Issue One +two./sgd

ll7. ISSUE oNE +TWO./SGD

$9.00./ 2009

BROADER PERSPECTIVES MICA (P1 93 /

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TOSA

THE WORL

SEVEN VIRTUES iss ue

2006)

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EVERY WELL-BRED COCKTAIL PARTY GUEST IO.IOWS

Why God is truly

good forthe world. BYSHIAO-YINKUIK

this to be true: the fastest way to committing social kamikaze is to ialk aboui €ither religion or politicr. And Heaven for.l)id, you bring up both in dre sane breath.

To tbe most aggressive of secularists, those who wear thei. faith on their sleeves might as well join the ranks of the hopelessly naive or the dangerously delusional. Fron cr t favotrrite author A)d RaDd to celebrilv scientist tucha.d Dawkins, naDy of our most respected intcllcctuals are going out of their way to paint religion as the antithesis to trogrcssion, enlightennent and civilisation. T}eir sohtion? Completely liberate society fron all forms of religious s)nbols and to queslion the veracity of ali religious beliefs.

Interestingly enough, atheisni born in ivory towers of hish acadenia - as opposed to athcism ir its viv cdal CoDmunist fom - has never been aue to convince the masses as being a solution to the world's problenN. ODe reason one that annoys hard core atheists like Dawkins is that so many rank and fi]e atheists have adopted a faithless life for thenselves not so nuch becatrse they believe it actually seNes a noble purpose but because they waDt to be libemted frcn thc nuisancc of haviDg to ndhcr. rn 2n.ieni nrnms nr rh. midqr nf r|pir firn ,nd r.! elry. After all, iiishardtoiake gratuiious pleasure nr all things naughryand selfieNing once ),ou allowthat creat Chaperone in rhe sky to tell you what yoo ought to do. cLrdously, such nominal atheists may even respect rnd even secretly enrT tliose who live by faith. People nosdy like liavins faith aDd all the benefits that come with it - thcy just doD't nccessanly want to take on thc inconvcDicnt yoke of faith for themsclves.

Jcu6i Sd,ndrit d

P,-icst

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECT]VE

o3

Few people actually believe

leork a 1999 Gallup poll found that only 49% ofAmericans would vote an ath€ist for president. Moreover, the wo d's brief dalliame with institutionalised faiihlessness did not paD out well: inspiring and visionaryas itwas, despite having more than a century to prove itsell Comthat a world without any fonn of religion would actuaily

munisn showed that in a relisious vacuum, misinformation, poor social economic policies, state wide corruption and mindless massacres prevail. Russia's gulags, Pol Pot's Year Zero of Killing Fields, Mao's Cultural Revol tion and Kim Jung Il s legacy of staration in North Korea all revealed that sodlessness leads no comnunity nearer to goodness. Ir fact, in these colleclivised economies that depended on every comrad€ to uphold each other as eqtrals, inevitable disagreemenis aboutihe allocation of resources eventually encourased consolidation ofeconomic power into srnaller and snaller groups ofmen- Eventually, coercion, bdbery, and olher unscrupulous poliiicaltools were used instead to requisition resources. in the face of anti-religion opposition, there has been a curious restrrgence of pro faith supporteN {rom the nost unlikely of qllalters. The new prcponents of faith as the panacca to the world's problems are politicians and political comnentatoN some wbo are aiheist even - who sperl< less from a particular religious ideal and nore, instead, from a objectivc standpoint of the redlistic value andbenefits ofGod So

feaing folk.

B

d.lhist

proler uheel

In Mr) 2oo8, furmcr British Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled The Tony Blair Faith FouDdatioq an oryanisation dedicated to provins that collaboration anong the si\ different major rclisioDs was

io addressiDg the world's nost pressing social problems- Blair's conviction ws that faith matters because it shapes our noral and intellectual franeworks for undeNtanding the world and thus dictates our behaviour. To Blair, while faith has been used necessary

to enfbrce ignorance and cause whole conimunities to withdraw behind antagonisiic shettoes, "it is part ofour future and faith and the values it brings with it are an essential part ofmaking slobrlisation work." Blajr's goal in his post-DoMins Street years is to rescue faith from beins seen as irrelevant or worse antagonistic to global debate. Conkoversial conseFative tlinker Dinesh D'Souza wrote "Wbafs So Gr€at About Chdstianity" in 2oo7 to remind the world how faith fostered civilisation $ith core values of demooaticlike respect for hurnan disnity, hunan ishts and human equality. Faith also inspired nodern science by enforcing the ridiculous" concept that the universe is ]a'\tully ordered and raiionally desisred, following logical laws that are discoverable ihroush hunian reason and persistence. D'Souza points out tlat even the virulently atheist philosopher Nietzsclie conceded that the CbristiaD cod was the very foundation olW€stern values and removins Him fton the eqtration would mean the erosion and ultinate collapse ofthosevalues. But perhaps the strongest wotd on tnis belongs to former Conservative Minister ofParliameDt tumed award winning journalist Matthew Parris who headlined his December 2oo8 Op Ed

i.imes "As an Atheist, i truly believe Africa needs God," subtitling it with Mis not aid money are the solution to Africa's bissest problen - the crushing passivity of sionaies, "fte the people's mindset." piece for

2:::*6;..2.

Parris adnitted that he used to s.ty he despise the fact that part of the equaiion of helping Africans was havins nissionary churches in Africa, but he was willing to toleratc theD sirce the chrrches were helping other NGos spread literacy, heal the sick and aleviate poverty- But eventuat\ he changed his mind when he saw that the faith that emboldened the missionary to seNe in such capacity was precisely the sane faith, eventually transfened to his unbelieving flock, which differentiated the missionary's etbrts from the cha iable work of other secular NGOS, govemment prcjects and international aid activists. Praging ot o dnEr, n^:tlbi I

I BROADER

PERSPETTIVES thesevenv rtues ssue

faith lib€rated and rela\ed (the initiaily uDbelielins AJthem a liveliness, a curiosity, an ensasement with the wo d,

Parris obscncd ihat cans)", giving a

directness in theirdealings with others". He concluded that cveryonein the

lmow is fully aware that decades ofprovidiry nerc matenal neans and know how have not beeD etroush to nake a dent in the long quest to free frica

fron crushing povetJ. ln particular,

Faith convinces ordinarv people to do extraordinary things in hellish times because thev believe thev are not alone. God is with them.

he highlighted Protestant Christianity's

teachiDs of a dircct two way linl< between every individual and cod, "unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being" as ihe

key element that could smash through the crushins oppression of sroup itrinl<, a totalitarian dictator's charisma and centuries of culiural bassage.

To solve the world s problens,

it

cones doM to whole beljcf slstenN that need to be supplanted. And onl]'religious faith goes \rhere we fear lo thread... Right into the inner sanctum ofthe first fornulates beliefs and

cr

hunu

heart where every single person that radicallv heal or hurt

And it is thus, that Faith - above all things can and will be our Deliverance from Evil.

es out ihe decisions

the world arotrndthem.

The clevercst solutions to slobal problems isnart cars, nanotechnolosy, one laptop per foor child) have always been limited by the outraseously simple premise ihai people are not automatons they come with set beliefs andbe haviours that dictate whether or not theybecome part ofthe problem or part

of the solution. Or to put it in teribly unfashionabl€ te.ns, people are in conisibly sintul. we just dotrt Nani io do what we are supposed to do and sometimes it tal<es the very fear of an omuipotent Cod with authority over whole universes to change our petty minds. Iraith (and the chantable Norks that steD out from what faith teaches) offers a sustainable longterm solution to the world's problems as opposedto doing charitable works divorced fron any belief in God. Faith fio tises a deep set conversion of the heart rehat Christiars call a "born again" dpcricnce - where eacb indMdual renounces his fomer self-centred way oflife to adapt a mdically God centred, other person c€ntred way oflife. Faith is what brought together tens of thousands of activists, priests and punks to Cologne under the banner of Jubilee 2ooo, callins on the G-8 to forsive the debts owed by the world's poorest countries as per old Testament Jewish practices. Faith was what ushered in the world's first bloodless revolu-

h the Philippines during 1986 where arrnies crossed overtojoin the people asainst the Marcos dictatorship, laying doM their weapons when confronted with citizens amed only with prayers. tioD

Faiih was what gave ordinary East Germans the courage to speak openly and passionately againsi political oppression, environmental degradation and corNption that eventually lcd ihem io take to thestreets and peaceably bring doM 4t) years oftotalitarianisn and the Berlin Wall. Faith breeds resilience, lonssutrering and hope impossible traits tohoid onto when ihe scope and complexilt' of slobal probtens seem too overwhelming for even the nost gifted and sood+earted of hunan beinss to handle. Faith convjnces ordinary people to do erlraordinary thhss

h

helish times bccausc they believe

they are not alone. God is with them.

,{nd it is ihus, that Faith

-

above all

things

can and will be our Deliverance from Evit.

Illl

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE O5

IMAGECREDII

\,\.E LI\,'E IN TIMES WHERE IT IS HARD TO REMAIN hopetul- Tcchnolos/ has siven us, evcD liom a youns ase, the ability to see tbe houbles of oihers and undcrstand our be own troubles through ubiquitous nediuns like t|e telerision or newspape.s. Yet, as we Brow up, the sense ot iniustice we night har€ iritially felt upon witnessing wrongs and evil acts can casily $'ane iDto a resigDation tliat thinss will probably siay ihc samc. Nothing will change for the better. Que sera sera. Chronic problerns likc povcfty and disease are too ofteD clained lo be been solved by our o$n cleverness only to be thwaftcd by our own selfishness.ldeals ofa better tomorrow are too often eloqu€ntly laid out before the nasses only to be ripped asunder by corruption, self interest and stupidiry. And so it goes oD, we accept disillusioDment as a way oflifej ile allow our conscicncc to slowlydic; r{e rc ondto hopeby calhrS its blutr, protectnrg ourselves from wbai seems to bc the incvitable disappoiDtment that folloxs.

WhyQue Sera Sera may not always

the

best advice to follow BYTONGYEE

Where then is thepoint

inlile

since oLrr hope for

t|e better seemstuiilc? Aftcr

all, cortintral deference ofhope can make our hearts sick. Ask any child who is perpetually denied the ful lilnent ofliis hope ofvisitingthe park witli lis parents, or Disn€yland, orthe like.l.alse promises hurt ihe hcafts ofchildr.D, and those chiidren unfoftrnately srcw into adults who discove. thatbad cliildhood experiences are not far fi orn ihe tmth ofthe real world. I hc hopc of a secure reijrcment proved to be false once

stalrrari banl<s collafsed under ihe nnmense impact of mismanasemcnt aDd irrcsponsibilib . Fairy -tale urions can also often crumble because ofa lacl of$isdom or chamcier. False hopc can nakc our hcarls sick-

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Thankfully, this ailmcntcanb€ g.eati!, allcliated with rD ulrderstand ing of its roots. With eac.h disapfoiDtneDt- we can b€ morc astute ir learning whcre to place our hope as people aDd institutjoDs shoi{ their characier over titre. Thc disciphie of hope Iequircs ns Dot io sinlllv exlend hopc as a feeling but rathcr as a skill of discer.nrent. scfarating the rlheat frcm the chaff Our soLution is not io Dot hope but m(her to cxcrcise n'ise hope. A s'o d as tLrniultrous as ours dcmands that ire continue to hopc, despjte realitr scrcarning at !s to stop. EdLtcation and he thcare challcngcs call !s to hope. t e.rorisrn and conflict demand hopc. Cine and Poverty call rs to hope Not hoping for th. h.h cr only makes us sicker.

'lo pro\c this, let us examine how hopes .ecentLl fulillled ha\c brought encouragingly new solutions lo once shamed byhis philandeing ilays and almo$ nlPeacbed falsc hopes tliat ive put in our dmi{er of disipponrtmcnts Yet, iftlie from office, shor dbe among those ClinronClobal Initiative is anlrhnrg togoby, thenan and his ideals ar far frorn dead Clinton cffF'rivdv

wo d troubles. Ex P.esiden! Bill Clinton,

gathered the world's top leaders, CLOS and cclcbities in a conce ed cffoit io use th€i. expeience and influencc to solve rvorld problems with immediacy altd eftactilcDcss UD likc more buiky irtemational iNtitutions, CCI acts fast by cutting pasl red tapc aDd the

blreaucracy ofbudget approval by tappitig on the large $!ns of money

thil

the world's

elite donatc. Tuned elder statesrnaD, CliDton lias channelled his experieDce into a lehiclc thal demands we place commilme.t and i tiatire behnrd our bopcs. Richard Brallson's sroup, lhe Elders, is dotug much ollhe samc i{ork, tapping on both thc xisdon and hnLt cnce of the wodd s rnost cxperieDced sLatestncn. Dcspite huge challenges, both men seek

to cradicate poverty, heal thc

wo

d ard nnke it

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bctt.r

Place

Check your o$'n cynicism beforc you pass julgement on this.

for xll.

Forbelind

thos€ hish idcals

are sornc very real solutions. Thcsc solutions are not blild but bom ofa tenac;tl bascd oD the belief that some tliings are wofth pcrseveing fo. and that wc caD lind the wal to b ng about eventual success. Successlul peoplc arc natumlLJ perlelering Dot because the) are drcarnvbutbe cause past srccess as wcll as failue assures ihern thai tireir hope is not fot nouglit Do Dot deslis. thos. who hope, for beyond thosc who are blind ll opiimistic are men aDd $onren t\'hose hope stems Jiom.|,r-

actcr andeaperience. and lvho are

llholb

conrm itted io translate ev€ryone's hopc into Senuine change

whcre does tliat leale us? -{s Sinsaporeans $e ohen cufhemise our wa.i ness lor ilutrv hope by calling it prudcnc,v or pragDl.rtjsln. Reelnrs from the disillL,sionrncnt bone ofour early years of sun'ival, our pioDeering leadc$ saw little value ir ideals. only vrlue in prnctic.l action Yet, in recent years, perhaps due to rnanylears ofsucc.ss Ne hale eniored, Singapore has inspired us to hope So

for nore. We hope tormorcfieedom, fora Sreatcrplace oD the globnlstagc Wchope fornorebal:nccnr our lives, for a nore gracious societ! a.ho is iaivnrg and connnuDitt cen l.ed Wc hope fo. r solid identiry, for rootedDess, for oneness. Are $'e foolish to hope so? Is tlie sokl bed.ock ofcx|cience we no$ sland upon nrdccd eDoush c,f a louDdatioD

fron wlich

Thc capacity frrr hope is the rnost significant iact of lile. It provides human beings

with a sense ofdestination and the energy to get startcd.

to launc| rcDc$'ed dreams'/

It is our hoperhai cftends credit lor a s'orld thathas rlready ilone jrto olerdraft We are both dcbrors rnd crcditors. Creditorsbccause it is our hopewc crtcnd to others. Deblors bccause it is our lblt) lhat r.qtrires others to erlend us hopc.ID eveD, Dreisure. as$';. are verycleiru discovcring inthese rnodern tirDcs, $'e arc all in this togelier. This tine is ditrerent. For bchitld the hope thal we noi{ mutuaLll ettend rn nn' another, there js new lnowlcdge, urtokl erpe.ienc., bcttcr techDology and tight.r connnunit) . l he r. is charactcr to seetlings tlrough tothe eDd.

since we havc cxplored every- tangiblc alcDue tu llnding ans\rers for ou Problents and cxfcDded our fitrite capilal iI doing so, surely it is tinre to lookto the iDtangible thc cnnioDrl capjtalLtlFn t'hi.h rll great achielenents have been built on. Hopc is the only capital we ha\c that does nol .eed to rnD out unless we cho.,se it to bc so. fftt

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE

o9

I

F -

Stop,

in

the

name of love. BYSHIAO-YINKUIK

BROADERPERSPECIIVES

1'Il]j WORLII-S PRESS TRIPPED OVUR l HEIISELVES IN -^NTICIPAtION OF ^S GcorgeW. Dush doi{ned a pisco sonriD Lima, Peru. fhiswas no ordinan'dir* notso the age olObaDra, much becausc thc cocktaii is ar unusuall! delectablc combiration ofbiLlellr, ess $hitc and hre juice b!t because it {as the d nk ihai put Bush o{liciallr back in thc i{orld of the intenpe ral e. NOVF.I'IBER

2oo|:

At least that was the ofnrion of thc of-ed pundjts gel(ing in ihcir lastjounulistic jabs .l thc ortgo' ing prcsideDt. They recalled hori 23 v.ars ago, on Jul) 6th 1986, thc flitLre President accede.l i. li< $'iles plcas aDd voNed rever to drink agrin aftcr a particula.ly wjld 4olh birthday alcohol bnrge at lhc tsrcad'noor Hotcl ir Colorado Springs. llis legcndart cpjsode $.as pa.l ol t|c siorl of hoi! a fonner al coholic slirt chas.r sailed oDthe wings ol rcligious fcNo r ard Irublic sobrict] right irto tlie [Jhite Ilouse, briniaingold fashioned abstnieDce back into fashion. Despite tsusbs fresidcniial shortcon ings rvith regards to thc cconoml and Imq, most ofhis fans remember hnn ior his nnabashcd Pusli for nDrrl tenp€rarce especially in the realn of serual abstincncc under his ad.li.ishatioD.statc tirndins for such pros.immes srei{ and a $15 billion anti All)S lrosrarnnc ilrs launcled in Africa UnsDl'l)risnrgly, this di.l Dot malte him many fricnds among cerlain cn clcs. Gcnerulh, Pushi !, te.r lerance docs not exn you great press. The labcls i{e srddle on the puritrnical arc mostl) unilalte.i.g: !rudes. Victorian, Pharisees. mirce roolhed, tight']aced, wetblinkels, tartl loopcrs, rD.L tlie lilie.

thesevenvirtues

ssLre

When

released ihe film "The 4() Year OldVirsin", fei' peoplc needed to be told ihat it sas Dot noving drama about beatific abstinencebuta! all-oul comedyhish or niockerr"

Hollvood

goingtobc

a

We adore those who live the suNrlative life bis, bisser, biggesU rich, ncher, richesti fast, fastcr, fastest. 'Ihrough the hrllucinogenic 196os, freeloving 197os, the sreed ftretled 198os ard rave parqnns 199os, mant enrbraccd a hedonistic veNion ofthe carpe diem

impemtive: seize tle day by feasting, shoppins, bed-hopping and cocanre-sDorting like thcE is no tomor rowl Bettcr to live fast, die youns aDd leave the bestlookins corpse than die slorvly ofvirtuous bo.edom

Brtwehavcwitnessedthe decimationMeckedbyAIDS on seialbed hoppe$ and their innocenr ]Ertne$, theplagueofmo$idobesity, onetoomanybeatrtifulyouDgstars d)'ing from substance abuse and toolong a trail ofruined families broken on the altar of addiction. l-or a littlc while, we envied thc cxcessive lives ofDom

Temperance is moderation in the things that are good and

total abstilencc from the things that arc foul.

Pcrignon quaflingbankers buting lluropean castles, crates offoie gras and an a.my ofmistrcsses Btrtthereis nothins quite like a devastatins worldwide economic nieltdown to hclp us all see lhatbehind manv an Emperor's expensive New Clothes is a shan. The naked trtrtli stands beforeus: we are in tedble sliape and lrhat we ihought was €vert thing was actually nothing.

4r.939 i8981

DFMANDABROADERPERSPECT]VE

]I

while ovcrindulgcnce, oveNpendnig and overdosing continue to mark ihe new nrillcnnium, thcre has beenan inte resting ba.klash cmcryiDgfromthe mess ofourpaste\cesses. Ihe posl nrillen nium ycars arc So

seeingaslowbu!sieadyrcsurscnccofintcrcstiDasimplelifeofrbstnlerce.eliBiouslyli'elledorotber\Tc.

\ P,-it R"\olurr^, . 8 i,

rn 1..',;-1.'rl qm r:. 'l gtanorous Puitv balls, fathers dance \riih dauithterls after promising to protect then from a pinp cul ture ihat prcssurises louDg \eomen to become sexually active, teenagers don chastity rings and chastit) coulurc emblazoncd i{ith slosaDs like "l'n a Lady in Waiting'or "Virginivl.ane: Exit Whcn }Iarried", ng

B-iL|J

An

excessive

The former make rs and judgmental e p

' and high schools hcld pcp mllics where teens ':: l would signvi.siniry pl.dscs. I'IcanNhile, in the i

non-relisious households ofAme.ica and Eurorc, a knld of sreen hspi.ed ascel ism was lindins sup t^r ,'i r'ts r''/ \, ll r. , lr L lr LF. r'r", u l nF edse to swis organic jlices aDd mountrin spring $ater rat|er than cockiails. Carlo PetiDa s popular Slo$ Food ltoverncnt urgcd all hunaD benigs ., .a.' r' L l p l-up p,rcu-."r . .\1 . ."\n' r, d i nl srnall sips o{ good wine and sloi{ bitcs oflocal produce as opposed to vulgar boozing and gorg ing. Dccrcasing one's carbon footprint becime a hshionablc catch fhmse: maDy gave up their

i

Slrys, cncrs]-coDsumiDg household equiunenl. meatv dicts, plasiic bags, imported foods md shoppins sfluscs for sirnrlcr, eveD mogas gLrzzling

All thc abolc drolld not be nl\ed up e,ith lhe lu

fingc ofthc abstiDence movement thrt call lor membos to rcnouncc a rpisiDg array of Jf'r,,.s'.!i ,b.r'. 1-irnJ|d , ' plp .r".ll' co!IeC ro^4. l- , ' rrdic" r. c"'ics dmw their inspiraLion iorn extrcmists of yor likc Silester crahan whose diatrjbes asahst wlitc br.ad, neat, spices, butter and milk i{ere naric

so

nrflammaton'that $'hen he atternpted to spenk

,,. Ho,ror r', 8.i/, I'r.,, r' .'1.1 b.'I " lr Jr ened to .iot. Grahan prcroscd a sparse lifesble offr€quent shos'ers and bland, unscasoned !egan meals because he belieled

anrrhins.lsc noE

{oukl stiniulate one to go down a slippery slopc of inpurc thorghts, f.equent Dasturbalion and of cou$c, insa 1J anci blinciDess. cxcjiiDg

The spiril of tbc ncw abstirence movenents woukl be besl embodi.d in thc Alcoliolics Anon)mous (AA) tNclvc stcf prosranne besun in 1934 b) tsill Wilson (a $'omJi,ins, rcid{.opping, chain snoker who ruincd a promisins Wall street caree. because of his alcoholism] th{t has since elohed into a 2 nillion mernbcr stroDs, slobal netwo.k ofsupport g.oops as sisting DcoDle in thejr fight against all sorts ol substance abusc fiorn narcotics to food.

BROADERPERSPECTIVES

thesevenvlt!es ss!e

1o,"'r

IMAGECREDIT

,ire

of pleasure is just as destructive as an

excessive

denial of pleasure.

you into a wanton wastrel; the latter turns you into the most unpleasant f,goist whose m otto is"Every martyrfor himself and may the best martyr rtin" .

i:s

Members are not expected to live as saintly ascetics for key to A,{ s philosophy also is the mutral admission of powerlessness in the face of temptation and the humility to ask for help from God aDd {o r sxp-

A-A

port to go on from fellow travellers on the road to temperancc. -dA. also acknowledges that not all drinkers are alcoholics and only those who are should apply total abstinence into their lives. The battle to save the world does not hinse on a black and white choice between hedonism orasceticisn.

An excessive love ofpleasure is just as desinctive as an excessive denial ofpleasure. The fotmer nakes you into a Nanton wastrelj the latter turns you into the nost unpleasant andjudgmental egoisi Nhose

motio is 'Every martlr for himself and may the b€st

maltr win".

True temperance is about moderation rather than a Sylvester

cnhamlike extrenisn. True iemperance is done out oflove foryourconmunityardforyoursurround ings. Ii is not done out ofan inflated sense of oDe's holiness. If you abstain l'rorn drink to ihe point that

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

you scorn anyone who iouches a drop or if you flat out refiise sex io your poor depdved spouse, you are probably just as s ilv of spreading evil and unhappiness in tlie world as the worst hedonist. Alcohol is

not in itself evil, quaffins it lil(e water and without care about how it changes you into an abusive monster is. Sex is noi in itself evil either btrt inflicting your ragins hotnones outside the conlines ofmarriase on prostitutes, innoceni chitdren or somebody else s wife is. Thinss fal1 apart in our world when we nake pleasure the be all and end all of our livcs and niss the hisher point of why we were nade to be creatures who can understand and appreciate pleasure. considerthis:we couldverywell have beenbom as anoebas without pleas ure receptors ortastebuds or sensitive skin. Consider alsothis curious fact that out ofall creatur€s in the animal kingdom, only human beinss wct€ created to have sex {or more than just procreation purposes but for pleasurc as wel]. Apparently, w€ human beings arc created to sit a little lower than ilre ansels and yet much higher than ihe beasts. our lives were nev€r

. ,-

meant to be lived as an orgy of self graiification. That we possess the mental, physical and emotionaldepth thatenables usto dperience such an o,lraordinary diversity of pleasures is a sign that we are feaffuly and wonderfully made for noble pulposes. feel free to eat up ljfe in aI its delicious slorf. And yes, live abun dantly and happily as if each day is your last. But while you do, remember thai to ihose who hale been given nuch, much is dpected of them. So yes,

Livenotjustto mdimise your own pleasure,live to nake other people's livesjust

as pleasurable as well.

himself might gladly dnnk

a

This is

a

truth that Ceorge w' Bush

pisco sorr to.

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Modern philanthropy:

There are many modern ways of doing tradilional

Agold rush of giving

.h- ' un'mon pra' ricp ol .h" lbJul ohil 'lrhru,'\ - .rp!uri nt hJrirdbl.o-_or I'r"li or".'rrs".i 'n. with one-off donations while not actrally gettiDg directly involved in the work of the orsaDisatioD has evolved into a new kiDd ofphilanthropy thai

BYCHARISIAONG

tliings,and charilyisnoexccption.Inrecenttears,

is saining momenhm and recognitioD- Today's philanthrc,py is

d

ven

morebypersonalengrgementandpaficipationonthepartofthedonor or philanthropist, and can nianiLst itself in a smorsasborct of u qre approaches. One palpable chanderistic of this new naDrer of philan thropy is how notable namcs and celebrities 1.om certain nrdustries are ihc ones at the head of the trend and interestingl) enough, s|akins rp t}e climatc of plilanthropy in a good way. Asa matteroffact, mode.n philanthrcpy is not entirely a new tbrm asfccts ofit have always been around. Foundation philanthropy has been larsely defined by three bis names - Rockefeller, Carn egie and Ford - for the greater part olthe last ccntury. While both philantbropic structures focus oD and tackle specific problens, foundation philanihropy maniy consisted oilarsc orsanisations with bis buck to thron around. Modern philanthropyh for anyone t{lio $'ants to do theif pat for ihc world. Philanthropy is no lonserjust a cortributior to a dcscNins charitable orgaDisation for tr\exemption purposes; ithas become a toolthat an]'man can use

to chaDge the world.

The Bill and MelindaGates FotrDdation (B&MGF) is undoubtedly one

ol

theleadersin nodern philanthropy. with their mammoth endoment and bis name endorsements, BjI and Melinda Gates arc makjDs $ aves as ihey travel liom Ali ica io Asia, doiDg everv'lhing fi orn t4'ing to eradicate malalia to educatins sex lvorkeN. B&MGIs effods arc to peryetuate the belief that all lives have equal value'. ts&MCF is interested in slobal health and education issues aDd tlie eliminalion of poverty, and has sileD out many grants and donations directed at nipp g these problerns in the butt.

M ake

Porcrht Histo.a sktn

.IFMANDA BROADER PERSPECT]VE

F$ 'D:stF \!' 'rO$b

(t%'z

.sPe.nrl ..lirr'on Ben & the Make Paurt!

Jd"Js lauov nl suPPatt aJ

Hi.tor! nlauetrentb lNr"catrP.ivn

This passion for charse that burns jn BiI and Melinda Gates is the result of talkins to Bono, U2 rccker and haldcore aciivist for Africa, forjust three ninutes. These three good Samaritans, who were nameil TIMES Persons ofthe Year in 2oo5, have received immense nedia attention and many awards for their philanthropic works. PhilanthroPy suddenly has become a lot morc attractive and meaninsful, and nore andDorepeople arenoticins and buyjns into their philosophics.

Modern philanthropy is exactly this: investing time and c{fort in a cause that onefeels stronglv abo t and channelling help and expertise h those directions. The most imporiant effcct of this revolution in fhilarthropy is howit soes beyond instances ofimpulsive givins, and encourases sustain€d givinB over timc. Instead ol obligation, the
giving

philanthropy wotkshoPs, coaches and the

like

has

suddenlycome into existcDce to cater to this new gold rush ofgivirs This indushfisfocused on helpins potential philanihropists narrow in oD what they genuinely care aboui, suidins them as io how best they can channeltheir nnances and time towards contribotiDgto chari1t'. Phitanthropic coaches go even turtherr they $cate philanthropic mission statemenis for clients based on the kind ofchaDsc they are passionate about seeins in the leorld, and help them to plan tbeir sivins, both in node and nagnitude

morepeople are Settnrg themselves involvcd in direct seMce with their a recently conducted suNey ofanon)mous wealthv individuchaitable causes.In selected als in Ameica, nearly all the rcspotrdents sajd that they had volunieered their own Pe$onal time and effort. As donors become nore concerned about the kind of lesacv thev are leavins belind, the impact oftheir philanthropy is evolving into something more significant Sitting As a rcsult, more and

likc

a

fis

rehead on the board of some charitable organisation because thev were one of the

biggest donors does not constitlte proper and meaningful Philanthropy an]morei getting their hands dirtv makes all the difference. On top of ihe conventionai nethods of philanihropy, there are others who have decided to tread doM paths less travelled Google lnc. has set up coosle.org, thc company s charitable wing. Tbeir cause? Climat€ chanse, poverry and

IN4AGECREDIT

I

on. tseins rcsults oriented, as any self respeciins profit seekins conpanyshould be, will also mean better results for the ploblems they s'ant to fl\' For now, thev have plans to create a

nk.o-h*o,-.-r

hybrid car enginc that is super tuel efficient andjDst a$'esome, the Goosle wav.

cance't hekl b!] the Make Pouarit History comPoignars Scenes Iroin the

Liuc

wonker,

discase. The differenccintheirmethod ofphilanihlopy is that Googie orgis a for-profit com pany. This status, according to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, will ailolv them to explore nore varied options with regards to the kind of projccts the companv can enbark

olnodern philanthropyis catching on, many new p.ivate clEnties are springins up all over the slobe in a bid io part for a suffedns world. The conmon thread runnins througl each of thcse charities is how they are all suided by a pas .io their sion insiite their hearts lor othcrs who are less fortunate, or less capable. Because of these changing notivations and lhe consequent impacttheyhave, modern philanthropy is bringing theworldtoSetherfor a common purpose positive change. Imagine if there was place a phitanthropic orsa sation for evcry problem in rhc world, no matter how big or snall - the world would becone a happier

As fast as the idea

while this current econonic doMturn will pose cliallenges to sivins, with wealihy conpanies and individuais hit hard, philanthropy is somerhing tliat the world neeils and cannoi cut back on.Its prcsence tuels hopc, and hope is whai keeps the poor, thc sick, and the lost livins an.l breathinq, clnrsiDs oDto lile, knowins that the future is bight and tutl of amazing possibilities lftt

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECTIVE

The powerof

THERE IS ACTUALLY\'ERY LITTLE NEED FOR FORTITUDE THESE DAYS- THAT IS, IF YOU CHOOSE to deline livins the same way nost people do- The\?ical hedonist today rarely aspi.es to an]1hing larger

perseverance

or higher than settling for what feeis good". It sounds terdble when we phrase it that way but if we take a good look ar the self serving motivations o{many careerists today, the expedient solutions corporations

BYTONGYEE

and governments find, and the convenient breakdown of mariages, families, schools and religion alike

will know it is Dot far from the tmth. Possessing fortitude neans that we exercise the courage to press for a purpose that se es the comnoD good, despite the pain or adlersity that we expeience in dnving this goal to coDfletion. But why sutrer when we don'i need to? ree

oD

Modern societies have come to accepl expediency, relativity and cynicism as necessary ways o{ life. We €xcuse each other when our friends exclain that 'they cannot take it anymore', even though we know they can and that it is probably worth it if they do. Yet, our aversion to pain and incon\rnicnc do not permit us to practise age-old traditions of fortitrde to atry perceivable effect. UndeNtaDdabiy, the rctums otr such a pEcticc arc noi apparent enough for us to recognise as not enough people per scvcre in our collcctive consciousness. What kind oflife, or beliei then requnes us to bave fortitude?

]

,*ooor* or*rora-,ura

rhesevenvirrues ssue

When creenpeace besan its lirst few envircnnental lobbies in the 197os, a tjne wav before the current global warning debate emergeal, most pcople brushed then aside as mere leftist idealists who were rriting an dl.-m rhar had r o reJl "onsPquPr ce lor thr human race. A few controversial stunts later, in an

attempt to draw media attenhon to themselves, Greenpeace earned thenselves the notonety ofbe ins rcnegades, anti-establishneni and law-break

lortitude means that we exercise the courage to press on for a purpose that serves the commongood, despite the pain or adversity that we experience in driving this goal to completion. But why suffer when we don't need to? Possessing

that Greenpeace wa. Indepd / pioneFr il .nda) s ldr more sophrsricated environmental lobbyi a very similar story to what Amnesty International has done for human rishts. Th€seNGoswere driven bypeople who envisjoned a greater sood and despite the edly persecution they faced, thev persevered and successtullv iniiiated positive change for the environment and human ghts, two areas that are ofvital importance to rhe continued survival of civilisation todayers. Today, no one doubts the fact

DEMANO ABROADER PERSPECTIVE

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The thing ihat separates pure emotion from virtue is the notive for the choices we make. Perseverance alone does not quali& as pnctisins foftitude s perseverance can be as self seNins as atry other emo-

tion or act o{ wi]l Meaningtul hunan life is about

a quest for the supreme good. For it to be recosnised virtue, the enactment of fortitude should be for ihe puryose of showing love for our fellow nan, the stenstlenins of our communities or as Greenpeace has defined it, the prot€ction of our planei so our descendants can live a better life. Fortitude deser.r'es admiration as it means acting in courage for the benefit of others. Consideins the thanldess and often times dangerous work NGOS do to advdce agendas for the common good, they would epitonise nodem fortitude at work this is very much an example we all

as a

wlat

then of the freedom fighter or even tenorisi? CD we indeed under these contexts describe Al Qaeda If we listened to Bin Laden's propasanda we wodd know that he himseu de

as displayins fortitude?

scribes their orsanisatiorl as possessing great fortitude, never crumblins u er the attack of enemy fire and lighting to release themselves from the oppression under westem resnnes. Do these organisations indeed strive for the conmon sood? This consideration brings a fascinating slantto our unde6tandins of

fortitude and ihe purposes ihai dnve it. Surely, slobalisation has done more than just intesrated markets. It has i eed integrated interests as well and therefore the "common good" needs to be redefined, ertendinsto a far broade. and n1ore inclusive understand' ins than perhaps the pre cold-war or nationalist era. We are still walkins the fine line between universal ideas ofbrotherhood, equativ and shared resources

versus the need for sovereisnty or parochialism. Therefore fre€don fighters, although once justifred in fishting for the common localised good, can no lonser ciaim to do so as local interests invariably

integralewlh irlp_nalional nler.Js. IhFlFhasin deed emerged a slobal consensus that today's level

of integration unifies ihe soals we strive rich or for poor. for better or for worse.

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for

for

neaninstul practice of fortitude today therefore requires us to firsi accept the emerging definition of the "common good". Detractors might still call for protectionism and even isoiationism, but despite

Correcting the lifestyles

and mechanics of how we have been living over the past centuries will hurt and cost us. Fortitude means that we have the courage

bywhichtobearthispain, to moderate the fear and aversion we have ofchange, and to brave the adversity that is to come. This is worth it for the global good.

nunerous global food scares, cross-border terorist attacks, global financial contagions and increased nobility of intemational uiminal networks. we are still movins closer tosether as a global conmunity. Recognising ihai means our purpose for persever ing should be for the "slobal sood", not just those of peopl€ closest to us. Nert, we need to ledn that fortitude as a virtue will define our way of life for at least the next century. Correcting tLe lifesttles and mechanics ofhow we have been livins over the psi centunes will hurt and cist us. Fon:itude means that we have the courag€ by which to bear this pain. to moderate ihe fear and aversion we have of chanse, and to brave the adversity that is to come. This is worth it for the slobal sood. On a personal level, fortitude also means that riters like myself should continue to Mite these words, to remind people that iakins ihe road less travelled is possible and indeed wodh it. Not so much for ourselves, but reciprocatly for the communities that will b€nefit from our desire to do sood for all. Adnit-

wi

iDvite accusations of idealism, or foolishness, of empty rheiodc and hoary ideals; accusations that are by no means easy io swallow You see, contrary to what th€ hedonist of today wants io believe, life is not about feeling good, nor is ii about doing good. In truth, there will be times vhen each person, incl dhg mysell will not feel like doins eiiher. But virtues like fortitude remain

tedlx these personal opinions

retevant today b€cause they help us look to things larger and higher than ourselves- And that is what every human being today needs.

l(l! DFMAND A BROADER PERSPECTIVE

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BROADER PERSPECT

VES the seven v rtues issue

JUS When the quality of justice

il, ;l1l

is

not strained

the gentle rain BYXUYUQIN

ONE FT\CT ABOUI' THE WORI,D THAT IS unilersally agreed upon is that crime is prcsent in cvcry continent, couDtry and city. Crime but falleth as ca. omu drlafhre. It maI be rlaiting in the shado$,s of a dark alcy or come fron the peF of heaven. s.rn standing behird you in a baDk- Even Ariarctica has reqLrired police marshals sincc 1989- Despite haNher punishments and deter rents, and better and nrorc sophisticated polichg nrethods, crime contin ues to be a real scourge that destrols conmunities, fanilies and people. Why is c ne still ranpant around tl e i'orld? Thc justice slstem needs a se.ious rc-examiniDs. lt seems a black and white approach ofjusi lockins cfininals Dp and buildnrs nore and mo.e pdsons js not a long term soluiion for society. Siudies have shoM that a larye percentage of criminals are rcpeat offende$.'L!o separate U.S. studics which spanned a decade shorved similar trends: alnost 50% ofinmates released frcn prison werc .e-convicted within

threerars.Thisbelies

the sorryfactthai

mostc minalsfallbackintothesame

circumstances the]'wcrc iD before incarceration and tend to commit crimes again. Ex'otrenders fiDd huge barjers when altenrpting to iniegratc back iDto socieiy. A lack of opportunity, gu idance and concent makcs for desperate circumstances. Hence, these indn'iduals often return to a life ofcrilne to surrive. Our legal system that is meant to senejustice is also ironically a part of the licious clcle trapping people in crime.

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE

23

r"J

piffi-l;LL'"n

l'

-""-\ -

eove rmeDts and societics realise d' r rured'carr 'rin r'/l' Pc urr'lF

"'i in Statue of Justice that oflen apPears on couft bdldings: slie wiclds a sword herotherhard pair in olscales the one hanil. rcady to Dunish thc wicked, ]€t,

s'gDifies thatfindingabalance is equallvimporiant Pain and rehibution does instilutioN are bcnot always puifu thc soul" and balancc caD be found throush nrercv Lesal are energing to sLrppoft communill' well as as refomled to rclLect this idea, an.i carnpaigns

ing providc rchabilitation for offenders These programmes prolide suppoft rnd sufeNision after in crrceration, giving otrendcN achance atn newlife. Justice is a \irtue that is oftenmisunde$tood of with too man) peoplefoctrsing only on People Setting 'what thevdeservc"- Beyondthe sword

judsment descendinsuPon thc suilty,justice is also about mercv- As more sovernments and sothe cieties realisethis, a mo.e enlishtened form ofjustice navjust be the kev to salins

wo d

as As part of tlis molenent of reforn, Prisons are statting to Plav an eapandcd mie pro they stalt io focus on rehabilitating otrenders Educational opfortunitics and work that ensurins and with counsclling granmes arc now beconing part ofprison lile along plavs a also in terns offamilv or a iob The govemment p.isone," t'aue " "oppon "ystem goaernment pan ir providing oppoftunilies for oFende* aftcr ircarccmtion The Sjngapo'ean the commufor campaiSn and raise awareness larnched the Ycllow Ribbon Projeci in 2oo4 to ho$'offenders prison", identifies nity to accept ex-offendcrs- lls motto, to "unlock ihe secoDd

find themselves locked out of socictv when thev arc released Furthcnnore' sove'nmcrts open policy naking aveDues for organisations that represent offenders OAR'S or Offendcr's Aid .n{l Rehabilitation Sen'ices, an orsanisation based in South Australia, is reprcsented in gov

position to influ_ ernnental committees anil has a govcrnor of state as its pahoD With tlis convicts afence ilecision-naking, oARS tackles issues such as housing and enplo)ment for

There is a higher court than coults ofjustice and that is thc court ofconscience.

It

supercedes

all other courts.

tclincarccration.Tlrisshowshowgovernnentsarercalisingiheneedtostopperceivingp.isoncrs to rehabilitate then so that lhev can conrribnte. Thus. a balance is struck: justice is iempercd with mercv,iudgment balanced bv rehabilit'tion as dcad weights on society and instead focus on how besi

Beyonitthe laslnal<ers andpdson nanagement, societv also Plavs

uuET,s",o"."".r''"*,ingj"..i."'Whiltthercares!il]peoplewhotargetexoffenders,haraSSin8then a prolitemtion oflolunteeratrd and drivingthem out oftheir neishbourhoods orjobs, thcre has also been fron overseas non-prolit orsanisations foundcdto provide suppoft for offenders These offer everl'tling ptisons ln London' partnership with in working often to pre emptive drug detoxilication, rehabilitaton ,.PrisoneNAbroad',servesBritonswho'!ercincarceratedovcrseaswhileotheroqanisationssuc]r,slhe

of drug dePend'n'* in Second Chance programme pursue a pre empiive strateg,' of weanjng iDmatcs inmates prisons wiih reduced recidivism mtes, from 70% to 10% Manv volunte€rs have sought to engage life to nanage or methodolo&v lalues to teach attempi with inspnaiional guides and programmes which

AmultitrLdeofprosranmesfronCriminonwhichisinfhencedbvRoDL Hubba ,thefounderofscientolosv'

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thesevenvirtuesissue

to Ch siian pstahothe.apy have been practised ni helpinB innraics make a clean break with thc last Iven Transccndcntal MeditatiorrtTNl), a rcliSion that the Beatles practiccd, t{as .esearched lo lind out if it could inspire irnnates. Despite dillerirg rneihods, tliese methodologies had a sinilar aim, to inculcaic

lahes opposing crim€ and to oeate a basis lbr ex offcnde$ to re_enter sociew Many in society under staDi! that ilithout mercy, cnmc $'ill perPetuate andiustice is not seNed. Thus troeiusticc cannot e\clude a

hclpiDshand extended to thosc who have fallen by thewaysidc.

PORTLA

And earthly power doth thcn show likest God's When mercy seasons

Of course not all is rosyandthere

arese

justice.

ous clulenges to achieving a siaie

where jusiice teDpered with mercy reigns supreme. People Datmlb, fear and are prejudiced towards those sho commit

oime- -^s aresult, their aciions may range from a lacl oftrust io cxcessive violence to'far ds thcsc nldividtrals. Remember the consiant nagsing from parents to bc 1vary of spiciousslran gers, or ofihe "crooks and crimnrals lutkins" in the streets? lnnate suspicion is palt ofthe homan conditioD and while it nat, help personal safety, it als.r hinders empathy wiih e\-of fcndeN, causing us to only sce the cdme and not the pcNon. In ccftain parts ofthe wor'ld, thc culhre ofrevenge continucs tohold swar underthe guise ofrelisious larv. An eye 1br an eye is t|e rulc of the day and it is often hcjshtened by violence to deter and cducate the public. r'he penalty for thieves in lran is still the amputation oflimbs and stoning, behcading, lashing, hansing and being shoi arc still consideredjust punishnents insome countries, often carricd out publicly. No one issparcd and cveD children as youns as fourleen are execLrted for of Iences. In the spirii ofjuslice as they interyret it, relatives of victins are given the "p.iviLege ' of carrying ort tlie punishments so that the cycle ofreverge h complete Ablinkered inieryreiation ofadicles offaiih thus disresards nercy, choosins abloodprice instead. Thcse attitules permeaie cultures andcause transgressors and eventhen lamilies tobc naryinalized, li\ing lifc onthefinges ofsociety. -ds such,justice cannot provide the mercy it espouses ifpeoplc do not understand and overcone thei. baser emotions to$'ards offenders or if ihey continue to practice ihcir religions in ways that seNe revenge mtherthan mercy.

'Ihere seem to be insurm.runtable odds $'hen oretries to tackle c me. A\iciotrs cycle ol oife.ders retun' ins t.r crime becausc they e\pe.ience the same Metched circumstances in thcir lives goes a lons sJ\ ir1 na}jng cdme pervasivc. However, governments and comntrnities alilie are iaking neasures lhal mav balancc Deeds to be struckforjusiiceto Prevail. lhe solution to crime lies nol in damningou.fellowman, but in opcning the x ay to lile lived \iihout crime We can all be herces anct save the world by takins the firsl slep in believins iD the virrue called justice altt chanse

tlis. As embodiedbyihe Statue ofJustice,

a

Thoughjustice be thy plea, considcr this, That, in thc course ofjustice, none ofus Should see salvation. Act

l

sccne 1

'"Ite,[a€,.hnnt o/ir.ni.e"

t/iilndn Sftdlespeo re, En9l6i d.dfralrst&!oer (is61-16t6)

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECT VE

2\

IMAGECREDITS (OVERLEAF) rle/il F.ee lillrs h ?bkvo, Kalandm}as *Darinka' icentr.J r?e(tiho the h,neless in Mont?al (risho Srrcct si9n, Iohlo, Kalanilrakas

BROADERPERSPECTIVES the seven vr tuesrss!e

KINDNESS A revolution

OI' AI,I, THE VIRTUES- {NDNTSS JS PROBABLY THE ulr rhJl n'or' \, n.- r-^n . puur p rbl:. rFl l ' r^ car,al 8 ,.

forthe

BYSHIAO-YIN KUIK

ncss

o1T to the mertal iDslilutior, Blanche dnnois rhe hroken Southcrn belle lieroiDe ot lennessee Williams' stage-and screer classic A,SheercarNontd,i:si" utters, l hale always depended on ihekiDdness ofstrangers.' civilitl and new worldbrutishln the battle bct$ccD old '!a.kl

,Iust before being led

people, bythe people

fairted

b)' the play, the rrorld of Blanche .tuBois lost.

Kirdness souDds wimp)' and soli, lile a attajn. a mundane quality that eleryone

hibiting

il lher wantcd io. ,\t

that is not impossible to

some$'hat ctPable ol e\ value, Kindncss sinply does not face

is

resonate with power like Justicc Dor possess the holy s€ightincss of that clas siciheolosical trio, riaith. Hope and Lovc. Ut ike Ioditude and TernfcraDce,

you don't feel like you have lo clnnb somc iNu.mountable moral mouniain to achievc kindress. As the old S\redish sa,\'ins soes rather Ltnknrdl! ai that -'Yes, he's kind, bur so are cows hthc field." E €n Lady Macbetb nruscdtatllv about he. husband s ability to achieve his prophesied lot in life, Yct do I fear thy nature. [t is too tuil ofihe milk ofhuman kindness." Burkindn€ss is mismderstood. ure tend to dcccivc ou6elves rbout ho$'kind wc arc b"icaly tlie liNt and most conlcnicnt casralq during our d.ilystirkind mishes wiih life. it is east to act as a Frson wlieD evetvrhing is all roscs aDdsunshine but $e allknow hownuch harderit is to summon up civilit! onccwailingbabies, queueiurnpos, iailsaters aDd n e wail ers disruptyour lifc. Given even these lfivial sourccs of conflict, most olus strugglc wiih exhibiting lhis so-called wLissy traii. Thcre is trtre innate ldndness that draNs f.on a.leep we]i ofgracc aDd then tliere is kindness that only exists whcn circunstances are conve.ient and pleasant.l\is is a crtrcial diffcrence to undeNiatrd because so olien thc lvorld is uDpleasant and doing good for othe.s is olten inconvcnicnt. and rcftrse to admit that Iindness is

DEIVANDABROADERPERSPECT VE

?7

the of gmce uniler fire It is the verv trait that separates In essence. true kindness is a sort ot mercv, a manifestaiion pause without pharisees in our societies - the ability to show generositv to the most undeseNing samaritans from the ofeNY - atrait catechisn' kindness is in fact seen as the poiar opposite or expectation ofrewa Accoralingto Catholic

thatunfortunate]ydefinesmostotoulcurrenteconomiesandsocielies'En\ymakesalofusoperateftomaparadigm the h8es and ihe have-nots On the other that lde celebrate and perDeruate the gap betlveen of one-upmanship, such

equalitv beb{een alt' erlending

drds *;;om;- " *"tetv constructed arounithe rdea of kindness $orksnotto$deserve il, it do who "' to those *.-"ration and equal rishts' speciallv ii" i""-"*,

"o

out of truly kind society works towarils closing ihe gaP noi

A

a

but a simplistic idealisation of the "goodness of mankind"

i.,.lr".""ri',,i...r'""l"'foIihegraceofGod,theregoI..'Youer1endkind.*:-!-_ the onlv reason whv vou can' must and should *" *"t t-** """t only that you are"^ is

l"r*"i t- lr"

"*ar€ many unsung where vou are due to the kindness of manv' and breath' life who save vou includins the invjsible God So now,

there is

a

new awakening to the fact that

-olur:on,o rhc $or'ds problem' -

ffi;ffi;:iblp

rr needs

heart' at ihe grassroots to come straight from th€ grounil, straight from the

levet o{ schools' kitchens and omce desks There is a growing understanding that as long as ordinary people retuse to exhbit ihe senuire kjndness in iheir dailv walk, wil world this in change we hope to see never happen in anv sustainable manner'

Early adopters of the kindness revolution know ihai susiainable change is not about waitins {or sovernmetrts to be

kind

bv na-

ture. states are ponderous machjnes chained chanse come from waitins for by bnreauciacy and are stol'r to reaci Nor wil r" h..n lo bP kindFr - Lne) arc qlicl"r' wealtl'rer' ard nore ""--.tlon" rno- o-e.ni.ed thd dnl othPr socru instilurion dround bul alF *",,ir. ana want to maxrmise prolit The answer is simplv

i.una ty d'"i. o""rpo*".lng

wherever thev in indiviiuals, radicallv choosins to nudure kirdness whatever the cost may be: personal, economic or

de at'

A truly kind societYworks tords

a simplistic idealisation of tti'go

humble realisation that "but 1 thr

c"i'l

unplanned new movement hale€mersed Around them inspirins and enraordinary flas-beders of this diverse' kindness' **-t .f foltowers who thirst for oppoftunities to live a life oriented around .rff, Some

"

"p."*it"t

and graduate tumed prominent etivisr for non-violence

seminary There is Shde Claiborne, a quirtf' twentv someihing haqi families the wounds of tepers with Mother Teresa to visitins dressirig poor' From redistnbution of resources to the a leads srowins New redistribute wealtb' claiborne now

O.-O-* . Uunping $ro,ooo on walliueet to "iot "O"i MonasticismmovemenithrcughhisPotterstreetconmunitygroupwherememberschoosetoahandontheircomfort _.-n . ,,rng and sharins their resources amons the poor that they wish to seFe. i""" "ti"

".a

not c!n-

who were Mait and Jessj@ Flannerv' co founders of Kiva ors Then there are the enterpdsing do gooders lik€ people thev it logisticallv easier for tens of thousands to be kind to tent to just extend kinilness thev watrted to male resedcher' thev still a co,"iutu. prosrarn-er .",i .lessi€a a microliMm€ have never net before. Even while Matt was lend diectlv to enter-

i"r"t"o"J"" *"nua o*,

individuals to person-to person microlending website that empowers

ill;"rri"lr",.'",*+@l^pin8$orldrhrouahKivarhekrndne*or'rrang'rshaslir"rdlrvhad'$odwideimna't' chdnel larsFsl and mo'r re\pFcrcd mrcronnrr'p tacihlarors Lrownq'r,m a snarlbedtoom p.oi."r to on" or rie "orld ' too8 lrom ll'P pockFr: ol lie ha\es ro the hdvP-nolc in .;rf i"*,

"""',So*:

I

'-

RRoanFRPERSPECTIvES thes€venvntuesrssue

Then there are th€ iiny revol tions that do noi re.lly have a particular figlre head but are doing their utmost to promote worldwide kindness. Th€re is the Gift Revolutjon, a movement lirst organised by a clurch in Florida that has grown to a volunteer network over 47 couDtries. Througl random, even mundane acts of sivins like cheeing up a stranser with a free lati:e or helping to pay an overdue bill or two, the Gift Revolutionaries hope to remind people of a hisher wav and inspire a slow-building tsunami of sreater kindness. And therc is the famous Jubilee 2ooo Movement that pressured

the G 8 to comnit $769 nillion to bilateml and multilateral debt reliei Jubilee sprang from vouth groups who were inspired by the biblical idea of the year of Jubilee, where at the end of soen cycles of Sabbaiical vears, all who were enslaved by debts were {reed and had their lands restored. There are also mdical entrepren€urs who start companies ihat rewite the mles of business. The nse of social entepreneurs and socially o ented businesses was born liom a backlash to the 199os culture of cowboy cpitalism which rewa rded the most rapacious corporate executives with tens of millions of dollars in stock options. The disillusioned besan lookins for alternative paradigms of nnning iheir businesses instead. Early leaders of this movement in clude high-profile usual suspects like the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop fame and ice crcan hippie moguls Ben cohen andJerry Greenfield You might think kind conpanies would ne€d to have

a

left-

ing, hippie activist vibe about

it

and that banl(s, constm.tion conpanies and r€siaurant empires cannot operate as such. But there are many other ordinary companies that have flown under the radar but made a name in their imnediate communities for choosins to be kind, life ser

ins,

Dd

accountable to

connunity

needs

.f ili"]llll,J,l"l1l,"":|i]i;:'-::'H.j,",*, {"good.,.r, of mankind" b"t u ",ifill,t",i""j,l,* i}?",il1fil:i^::i:H"::J"::i:TffiT:::::;

frds closing the gap not out

and social Esponsibi,ity a

'gthegraceofGod,theregol".::il;X',"i[lJ"H,|].j'":l1t-ripri*ithrairdears'ando'nun'I

I

eo s"rlingham s book "Snall ci onts: Companies which Chose to Be Great Instea.l of Big" details out many of these quiet corporate revolurionaries. REELL Pr€cision Manufacturing oriented their entire business around their three founde$' vision of a company that promoted harmony between their work lives and family lives and ended up creat ing one ofthemost denocraiically un companies in the world. Animation studio Rb'thm & Hues created alesendary workplace with some of the best healih care beneflts for tull tiners as well as paft timers as a personal solution to the woetul siate of American pubtic healthcat. For many of the CEOS of the conpanies Butlinsham cited, choosins to be kind not only created for them the kind of company that they could fall in love with, kindness also brought them suc' cess. As restaurateur Danny Meyer ofNew York's famous Union Square Hospitality Group put it, "I've made much more moneybychoosingth€ rightihings to say noto than by choosing things to say yes to l measure jt bvthe monev I havent lost and the quality I haven't saqificed." The interesting thing about ihe kinilness revolution is that not many people know quiei, self-etracing and thus, easily overlooked But the powerful ihing about kindkindness is about it because senuine you have dperienced it, you never forget it. Day to day, the brazen, the bold and the beauii{ul mav often ness is that once leave the strongest impressions on us and ocr:upy our.heams the most. But cunously, at the end ofda)s, it is always tbe peopte who have been kindest to us that we will be draM to sive the highest accolades and the deepest respect. lltt

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE

l^

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PRIDE

ENVY GLLJTTONY GREED

WRATH LUST SLOTH

.: .l

'v

It comes before a Fall. BYELIZABETH KON

HERE

IS A QUICK POP QUIZ: $ltlAT DO

ICARUS,

Frankenstein, Doctor Faustus and sood ole Lucif€r al1 have in common? Every one of them notoriously crnmitted what is considered the dcadliest of all sins. the sin from which all other sins arisc - Pride. At first glance, why does pride get the bad press that it does? After a]l, what exactly is wons about feelins sood about oneseuand one's acconplishmeds? This world is already filled Nith people all too ready to bdng one another dom, nired in self dotrbt and in desperateneed ofrole modeis- Shouldwe not do more than to pronote and highlight more fomN of pndc?

Minority and disadvantaged groups have benelitred fron tle push io promote a group pridc. Blacl< Pride was a novenent in the United States that was formed to elevate the standing of a black connnunity narginaljsed by a histor) of slavery and discrinination. Throush the celebration o{ a black heritase aDd racial identib,, the fight for self respeci and better treaimcnt vas brought to the fore, and the besr n n I nss of the Ci;l Rights movement built. But for every positive Black Pnde movernent, ihere is the flip sidc of a

whiie Pride that endorses white srprenacy, racisn

and the KKK.

while pride can mean a hish scnse of onet selfrvorth, unfortunately it can also spill too easily into a damagins over-estimation of one's self lrorth. Wlile pnde n1 oDc's intellect and pride of learning ard achievement can r€ap benefits, pride tal<en to t]le ertremes can manifest as hubris, arosance, lishrnind ed presumpiion and vainglory. Pride was the fiNt sin ihai destroyed the calm of cod's pamdise and we are seeing all too clearly how inflated pride is playins out similarly on today's world stase. Too hish an opinion of the rightness and pre-eDincnc€ ofone's nation, tribe ard etluici\' is r€sponsible for many of the blockages in global cooperation and tbr the materialisation of trouble spots h modem times. when nations and peoples believe wholly only in the veracity aDd superionty oftheir worth, they tend to remove tlienselves liom any form ofgoverning authority and dcspise opinions counter to their oM. Worse, thcsc nations and peoples are also expressins such nationalistic and ethnic pride in ways that are e\cessively belligerent and intransigent, coriributinS to political tension and contentioNness. So

DEMANDABROADER PERSPECTIVE

l*

Il jliHq&gllulJ4trqEq

of coolse, one shoutd not knock narional p{de. waves of patriorism can in its best moments unire the country in ihe face o{ adversity, and strensthen and bring together peopte of difierent races and creeds. But ov€Neenins nationalistic pride, as a scan of mod€m hist.rrt, wjll confim, is also responsible for the worst atrociries ihe world has ever seen. Dante described pride as ..to.\,e of self peweired to hatred and contempt for one,s neighbour,' and we see how coultries cnn etro$tessly turn nationrl pride into a tool of enmiv against rheir neishbours. The pide o{ coutry and race perpetu_ ated by the Nazi regine enabled even ordiiary citizens to condone and turn a blind eye to the Holocausr. Nationalistic pride is used too often as an dcuse to tum on minoritjes and to justi{f, purgings, pogroms and genoeide: Chinese militant nationalism rarionalises the iti treatment of its minodties and .rib€i, a Japanese obsessioD with ethnic purity renders its minorities invisible, inflated ethnic aDd retigious pride continues the curse in strife-torn regions like the Batkans, and propagates the continneil eiectio! io ofice of ultra nationalist, anti-immigratio! and erdrem€ right potiticat pnrties a over the wo d. Overt ertensions of nationalism also create more conplications in a world aheady plagued with troubtes. Russian rulers have manipulated pride in ihc Drorherland {or their own ends fo. cenrrries, anal putin is no exceptionr giling Stalin a run for his money. Backed bl, oit noneyand post-inperial nosialsia, Russia has

exerted its power in belliserent and thusgish !,ays. Not onty do s€ see a dsing renopttobia in the corrniry, nationalist ideologues haie been mobilising against the tvesi, rrying to establish a Russian donirance tn

world affai$. Recent conli ontations include arbitrarily ctrttirg gas supplies offto entirecountries, pictriDg fights rith forner saielliie nations that hare the temeriry to cosy rp ro ihe Wesi, unilaternlty recognEing other breakaway siates, opposins jntemational sanctioDs ofrrnfriendtynations, s€nerallvrzjsins tensrons in tl1e Caucasus and other dubious behaviour.

is the best

B t "sLh. c.i"hFBo...nrid",-ath doFs.umeLetolFJ tJrt.Tt FLnit,dSlareis rowslowiy and pail1irtly jearnins humility. The past fe{.i.ears \!ir-

*ample ofa naiion that

p ded itseuon its e\ceptionatism. bythe Srcarness ofirs morrt coDvicrions. re superiodty ofits int.lligence and the faulttessness ofits acriors, unlarerat or nor. Engagements in Iraq and AJshanistan ha\r brousht America iDro unconfoftabte realisations ofhowfarits pridc has caused it ro squander global goodwill and cooperaiion an.t made ji a.tefauti ounber oDe enemv of mosi nations. nessed an Anerica ihat

Pr. rd.nrOo nacac.an to,hahot ..cat i-.FFing \,npri{!d,..nlir. ensaging and involvins, and most imporranrly, nore humbte_

.t.,ll,r.r, -.r,,epyltu

is,nor.

I-jkewise, the moDey men of erstlvhiie banling ard finarciat tiraDs have ako raken an equaly nishr)tumble. Hubrjs is at the root ofthe cuEenr globat do$Drurn, teading bankers to malie bad bers based on the empty pronise of easy iches, believing that i:trey we.e uiouchabte finarlci.ll whizzcs. Bnt rhe xro.e importanL lessoD for us is ho$'pride is exceediDslydifficult to roor out as displays ofremorse orconh.ition

siill iate in comhg. Aftcrdisastrous losses, Meuin Llnch's formerboss, JohD T.hain, used federat and iaxpayers'money from the bailont to push ihrough generous and uDdcsenins bonuses for his bankers. Millions ofdollars were still spent alier the firancial faltoui on office renovations. pdvate jets and corporate getaways at l xurious hotcls. tt is padicularll, relting that lralf ot wall She€r workerc reported in a poll rhat iher.werc dissarisiied wirh the amornt oftheir 2oog bonuses while the rcsr of the wortd had to deat with re trcnchments and mountins bills that co ld not be paid ofi pride can carse such a are

deep-rooted sense ofentitlenentrhatitsunires carnage spread rhroushouL the \orld.

even after $,itnessilli the

inancial

Suelyit

is the ultirnaLe undeNtaiement to d€clare that ihe \rortd needs a fi\ ofhumilitv rnor€ than ever, that it is rinre to move away from .me, mysell an.t I',. In rhe Eible, it w.is thc sin ofp dethat causedrle pha*e.s to rejecr,tesus. pri{tc causecl

Babion and DreD io spurD s,arnnlgs and adnonirnrns and ro rejecr coit,s servants. Pride is the thin red linc berween shreousness and setf-ighteousress, and skei{s our perceprion ofreality. pride leads p€ortes a|d nations ro acts ofincredible btindness and the fatl of

seuishness. We musL move away lrom ovcr.btc,wD opnrions ofselfso rhat $,c caD stad to see ou.setves and the truth ofthe rvor.ld clea y. The hrth is oflen vcry humbhig and niay b. the only factor rhat helps us stay on the side ofangels.

DEN']ANDABROADERPERSPECTVE

JO5

4ffitu

I BRoADER PERSPECT

vES thesevendeadlysins

OSTENIATIOUS DISPL{YS OF WE{T-TH ARE no longer l.oqher given lhF .urrcnr F.onomn

Whykeeping upwith the

climate. Eefore wall Streeth greatest went belly up, the media had a field day repofting on the meteoic growth of the new rich. Stories about the Smirnovs will ruin us all. Londor, hcdse tund nanrgetr rhrowing thFir Cristal drenched wild parties and Manhattanites BYSHIAO-YIN KUIK stockinS up on Lamborghinis have becone all too commonplace. what was different in the lltst decade was tlat a new ethos of ertravagance also emerged in developins econonies, where those sharp (and lucM enoush to taD into ihe slobalisation of capital and opDo(unity have gone f.om rass to riches in lessthan a decade.

Chans, the Kumars and

Whil€ it has become trendy in the west to piay down your nillions thanks tokhaki-cladbohemianslike Jeff BezosorMarkZ kerberg,being abletoflaunt you wealth hs always been the mison d'atre ofmost ofthe world's noveau iche. Forset Man's ideals of Communist equality or Gandhi's siubborn brand ofsocialism, India's notable narvabs, Russia

s

ostentatious olisarchs and Chi

na's capitalist communistswanttheir right to ritz. Chinese businessmen tried to top each other to see who

could build the most outlandishly decadent

ofhomes

one built a US $ro million replica ofthe white

House, complete with a mini Mount Rushmore in the backyard. Russian billionaires becane our favounte

rulgariv and we tut-tutted over how they used floo notes to light cigars, snacked on flooo tins ofAlnas caviar md colected Bitish foothall clubs, Gulfstream jets, European castles, hophy wives and dianond-€ncrusted nistresses like therc was notomorrow. icons of noveau riche

But despite our expressed disgust about the wretched excesses of the rich, de€p down we secretly fnd the exploits of the superlatively wealthy exciting and dveting- The same eNf that dnves the noveau riche to spend as if they were making up for lost time is the same eNT thai drives us to religiously study those showoff plutocrats both real and imagined on Gossr? Girl, Dirtgl sej\" Monea, Forbes'Most Expensiue Celebtiry \ateddings and n4?Y Cribs.

we don't really resent the rich. we dll just

wdt

to join their raDks.

\'l

j:l:.

DEMANDA BROADERPERSPECT]VE

JN'

thh waming in the Book of Exodus (2o;r7l that we shalt not covet thy neighbour's hoose; neither shalt thou desire his ilife, Dorhis seNant, nor his haDdnuid, ago, the J€wish prophet Moses $. ote

nor his ox, nor his ass, nor aDl'thing thar is his." Covetousness is considered so serio s a sin that cod Hins€lf narncd ii as one of thc classic tel commandments that deseNed to be emblazoned upon tablets ofstone. Call it envy orjealousy ifyoLr like, covetousness by any other name woukl smell as sick. lt all amounts to that same sad seDsation of wantirg what you cannot have and wantins it to ihc point of grcai bittcNcss and fiustratioD. ED\y iswhat tu.ns us into selfloathing green eyed moD slers rrilling lo ships'reck everlthiDs right in our life and in our conmunityjust to gain status and power above soneone else. You could be contmriaD aDd argue thai is it not our juraie dissatisfactioD with our lot in life the key diving force that pushes our cconomics slna'ards? Is not ambiiion bom of en\l uhimatelydre only reason whyhumanity has prosrcsscd? WhaL is so $rong lher

{ith

a littLe

co\elnria?

ilith the seed ofLow self-esteeni ill'nou.ished SoneoDe else has something that you consider inpor-

sure. it besins innocently enoush

bl co$t{Dt conprdsor.

tant io harc and should that pc$on bc similarto you,lhc aroused cnlT bccones l)arlicLrlarlr.' irtense because your entirc existence centres around an olerrlhelm ing sense oi entillenent: Ir SHOULI) be inine. LD\_a does notjust stop at niaking you deeply unhappl with you.self and cause vou to chaDDel all your $'aking energies towa.ds orercoming that perceived in-

cqualitv. TakcD to its nrevitable end, enly

a

ccis

oftour

rlill ori]'

eDd

!p ruining the noblest

givinguphumilill'and contentcruel satisfaction from lhe misery of

soul. You cornmjt schadcnfrcude,

ment lo become a pet!!"ffeature thal derives Lhe loof and ungmcioLrs pleasure in the ruin ofthe rich. We peg our own stand urd of h.,w well otr we are not to the jnt.jnsic worth of our ox n rvell being but to ho$. it compa.es to the JoDes nert door. No nonder that philosopher Bertrand Russell declared that eDw $'rs one of the most potent causes of unliappiness - pc$onal aDd soci.tal.

i,:ilil:rL l,l:

l:'l!i T r; :

i ,t l-- E' fl.l',Y ..'lll-L L" !i_t!l ':l ,,i, l-)- i-l\Ll \t

..rt ..1\ it.l.i alF i lill'.iri l li::l-l r'lll I I r i-artrarLtf"'l F Pt:t -'i.r\ilt-r ai !-rFFt

Ostentatious consumerism that is fuelled by enq usually comes withoutgenuine

appreciition, an) sense ol connoisseorship or consumer responsibility. Enly driven consumption is e'hat chaDged the lurury goods world of old-time artisans honing their c.aft for a discerning clientele to an industry of${ertshops, cost-cuttiDg aDd profiteenng from mediocre merchandise. Nanes like Dior, Gucci and Chanel that a.e highly coveted today were once strictly the province of European a stocracy and only those with expendable income could atrord exquisiie clothing and perfume and even thcn, only in small quantities- But as Slobalisation elevated the global middle class nrto theglobalnoveau riche, lLrxurr- goods in thehands ofmultinational groups have now become mass produccd (lui siill way overp.iced) connnodities. Luxury has become quotidian in many senses wjth lashion houses churning out new pefumes, new It bags

BROADERPERSPECTVES thesevendeadlysins ssue

!-

anil It wallets every quafterto feed rhe novcall riches'(and then waDDabes ) hungerto impress. Many ofihc noveau ricle canDot tell andcan not care less \'|eihcr their brg was rnadc by an underpaid, ovcn'o.ked Ch inesc factory- lhe {orkcr or an old llalian a'tisaD as lorg as ii is conspicuoosly sho$] enough lo inprcssthe socialite nerl door' is ihis eD\l dri\ en consnmption as opposcd to Deeds based consumPtioD thal le.ds to tremendous how rnuch resource! and opDorlunities lhat could have been investcd iti genuine necds have been wdte. It is an embarmssnient squaDdered in the quesr to iDlpress. ModcrD-dry "charirablc" balls a.e kno$'n nrorc br the quanlit ofnoney spenl on showins off and one upping each orhcr through haure couture gowr$ ard ostcntatious jewellery thaD tlie quantily of moncy actualLy c|anncllcd

It

lo the charitv cause

icell

The opporuDity cost is obscenc: consider the amorDt ofdisaste.

reliel microerte.prises, \cll drilling projects and soup kitchers

that have been foNaken in the namc of Louis VuirLon doggie cotlars, $6()0 pcdicures, Botor injcctioDs and gokl platcdtaps. WhiLe the levet of povefy in tD.iia rnd China alike has fallen since thc openirg ol their ccononies in the 199os, the social dividc has onlr bccoDie more Blaring in the lisht ol oleau che extrrvagance. No banquet thrown bya Chtuese businessmaD is consjdered a sllcccss unless atult tabte ol lood is left ovedlowirit ifplates are enDtied, tbchost has t ordcrcdenorghto satehis glests. Yet il is not considercd culturally shametul to tun awiy lron local street beggars bcssiDs for a crun$ wo.se ofall, such conspicuous coDsumption hlrs nol brought arl form ollrsting happiness to the sfcDders just a nrorncntary trste ofeu!horia- -4.n epidenic ol di lorce is spreadnrg in Chira, Russia, lndia aDd Brazil together $ith Dd{found ivealth because husbands work away from hotrle, affan

s

have mush.oomed and Dcw acqri

sitioDs arc seen as solu tions to assuage Prin atd guili. In thc'suburbs of Guangzhou and Shanghai, 'conobine villascs" have rnushroomcd, $tll-stocked sith ocry form olenterlainmert and grooming seFice, to ensLt|e all those bored Inishesscs ther€ are kept busy and pretty. in pursunrg an eDriable lifestrlc, mrny ofthe no\€au riche have lbund thcmselves looltins outsidc their silded cascs, cDlirg instead

ihc life ofthe

sj

pl€ andwonderiDg what

is repulsile about watching

\cnt Mong.

It is not so nuc| aD abseDce o{ elegancc that a ShcnzheD millio ai.e chasc do$'n the nosl priccy

Chateau Margau with r Sprile or a SiDgaporean Lai tai swan sxatlied in loud Dronograms ffom head to to€. lt is ihcir absence ol understaDding {bouL $'|at bcing part of the privilcged class h society mcans {nd ivhal posscssior of such wealth aDd po1rcr thus must eDsender them to do.

r

Old money, at its best, is truly aristocratic for it understands quality - ofthings, oflife, of sociery

aristocratjc for ir undersraDds quaLity olthjngs, of life, olsociety. They are sel|assurcd and loised gile millions to charity but cn$rc thei. Lali.esse is done with quiet digniti. \\heD they acqnjrc beatrti in their use of$,calth. Thet tuI, tuxurious thiDgs, they do so partly to cnnobl€ rheir surmundfigs or dignit thcir mkers. lt. nov.au riche, al l|eir$oNt, are conpletely plebia., betievins n! rhe sheo quantiq ot rhinss, of osteDtation, o l losos. They are sellcoDscious rnd nrin ic nr thcir use ofwealth to prove somcihing to themselves andthe world, driven by ctr,r and the emftv dcsireto nNpire eNl frcn otheff. Old money, atits best, js

rlr.'

We must manage enry ratler than be beguiLed or aronsed by it. ln view of their h.gesse and sclf-dep.ecaLing rttitudes to their w€alth, me. like J P Morgan and waren Buflet L posscss riches bel'o d our imagination bu l Lh'v do not att'ncL l he kiDd ofjealousv or rancour ttrat sorneone tike, sal', ScaD Diddy'CombsorPa s HiltoD nigh l get. Wher rich people $'ho har€ every reason to bc laiD and aroganl choosctolive Dlodesrlyand nobly, rve do not seckioemulate

lheirlifcstlles

as much

asrhcirchaucter and substaDce.

Why kccp up lrith rhe ever acqrnnig, endlessly coveting Jones n'|€n \c could lool lo$'ards keephg up Gates instcad, out.loing each other in the ltind ol cnaitable legac)' { e n'ant to leave behind? tl!!

rith thc Buf{etts and l}e

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE O9

BROADERPERSPECT

VES theseven.lead ysrns ssue

s

tea

iiwdy to disaster.

signals the aciion of sulpins som€thing scribes th€ sin of e{essive consumpiion of food and &ink to the poini of haJming p€rsonal health. The Apostle Paul describes tlis in his letters to the Philippians as people "whose god is in their belb." Contrary io porJ!]ar belief, gluttony is not a sin just for ihe mor

Gulp. BYJOASH SZE EN LOH

bidly obesej mankind is suilty of this too on a global plrnet The Earth is not only ou home, but also our oniy food basket. s.ale. Livins otr the land is a[ weli and sood; however, we do need to keep in mind that the Eath is a delicately balanced ecosysiem, not a giant "all you-can-eat" buffet- lt takes years to replace what ne can tak€ out in da)'s and the rate at $'hich we are dinrjn'shins the eadh's resolLrces to feed ouFelves ab.rve ard beyond what is actual\,Decded is alanning. We do not know horv long exactly it Nill be till the ecosrstem collaDses, btrt it noukl be a saf€ bet that if orr gluttoDous appetites do not change, dcstmction $'ill be inxrinent.

Intoday's rost-iDdust.ial workl, developmcnts on xll frotit! oisocieryhavc allowed for a massil'e population boom. Our world is current\gro{ing at a rat. of 1.3% anntrally. At this ratc, the poPulation ol lhe 54 years, .ouiahly once nr cach lifetime r}le increas€d demaDd for food prcssurc on food supplies, as thcr€ will be many, many more mouths to feed. liDks set to put increasing This, at fiNt slance, doesn ! seem to pose a rcal problem. Ailer all, lve siitl grow enough food to t!o!e tlan adcquately feed ever) singl€ person on the plaDet and food science admnces have given rise to better and

$orld looks sel to doublc cvery

nore nutdtious crop ields. These advances also ailow for a tougher plant, able to rcsist everlthing from pesis, diseases, herbicides ard bad wealher. The real problen truly comes when our food dernards are driven not by the need for sustenance, but by grced.

DEMANDABROADERPIRSPECTIVE'I'I

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This slobal bnise of ou. fo.d chah is tnking a huge toll on oLr en\ircnnrent and diviDs ou seas to ecolosical impLosjon. Accord ing toa report (SOFIA) on tbc statc of thc world's fishe.ies and aquaculhre, 25% of lish stocks are over exploited or depleted $'hile 52% arc flrlly exploited. This nieans that alniost 8(]% ofour fish stoclis are on t|e verse ofcollapsc. This has tenible implications not only 1br our wildlite in lerms ofspecies dilcrsiil, but also for tuturc generations who rvill sufferthe consequences ofour actions. CuncDily. fishcr men arould the xorlct, both larse and small scale, a.e repo.tjrg a dwindlilg of i'iclds and an ol€rall decrease iD lish size. GlirbaLly, alnost 9l]% ol la.ge fredatory fish stocks arc al.cad,v detleted. It sliould be noted that DrropeaD Union tEU) counlries overthe pasi 1.) yca$ halc exc..dcd hnits proposedb) scienlists br4s% lbrcod, r4o% for hake, 93.6% for rrarms and t4% forflaicc. With the ecosysteDl th.owJr.,ut otbalance, our seas are on theif way to bcconr irg aD iDhospitable cesspool of plankton andJelynsh.

It

seens that in the quest to iDcrease the size of our food baskct, \c halc tut both the futue of rhe planet, and oursclvcs at stakc. Evcn dcvclopmenis Lo increase the snppl,'-' of food are fro\ing ro be signilicantly less than the magic bullet to abate our eler-increasnig hurger. Ceneticallt modi

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and bcttcr viclds, but har€ less than satisfactory implications for thc tuturc. Thc fcsticidc rcsistance of the planls, through the sprcad of Nllen to other pLants, can kill of unintended insecLs, risk jrs extirlction aDd tlie possible imbalance ot the ecoslstem. Herbicide rcsistance .jslis the gro$th of "sufcr rrccds", i\'hich $'ill tlireaten our tuture food sto.fts. And .s $€ takc morc a.d morc from onr riveN, seas and eve' ourljelds, $e also poison lhem rith pollution. This seNesto turther taiDt our lons term supply and will possibl) drile us headlons

into

a

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on a morc pcrsonar lcver, the detimentar erlects ol our gluLtony can l)e palpably seen today i.crcascd slobal obesitv. obesityhas beeD steadily risnrg a.ound the world, noliLNt anrons adults. but also in children. A 2oo5 BBc suney reported that r.6 billion adulls and 4oo nillior childreD ivere ovenveiglit. ln LDgland aLone, the percenLage ol oler \tcighi childrcD has riseD from roughly 15% to about 37% fron 1970 to:roo5. SDch a trcnd can oDlybc cxpccted however, giveD the circumstarces descibed above. and we can now only bracc oursclvcs for an incr.asc n1 the illDesses, such as hypertensjon and hea{ diseases,lhat corne $it| the upsard iEnd on

In all, wc may hale cone verl'far iD terns ofmans economic, technological and social dcvclotmcnt but this has only nude us gree.ly alil uNestranied n1 our appelites. The signs alc all too clcarthat our ghttoDyis NiDing our planet and killing our health. ln the words of Father.loscph Rickabl,v (Pmfcssor of nthics at St Mary\ Ilall) on the sin ofgluttony, ealinil sithoLrt linrits is too soon, too expeDsively, too nNcli, too eagerly...'. Utile iv€ mal ot feel the true impact of tlis problen, the nen getremtion rvill certainly live to see the .slzmitons for..,sts of.nr f,,rnre.on,F hle lltt

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE

]3

LEHX{,A.N. MINIBOND. MORTCAGE SECURITIES. CREDIT crunch. These are all the words you need to get an investor's heart raciDg. By theniselves, even as recently as one year ago, these hold. word,s would not have elicited such a response. However as of September 2oo8, the ever decFnins financial crisis dealt a huse blow to a world that hasbeen €ncouraging profligate slending, making a quick proiit, and even more nasrant spendins. With no end in sisbt to the economic doMturD, it looks like we are all beingtaught a severelesson in greed.

Things fall apart, the

central bankwill not BYATIELLIA RAZAK

What exactly does grccd havc to do Nith the economic doMtum? Plen\', it seems. Not only has Man's bunger for wealth and beticr returns on his investments shoM his unhealthy obsession with money, but the cumulative effect of many people's srced as seen in the less-than-transparent institutions, a covetous and yet gollible consumerist socie ty, anda severe lack of financial reguiation has left the world reelinglromfinancial rujn. Perhaps a good piacc to start damiDing greed is in the finaDcial institutions that found

to make noney. albeit an uDsafc onc, and took it all too far. The fall of Bear Stearns along with l€hman Brothers was tbe unforeseen resuli ofthc moncy-makiDs scheme initiated by investment banks. Credit quality requirements lbr U.S. homes were a new way

oMerslip policy created by the government to help people oM their oM hones. suddenly many U.S. citizens were eligible for nortgage loans

lowered followins n home

and banks rcadily gave then out. Encouraged partially by high cr€dit ratings, iDvestnent banl<s sold the elp€ct€d nofigagc palmcnts as secuities to investors in oder to

nake nore money. Thus when the property bubble bursi and peo e besan defaultins on mortgage paloents, investment banks could not meer pa]'ment obligations on the nortsases and were in the rcd. creed, or the oveFreaching d€sire for more, led to nany nrwis. dc.isions and the.re,tinn of a svstem th,t (nrld nor besnst.ined indefinftelv.

oaro"oouaoooa*rarrraa-,ua

l'',

Diggins turther, it would seen likc thc fault also laid inthe sovernneDt which made it possible for thcsebanks io dowhat they did. The loose monetary policy the Federal Resere put into place since 2ool meart that credit was more readily available thuscausinga rise in con suDption, rcsultins in lesser salings. At 1irst, this led to an economic boom due to more rnoneybeing spent byAmedcans, but nuch ofthis spending was based on €asy credit and at some point, people x€re saddled with debts larger than they could deal with. Tlie govemment chose not to tightcn ocdit when it was necessary to do so, in part because ail ofthis $'as wo)king out quite well for the U.S. s other couDirics werc also buying U.S. securities because il seened lik€ the U.S. narkct was safc and prospernrg.It seenred like the anount ofnoney bcingmade andgenerated blinded theauthorities to what was wroDg and kept tbern in

a

state of complacency.

]'hen again, it could be said that the blame shouid also fall on the ordinary citi zens x.ho took on those rnodgages wiihout being able to pay them offbecause they waDicd to oM that uliinrate drean house, or who booght the securities wiih thcir savinss without beiDg lully intbrmed ofthe risks in the desire to inoease their weallh. Even in Singapore, there have been huDdreds of cases of people who bought the Minibonds ihat were repackased and sold throush iocal bank,losirg thonsands ofdollars ovemisht aDd showins how sreed is perhaps iDrate aDd unilersai. Of coursc some of these people were ill advised by finan cial consuiianis and salesrnen pushnrg financial products, particularly elderly pcoflcrlho would notbavebeen able lo understand how these produds work. In these cases, while they were th€ victins ofsomeone else's ctesirc to nuke an easycommission, they stiil hadto nake

thefirai decision

atrd sigD thc pafcrs,

which shows their complicity in waDting to profit off ihc supfosedly guaran teed hish perccntascs that ihey rlere shoMr.

And this leads us back to the investment baDks and commercial banlc that rvere i[esponsible in dealiDs with their clients. lr! vestment banks hunger for easy money through the sale of the said securitics

meant they were not as caretul as they should have been in informing th€ir clients of all the risks aDd fnvcntinsthem frcm mal
apparent greed that consrm€d both the lay investor and prcfessiomls, doing so will do no one anygood.Itwill Dot revene this spirallins crisis or undo any of the trgly truths that Anericans Dow have to facc about themselves, or t|eir bark, or their govcrDmcnt. Grccd is a boti:omless pit. a I'Iedusa, a monster thai multiplies with one person's greed feedjng ofanothels and institutions fre)ing oD the very things they are supposed to protect. Today, the problen of sreed lies exposed and the world is going to have to face and slay it. agt

DET4ANDABROADERPERSPECTVE

]7

'fhe major re Scriptural rcfereDces may at llrst seen Lo rnake n casc for wrathflrl relribution or action lisids reveal a srmut of Gocl backed or God-directed snitings, floods and cataslrophes to punish evil' \!len Ad'm 'nd anrl prcphets calling dorin plague and lire fron the leavcns to castisate theuDfaithful Evc coDfessed that theyha.t transgressed God's conmand' lte cursed the i+ourd they lived o and promiscd a lifetinc of toil aDd tributatior' lf such acts ol d re retribution abound fo. people ofthe faith, what more can herctjcs and otrtsiders

ages oDly proves the hard to rooi out pen'asive and M aih is inhactable, inspired poirlt thal rcligious the same faith of denoninations The InquisitioD, anti Sernitism, thc Crusadcs, going ai ea(h other, bloodybattles over holv sites all ihese instaDces 'rl srath uDforlunately stillhave resonarce andrelevancc in ourmoderD times The belief inthe (ruth ofone's rcligion and the belicfthat Cod isp.olidiDg direci rclelation canl€ad tobrutal actiotrs couPlcd ivith mthless irt'ni

Ttre exlendcd

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Relisious anscr easily arises $hcD people beiieve thcl alone hale the complete truth. Tlis ten.lsto exiccrbate an usversosthem nrindset Xloreihanever, rcli$-hich bliDd hatred and mission has becorre little morcthan a shan veil under onrseh€s dirccted viol.rce is legitinised. Rcligious rflath becomes problenatic when ive start to insert as into the spacc that Coil occupies, iaking on the mantlc ofiusticc and rctribution whollv on ourseh'es the dcfenders of absolutc

BPO^D-PDLc(P '

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tNth.

what is hurtins mankind is how easjly the principles ollove and tolcrance that ali major religiorrs Preach are conveniently lefi by the waysidc at the very iines when they are nrosi nccdcd. After all, there is an equalll old scriptural p.ecedenl lraming againstaDger and violence, proposjng instead to turnthe other cheek. and cautioDing against embittering the heaft aDd ihus poisoDiDg one s spiritual health. So whjle there are stories ofthc $raihtul $alities ofGod, the more powerfil and most often cited passages nr scriftutts have to do

with eschewins $rath and the rennrciation ofviole.ce. cod, His prophets and followers have by hrns, even $hen wieldins insunnountrble power, rejected riolence of al fo.ms. When asked to help dcstrly his enemies, J esus rebuked his apostlcs by sa)ins that 'the Son ol MaD came not to destroy lir€s but to savc them-" Real Chistjanity comes shen wc seek to absolve rrther thaD to annihilate those who xould ham us. Buddhisn and Flinduism bothbelielethai anscr is an eafthly attachmentthat prcvents any attainment olenlightenment. Astory ofaw.athful nu lronr the Mahabharata stales that anger is ihc slayer of men and the .oot of adversi\ , aDd u ess X{aD forsalcs it, the world s dc slruction will come about. Whilethe Qur'an $'arns beiievers about thc wath of Allah, P.ophet xlu hamDrad taLrght that Allah\ mercy surynsses anl tch rvmth. the'Iorah tells belicvers thai it is beticr to be sloi! to anger than mighty. Similarlv, the Tahnud states that ange. deprives wise men and propbets ofwisdon an.t vision. Granled, anger can havc its flrnctional effects. Col

lective anger dirccted agaiNi

uiust

institutions and systenN has been a pow€rfil trigger for cncial socictal chrnse. I1istorf has shoMr how ans$ expresscd by misfits, outcasts ard ntinorilies have resulted in thc isc of the civil and €qunl .ights movemenl, the suffragc moleDent, and laws that protect minors and minorities. All tliese b.eak

throushs have resulted frorn a rightcous anser.lirected ai injlstice in the world.

Religious wrath becomes problematic when we start to insert ourselyes into the space that God occupies,

Hos€ver, mrch ofthe religious fury that is stirred up today is like nhat Dante descdbes as a "lo!e ofjustice peNelted to rcvense and spite". Philip

taking on the mantle ofjustice and retribution whol- Jenkins, a noted scholar ofrclisioD, claims that $e wil cone to see.eliSion in this modcrn em as "the lv on ourselves as the defenders of absolute truth. prime animatirg and destructi\€ force in human IMAGECREDIT

affairs, suidiDs attitudes to political liberty and ob ligation, concepts of naiionhood and, of course, conflicts and rrars-" wrath carses a loss ofselt awareness and dininishes the capacityto rnonjtor aDd govem oneseLf. Most importantly, arath kills rny form o{obiec

tivib. Medielal theological, Thomas -A.quinas, siates that anger is evil if it $'hile it may have some functional value in brhsnrs about corrective actioD, we are seeing only too clearly how it negativcly impacts the

scts thc order of reasot aside '

well beins ofhumaD affaiN.

objectfity and conteit back into the equalion. Scrip tural exho.tations have to be seen iD coniet and practising ofone s faith should not compete tbr dominancc over others. We have to nake a firr stand and demonstrate that life can bc livcd $nth rctision and tolerancc, and nustbebalanced ivithintegrity ard cornpassion. Anything without empathy or love or compassion turns hard, b ttlc and only begets more hatrcd and violence. Ilow will God look upon us We have tobring

then?

Iatt

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECIIVE

i i I

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AT FIRST GLANCE, A CONI,'ERSATION TA]
Suffer the

little children. BYMELISSAEU

This online phenonenon has Doved fiom people usins the merely as a means of swapping child pornography to becone a cy berspac€ tsunamj of paedophllia that uses the virtual world to advance its interests in the reai one. What is even more troubling is that this wave has increased in volume and intensity - the amount of matedal seized fron computers seemstobe doubljDs each year - the Naiional Centre for Missing and Exploiied Children in the United Siates confiscated more than eight million images of explicit child pornographyin the last five years. Internet

With the government crackdown on child pornography itr the r97os harsh measures rvere taken to close off the traditional outlets for prodtrcing aDd qchanging illicit inages - paedophilia was under Sreater control. But the advent of the InterDet soon prcsented an alternative for paedophilia to re-emerge with a venseance, alloaitrs paedophiles easy access to illesal inases, and providins a platlorm fron which to swap tips and information, and most fiishknnrs\,jusiit each other's behaviou.-

DETlANDABROADERPERSPECTVE

23

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dlou cuslo,Lrs l. ui.u thc saadl belbrc nlaking (t,1,lsd.1ron' Afo.ero

The prolifemtion ofihe Internel in the 2rst century has prcved io bc a double edged srvord; wlile aliowins iDcrcascd intercorneclivily betiveen peopie of ctiverse backsrounds. lhis has also been harnessed b,v crimnrals of all sorts as a means to prcpagxte their bclicfs and achiele "neutralisatioD" a psychological ratioDalisation used by groups tirat dcviatc liorn societal norms. The adlcnt ofdre Internet has thtrs aided atrd.ibetted thc modcm day spectr'e oflibt on several levels. Firstly it tror-ides a plallbrrn for discussjor! outreach and cmN$'ernent. Paedophiles see themseh€s as

part of a social novemeDt to grir acceptance ofthcir rthactioDs and lhe lnte.net as r medium of exprcs sion. Whai is alarning is that paedophiles halc come to view lhemselves as the vanguard of a nascent movement seeking the lesislation of child pohography ard the loosenins of {se-of-conscnt laws. They portralthemselves as charnfions battling for childreD s rights to engage in sea aith adulis, a light they lik en to the cilil rights nrovemen l. l he lnte.net has allowed them to connnunicate, comfort and congratulate one anothcr's r'iumphs. Paedophjles arouDdtheworld cclcbratcd s'|en a snrall iaroup in the Nethertands fonncd a paedophile political parr*, aDd $'hooped again whcn a DDtch cou'r uph€ld their riglit to exjst.

What is equallrtr.rubhs is liow deviaDt scxual beliefs are renrforced beliefs, thrt rvlien actcd upon, are criminal. Chatroons andfirtnal snpportgroups allow paedophiles to accept tlreir attractions.nd even al lo$ them to harc scx $ith a child without guilt. One chiefexample is an onlinc printable booklet that can be distribuied to children extolling the b€refits of htNing ser with adulis. Its rationalisation that alloas theD to avoid admitting that thei. desires are hannflrl aDd illcgai," said Bill lvalsh. lb.mer comnan.ter of Crimes Against Children lbr the Dallas Poljce Depaftmcni. 'That can allolv Lhem to take that final step and cross over from fantasy into real $'orld offenccs." BROADER PERSPECT VES

thesevendeadlysinsissue

In

essence, the group deems potentially injurious acts as harmless and even helptul. "M). daughter and I have a healthy, close rclaiionshD," a person named Sonali posted. "we have been in a consensual sexual relationship for about two months now-" Such pr.clama tions in print or other fornN of Old Media lrould have been condemned and easily censored.

Mosi frightening of all is how paedophiles have also lsed thc Iniemet io continually extend thcir reach and prey mo.e easily upon potential victims, using instant messaging services, chat rooms and falseinternet sites t.r interact and comnunicatc with then and lure them in. The ilorld was shocked when John M. Kar, who was arcstcd as a suspect in the murder ofJonBenet Ramsey, apparently used Internet discussion siics io gain the trust and atrection ofhis victims "SomctiDes little girls are closerto ne than with their parents or any other persoD in tlieirlives...I can only saythat I relate 1€ry well to children and the rray they think or feel."

Without a doubi, newiechnologies have aided and abetted the proliferationofchildpornosraphy.Fnrdinssofafournonthlonge brtby?heNeuIo?*?i?nesiDvesiigatingthelnternetactivityofpaedophil€srevealedthattheconmrnity'sonhien iashrcturelvas sur prisinglyelaborate. Paedophilesgo online to seek tips for getting near clildrcn, atcanps, communiqr eventsandeventhroughfostercare.'themembersoftliisillicitcommunityswapdailyanecdotesabout iheir sexual encounters with minors. There are mdio shows run for and by paedophiles, and even an onlinejewellerystorethatmakespendantsproclaimingthcwearersisbeingsexoallyattractedtochildretr.

m tifarious nature of such a $€b based community makes it difficult to apprc predatoNhend sexurl Due io the difficulb, in policing such a struchre, maDy are ablc to fromote theirbelicfs openly and r{ithout fear ofpunitive actionj or even condennation. They hale also become experts at avoidins detectioD- The conveNations examined online illus, trated technical acumen, with ftequent discussions as how to continue swapping illegal inages and a\oid detcction. These techno sawl paedophiles know how to

The cornplexity and

encrpt

images and ensurc online anonlmity.

The ubiquitous nature ofbroadband technology, disital imasery and instant messag

ins has certainly presented new and more complex rjsks to children. These are made cven nore dangerous as the Internet is both consiaDtly cvolving and poody understood by watchdogs sLrch asparents and authorities alike. Thus, it remaiDs to be seen if more puitive measures can be enforced on something thai sccms to be garnering more aDd norc devotees daily. While it nay seem easyto isolate trends, the moti\?tion and the ability to act against them are still lackins aDd sccms unabieto deal with this rrankenstenl.

Innges.fta

look

sunnountable at tines. Humankind

aftt

Kote Greenaao! s

book Under the windou

..it.a taa.

DEI.lANDABROADERPERSPECTVE

25

IROADERPERSPECTIVES

rh€sevendeadysinsissue

We areworking harder and

faster than ever. Sowhy

aren'twe getting anywhere? BYSHIAO YIN KUIK

I,IVE IN AN INTENSE. CONSTANT BUZZ - A s4-7life souped up on caiTeine and round thc clock eDtertainment, buoyed by shiny toys that leep us consta ly phrgged into a neler ending stream of Twittered information. We jam the Door Close bution impatiertly in lifts, pop pills to caln1 our hyperteDsion, sobbic nrstant noodles at our ofiice WF,

desks and steal precious nanoscconds iD traffic to

dab quick covcr coDcealer to hide ou. ever growingeye bags.

'lhe inescapable reality ofslobaliscd narkets looms over the post millennium e.a. Dven Duropehasbeen forc€d to givc up her long-treasured siestas and 35 hour worldng weeks to stay competitile with Asians who shrug otra 6oliour

workiDs s€ek as palt oflife. South Korea and Japan arc thc only countries in the world where death by oveMork ("lGroshi" in Japanese) is a recosniscd phenoneDon. Constant work is paft and parcel of nodern working lile and leisure seens to be a luxurT thc masses cannot afford. certainly, whiLe we may en!t, holv the lKung Bushmen ofthe Kalahai Desert work a nere two and a halfdays pe. week, few ofus rlaDt tolive ai ihcir lcvel ofsubsistence or partake iD

their htrDter-,lathe.er lifesttle.

No doubt, Sloth seems to be theverylasi sin our hperacti\€ civilisation needs to worr] nbout. Ho\t could slotli possibly be a probLem when it seems to be the oDe thing we could lse nore of today?

Hisiory's anii-work propagandists would c.Jncur. Aristotle and Cicerc madc it clcar that a life of eDdless work is isnoblc aDd repose is an essential condition ofhappnress. Tbe Rornaniics and thcir elite fan-base lwirled theirbrandy snifters, wandered in the r{oods and quoted choice nuggets from Ftench socialist Lafargue's treatise flre Rigft! to bc Laz.u like, '$'ork is ihe cause of aI nltellectual degeneracy, of all o rsa n ic defomiib'." Inrecentyears, there havebeen a series of publicatioDs, like Carl Honor6 s 1n -Prurse o/ Slou ness, Pat Kane's ?ie Pldv ttnicr and rbn Hodgl
DFMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE 27

But Sloth at Least in the most old-fashjoned sense olthe word, accor.tiDg to Catholic like Thomas AquiDas is not to be confused Nith mere laziness. And it should definitely not be catechisnN and medieval theolc,gians confusedlviih a God-siven opportu nity to kick back $'ith an ice cold Coke in a wann deck-chair.

considerwhat$€ arcto make ofthese stories ripped thc hcadlines in 2oo8. DBC News rel)orted on the staggering phenomenon of contract cheating websites plaguing otrr nodern uni!€rsities. Chcating and plagiarism hive evollcd past beingjust about stLrdents cutiing and pasting paraBraphs fron Wikipedia: it is now a globalised trade with students outsourcnrgthcirfinal )€ar assignnents, MSc prcjcct work and even PhD researchaorkto the highest online biddcrs. Snlilar to eBar, sellers are mtcd and reviewed by users lbr their conscieDtiousness, punctuality, dcpeDdabilit) and

In the UK,

abilitv to escaDc the detection ofuniversity plagiarisn sotulare.

Neani{hile. Briiish culinary enhnt lenibles Jamie

oliler and Cordon Ran-

say are on their o$r iDdependent crusades to gct British families cookjng asani. A perlecl stomr of office-bound lifestyles and fatty snack loaded with chemicals is turning Britain into oDe of the fatlesl countrics in the world af tcr Arnerica. A cultLi.e of mic.owavable convenience foods, primetime televisioD and fast food joints has ro$cd Britain of old fashion€d coDventions like sii doar fanily meals and honc cooked meals. lhe averase British working wornan has lost all ability, capacit] and desire to cooli a simple fam ily meal, hosl a dinncr parb and balte a welcome sift for the ne\e neighbc,urs. ID the UsA, the nighLnare of parallel parking cones to an cnd as Ford launches

its Dew self-parking car wherc ultrasonic sensors conbnre $'ith electric pow' er stccing to angle and guide lour vchicle into a snug parling spacc, without you necdiDg to touch the steering wheel. Foldk gane plan is lo nt nea y 9.)% of its cars wilh such steering by 2or2. Ceneral Moiors and Toyota already have thei. ve$ions of self drinns vehicles, using a system of caneus, lasers lrnd computers io track obstaclcs and roa.t signs. Suddeniy a WALL-Esque uiopia whe.e "drive.s" devolve into imnobile btobs rvho watc| TV and diDk Slurpees

IMAGECREDII

as conpute.ised vehicles guide thc way does not look too far fetched after all.

the onlincwor'ld, nen andwomen with h\rst or iniinucy issues are fleeinsthe dai\'srnid of.eaL world relationshifs and fleeins int.r the pixellated embracc of anateur porn stars trith webcanN atrd isqu6 blogs. $ty tuss abolt witli real people who olTcr oDl,v spoudic gratiljcnlion, see saNing emotions and threats MeanwhiLe,

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to your cso? EveD more disturbins arc thc aficioDados ofthe infanous deluxc love dols kno{n as Real Dolls $ho swap trles online about how much satisfacti.rn they derive fiorn ihejr relationships ilith theil sofhisticated synthetic lole dolls. Afparc.tly, a Real DolLs tec|nologically advanced, rubberised skin evcn fccls dish.bingly close to hunuD skin after it is warmed under an elect.ic blanket. Also,lbr US !i6,499, you can choose among ninebodytypes, fo!.teen faces, five sl
Modem technology is a wonderlul serlant brt it maste$ us most monstrously whcn we becomeso enanoured and dcpeDdent on it that we end up abdicatins ou. nostcrucial responsibilities and effo.ts t.r ourselves, our lovcd oDes and our conmunities. And iroDy ofironies, many ofourtuDrnakins, productivity drivnrs, convcnierce-making technolosies havc caused us to expend our hnitcd cDcrsies anct m.rnies worlnrg and plaliDg at all things except the very things that matter most

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IMAGECREDITS aright) r{zy boy, ollie cra$.ford (bottonl) ALice and the Red Queen John Tenniel, 1865

slothisasluggishnessofthemindandheart.sloth

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paralyses our capacity for doing eveq'thing except

{h.l i.

.rd.) ,lsFrll. Sloth i. )our ur' tunrlmin.l oM confort above elerything

desire to feed your

and everyotre - evetr the very things and people that you iDtellectually perccilc as mattering most toyou. Sloth is your unwillingness to expend even the smallest amount of energy and e$ort to do what it takes to change things, to fix the brokennr.s arc rnd )oJ. lu Llo sumplh:nE rhrr brints J"r to someone other than yotr.

and rightprogress requires realworkin the right

it struggliDg through a PhD, Degotiating a tight parhns space, loviDs one's difficult relations, keeping a family together ai ihe dinner table night aftcr night, all ihings worth fighting for come at a cost which we used to pay willingly with hard work, corn nitment and perseverance. People, places, things, Be

skills andevenideals needmaintenance, refi nenent atrd support if we

szrt

them to continue to exist.

Aslongas Slotb compels us to neglect what is most :mpoflJnr dnd sFrrle tor qhJr is mosr \ on\ "nienr in all lhFlirllF affi.r. utuurprirJlFlirps. is il nor obvious why larger atrai$ on the world stage continue to remain unsolved despite yeaN of irter and intra{ational coilaborations and taxpayers' dollars?

hard but mostly for what benefits us md us alone. We are most slothtul when it comes to meeting other people\ Deeds and hence despite the passins of t$o millennja worth of ad vancenent and slosging, we are no$nere closer to creating a Heaven on Earth.

Yes, on the surface we seem to be all working

Lewis Caroll's Red Queen informed A1ice that in the topsy-tuny Looking Glass

world, it takes all the running ]'ou can do to kecp in thc same placc- That pi€ce of fictjtious nonsense maybe closer to our own reality ol nisplaced efiorts than w€

think.

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As long as Sloth compels us to neglect what is most important and settle for what is most convenient in all the 1itt1e affairs of our private 1ives, is it not obvious why larger affairs on the world stage continue to remain unsolved despite years of inter and intra-national collaborations and ta-r payers' dollars?

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECTiVE

2q

The Suffering of Others Before even considering prospects for our own not too distant future, the status of animals must be addressed. ln truth, most of the world's most heinous suifering is undergone not by members of our own species but rather others. A convergence of evidence suggests that the nature and relative extent of organic life's capacity to suffer is largely managed by purely biological functions in our bodies.

An inability to speak does however render this capacity to manage suffering moot and elevates their suffering further. For without the unique human ability or, in some cases, right to generate language it becomes challenging to even recognise the suffering of others and therefore it invariably becomes easier to ignore it. The silent suffering of lesser species therein becomes analogous to much of the suffering of our own kind. We presently keep hundreds of millions of other sentient beings in unimaginably frightful conditions- 10 We do so for no better reason than to satisfy our culinary tastes. And, sadly we do not refrain for no better reason than the fact that animals cannot speak their own pain. lt has aptly been remarked that if animals could indeed verbalise their conception of the Devil, he would surely have human formAlas this is no mere rhetorical conceit. contemporary humans deliberately incarcerate and butcher our fellow creatures in a vast, state-sanctioned apparatus ofconcentration and extermination camps. 15 They are run with mechanised horror for commercial profit with conditions inside the camps and factories veiled from memberc of the public so as to shield us from the atrocities that go on inside them. ln retrospect, our descendants may view them as a cruel defining feature of our age in a way akin to our own conception of the Third Reich- Analogously, the sheer viciousness and even existence of these camps are usually camouflaged behind bland euphemism. Fortunately for our peace of mind, we find it hard to conceive of what we're being spared, the serenity no doubt aided by our victim's silence. For the most part, in our everyday treatment of pain and suffering, we are willing accomplices in our

own ignorance. By our purchases we pay others to commit acts of extreme violence which might otherwise upset our squeamish sensibilities. This is true notjust of animals but also sadly, ourforeign labour, the distant coffee farmer and even our so-called harmless pornography. lronically, anybody who practises, or connives in, the maltreatment of a helpless and undeveloped infant is likely to be demonised and reviled. Ordinary decent people will find it "inconceivable" how such an "inhuman" monster could cause such suffering to the young, innocent and helpless. lronically, any such monster 30 would be summarily prosecuted and locked up. ln traditional eco-systems that we choose to retain, millions of non-human animals will continue

peri

odically to starve, die horribly of thirst and disease, or even get eaten alive. This is commonly viewed as "natural" and hence basically accepted. ln all truth, it would indeed be easier to think that in some sense this ongoing animal holocaust and the exploitation of millions of our own kind is equally natural. It becomes easier to believe this as we find it convenient to act as though the capacity to suffer were

somehow inseparably bound up with the ability to express oneself. That as long as we do not hear about suffering, then "in truth" no one is suffering. Yet there is absolutely no evidence that this is the case, and a great deal of evidence that it isn't-

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Yel' caring about the pright ofthe suffering victims ofour actions is not simpry a case of sentimentarity. Nor is it a matter of caring more about animals than humans; nor even, as ;s sometimes suggested with all appearance of seriousness, outright impracticarity. we try to find the most convenient sorutions. To alleviate our own guilt we simply abstain from eating meat, or use one less plastic bag, or sign yet another petition, or ... those who suffer still remain silent. What then are the prospects for our future? Are we indeed unable to rise above our senseless game of see no evil, hear no evil, despite the stark prevalence of evil that invades our senses daily? Will those who suffer always remain silent? At reast for the animar kingdom, there seems to be an emerging reprieve. Within the next hundred years or so, and possibly sooner, biotechnology will enable the human species cost-effectivery to mass-produce edible ceIurar protein of a flavour and texture indistinguishable from' or tastier than, animar products we now eat. As our parates become satisfied by other means, the moral arguments for animal rights will start to seem overwhelmingly compelling. The 50 planetary elite will finally start to award the sentient fellow creatures we torture and ki a moral status akin to human infants and toddrers. Thanks to genetic engineering, the huge reduction in gratuitous suflering forecast here is rikery to take prace. rt seems that the pioneers of bioengineering speak for our animal kin, against their pain and suffering_ The unfortunate rearity however, is that our anima|s pright is due to their sheer biorogicar lack, but our fellow humans are often gagged as their voice of dissent and expression of suffering will ultimately

bring inconvenience to the comfortable lives of the very same planetary elite. Once agajn, technol_ ogy has given voice to our once silent exploited. Through forums, blogs, satellite transmissions and a whole myriad of other technological means we hear the once silent cries of our most disenfranchised kin' dismantling the barriers that used to inhibit their voice. simpry being able to hear however does not necessaily mean that their horizons are miraculously brightened. civing voice requires us to el_ evate the dignity ofwhat they say, earning credibility with the weight of educatjon and maturity behind them Beyond the technorogicar toors that ret us hear we need to equip our kin with the articuration that will help us listen. And see them as one of our own. And hopefully for all living things, have them suifer no more. 65

Adapted from The Hedonistic lmpeGtive: The Taste of Depravity by David pearce

.

SIMILAR TO

Comprehension Questions

QUESTION

According to paragraph 1, how is the sufiering of animals made worse? Use your own words as far as possible. (3)

2005

Whal does the statement, 'Aias this is no mere rhetorical conceit'(line 14) suggest about our

2007

usual attitude to animals' suffering? (2)

Question 7

From your reading of lines 16-19, what does the author suggest are the similarities between lhe deception of our'conceniration and extermination camps' (line 15) and the deception of the Third Reich's camps? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)

2004

4

Explain in your own words as far as possible the irony in lines 28_30. (2)

2002

5

What does the author intend you to understand by the three dots (...) in line 43. (1)

Question

1

OLeslion 6

Ouestion 2

2004 Quest on 2

Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5 of the passage (lines 23

-

43), summarise how we

bring suffering to others, why we continue to do so and how our attitudes toward suffering are unhelpful in alleviating its effects. Write your summary in no more than 120 words. Use your own words as far as possible. (8)

BROADERPERSPECTIVES

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2007 Question 10

Comprehension Questions What does lhe author mean by the .game ofsee no evil, hear no evil,(lines 44-45)? ln what way is this game .senseless ? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)

According to paragraph 6, why wourd the morar argument for animar rights ,seem overwhermingly compelling' (line SO)? Use your own words as far as possibte. (3f

I

Give the meanjng of the following words as they are used in the passage. Write your answer in one word or a short phrase. (S) refrain (line 1't ) defining (line 18) stark (line 45) reprieve (line 47) compelling (tine 50)

10

David Pearce believes that the suffering of animals gives us insjght into the suffering of hu_ mans. To what extent do you agree or djsagree with his views? Support your answerwith examples drawn from yoursociety,s experience in trying to manage suffering. (7)

SIMILAR TO QUESTION

2008 Question 2

2003 Ouestion 8

SII$ILAR TO

Comprehension Answers

OUESTION

According to paragraph 1, how is the suffering of animals made worse? Use your own words as far as possible (3)

2005

Ouesiion

1

An animars inabitity (1/2) to speak (1/2) makes it chaltenging (1/2) to recognize (1/2) that they are in pain and therefare makes it easier (1/2) for us to ignore (1/2) it (1/2) Paraphrased: An animal's powerlessness (1/2) ta nake itseff heard (1/2) makes it difficult (1/2) us to for to even be aware (1/2) that they are in pain and thercfore makes it convenient neglect (1/2) ils existence. Lifted:

what.loes the statement. 'Alas this is no mere rhetor cal conceit (ine14)suggestaboutour usual aititude to anirnais suffering? (2)

2007 Quesiion 7

Ihe slatemeDl suggesis that it is unfoftunale (1/2) lhal his clains aboul animal suffering are sinply (1/2) ignored as overtly obvious (1/2) and high'handed (1/2) statemenls' From your reading of llnes 16_19, what does the author suggest are the similarties behteen the deception of our 'conceniratjon and exterminat on camps (line 15) and the deceplion of ihe Third Reich s camps? Use your own words as far as possible (2)

2004 ouestion 6

Lifted: The viciausness and even existence ol these camps are usually camauflaged (1/2) behind bland euphemisn (1/2). 1 mare nark fat the compaison Paraphrased: Cansumers loday are nol aware af the atroclties that happen in our slaughtet hauses as we only see the veneer (1/2) of effective atlveftising (1/2) af meat and meat producls. This is similar to haw the cruel intent of concentration camps werc hidden (1/2) hehind idealistic propaganda

(

1

/2).

Explain in your own words as far as possible the irony in lines 28-30 (2) ln the same way that we harshly punish a ciminalthat exacts cruelly upon children' we are peosupposed lo a/so cors/stently punish the peaple who exact cruelty upan animals or even ple we da not care about (1) Yet, in actuality, we ignore lheir crimes as it would nat be in our interest to punish them (1).

(

) in ine 43 (1) What does the author ntend you to understand by the three dots (1/2) by which lo su' means He is trying to suggest that we continue ta use all sons of ather perticially make oursetves feel better. fhis attitude is futile (1/2)

Using materlal from paragraphs 3 to 5 of the passage ilines

23

43) summarise how we

bring suffering to others, why we continue to do so and how our attitudes loward suffering are unhelpful in alleviating iis effects. Write your summary in nomorethan 120words Useyour own words as far as possible. (8) Frcm paragraph 3: how we bring suffering (4) (line 23-34) We arc complicjt in the suffeing of others as $/e choose to beleve it does nat exisl (line 24-25) We peqetuate sutrenng by financiatty supporting the economic activities thal create it

(ine 25-26) (infered) We indirectly support inhumane labaur canditians and unethical or immoral (line 28-30) (infefte.0 We clo nol punish those who peryeluate this suffeing

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thesevEN SS!E

2002 Quesiion 2

2004 Question 2

2047

Queston l0

I

;l

Comprehension Answers

I

From pangraph 4: why we continue ta do sa (4) (line 33) lt is viewed as a fact of \fe (line 33) And thereforc through cansensus we tve with it. (line 35 36) Thase that suffer cannot or do not make known thejr suffering. (line 36-37) We conveniently assume no one is suffering as we do not hear

ofthet ptight.

From paragtaph 5: how our attitudes arc unhetpfut (S) (line 39) Ou emotionat response does not result in action. (line 40) We get caught up in unnecessary debate. (hne 40-41) We believe that caing too much is simpty futile and jdeatistjc. (line 41-42) We are expedient in searching for solutions fot suffeing. (line 41-42) We use meaningtess and short term sotutians. ' Any

l0 points

vhlt be awatdpd fttt!

maAs

What does the author mean by the ,game of see no evil, hear no evil, (lines 44,45)? ln what way is this game 'senseless ? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)

2008 Ouestion 2

The author means that we puryasely detract (1/2) from suffering we face by pretending (1/2)

that if does not exist. Lifted:... despite the statk prevatence of evit (1/2) that invades our senses daily? Paraphrcsed: Ibis game ls serse/ess as it is neaningtess (1/2) to avaid the probtem espe_ cially since it is obvious that jt exists even/where (1/2) as we get reminded of it everyday by

the media at environment.

According to paragraph 6, why would the moral argument for animal rights .seem overwhelm, ingly compelling' (line 5O)? use your own words as far as possible_ (3)

Lifted: Biotechnology will enable the human species cost_effectjvety (1/2) to mass,praduce edible cellularprotein (1/2) of aflavour (1/2) and texturc indistinguishabte frcm, ortastierthan, animal prcducts we now eat (1/2). Pataphrased:Technology witl soon be able ta develop an affordabte (1/2) substitute (1/2) fot food that wi be equat in taste (1/2) and nutrjtion (1/2) to aninat products. Thjs thercfore temoves the main reasons why we shoutd kill animals and therefore no tonger justjfies out actions. (1)

Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. Write your answer in one word or a short phrase. (5) refrain (line 1 1 ) absfan / hold back / stop oursetves defining {line 1B) characfeising / distinguishing slatk (line 45j evident / obvious / striking reprieve (ljne 47) pardo n / way out of the predjcament compelling (line 50) coDvincing / persuasive

2003 Ouestion

Comprehension Answers 10

David Pearce believes lhat the suffering of animals gives us insight lnto ihe suffering of humans. To whal exlent do you agree or disagree with his views?

Support your answerwilh examples drawn flom your society s experience in trying to manage sufferlng. (7)

It wauld be gaod to nate thal although apt anatagy has been drawn belween the suffering of animals and of humans, the passage is not in fact, atguing for animal rights With aninals' incapacily to speak comes a moral imperative for usto speak on theh behalf' especially when technology removes the reason for us to slaughtet animals fat food Sinilarly, it becomes im' potTant for us Io find avenues far disenfranchised minarity groups or povefty stricken peaple to speak up and be heard. Pearce thraws many accusations as he develops his argument Students should pick up an this and argue whether these accusations arc indeed valid

Key arguments that students can consider are:

Whetherthe plight of animals can even be comparcd to the plight of humans in the first place? Whether our'butchering and incarceration' of animals is an ovetwrought argument? Or whethet his aryuments are indeed'merely rhetorical conceit'? Are we indeed accomptices in bringing suffering ta others through consumerism?

Ot have we exercised initiative in bringing pasilive change to others thraugh cansumer awareness and sovereignty? Have we truly remained cleaf to the plight of animals and ather humans because aur own canvenience? Are other reasons fot our inaction possible? Has all that we have done sa far in atleviating suffering truly been ineffectual? ls the change that technology brings so poweiul as to compel us to stop animal

Are Pearce's suggestians far too idealistic?

BROADERPERSPECTTvES

theseven iss!e

of