lhe post ond present

People determine lheir own lives.

offer ony guidonre forthe future?

Do you ogree? (Ver. 2)

(\,er

l)

AN DAY KEEPS =SSAYA D(AM ELU=S AWAY {(owr)$lfjudy ff0r0fttDLypqm{rcphr[lk[cdw(onnoir

BNOADER PERSPI(IIVIS IS PUBUSHED BY SCHOOI OF

420 orfi

Bridge Rood

IIIOUGHI

#06-27, orfi Bridge(enlre,

Singopore 188721 wr,vv.srhoolof thought.rom.sg

hl:*65

6334 87/3. fox:*65 633/ 2434

suBt(RtPTto naTEt

lot

2008

542 ll2 issues,lonuorylo odobet forsubsriplionenquiriei0nd b0rkissues,emoil: brooderpersp*tives@srhool-of'thought.rom

llow for should o $ote hove o righ to monitorthe odions 0f people within ils

Mos produdion inevitobly meons o loss of aoftsmonship ond quol y.

How imporlont is o sense ol hi$ory in shoping the future ol Singoporet mciety?

in your society?

borders?

hlhishue

I}o the pod ond present

Tlre only worthwhile lorm

offerony guidonce for the future?

discipline is selfdisdpline. Discus.

{\ter. 2)

(ver.

ol

The onlyworthwhile form of

l)

discipline is selliisripline. Disrus. (t/er. 2)

THI BROADEN PTRSPEC'IVIS TIAIII tdii0r-in.$ief Elirobelh (on, [email protected] Cre0live Dir0d0r Shi0cYin (uik, yin@rdool-of$ought.(om 501".s

& Sub5(riplions M0n0ger Yee Tong, yee@rthool-of'thought-rom

Conlribuling lrl/rihrs J0s0lin B0u, Chi0 H0ng (e01, L0rmine Leo,lh0ng Ruihe, Xu Xiuuen, SohWeiiie YopWoon Keot, Mor(usI0n, (he,,vYil/vei, Amellio Rozok, Eloine tow,lluho Yumn Eilyoos

lntern Amelli0 Rozok Prinhr lobez hinting

House

Sole Dislribuior nighleous lntemolionol 5ubs(rhlion Servi(er

7l l.,bi(renenl #05{9 singopore 4085/1, hl:d5 63231833. f 0r *65 63231838, em0il: mi([email protected]

Is the view of the majority always right? !

-r\ ' t

.{

1f,

-I I I I-

questron of rs right nght and wrong, it rt n contemplating contemplatrng the question ot what is is not merely a question of facts that are thrown around to substantiate one's case. This discussion would inevitably

concern the philosophical study of ethics (morality) that deals with the good and the bad, the just and the unjust, the question of right and wrong, and the sociological take on public opinion.

while the questions of "right" and "truth" have lons been interminsled with relision, it is nor dacdy pcrtincni to discuss rhe religiorls vicws on this loni., sinm thc Weslcm b'adirion of philosophy has souaht to senarale cthics from Cod since Plato in fourth-century B,C. Greece. This ethical quesiion on norality e'ill be addressed indepeDdently of assunptions on tlic cxisicncc of a highcr bcing and wbat ihis cniity decrees- Thus, onc could possibly affroach it from

rh" .so ar,s-". .\F rldio ,J I p.. .1 a .ncip.j I. ethically right", a d the lopular opinion is al$aJ!

PHOTO CREDIT/

Ifyou agrecd with John Stuart Mill, you would prollaDly rhink rhc Iirst statcmcnt ro llc

correct. X'lill asserted that the actions oDe orght to pedorm in a giveD sihation rre those that prcnote "thc greatest good for tlie greatest Dunber". In a pcff.ctly dernocratic socicty i{hoc thc lcadc$ act as ir,tr'r.rp,ld.l,grr '. m a.r ,I rl.Ir.f, a , \,i,\cir constituents, sociel!-' sould Iale little reasor for conflict {ith thejr leadeB, fostedng peace dnd stabilib,. In this Darrowsense- it wouki seem thrt such auc$' holds trne. Holrclcr. ihe truth is thai nost B^\.nn,.rt.Jr'i aa .-,. . ,ir-. ,dh)J..rlir ol of a fe$' ket.' figLrrcs that more often t|an not are inte.ested in adlancinit lheir own selfish agendas rnder the p.et€nce ol promoting lhe publjc 8ood. From many of the pork ba.rel riders that comc aitached to legislatioD bills to be ntified to senc thcntcrcstsofthcArnericmpublicintheU tedStatcs,

02 Bl0ADtl PtRSPtOlVtl rhp.sqar/

6srr

forcxample, one caD be sure that they are not enft ely

1.r'ngt,- l.i'rbl,j.Lr.t b'r,-fi.. \^h.npNpr iq concenh ated in a certain group of indiv uals. one cannol besLrreifthe dc.rands ofthe ptrblic rrc always

fulll n€t, elen when thcsc iDdividrals saDctioDed by the general

were

public.

One is also ewident ofthe ftilures that have stemmcd from "the majority's choice" or endorsenent of ccrtain ideas or people. The election of on€ ol the least ilhlshious presidents of the United States, Warren Hardirg, could noihavc been morc

alt

an exarnple. As

xlalcol

Gladwell

delineated in his book Elink, Wa.reD llarding wns ot pa.ticularly intclligcDt, was a skirt-cluser, a

In viesing the question from anorher arale, ir is cven easier to see how the majoriry aryumcni fails ro hold. Ifthjs rvere to Lre lrue, $e would still be.lieve that thc constellations $.ere Gods aDd Cloddesses riding on thcir chariots across the sky

(according to ancient E$,rptian cosmolosr) or that ihc Earth r{as tlie ceDter ofthe univerce. Aftcr all. such belicfs and opinions woukl have been tme (by popular consensus of our forefathers) siDce the Greeks came op \ith democracy; therel\'ould have been no

need to chalLenge AristotcliaD thcoies or even Descartei fotrndntionalism. \\4ry, t{c should snnply Fnrhr,.. r|c i.le,s onr .n.estors believed in and uphold thesc thcoics as the uDiv€rsal lnws oflife

dinker and toved poker. Despitc his scncral) hnited

i

ellecttr:l capicities. he was elecied as thc Presidert

of the United states sinply because he looked like |or{ a frcsident ouglit to look lilie. The convention d€legates and sirnilarl], thc voteN, thought llarding

who "radiated connron sensc and digDitl" r!2s the pefe.t candidate. Wan€n Hading did not coDtribute

arything substaDtial to the lresidenc), and dicd two years into office from an unerpected snoke. Hislodans agrccd that he was "ore of the lrors!

Lok can certainl)aprl- . ,d 1 n .- 'l

presid€rts in Arnerican history"-

n. dr, ri\ ins dF\p lF tot'u-ir

Besides, whar happens when adheringto thc majolity opinion means that the minority mayhave lo desetrhcir ghts of"life,liberty ud prEsuit of happiness"? The cas. of the Tanil

minorityleNus the SiDhalese maiorily in Sri LaDka has starkcd naDy civil tensions nnd conllicts as thc itolernmentis dccisions leaDed Dlore and more towads the Snrhalcsc majoi\'. Are the Tanil Tigers wrong th€n, to fight for cqual treatneDt bl the so\erDneDt? ShoukL they be dubbed tcrrorists at dl? Wlilc thc so\rDlmeDt ald the Sinhalese people would cetainly cxfound oD the Tamil Tigers'acts ofchaos .nd Lroh1.F,1lr.1.d nI so, i-b. sr,.'nnol ror .prla'r agree totally $i th then as thcy too riolated tlie li{mart rights oftheir lello$' coDnirlmcn. Ii becomes nere

But tlrc fact that we know now - widr empiric: evidence - that the sta.s a.e massive. lminous

bals ofplasma, and that the Earth is achally the "rhird rock from the srn" is due to the fact rhar opinions change in the face of compelling new knowledse. ofteD, such kDo$ledge about oLrr world docs not come f.om a De$'najoity of people who agree on thcm but a , e, I drqdua nr.nLJl.ru u ul in,lirC ril.. I'J1qr " brought us thc concept ofDatuml s€lection, Gregor Mendel the theory ofinh€itablc iraits in orgxnisns

and Albert Itinsiein rhe law of rclatirity that chrlleDged Isaac Ne$ton s law of uriversal gmvitation. ID the face ofne$ knoi{ledge brorght aboui bv nc$ tcchnolosies ardpeoplewlo darcdto challense longstaDdiDs coDcepts, it js often the majority thnl is nrade io rc cyalute their opinions, and not the otherway around.

\\ iril l t\ l), "lll.rl

r',\ ' I "

' r\ l', ttl'l.rrr,l 'rlt;rl r i-l,t r: : ,t', al\vlrvs l)e l)ol-liiliLi' tjris rlrioie r'.-.l'-..'ll l i l)l,, ll\1,,-l,.rrlll SucCjllCtll'.

il

l\

\\'hile risht and wrons may

seem

tyraDDv wlien these

princi cs in the world \fiose tNth or falsehood is not determined bt-'$hat th. najorjg decrees. tsl that,

somehow ihe ru]e

rve can be sure

rights are denicd, eyen if ofutility lbr socielv is achicvcd.

03

BR0AD'R

subject to circnnNtance, tlier€ are cefain

that it is not always, if ever, that the rnajority is risht. (t

PIRSPIOIVIS

r/lc.ssot/ isslc

WEEI(OOIDAYOO2

Can a belief in the supernatural be sustained in our modern world?

/'t\

\'r,rll,

,,

elief, in the modern

world, is derived from the pillars of the age of Enlightenmentlogic and empiricism. Science and technology have convinced us into believing in scepticism and

sternly disputing anything that cannot be explained rationally. Hence, in order lor lhe belief in

the supernatural to exist in the

modern world, let alone be sustained, it must be understood from a scientilic outlook. Yel, this may undermine the meaning ofthe supernatural as it is after all beyond the understanding ofthe natural sciences. Thc supernatural lras once considemd sinply as a s)stenr of rituals or an accepted cunosi\. thai hapFned ro LrF i r ,l I:rlpln u hl- r'"r'l qr ri. HosFv"_. ii

the mode.n rvorid,

it

is a causc of mysterl or

controversy. ModerDitr djsDcls the suDernatural in maDy obvious rrays, slowly edgins out it ofsocjal life

a.d ihe future.

I-hc tloclcrn rvor'ltl's

main fbi ce ol ciiscorn'agiug bclicl in ilre supernatuial is sin:plv, moclcln iilestrle. IM

CECREDIT/

Man's technologicaly

advded world

and fast,

paced lifestyle does not allow room for sustaining the belief in rhe supernatur{I.

04

0R0A0[R

tine to dwell on questions aboot the afierlife due to tlie hectic nature and concerns ofthe Rarely is there

noden globalised worid. Compared to the sheltercd, .ri,liriurJl.orln,r,ri,.wi,h o.alJ"dp "bl,rl rr the pst, therc arc many and fal greater $odes nr ihe moderD world. This is due to the sreater scope for human $ime. There are tlieves, nurdercrls, rapjsts, pedophiles, terrorism aDd $'arfare to replace the incorporeal as modern sources ofterror. arnny Gctles Us,,l is a ps]'cholosical drriller that exemplifies how movies today find plenty of fear to n 1e from modern situations. The supematural is a thing ofthe old and ihe afterlife too vague ' there is no iime to wory about it antway. The nodeD world will only be concerned about the strpernatural if it is detrimental to the progress ofthelivins.

PtRsPtflVts tie esidy 6sre

TUITljRIWATIII 3 RTTOMMINDID TV SHOlivS

What is more, educarion eradicates any possiblc belief in the supernatrual. It teaches child.en to quicldy recognise the fake cosiumes ard nakerp shosts rvear in movies, and has bccome a r,:jur .paro dr.h'liP. P'r''normdl rcr.\'l) r' cr?lained away \ith logic no natter how challengnrg a fi$nent ofihe imagination possibly caused by a reactjon and lossession, dementia. Shdies in psycholosy and the humaD brain rationalise the more dillicult paranormal activities e\peicnccd by people. llducation prclides

ihc ose. An appadtion is

puJlu red.o1.ro'\.l.ir {i):n.on\i ral.rP. rn ihe rational rvorld. Exposure to formal educaiion ?

has caused our instincts to rnistrust the incredibie

It is casiel to lccel]t .rtiralrlitl|'Iit r\l,c l.rlr" Tllrill itlrriiorr,rlertrnIi,,tt' -lt, lr,1.. lr i' l. feiu'. and r'Ic loticisl raLiicr as rcrl lrciurl o(cllffenccs. iurd the stories ive hear.

IIt,,r1r'II \,Irtl(l t- \\' lIc{ll!|lrl,'

ai

Ill

fir:riing lreilns lot tiLith . lrl!,tt,r:tr, t\.

\ur d .at"8uar,l. ofhlnan life in this

T1r".nndFl,

the scDsibilities and progress

The supernatural is instead shoved into

the

lith

our

entertainment $'orld. The nedia

plays

doubt ofthe supernatural by portrai'ing it as licLion. Sutcrnatural occurences are pla]'ed out in stories, tales or movies - $'ith exaffiemtion to inciie fear and anticipation. Films such as the ltorcisn o/E rily Rose highlight this by shoNitrg trv.r opposing vie$s torva.ds the supernatural. The audience may fret over the conpelLing explanatioDs for the exorcism but davs later, after having bccD thrown into lhe bustle and monotony ofdaily life. thcy will elentudLy

haviDs a belief in Cod does notnean one willbe able

to explaiD away every strange haptcniDg as a matter olsupernatural phenornera. One tries to use reason

AI{D BOOl{S tIIITRID O|l

IhISUPIRIIATURAI

to find an e\taDation and blanes Cod oniy when he caDnot

llnd any. u41cD this li.rppens. the supcnutural

renains a nys(e ous Dhcnonena and nol a tari of the natuml world order. ODe does not quite Ino$'

hhrr rn h,l,.\, ,l i.nor1sce1Jna.-hcbel:efin thesun siDg the net morning it is simply a natter of acceptance wiihout uDderstanding. Pcrhaps the only people who honcstb believein the supematual are those $ho study parapsycliology and such.

I

EUFfYTHIVA PIRI StAYfR

lhe be9!n lh. relevi5lon shows

he!rifui

Thc supern{tural it secms, has an inverse relarionship wirh time and modemity. ,{s the ilorld progresses, it leaves behind seerninsly illosical beliefs. Elen if therc aerc technolo&v allowing us to shrdy souLs instead of hrman bodies or detemrine if there $'as life after death, this $'oukl take years or

to accomplish. Itscems inpossibleto .)1 lhe supcrDatuml. Could science real\'ansi{er the fanous qLtestion of $'hether there is life alier deaih? The answer,I an surc, will

ol

'rcnd tuor!r

(J

eodins vomen, h

p

repo'res ord p ol3 oboundrig

wlrr Ne tro wm!]rcs, wlllt wse{o lsj Mdpodoi!ro k . \!oroobe5lks cnafined o d

!kph€ric filcyu'5 lll///iglrl

0€ mrr

rhtr srord d(jne

'o

evcD decades

deternrinc the existeDce

,l llert if the cxislelicc of Ure slrpernatnlal is lrloycl, it loirici bc lr:nanied cause ficsh controversy in tl

n

ti,tu.".

arld Ieciitssilicrr' its silille olhcl ('rlrtl)|t,,II,

{i - tr-rlllirl

cl'lll

Then we can easily asscrl, there is no such ihirg as the supernatu.al it is simply another scientific occu encc in ioday's modernworld. at

2. THI 11svcr

HARRY POTIIR

erier qenefthd

siCI

s

{idior

50

mur

hoi ll drlldref

onrrolerly lrd 50 n(r robld offDrlion. k DumbhdoBeoly goy?

l! ilwrori! h pliDr ml

mosi(o hunr{rn!

os borirlg md

prclud(ol) tuf llds d fferen(e? \1o5

1e

lrhe

(ifq'5 tro$

o

eprerfl rrrrion of Heolen? tukc

0r

vord

lorlt Dm'r iunwoid tE srsmd

rhe nrovier. Reod

diiover fre dor! rvrish md r!ns $ljr ordde I ( Rowirs o

forget aDd disniss it as r oment of fcar or irrationalitv. Tic step iDto a world wherc the 3.TfltXrtrs

supematu.al can possibly exist is sirnply a so of conrcident hit and tniss occrrrence: one does not linserlons eDougli in it to believc-

Ulherher il

w6 thr iolol

torlirs*d

((jNptoriej m

lk

rcmoili(

rerxior belven the lvo

Perhaps the only way a belief in rhe

oqerr

supematural can be sust{ined in modcm life is tlmush religion. Abclief in(fudandthealie ife is ablc to lea.l

8R0A0[R

!'olosoniii {$c

J'1! der ond rhe

5e(r€1

be ievei

{{prk ku ly),

Xlllervlisodovrri\lfiiory o!o (urdsjkmysond

to a belief in thc $pematural. Howeler,

05

0errr

enrrcd on olis

ro

5ror lrok m iermr of tuhurol

P[RSP[OII/[! ffie c.$dv,.ssrc

rffii,i rlr;l . }!irill!i

The Arts cannot change the world, but they make it more beautiful. Discuss. /, ir,,. s,

.

rtists fight an uphill battle, trying to convince the rest of modern society that there ls a point to their work. Compared with financial wizards, lawyers, activists, teachers and politicians, artists seem almost deluded and arrogant about their ability to reshape the world. How can a iwo dimeDsioral piece olpainted canvas or a nere song overcom€ ou. biggest p.obleDs? To Joe Average, untotrched br art theoies and uDmovcd

br academic .hetodc, rrt is mere adornrncDt to bc hung on a pristine galierv \.all and norhiDg else.

of coursc, many examples of artistic expression stem from nothing more complicated than ar artist's desire to capturc

and immortalise u instance of beauty.

lir \

t' \"

.l ,

t.r

1111'

r

iL,

, ,l 1...,1 r l,,,rli,. ilr: r,, -rir,, r, iiliirel tluur ii pl:r'1-icuilir nrollil IIrLq.C[ CRIDI T'l

rli i,,' (\{t{,

1r

t,l ii , itl(1,l/ler}iiti._1.

06

ER0ADIR

PfRsPfOlVfS

Aut $'hile thel do Dot

overtlln ou. wo

ds, thcsc

worts

ol. .rlg ln. .r '_l \.r 'J- .en,p. Jr'C .p_al\ Fr nt or hcariDg thcn gives us an lncanny sense of r"

satisfaction and happiness. Piet llondrian

s

deceivinglJ

simple ca.lases ol clean black lires rnd blocks of primar-' colours capture the cool berurr- oforder and slstems. Claude Nlonet s inpressionistic dcpictions of sun-daprled churchcs, rratcr Uly ponds and rilell] rcmiDd us to celebrate the beauly ollight on [arth. Chopnls noctuDesa iculatesweet ess ir melmcholy, \,lozart ushers in elega ce and vilakli recreates the joy ot 1or r seasons withni the confines of ou lirmlt.st

livhg .oons. ID brinsila momenrs of simplc sensor) pleasure inio orr lives, ir is even possiblc to arsuc that this kind ofart changes ourworld in a million tinv ways.

,r. lssrr

^\,.

tt{RliTll5:

t0!

cclebntion ofbeaut), {rtists hase madc thc captu nA of Truth thc raison .l'et c ol artasrlcll. ADd in the reverling of TNllr Bnt bcyond thc

in thelr wo ,s. some adisls hale c|ossed lhe line

La .

, , ir..r .'r' ,l F ,l

thc Deed to

preseft

lu'ai,.l '.

i,

such beautr. or fight against the

uglin.ss in thc $r)rld thrt thrertcDs to oreni'heln it.

B\ doing so.

t|.ir

works

inadlcft.ntll

cross ovcr

lro.r .r,rli.it passile obsenaiions ollhe lvorld t. ibtigalj!E acLi\.e rhange jn the No.ld. l his is hesL seen in tire worlts ol nrlists $ho set ouL Lo creale mNstcryiecesforreligiousor!oliticalpurposes.The dcs'rc tc tmicst agairsi pcrccivcd socn!|olirical pmblcnrs .nd ,dvocrt. good lilnrg.rc.tcd. ivhol. genr€

l\'lr. s r rr/,i. ,,it.1 l\1. \i.'U tl, J,J

ol tuusic l{ror!. as prulesl so.gs. Bob

t] ..ri

,1,

aln , JohD LeDnon s "1rr?g;re

'rnd Kanle Wen's

''Dnrrmndsr!,,.sierrd aeonr" combine music{l .fistn and Dr.annrgiLl l)ics with ! call for lcoDl. lo slrnd uf ior thc toildl.ss. Fonnd sla\'. tladc. JoIn NeNlotr s rvell lored .t,krzir./ Cr(cc- is a. eteDul Fmiraler to allto rclorowledge oDe n) one s onD

s

blindness

$'(mg.ioirg.

a bidto chaDgc mindscts aDd rcshapc thc rvorkl, somc arrists crcatc hold picccs ofwork that ue deliberatell unpleasanl, consciously obnoxious and even doMrisht usly. Byjar iij us oxi ol our tleasrnt relrrie. art can force us to

In

j.ttison our tr.coDccncd hrpp! Doti{ns lbout the ,vey lhings

ar. in thc i{orldtoda_v xnd shock

ns

nrto

confroDtins horiblc' realit!.

not unlilte moden wrr phoioiiraphs

r'.1'J.. { l,.'r lr,,

$lich glaphieLlv

rilTil.]D

l,10L]iRl.]

50llt ll0i{l{

rlRr P

t{t5

. l r\'.,j.\1..J',r1,

btloding aDti Nar anthcm.,lrr.ri.an 1-tir $'as so dlrk t|11 il was.asiigal.d b! thc Bush admnrisiration, lV and rranr, A.re cnns Her Drusic!id.o drifNd Nith sarcasti( l]rics thrt atLacLed lhe av€rnge lDtrican s idea of a sood lite rErirst an outrageo!s bact.lrof ofAsian and lliddlc Eastern war victims, bnhins soldicrs and jorirl Alr.ricND fxshidristrs.

P0PMr(re505)

iU

\€991 {0

tontLr. 5i!!

I)elinilely, lhe A.ts has iis fair sharc of irresponsible, untalented or simply uninterested prrctitioners. lt is thev who rmdcrminc thc lalu. of art. rroducins works of !nil.nJn nrediocdq t|rt n.itho clrangc norbcartifi LheirsL, oundirgs. Somelinx's rrlists arc Dlotilai.d b\ p.olit ralher Lhan tu.!ose a.d c.eale lvorks l|ri wouLd ple{serD undisre.n ins aud

ie

ce as

(l!icllr

tossiblc. Such thoughtless $orlts do not eDdure tlie

t.stoftnD.. Thcl maystill invokc niNsome

knlci

of

senlimenl or tleasant enough s.nsort'bnzz, bnt thcl Dever nrake r rerl denl in ,Nr co.sciodsness. lD thc 198os. the Sto(k/Ailetr/WaLe. ar p.odu(lion l,ran) i{ere flnous lirr creatiDg monster nn$|, lrils lbr por) siDgcrs \Vr caDnot frnlt pof songs for beirg {hrt th.y arc throivlr'at , inf.ctio$, tuiloldLs trnes i{e nll lole todanceto but \!. c.n bc ccfain ihrt iD tlre g.and scheue olLhirus. Bananaranra s llrrus rnd Kiie s "loconoiion" \!ill rrrobrbl) .erer be mnl,e.l lnurgthe most bexutjful nor life chargxrg works ol lrt ni thc $uld. Sjmilarl\'. muy lists will not usher to th. No d rcxl chaDgc or b.Nult for thc'ir crc'atiorls nreeitherprer\'but bhDd (r h Thonus Kink!.tc) or p.o\ ocaLn

€

but u ltimat€l) ,nean ingless ( a

h

0mrr

r{l6lr

.rs

tisiic'

YOUNG 8R

I5H

ARTI5TS

{1ee0s mv)

0rnior Hirr

s

y'"* Donir

liirsr

!

iDstallatiors of used bedsLeeLs a.d condorns). Aft is too oftcn pigconhol.d rs being self certrel,

l.blo Picasso s CreDi.d is an anli Nar s)nrbol.. Drorumert thlt pa\s lribule to tli€ s!lleri.g 01 ".r . 'J r'r,.,1t l.l.-Ll " ti1 r.r.' nrflidcd b! Nlzi (lcrmtrny dufi1s tlie Sprnish civil

uDintclligiblc or too fiivolons i{r bc of nse to societr. l1 ls eren more ofi shrm. t|rt maD].dtists fht np to sLereot\'!es lrl creatiJrg rorks thai ar ina.ccssibl.

t

orf].inl) nrdio.rc

l,|llllRlD I0 I ll

on all lioDts.

llt

T0Ti] 5l

?0 Plr0Tt5Ti0[c5TH r,'i0RtD

darlt nusteJ?iece

\,". 1. g./, I.I, Irr\.d,.,i.r,..r, grie\ ing ricli s and prnjckirs aDi'n.ls, .11 bizad ch l^: ,.rl^rr,r-l,Pi u -r ,t,

that itselfwouid certai lr,.rale lhe Dnr.h moE bcartiful flacc.' _

$o

d

a

S'

vwv.sprnne'.ft

n/200/0/

l3/?0 prolesr'ion$ ihor' norreredno.20/

0/

Bl0A0tR

PtlsPiO|/tS

r/ , .n ! ,.s

WTEI{OOIDAYOO4

How far should a state have a right to monitor the actions of people within its borders? , \, very state, regardless of how developed it is, monitors its people's actions. Be it in the form ofonline application forms, marriage cedificates, or even the paper.work for buying a house, demographics and private information are filtered and collected by our respective governments. The sratejustiffes such a.tion by claimins it a national security measuq and ir certainly is. wc hale seen cases in Singapore how monito rs by the lntemal Secu ry Depariment (rSD) has stopped several t€rrorist activities_ Security experts say that the actions ofthe terroists on 9/u could have been prevented ifthe moritoing of suc| suspects had becn stepped up. However, this act has served as a cabtyst to nnprove slobal security. post 9/r1, inteltisence from numerous "state spying' programnes have helped to tip o{f state security, promptiDg counter te.ro sm units in deter ng terrodsm in ourmidsr. l hough the idca ofthe stare monitoring the lives of its good tax-paying citizens seems preposterous, it

could be beDeficial aDd more s€cure nr the loDs run.

PrivacT is one ofthe key issues in the proresr

would be adverse to havnis such infomation reveated, as itwould make citizens feel that their rishts were being viotated by rhe sane people who swore to protect

them. Also, the alerage person would have ljttlc or no secrets that are damagiDg ro the golernment, unless it cones in the

forn ofa potiticai

scandal such

Eliot Spitzer prostiturion scandat which 1las exposed by a federal agenc'. Such a scandalwould taiDt ihe repDiation of rhe government, and the government has a righi to ensure such mishaps do as the

not happen. However,

such

ser rsa

l.lOt cvt t.vone le:rdS

Lion:rl livcs.

Onil'thc

criurinal rvould fcar

srrclr

against state monitoring - but in today's day

surleillnnce.

Adveftisers mine data fron all channets, Lhether from the Luclt, Drai! coupon you vejNi filied nr, o.

Some amonasr us may fear the possibility of infomation euBeni.s. mucn like rhedysropian

and aae, privacy may be a moot point. warant, card for your new apptiance. It is Dearty irnpo-ibl",o ti! il rodr) s so.:Fb wirhu, Icavinr an infonnation trail or an electronic fbotprint. We the

PHOTO CREDIT/

aboul our p vate lives is not revealed to the media or enemal parties- In all practicaiiB., any govemment

scenario in "Futurama,'. pulp fictioD warns ofa ooss Llr hr. u re sn-re hugc databa.r" ot irtorn,ltion that can bc used to classify aDd categodse peopte into

lose our privacy 1iom the nomenr we step out of our houses and start to intemcr with the wortd.

sroups, forcibiy assignins peoplc jobs based oD statktics. all in the name of optimal usage of rFsuu'.eq. Fear nor. for as tong as countries

State modtorinA involves rime and moncy aDd high-level clearan(e ftom ttte legislarors

allow universal sufftage and debate in rhe lesislation oflaws, there wiU not be acrions

of a country. The everyday Joe xould have tjttle to wony aboui just SovemneDt

mo

has a rcspoDsibnib' to eDsure that

08

roring. Every state

infbrmation coltateil

BR0ADIR PIRSPIITIVFS

as perverse or draconian as the

abovementioned. People stilt shape the,{orld of ioday and will conrinue to shape it for the years to

rhe essdr,, i55re

tUTIURIWAICll

RHr0n0|l {2007) Bojed

or rhs lru{ nory ol

(holid

t

Mo5rl who vos

doporlod

10

trio

ond lorl!rod

!odulhe mji0ollon of fie tlA, lhl inovie u(o€r!lome olrhe bo5l( ronJrore'sler h€hind

Amerko!

p.o

rllre ol exrro

Ho! {or 5hould the nore be ollowed ro prcrerl ir! o\,/n a

However, ihc responsibility to protect our

scrics of citizen protests agaiDst the government s spling aciions, whcrc a Dumber of corples found

country does not lie solely with the

behaling intnnately$€re fincd and chastened by the

responsjbilirr_ to ensure national securiry, the

Even

predoninantly conservatjve Malaysia had

governnent for behavins inappropdatcl-v in public spaces. Moderate Malaysians s€re quick io protcst agaimt the abuse of surveillance or the part ofihe govcmnent. The goverDment mat onlyclanp doM on iis citizens as far as the majo.it] will dllorv orjudge

goverrment. Just

as the governncnt has

nldiv

ual.

Instead, we should be visilant and aware of our neishbors and report nny abnormal or suspicioDs activities.

h

singrpore, vi(leos are aired

oD

D D YOU (I{OllV?

.

Wc musi also realise that the state does not hare the resources or manfoncr to monitor eadl

ol meoff tLrnily the iob ed of

a

Foplc also liave to reciprocrte. The .ight to privacl nnNt cone njih the rcspoDsibilitt to help saleguard societt

riltrenry? Do rhe mo!r rsnoble

t|e Mass

RI|lDIIION

TXTRAORDIllIARY sq

rern u$d to de5a

be the

rrrest ond trunslerol o p*son

lhit usurlly done to ollow tuspe.red refforirs h Le {rom one note lo ororhe'

r

rroirlerredJerrclt r,ponrsr

That we can sit happily today d€bating thc issues ofthe world is because our governmcnt has done "rhe dirty work" to ensure our safety and sccurity. So beforc lee throw the baby out with

Rapid T.ansit cariages showing hc,w to.espond to

th€ bathwarerwhilst d€cr,ving this iDvasion into otrr

ofgovernnrenL age cies alone.

prory'if

vacy, it is inportant tbr us to rcflcct on the disastturs possibilities of a terrodst attack on our couir,a. WheD we weigh the zealous safesuadins of the details of our lives with the possibilily ofsavins

In coDclusion, the state has many obligations. and natioDal securitv ranks ve,r- liighly on Lhe list or

{entrej or iorerl prisor5

{ n,i.rnu ...rvi.iF.. il},{ rur-.' I:frhelIinj

rountde: vhrch olow honher

alTected by a biolosical r{eapon. such victeos ensure

u5ed.Ane,iru hos bed

th

'rnor''o-i,

go't r.r.t'la *ri"tjuslU"

lun'Jir,

lflerogririoI

elhod!

ofp'o(ti.ifg $(h irs bid ro

h

be

(0?d

'lo !re by iq(slrfu

!

l,\". h.i")1, lu dpr.r..,l.";i|rprhFldlrFr

in

favor ol the fo.ner. Pcrhaps we reould be able to sleep sounder at niitht withoui ihe thoughts ofthe state watching

tour every move, but the pice for ihis

shortlived peace of mind is

attack.

lalid until

a

tenoist

Tlirg lhe alnts o1 r'lrtt

naliorr:ri secrrrih'agcrlcJ is ni)t the snraflcst rvav at cletellirg vlr'.u' nrr:nries-

prio;tics. while a life of pnvas- js ideal, :r vast anou l ofresources and elTort rnust still be spent to eDsure that nothing illegal or dehnnental io society can be canied ort. Does the state hnve therightto monitor her people's moveneDts? Absolu tely. War

s

today are

Dot fought on open battleg.ounds with troops standing in straight liDes, but byhidden smaLi grcups causnrs fear in socicg. We, as citize$, must be willing to give up our privacy to ensllrc thc i{ellbeing of

09 BR0AD[ll PtlSPtOlVtS

dtr..vrv b5!f

slAt(

SlTtS me

soel

delenrior

r!ptoedlr operckd by the Aneri.o

r

r tlA

n

orjundioi

rh Irlefdly [!iopeo] o'

Midd

e toner {o!nlr

€s

Mass production inevitably means aloss of craftsmanship and quality. Is this true in your society? he Industrial Revolution did notjust rnark the dawn of a new era offast production and modern efficiency, it also marked the seeming death of an older world

of artisans and craftsmen, made obsolete by the hulking mechanisations that grew from the ground of every newly industrialising state. Peoplc$'|o grenup iD ih. old $.orld,.lislocaled and rloi{jobless lound thcnsches cryins foul rnd Ji,ught valia.tly to kccf our lvorld from frogressjrg inro sonretlilg that, to then, seem.d i{rcng. tfwc'could not make thiDgs r!ilh ou orqr bare hards then it jNr lid not sccDr horth mldDg.Yct, ourownbarch.nds , - ..rt,t . .o\ i, i r.. ,, id r, ,, , popxl.tio. and iDcr.asjng global deDuDd tbrgoods and seNices of all kjnds. lnrreasingly lnregrated ma.kets exaccrbaled this siiration, requiriDg us to sirDph rclcnt and gne wayto t|e nec€ssa* clils ol niass irroduction. Llut as $'c $'.lch lresentli..nd ol co $c nr rclrospect, has rn.ss prududidr firb nreanr

a loss ol qualitv and .raitsuanshit in lrhar we

lhe li'ss of qualit) i"d .rafi\mxn\hil) i\ perhaps most apparelt when we tuvcl and ilevitably encountcr countries thar have compromised the uniqueness ofthcir local arts and craft by condoniDg and sometimes .\en encuur:'sitrB lhe of rcir "rb.production native art so that this can bore ndeqratclv

meet thc demandine consumption

ol-

souvcnirs by the world's tourists. This is lrue '..r i.si,rr,n|\.., ^l\,r ..,|, but also Lhe fire artisan cratt produccd nr \,Vestern F.uro!e. SiDgaporc is no differdrt and il roo is guilB, ol the srmc frncLice. As an aflordable kccpsatc howevcr, the sou\enir is understaDdabtl nr.rss produccd, and ilonld naturall! also not caDr, Lhe

l0

ER0ADtR PTRSPICTVtl

//]r

tli{t coDr.s Nith Drost harh unique rnrl-\ol ,'r.. 1I, rr,r..t u lr..,, r r. 'r."r ir r1 Singapore, and dre rest ofthe \o d for rhat natt.r, h.a1a trice tag

is

theEjn mostiv ineyitable as mass prr&rction almosr b Dgs costs doi{n, rDd t|er€Lre stals wirli.

alwrys

reach ofdre

rrficaltouisi |ocker.

Qulity does not hovcver, always fall once we \larl lo nrrs\-Iro(lu.F Suods. \1 ..1u l'. ,I is recessrn ftr alDost all btrsinesses thesc davs. especixlly i{ilh the need to.\pand busin.sses, oretend th. salc ol goods to intcDarional kck. with this cxfansion coDres thc need to produce rnore ofth. same good for dishiburion- but lvilh it al$ comcs an onus for thcse compaDies to t,r "l I, r.,,d. ^ rr.. ,.,, .1.,.. {,, t. It.\.B.ro fraDchiscs

m

profit motivrled, it

is iDe\itabl. that rcnpanicswould ensur. qnnlitr control clcD rs Lhey nass froduce.

Takc oxr local chanr of food naoulichuiDg, Okl Chals

K,

.'^ Lt.'rr.- ft, r.

..

.,

n,oh. .

.ru,.,..

i,

I

of lbodstuffs iras lept consistent .tuality rncl has eaued a solid rep!tation of bcinil a succcssful lianchis$ iI the region as Ncll as Sirgrtorcs mosi pr)misnrg brand. It is nrevitable that $rccessfili companies wjll e\eDtually nrass prodncc, but this does

Dot equate to aD inevilable loss ol 'I

qrrliti.

hisfactis also true dueto thc halure ofnuw

products that we produce freqrcnrlyin lhis age

()f

irnb.matid).

The sale

of k.o$'ledse, ideas aDd opinioDs has recenttv

rs\,, Bs,r

ttrlRN lHlS:

r,lftLRt5Pt(IID fi0DtRl.]

ol the l ler.el as a Drerns of c\torting these goods efficienlh ard chenplt.

speed and

th. iunvatii€ or eDt.epreneurial. Our wor'l(lbrce c.n still bc said to possess exceptioDal qualiLy lo. norv. but nr a $'o d that iDcreasiDgly defiDes quality b) sland.rds of nr!ovation, our educ{tion systern needs 1r, produce mor. Lmi{tucli

aDd

cr!ftc.t nrdiriduals through

boomed with the rise

SiDgrlorcans halc positioDed theD$elves wellat the

Iorelront of this groi{ing industr! rs con Lltants, publishers.rnd research.r's. Yct, d.spjtc the huge

rolune ol how ouriltbmration is lroduccd dist.ibuted unolgst all corners olthe $o d,t|c

1L \l' r'n, .r' J.l' '.','.'.rhirlu,

r'.'riu,i'

snrgaforcans rrho hck hdivnlual opi|ions and

ERAIIOSII{DTl]I

daring to bc tmlv

i\iltTt0i.tD

Droducnrg

a

frod ction mrcly DieaDs crattsmanship in the digital age, a loss oJqualilr'or rlthough it c.tn unibrlunalely lead to a loss of tn te.estingly cnorgh, even quality

craflsftanship caD bc prcscned dcspite a releDtless mass production of Aoods. IIost shoplnrg malls througho!1 lhe lvo d rre becoming iDcrcasirslr homoseneous, $,jth tanriliar brands oNning up flagship stores iD these conpleres. Yet, this does .ot trevdrt ihc modcrn coDsumer fron indjrgptuducLs Lhal arehigh qraliq. Applc comprtc'. rn{de x Dame foriLsellas beins r uniqrc and starkly

systen tiral is used to

diflercrtixted prcduct des!ite t he prcdu.t iiself bcing lrass ptlduced. Gucci rDd Prada still sell lneir soods at prcmiun p ccs d.spitc' seveml thousands ol the sa re product bei.g mass pro.llrced in ubiquitous

cnin.

srg,,^r",r .l.r . ir,d

-.,,roi-

t1,i..

triDciple weLl, rnd hrs likervise suptortcd local phtcchDics aDd designers in nr.rkinp,lheir mark on the dcsign sccnc. These

dnrs, it is the unquely c.alled

prodrd that is ironicaliy

ud

inevitably nass

Unfortulately, this algument can ooly crtcnd so far as re are still uttimately d iscussi ng rhc nass prodrctioD of goods. We have let to discuss Lhemass

troductioD of ourseNices ardworklorce.

ndtrcation isan al€|i

nrdrich

challcDges

cortnNa )

Mar's nascenl gro$-th in biocnainee ng also seems to foreshadov d isturbins rrcnds that could bring ne$ implications to mass prodrctidr. NIan s coDtiNjng quest lo better

I ","1',/.io,r,l ril .1,,.[r'i-r .]b'

'urip

a!d th€re is constant dcbatc ovcr the possible eDgnlee.jng .,1hu.rars desfite cuncnt bans on aD) such reserrcli. The ensunrg,trulils brought about bI

ihc achal success ofNch ersnreering olhLrmrns $ill b. asiotrndnrg aDd is rerson enough to believe Lhat t]ris debatcnill notstop

atjNtthe

eniil!, the |uman,I bclicve

l, o'. i4 ,, r I

we rvill nldeed experience

rt n\, r

', , l ,

p'

r'-i\'

to be a better.tualily huntan.

Ilass productidr js not necessarily

bad thing. ODr quaLity is pe.haps a

ud o\erstaled and thc samc old argunents frorL unemployedcraflsnran and tjsrnsmayneedtobe rccoDside.ed. certainlt- lbe old wo d cha.m of x per.civcdloss ofcmfLsmanship

snrglcbakcr oler his stove, ora blacksdilh clanging on his aDvil is lurdl} r sight we wjil see loda!. ln repla.crncnt wc havc a Der\' \rorkl \rhirh is lrot necessarilir b.ttcr, but for that mrtter, aLso not Decessa! ilv rlo.se snrce t|c nccd for mass prcduction

ol lhis secLor is obriouslr cNcial io thc coDtinued production oi a brillirDt .nd innolativc ilo.kforce. The p.oduction ol sLLrdenls throush rctc lca.Dirg aDd constant drilliDg ol the

ofgoods at least sigrjiies incr.is.d wcalth anDng

$orldorce suitrble

rrethods ol mass production arc usrd to p.ocluce hunLans. the most unique.rcation thus irr, that nass production can nldeed beconrc.!il. I for one xo ld Devcr wish to $,itness that in mr'countl-a, or

arise. The success

sane exad lechni.lucs

froduccd

for the labou. intensivc, industLies in

r'l nuch a

lr.'

a

trimarv prcductio.

ourearlv economv, bxi failcd to produc.

Ji.Iir;,.'| ,F'.l"

,,

^d.'

mosi teople of the earth, $ith a continncd .ommitmcnt to keep as much qualil!.rnd cratismanshif $ much as we can. lt is o ly when

mor.comFtitite nurket. Mrss lroducLion ol

trodJorce r.sultcd

n

a loss

of

niqLreness anrooitsL

ll

l{]Kf

/g

M g--

d,irlopp!rei

!_ !"

*""-ffi t0NVrR5r

ethicaL boundart

thcrapeutic cloDiDg. Should {e ;rdeed lentur. ilto thc rnass froductjdr of the world's mosl uniqLre .' rr.'.i,

'rilryF

it cu e.lly siards. Singaforc for rll

its pmgnutisDl will lilely engage in such rcscarch as serD by its alrerdy pioneering research in humaD e4rere

ffi bl

APPII

qualitl r.Dlicas.

qualiq does not dip in bcing copied, ernailed or bu.nl orl{r ddles globally.lvlass

R

PR0DUtT5

SR0ADtR PtRSPf(TlVt5

ll.

rs.v,, iss,.

]!1ARK5&9|!fi;

liil:,,.,ffi I o -"---- E

,9"4 i:

Howimportant is a sense of history in shaping the future of Singapore's society? ince the start of civilisation, Man has always been fascinated with his own origins and beginnings. The practice of rituals, customs and traditions all enact a necessary remembrance of a culture's past and serve to commemorate a significant event in time and space that needs resurrection for as long :rs the comrnunity survives. These acts of historical recollection are necessary for history is intimately tied to one's sense of identity and

one's cultural placement in the scheme ofthings. Ascnsc of historl is consquentlyextrenel) irnpoftaDt

jrst for thc ituliridu!l but rnl nltion such as Sinsrrorc for as }Iachi.lclli oDcc said, l\'lnrcvcr s ishes to lores€e the lirl!re .rlsl .onsult iI. t.st.' not

the lLrture ol aDv state, its €(ono.)ic success or otheNise, is then.lependent on its lnroilledge of lhe

igloralce ol o.€\ nalionaL hislor\ rveaken! oDe s se.se ol ciLizenship. ,\ nation js a coNru.it) slia.ed

LJr.prl.i,!' .l/ 11 \:nL !'r r. l.' ! -l la + ..{,,J1.,,\. i",..p.'r ,lr '.rf lndi.. ard thc llalaI

.

iDdi..tcs.l jrolenrial Jbr liagmentrtioD xnd dnision. lo oeate I and

P.DnNulN alrcadr

i rf ilJ, r-"ih r "S g't ', r " to subseq!enlly prog.ess inlo lhe lilure Dot {s

Pcrhaps thc nosr impofiaDt rcason $'hy

diterse ethnic coin ru.ilies bul asonepeople. asense

poss.s\inB a \cn\c ol histor] r.mairs imperali\ e for Singnl)ore \ fulure I'ro8rc\\ i\ the need to establish a sense of national idcntitt. llistoN {Dd citizenship are ifteNoren

ol.onrnr.n hisnr\ is.e.essr,1

l2

BR0,tDIR PtRSPtO]VtS

lhr rssdv issr?

It can be arArcd however that national identity need not be built on the past but solely

on the present. 'l'he plescnt rcaliiies of rapid ecoDoDric gro\th, lechrological advancement and modcrn lifcst\']e defi!€ the Singapore now and the Sjnsaporcto come. Yet aswe progrcss. the necd to define a Singaporean identity in an age of

slobalisation becomcs more prcssing. r'he govermnent has ahvays recognis.d this and as such cmphasised nNlticulturalism as a distinctive feature of Singaporc's

histo.ical naffatiYes. Ir has alwats laid

enphasis onthe experience ofSingaporeans as oDc leolle in its birth as a nation ard in the lrials and

tribuhtions ol nation building. HistoicaL accounts of

wartime €xperienc€s also Dndoscore the sutreings

. l'

,Tunp'uplFi,C nol a'd\"r'"".r1r,..

evcncnces. -^s such, Snigaporei socio cultural tuture as a nation of multicultu.aL peoples coexisting hnrlnoniouslyfor the bettermert of sociely mn
be

brilt

upon a sharcd kno$'ledge of the pasl.

Anorher reason why a sensc of hisrory rs necessary is the fact that history docs not me.ely tcll N about the pasl but aciively shapes the valres ald ideologies of a comnunity. A shared scnsc ofhistory c.eales shar€d vrlue systems necessal.r for thc creatioD ofa Dational

idcDtiv aDd the.einlorce ent of citizcnship. Findhs a set ofvalues, pafticularly in lhe ag. of cultural honogenisation, bccones a necessa.y qualityfor a n.tlion looking to locate itself i! a gLobal co lture. Thc call for a ret(n n to -dsiaD values 'by Minister S{entor tf,e KuaD Y€w and lheemplusis or Cortucian vnlLres, such as filial piety, hurnaneness, aDd respect for self and othcrs, as ethical guidelines {or SinsaporeaDs,

I,l|nl,'1\ ,,1 jr l"

,'

,ll: -\ trl' it 1i|1-1r 111.1111rr. .:" ., ',,, 'i, r, l i t l]1 ;t lrr:r :ll .1,i. " l ti 'A i ' tlariitior Nnd i)eiicl. it i: oirl', iiieit tlrrl lhc soul ol lr r;rtiort cal i;,-' \'lirpr'{r

r

r

In ihe quest for modernitv and effrciency, many Singaporems have come to bclicve thar hotdina onto the past is impracrical ard inhibitive of lc.hnolosi.al a'rd economic gowth. We prefer to dcfiDc ourselves in terms of whcrc we are going, not wherc wc cone fron. Hotlcvcr, such ! !ie$ i\ \elf defeali'rs for ther€ can be no progess without rehospect: the past bcstows crrcial irsight into innatc weaknesses and nascent strengths thar wc may need 1o survivc an unkrowable, cvcrchanging future. Singaporc enphasises knor{ledgc of a state prescribed hisiory. She recognises thc importance of lulure gencrations learnjng fr'on thc erors ofits preceding ones. onc l

-:ll I lrr .ir',r:rri l:' .'

ha'e becon€ high on the national rsen.La.

'

ibmrccl. I.orSingapore. or any nation to prog.ess and succ€ed in the future. a sense ofhistory, oDe that is shared by its people, is imperativc. Histott' foryes a nauon

aith

a

connunal

sense

ofideniitv. Hjsiory

in lhc futurc and corntnitting the with so l. cnsenders a natio. consequenilv As American author David Mccullough declares,

"History is who we .rc and $'hy $'e are the $ay

utrhFrno.t.or r n ri \.nU,jiI\iIE po Fs'\erod, of nation bu ildins is thc racial riois of 1964 arld lhe Maria Hertogh .iots of r965. Thc resnltaDt social unresi and violence consequent of racjal tensions

letween diffcrcnt ethnic groups led the ruhns governmentioiakc measures to ensure lhe avoidancc ofsuch incidentsin thc futurc. The aforemenlioned

actire promoLion of muliiculturalisrn n d the contintred practice ofmeritocracy are sorne o1 the outcomes of le{rling lionr past enors.

l3

ER0ADtR

alLows a

natioD to comprehend its beginnings in otder to a\oid

PtRsPtfilVtS

//,.

'

ssdr/

is{rr

\trttli

001 SAY 001

Should poorer countries develop their tourist industry when the basic needs of their own people are notbeing met? /rr, !, 1

PHOTO CREDTT/

PHOTOCREDT'ry

I

t could

have been a scene out of any Lonely Planet travel documentary. The fire crackled in the cold night air as our guide and his helpers deftly prepared the sardines, the bread, the mint tea, while the three of us young tourists huddled together, savouring the experience of camping out in the Sahara. M orocco - my first experience oftourism in a developing world. nt' friends and I \€re part in faci taking in an industry that is at the centre of fierce debates among economists aDd politicians. The questioD, ifwe had seen it, was $'hether poorer

difficult qucstion, rlartly becausc it Doses a false dilemmar eitl'er develop the tourisr industry, or provide for the basic needs ofthe ordindy people. This fails to corlsicter the possibility

We did not realise it then, but

It is

q.l.orn" n'r-i.lslkFL! rlolr1er1id\la.a rean' olcol rbul rI o^\"-rl-..o,,nmi,

by which thcsc basic nceds - food,

' oun,nc. \hou d

development, or ifthey should concentnte on first mFrlrnr rhF bas:. nFFd. of rhFir pFo.,lp bpforp mxl-nB ambitious plds for the ecoDony on the macro level.

14

BR0ADn PFRsPlOlVts

a

that developing the totrrist tudustry might be

a

means

hons

s, hcalthcare can be meL Once this possibiliB' is raised, it bccomes

Fl\

l,.dcr.hrL'.

caretui! anning Food "\1rFnt Ll dL and a strong enough will, tourism can actually contribute signjficantly to a couniry's €conomy,

rhp pssnl iss t!

DO TH

PIAll

rnd tire

res ting benefits

caD be

distibnted

so as

to

aDd prima.y industries can only take a country so far. And ifthcy arc not rcsource-rich or

bcncntordinaf-locals.

agriculturrlll

lp1la.t-ral,F.r\\").lpr.ur ngd.\".1.r r. .'r,. OfcouNc, thcre is no auaranree *ratrourism rvill improve the lot ofthe common peopte. One of the most common objectiors to tourisDl developDrent in poorcr countries is that the p.ofits gelcratcd cithcr do not stay iD thcsc countrics, or end u! benefiting only t|e co+orationsihat run ihe lourisn industry. ln Ghana, lbr example. l]re fees locrl attrnclions nroitlt accrue to the certril governmert instead ofthe l.rcals in dre area. Kerya, one oftlie lnican courlties rvhich has bccn fairl] succcsstul in dcvcloping itstouism jndusi.y, faces the sane p.oblern. Despite iourisrn b€trrgils largest source ol ibreiBn erchange releoue, most ofthe profits gene.ated bl its rlildlife .esen es goes to the luxury lodges, foreign tour opentors and traDsport costs. The tourism industry is too collected bycastles and othe.

delcndcnr on seasonal demand, and may ther€fore be unsuirable as the sole income' generating activity for poor households. lnotherproblen

is that the indtrstry is particularl)'

depeDdent oD market forces and

e\te.n{l demand.

In thc clcDt of crisis sii ati{rns such as severc economic doMtunrs, or glol)al hcalth scarcslikcthc SARS outbreak in 20o3, counldes tlat are over reliaDt on tourisn nay find tlienNelves h trouble Irj ;ir' -,) .n)\i r orhins ro lall '.rcl

"r.

. ii.:i.,:

:.

,t-. i,

-1.'l

|,jt.

ric r.silca:ia,!j-\ ', rLllclii)lr to olioiLliticir :r:rLJ irlss r\-itil n ih,.l Lhe, 1-'rLrl

triil brrrl iotutsi.r irrririsir',

u

stt

IOL]NTltY

r0!/T

rfY

ri[I

l,]OIA

populations. Morocco, forinstance, nashad a lons and successful liistory jn this area. l addition to promotiDg the tsual tourist hotspots like its beach rcsofts aDd ancicnt imferial cities, the Moroccan governmentis nowfocusing on Nraltouftm in thc hope oibeneliLing more locals nr these nnal arcas.

l]nterprising Mo.occnns who capilalise on the opporturities presented by the tourism industry hare a fighting clunce at strccess - tlie protusion ofcraft . hnl' . .J1... Jnd n.l Fr "i .llb,E r .."-" n .l ' rlrrur rouri.r dF t,r0tr^.. 1rr rl eI .unnurdl g.-" .

PHNt]]\1PINH tAIVS(]D]r]

rerinrunr .o.hs. to |l an q rrpt'o1i.g irdust-e. and services also pft,vjde iobs to mant locals it rvoukt be vert difficult for bus driyers, taxi d.iverc, tour grides and rcstarmrt staff if the tourist iDdustry

wcrc not as dclclopcd as itis.

\

nJr:snFFLpdlorlor.ri.mroIulli-

l tror"r.'i- .

;u\rrrm-nl. " ,d plJnn:nL dI]Fn, . o I' I 'n place enployment opporlunities ftrr the poo. and iD\ollcthen iD theplaDnjrg process by fiDding out and acting on thcir conccrDs. Anoiher usc'flrl sirates is to prolide hainilg oppoftrnities for potcDtial iur

XINJiAIIO, iHINA

wo.ke.s. With good planning and golernnrent

tou

st industry can be exactly whal the a

shot at a bettcr life. Et

Itmay seem as ifthese issues are enough to Fove th€ c6e against tourism development, bui to deciile to Aet d ofthe tourist industry altosethcr wonld bc to throw rhe baby our with the bathwarer. The problem, reallt-', is noi rvith the tourism i dustry ilsell, bul wiLh poor planlnrs, weak adninistrntion, and a failure lo

ta5aEtANta, r10R0cco

Deedsoftlieloc.l population. All ofthese problcDs would probably stjll be preseDt in one forDl 0r anoiher, rdratclcr thc indushy, unless a concerted efiorL is made ai all levels to overcome thcn,. l.urthemo.e, plices lilie Kerala ir India and Tudan in Xiniians face little other alternntive. Asriculture consider the

ER0ADtR

a

n

There is eviderce thrt, with the right conditions in place, tourism can provide { slrona, sustainabl. hasr for economic development that will bencfit local

Doornccdto gct

i5

I.5 TA

DI!/iIi]P Nlj

Dromotingtheir|eritase and sellnrg thcir"dilTcrcncc" lo the rest of the world.

suppoft, the

.

I,

TO

PtR5PtcllVtS

r/r r'sn4 ,.sr'

\ruEilrti0tDAY0CIfi

The pen is mightier than the sword. Can written language reallybe so powerful!',,,,,n,',,,,,*,u fone had flipped through the pages of a History textbook, one would find, above anything else, conflict and war. The pen and the sword are two very different methods by which

we come into, and deal with, conflict. In this light. it seems that lo say Lhat the pen is mightier than the sword would be the equivalent of heresy - words cannot huft your flesh, they can only harm your mind, whilst a sword can literally pierce through your heaft. The pages of History are littered with attempls ro use force to provc ouNeives "miglrtier" tban

one other. Great revolutions in the histo.I ol nrankind have, niost .r{ the tine. becn caried out t|rough rampage, aDd bloodshed.It sccms that the merc dralving ofthe sword pushes wars to ne$'lcvels. ur J , ". rl Jt . 11 xt mJn. nuu'F. o L, rF\, . Du ig rn.ient iimes. it secmcd cl.arto X{atr that the answo

PHOTO CRtrDIT/

to questioDs of peace and delclopmeDt was the Sword.

ForgcttiDg Christ s appeal ibr uniiy in the Chtrrch, rnost ofchisiian Errope was ernbroilcd nr cNsades re]isious militarv canipaijans i{aged agaiDst e\temal nnd inlernal opfoDents- The french RelolDiion that gale bidh to the rcspcctable principles olnationalisn, citizeDsliip and inalienablcishts,wd forged in riolent

turmoil as well. How did world war II ''peacctullv"? Witli alarge

end

sword thc Aionic Botlb.

The cmployment of words and the written lanAuaAe to mitigatc or dissolve conflicts tbercfore seems pointless. It may seen overly idealistic to cveD tlink that the pen can ovct?ower the swod in any way- The Munich Agreemcnt t{as a w.itten documeni meant to btr)'peace priortoWorld

war ll. But il onlylastcd for

a

few months befbre$ar

broke out again. Historysecms to have targht us thal if w. irnsi t}e Pen. oxr faith Nould be invested in

passiritv and hactivii). This iajth would wastc away inlo l^.t l'ol1" i. oIr.'s.umroId lalFq a.l nr' hnr^r. ne do. as long as ary other person chooses to harncss the power ofthe S\oId, that is to us€ the power of action against mere words. It seenN impossible tbr ustobelieve that the Pen canbc morepowedtrlthan the Swor d because $ords silhout aciion sinply canrot

triumth ovcr the

16 8[0ADIR PIRSPIOIVIS t/re essou

'ssze

sheer fo.ce ofaction.

D D YoU

N ftc

"Slvord is a modification ofthc spear head, which was. after all, created lor darnase ard

Nererthelcss. the lamificarions of mere word's is essentially how much we make out of it. Tbe fact that words caD sometimes inflici a $ound deeper rh"

.h r1e-.hord.a I non PF 'rirhr r-n'lrr ' r powe.fullhan sheerforce.In OrlPlo, the

nore frmous lin. thern

he finally falls into a h aDcc

the mind games and tlie ivordplay oflago that makes the play a lragedy. This only goes

"rdde" Nhy ree no longer accept the sight of main .eason rnen inchains as a norn. nUberlorcc's and King Jr''s

emotionally I'ut if used well enoueh, can even bdng about physical damaae.

convictions and beliefs about fightins for peace and iustice wcre thenselves influenced by ihc sPoken words of Jcsus Ch.ist, s'rittcn and passed down

'it is not wolds that shake

othelo before

reek ofirony.lt

me thus"

is

to slroi{ how words car not just hurt

:l

t r I v

we should note though, that ihe P€n car only bc mightier ttran ihe s\vord if the p€I is an educated one. As Man becomes increashgly knowledsable and learned, he also becones rnore

.'Dl".o rlo. ,llepusFrol \pwlil-nhud

swod. Some dcient civilisations prioriUsed nilitary superioritr-' ove. "bookish" cducation and pe shed without learing real legacies behind. Accordinit to,Iarcd Dianond s Guns, Ge'ns dnd.Sieel, the main rcason \ehl, !he nisht-v Inca empire was defeated b) a rnucli snialler Spanish arny ol corquistddo?r and reduced to a merefootDote in historyis because the Spanish drew childreD through the l)cn, Dot the

upon

lI .ld

L'rirrg

holes of Bul$cr-Lt lton, Shakespcre aDd r honras Jcfferson to lite. Modern man chooses io educate his the

thepowerofw tten infonnation denved froD

the sreat libra.ics of nurope. Thc Incas had n.t d.\.lop-J L,\'. I r. dc\ ,'r rF.o,dl.nrrs rrhair civilisation the trTittcn word was not yct perceived

..a ..t,r

'r, hnolosl n |,, ir ,,,1 ,rp. 1..\.rx;irrj on e\tensjve \Titten recrrd,s of successful past nilitary stmtagems and documentatioD of foreign tleapons

ny

technology (ic. the use ol stecl to forge lii4hter wcafons and armour), tlie Spanish thus smashed lhrcugh tens oflholsands of Inca waniors rvhose comparatively clumsy i{caPons and arnour coukl noi hold up to the onslaught.

ftAIIGIDTHI

WI]RTD

micdoinmml.linsoi iie o

ro^

!k/

r_oid drrqroirmn/bo

Anredcans to lay aside centuies ofracial aninosity. WilLiam wilbefo.ce s lre aris. " on the Abolition of peined in 1789 was arguably the rhe Slaue

breatned by

t

to charge the status quo forever. some ofour most sifted wrilers havc also been our nost sifted orators. By adding the compclline power of speech and pchonalcharisma on toF of $eir wdtten words, tne pen's ability to neuhalise the ssord can be multiplied manifold. Martin LutherKingJr.'s nost niemorable speech"l lialc d Dredm" inspi.ed sencrations of \rhitc and black

n10!!?

Vt 800{5TUAI

,{osm(o,1o l1?l5l

faithftrlly by earb Christian apostlcs. Ftlm the ancicDt ,leNish books ofJoel, xlicah and Isaiah, bolh meD found aDd lbught for the pronised day ahen "swords

would be beaten into ploashares and "spears into pruning hooks", ivhere "nation $'ill not take uf ssord against nation, no. \ill they imin for war anynorc " (Isaiah 2:4) 0n$eAholiionotlhe5

pel epitomises patience and virtue while the sword is synonlmous with rashness and The

a$lression.

ovelmdc

(lTsglbrlYili.mWlb! 0cin Porlirmml. lmn!diott pmbd r

The latter is unabashedly human, dn€ct

sJr\.[wl' .th' urnrr:n'p t

hur.n:ryrorna

I

what is good and is thus able to deliver rnessases with eqtral, if not more, fe.vour, dcpth and lons

Perhal)s NIall shorild rise tirc Pen to restrain itild

lastinit imtact than the other.

guide lhc p:lssiorl 0f the S\\'oid. Let u,ords be lhe stceling rvhccl of our- r,elticle that is lirellccl bv folcc nnd actior us r'r e dlive tou'ards lhe lirhu'e.

1844

l055llrl,1(h@

rorodoy

lolod spe{i(010i fo'AdMgh

j

ffiE

iie(irsJonsBlel16lll

Afterall, sword" and "words" arc realb jusl the same tilc alphrbets that have iheir positioDs junbled !,

tfltinrately, $hen powertul words e'rshrininB our most powcrfirl ideals emerse from the pens of passionate and dedicaied individuals, whote mies of ordinary people can bc raised

17 BR0ADIR PIRSPIOIVIS

tlli

mlyidoleord

Iherrrroliol1623)

rlte essau rssur

5a

olor

Advertisements are often entertaining but they rarely affect consumer choice. Is this your experience? 1,,, .. : \. ,,r<

l f

:. €:

dvertisements usually set out to convince the consumer of his lackand

tacitly entice him into buying the respective prod uct or service.

PltOTOCRUDIT/

',,',.,,,

n. AdyerLisers uLilis€ .nicftannDcDt to their advmtage nore aDd rnore these da!s: b) conllating lhe t!vo. th. ad\crtiscDrcDt ctrcctiv.lv becones umssailable and !e.suasi!e. While Lhere arc nranl consuDos i{lro conscn)usly or unconsciously buv into thc allure ofadveftisiug, the.e exists also lr sjzal)l€ group able to rcsist its iDvisiblc aDd subtlc forcc tlho can$ithoutmuch difficullt vicw advertisenents as rothing but pu.e. unadulleraled entertainm.nt. Whilewe nra!'' ljke lo bclnrvc that consumcrs arc smartcr and more discerning 1odaI, $e should be circumsp€ct nr disdissing enti.ely thc v.lu. ofadvcftscmcnts iD iDformnig and hflueDcing consumer choice.

is an crcrcis. oftuflueDce and co

l8

&R0ADiR

PtRSPIOIVIs

t/rr.\srr is,.

optio

alLe.

all

\L]RITHS

Thc elcct.ic age has spawned a culrure

of

aftificiaiitv are engineered and rc coDtextualised. Advenising is of course Dot sfared 1rc this $.rve olllxctu ng anddcmolishins onc€ lar liarborders. $IheD ile fiew aD ad'e{isen)e t toda\', rve sould bc apt to look at it as an adrertisement mthcr ihan a t.ansmiitcr of inlormation. Onc' could well walch Da\id Bectham and other socc.r gr..ts kicking a ballin a constructed tlucc dinrensional plane witli r self-gratifi iDg f lcasue without achrally feeling thc

rvithout discrcrion. there are those who remai. unsusceptible to rhe intoxicaring

fair ofAdidas

soccer boots. Bccause

!ie$.r's

sudden

transpo.tation to another planc of reality, the

needforprcimill $ith one s lavouite pkyer is qrickl) fulfilled. What trkes

unconscious

+

soccer

I

fic

;

E

these ad\eftisements, don

ir $'hat is a ubiquitous sight loday. Advedisements iD this casc seNe ar once

of ccl.brity presence and the

i

b)

fragmenlatior ard illusion that makes us more \ulDerable to thc suggestive powers of ndve isins. Wc lilc in , world $here time and space rre coloDised and re shape.l bl technology, rvherc ihc bolDdaries ar.l frortiers of rcalit\ and

needto buv a

I:t

faDs, greatly iDfluenced

pre(edencc is thus the advertisenent itselfand not

frofil naking notive. Entcftainment o.

its dcsircd

cool" taclor alone satiatesthe coDsurner.

Mcluhan s

rer

famous dictun

of

Ila rshall

the medion is the

nessaile" therefore revc$crat.s through llie $'alls of !.,stDoderD socicty.

Inrhc hands o{ skiltul trdvertisins asencies, laDguage and images arc Dowerful. manipulative weapons io bc reckoned with. Advertisenents arc llrll ofsubte\L which r.e able to subtl) enter and ilhabil Lhe mind ofthe c{ptiyatcd

.\() l0ll,iel- ala) il{l!el l liel : just sell us a protlrrct, tircr. scduce us into it br,scliing us an intplicit lilestlie antl tribal iclentity. You bu1- an iPod to belolg to tlte cool stllish cult of Nlac lor.ers. r.oaoy, .on. m r.

I'lanchest€r Urited exists both as a foolballchb an.t a popular spofts buDd. Bccause o{lhe populatv of

in our socictl' todar'. Minchester Unitedhas nanagcd to scll its merchandise to a nassivc dndicncc.In addilion. brands likeAdidas and Nile \nd iadrinontr'i,. F\ "r ,^ r.I, itFrs i-d players. David Beckham is Don synooymous $'ith soccer

Adidas and WayDc Rooncv

with ^_ilie.

Beckhan or Roonevjersers

as

enterlninrnent rnd profit'chumcrs.

But ryhile somc consumers are apt to spend

allure of some :rdveftisements. ln an econorr\ ab ndaDt, substitutes and better ones at that - will alrlavs be rcadilt, available. Most iloukl rcaiisc thatiD t|e sports nlarket, brardslikc R -hnlr. \'- c ir'd AJi,..: t. qu ,tlr h,,\, rl rr 1llled with goods

prodlcls endorsed by maDy a popular sforts celeb b . in contrast, braDds like,\sics orSauconr, do m,t ieed to adve.tise thensclvcs as agi
L J r . I'rnCr. i, ) o ' .,."r i...t,r,, i.\ irl.. 't

'

conparison to other rnore reliablc thorgh less

The fundamcntals ol consumer behrviour has

-rnirn'd rreel!

,, , l'

.n;-. h- ,

n^l

hl

rncaniDg and lLrn iD the thiDgs that wc bot.'.

Otu' iruugcr'

lilI cnicf '!r;i-rn1t'rlt

hiis

criendecl the boundalics ol ir ]ilt an :rch,t|liser.nent lr'..rlv Drcans ;r lrt'Onl]<. oT it riF jt llit . \\ t, t

rrilIit-r';rrll L, li, pnrchase.

li

tli'i ,'.1lr:'ri' r1'l-

is noi

nnJ: consLLrner'\\

hliltl to

sr:c rr,ii-r

{lnki be pelsuaci'-.d

I(l l)ll\ lll, B Ia\Fi.iam"..,. pr, iu,r,.r'su r "r hrl'l'nq dosr lof' .:. 1.1\ o-J,r , hr h.rdg"r is linrited. No amotrnt of irit aDd gloss can.on\.ince sonreone with a shre.l ofseDseto$'aste mone! on a rvolthless product rn. ny I imes over.

Xkny socccr

19 ER0ADiR PTRSPICTIVIS

r/)..ssdr is\u.

a

t

|{]WI,IDEUSTIRS

ORC

Is it possible to protect the environment when many countries require increasing amounts of energt to progress? , . ,. .eg;* e ,,

hen the United Nations embarked on a decadelong education programme to spread tl.re word of sustainable development and environmental conserva liorr. tlrey had no :idea th at it r,rould be suclr a major success. It is now a well-knov,n and accepted fact that rising carbon emissions contribute significantly to climate change. As this ircnd.ontinues, so does the increasjDg affluence ol developjng counties like B.azil,ID.lia or China which !.omise to be ecoDomic giants.

Hoi{.\cr.

lhese inprovenents cone $'ith li.a!- tricc tags, including the need to froccss and consDnr. large

aniouDts

of eDergt, tossibl. .nvironmenlal

degradation, and rnan) unseen socirl costs. The qucstion ofrih.l \de ca (lo ard whai we should do langs lilie a srord above our lieads in thc flcc of

dwindljrg resources. Neverthclcss,I bclicvc r|ai a1l countries ultimatell ilill comc rouDd to prot.ctiDg PHOTO CREDIT/

ii

is a f{lhcv to pr.sunr. that thc addilional costs incurrcd$'|il. f rotecting lhe e.riro nrent Nould lead to a deficil in econ nic g.owth. ChiDa has conk to th. sanre rcalisilion becaLrse decades of idrg D.glcci a.d pouu(ing of the envjroDneDt is staftjng to eDlangerfutue econonjc gro$'th. 1\ s clr. C|nra hrs jrcoryoratc'd sustainablc dcvclopn.Dt ideas inlo the its policl making nr a rcc.rlt(l.n€ralAss€.rblr.lt has

.lso hrrned to lhe de!elopnrent of lec}nology. lhis

cleaD corl

use oiclean (ombustjoD trchDolog/

Clfira's cNP nrcrerse \fliile thc'cmissioD of q o. Chinr's cxanrfle shows us that i{e can p(rtc.t o r trccious rcsources has seer

the environment in thc long.un.

polhtants remairs at stahrs

Thc commo. assumption lhat en\ircnmeDtal l)rotcction costs far outruD profitability has long been a pfimarT target by criti.s. Hosr!.r,

and enlironmcrt i{hilsi r.hi.ving .cononr ic g.o{lh. Connhjcs.an and s|ould p.olect tIe environmeDt

?0

SR()AlllR

PIRSPIOIVIs r/

despile g.o$jng ereryv coDsumptjon.

r.s{,, i$,.

U]AI'H

Alternatively, clean forms of energy roday have created r niche market for counhies. Nuclear ebersy is cleaner, safer ald morc cost efficient rhan ever. Past nuclcar incidenls at Chemob]'l and Threc Nlile Island have bcen studied and nuclear technolos/ and saftey greatly improved

,

'rpon lnd'J

n'eJpd

decades and China

rn

r\r rL .Fir indu.Jrl

wiil undoubtcdb

be

lor

ioining in ihe

NoD-governmenial agencies such as GreenPeace or Friends ofthe Earth ouanise activities to helP lessen environmeDtal damage and also rcach out to others

enlironnent and crcate more jobs in

r-", h "wird ^rr,,F

a

new industry

il they look to altemative sourccs of

energy.

Besides finding viable alrernarives to traditional sources of cnergy, there perhaps treeds to be geater activity in pmmoting the use ofless enersy consumina machinery or even tess enerAy wastage. lt is not surP sing

f.j I'illi,,,rr ul et:ct :r i. rnnuall)' bl corntlies all

"un.ida,,rs

l\'asted lr t Ut r ttci I ltr' \\ or'l(1.

l,pvelol, ns uunrri" also hale a pari to play in adding to the fiSure. ErrironmcDtal protection should be entbrccd on countries ro mininize wastage iD the world The coDstant need for eDergy cannot be appeased if coultries continue to ivaste rcsou.ces wilfully. Taxation on wastage aDd implementation of

.on."^i.iuj' gL€at€r

.. npmp.

wll ts"., , ng *a!

.n

c bJring

sustaiDability.

It is undersrandable that one questions if ir is fa to lorcc de\cloPing coutries to prolect ihc en\ ironmcnt shen socio-cconomic

\tabilib is'nore

imltod

cannot alTord to cut

sv

In recent years, the cause of"saving Morher Earth" has gained traction across the globe.

answe. to our grorving energ]'needs.

countics can protect the to enjoy eneryy efficiency, continue

al

have resulted in the gradual recovery of ozone jn ou.

ignoranl of thc bad state of the eDvircnment. Fomer presidential candidateAl Gore tose to new heights l't . ,rmpiorirp .h" Cr.. n Cau'" M.h ororo. dr'v" Inconuenient Tr-uth as docuDeDraries such as "fie well as rccieving the plestjsious UNEP Chanpions

tact iD order to po$'er its growing industry' Some may worry about cnvironnental risk but nuclear lallouts are incidences that can be prcvented and aloided. Nuclear eners/ is increasingly viewed as the

rl. ItFr"l^p,8 oLrl.ie:

(,lr,l):rl lcrl(Lri: illSL) recognise the siguifitance of beiul; a Greenie or'Gleen poiitical palll ttr.-llrbet. lrr't jll-l lrr !lritt Lit,'tr tti, points fi'on tlte public, br-rL also itr consoliclate Lhcir piace in the lrtte to be the tnost ertvit ontrtetl Lillh' a t1vauci:tl . r"oa"." *e more th' se. pressurcd to bc environmenially active. Perhaps, intime, even the mighty United Staies Nould notbc able to shy away ftom sisDing the Kyoto Protocol for fea. of internarional idicde and public pressure

ror"nqronrl-n.dl! NlrildL.,rh {:.. raqu t. counties to have foresight and ingcDui\ intacklins the problem. However, judsing frorn the va.ious efbris that are currently in notion, it would not be

T\"

fibht

nnpossible on any accoLrnt. Dcveloping or develoPed countries alikc $'il find themselves i n the sameboat

where the environnient is concerned and uDdoubtedly, both would find ihemselves .esponsiblc

in Inaintaining the sustajnability of thc Earth.

do$n or carbon emissions aDd

'.\ ', onon c rFr: i' ':onr^ he. l- oiddh"t 18 r. n r.n"Lrotral r!5trLtion' Y.'..1'. r.nda-d. n most agreemenis such as

the Nlontrcal Protocol ha\c

i\. J. ;i'.n grp."p l" {r\lor'hv'l.I'Ib"ulnr'Fs Th€

L\.

Montreal Protocol has been deemcd one of"lhe

single most

successfll agrcenents to date" aDdthe

d ic',.'1, I.ouIlr.-".,.n d. Bnlr\ u i ^^1" xnil B!utrn. Th. concerted efforts ofsuch natioDs p.

rr.

7l

THIS

flR0ANR PIRIPICTIVB

./r

essar irsle

(,

TiD iONfIRIN(I OTBATIS AEOUTTllTPRO5PEOS OI A GRfII{IR fUTIJRE

IID.t0M/11DtX PlIP/4l]tJ'16/ A-GRIII{IR_IUTURI.I1TI.1L

lhe

env

rormmtoldebore hos u o (loih

lonq bsei demled

belvear e{oforiii Proqn$ ond pftservorion of rhe torth. TID p!r5 logeiher

o id

of re5po(red

rpcokeri wlm insn

$ol it

ftAiURID SPlIl(IRS:

at00Rt 0RMAI{ t/J

f0sitR

tlll[4 l,ltD0ll0UGlI

t.0.wtrsofl ]VA]ORAiARTIR

i1

WEIK OO2 DAY OII

Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can afford them? ,,.,,,,i7,bdhKon

quick scan of the rapidly advancing world of science and technology reveals a ber'y of clever and innovative medical tools that may help researchers solve medical conundrums and add to man's lifespan and wellbeing. Biotechnoiogy has spauered new drugs and made old ones more effective. Genomics and nanotechnology also offer new ways to cure disease, by tampering either with genes or individual molecules. Technological advances mean that machines used to diagnose and operate on patients have become more power{ul and precise' Tlierein lies the dilenma of nodern medicnre: the hopes of such medical developnents are such ihat we may in ou.lifetimes find the cures to diseases that have plasued and decimated malkn1d for decades,

but these potcntial rvonder drugs and treatments come ivith prohibitjvely e\p€nsive pricc tass. This dolble edged sword means that the nrosi nced-v and deseniDg n1at not havc access t.r such tfeatments simfly because they cannoi afford them. This thcn begs thc question then of whcther strch resea""h should be allowed to so ahead just to berefit a few PHO'IO CREDIT/

pivileged ones. Our instircti\€ response ma-v be "no'but tliis answer mavbe ihe sronq one for thc tuture.

?2

ER0ADIR

PtRsPtfll/t5

Granted, pdcing poor llcople and Datiols out

of polcnlixll) life-savinB lrealmenls i\

discriminatory and unfair. surely \c isnore all ri"ril i npF.dt'rps \ I ., s- Lppri.e ppopl' o' rri,gedge treatmenl iust because they cannot afford ii. Such channel g ol research cffoft aDd money inlo rlfdrm.nl lnrl bFnalta r"n^-i \ nlll ' pup'.l.,riun also takes away much needed focus

fiom the poor.

.or ,lu.r in roirr1,ir Prdrn 1ce, , .J , '1,pJni". research for chroDic coD(titions like Ieart discase and caDcer aflectinscitizensfi om developed nations, because theyb.ing in the rnost prcfit.

ri..ssov issn!

In th€ r99os, out of thc billioDs spent on health

Biotechnolosv and mcdical rcsearch firms can spend

researd! oDly $roo million perltarwas devoted to malaria reserrch. Less than 5% olall druss produccd

up to hundreds ol millions of dollaN niitially and

theworld are ained at cornbating ropic diseascs. P o tising such potential medicaL breakthrooghs nreans that the ills ofthe poor will continue to be

iDvestmeDt keeps the wheels of medicai progress

in

p'u\ iurrr ll.' n,

{: h h"!o\'bili1n'a.nutrnts$-i

trickle-doM cffecr oftechnologt should also never be discounted and rvill seNe rhe sreater public good in the lona !un. of con$e,

The

But th€ relationship between trigh lcvel rescarch into new and emerging medical treatmcnis and technologies, and deprivina the poor of ncccssary health care is not a nutually exclusive onc. Rcalistically, it is the middle class that may be priced out of such treatments aD!'ho$" no matter how cheaply they cost.

rnedical trcatnetrts: drugs and vaccines are now easier to dclivcr and aDtibiotics efto.tlessly mass produced and rnadc more soplisricated. NGOS and doctorswill ah'ays be able to use cheaperand more refiDed lersions of redical procedums to treat and

{her thc.c arc

Therefore, the real issLre is getiing ihc poor access

nore

to cheap dngs and making improvcmcnts to

then |ealth carc systems, not arguing over slopping rclea|ch into ne$-langled trcalrents that do not aftecl

Ea"erinentil nuch relevance to

th€ir general well benrs on a daily basis.

J

heafttreatments do not halc as the poor as vacches and basic medical checkups.

d

Therc is also rhe worry that such expensive research is a wastc of rime drd effort. Billions

i. d

of dolla.s may be spent on rcscarch but a.guable

irise fronr such iDitially aliuins froniises. Few such expensivel!- researchcd Drcdical proccducs and t.eatnents today can elen claim ro benefits Duy only

holdbacklifc ihrcateniDs diseases at ba)', much less provide an outig|icurc. ExpcDsilc treatneDts ma) become nor€ con]mon ihan thcy should be, for

lurloses of prolit and prestige raihcr thaD for mcdically is 'Ll

it.

technology over the past decad€s sho$s how the poo. arc bcDeficial recipients ofearlier experinents with

drngs that can help the poor, patents nlean inpossible surs for most poor natioDs.

s

poor not alrlays leftbehind. lhe djftusion of medical

rrcahncDts. Most of the poor cannot al1brd standard Itv€n

e

thc rich beDefits froni being able to afford thc first and bcst that science and technolc,gy offer. Buiihis 'inedical divide" is Dot al$'als trnb dseable and the

val

reasons. Some American hospitals

areracing to build prcton centres for expednrenral cancer therapy. But these parlicie accelerators hale not really prc\,ed

conclusivclyto iis citics that thel

nave a real advantage over

cheapo radiation

",re ior la I'oor I l-c l:r|lrl

.' ll(r OI

lechnological jnrror,rrliort iix'lrts that tlrer'$ ili ali\irr's. p,ilcn elorigh L .'. lrccnt,t, tit' ir ) rttr'rillt lr'r' :'go\\'lll lre:l|' i li :r orgarisatiors to sul--sitlisl oI i;',r.,' for llte 1loot. e tvurl.l Bank stud), concludcd that technicalprogrcss wasthe single biggest cause of reductions in rnorialitt jn developnig nations. At the end of the day, we should ne\€r block prosress.

esrecially iD thc field of nedical science. Medical knowhowand proccdu.es will always be usefuland even applications for which they niay not hale been originally inlended can bc fouDd. The potenlial ol Senetic t.eatments, cancer iircrapy, personalised mcdicine and, a]$'ai's optimislicnlly. curc for diseases is too grcai, aDd courlt too DnLch to stop the lincs of

inqui.! and rescarch. If naD's \eieldirg olscience and technologl is going to make real impact 1br both

,ir

Howevcr, there are long term beneiirs to opening up cr?erimental rnedical trcatmenrs for the rich. l nno\"tions arc costly and having rich patienr, firnd such research provides addcd

inccntjve

rich and poo., we nrust continue to encourage 'n,u\JriL1 on,l -rpF. , ", rrrioi. rii\" rn-,li..nF smaftcr aDd keep extending medicnrc tufther tuto regiorN that need iiihc most. (t

lor fdvate companies to continue developing medicincs aDd iDveDtirg

nei! niedicil procedures.

23

8&0AD[R PIRSPIOIVIS

rlt.

essdu

6s!c

Iiiil:Ei{

i,ll

irAli

4l!

The word failure should never be used in education. Discuss. ,, ,n ..,,,,

iven that the education system has for a long time been based on a system of passing and failing in order to establish academic standards and act as a gatekeeper in society, it makes sense that the word "failure" can have quite controversial connotations. Yet with the new push towards innovation and enterprise alor.rg with the pre-requisite tenacig to embrace failure in order to succeed, it seems like education needs to change in order to nurture students who will not fear failure or think negatively. New studics on the impact

ofbefig labcl.d taiiLr.es

halc sho$r that the psrchologic aDd ernotional sca$ ihat olten result can contiDu. to sbafe and plague r person aftcrhchas lelL school.,\s such, Lll

er r.irlt,r

I

, t,..i,

e 1le..r:

\ t\ t,r i:,

PHO'I'O CREDIT/

\'{l:l illc:l llas

aDd

. The

trrin p.essures of ihe econo,

be used iD cducation lhough

thclig|t olthe larger goals ofeducalion ofequjppiDs st denLs lb. $orli andlife. this s|ould be evahrated nr

24

8R0A0[R

PtRsPttTVlS

tic

"failur.s in lhe v.rrjous subjccts

can

u cmotional toll an(t create a phobia offeilu.€ L' {'rs,.1 , rL, L,, -rr,. | ,o, r,l\ 'l ,.,.i " ratcs oftceD suicides in dei€lopcd socicties ! ith high I'r.s , -. , J :,n I -'. n,r, ,r.,. ' | .. ti, take

r}

ne$'.ducaiional theo.ies sugsest that the r{od

"failuc'should never

nccdrd.\.J, or. ..iJ-\.,rlri.,tr^rs.',,r,.n. t,ir; slrca iriJl and labelins accordins io tlie number of ''successes'aDd

i;ositir'': s lIo].inq l;rri trfirirlatioit t'utirei Llr:rrr lr; itirtrisi-r or irighligltt \

To redrce the strona culture of"frilurc" in education. an increased comideration for rhe ernorioDs and developmeDt ofthc student is

progln.rmes like JrpaD aDd Sonth Korea a.e a surc sign of hon higtr thc stakcs ar e eorotiomllv for studcnts these da\s andho\rnDhealth), tire pres r.tosucceed

cssov

tssr.

b\ leer

Whilc sone of tliese sui(icles are causecL

the$ord.lIowe\er. tiilu,€ shouklbe,sedsprringl! in educalion and poruared losili\el! as pa,t ol .r

ucssurc ov.r lu)ks orfrjlc.i rclatxDships, suic es Lhat .oincidc rvith thc rclcNsc of cxrmiDattun o,

proccss oflearDnrg and grox.th so dudents (an lie

th. tol

trctier cquipp.d for lcl cconomic actirities ofthe idca (1fi.D and coDstlDtl] chrnging world n at.

b\'teachers aDd pareDts to shulentr --lrotions ratlter th r focusirs on tlicir srddts i{ill also be cNcial in

tteyond lraining sludents ibr thcir carccrs, education should preparc them for life and this means not pretendirg that fidlure does

eJrlmr.. rsnks ar. a chrion call lbr rcducing penrlLl o1 l.rjluk br crealing mor. av.nn$

.1.

'.r'

ll

J.itigatiDgthcfalloxtoffdilucnschools.$']lilcthis loes.{rl nc.D pr.tcndiDg thcy did not fril lnd xIoiiljns th. \vord altogcthcr, it docs Drcan ronsidering the stude.Ls well bejng ubore srL.h $cietal standrrds rDd hehiru, thenr

co

e to L€r.'s

il

\eeing t)a\l lhe irnnrcdiicy of lhilurc\

examinations or in AaininA cntry into lcvcls ofhighe. education also.ellects the view lhal

rdr'.rli'," i\ lile-lons erplurrlior. 'rorld

.,

'u

whcr. constant psrxdins of skills

r'

-,.i'3

,{l dg. 1.:'1.

.

aDd

lr.,ir

hrs 1o hsle.,r lo\0lirlerrrring ind th. fcrsistcncc

lo

(

rrr! .n

l

l)ese 1\!o

.hrri.terisli.s

Drav bc

danlered or eren Lilled bt i o\.ere.rtfusis on succcss and ililure $t1ich suggcsLs lirality a.d Lhe cnd ol.ndc!!ouoncc oDc'hrs gotten the ren t. lhis js

e\iden.cd b] thc nnmbcr ofschool

drcro

prssioD for

pi'1".riil

'ur'.l.u

contuurl learDirg

r..

l,rr,. ":r..,r ' .l-, rrir

^^l]

pr11i.rLlir sforts or

.rl

F .-

"'

rriisti. odcrvours crnnot

i ,,j

,-,r,t.i.rrr''.

to ercelrnd mcceel. R.rlher tlan irever usin!,1h. No 'f{ilure', its use shoukL narrcN as the concepL of su.ccss bro{d.ns to inclLrdc other taleDts and .lilitics t|at Dra! Dot b. casilv lr.asurrble but ar r.leMnt t.r r.rl litc sitLrations. This Nould nr.lkl. soci.rl €Jroljonal lea, ninu rnd slills in rclating to otheN, crerLirE opuo urities lor sl!denls lo s,r.cnl cv.n i! infomal situ{tions rnd basic irneractio,rs. Edu.atnn i{ill not bc lblc to do ai{al $,itli ftLilLre .oDrflctcl!. but caD ivork to\lakls a nnrrr holinic

.1, r^tr, j ,,, 1....r'';l

.l,. r,'- r lo.ral. Drorc oftonunitics f{rr snrLl!icLories rr less e,,rthisis or hil1Lrc.

ol success srr rs

ts even

hde\€hpedcounlries. lirllurc do.sDot|av.tob.

L rvrl

r,,t c\i\l. r

11

8

iIr sLude,rls.

h!v. to bc kcpt {D.t i{ords lile frss' ald 'fail" signifl ivh!t is an acceptalle lerel of achi{cd.nl iDd sc.l to mcrsuc lcrNing. The SiaDdrrds

1o Jr.obkrN ol low scll:.stcon, tiar ofliilu! or tee! suicides c.r,ri,ol lre eu0ll.nrjs1i. word fla! aldie ni alonhiij the use ol ltiilure StL({e ls reed t.r knoi{ irlrcrc thct stand and exrnimtior grrdes .oDtinuc to bc a sctirl way for iDstitLrtidrs rn.L

soluLio.

Ho$'cvcr, "Dare to fail ' is the motto in today's

world rvhcrc innovation, entcrprise and cntrepreneurship arc toutcd. this strgg.sts a change schools is needed 8i\ei' lh.r1 dr..r duritioml systems enLthtsise tl,e o cepLoi lajl,,rc to

disfr rg

studcnts to do better. This is seen ir lhe t! bctilccD thr nuDibeN of SnlgrporeaD rnd

div.

Ame.icrn gridnat.s Nho cnd up

11 "11

rrr

lhll ovolrnrf|isisc lailnc nnd iiicapabilit\ in sl,d(!r1s D..i to bc.rr.h..tc.l.

c.erle

rs not{ble

-.l'

lr

nrerilo!.r(\ ir Si,tgiporc 0r.d!..d t.t s(tr.N b t fe$.er people willnrE to run rjslts a.(l dcel rith thclagrlies lhrt stiliirg out orIour o\!r) e\amiration

1g

1't:1.- r, \.'l.r ,",' l, .\Lrn ll.. , rI.

aspecls ol s.hoolidg

hNs

.ntrils. Thc] also shl r i(fis $'h.rc'repcxted fxilures ,re lil,clr, t.r.iaDrPl.. lrlcnting or rcsQrch. \Vith

. i

.r

p,,

adilities n}.ohnrg

lili d.l

I rr,I.rL,^'r'

Drok sk.r.d

,,r.r 'r,r Il-

rio*nrg

I

, r-

likelihood

olhihF,

l Li .r. '

lL

l.ailureltoes .ixist nr thi,

wo

.l and cducrti{nr should rot bt rbout

nrrllr coddling slrd.nts .r tulling th. rlool otr their eres b!1 equippjfs lbrnr !vllh lh. int.ll..iual. noral lnd eututiolrl tools h .,eel NiLlr lliln ].dd

it is uDrealistic to erpe(l re\er use

25

ER0ADIR

PIRSPI(Ivt5

t/L rssdv is\rc

WEEl( 002 DAY 013

Is there still a place for charity in today's world?

-,*t

harity is a notion met with much derision and scepticism today. What is charity ald

thy

its contenljons? Nlost would undersland cha

l]

to be thc selfless givjng of one's time and resourccs to those who can ot

lielp themselves- This ofcourse sou.ts suitably ideal and altruisiic; )€t a deeper investigation would.eveal to N just horv simplislic and clic|ed ihis dcfiDition is. Charit! is a strange thing: it is subject to socio cultural changes and caDDot exist

witho t a sense of competiiion permeatiDg anl

giveD sociely. Histol-l' has changed the shape of chariry.

PttoTo cREDrr'/

With thc Industrial

Revolution and the rise ofcapitalisrn, the problem otsocial stratification became verf real as socic\ sradually diridcd nno the rjch aDd tlie poor, the able and uDable Yet, even these pola ties are relativei sometimes it is cc,nsiderably difficL tto dctermine what exactlv charitv is ind l\'ho its benefactors and beneficiaries are.

26

BR0nDtR

PtRSPtfilVtS ffte essa! Nsue

SLIRITH 5

world has never been egalitadan is suryrising. ln today's capitalist world, financial stability hN come to be arrepted as a major indicator of success. ]'odav's iDdicaror That the

not

wi

st.nrs. lhe indilidual jnposscssionofthisisoncihoiscapable olsuccess begiDs of

one s economic

helpnrs hnnselt However, thcrc arealways thosc

Pou,cr. ltelOngs to those fortrinaLe erough loL to fall Nho ar€ left behnrd.

through the cracks: these I'crv iniiir,idu:rls worrld clo u,ell 1o PllSllfe Ille SlllOOr ll Itlllllllt:Irl

lllett

SOCiCty ty t'"lping rhe have-nots lesr society r void in human resolircc or worue- unrest 'I lL. 1n.. ppr,,el ,bl-.lL\In\ario,. In,r;l-t,. my sound far letched, it is a marrer that nodcm societies nust deal aith. suffers

Tlere is deiiDitcly a place for charit] in Singapore. As a maturing society, Singapore bas established

iDstitutions r!hich oversce the needs

of its

underuivileged. OrgaDisations sucb ns the Singapore .dssociation for tlie Visually Handicapped (SAVH)

Charity ran bc wiewed as a wayiowards the betterment ofhumanity, which is even more necessary in today's world. Our ofthe dust of selfish and brotal capitaiism, there exist heafts that sincerell' ca.e for the lcss fortunate aDd do not bec

t0aN5 THAI

charity

Doi

as aD act

ofcondescensioD aDd obligation.

Rather. dralitl'gives t,oice to the rriiceless in socieLr,. Hou1vood Alisters like Georsc Cloonet, Erad Piit and Angelina Jolic are examples ol those, who with good intentions,

d"s.erdti,n , .1, r".i.,e,. ,lrr,1- il-l

r,lu

i<

rys clet:rchetl. clistanl l;rcl

chcap; cioing is. howevet', both diflicuit anrl daring. 'lhis lattcr action sclr.cs as a beracon of hope and lruth tbr locllr''s tilcd rntl ,llrttrlru,

lirr"il

tl rroll,l. t lu

'

'

r11

1 '

;

I-

.

i, ,;

1

i.

llrrlilr. I lrr- tli.r', g;rr',

r

lnol)stl'oLls crlltiiness.

b-

a

ial

$evo

d by prcvidirs

nifio.

RTADTHIS

KH fro*or..".

BAI{KIR TO THI POOR E IRIATIIiG AWORID WITHOUTPOVTRTY

obel Peoie prlue wiorer ord

founder ol rhc mkro oor hor inhrenifg Wtrped wt h he p the pom".sr

on ho\f

Whcther we be the self-prcscning rcalist or the cood Sa'na tan. charitl renains and s,ill .emain relcvant

arc cxamples olorganisations that spread

the siDgs of

ny

I.

transnational sensibility. Mercy Relicfand the

Red Cross

ed

se

molenerlM!hommod Ymuj

Regardless ofmorive, charity is rhe si're qud

non of civilisation's coDrinued existente.

rvith globalisation, charity caDnor renain an iNular endeavour; it mNt adopt

ry brir

for os Iov o5 U50S25,5rfir

MU l1AI,I]\,IAO YI]11U5

this, or.rl r,r:r\. htLnriltitv rvill ineVitabl) deilencIaie into

Atso,

(lr

be eve in pioorollrg

lvouid be qrdck to accuse then of posscssins rhe guilt ofthe wealthy, but how many truly understand the

cverlday needs of sclccted individtrals, aidnrfinding then enplotmcnt and cnre and even dktcnse a set allowatrce cach nronth. Cliaitv thcn falls in thehands ofvolunteers without encouraging

underpriviledged ro inlegate nrto society and

l bcliew ir

VtS

and Southcast Asin to alert thc aorkl ofthe pandemic that is poverty. Their dctracrors

ii rl

welfarism. srch help allows the

t6t

tH

tmvcltoAlrica

and the School Pocket Money Fund oversee the proyisioD of

\
rhe world

charity beyond a Dationl borders.

Tnnsnationai charity is the poliiicall), correct and

pngnalic step to takc in helping disaster-ravaged or I overtl strickeD areas. ln order to safcguard

inlernatioDal stabilitv nnd ecoDomic growrh, tmnsnatidral chariiy is essentjal. This is o[course pandoxiolly an

a

sell sen ing ertemrise bLrt nonetheless

exhem€ll practical one for

it

€nsures the

containm€nt, perpctlration and rvell-being of borh

?/

ER0lDtR PtRSPftTIVtS r/rr:

rssar xo,p

llrd bosso6 dorl

\ldEEii CIO? DAY

i]I4

A picture is always more powerful than mere words. What is your view? laywrights such as Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter are known for dramatic works which demonstrate the limits oflinguistic expression by the relative omission of dialogue. Their primarily visual mode of expression accentuates the apparent superfluity oflanguage in the process of constructing and conveying artistic meaning. ihcatical displays economically but successfollv commruricate the point oftlre rclative dispeNability ol langDagc througli the themrtic sigDifications of ils Dlot. Hcreir lies an abstract affinnatioD ofthe assertion that lnere words" laclr the cxpressive force and lucidity of pictorial representations, that words are aD inadequ.tte instrument ofcomnN cation. Any clain to thc victory Such laconic

it once nrorc accessible and memorablc to ihe genenc ub,FrF, In I .th 'n.l r! -" rha . 1 Lo',c p I li- | .ofthe pictLres are disccrDed sensually eren befo.c thcy are apprehended intcllcctualy.It Dight pef|aps

bc said that such directness ofcDgrsenent could be challcnging to attain {ilh textual accounts. which

rroLrld fuDdanertally dernard deliberate conprehensioD and assimilation of ver.bal rncanms.

of the pictorial over thc ve$ai, liowever, is far fronr

de'r,J.burhsordirndrlc1'

.rr-r-s,rl:ul'Cerre

their coseDcy and incisivencss from each other.

Whcn well ernployed, picturcs can speak to us on a lcvel more powerful than words caD. PriDtings, for instance, are appreciated ashisiorical

PtlOTO CREDIT/

aftefacts as they are contcmDoran, creations ofthc pcriod iD Nliich thei. depiciions are set. Pictorial reprcsentations ofspecilic culiuml laDdsc{pes can be both intclligently and ernolive\' evocatile ofsoci:tl and political perspe.tives which verbal accounts nat, lack the nuancc to conmunicate. lhe portrayal of FrcnchemperorNapolcon Bonaparte by painters such asArtoine-Jean Gros and Piotr Michrlo$'ski vividly exfrcsses, perhaps nrore than aDyhistory textbook could, thc conception olhislory as a majestic hrnan !lot w|osc conrse rvas delernrined by forceful peruonalities. sepamtel)', the rendition of scriptur€ iD iDtricate paintings along the walls ol the sistine ChapelfiVatican CiB invigorates episodes honr thc

Old an.i New Teslament \rith a strikiDg visual innncdiacv, $'hich nikes thebiblical storjes depicted

?8

BR0A0[R PIRSPIO

we should also howcver keep ir mind that rhere are ce.tain +heres ofea.pe ence which visual represertation r{ould find difiicult to capture tus precisely and compclingly as words can. Words can create space lbr a s'€alth of slbtle detail. which the illustrator's canvas ma! no!be abl€ kr acconmodaiebe.ausc ofthe plusical hnits olhoN i J.l - p.' lrF-. d.ti ..Tl',l l.','l tLr or', i u.

which good rvriting exacts makc $ords r suitablJ articulate nedium lbr certain suliccts, for starcc, Lh€ dcpiction of the private emotional and pstcholosioi lives of human cha.acte, s in biografhical atrd fictional i{ritins. Enslish rvriter Virginja lvoolf $rote in he. notebools about phnibins "crves" behnnl hcr chaucters. Such \ision is atpareDt in $rrks rch as woues and Mrs. Dalloudy, \'hcrciD her "ne expe.iments evoke thc iDsiabiliiy aDd narrative capiciousness ofthe wolknrgs ofhealts and minds. Ceorile Eliot is

sinilarlr lalorvn

1or the compassionate

iniaglnation shc cxhibits in novels strch.rs Mi.l.llen.rrcn. She eloqucntl] deliDe{tes the iutr worlds of cha.acters s'lo arc plag cd by the

l/ts .i. cssn, isf,rc

D D Y01l

|{NOfi!

MOST POWIRfUL AIID

llNf0RGuftSLlMtGIs

IlII

,.-r

I

^

u.nsv iDtc.r.tions bet\\.een the aspiratioDs of their trnat.li\es ard the public sph.r.. The tunnoil of sellhood is erpresscd bv bolh ivriters rrith lrrcnLhtrking particuladtv. l he! d€rnonstratc ho$' such closeDcss and honesly otobseNation caD tind

onpeliiDg cxprcssion in the ireeD accluc) ofwods thaD iD ti.lorjal .epreseDtations. $'|ich 11)aj nltinrate\'orly be ichly suggcstire rather thrn

ill itiratirgh

prccis..

One shoutd also not lbrget the trcnchancy of specch as anorher instance ofthc pos'e. of words. For €\aniple, i{liiic satilic.l .adoo s can seN€.rs a lorni of pointcd politi.rl cari(atue, tliere

relrti\e trssili1l.in t|e obserleis engagcmcnt alDrcdiu.r,asoppose.ltoth.rccilno.al Attcntion b.t$'ee. ar effective spcakcr and his list.D.r, enublinij I morc imDrcdiate sense ol is a

{iththcii h

Ls

' ri^' l-.or..r, 'l i '.rr,r, ,l, tp.

-

com,r'uuiration ofthc Doint beinA nale. l.anous speeches such rs thos. b) Sjr wi ston Churchill. XIArtin Luthcr KiIg and NelsoD X{al.lcla, and cv.n tlc scrlron on the nrount ir the biblical book ol

l)

'11 r.\_'l

ih'\l,

t'..

\'r1.,,'i

s$t!!, b! establishing s}Drfat|y beLween t}e nral,e. and recipicDt of a poinl . r iltense more and

",o for

n

l,r

r. rh \ l

! , , i.l

r'ur

'

l-

ll-r,! I

r picioriai Dicdiu.r to achieve.

SIIN

WORLD HI\S tVIR

l16l Il, d 1rum! 0u{ r srddi, !r r 6li !o!1:ur ! eimm, iuri r ri hrrii trur.iri! rhe

ial

]

rtor.r nmr5

rrrkp

ryr!0h51

Marchcstcr, a pcacetul pLrblic meetins ofrrorkins mcn and \!o ell, caL]nrs for rclisious libe{t and trnive.sal su11rage, $'as liolcDtlv disl)eNed bl anred dragoons, iearins a numb.r dead a d even morc se.iorsb iniurcd. Tlrc. iicnlrcspoDse to the Pete oo Massrcre camc in tIe tbml olsuch horificallynlid

'1.

..1

'

r' ^ lF.c r l:" L,- I, r.n

n r..,e|,r,r'g

Tie P?r.r1oo itldsJacr.. aswcll as $! ittcn accou.ts aDd indictNeDts of thc c!.nt i. la.ious local neivspapers. Thc inckirncss ol both forms of nedia reaction thrc\.rcne\ded InorDentum into thc

lr" r'^.ra-r a\'r,J. lti.i r, , 3!r...\i ' attcmfts at srppressiorl. MagaziDcs suc| as Dis.o|crr/ ard Ndtionol ccoqrafiic froduce thologruphs oftlie natural i{.rld accompaDied $,ith writteD connncntrd.s, br.athi.g life irto ri'iiat might otherwise bc farchcd accourts of phFical frcts. Ultinatclv, t|ough, it is necessrn to rccognisc hoi{ a discussion of pichrres and \.ords .s nr!Lualll exclL,si!e irDplicitl) makcs an a$ihar'! distirchon between theDi. Ccrtainly a piclu.e is never {lilars more po$'.rflrl than $,rrds, $hich ue arlthmg but ''niere" or slig|i. Each nredium leDds itsclf to particula,vcfeclive ernplolnent ir diff.rcntst|eres

'.rhrr i.l .n,r',,1i..'...

l.tLrr Tio di.l

l1l, $sL

5orllilirrmn

Fn thm rom

$dr

rl0m! f r,ftnhj4arir0

197

2 AIrn nL,ri I rrtrni

roF

ft{d,,h !drc!rbonhdLrr!\r

i980 I lid ii ir0mdn oLour

ol

d,

hrq., !ii I m$iorrrr

' o.B'r' ,f-1,.i

B.con nebfullyponrts out, $ords arebut the i rages ol ratter: aDd thqv harc life ol r€ason and irveDtju,,

frll in lolc with them is all one as to fall in k^e '\ rl , r,r. u ,. \ tr^,,, - :r'. \, 1.ll . rL-" to

piclorial arc mo.e trequently complcmcnta.! rather dran.ompetinS fuflrs ol Incdia. I '--V r-*i.lo,ce of oDe can imp.l and elucidate the othcr.

ThatbcinA said, the verbal and thc

ls.

evokins thc imase whj(h attends it and alTords i1 DrcaDing,.r.d a licture na1$'.ll bc gu\id wilh lhe imtlicnlions ola thousrnd rvords and then sonre.

RetuNing to ihc

c. ! ni.eteenth ceDtuN. lcrbal a.d risual art worked liaDd in hand in Fotcstation

' I L,r-er rdlcor-lmL.n streDgths of both nr.dia. lhe dis(irlction beh{ccn

dcuoun.jns polit ical injustice in EDsland. On Algusl

them bcgins to blu r. Combnled,the) achicvc an cYcn

16,

i8r!,

aL

St. Peter's Ficld on dre outslirts of

\\',-r.o.,- lii.. . rr

i98!.Arcsq mm

I R0,4DIR

ii j p

im{l'

otr5ior

(.,tr(

morc e\pressne force rn.t clalitj,. at ?tl)l

29

n

!(lleiir l!frrif0

PIRSPIOIVIS

/i..r.vruissrr

h rqlprsHoli!it

ir!

li1i:Li{

ij[]? l:AY 0ir

Does modern technolog'r always improve the quality of people's lives?

he pervasiveness and indispensability of technology are the salient characteristics of the zoth and zrst centuries. Scientific and technological knowledge have enabled Man to comprehend, master and manipulate the natural world for l.ris oltm benefit and improvement.

Since the IDdustrial Revolutio., NIanhasonli loolcd

foNard. Various forms oftechloloity such as ne.tia

technology, conrmunication technology, and n i n., i, r r '. ,.^l' gl _J\. -'un.-in'le l\' n bcttcriDg lives iD a verr pra.tial scnse. Yet the dicnrnr thai icchnology :rh!.rrs inpll)!€s ihc qurlity ofpeople s 1iles is most certainly simplislic for it caD be easiLr

contested that tcchnology has simDltaDcously deteiorated. in mani wa,vs, other aspects of life.

In tLrD, one's econonric qlalitv of life should incrcase bccarse there seenrs tobc grcater$'erltli ge erated. Thc direct correlation bct$'ccn tcchnology and econonric

prodrctiiity

is clear.

TcchnoloAy car resulr in greater productivity

while this may sccm a satisfactory formula, realit! suggests othcMise. Reser.ch in Lhe U.S.

and product output as it intreases the

on the busfiess olgrarhic dcsisDers hrs shown lhal

elnciency of the worke!. ltchnological liardrvare, such as computcrtechnolosr', along trith its sofhlare

PHOTO CRBDIT/

donc $'ith great€r accuracy and at grelter speed. 14 u rirg q.r.r ,\ prud,., ^ult', rrdlr1''.I". greate. sales and rcveD e which ilr turn lcad to thc incrcased econornic $cI beiDs ofthe individnlsollo

eDhances work efficicDcy as info.ntation can be processed at a hsLer ratc. Tcdious naDual tasl<s such as calcnlaiions or niartual Araphic desiADS can no$ be

30

ER0ADIR

' r qt, . u rlr Er ''F- Ft..r.r.\ . ir'I,.n .r.or tec|Dologl and an increase in thc munbcr ofiob

opporturities for the rverage desiilner, avcmgc has not increased sigDificantll.

PIRSPIOIVS ihe dssdv

issr.

pa1

IURfTtl

Thele

is no Ieal ccotrolnir:

implovcrlcnt lbl the inclir,idual if ei'eryone emplovs tcchnoiogr' 1br llor'li. The mvth that technolog_v automaticalll, ilnproves one's econor.nic tiualitl, of lifc is thus nnlnrc.

such as

netnork conmunications. mob;le

corrnuDications and saicllite technology. This has

'p ''l

po. ibi-

r. '.".o.ii. rer\.ur"ir.j

hirr'irr

one's bo.dcrs and elen across the slobe. Social rclaiions can be established and maintained onlirc rcal time across continents. Ncw comnunicatioD progranmes sucli as the mobilc "{riend finder" alloi{s iD

v it re

peopLe to siay

The

in touch 24 hours

sa.t locatioD of friends

a

da!,

7 days a week.

on one s corta.t list

cu

te

the peNasiveness of such communir{tion devices! some, such as the Neo-Luddites. havc claimed that the

Yet because of Lt.

individual's privacy has been lost. one's qualiroflifc is no$'subjecl to ihe incessantneedto alwa)s le contaclabie, nakhg the concept ofprivate space anali€n one. considerho$'tcchnolos speeds up rot just work but the $'orkcr as \€ll. Etficiency breeds

5

0f

fF al]Altl]lNG

TOP IO

Tt(I]NOLOGII5 OVIR THI PAS]

spark that isniied ihe tlame of rapid hunaD pro$ ess

5O YIAR5

in the Industrial Revolution or- to look turther t|e golden ages ofthe Enslish and ihe Frenc.h back,

M05T

I

as seen

I hos" m.rilimF - \pr.r is- re..rl,"d oftheir Empire. However,

$ch

an

rn

rh", \pdr.ion

implovement

in the quality of living comes at a high prire. EDlironncntal degradation, an urgent conceD of GrFpn t\4or"mpnl. an.l

p"l'lILr'.

al k, . N

d

dircct consequence of the exploitation of Earth's necessary resources for techDolosical development.

Globalwarmins

aDd the

sisDificant inoease in globil

rpro-rdrurp.. J. q"ll a. rhe rp.anr druLrl-r r

kh://www.{he(k2000.om

/tjh

ltllhem

S!

he5e

rhry\e rewl!riooiled

rhe

toe

,

0.qm rronrphib

that

Ili( c rrd llr"

tav

consideratiOn.

ra

r" the

***.o4lf

thirt

lrr. uI llri.

enal,

thc question is nor

about technolo$/ but .ibout the quality of one

life. One mtrst recognise that there is always an opportunity cost io the desire of inp.oving the qualib, ofaDy aspect of life and we must decide if that cost

is!orth

s

,.r-,'rr€ 3.

Di!ilo medr

2

Gmelk 0iqifeerinq.

it.It

if task and labour can be niaDipulated whilc disrcsardins time and space. This ironicall"v is rhe

quditv oflife is diminished and home aredissipated with tne ease ofcomnunication technolosl, and the ready atailabilit"v of those in contact.

of$ork

also claim that technoloAy has iflproved quali9 oflife in the physicat aspect. Fonns of transportation '",1 uur.l,J.r n,, c-,aI ."l Fq ,:fm rt.,luri..tT resulted in an

technolosy, and the lilte have all eased our wav oI lifc and renroved tediuni froni conplcx tasks.

3l

ER0ADIR

.At

dril iiolirh liqef(e

exchange lcquires Lhoughtful

Onc can

jub

voy

technologv alrvar.s inprovcs thc (llrillrIl' oT p(.o]]t. s rt\e(. tlte it.nprovement alrval.s crrmcs at :r

self same reason that oDe s

U.S.

our

be{0u5".

acnievcd

because the spaces

l0 hiqh

ovs lhe on 50 yeo6

itsell

to clair)r

o L

k(h breoklh.o!qhj ndrd

l0

unrvise

re(h.orp

50monyre{led ooqie!hove oppeored n the pon holl crrry thol itr mposbleh

,\ustmlia and floods in Mlanmar, are ceftain sisns nfJl.rl rs pldnpr. dL.Fd b) l\4i1ru\e-e!,,oitarior of the environment for the sake of technological advancenent. Such a pknomenon cctainly tbreatens the individual's quaiitr oflife and one miBht say life

It is

(hofoint

grerter efficicDct' and rapid economic growth can bc red-

I5T

Transportation technology has irreiutably revolutio sed ihe eay Man moves. lt is also the

\i|nL.

Technology can be said to improvc rhe qualiF ofone's \o(ial life. r nr , n, n .ar,oi lF.nnolobl . trademark chamcteristic is its ability to traDsceDd space and time at hyperspeeds. The $orld has 'thrunk" due to our ability to communjcatc globally aDd disreitard tim€ zores $'ith tcchDolosical works

5:

PAUI 8OUTI

PtRSPtfilVtS

rhp.s""d, issrp

ii,ift[

i]iim

lilti

ilk

National boundaries make little geographical or economic sense nowadavs. Discuss. ,, r ,,r, ,, i \,. ./

citizen exists so far as he is bound to state law. He

identifies himself as part of

a

national community and carries this

citizenship wherever he may go. Geographical boundaries may physically demarcate the country whose law he is obligated to but in actuality. have srnall part in protecting his interests and security. He is merely a factor in his nation's tactical play for surwival, where the nation's contender is the world and its playing field - the economy.

GlobalisatioD has qu icklr'dimiDislr.d dose.t economies

mther thc staie ofgovernance he chooses to follow to

nition into co opcratirg witli one anotbcr. Bcfore, econonic growth and emflolrnent were lhe causc ofinterDational t.ade and in!€shncDi. h tlis da] a.d agc, it is troblens such as the sleady depletioD o{natural resourccs or niljta$,agenda lhit

Natioral boundarics make litde seosr aphical sense rowndays particutarly becaNe ofthe mobility of people and information flow

and pushed each

has affected the econo.ry on

a

global scde. No country

imfcnious to the ripple etfe.ts ofth. econontes ofothcrs aDd erch countr carefullvconsidcN erte.nal faclors shcn fomrtus policies. As suc|. national boundaries arc r.all), fashbned frorn the afairs of thestrte orpoLiiics. On. couldgoas farastosiy Lhat is

PHOTO CREDIT/

r" 'r'l r.i.r" d pirl ''rl.li,dhr

32

BR0ADER

sborni',

PlRSPlOlVtS

throughout the globe.

1lr the past,

colonial enrpires

not onlv facilitated trade th.ough South Alia bu( also .pi lF,r rnl.F.J 1r'J riu.ib lurlh Frul ..ur.nriF. '1 iD the region. Pcrhaps, they sped up the process of

globalisallon byrevealing all potcDtial plaFrs intire

cconomic plaring field. With the ercharge oi knowledse ard the widenins oi the pool of ideas

tie.ssd! ^src

txAM|ltlhls betw€en the East and

the west, the lrodd set into

countrts econon"v

ommunicatiotr inftastruchre in oder to reduce tlie

governnent promoted embargoes on oil exports

from apotential investment or atreasure throve of unrcfined rcsourccs. This phcnom.non of bddgins expanse of distance has caused a sreater ebbing in national borders. !inally, the adlent of

a

i]le lDternet oDly obliterated obst.tcles to

drd

nl\ ed

iDformatio!

f 'nbtcr\ oi.nml ur icJ.ior hu\ir ps. in

rime. On lhc Illtcrllc[. a persolr no loi.rgel sitriltes hinrsell a-s pirr''. of a nltion buL as part of lhc global nctrvolli. a shorter

)

a

in the global are

distanccs

I

enforcing the cnmpetilivene$ of

notion advances in transportation and

a. l'or elianple, the Libyan /,{I

challenge to the lvest in th€ past, in the hopes that

Lt

aided Libya in its political aseDda but also helped to

red\F.onlr4rLiver pss ir:r. ", o r^nr\ ft.I'nl i." and affairs ofth€ state in a counrrl possibly dras' natioDrlborde.s in such a ivay. rn.

n{riol from nation by o.chestrating unity in national communities by enforcins a distinci identity

Also, politics help ro distinauish

for its people. lt

safeguards the nation s heritage and cultures for its people and provides continuity

econohy is ofcourse hebless to Mukinational

have po$'er io clain o$Dcrship of resources in its land aDd thus. create lahs to resirict thc transfer of

coryorations (x{NCs) and large ente.prises open

goods and people across iLsborders. However, even

factories and headquarters, barnaclelike in chrsteN

tlis

ofcouni cs. Thcybring iDto then iDvestmeDt and employment, helping in the groMh of national incomes. The economy ol a nation fluctuates

and oryanisatioDs snch as the Etrropean UDion.

according to the flow and movement of these gianl

distinguishing nation states. It provides room lor polir.rJ. slfl..l I" dnd r4 ou- es lb_ e o' olc

The nation's

a

this

s

v v n

indifferent

iDvesto$. vet the bigger conce.n these days is the availablc store of natural resources essential for the produ, t,or rrd rrd..lcr o good. . Tl c ri.-"a,. ir oil prices all over the world has shaken the global economt- Its effects sen€ as proof as to how national boundaies make little economic sense. The tuel priccs stoke inflation rates ir countries sucli as I'lalaysia, \rhose cun ency dips lowcr as a response. Singaporc too faces the nsk ofinflation due io in$ease in the prices of food and other primary goods

n

S

e

d

di.pJr.lpd -rorn ts n-iclb"rrr. t\4:l!)s.a..\dr ; +u.Fd b) lh, rise rl pe.rul .o.l-. \: su"l. lh. F L hardly any diversencc in thc economies between

power is ultimately limited by international law

National boundarics lrla) a p.rl in adirily. Hose\e.,tlle'i l:'rlirPr'i ll il., little gerglephical sense r-r o ir':rr1ii\'-s

rs thcy ncit.bcr iiurit thc p,:op,1'.: i\ rlo ( lr{)c}<e Ir) lr,IflI' Ilr.l|/, r)' inLeliclc in thc sL:rtc s poiiiicrs. uol haye muth iniluence r,r its ecollOlll\'.

The nation is constaDily Nshed nlto

countries, as one readily alTects ihe oiher.

global attentjon, and its economy dctcmined by decisions and polides of otlers. A countrf's national comn nib thus, can only be imagined and is a resuli

National boundades are also more likely to

boundarics depend imneNely on tlie uDiV of such

of an engineered identitt,. Therelbre. national al

conscripted by politics rather than its physical scoaraphies or economies. The be

incr€ase

iI

connuritie siates

dnd rrr"I

.o,,, su\Md' tl.irrc\r.tivF

It

prices are due to a conflucnce of factors

theJ€ars in various other couDbies such as the decline ofpetroleun reseNes jn saudituabia, Middle over

[!sttension, worries over peak oi] (where the rate ol

froductioD of petroleum faces a decline) and even var between ihe Hizbollah and the Israeli miliiary

ine

inLeL11o4. Po-iLicaldclrqrresamde.e-mh nr' rn

l 33

flN!\

t$l

oil priccs would ircrease. This neasu.e Dot only

in thc couDtrf's history. Furthennore, the state does

e

{/ulil'"

as

ER0ADIR PtRSPtt

Vti

t/re ersdr rssrre

iHOMAS fR IDMAN'S

IHi

f

l^r0RtD tS

Whlh

l (?00t

lr edmor hoB

towmds

dsir

remoiB

hypedole, rhir

o munieod be{ouse ol how

ths ho{ mud inl!en{e ir hm hod of rhe {oy people lhink obo!l widelyreod lt is ond

6loholisorlor 3.0

Sone qmnioB

l[ol

ore

ml

detoihd ln friedmdn's bool

i

ldel

I

Wher +ould (ourlrier do

vhol beidih the

slobol

emomy, dnd whs should lhey

roM iftreni?

look o!rforlhe

2. Whol wl I

n

i

o

f or vo'ld

lo rhe trmld5 pom$l?

3. Wror iuiruro vo

ofrribulhg

10

!6

ore

ilE W6rt lo$

o{ prcd!di!iry, ed!(olior, ord

4

Hov wil furlhers oboLirol m

ef{ed (uh!nl

diiindior? (lre

we heodifq rowo{ls o

urv"!l

mehirq por?)

5

Whor

wil

o

{dr vorld'

meon efviron erlolly ponir!lmly

d ih

forllu$

verle of m

(ml

er

{momir

Should crimes that were committed many years ago simply be forgotten? o crime is easy to forget. Crimes committed against innocent victims, against humanity or er.en against

ourselves all bring with them permanent scars that are hard to erase fi'om our memory or consciousness. Lady Macbeth was plagued by the blood on her hands, and in vain she tried to erase that "damned spot", ultimately having the futility of it all drive her to a tragic end. Surel!1t. s|ould

the judit.mcnt ofihe nritial Lrial sc!.ml ycars ago.

of these,Jinr.s

]'he bnitalil! ofcrimc crn be

iI thatFslrect lea rlofntthcscars b.h'nd s and sirnpll lb.uel r\'hat $'.

have done. or ftrget $hat has been done to us. Surcly

thc court

01

so rucb so thaicvcD la\v ackno\'lcdges that thel \bould not

iime wiLL heal all woxnds and crines that were cornmitted rnanv !ears ago caD simply becon'e somcthing ive c{n leam J.o.r and hopcfully forgel. YeL, the bittcmess rnd ange. thnl is still dfc in this \eorld sigral 1o us that forgireness does not cornc .asilv and forgetling is p$haps even more ol an impossibilit" given technologlrs limitless capacit! lo r. , o I Fr', a .' ,L r,ar ,-\"1 i^',r',. r. ,. r'br ir'i may ildccd Dot be so bad atle. all.

Situilarly, states shich \tcrc oncc hrge aDd powertul cmpires underslandably waDt to forget the c.imes ofthe past simply becausc thcse cdmes are no lonacr rie\red as glorious cxhibitiols of porvcr hrt rrther as gross violatioDs ofhuman rights. IIodcm Gcmans would rath$ b.' disassociated f.onr thcir Nazi past

l- l'.lr.r'f.,irlr

, 'lr:rl ', F'."ln.-.,

i

l.

on aI nrdividual lcvcl, it is uDderstandahlc

lihc Zinbib$e. Jatan is still known to :rtte.Dl

why victims would ideally wanr to forget the cdnles committed againsl lhem. Individuils anl fanrilies w|o hav. faced !iolenl .rim.s often e\pe.ie ce drarnatic changes in their livcs in the aftemath ol crimes. cvcn ifmuch iinie has rasscd.

idritci{ash

lNccnrities, paranoja or n.$'bclicfs can eneli]e and .ob pcopl. of their lormer rclativclr carefree and happ! lnes. Ii is psychologicallr imtrobable that recovering fron ihcse crnnes is a sirnplc case of forgetting. Iak. a rcccrlt coDtrole.s) rerc a mtist, IoNorth Iloare, bought thc \viuing tlcket to a 7 million pound lotter) wlilc oD probatjon, had his

car never be takcn lightlv aDd coDres iL a huge .notionxl cosl lo drcsc lictins. This is a cost which

!i'

h,

VtS

'

lr

Jll. - . lirsrl'F o,. F,. ' -\.

r,,

maDylictims, Kore.tn comfotnomcn. olrhancd Jeils or dcibmcd Vietnaniese $adl a.lDorvl.dgcm.nt of

Angrr rallics acrossthe world nslting tor rcluhiation and atbrmal apolog, still reverberale. an.l retr.s.ni ljcti s who arc not prepared to torgeL these oinres

fortheworsea.dailo$rdthesuil locontimedespile

iR0ANR PIRSPIO

history'. nNch to the ire oi

lhevictimsofJapaDs$uelandopfrcssiv.past.Lren lhe Unitcd Siates has tried lo ovc ook $mc ofthe less honorable moments in lhei. .ngag.m.ni with

ro r,.-..L.'ppi 'l u l..rra.. ".1 I l|ur i\" cornpensation. The civil cou.ts ackno$'ledged the victiu\ clann that h.r life has irrevocablv changed

i4

tlieir{arnim.

ri.cssdr6sr.

I,,IATIHTHI!

Iv€n if we Nantedtoforgei the cdmes

'lve shorld notc howeve! that not all

prNtj the

memories of crimcs ha\e to reccssadlf be sobering or morose. Some can indeed be

ofthe mcdia enter-tainncnt industry mi8ht

not cvcn necessarilylct us do so. Cinies ol rhe fast p.ovide tempriDg lodde. for an! lil or book. cstecially

celebratoN or congratulatort. Con ternpomn vcrse to mark GLry l.a$'kes D.v asks us t{r "Rcmember.

'lhese crnDcs add obrious d.aniraDd su.mrrteethc

r.nrember tlic 5th ol Noyembcr". lhe au.tacr!,us Bunpoi{dcr plot attemptilg to dest:Lbilisc the newl),

iftlic cdnes had g^incd notorietvfor rhcn. sheer scalc of e!il or for tire depths of dctravirr. massafpcal ecessan,to makeanyfilnr corxneRially

lonned protestaDt governnert in Britain was

\iablc. Filnis oraritjnit recreating a narrativcbased on se.ial killcrs like Jrck thc Riurer or rccnacrins c .res aganNt humarjr]* s .h as nr S.lttrdlo..r 16r orllotelRLUnr.l( have made huge profits ar rhe bor office, and sorDetimcs are ever awarded for thcir sensitniry in.lerhrg nt| the prnrflil su bject natto. forgelUng thes. hcinous crimcs wlll not be a sinrple lralLer, unlcss lve nake it a lFinr ro avoid clery'fitn hall, \'ideo siore o. bookshoD in eistence.

sncccsshrlly thwaftcd on rh:1t !erl, Dig|r. ljren todav,

B tainremem!.N

thatda)

over evil intcnt

lialk it \ith

nd

as a

thxrftjng oltheYishun MKI teuolist borrbirgs arc all told a.d retold as worthwhilc men.r.ies of sood

ofhuman riglrts develop, thcrc is however progrcss in thc fo.giveress tbar 1vc extend to crihinals who commit crihes that can indced be forAiver and in the loxa run, forgonen. hi th. interest of cxtcn d irg gracc

th.t . t, -'".1,-.1Jr ro,/'.\. rirJt..r r'^\irg l" t-i,r.r'' r r-.rr,.J.irp.\ r. .{.r.,\i4!

l1t

0

MORALIIY Of RTViNCt

MUrtNI0 (2000)

lrltroo(omne5io.p!r 15lr e{e5m dNu r{rrooifqk! dues on

o

lu

boty ord |ee1rn

qr(]vh! hoo( oltun ltr !o

ti

lrrIe

rerr

Iorqcl !hor

do

he hlld 5cr oulro

I !e€i

Jim,lk nnrio !rtl0c5 rlre d! o mdolprob Ai virlr nver!t lhol )I rre rflr doik

All people, sometibes even crimirals As thc concept

0t M[I\0R] a

celebration oflicrory

Lhetraditional. and lovcd, borrfire Disht. Similar ey.nts lik€ the 'nuch uDcolcing olthe Wat.r€ate scaD.tal or cven rhe local a

aS0|]lTHt t0rstis

thernsclves, sant to put tm unplcasant past behind theDr. Wc |a!e seen ho$,this k sometirres nnpossible, brt more importaDtlywe hare aiso seen sometimcs

Iow it is crcn

remenbcr. hr

Lhe n

nrore

infortanr to crjne{iu

frseuftc ii oronplrlrsd re rferL dim mr

i

loif

enllh

rlE rnre prop! rfey vere vlei ri! m r ololferir iool

liole s.hene of thnrss,

to thcsc crin1iDals, rnany states have policjes

on o1

lh€goodsid.ol Lhelai{foracommeDdableFriod tnne. Thcse p.,licies acknowledgc t|ar not rll

crnnnrais nre Decessaril), a real thr.ar to societvbur raih$ peoule who a.lel foolishlv in lhei.louth or caught ni ntavo.able circumslaDGs. Elcn slricr count.ies likc SiDgapore adlo.are rhe forsctrins of oimes as a necessan st.p to help peitv .riminals refonn, although it is noted that t|is should bc nnplcrnented with carelll responsibilil\,.

\crc

o sinal snr,.s nnrlied byAdan's di$bcdience wrs perhnps t|e $o.ld's first crime".,\Dd religjon has Dcv.r ler L,s lbrget it, in lact the Bible. Korar aDd Torah a docurncnt man's constari hilings. Ii rn.y sonehow seen nrearingless for Lis to keep rccords ofevery exist and cnn remnrd us oltlan's fallibililr'.

nistalre. siD or criDe lbr the list

jNt

gr

o{ s poirltlcssly

lor3.

tRARArl?00?l

D{llig fo

lo!r

thereisirdecd real valuc ir not

r'r". /",o .,'\-

-gp ll--..i.^r .rir ,i

I

modch histo.y, most significant\' marked by the Holocaust aDdthe iollorvilg Bosnian an.l Sudanese genocnles all nrark IIaD s inccssnnr andunrcpeniant

sroodlorq{ 10

',1:

!

'1": '

sometim.s t.ue forgiv.ness olien rcqunes us to rcrnember to forgd. rt

mo.e

im!ortaDtlv, ne\er be rcpcrled.

35

ir

1915,

riLrr

BR0ADIR PtRSPttTlVtS

lrn

rhe

iiM

01

dorN

ll'mrdtore:rr! 5lmu

{lieri rheir olhdile vrill

It is imponant to rcatise rhat

ftrhu! gcneratioDs of what MaD js cafable 01. tDstead of forgelting. rrc slould continue lo use t|Gc nmseums as c.nhes ol ecLucation and reforr solhar

will oever bc forgotten and

lr

d

fd vidm r Jorsive ord lo.qer

-

propensitv ibr evil. Xluscxms across the ivorld depi.ting act! olu.d and g.nocide.rcbuih lo rcmiDd

our crimcs

look or

vlEdF' ioung{ gereftri!r

tbrgettilg.

Then UNsc.crcrary general Kofi Annan. wrole poignanllr at the monorial forthc Rwandan

Arnfliiol

'he qaior de m l!rkey Arotur

Yet, perhaps,

wilh rhe emorillra

to

ih!.ssa! iss,r

nl)r

WFFI{ OO3 I]AY i];E

How far is your country prepared for future crises? ll1,.l l(rl hr ( hrnfg

turn ofthe twenty-first centuly has seen our planet besieged by myriad problems humankind has hardly experienced before. From the insidious threat of terrorism to the debilitating effects of environmental degradation, the world has plunged into an abyss that is increasingly difficult to climb out of. he

ln addition, an imperdnrs slobaL lood sho{age has sent the pdces ol fo.rd staples sliraockciins, $,hich is

Among thc elite, only those of superlatne aptitude

furlher exacerbated by siratospheic oil pdces. With

ofchoosing talents to spcarhead ih. coLrDtry proves that Singapo.e is well-equipled io face arLvcrisis. t or

all thesc pmblenN loomnrit, one would be ha.d prcssed

ir these tunultuous tirres. Hoi{ever oDly thc tbolhardy r{oLrld bet asanrst rhe tcnacity and pcrse!€rance of hlrltans to suni!€ tlese difticuttics, and that is why I belicve Singaporc to find a sih,er hrnrg

is to a largc exteDt prepared tor tuturc crises.

alld

attit

de are selected to lead. This sh ingeDt prccess

damrle, Iocal politican Xhaw Boon Wan x$ ttre Cro oft|rce h.,spitals in Singapore bctbrc he was afpo ed Minister of Hcalth in 2oo4. His most noteworttrv achievenent was lis caLn haDdlins of the Scvere q.ul' R...r'i"aror) S,rd onr!S\aslo.,rb.rl n 2oo3.ID contrast, the e\ presi.leDtofthe philippines,

Sinsapore is led by capable lcaders who are hishly erlu(nlcd and ha\c experience in

handlins crirical siruarions. PUOTO CRBDTT/

Sinsapore's

demandiDg meritocratic cducation systen ensures that thebcst arc.jus yrcrvard€dforthcn.pertbrniaDce_

36

BR0ADIR

PIRSPIOII/IS

tie

Ju-

t'r1

fs r '.d

qJ..,

huuld'n.,o' l

{.t ,r^r,riul

expcrience in politics, and his isnorance causect his counttT much tuDnoil. lt is oide t that a country,s leaders will dctemrine thc directioD s]re rakes. and

with strcn capable mnristcr.s, SiDsapore can definitetv overcome tuture crises.

cssdu isJ,.i

Sirgapore is suitably equippcd to facc

firtlrrc

oises bccause of its conccption of Total Dcfcncc. lnrflenented in r984. it st.esses Lhe jmportan.eofcivilians woJltinB ha.d ii haud with 0nilonied g.oups to nraiDlaiD Singa!ore's security

i l.- .un ,uIJ-l- r.- \l.l tr'.'.1.t,, rr,. S"' ..r.1 f1'rol 's'.,1 T.1r...1 .l' , n.rl.d n ofSiDgaporcans sin.cth.yw.rc in pfinary

thc rniDds

cxtcdition inlolving $holc di\isions.

Critics may:rlso point to the fact that Snrgapore's peacetul historf, an immaculate

(ri.is re,orrl otrul lxvinain) "rlio"-side since the racial riots in 1964, is proofrhat Singaporc is livina too comfortably and s'ould beata loss ifa crisis was tooccur. lherdo hnle

scl.ol. The rvillins.ess of SinsaDorea.s

alonrt

lo8elher is

conteDd

Lo worft eremulilled by (LeAsiin tsunamj of:roo4. Wh€. lhe tsunalni wrought d€vastation in many Sontherst,A.sian countries, Singapore $'rs the fiNi

r'l .'1 ,1" \rt 1r,1o,". 'i' l'I',J.IJ!1;l golcrnDcDt, .rDr.d forccs rs lvell

Sirgapor.'s

jndeDendent local grouDs coo

eilorLs and helped

'..

.

as

ftlinated Llie jr,int.eliel

in reconst.uctjon elfofts

as

Snrgaporelhs DothadaDythiDg serious to

witli siDce 196,1 other thdD threats fiom nembers of Jemaali lslamiyah fII), r terrorist organisati{D liDkcd to thc Al-Qacda. Thc fact that sinsaporc |as cnjoycd ovo 4() y.ars ofpcacc has l.d

t|ese crilics 10 conclude thal Singapore is loo ''ur.rlI anr.,irr ror.l,lL'a.I-'-,..,!. J;r.'r-'1,1: i..

whiLe

!,r 'Jl 'r; r':.,l.ur..,1pl"lrn l'i r.p Fbrnd supllies, ard or.tinrri cilih[$ mrdesenerolrs

On the contrary, Singapore's prolonged peare is

incontrorcrtible proofrhat she is more than disis.It is Singapor. s al.f.css

ready to face any

and preparedness lhal has prevenled anr. disasters

Debactors may clain thal Singapore only praclises drills and precautionuy measures, which are mere role-play ard not respoNes lurra(lrul .risi\. I\ ..1 ' lI .'...',lt l ' often conduct sirnulations of disastcrs. clr as am$s

'n,n r,

-,1

-..^ Jl,rn.8r.J-..r\+.'r...t'I.i.

liorn occurring thus far. lhis is epitomised by the foilins of tlie Yishun MRT bomb plot, in unich JI nienbers targeted US Na\apcrsoDncl travelliDg to

: , .,a

embassies in Sinsapore,

Jl e

r biolosical substance is released, the amy will be tlsked to control the c.o\rd. evacuate the a.ea, aDd

lier o$n 9/

. r.

tir

,.. fl .....1 Jnor,.J..-.t.f..

ultimatcll tutilc b.causc

'Jl

a

simulation is nothnrglikc

j I r^' .t-'.r, "^,lrl, hd..t r-'ll.i,.

rol iusl .rmongsl the public. but lhe urilo.or€d

rel as welL. I.ear irnpajrs judsnent aDd p fu.,.'rr-.1 . .1. r-..:..*r1. .li, rr.'1 '. perso

drill ue an nraccurate reflectiini ofihe haDdhrg of

Hotr€ver unilorme(l

it is incorrect to say thal the rer\on"el $ill fail in x real (.i\i\

excehrg duing puctice.

BJI

'

dccisivc actioDs uncovcrcd plaDs to blo$'

lheirmen toresl)ond rdeqLratelr. Irorexan\te, when

'r... .t-

\\'\J '. l\' :I

g

Il ' rr '..

uf forcign

aid lhe dete.tion

01

fi1ieen

bers. Snisalor€ averted what could hlr\e been 11,

and thjs caD be attibuted to her alDost

prescient abilitr to Dip

art probldn in

thc'

bftl.

In.onclusion, SiDgapre is largclypr.p.red for irturc .. .d t.rd ro L F, d\ .4- e r,6J .i-i rpr . , ..1J a.i. otl a loLal Dete ce systetrr, pe.lectionisL mentaliry in drills, rnd farsighted readiness. These factors accountfor hcr Nstaincd p.acc and cfficicDt dcahlg ofpot.ntially dangcrous sitMtions or.r tlrc last fc$' d.cadcs. No oD. crD forescc whet tlrc irrurc holds.

b,.''j'r,\l -d l.l-^plF ."'l".i"n " i.. pt, .Jriu, Jrinr|';1.-i ns.p"o,r,.' 1.,, wofth ofassets, rnd politicaL instability crn lead to

The pernnuel

r\idespread anarchr. Howev.r SiDg{porcxns can bc

flcctcd t{r haDdle disast.rs, bc it ots or biologicrl ttrrcats, arc thc v.+ bcst aDd thc! havc Dot only undergone t|e r.quisitc hrining, t|e!]].rve also bc.n menlally and pslchological!r' condiLioned to be

assurcddrat thcir cotrntr]'is ali{ays on drc lookout

despite

and pr.farcd to tacklir such adlersitics with

prcpar€d 1o. such lrd\'€.sitr'. l he .epeated simulations

,l'

Lr {ir'!., ur "-,!1.

eren'ttring shc docs, ftom

r,t rf.li'r r, r sintlc tcmpcraturc

iatnrs.ac.cisc in schools to a largc scalc militaN

3/

ER0ADtR

PlRSPtOlVt5 /1,.

rs\r,

i._srr

\rft[l{

C03 DAY

0i9

wt

I

The world would be a better place t{::y""ne spoke the same language.

I

n this era of globalisation where people all over the world interact with each other for reasons pertaining to trade, politics and leisure, it is not difficult to understand why a common language is sought after to facilitate interactions on all these fronts.

ln fact, Enslish

as the world's leading language has bFen ar :rrFSrdl roul bi dSrrg a'ld td.r..lrt i8 'n communjcation benveetr different groups of people today. Yet it renains disputable that the social, ccononic and politiczl ties bebt'een people md nations would improve as a resuit of us adoptins the same

Speaking the same lanAuaAe would certainly bring about ease of communication between

PHOTO CREDIT/

people, greatly facilitating trade in today,s interconn€credworld. Econonicslobalisationhas brousht about greater iDterdcperdence and necessitated trade betleeen countries. As such. a commonly spokeD lansuase would smoothen the proce.soi rd"- n.sorrd ion T\F LnCli nlilcl"8..

38

BR0ADm

PfRSPtflVtS

tle

J.la..i

"xdmp.F ur

a, lF,n $ill-

: r' r'sLi8.

rl,ar

llr I ob.l ".o.omj

h,

d-\r'ntn d ir tu bn nn " rhe

working lansuase of the world. Diplomatic ties can consequendy be strenstheDed through suc@sstul rrade deals. couDtries which do not speakthe linsu.t tranca

oftlie world mayfind thenselves lcft out, notj stin tenns ofthe opportunib' to realis€ economic bencfits thrcugh international tmdc, but also h thc area of building bilateral ties and coope.ation $'ith other

whilst rhe idea ofa common language rnay b ns about material benefits. it could at the same time make us all culturally poorer. Forernost is the issre offreserving ore's cibnic and culiural roots throush the continued usc of a native

essdy issle

WHA] IS

DO YOU KNI]W

't'1

.,,ISPIRIllIO?

rwnied by o Jevrsh (o led

t

PHoTo CREDIT/ spc.ftc,s afthc sk! kolq altc of P.ntecost tstand nr vanldtu o rc .,"ortrg .likt"n ! Dooks/ir. Filsl flr. i.l?! is tiat tht stud.nts l.arn t. rca.l in theit arDn longuage.fnsr oN nrcn iunsler noL.bilit! kLtet an to u pntu ipol tnc.lium ol erl cati.n,like langlth.r ti.e,ir,. trunrievriNan, flickr Crc.tive Conmons Cro{ld srudenrs.

Zo

renhof hoped thot wirlr

tjpe.ooio peoie dri rle rotiooo !rdetrrord fg

{6 to be nost effectively nnbibcd mdpassed on to the nen gcn.mtion through one s nothertoDgue. Should ihc fursua.ce ofa common noln1s can be argued

laDgnage, saythe English langoage,lead to a dec.eased uMge

ofone s molher tongue, then regrettably it cor d

lead to a w€akeniDs and loss of oDe's cultural tnoilledge and eventuallv oDet cultuml scnsc of belonging and

i.ientitl.

From tbc social perspective, speaking the

could promote better understardins between individrals, reinforciDg similruities raiher than the

Nn alons political and religious fauh lines, andthus solutions to ease such tensions tend to be mo.e complex.

tor

the largetuab and Muslim innnisraDt

comrnunities residing in Europe today, the abilitr' to

ir the same languagc as the comnruniq'that thevlivc with has Doi cased, much less resolved, the frcjudice agai.st them in t]re wake ol Lhe threats posed by Islanic t€rrorists. How then would oDe prcsnme that a commonLt spoken languase rvould inprove relatioDsliips betweeD counties aDd solve p.oblens at the intenational levcl? speak

sarne language

apprenr differences. Todavk societies arc norc dilcNc and multilingual than ever. A connron langlage would seNe to onile djsparat€ groups torvarft acomnronrision, iD

tl

t diffeiDg views aDd

opinions can be clearly articulatcd to fost$ nndeNtaDding aD.t facilitaic rcconciliaiion $'hcre

!:i il 1\i)l'i.1 ll rri _ii rlri much riifii'i rrii]r':i ,,1 ,,ll i ir,,i. rertair ll i|,: id cal t:ir;it riic stnlt' l a rt g u r g, e, s lr o k e rl C il ll \, '.ll (l coilil]li.lltrLiarr. -\,-rit !taili{lits. tolethri js g|ertlJ' \iclr {}F L!(i. nec€ssar!.

Y€t the

belief that the samc lan8raAc spoken

fojlded Edlhir

wif

tjperorro

n fod, l]ir

o5 on

Nw the lews

liope

s sed

donple

{se if!o

led

o{

il

m inlemolioml o npiro.y ro oih dr wor d domiDotiol llolin roo dsmmed ir 6 'rhe hnqmse o, spiei' ord kpemnro spmker

hod o I

d

oled

Iorprdiir! m lhgole{id loog!oge.Todoy irg!isrs lholhm tr€ mly "limole 1,000 tspemnro n{' !e jpeols5

{Cerse 50rc5 belos

rhc mon Iomo!r) vhlle 100,000

to conclude, jt is not necessa.il) the

!je I

((r !e

y

...IHt T0WtR 0t 8A8tt?

case that the

worlct would be a better place ifevcryone spokc thc same

lan$agc

as

that in itselfcan creaie undesnable

outcomes as in the case of a s€akened sense ol cultural

idenliry, as weli

Breatly duLLing an othenvise dive.se and h,ely workl. Neither shorld rve naively believe as

that speaking the sane latrguage caD unite the wo d to the point ofresoh'iDg conflicts that largely stcn from ideological and rcligious differences.lt

all is thc rie thar binds the diff€rent races and narionalities together is simplistic. The lrcubl€s Lhal we lnce ir this post September rr era

ER0lDtR

be

ir

Finally, ifthere came a tibe when evervone really spoke the same language, then it could portend a drab and dull wolldwhere people think the s:me thouahts, adopt the slme world view drd share rhe same culture throrah that one lanAuaae. Surc, one can argue that the unity oft|e world can ilus be achieved but at the cost of the richDess irherc t within a direrse hunan societv.

b-v

39

As

lo rq uoq e

trperonro hos ro rperi{. (lrure (nd fee ! orrli(iol

o!ld

ormother tongue. Cultural kno$']edge, pruciices and

ro

slobo

orgmge orguuge

or ir!efred

i*.*

reoled

m msy md {exible

*ond

mon

loinerho{if rhe ob

cduy ilws

l9lh be

I

Iodoy, ws !5e tfre

'bobbh to

{ori

msor rorrfused

ipeedr A(ordinq to'he

or(old (Grieri5

ll

B

hlrc

4) lre ary

ol Eobelrow huse fork5 of peop

e rhqi vere

uniled

beroure tlrey rpoke tlre snrne

lofs!oqe lhey

deaded rll bui d

o tover tho rould reorlr He!!en riel{ 5eeirq llrotrlre rovoof BobeLwosrymloIrol Mm!di,osoffe Godoollled

$eir Mqloqs ord nrlrered rhe peop e thmuqlrul tlre

PIRYEOIVIs f/

p.ss.r

i(vr

wt[(

003

DAY

020

To what extent do young people in your society take an interest

in politics?,,,,,.,,,.,". outh and politics do not commonly

go together in Singapore. In fact, it is not far -fetched to say that a large majority of young people, especially students in schools and universities, are hardly

aware of political issues on the domestic liont today.

Very few tal<e on politics as

rnatter of active citizeDry,

or as haaing a right to

tow the line results in youDg people un$'illing to take the initiative to take part in active cilizenry, heDce

towards Singapore politics. This is a result brought on b)' a complex mix of socio economic and polirical

their opjnions forn no more than complaints against lhe govenment's policies. They are resigDed io the fact that their opinion woLrld not have any b€anng on ihc govemment s policies, thus there is no motivation

a

a political view. Many prcbably either do not have anv views at all, or are charactcnsed by wlut is cornmonly accepted as a seDeral apathy

to tak€ any constructive actioD.

Perhaps one of the more obvious reasons

for

the low level of political awareness and activism is rhe shaping ofrhe political climate t'y PAP, Singapore's dominant political party. Its strong hand in evelr facei of society has produced a stable political dnnate and brought abont sreat economic prosress which has propelled Sinsapore to

PHOTO

CRIDII/

.d\tllE, lrickr

The exlent ofthis peFasiwe aparhy seems even more apparent whenju\.taposed against young

people in orher countries, where they are ofren rhc ones to initiate protests and demonstrations to voire their dissert. For instance, the historic protest for democract at Tianannen Square in 1989 was helned by univcrsir!

Iirst World countlv

standards. Yet, it has also broushl aboul a weali.ened political opposition. A fcrceived climate of fear" pcNades the political

sludents. [ollowiDs dleir ]cad were thous:nds of othels who joined nr the peacetul demonstration which ended tragically. Yct, the youth s desire to scc change and to

donain where anyone who wishes to

effect thai change can sometiDes gain a powerful mome.tum skong enoughtotopple a regine.

be involved in politics shotrld hold dissenting views btrt be Eady to

40

8R0A0[R

PtRSPtflVtS

tie e.rsa! issre

DO

of Indoresia

outside his school lifc. A local sociologisl once observed that the hea\T curricular demands .,n

students iD 1998ledto lis eventual resignalion, thus

studerts these daF leave liltle roon for them to tliDk or to pursue thei. jdeils or passioDs. EveD the

for example the lale Suhar-to, formcrPresidert

Take

for over three decades. Widcspread demonstrations sparked off first by universit-v "nding

l -"r rr, . i, t'n'i.i lJ 'ul rp:or lr i-

int€.esting to note howcver, that in these two exanpLes, there was already a sro$'ins discontent

anongst the population, s.,me kind of crisis that rgs about an emotional fenour that notivated

b

educatjon system's attempt to nurture natioDalistic

pdde and concern for tlie couDtry i the fonn of National EducatioD coDsists of a retelling of sirgapore s history and thc need to preserve the tundamental tenets oiSnrsaporc's cxistence. There

r.hardh.'1) i'-l) dr,u' \p ib^u' r,l'l.tolri'.

Tl]

IOI

S

A TOIAL GROUPTHAT

PROMOII5 AOIVI OTIZII1RY

\i]{W

RIA(H GOV!O

llonllorhm

ideor

vl$ orflj'

SirsoporcorJ llrd

{ork o!l

Io[,8 p.nt]i lnJ.r. l]- \:JnF.ononi..ri.is at thal time cripflcd nNch of Indonesia s own

or cvcn how to bette. our society. This has the

lo develot rlre 5irsqpore yo!

econont,lhus the desire for chaDgeto see a better lile is Dot just a political issuc but a questjon of

untbtunatc cffect ofNational lducntion being secn as mere propaganda by the student population, hence

wmllo

lnp

zlF,"linL

hen

.v",

futl.1, I

s

i1 ,1:'liun/l :*u,'

this leadsto anothcrpossible reason for theapat|y

All is not lost thoueh. Onc can look to

of initiaiivc for the young to involve The good life broughl about by economic progress and political stability h6 produced a generation ofyouns people who are laraely concerned wiih maintaining that hiAh stand{Id ofliving. The nah goal upon sraduation is to set a well paying job and all of one s encrsy is focused on that.

thc internet as a tool to encourage poliric involvcmcnt amolgst local youth. CybeNpace is a sale place for thcm to express thei. political

lnd

Lack

themselves in politics.

tl,lil'r 1:, i ,l -l

studentca)'le coh $'ho blogged passionatel], about not iust poliiical issues but also her lision and hoFs fbr Singapore. T|c PAP itselfalso sees the eedto engage young people a.d nufture tlieni to become thc tuiure leaders ofits political pafy. Yorurg P

r-ii:i-.

$as formed precisely to do this. to sho$'young people

A politicaL ca.eer is probably not on the averag€ younB

pe*on's agcnda. l

l

te

t ttttr.r

,. .'. r ':.rt en, r'|i'!allcri ja, 5:r11r,ir,o|e 1i:rs '''l:

ll

,l \.,.r:

. r,i

li

li'

1

',,1,.t ,' r' I il', r;,.,.:,1 , r,: .l ,lir '..1 ,t,-. 'l ."r'i ,r,.i.. 1,,l.r,ir'lrir oi

rrLrlr-(

,

('r iieii!)f:rs.

Sonc ]ouths assum€ thal it is sonconc else'sjob to iate

ore ofthe countr] s needs. The knrd,s of domestic

foreisn policies inplemented by the governmcDt iseither ofno conccm to them or they see no means or

ofeffecting any change, hcnce

it

"

the ropcs and gettiDg them to be invoh€d. E\cn the opposition Wo*crk Part-v Youth Wing has rc$uitcd

-;

1r.".'

be r:rt,',LtiLtiii,::

opinion without fear of bcins poirted at or singled out. The.e a.e a gocd nurnber of bloss tliat are soleb dcdicatedto political comrneniara. ODc ofthe nore notablc ones was a blog b) a (then) junior collese

is just better to

'hind one s own business.

the counlry's mrch-lauded €ducarion sysrem is a conhiburina factor. Largely a top-do\m structure, studenrs arc srooDred to excel in academia. Reiv.trd and In this aspect,

a handlirl ofloung sraduntes and working people to firrther the ir\,olvernent ofyouDs peopie in politics.

whcthcr thc formation of such youth folitical oryanisations encourages a riore !olitically librart society remains to be seen. Prime Minister Lc. articulated rhc r{ont'ing situation oflhe absence of strong leaders silling to take over the poljtjcaL reins oDce the presenl Cabiret retircs.It is iDdeed cnrcial to nuftLu€ politicall)-en8iged youths $'ho are $illing to extcnd themselves for the country's sake and to see thenrselvcs as asents ofchange in local poliiics. h fact, any tbmr ofparticipation, ev€! at agrassfoots level, is prelerable rathcr than simply playing lhe

clric

and takitrg a backseat.

mosnition are given to those who cxcel acadeDicatly. Trus there is little motivalion for ihc student to thit*

41

SR0ADIR PtRsPtO

VtS l/rccssat/ tssr.

(t

uliont vilh rhe gowrfirenl

feed

b

iee?

!

!l

Joii RtAIl]

rhe

tlnir'! ldr!'r

WEEI( OO3 DAY O2i

Entrepreneurship is just another name for personal greed. Discuss.

ince the Digital Revolution explosion in the 199os, which ushered into the world an unparalleled flurry of economic activity and financial growth, Commerce and Capitalism have made plenty of enemies in the world. At €very World Trade Orga sation and Lrternational Monetdf Fmd neeting, angry prcte.stors bum e8igier ofRonald McDonald and wave banners condemning the actions ofsta$ucks, Nike and Shell. Linu geek

one another and trading them for profit. Business beneUts the entrepreneur himself as

his

conniuniv

wel

as

oihers in

because it is simply about being able

to create thinss that meet others' needs and beins

Microsoft fairly compcnsated for carrying out such se icc. and dubbins Bill Gates abisbillion'rrc F,ntIrDILrnc u rshil is silnDIV hat

fight out an online wa. decrying the monopolv b,.1) r huugh L4t// away with

srp?,. Cordol L, crr..nuld g.r smnknE crcedis ciod dudnstbemon;y

mad 1e8os, that catchphrase and that era

lisi(-Laliillg, su|r'iVal-secliitrg,.

itsellhas ct'eative and inr-cniiYe hutran

j iL rr l)t-lllFs \\olll(l lliltlllllll\ l,. ll)cllllt-rl tntrFpreneuAhip-.rriunroJr to seek iinaDcial success on one's oM - has become to do - in Various rravs. rviLl.l coloured with o r disdain for capitalist srced and r.Arr in;1 tlegret,s irl SltCCeSS. rn fact, unLultrolkd mxterilbnl . ,l^ , Nobel Prize winner and pioneer ofthe microcredii oc.^T, . s}l

hol of

r\"

wdiLon "".F".Fi ot ind

ana !oryo_drF8r"pd

PHOTO CREDIT/

Objecti\cly. an cnrrepr€neur i\ nothing more than a person who has decided to take on personal risk tu venture YEururc out oul in rurxrrts a 'r to 'r runnins .u11i\J. pursuit pJr.ui. business. In o-s n,ple econonic ofsinple "."nnn,r. surfiml, the human mceF has hJ. ala.ays itsav.. bcen h".r crcatnrg crF.ri things rrlnr. for rnr

movement Muhamnad Yunus' craneen BaDk liftcd

tt.o,bdnd.u totpo\,|ilbve\1Fnd;nstuhpma."rp" or mrcro-toans to en.ourrge their entrepreneurial spirii. usins Using their tiny infusi;D infusioD of capitat capital ro to srarr smatl smatl *.,,rr provision busjnesses t,u{r €\e. tike ike basket oaq^Fr wearitrss or r_o,i"ion,t,,p. sliops,

I

"

I

'a

l I 47

dflUAolB

PtR)lttllvt!

th,

r"rt,J ts

u"

I

I

tIARNThI5:

mnltjtudes of poor Bangladeshis. Haitians and fillipiDos $€rc able to indeDendently senemte nrcone for themseh€s. The Cmmeen Bank's manycustomers

s nor uLr ul :\Jri, qd:.' hi. ru ir/Jr. r.Jr'umii

L!.JnrF erlrpr're,4L tn(-dpreneur.h:p

oppod'.ril:Frlurllrn's-l\ {}, r-none',erpBi!., dBn. Clearly, entrepreneru ship ar its purest motitalcd }) lhc pra.tical nced to suNive and ihc desire ro provide for one's family.

It is wh€n entrepreneurs make a great deal of money when we judge them the most harshly. This stenis fron our mjstaken belief that money itselfis a cormptirg aDd tainting force and righteousness cannot bc found hand in hand wiih richcs. Wc oftcn espouse that money is the root of

to

all evil" wiihout realising that we have misquoted the

is

original tsiblical verse that pinpoints "tne loue o/ monev is tlie root ofall e!il." MoDey aDd po$'er may tenpt enh€pretreurs to become grecdy aDd corrupt,

Greal enterprises have also been founded upon or propell€d by the good, inspiring even noble - passions and purposes ofits founding enrrcprcncurs. Beyond tbe muDdane Deed to survive, elery human being aspires to actualise the best and most beautitul parts ofhim or

but money and polrcr should Dot bc iaken as evidence of grccd in thenNelves. Rather, the riches generated

iill \\al}L lo create. to itt l,'\, , 1'r i, .r\ ' :r lirrt rl'1, ,ir..i.;rl r'',l,,,r, lri.L, \,1 .r. \tr. .l' ,,rt.r).r,. (r, rlrtir aspiliLtions ira\'tirl-re tiic iillli 01

werc and how wcll the entlepreneur met those needs.

hcrsclf.

1'{c

.' l,l,t'.:r ..'r .- .r Lrt ,ir..

,,,'lt, , L lr'. /\r.t,r\ : tl'1. 1'i< ' \ ')il :l (ri t r:4tr''. I cllf4'-.lt(.:. rhr br.r

by a. entrepreneur could bejust a neasure ol how successlully he has supplied the goods and senices societv xiiling to pay for it. Reventre is simply a measurc of holv gmat thc nccds

that are demanded by

a

the disadvantaged. UnkDowD to many chocoholics,

thclatc cntrcprencur Milton S. H.rshcfs chocolatc cnpirc channels millioDs into sustanrnrg cducational p ogmrnr ,F\. mp,l al cpn -" ,,ij,r, -11 tra ri"g crntes and cultural acLnities in Lhe Derry township Nh€re it all began.lhe lareAnita Roddick used her BoO shop enpire to spread the sospel of fair trade,

cquitable treatment of womeD and grc.n consumerisrn. H$ husband cordon Roddick prcduced the ah'ard winning flrc Biq /ssue. a current aflans nagazine which employs honeless people as

their silesnen. r'he Grameen Eank itself is qtrintesseDtially a profitjnakiDg noneyleDder (tlat sccmnrsl) most srcedy of finaDcial cntcrpriscs) a

hishd Dut])osc.

43

a-'4

Jomio

@,.--,

0livd 5lilben

(UKJ

trshrNei thek {snso poo)

ADVOTAIY & AWAR I I! ISS

ffin9 .*'__

1

\vhire

lood #03 {50!!pore) rlxr!shr (!rnsopo.e) tuod

billiors mt because hc $rs sr ecdy but bccausc billions ofpeople werc prcparcd to payhim ihat much for thc levcl ofconlenicDce and efficiency broug|r into thcir$olkins lives by Nficrosoft so1r"are.'llat Gates

Da tols(U5A)

klroo'o'ollhoush{5msopo,e)

PROV]DII{6IORTHIPOOR

went on to use his wealth to nrn the world s richest

dnll lh

r' nu . pu{-rtrl fuLrJ.'riu,. L rJ.r'3

turther silcnce critics \rho think he is nrerelygreedy.

(L]r^)

ivp

through actual operations forexanple, employnent of th€ disadvantaged or pu.chase ofnaterials frorn

it uscs moncvfor

,-c

woner would need and want to be freed from the coDst.aints of fussy d.esses. Bill Gates made his

by aDy othcr non govonncntal organizaiion should

but yct

: ,{qf,.--r") \ n,a\** ., - _ u{of

Ihe B,s krue (U(l

exanples of such are socjal eDterprises: busiDesses

.i1' s iLq.ll...^ r tli,l .s lhpL^cia-olle

u\1Pt0YMIN]

his millions because he forcsaw a world $ne.e modern

that trade in Soods or sen'ices for a social pur"osc. Hcrc prcfits maybc uscd to sutfort social aims or u

S$

AROU|lOTHfWORID

EDtrcpreneu al designer Yves St Laurent anassed

educatioD ard medical rcsearch at a icvcl unmatchcd

l'r1

IOT AL ENTIRPR

&R0ADlR

In conclusion, by mistaking the entrepreneurial spirit for $eed, we fisk not seeirg the forest for dre trees. True, the lust for rccosnition and thc snrn call ofa lifesble ofnratedal cxccss and public adorarion hale caused nany bumble entfepreneurs io run ss€atshops,

cuL

corrrers,

depdve their e rployees ot benents in the dane of

frofit maxjmizaiion. iSiLL Lo sitrtlli stct.taltl ll1r iLli bu:r jrf slilrl(.lt :1:l j , I r'',1 l\ i,.,.r,. 1 | t, _,r,,i \ , , ,l' r, i.- 11.'11. 1,.'..1 ', n;

ilrd to in:rrlli th. i,rliilig:f ,-'t.1' LIte ilititr stLisiieii lllit;liitiar's r', llo

ilavc

I,r1i1l Lbcsr,::

ilr

i eti

r;er

PfRSPfUlvf5

rr

rres

ti..sr,,

lliarlts Lhcii

$

iscrp

'rtll

tNV RONMI}IT

1"A \{:/ Ir

td€tr ftoied {UK)

IE

Body tlmp lU (J

DOTHIS: 5TAR]YOUR OW1

SOI]Ai INTIRPRISI

), lll

t Lt

,rr";;;;;;;-, w/cormlsingoFed(sg

rg

W'nr 530,000 o{opllo ro umFtun yow 0rr i le{iiol

iliEEii flCI: FA'l i}??

ales ofghosts, gods, heroes, mysterious happenings,

tragedies, noble acts fascinate people and get passed from one generation to the nert. Due to their dramatic

nature and the mystery that surround them, mlths and legends often have a strong hold over children and people who are superstitious. However, in modern Singapore where people are trained to think scientifically, logically and pragmatically and where popular culture is heavily plugged into the latest and newest on the global scene, is there still a role for mlths and legends to play? Given Singapore's srrorg push for scientilic

knowledse ald economic success, the praranutism in this natioD leaves verv little room for m]'ths abd legends, thirss that require an appreciation for whimsy and an oral tradition oftellinA tales. Storics aboLrt a prrce spotting a lion on SingaDorck sho.es or a siant swo.dfish that juniped out ofthc sca and killed people

seen PHOTO CRaDir'/

ticulous aDd north lert little, in light ofthe foctrs that SjDgaNrchas on the l tureasseeninthe national habii of forecas tjrg and plannnrs ahead. on

I'p urd p r,lr.JnJ.,r-.r..r,l,ng,r Ir"a

44

BR0ADtR

PtRlPtOlVti

Thc most visible way mlths ald leacnds have a rote in Singaporc is iD rhe tourism industrT, iyhere they ale used ro creatc a slronger sensc

of Singapore's distinctivcness and intercst people lvho wanr to know about its more distart past. Scntosa's musicalfoutain shos lses sods and mi-thological creatu.es likc drasors in a more entettairing and lnique vcrsion ofSingapore's

r""U. "t"r,U,",,"r "t'li that thet remajn important in more developed to play in Singapore but th,.

countries like Euopcan countries aDd Japar, suggestilg their vahc cvcn in educated, nodc.n

orignrs beyond its coloDiai rast. Asian mlths also create a diferent flavou for tourisls who conefi.n,

ri, .$,q,,\rc

DOTHIS: W,{TiH THt O(BI IIIIGAPORI

citi€s thensehes aDd may oDb see a cosnopolitan

liS ifnot for the

tNr

guidcs and ai tou.ist attractiors. W'hilc somc mav olicct to thc fabdcation of Dr)ths, it js c.ucial in cDgaging the in.gination and .reating a sirongtl idea ol Singapo.e tlan rcal and concrele lacts cnn do at ti es. Assuch. myths and legends specillc to Sinsapo.e hrve a role stories told by

plal in helping to naintain its disttuctir€ness and creatirg a icher expcricDcc fortourists. to

$ftilc the locals may nor buy into mlths that have been created specifically forrourists or €xaggerated for commercial purposes, they too benefit firom the meuilgdeated by thc nltns rhat enend Singaporels history bcyond $nrat is ahcady wcll-documcnrcd in hisrory. Ior cxanplc, the ver:v nane Singapore , neaning lion cit!, draws iLs meanjrg hollrlhe legend ofSang Niln Utama spottirg a beast he tliought sas a iioD Nhile on tlis isiard. The fact that no lions have becD laomr to crist h.rc imbrcs mvsticism toa nanre that

oihcniscwouldseernnonsensical. Irthisfounding Snrgapore is a name that carries a sense ol hop€ and wondern.d Singaporems callbenefitf.om

storr'-'.

' ,hp^i.:'. 1.,rul.'.u, o:\rr .l' l.\-b,.'r llL "a.e

roo.l\

i\tirs

an,:l lcgcrld-s sLi-pllli

rreaning \\:her irold. halC fircts fail iLn(l lrlsh:cl iL nL.cd il llcoilli. L()

r .rl. :rr\, , l ll il| r.., ,.

lhrotrg,lt

l

i1

il , ll.\

sr.ui], LirlL cuiriroL be

singaporeaDs can also benefit from the stloDaer seNe ofplace that mlths ard lcgcnds give, deating for thcm a city that is morc than mccts thc c}t. MFhs c.losel) associatedrith places like lt€dhill and the Sisterlslands p.ovide sto.jes of d.aDutic happ€DiDgs that give a basis fo. tlieir nanes aDd help cemeDt in people's n rds ihc sigrlificaDcc

ofthe place. civeD that Rcdhill has bccornc a busl HDB io$n, ha\iDg thc siory ofthc boy w|osc blood staincd thc soil as . testan)ent ofhis murde. alier

salinit t|e lilla8e pajn(s a djllerent picture of Silgalore loerls to

aplacewith a colourful pastand allows berand the nNndane.

as

Jao

45

ER0ADtR

The morals in mltlN and lesends also serre ro cmphasise ceriain values rhat arc ccnhal ro humanity and can be used ro teach our children. 'lhe leilend ol Redhill highliBhts the

THIATRT FI5TIVAI ?OO8

briver) o{ a clikl and hoiv one person can save i whole viLlage, wliile tlie mlth ofthe Sjster lslarcls conmenrcrates the sh ong love bctwccD sisteN. W-hilc

many may prcf& to usc Wcston talcs to do this nrstead itilen the abundance ol resources on the martet, Lhere is a role lbr iocal mrLhs and legends lhat convey lhese values e,hiLe helping tr, cr€ate ar Aliar identirr_ tlut is comnotr to SirgaporeaDs. This i.tentib creatjiD is madepossible alsobythe use of thcsc talcs in local tcftbooks.

Other than more historical myths, popular mlths and legerds aboutplaces ir Sirgapore

contirueto have releyuce. U$aD legends and supe$titions continue to grip tcople's imagiDations a. nvid i.nd

l\ rh, .1.c". ,-rl .

lnca-

...r'".

Strodpore C/rosaSlories and lV p.og.n i)res like /no.dib1e Tirles that portral' nyths ofghosts and uncanny happenings in SiDgapore. Tlie sirgapore Paranorml IDvestigato$, a g.o p tliat investigates such stoics ni nodcrn Singaporc, dcmoDstratc thc rcal inicrcstin such mlihs. Thc endudng belief that es mtths a d legends a plac€ iD ShgaporeaDs' iDlagiDations that will continue despite scientific prcgress.

unexplainable Lhings lnppen gn

'll'^,8h ,\ah. rd.9.,d\.J. ,, naLt.IlrJ r, ' .l.l'L "... irr. trigr Jrici, I' o'\i'galo1 r-rir .ole nr appealing to the iniaginaLion and !roliding another dinension to life and physical reality continues to be inportart. Other couDtries corltinue

to enbrace their foundiDg n)ths aD.l legeD.ls of hcmes tast as aDd crcatnrg

a

$'ay ofundcrstaDdiDg thcmsclvcs

.r.aning a.d idcntiry.

ID likc manncr,

Sinitapore s m)1hs and legends nrar becone ore inportint in Lhe lace of scientillc prog.ess thit seeks

to quaDtit and qualifi ni wavs tliat seem reductive o. steile. SinSaporeaDs rrill continue b need to belic\ethat thc land thcl inhabit aDd b) crlcDsioD, thcv too arc uniquc through m)'ths and l.gcnds that enrpnasise boundless possibiliries beyond our inmediate present and that give a se se ol drann

rnd.olonrto onrhonrF

PlRSPftll\/f5

tip.sd

It

i(s,p

lr0i

6rh r(l

24rhAuqrr, o(lll

theolre qrcup W!tD Rltl pressrrs o ar e5ofp oy5 !bl)!r lro{ \irqogoE s m! rk! tur! m'/rhs

!fd

wtuw

roqerher

lrom

lhe Swordfisl lhe,

hisro'iiol eqefdj to.onnrud our

The Concubine

ft

fhe

Last Tenptatian of SiaDiord Ratrles, prepft e km(loni( m tll of

for on

Auguir!

The world of the future will be a woman's world. Do you agree? , , \,,

i,.

.

omen in positions of power and control, and looked upon with the same amount of respect as is usually conferred onto men - these certainly count as credible qualifiers ofa "woman's world" but are definitely not the be all and end all of such a world. A woman's world essentiallv is a world where all women are not only respected but also celebrated. It is a tall order, and the world may not be able to achieve such an ideal, but it most definitely can come close. The participatiol ofwomen in politiG iI our day and age suaAests that a "woman's world"

is possihlc in thc futurc. Hillar)'

PHOTO CREDIT/

Clinion,

cermany's Ansela Merkel and Condoleezza Rice are jusi few of the nanr' rlonen $ho are slarling to acti!e!- tatG part in politjcs and in high l€vel positions at that. Ofcourse we do not expect to see ail-female govemments fifty yeaN on, but g.anting political rights to womcn is the first step towards gcnder

infanously reslrictive UAE, a totnl of nire rroncn $€revoted into its National Fedeml Council forthe first tine ir 2oo7. Likewise in 2oos. Ku$'ait s govcmnent finilly gale their \eomcD tull voting dghts as r{ell as the chance to run for pDblic olfice. Gii en thatin the 199os, Kuwaitandthe UAE did rlot allow ilonen any poliiical rights, such political headway signals nore freedom tc, be confe.red rpoD i{omen

cquality in Dolitics. In a landnrark nove for thc

46

BR0ADIR

PtRSPt0lVtS

tie

essav lssuc

TIARNIt]IS: FORBIS'LISTOI

t"oking

lion

econonic peNpective, who is to say that womcD caDnot mnatc cven rnorc hcadleay? Wo.ren such as Ho Chnrg and tbe late Dame Anita aD

Roddick head some

corpo

oftle world s mosr

successful

tions- paving the war for the common woman

to Dotiust eDterthe ilorkforce but to be ambitious

.

,d

.lrr h

and spoft is enousli to an$rer fo. much ofthe abuse, and deDial ofhlunaD nghts that basis in countrics

coltinres

on a daily

aheadt underivir to increase (he ernploymeDl oi wone! especjally in Middte Dastern countries, such rs the UN's Milleniun De\elopneDt GoilsforSaudi Arabia, wonen are Dow given nore opporllDities to be nnancialb nrdependeni. Ifit is a numbers same

playing, the common workplace $'ill iDdeed become a "$oman's world" in rhe we are

to speak out or defcnd thcrnsclvcs. To ihcse doubts, I point ou{ thal lhemedia is alread}, prcpaftrg us for a chang€, and urging us lo payaltention towonen\

slecific, but the inpact of ilonen on the d€nographic

ofsports has underiably changed the wa) the ivorLd sccs it. Thc image ofspofts as a hardy, t!"ically male endcavor has chanscd $ith thc cmcrscnce of $omen such as Nlichelle Wie andVenDs andSerena williaros. Michelle Wie became the nrst lenale golfer io qualjll for a men's tounament in 2oc)5. Likewise, the $llliams sisteN have astounde.t $'ith tlieir sheer power on couft, sho$'ing that thcy ioo can play like the big boys.

iutei'estirglr. lvithoLtt

\\r)lIelt rt'sll()tt. In''r'e \\()r'trt t)r' ,to \r r lt lir t_ ir- l:r'lll, r : | -i,,,l l cithcr'. If niii fbl ilre stllish rir esses

Slir|lil{l\ a or shirl tl aLiirc of Annili:L Solcrstanr thc nrale -rrtr.;,ieit .ttl lr.cr \\1,t, (l ltlrr" 'r', oI L\Ia|ii]

erldofsenlcl) L Lieals. rhc world of spolts haslorDed quite gleefully fronr the rnen io cmbracc

1,1051

PoV/tRILlt w0M81

Tl]t W0Rt0 2007

i.aNcttaMiRt(ft thoi(ello., cermony

Morc and cclc}rilics cre rsina lheir 'norc lame to support causes for women's rights and febale empowerment. The morc famous ones include the eler popL'lar Oprah Winhey and

\H 2

WU YI

her nuch-debated Leadership Academy for Girls, Nicole KidmaD and her participation iD LINIFEM as

' go..lsllr',\a.Jdnr.J,dl4Jq..L'nn.. rlp.'81 to slop gender apartbeid in AfghaDistan. Lesscrknown bu t equall) capable of providins supNr arc bilLionaire activists s ch as Sig.id RaLrsirs whose

Evcn the sportinA world has becorne sohewhat of a rlwoman's world" already. Admittedl), sports has rol aL'ays been geDder

N

whoc woncn harc no opportunities

l,- Jr,\.. tr' 2n,r. r2, ,. 5 r,.Jpu'-s

workforc. were $orncn, making uf alnost half of th€ irorking popLrlalion. With irteDational €ftofs

r00

r'1i-r'Jm-J lr

r.l

,,r"1.$,mF1

.r:ghr.gr",p

foratuture$at

olTemolek Io d]n05

Sinqo|)ore

n

London, chana, Canada and Poland, and ceorge Soros rose Iniernaiional Womcn's Program reaches as laras Uganda. The initiativeiaken by ihcse pcoplc to advance women s.ights cnLrses are c€rtainlynoble, atrd a.e not to be igDored. The e11ort lhal goes jnto snch causes prepares us

it0

4.

t0llD0Ltun Rttt

celebrales

womcn and their value nr socielt'.

.\ uonlarr's r.,l,'r'lr-l lL;riId .,r', .1n,::r t',,lil\.,, r-,lir\ '11, Lr ,,,i Jj tr l lll' 1, j1..ll.l'. r-li rlr, r. ' r, " .'',i.1 i. . r rt' '..i1'1.. tl' : ,, r( ,i"r ttlri ,t: l-an t ' r.. , "tY rliilr:r'cr',r, 1bl cr.cli onc io iislcc ,.rt-,ani,lr;usl.; ol-! :ur\ ulte ilril!!. ,

ce cone close to it, though, and what we already see in our $orld toda! js encotrrasing. The snall .t"t,h Ja ral,ng r.l,id,dint\"IBhrJi ",.i"l and hopetully, s'jth effort and a bit oflDck, thc \orld We

ofthe tuture willc€lebrate noljusL wonar nl this world. rt

a

lronan but €!€ry

5

I0RAK t{00Y

tt0 olPepsiio,

U.5 A.

wltRf lRt s0Mt 0TffR

IAII()II\

AMN t)NTHI I\T?

Gl;?! ?]

OPRAHWI1IRIY

23.oL]tHt 0ueef,

24.

Mt

I

ZABITH

I

U l(.

N0,\ GATTS

tofoundu ond {o thoirmon ol th, Blllood Msliido Gors

It is possible ofcourse to argue thar nothing

in the tuture is certain, th{t the general population ofwomcn in the world is still not ad€quatelytakcn care of. Onc is noifaulicd for

25. HIIIARY RODHAM TL NTOIl

questioning if equal parLicil)ation in politics. ecnnomy

w{v.10ft s.{omr'l 5ry'2007111./

4/

ER0lDtR PIRSPIOIVIS

Senolor of l,lsw Yo*, U.S.A.

RIAD THI RIST OFTHI L ST

r/)c.ssa! issr,l

r',ifiti |ir;i lli,'i il:1:

To what extent do the newspapers and magazines that you read deal with what is trivial rather than what is importaflt? ,,,,,,, ., ,,,,,,, oys who love their toys have MAXIM,

Stuff and FHM; White collared women can find a little piece of pastel-coloured middle class heaven in Martha Stewart's Liuing and, Real Simple; Fashionistas have Vogue whlTe foodies have that gastro-porn classic Gourmet; and of course, the more serious-minded and cultured crowd will champion their Economrst and Wall Street ,Iournal. It looks like we are getting a good mix of publications catering to different crowds with different needs. So why then have cantankerous media critics like Noam Chomsll been moaning over falling editorial standards, trivialised content and accusing publishers of bending to the winds of a fickle audience? The quesrion does pose a somcwhat false (li(holomy by prcsupnosinA r}lat trit iat rhinas have no importmcc at all. It srnacks ofintellccnral snobbeD for chonrsky and his ilk Lo tell us whal rye like to.ead is tuivolous aDd$'|ar thevlikc ro read is

rnpna",

l

lr l" I

lri.,.

:

t1., ,.

,i|,i..r..,,r-,rl..l-. r;i leir ti al-i ltits:;'.'li,l:ti,:ltit: otrt ,r':.. ' :l .t: , t:t.:i!::t,j''. :r:rotitci' ttiltf 's,I lelleri ll itois0l. The trivialiry," and imporrance of conient is qtritc

{.bi,,1i\"t^onF!on-.ni in.-r.. . ar dr,r"r-"son.

'the latcst issue ofGrurrret discusscs rhe delighls of beekccping. howtojuice cheries, who makes to besr cocktail in the United States and whether Michelle Obana should nake cookics. yogre ediior Anna Urirtour is absolutely serious wheD shc pontificrtes on the sisniticance of Karl Lageffield's hem leDsth or the versatility of LoubouliD heels. These topics of

48

BR0ADIR

discussion are hardly ground-breaking or cven

'iEr''l' - r' ,F,iri'" t. a $orld trt'o. {rr, t"ninF povctland natu al disaste$_ It rnay even be highlt, olTensive to some in the light ofthe problcms ofthe

$'orld. Neusuee/. s special issue or livcs of rhe supcr Rich caught a lot offlack as it can-" smack in rhe

m

in Myannarand Sichuan. But fashion desisno, or even to those

ctle of tne disasters

stili, to

a

chefor

a

nrnr\ pfl^yr\esutd ,r.,.in D. a.hiur thse is a ptac€ for such tublications. Publicarions thai 1€arur€ a lilrle bit of

u' sh\o

and other material soodness,

quirldDess, colour, fun and focus on the frivotous" p:ns of life should not be condenmcd as unimNrtant

ard tivialjust becausc tney are not wh.rllvcent.ed on conventionally more serious issues. Wc alt need our little escapistjoys in a worid overslrado'led by nu.,roildn,lrLrn^il.bFit Fad.ne Jbou , ro, r-t rg. sipting Merlot in TLrscany ornhether Heath kdger's Joker outshone Jack Nicholsor's.

PtRSPtolVtS the essdy issde

RIADTHI5: GRIATNIUI5PAPIR5AND

particular forccs in today's publishins wo.ld are t.ivialisin* what is impoftant. tt is no secrel

dislingLrish belneen 1|e need to nraintain

that lhanls to capitalism, lhe world of publications has evolved nrcreasnrgly irto a public-owled, profi t-ddvel drd lud-nosed

Now, antone of a!l' age with an internet connectio.,

eDterprise. Reputable publicatidrs eist of cou$e

repoter's ediics {Dd r crutious frct-checking edjtori. tcaDr, bloggcrs can gci a$'ay with f.DDnrg thc most danrnilg (.nd Ict dcliciorFly .Dicn.innrg) otinioD tieces. Hence, eler since the lnLernet lvas born, tr'aditional publicatioDs arc witncssiDg a slo$'b t

But whar wc should discuss is how

bui thcsc rar. siala arls arc usrully ormcd by

a.alth]

fanrilics or financ.d by foundalions $'ith an 01d lashioned scnse ol roblessc oblis€ and nrtrnicifal p d. h'ho fccl abo!. t|c n..d to squcczc thc last rcd 0enl oul ol depends

o.

PostleaDs

tieir

the Sulzberger

o

'fi.,\llr, rorl Ttr.r la ilr', ,/rc l4/rs/rtrglo,r

bosinesses.

th€ Grahanrs, COOI),l4aqozire is the

the

ealisticheirof iheGoklhirsh lodune. ]lost publications are the uDfortunate lroducts ot slarcholdcr-war-a co+omtions ir a profit o.ieDted agc who arc not in the b sniess of public education but nrass rnarkcting products. Wh.n the C'fti.dgo ltibunc bought o\rr thc rcspcci.d I-,t. Tines, oDe olthe llruL things it did lo inrprolc profit margnN was to cut budgets to. orerseas bLreaus aDd st.ff, rffectiDg the liel elemeDts lhal made L.A. lim.s rcporting so excelleDt. Urithout a BaBhdad bureau, crextioDof

r.a ,'r'1..\.T,' b'.r-ll,-\J'nur,\i.'1 "

\4i

.overagc ofthc Imq iDmrgen.l?

This spiril of economic compctition also means nrosl edilo.ial content is orientcd around the public's desire to llc cntcrtained rather rcsponsible.eportinA. InrportaDt issucs still cove.ed bt ourpublicalions bul it is thc Drosi rucilcand rclativeb insisnificant elemenls in t|osc i {r" lhJrS' .Ii 1' l Lp. \l ' l1, Lli, 'l: ' , 'i , arc

'o.\

inporlanluontcnttoDraximisepopularappealthat lo$cst connnon denoniDator. Moreink \.as spilled on lur turting Bjll cliDto!'s constant iDfidelitr tha. s,herhcr Ic should havc paict rnore attention to the Rwandan gcnocidc. lvheD U.S. Sccrcta[ of State CondoleeTla Ri.. afpcarcd at hricsbadcD militar-a base, mc,re column spac. $'as dedi.atcd to thc (pseudo)political significance olhd caters 1o I hc

sery Matdx likc outfit

fian

n

hat she actLrall) said or

New media also prcssurises traditional publi( ation\ lo lri\ iali\c lh.nrschcs. i. ',rl ,J Nedtobe atrained Ir.olession ltodc scDt to school to shar?eD their discem oren L lor hchr.l accuracl, io

49

AR0ADIR

a.d tle .esporsibiiiLr

Lo

triva.y

jnJoflr the Nblic nnd lo

I,{AGAI NISYl]U SHl]UtD GIT

YOURllAllDSOI{

debate about the ethics o{protecting thei. sources. a ljlogger account and

r knife to

sliarpeD crn start

{D online nagazine or nenspaper. UNest.ained

bI

sxm d.clincin sal.s and alrdjcncc DrnDbcrs. Today's

mass.udien.e clcarl) likcs drc casual. caustic and olflhe cu l'l rcl)ofiaSc of nor Drcdia cv.nifitisDoi ahurs credible or ba lan.cd. I.calb. t|c Strirs Ztner his.oped in lhe likesoi Xiaxu., JocAugustin. Dxar

.

]lif

OUARDIAN

guardian TflI NIWYORK I]]\1I5 0l1c

Srtr' l!ork

WIRID

THI }vA5HINGTl]I{ P1]5T

woshingtonposl.Lr'n M0N0t1t

in t ,e , r' t'\ ''t r,st \, ' publi(aLjons anongsl lhe youth. Thcy hayc bccn

', Jr., \'

1

picked Lessfarthejribilitt to be prolessional rcport.rs

rnd norc for thei. abilit] to be leisly. a l l mctivc and uDflinclingly cortroveNial in Urejr views. Who is l(r say that

thcir bl{rgs rvill not soneday cross lhe onlnre

lcrsion of .S.?dits lines jnto the actual !ri.ted fubli.ation should thcvcoDtinueto prole they hare the star poi{crto kc.p audiences readnig? Ahead},

l;00t)

the linwn Yang and Xiaxuc caifight has made it to front page ew! in the natioD s oDly broadshcct, girirg this mho. blogosphe.e eleni l|e.quivalcDt editorirl significarce as a.e8!onal naturai disastcr or local election result. t0Rfl6N P0 tY

Wlrilc there is nothjDg $rort8

xilh,

litdc bit of

iiivolity iD the tliiDgs thal $.e read, il is disturbnrg idr.nthrt s..rns t{r be the overall trend 01\lhere orr publi.alions clcn thc nost esteeDrecL ones tre head ing. lt is fair'ly obvious thrt tod.!'s public:rtions are beins challcnscd br vcry real economic and cultuftl iorces lhat call thcm io ti\iilise their rnaterial ard lighte lhei. approrch inr sun'ival's sake. |ew can afford to say ro Lo lhem and rvc caDnotjudge th.m with a cleaD conscieoce since$'c ar. prccisclv thc audicncc that is payiiig lo. $haL thcl arc producnrs. UDtil Drore ofus derrand a b.oad$ and deeper lt$fcctivc to thiDgs, the corporitjons today {illjust kccf giving us Nliat rve $ant touchi.g phoLos oIaDri folcrt] cffor1s iDlf.ica (!!ithouL the Dasty poLitjcs behind it, thank you). cclc'bity spaLs, Britney s latesL .reildown .nd tcn wals t{r fi'+t flab bctbrc bikni seasor hits. €t

PtRSPttTlVfs

ric rsvr! issr.

dil,cs

l]1/Efl{ 004 DAY t]?5

There is no such thing as luck. People determine their ornrn lives. Do you agree? i 1,uJ

,,ru

\Fm1t"

)1,,,

all it what you will destiny, fate, karma, superstition, magic, curses, the evil eye - luck, good and bad,

.tt$

has an incredible and oft times

J'|$ ,0;Y l

'/"-'-/

(a

ridiculous hold on the popular imagination. Sure, people may not really believe that stepping on a crack will break their mother's back but at other times, the mere thought of not wearing luclqy green briefs on the most important day oihis life may be enough to drive an inveterate gambler pale.

''

A clos€r examinaiion of the issue reveals thar what passcs for serendipity or ill foftune can n.rsrly be attibutcd ro people's thiDking and actioDs.

ofcourse, random rhance and coincidcnce happens. One cmnot cqect to live nl a world tull of constant techDological advaDces that bring people closer and closer togciher and not expcct some of

'l'o sunr tir ol li ilc llf Lire nreaning irt ore's litc ls lL nriririi:ri h:',1;i;er;irg ol r-h.- piiie i'eslli o1r';inticn cirarre

i

,lr.r,,,r

rl

;r'"i::ri i,r u.,l

uirr

i-liirrgs ir:r1r1;cn iit their iilcs. ;uiii r;tcil: tillgelornl-r' !lr r'i:de ali l i's:ronsiir;l ;: i' iiir or:c's i l le. I,r,n is the PHqTO CRNDIT/

arbite. of his own fate, and morc importanily, detennines the veracitv of lis lifc.

50

BR0lDlR

PtRiPfOlViS

these variables to come to a head and affcct one s life

sometimes. Adnittcdiy, the good fortune rhat may result fron thcse encounters caD play a lital part in people's livcs- Tbe histo4

ofnankind

is littered with

plethora ofstories recosDisins how lives havc been transfomed by a few seconds ofchance. Thcse few seconds can undo years of cndeavour and cfforr or prevcDt vears more of pain and sullering. Thc day ) u u fall sick and stay hone frorn work can bc the same day your olfice in tlie Twin Towers fell, the day you wore red sock can also be th€ same day you win bis .rrlp n.", Sutpq,ridng all.hF.-, hin.F hipp-r'rr8c a

th. rc\a't

i..

p

't

D DYOLI KI{OW?

complctcly $ith detenninism

ed

POPUIAR 6OOD IUTK IHARi,IS

fate is problematic.

And this all cncompassins belief that such luck can be laned and controllcd by obscurc rituals that .rnly maLrF qFn,c lo ynu. \..^me. Ll. rirlFl) J, slru.li\F

l',fn\ irlo ar ptcus'

inen i free will.

rrlo..\.rci i,8on/l

bernoanjng whai happened to them years ago and are entireiyfixatcd otr what they lost or did not gei,

and lend to make thc same bad decisions over and

over asain- Many timcs, what is construed as bad

luck isiust people makins bad choices.

alt0 sYt\180ts fRol\t ,{R0ut{0 IHIWORID

ffiw m

U*& ffi

The problem is notjust believins in luck, bur

ofrheir olm lives by making their own good fortunc or luck. The question of why some people

believins wholly in the power of luck to transfo'T liwes. This belief is dangerous because peollp gi\. ut, .ollrol Jro r-.punsio;li ) or thpi-

lead envious charned lives and other people lurc.h

liv€s wiih litdc regard for the consequ€nc€s. Eelieving

from one disaster io anothcr maybe the simple and unglamorous reason of constructive will and effort

in luckbecones

direciing desir€. As Roman philosopher Sencca said,

of {:}rn.e like nombers. horses and cards are

"Luck is what happens when preparation mcets opportuniv'. Psychologists say that soc{€sstul peopl€ tend to benefit morc fiom chance encoLrnteru or seem

slmptoms of a faith that asserts that rnoncy is the only ihirg that matters in Life. Whole lives spcnt scarchins for $ays and systems ofimprovins and maintainins the luck in their lives only show that

Ir

actual fact, people determine the outcome

with sood luck, noi because they wer€ $€aring a lucky crystal, but interestingly enough because ofcenain life skils that tlley possess. Noticing and creating opportunities, developiDg aDd listennig totheir irtuition, having positive e$eciations and a rcsilient attitude malGs such people best placcd to to be "blcssed"

ar!io'm hJpprnjJn.e and o!,poluri,ie. i', rh. r lives into self-ftlfilling prophecies ofbenefii and

A cl.tzrttcc cllcounier' \\.ith \\'fl "'lr BIli, il i. p|e, i-"1r tlrrr. . it\:trr'H. I ir |l-)t ac(tltf rtltlr

ro.t,ne.

becarLsc 1,on hacl

tlrearh tlone rrtLr'

nlnl 1,.-r.rl' ll ;lll(l tillllg'lill'l r.)lll I erl:lll'j r-ll, iri:il io lll\i'sIlf, intcrnei cclrllal]\' u as all pcisoiial

actiol lntl initiative. Human action and will can work both ways too. J[st as people influencc thc beneficial outcomes of their lives, they can also unLnowinSl) or uncon\ciously afferl lhcir futures for rhe worse. What passes for bad luck has moretodowiihhos people dealwith ill fortune ard adversitt_than a nalignaDt force ofkarma out to get then. Studies on how people view bad luck are

a

social and life determinant more

Lucli llecom es I cntnlll.l!:;ll t\ tl, rite br rrltiClt peopie escape their tioLtblcs, rvolk anrl rlnlllc:lr( I, s1,,'llsrl)llil I'rS. Hi:r'd worl< is loo ordinarl. unrl r'pltltotr in,J rtilllr l,lllrS jln:\\Fr'i. morat worth marlers very littl€.

It is little wonder these peoplc tcDd to think they a.e plagued with bad luck more than anyone else or spend their lives in deliberaie isnomnce of tlie life right before their eyes. Surcly we should be pist all thjs in this age ofscicntific raiionalism and political and sell deternination, so

why else is a bclicf in luck so persistent? Charms, anulets and talisnaDs have been found in almost all civilisations and man]' superstitions that stemmed {iom old beliefs arc still widr us. wldher as a reaction to nundane industrialiscd lives of work or tc, lhe unce.tainties and unpredictability that still plague .ndrr' mrn, h..1.. onri rup\ lo I'aa nI \,13r' . -lL.i\r search for aDswers. Somehow we cannot rcsi$ q.,.ing to fignrc outorcontrol what lhe lutureholds, good

orbad.It's

a shame because,

while.ot discountirs

'l'" hond.r. i

abort what they still had in thcir livcs, arc detemined to nake nore informed choices in fliture atrdso oD

.1.n".hr..e.,rinlnrh'

to have high expectalions of lifc. othcrs keep

! 51

ul, r- h-; inEro,

sonetling tremendous lo happen. at

8R0AD[[ PtRSPttTlVtS

ri.

.srdv iss!!

._$"

e# &

than people realise. The equation ofluck with games

,d c"in"rJ.n' F\ lhal .1r' hatt.., r , pcotle |unran life, should realise that t|e best answcr to happiness lies in their ox.n hands and can be detelmined by prcsent actions atrd perceptions more

pini, Ll"rl) rerFal're s^i , f"" rlor. -ppr..:dli'F

Tfl

AS 'K & H5[ffS oirkoblAsrl .

drosoiflisi (k1o) stmobs {ruypt}

I{ATURI

erh n0 {$ilo6} bomboo{th;nud

ANlliAts prsj

{6smmk)

elahonlJll]sd!) dolphi'1 lNor,re A'ner!uB) ied bots {tlrre*i

!llisololr leerli {Ai' ro) r(0r{5 E

08lttl!

l{olls Amoim drum .okhcl

ifiit[]{ 004 nA'f ti:6

There is no such thing as luck. People determine their own lives. Do you a.gfe€? u,.,.,",,,''"" \1 'f f

instein once said that coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous. This was said shortly after he was asked to lecture on the Big Bang theory and expound on whether he did believe that the world was formed through sheer chance or a galactic stroke of luck. Einstein hesitated to credit the creation ofour universe to luck but he did admit that our beautiful universe was, to him, a deliberate design; something too intricately formed to exist just because luck was on our side-

PHOTO CREDIT/

Similarly, man has neverleft his precious life totally in the hands oI luck. The.e have certainly been episodes in histo.y where man has looked to Lady L,cl. bdl $ hrnFr. rpo$:b.,. hr hJ. b-i-'l lu d-rFnlinF the direction and scope of evertahing he has built for himseli for after aI it was his life to lead.

For the longest time, before science and self, deteminism really began ro alter thc way we

perceived the world, superstition and belief in luck did indeed dictate the runnins of many lives. After all, otrr beliefs aboui four lealclovers, broken

lion

mi[oN

and mbbit's feet n]ust have stemmed

ill fated turns of their oM lives and therefore he inevitably turned to luck for answers. But as we Sained the ability to

5? BR0ADIRPIR5PIUIVB

man's incapacib' to control rhe

tlp.,ssdu,s,e

MTIH

Tl] S:

2r (2008)

conhol our envircnneut a.d cifcumstance, ollvthen Nas luc.k relesaicd to n),tholoLv and lblldalcs, slrittible

I,r,.F.i:n i'p.ir'ldr. r n'rl deternri initourlilcs.

ul r., rlr d { ii..

r'

mind is clearly the do ri.ant cngine driving ou.

aciions and reicrions.

llationalitl rvill

shou' rrs that "bad luck" is i;r lact

success olbDsnrcss or

-qtltistically irnplobable. we are lre.evo nore likeiy to survive a plaDc ride safely than havc anislupliappen. rhechanccsareof courseinva ably inffeased if ae couDt in salety proccdu.es, regular sately checks, reell trained staff a!d rcspoNible passengers. wc caD certainlydele nnrchox ouliaes

ifile

tum out, i{hethcr or Dot n'e think l|ere arc ill-boding

But surclv we can arsre that not all faccts of tifc can be determincd and secured via our sheer will and determinatioD. MaDy people still believe t|at hck plals a hnge role in asccrtaiDirg the in o!.pursuil ofunon.y- Eicn we.e lo arg c that the running of succcssful hsniesses has becornc morcofascience than a luckdrivcD erterprjse, sureiysaDrHnrg is still a game of

,lrnc.. rc\ 1,,1.r'r elllo "l,r' r/{oIilt,d; be on our sidc. A teani ofstudenls tion MITprcred the contra[ and sh]$rd that luck had.othiDgtodo

with gambling but thatganblirg was pure mastcn

of r!{thematical probabilitt. Iheir innate nraihcDratical talent and hald work paid ofl and d.anuticallr chaDsed theirlif. for tlie better, albeit to the chagriD and coDsequent caution of casinos

A similar trend can be obseNed wbcn we strdy the mentality ofcarly gold mine.s who visircd the nelrfound land ofAme ca or even more rccently! the thousands of poverty stricken peasants (ho search thc rivers of SieE{ Leone daily for their lucLy l}rcak.

Wc should however rcmain humble as wc argue asainst luck fiom a privilesed position. lvhile we arc able to tse ntcdern tcchDolo$' and knowLedge lo dctcrmiDe the direclion ofour lives. $€ still have lo considcfthe mary peoplein ihc $orld who do not liare iull acccss to these tools yet. Thc nillions in Zinbablve must bc cutsitig their luck for havinit becn boni irto a time and rlace sucli as the one dete ni!cd by Mugabe no!v. Wcak political

"\'',nFn,l:e r,t.o rb' r"rln".e."t" r''l,i,;

about a chanse 1br drcnselies ard ire the.cforc left

tlieir resignilion to lookto luclt lor ars\{ers.Itis thcrcfore ou. noral resfonsibility as people s4ro have tools ofself{eteruirratioD io aid those who do iD

Dot.ll

ir

is

pointlcssto arguethat lhe millionstraPped

repressive castc systems, opp.essive rcgnnes aDd

pamlyzirlg pove rb arc snnply victirns o i ill fatc aDd ihat there is nothj.gsc can do about il. l o them bad 1,,.k does nrdee,l exisl. But $r knowthat we ha!€ thc powerto hcb cliange these situations.

tliil olhr.k. Nc$'

Our abiJity to cletcnttire our otvn lives and thc iives ofothcts is ven' nuch a rpestion of rdll ancl not incli. rt'e.e is ctea' "uldeDce that luck ilocs Dot

slpc

ority than

lralc machniesand knolvledgc asdiscovered by 'nan , .tpn r r,-J.,,r n o-" ,,r, a rr,l l-. ) oilrJir"

Djne.al wcalth. Our

g.ea I er

undersiandiDg of geology has helpcd us better predict lyheth€r $€ $'ill nrd.edbe successlirl in our cndeavors aud leaves

little

to chancc.

In lact, orE modern world not only challenees

the naivc notions ofgood lrck but dso bad. Are !lanc crashes, earthqLialtes,

k

r.sult ofN rva inrg LInder a la.lder or pcrhaps the result of a rare blood red eclirsc? Ccrtanrlv we ha\e ferrs and pe.haps €!en ha!. nappinu

a

exist other thrn

ir

hivea cioicctobeLieve otheNisc. briniling an clcmert ofetcilern.nt and serendjpit) n, o,,r lifes. but wheD it conres lo thc crunch and wheD w€ ire dealins $'ith bread ard buttcr issues,

there are very lew in thisworld who ilillhold oti to luck$'hen they can instead dcpeDcl on a secure and

selfrlelemnrcd ccft aiDtv.

l ER0ADIR

n.r Luckdoes {ell nr

the nriDds ofpeople who do

inklings that bad luck is lollosing us but our r.rtional

5l

B

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in! is Dowr rlE

Bef

I

rq hoor

lld{ t

Mdio ob0lrhetunry

o' rhe Mll Slorklo(k TNo , 2l r obout o g'Np olMi!trrl1I rluderts Nho diiponrevlh U(k

Invcsting huge amounis ofener&v aDd tinre. thcsc nrincrs did not believe ihat had xuk wc,uld reap l|em rc$'ards but rather hardi{ork at least crealed an oppotunjt] for luchto shine on thcn. These dars I r-.r.LL r^r nr n.r,L t-.,s .a.or,enr^a a q r-rriu I oftechDological

Sord on the le:t

PtRSPtt

t5 ti. r.n[] i5."(

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o

rd ifireod, dctsnd of thers ond (rd.

proIob]iry

(sninq

ro o!l5morl

Los

Do the past and present offer any guidance for the future?

i

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Sr

he past fascinates us, and haunts us constantlf in thc present. The past marks our journey through space ancl time anri engagcs us in the present et'ery tinc u'c rel'erence a name, a battle, an agreement, a nation. Historl. ngysl stays in the past. We hear its constant refrain ever_r' tirne vie tell stories about people and their exploits, evcry tilne a biographl,' and history book hits the bestscllers list. 'l he pasl altu

lilgcrs in thc d..isions lhal $e DLllie 1t! the fnture. nhcD gov.nm.nls rnd Irlions lass

legislation. dccid. DoLic\ !i,d trke rction.

ofthc most irDporlant aspects ofhistor,' is how (c DcAotiatc $ith it in the prescDt. Il ilc sh.\! lhrt $e lirve leitrtrt lion our rrogrnt Nnd ODe

',1r...'...r,t'

ri(l hole (an open iar th. fttuc.

Xhknrg rlon(r,reriLs

ior pAt beha\iour arc mr|k.N

\t nn\ peotle loolito thc plstiD thc holt thrl il calr erlhir their presrnt and lorct.ll thlri.lulure IiiUrDlistens

Pll()f() cRF]I)I f/

cuefulll h. mrl |lL,.l o(it the allrolriate hssons thrtc.n|dfguid€ \!huL lie melns to do iD th. tr.scnl. .Dd l]r!s. ,nore iD the right

54

diNlior

ER0ADlR

t.^rrl'(ls

1he

PIR5PlatVlS r/'r

oftNsl lnJ llie tutur. ()t olt]r.r.rost $rri.g.xNdrt)les ol eyjljr ihc flst w^s thc Holo.N,,sl r.d lh. aarge N evcr ,\grnr " \trs rh. t,onrise ltl]rp€ .r(le to tire,ltils rDd to l|c \voJld aieDna!\ lus shown i{illiDgn.ss to it. elar jls heinous r(ts b!nuldnE amrDdm.nls nr tht.prse!t. 'r ire

bujl.Lnrg of I ldoclust rnusLanns

thc rclun of nhni.s rDd .

r((,!

r', r, r\.

1JJ,r

r,1

r'r t.'

,

L.

r,1ro'l , .

d r ,oDrnrnts, ,

Lo

t

th. ,lci{isll

its tcxtboolc. arc all pointers ofan unreseFed and robLNi apologv that shows good faitli for lhetuturc' The past tclls the wor'ld

i{hai nistakcs

Dever to

rep.at

again. How that lesson rcflects in prescnt socielv and

Nlicy so

can also

increasingly anachronistic and accounis for nanv of toda,vt political stalemates.

hale a healins etrect that builds bridges

that people and countri

Olher times. the lessons of the past seem to have no dis(ernible impacl on lhe tuture. l ' a depressinsfact oflisior,v that the ability ofhunatr

fih'.e Refenirg to the past also helps us prcdict future behaviour ard make decisions. We constantly rcfer back to Past events to make sense nf ilhat is going on the prcsert and whcther rve are ticrefore, byenension, goingto do better orworse

Io hold on to habits ofvice. todnre, murder, avarice. and $laih is incrediblv strors. The names

ofcornties and disaste6 might blu! bur the sane probler r r- rr L{ir\ o:.l,rd1e,r18 r-gr ld-'b F,,' the Senocides tha! wc swore nevcr to let happen

tuture.It isforthat reason$hywe coDstantly

asain,lbrall the ringjns declaratjons asainst crimes against humanity, we still have Rtfanda, Dartur,

.efer to prelious novcnents, revolutions and battles

Zimbabwe, Myannar and morc to come iD the tuture

rt' .o,6n,r-Ll$iLl nquili) morln,.u,serFr ls r, our present. we b€lieve horfthe prescDt cliannels ihc past ca| show the waytothe future. This is the reason whv minoritJ leadcrs i! America will

lhere seems ro be nothing thatwe can take into the tutLrre for hunan nature aDd bad behaviourtunps

in thc

constantly evoke I'Iarttu hLther King Jr.'s legacy and why thcrc is so nuch fascination abort whether Barack Obana is JIrK's political heir and wilLbdns back the Camclot emto AmcricaD

politics Drawing

thc risht comparjsons or parallels brins

\ithnl our

grasf the ability to imagine ihe futore and act

Somc fulurisls also believe lhrl it is rehogressiwc to head into the 21st centurv thinking aboutthe pasr. The biSgest challenges shaping thc $orld

s

future - climate charge, the forces

terroris!, dwindlins resou.ces are slobal problens !D a scalc that history has never of globaljsation,

before witnessed. UDfettered fl olvs oI infornatioD, capital, soods, seNices and people have opcned np

accordingly.

Thrt being said, the constmt harkina back lo thc past can also be crippling and we nlay need a slanbolic break with ir in the present beforc we can mowe into the firtue. Someiines ,br:on5 tn loul,ng Lac. J. rnFir mlerrJlmpr^rrF' develop a conveDient sort of annesia: they see all rh. gloies ol the colo al past but Dot the violent breaks and rebellions, nor the cornption and venal

the world like neler before lnstcad of ninins old historical documents, it may be futurist literature aDd inagininss that craft and Prolide our answers

beha!'iou that causcd them. In situations like ihese,

us sustain the

the pNt shoul.l be kepl wholly in the past.

Pill'L Of

the reasons l.h]' the rvolld ma,-v be stuck in a poJitical rut and unable to nerhc headrvaf in in[cmationa] agrccnents totlaf is that tnanY

political and international institutions ale still based on

\\rorlcl \Var 'fn o structrLres a;rd COnCelnS.

The facl lhat the Permancnt vetoes olthe UN Security couDcil are still wieldedbythe

ri

lors nl .' $orld w"r 'umF L'o

rn the cDd, mankind's cumulative store of hnman *periencc is too valuable to dismiss as it mav bc ihe oDl) thing that roots us in a larger narative and helps wisdon we necd

ofihc future and rnove

i

o

ER0ADLR

rve

becone citizens

unchaned tefitory' While

history itself is soDetimes ovcNtated, histo cal patlerns ofbehaviour and thinkjng - diplomatic, Narrior like, dying civilizations. roads not takcn will always have relevance for the luture as they can influence and reassure s and hence alter ihe prcsent and the tuture. How $€ mine thc apPropriate lessons from such trends. how s€ recosnise the differences

between what is real and endLtring from \that is shallow and tmnsitory is the best arbiter of whethcr $c are going to sunive and prosper as a human race, and suamntee a tuture which our childrcD will not

).ar' r 'o is-o^I ni

55

6

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PHOTO CREDIT/

56

ER0ADtR PtRSPttTlVtS

t/t !ss.u iss,r

NIIIIJRIWAIIH

ll,allirD {2008) lr'5 mc oi lh{

biglen nns

hjl5 rh 5 yNor oid ir ro! A!qe no lo k ofd l!ns Itrldroi rurvln! bulhls ond sncjrnsfotclifl siifev kh delislrrir rheir ro ri 05r*el{ oppoirred

6ro!rli5 of lrle

A|hr heod ofr[ ! ro]li([n! but !llm!lo ?nl iunner orkhrh! rt ll priLo!ophiio qEnion:mr ve ru+ope rhe fului{ bi rhrr sif q o!l b

pe!enrl

l! itnini

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lnpctroro lort e rrlti we nsl rolc orden fiom wlltur fr€e rfro re of !ry so'l?

57

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WEEI{ OO4 DAY 029

PHOT O

CREDnT

58

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cs:s.rv r.ssre

I D0il]r5

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i,d

TRI]N

fORIIID

MARATH()N

RUI{

I

Tl]I5YIAR

turrIdaltiire rlt

l

i,mrne

rlf Ior rlir 5roido( trorr.d mrr!ilor oi 7rl

oi{i

l]rarircr

or ran se? Authorities seen to have

no paticnce to wail lbr thc supposed bencfits sclfdiscirlline $ould tlrins. 1!-c have discolcrcd nrultittc tnnes in hislorl that positiye cliang,e .rn com€ inrDrcdiat.ll wher \!e imlosc stancLaftls on

'"',..1'rr'

likc onr own sLrtfoscdlv sofl t!(horitrrirn state. SiDgrpore. or n,ore broadlv,\sia s gor.rnm.nt di.cdcd dcmocra(r hr!. frolen thaL dis(il)lnrcd n,€lhods lhat are i eel.rl ilFt nnfopularc!f bring

.esL'lr.. t' I ,r,il. ,l .1 ,i .

$'ithout the steady ero$-th of

a responsiblc

civil socictt or iDdependenr but .lso mutually ,.con nr ablc states. then it sccmsthat$ehave no choice butro always paradoxically couple sclf-disciplin e $nth an imposed c\-tcrDal one. A..hic\ing the desi,.rbl. goll ofiftleuendenl matu tY com.s Nith the re(oqnilioD thrt the independ.Dcc !ones Nilh its flir shrre olSuidancc. Hoi{ els€ can we ma.aAe onr nation s suvlh as \'. lorrge it,Lo

increasinal\ .onttovcrsirl de\elotmeDts

o1

btuttchnologl? Ho$'cise.io Ne Suide our youtli as tlrt b.cone adulls in.n increasiDgh arbitmrf and

:-'

ar '\'orld? Ho! else do $'c rcalisticalh lteep ou oiu

,'.i-il

nroml or

spi tualw.rllts oD track?

r$te. all, thc Arcatest p.oblcm s'ith expediDg cach person or institution to bc selfdiscipliDed is lhc fact tlut this solo jo[mcy ()1- ac.ountabilit\ cao too casily begin to bc defincd by oDe's own convcDicnt starda.ds.

\\'r' ra.,r r .l, l .'., ,-1r... ,11.,r.. !1 4 can easilr bll frc! t) ir i'idual jlstificltiors tlirl snoothly tra.silioD into { sliirpery slolc of nual elatnism. U.S. 1,),eip,n lmlicv hrs al$r\s Lltn nDrt ,

"l l . l

'r

,r

'!l] l"r\i

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.

thrt ii prcscntl] the $.o.kls onl) s fcryo\ler. lhc United Slales hrs nelcr trrh been accouDtlbLe 1o a!! one pa r or nrstitution. NiLh sr.| loivcrs i{e is

,^, l. \-.

lFr',r 's,.

ul.e.r,','rr''

selfdiscidnle. ch€cl,inS its own t.tioDs co.sist.ntl!

l: justilLcatioi,: hirdh atestaDerl 1o lIeliltncsorthe snstiinabilitr ol sclirdiscLtline. roLicv srad ualh slictc into arr a br ss ol ighteous

.-,.,' r..j r'- ir. l he self is rareh ctisciplired. rnd left lo ils oNn ctevices \!ill likclt leer torvards .g rcsults, rs tlLe sell is nltirutely selfish rnd does nol ,rlwa]s act in the besl int.tst ofthe comnrurit!. liul shonld $'c nrdeed jmlosc carly erler.rl.ontrols on lraturing o rscifthe rvchrlc a good chrD.ic ol gr!i!in!, i'rlo p.ofl. ivho ulde.sland thal to be s.lfiiscittined is lo tak. on the nLjlxlsel

disappoio

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59

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wttK 004 DAY 030

The only worthwhile form of discipline is self-discipline. Discuss.

ou might be tempted to think modern society schizophrenic. Excess is the b1-word of our modern time: All-You-Can-Eat buffets, ever escalating portion sizes at popcorn stands, z4 hour red light districts, floating casino cruises to nowhere. Yet, oddly enough, in our Bacchalian times, we stili pay homage at the temple of self-

control and self-denial. Conversely, our modern heroes are not flabby, carousing Nero types but painful\ trim inspirational speakers, perpetually skinDy models, workaholic connercial wizads aDd tightly nuscled atliletes. Gohsjustbythc millions pourcd intothehealth and diet indusny rlhose entire existence hinges on the preaching ofthe gospel of self discipline, it seems r":rl) ob'.o ,.lhil s",lo.ep grFdr qo.rh dnd m an.nr iD learning horv to cont.ol our otrt-of-control lives.

PHOTOCREDIT/

The exercise of self-discipline is revcrcd bccausc wc recoanise the compellins power of our olm human willtulness that mocks our every attempt to do better. Every hoDest htrnian beiDg can testifl to sonie g.avitational force aithin us that pjN us doM to ear{r to a lifc ofunshacklcd, uncoDtaincd tlcasurc sccking. Thosc nho scern morc

60

ER0ADtR

PtR5PlctVt!

/h.,

able to deny thenselves earthlydesires are thus seen as more Doble, even niore

divine, than the.est ofus.

Everyone at some point has r,r'ishecl the1. could simply lealn to s:ry "No"

to that extra milkshake. that fbrgettable one night stand, the adulterous kiss or 1'et another pull un lJre jackpol rnachine. rhu.."e d,,i,. the sheer drive (ifnot the beliefs) olascetics like the

Btrddha- Mother Teresa and Gandhi rvho could apparertly deny and walk aivay iion a life of frenzied excess for a simpler, corltrllled life. But even the grcat

(lrr.

idn.L,^. l, P..rl.^ni,...dthd d,.r' pl.owing full well what was t|e rigbt thins to do, he still rcLrss-Fd reliblv qiLh t}F rFaliLt or ' ror.F {irh:n

'5.4

6r,.

R$D Ti

thatfullcd him mightilytowards doing what he felt wong. For him, only the g.ace ofCh.ist could bestorv enough power in hini to b.eakfrce iiom the

was

Alltudll,the

ony of it dI is that an eressrve rhampionina ofself-discipline sets 16 rp for

disasler.li\' rg,n^\.rly.n, nr,.dw

I

S

IL

.,,i.

inllnq r'g

the etemal rulcs oflife, we can easily neglect the far

Obvior$ly, ifwe could all rontlol our personal appetites that so olten lead to sclf-dcstruction, the world world llc a bener place. The root ol ournost cmshins problen)s can be blamed on Ma 's -rqls rorF I'F, Frl' rlF lIF cu -nl oi. !ri. F, ri,.\ and loolning issues ot envi.oDmental devastatioD; ll'F. a,ha our' o .p ol n.uJrrn,.'\.u,, lrrbn' gone wild. The developed

irorld would rather try

inve ahigh tech sohtion thaD to 1..\ .n-u. .n J-r' Jd\ s l.'r S r, l\4,

theirdandestto I '.1, xl I ' l^w

laDs: conscNation and litestyle change. Consomers

just canDot deny Lhemselves the corlenience of drninit sas sozzlers nor Lhe pleasure of orvDnig yet anolher precious pair ot patent ptrmps. :I alte another horrible issue like global sex-traffickirs of undemse

s.rgl r'.r 1rd \i .ti,rrruI ^'i;.t^or'' q',ln\" ' $r! frorn t-," iflt"ou. idFi-\ ot dis. pl na c-\ ^,1 \FsF-porigrill\Uor,g o.\arfo. \ ac"r baSi ,

sl aucuslt rs

t0N[[sst0l15

to control ou.ljves and orLr appetites ivith tlie most

noble of intentioDs and btrt $'hen we end up $lrsliippiDg tlie meaDs morc than the ends, we may becone moNters. Sone vegetariaDs iDthcir bid to

,,\r.ri,,,l

Lnn rl,,

sius,.rlnu, ",durl'rlc

thc most obnoxious dietNazis w|o push

a lacto fi€e. cgg free, leather free, raN food veilan lilestyle. tesperoie,gouscuires Bree Van de Kanp js a brilliant parody of would be Ma.tlia Ste\ea.t like h.ruseivives whose obsessive-compr sive desire for cleaDlhess and peffectjoD iD tlie household end up dirins their children aDdhusbands a$'ny from the

'reb Jl"t f;r A,] JAIOBI' TllI YIAR Of II.III{G B\BI\GIT\ Toke o peek inlo rwo o

dYe

n I u

re s

r

n

Io r

mm!

e f- d i s ( i p i i

cl

the former more sermus ond reo

i5r[ oid rlre otrer,

nrorc

girls anct boys. The nas1,r truth ofrvhy that is eleD an

issucis thatmanvich, i{cll cducated adults simplv choosc not to coDtaiD theil hst even though it woukl cost ot|ers

t|eir I onthfirl nnrocence.

Yer, resting too much on one's sef-conbolled laurels can lead one to possess no ounce of

hurility about

onesetf

ald thrs, have no

shred of empathy for rhose who are weakcr in the face oftemptarion. Extrcrncly disciplined teople can be sorne of the $'oNt people to live with because thq,rnake tbr harsh, unlieldins company,

rrorSrr'.8pr dndlo.Flonp,L)lhFil 'J 'nl-. abiLity to folLoe. rules. Without a liumble .o

unde$tanding of our oua capacil to strnble, therc is little rcon for .ilo$dce of mistakes in their world. It is a wor'ld without compassioD or gmce. ADyslip of ill disciphrc brands lor a failurc, a dcscncratc of infcdor stock or simply 'noi hling hatd cnough" iI their e.yer. Jesus C|risheseNed some of his s! ongest words olcorde'nnalion lbr the JeBish Pharisees of li l-r rh.'rprileJ hFm rl\a'unb-irriblrruli\!p to the nost legllistic :!xl nniute of ru]es for liviDg. They $'ere not only unable to adnit tliat tliey coukl Dot live up to ei€ry single nle at every siDgle niNte, thcy alio{rd others to tlink they cotrld aDd rcbukcd lhose who could not. In doiDg so, thcy bind heal'

burdens. hard io bcar, and lay t|enr on nren

In conclusion, a life of self-discipline is a worthwhile and meaningful thing to pursue. uo1.ritl,r.l t,ring'p."r* 1" "6....11.'.,1 ;, ; , liLll. io) " ,d n'. a.ir.'.r\' | .. h.lnld l),,l"

a sell disciplined lile uloLi\ alcs rathLrr than cl'ushcs. inspilcs hopc lilllrer llr,rr irr,1rr, e.,1"-1,;rir. ll :a svllbol to rrlal])'of ho\\'much g()r)(l llt(l nr\\ l]l l( n lr)\ t,lr r'r)ll cLrlrll] ilr-u ULrL itrtLir itLLtal lit t: ritrt. olll' ( ollll.lrl'llIle< \\'lel. ,'| qlf " t. pcrsorl chooscs tO cii-I_r hirnsclf ( etT;l t (]estres illtrt lltPilqltfe\. Dn14

risht, thc sclf-disciphrcd lifc bcars liuit whcD nany others take uD the challenge and follow. Holrever, tle self disciplined nost al'lays beware that thel tread a very thin line between quiet pride and rglJ ar.ogance. Doing the right thiDg mrst Dever be done the $rcng way lest it discouuge and irtinidate othes fiom folloNnis so. Nobody likes a Phaisee. Least of all a consisteDtly disciplined and peffect cod HimqPlf rt

s

shoulders; but t|ey themselves willnoL nove them $'ith one oltheir fingers."

6l

ER0ADIR

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rl'p.saa nvp

,-a