Term 3 Blog 3- Beijing Olympics(friend or foe?)

http://profit.ndtv.com/2008/08/27215135/Hosting-Olympics-fuels-the-mar.html

This is the article, which mainly focuses on the economic disadvantages of hosting the Games. Being an avid fan of sports, I would like to show how the Games were impressive in other ways( or rather, beneficial to China in other ways) and debunk the claim that China will suffer a post-Beijing financial drain.

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Amidst mountains of funfare, the Beijing Olympics kickstarted with an impressive opening ceremony, one dubbed "the epitome of Chinese success and dominance". Award-winning medallist Li Ning bounding against the side walls of the Bird's Nest Stadium and sparking off the Olympic flame was simply an astounding sight and one that made my father cry out in utter disbelief. The only thought stream that coursed through my psyche was the addidas catchphrase " Impossible Is Nothing". Sights of brilliantly-clad drummers and dancers synchronising to perfect harmony was not only a sight to behold, but the way they switched between formation and formation so neatly and swiftly was amazing. Yet, as I watched the continuous bursts of fireworks( exploding in the air with a pride and arrogance, the same pride and arrogance edged in every Chinese citizen's heart), it randomly occured to me that whilst the Beijing Olympics would certainly elevate China's status on the world map, it could potentially drain its economy and aggravate a negative economic slump. Thus, I shall now review the boons and banes of China hosting the Olympics Games to better my understanding.

The world's biggest event. China's first shot at it. Acres of media coverage, ready to amplify every mistake or examine every action undertaken by the Chinese government. Yet, all around the world, no negative criticisms arose. This can be said by virtue of the fact that the opening and closing ceremonies were simply acts of pure class; entertaining, thrilling and unbelievable. With the world's expectations burdened upon China, China not only did not crumble under immense pressure but also delivered a show that surpassed all expectations and will forever be etched in every mind. The Chinese were jubliant when they heard they won the rights to host and it is certain that with this spectacular Games, their confidence on presenting themselves upon the global arena would be doubled. The successful Games were merely the culmination of three years of hard work, countless rehearsals and the strength of a common goal. A common goal to elevate China's status. A common goal to prove to the world that the Chinese are a force to be reckoned with. A common goal to leave people gaping puzzled as to how such an effective and efficient Games can possibly be organised. This psychological boon will present Chinese from all around the world a new outlook of confidence, as they continue with the challenge of boosting China's economic status in the world.

Socially, The Games have rooted the deep history of Chinese culture and traditions upon the hearts of athletes all around the world. The incorporation of traditional Chinese elements like wushu, calligraphy and paper-making into the ceremonies only served to make the show more impressive and vibrant, not forgetting the resultant didactic purpose. Oftentimes, Chinese culture is being overshadowed by modern American culture, yet this hosting has dawned light on some of the ingenuities of Chinese culture, most notably paper-making. This Games has totally opened a new cultural dimension to China and as Chinese continues its progress from the notion of "a sleeping dragon", it is only fitting that people all round the world gain a better insight towards Chinese culture so as to cement a stand on the international arena. Like the Yangtze River, Chinese culture is an art form accumulated over time and whose sheer substance and beauty exemplifies the richness of Chinese history and values.

Economically, this hosting is a double-edged sword. As China steps into the golden age of economic flourish, it is important to maintain this equilibrium in check. Yet, billions of dollars have been pumped into this major project in terms of infrastructure( check that ICE CUBE out!), media promotion, gimmicks, souvenirs. You name it, they have it. However, economic analysts have predicted a post-Olympic drain where the economic progress of China stagnates and eventually breaks down( due to the density of Chinese investment in this Games.) It is certain that with athletes all round the world, ensuing economic gains will follow. They are merely tourists, yet are in Beijing for a noble cause- to do their country proud. However, picture the ICE CUBE five years later, painting a desolate figure in the Beijing skyline, its past glory long abandoned. Is it really worth spending three years of preparation on the heat of events, which lasts a mere two weeks? Is it economic sustainable and beneficial? With taxpayers' money pouring in, will the income gap between rural and city citizens be significantly widened? An entire torrent of issues, the country has to address before enforcing its firm threshold on the global arena. Despite constant reassurements from Chinese authorities that Beijing only makes up 4% of the Chinese economy, can such long-term observations be disproved in the short run? No current concrete evidence doesn't neccesarily signify that no evidence will ever arise on a long-term basis.

We all unanimously agree that the Chinese have done an excellent job out of the Olympics, even small details like Chinese models turning upon the arrival of guests( to create a red-carpet/ celebrity feel) are well-scripted and paid attention to. Whats comical yet impressive is the observation that wardens have to MARCH from point to point, something that highlights the seriousness of the Chinese authorities. As Jacques Rogge, president of International Olympic Committee(IOC) simply put it, "These were truly exceptional Games" and I have no choice but to agree.

One world, one dream. Can they relive the dream in times to come?

Only time can tell...

Commentary- Democracy: Double- Edged?

Who could ever forget when Singapore broke out of its colonial shell and democracy set the direction for Singapore’s future endeavours? I think like any other political ideology, democracy has its pros and cons, but whether it’s more pros than cons depends on the way one handles democracy. Nevertheless, democracy is an excellent platform for a country to achieve greater heights and I shall examine the benefits of democracy both socially and economically, under two different scopes- national and global grounds. I chose social and economical impacts because I feel that these two aspects of society are more relevant to the general community, as the world erupts into its delusion of capitalism while peace of society stills need to be maintained.

Firstly, I would examine economic benefits of democracy. As democracy is formed on the basis of equal electoral rights, it is a good representation of the community’s vote. This means that the community has reviewed the local political scene and made a wise choice as to the leader to vote for. With a capable government supporting the ranks, the citizens will feel assured, happy and will feel motivated to contribute more towards the economy in terms of work efficiency and productiveness. This would result in a flourishing of the local economy, which would increase the global economical status of the country. When this occurs, multinational corporations would have the confidence to invest in the country and from then on, many other multinational companies will follow suit as they realize the potential. This thus creates a healthy cycle of foreign investment and ensures economic stability as a whole. Furthermore, democracy restricts the amount of power held by the political elite and ensures that the economic interests of the nation are protected.

Next up, I shall examine the social impacts of democracy. Democracy can create social stability in a society because it recognizes the rights of every individual and allows freedom of expression for the people, media and political parties. This means that citizens would not feel oppressed or restricted when they express their views. Not controlling the media, as contrasted to authoritarian rule, enhances the media appeal of the country, while ensuring that a variation of viewpoints are presented instead of massive governmental propaganda. Therefore, with no suppression of rights, the citizens see no need to resort to violence to resolve any issues they have with the government, because there are other ways that one can exert an influence like forums in newspapers, political activism and voting. This ensures that there is a peaceful medium of communication between the government and the community, where they can debate issues freely and seek to resolve any conflicts. Therefore, with words and not war, social stability is maintained. Globally, it heightens the status of the country as a stable, peaceful and happy society such that foreign talent have the confidence to impart their expertise in this country. This aids the economy as a whole too.

Singapore is an excellent example how democracy can be socially and economically beneficial. With democracy, citizens have had the free will of speech and this has led to social stability. I recall the example of Chek Jawa, where the Nature Society actively campaigned against its reclamation due to the rich biodiversity present. Peaceful ideas were exchanged and in the end, the government acknowledged the biological value of Chek Jawa and stopped the reclamation proces. With no limits as to the expression of views, consensus on many fronts has been reached between the community and the government, resulting in social stability. When peace prevails in the society, Singapore citizens can fixate their minds and attention upon working and boosting the economical scene locally. This would attract foreign investors to set up companies here, elevating the economic status to a global playground.

The late S. Rajaratnam firmly believed in democracy and saw the potential of Singapore as a “global city”. Look at how his words have turned true as Singapore continues down its path of success, with economic and social stability flanking its progress.

Nevertheless, democracy functions under the assumption that voters will make the right decision and elect an efficient government to represent them. The concept of rights and freedom of expression is a double- edged sword because it can both confer stability and cause conflict. Allowing free expression of media and no limitations pertaining to the number of political parties would result in divergence of nationalism. With varied viewpoints, people would stick to their respective beliefs and cannot reach a consensus as to the general running of the country.

Take for example, the case of Taiwan. The difference in ideology between the two parties, Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has resulted in incessant and unnecessary bickering, which has led to economic stagnation and social instability in Taiwan. Potential conflict may also erupt as a result if the level of belief has reached extremism, where citizens are ready to use violence to defend their viewpoints.

Besides that, there is a probability of elections being boycotted which might mean a misrepresentation of the community’s choice. Then again, democracy is somewhat biased against minority communities, because a leader is elected based on percentage of votes and evidently, minority communities do not have the numbers to back up their representatives. Since rights are not represented here, minorities have no choice but to resort to desperate measures such as rioting, looting and other violent actions, to impress upon the government their viewpoints. As a whole, democracy offers many alternative perspectives but the long- term consequence would be that of probable unrest in community due to inefficiency of government, which would negatively impact the social and economical scene.

In conclusion, I feel that democracy can create stability in a society but only if citizens are able to make informed decisions and use their rights responsibly. This means that democracy’s impact on stability depends largely on the circumstances in which it is used.

Blog Input for Term I- Teenage and Social Issues

I have placed a hyperlink to the actual webpage under the "Links" section of a blog. However, I will still "copy and paste" the article here, right in front of your eyes, so as to save you the trouble of moving your somewhat cumbersome hands. :-)

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Land of the online death pact fights to save lives from the web
Leo Lewis in Tokyo

In the country where the world’s first internet suicide pact was forged, the battle to save lives is a desperate one.

Cyberpatrols, web whistle-blowers and a special online suicide-watch police division have become the new front line in Japan’s half-decade battle with a scourge that first came to light on its shores.

Despite Japan’s dismal record coping with its overall suicide rate, the fight with suicide chat rooms is – slowly – being won. Dozens of online forums where strangers met and pledged to end their lives together have been shut down.

Internet service providers have become sentinels of their unhappiest clients. Software has been designed that trawls< search thoroughly> Japanese cyberspace for keywords that suggest that a suicide is in the offing.
The effect of all this has been startling. A pandemic of web suicides that began in 2003 has ended almost as quickly as it began and the biggest forums have lost all their former potency. It is, police say, a situation that has gone from badly out of control to manageable.

There was a time when victory seemed remote.
In 2003 police in a deeply rural spot of northern Japan discovered a mini-van parked on the verge of a deserted mountain road. The windows were sealed with black duct tape and inside was a burnt-out charcoal stove.
Around it lay the bodies of three young people, the loneliest of souls who had found companionship in life only for the terrible act of death.
Nobody realised it at the time, but it was Japan’s – and the world’s – first internet suicide pact among total strangers.

As the months wore on, chillingly similar reports began to appear in local papers in remote corners of the country. Each time police were confronted with the same baffling scene: the three or four victims were always young, usually in their late teens to mid-twenties, and had no apparent connection with one another before that first and fatal meeting.

Often they had travelled hundreds of miles by train to die together from carbon monoxide poisoning on the edges of quiet country roads. The last text messages sent from their mobile phones were always to numbers that they had never dialled before and contained the matter-of-fact practicalities of group death: “I’ll bring the charcoal”, “We can split the rental of the minivan”.

With the highest rate of suicide among developed nations, the deaths barely registered among the 30,000 Japanese who took their lives that year. It was only late in 2004 that the role of the internet became clear. Investigators discovered an extraordinarily complex secret culture of suicide websites.

By 2005 the internet suicide pacts had become an epidemic. Nearly 100 young people – some as young as 15, others as old as 45 – are thought to have died in such pacts that year. On one notorious Bank Holiday weekend 19 people took their lives in five different locations in a series of pacts involving people from a dozen different cities. That same year there was a worrying 11 per cent rise in the number of suicides by Japanese schoolchildren.
The Government stepped in finally, vowing that even if Japan’s underlying suicide problem could not be solved, the web would not make it easier.

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A simple article, but it reveals a lot of truth about the vulnerability of human minds. Different people adopt different attitudes towards life and it's evident that in this article in which suicide is being discussed, that the teenagers adopt very bleak and depressive outlooks towards life. However, the main focus of this article is the way Japanese authorities have very successfully curbed their country's underlying suicide problem . Note that I have used the word " curbed", instead of "resolved" or "ended". This is because the article mentions the fact that the Japanese investigators found out one avenue in which people seeked suicide, which is through the use of Internet and suicide forums/ websites. Therefore, after realising that there was actually such a "complex secret culture" happening beneath the vast Internet ocean, authorities put an end to it through the usage of highly effective and stringent measures.

After reading this article, I was inevitably shocked and spooked. Cross-referencing to another article based on this issue( " Glamour of Death"), I finally understood why these teenagers destroyed their valued lives upon no logical basis. The other article explicitly mentions that within suicide websites, there were internet “memorial” sites by which even public eulogies described the victim as courageous, or elevated the status of the "willing sacrificer" by commentating that flags were flown at half-mast. In that particular article, a professor of psychiatry made this statement that forged a great impression in my highly innocent psyche, " If they haven’t had much recognition in life, it can be seen as a way to get the adulation and attention that they have missed . . . through death." Then, naturally, the next question I asked myself was whether it was " worth it or not".

The fame derived from killing oneself may be appreciated by "birds of the same flock", but in what aspect can it be considered fame and getting attention for oneself? The only thing that is going through my mind will be the emotional and psychological blow of the people who truly loved the "emo-teens", who let a moment of folly control their voice of reason. These teenagers, on a basis of excitement and recognition, took their own lives without thinking about the consequences that might arise from it all.

Furthermore, we are talking about human lives here, which make the entire issue exponentially spooky. When I skimmed through the portion about the sadistical way the teengers took their lives, my heart squirmed with absolute terror and I just could not believe what I was seeing. As teenagers, we face constant pressure from many external and internal factors, but death is never a way to solve problems. Only when we face up to the problems bravely and overcome them with a sense of dignity and pride can we be considered a rational human being. The way the teenagers toyed around and freely mainpulated their fates reminded me of how blessed and complete I am physically and psychologically.

Nevertheless, I must commend the efforts undertaken by the Japanese authorities. From what I learnt from human geography last year, I faintly recall that Japan is facing the problem of an aging population, in which there is a higher proportion of elderly above the younger generation. This signifies that the Japanese government has to ensure that the younger generation is kept intact and receive an all-rounded education, such that when they immerse into the working community, they are not only able to support the elderly but also have the capability to maintain the stability and development of the economy. Considering the social context as mentioned above , we can fully comprehend why the Japanese gov. saw the preservation of the younger generation as an issue of serious consequence.

However, I personally believe that the efforts undertaken on the part of the government are not sufficient enough, due to the fact that the governmental body only sets the general rules and regulations. Delving deeper into a typical family, it's the parents who restrict the actions of their children and consistently interact with their kids. Therefore, it's not only responsible of any parent to be aware of the doings of their children but in the capacity of an adult, to guide them down the correct moral path instead of letting them "appreciate the vastness of the Net." A combined taskforce encompassing the three vital characters in a child's life, who are the PARENT, the TEACHER AND the GOVERNMENT namely, would be much more effective and powerful.

All-in-all, it's utterly flabbergasting to see fellow teenagers indulge in the "pleasures of suicide". I can't possibly laugh when I am falling off a boulder with no safety equipment at all; shouting "death is all I seek for, I can't wait to bask in the fires of Hell!"

It is wrong, isn't it?

- Yours truly,

Sher Yin

Hi GUYS

This is the first time in my whole entire life that I have ever blogged and it really feels strange. Anyway, this is just my first post and there are definitely many more to come. YAY!!! and I must remember to finish this by next MONDAY amidst all that million-tons of homework.