“Foreign direct investment in China rises 12% in first half” (The Straits Times)

 

Facts:

-         China’s foreign direct investment is currently US$6.6 billion

-         China was the world’s 4^th largest recipient of foreign direct investment last year after US, UK and France (according to the UN)

-         Pull factors: Low manufacturing costs and a pool of 1.3 billion increasingly affluent consumers are luring foreign companies to set up factories in China.

-         Due to investment inflows, China is now the world’s biggest producer of cell phones, computers and clothes.

 

Evaluation:

-         Remember Economics? Trade surplus invites resentment from the US, causing it to slap protectionism and this has worsen their bilateral relationship (Read ConnECT issue 2007.2 for further details. haha =P)

-         1.3 billion of increasingly affluent consumers translate into more consumerism in China, which may have a dampening effect on its environment. The fact that currently China becomes the world’s most polluting country (defeating the US) is perhaps one growing concern.

-         Environmental concern may due to irresponsibility of those manufacturing factories. The environment concerns are played down by the need to develop economically and efficiently.

 

Relevant questions:

1. How far can a balance be achieved between environmental conservation and economic progress?
2. Consider the importance of speed in modern society
3. The term “superpower” is no longer relevant. How far DYA with this statement?

by Christina Amanda

“Failed PSLE on first try? NorthLight offers place” (The Straits Times)

 

NorthLight

-         vocational school

-         students learn skills like electricity, retail, cookery, mechanical, healthcare or landscape (ITE skills)

-         mathematic class à use Google Earth to find their school, then introduce concept of area and perimeter

-         economics class à given real fast food menus, decide what is the best value for their money

-         seems to successfully helped students who are uninterested in primary school classes

 

Evaluation

This is a form of alternative education available (ITE for primary school students) so that rather than spending another year in primary school (where they are likely to be interested and enthusiastic in classes), NorthLight will strengthen their skills instead.

However, we shall not forget the impact that may result from this kind of “streaming”. Isn’t such streaming too early, and shouldn’t instead these children be given extra tuition or more help in studies? Such streaming may end up in negative stereotypes. Besides, such students may not be able to compete in a highly competitive environment in Singapore, end up getting a lower-paid job and this becomes a viscous cycle.

 

Relevant questions:

1. Does the government of your country pay enough attention to the needs of the sick and disadvantaged?
2. “Education needs to reinvent itself to remain relevant.” Assess the education system in your country in the light of this statement.
3. Do schools adequately prepare students for the real world?

by Christina Amanda

Top Official calls for new food safety laws

Summary: 

• A top health official has called for more integration within China’s fragmented food regulatory system yesterday to boost its troubled safety record.
• The military warned that unsafe food could undermine its combat-readiness.
• New laws were needed to strengthen food safety supervision by coordinating the duties of competing government agencies.
• The lack of a centrally controlled regulatory system is considered a key defect underpinning China’s perennial food and drug safety woes.
• Blurred lines of authority and divided responsibilities often enable the country’s countless illegal operations to escape detection.
• A specially developed food quality control system would be employed at 39 Olympic test events starting from Aug 8.
• Foods and drugs are special products, and manufacturers and sellers cannot only go after economic gain.
• Rising pork prices have also led to some farmers force-feeding their pigs with wastewater to increase their weight before slaughtered.

Personal Comments: 

o       This article is related to questions on “Governance and Politics”. For example, “what may a county’s citizens justly demand of their government?”

o       Related to questions on “health”. For example, “how far do you agree that our health is in our own hands?”

o       Possible questions:

- Food is serious business. Comment.

- Assess how effectively your country ensures the safety of her people.

 

§         Since food is one of the essential things we need for survival, this matter should not be taken lightly. Of course, the government ruling the country should have the largest role in improving and regulating the quality of the food her country produces or imports.

§         Define the lines of authority clearly and prevent divided responsibilities to prevent illegal operations from happening.

§         Food safety problems can have serious negative impact on the country.

-The number of tourists may decrease.

-The citizens of the country may live in fear over their health and safety of the food they consume everyday.  

         *Source: The Straits Times     Saturday, July 14, 2007

By Wei Bin 

 

Bio-Fuel

• In recent years, the term “biofuel” has come to mean the last category – ethanol and diesel, made from crops including corn, sugarcane and rapeseed.
• A recent UK government publication declared that biofuels reduced emissions “by 50-60% compared to fossil fuels”.
• Ethanol for fuel is made through fermentation.
• Sixty percent of new cars can run on a fuel mix which includes 85% ethanol.

 Problems:

• Asian countries may be tempted to replace rainforest with more palm oil plantations, reduce habitat for animals and wild plants still further 
• If increased proportions of food crops such as corn or soy are used for fuel, that may push prices up, affecting food supplies for less prosperous citizens.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6294133.stm

comment:

Ethanol might be the latest renewable source of energy. In the future, this may alleviate issues on scarce and depleting resources. Advancement in technologies also has helped human to utilise this new source of energy more efficiently.

Questions:

1. “Decaying, dying, dead.” Is this a fair assessment of the environment in your part of the world?

2. Is man destroying the environment too rapidly?

by Julianti Ng

The Other Side Of India’s Tech Boom

Source: Fortune magazine, July 23, 2007

Some useful information and how they can be used in essay:

• In New Delhi alone, about 10 000 people, some young children, dismantle old computers and other equipment–know as e-waste, searching for gold, copper, paladium or anything to turn to cash. (poverty)

• Recyclers expose themselves to toxic metals but it is a main source of income for them

• E-waste recycling is a booming business in India

• A study by Toxics Link, an advocacy group in New Delhi, found that metals from 183 defunct computers could yield as much as $24 000 (environment; recycling)

• India currently produces 150 000 tons of e-waste a year and illegally imports at least that amount from the West. (impact of improving technology)

• India currently has only 22 computers for every 1000 people but that number is projected to increase to 120 in the next five years (improvement in technology in LDCs)

• European firms that have come to India with plans to start recycling canters are also put off by the lack of regulation, said Ravi Agarwal, the director of Toxics Link.

• India has only 2 government-recognised e-waste recycling facilities, in Chennai and Bangalore. Together they recycle less than 1% of India’s total e-waste. (Environment)

by huiting

China awakens to need for safety and quality

Source: World News, The Straits Times, 14th July 2007

Summary :

Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of China’s State Food and Drug Administration, was executed this week after his conviction for accepting massive bribes in return for certifying the sale of shoddy goods and fake medicines. It was meant as a warning to other corrupt officials. The scandals about the quality of Chinese products have now reached worrying proportions, threatening not only the country’s image, but also its foreign trade.

Hello world!

Welcome to unorthodox-Clichés of 12/06. Testing…testing…

PS: I was thinking about writing “Welcome” in different languages, but I only know chinese and english~Sigh…BTW, if you have any suggestions, pls leave in the comments box (I just use the default theme without much changes). And you all can leave your own blog link so I can add you in the blog roll (if you want=)