Graying World

Sec 3 Combined Humanities Results

For those Sec 3s who come to the blog, a preview to your class results. A marked improvement compared to mid-year. MSG for 3EA is 3.69 and 3EB is 5.45.

All The Best 4N Students

Tomorrow is your Geo Elective papers. Be calm and don't panic. Remember my advice, make sure you write. You'll only fail if you hand in an empty paper.

My last reminders:
1. Read question carefully. Underline the instructional words.
2. Know the difference between 'describe' and 'explain'.
3. Use the figure information or data as part of your answer.
4.Don't overwrite. E.g, don't give a summary of factors, go strait to the point.
5. Question like "How far/To what extent/How effective etc, make sure you show both sides, pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages.
6. Link back to the question.
7. Use geographical keywords.
8. Label diagrams if you need to draw.

Reduce climate change? Eat less meat: Report

Consume less milk as well, says four-year study of impact of food on climate change

LONDON: People will have to be rationed to four modest portions of meat and one litre of milk a week if the world is to avoid runaway climate change, a new report has warned.
The report, by the Food Climate Research Network (FCRN), based at the University of Surrey, said total food consumption should be reduced, especially 'low nutritional value' treats such as alcohol, sweets and chocolates.
It urged people to return to habits their mothers or grandmothers would have been familiar with - buying locally in-season products, cooking in bulk and in pots with lids or pressure cookers, avoiding waste and walking to the shops, The Guardian said.
The report is a product of a four-year study of the impact of food on climate change, and goes much further than any previous advice after mounting concern about the impact of the livestock industry on greenhouse gases and rising food prices.
Its author Tara Garnett warned that campaigns encouraging people to change their habits voluntarily were doomed to fail and urged the government to use caps on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pricing to ensure that changes were made.
These findings are in line with an investigation by the October edition of the Ecologist magazine, which found that arguments for people to go vegetarian to stop climate change and reduce pressure on rising food prices were exaggerated and would damage the developing world in particular, where many people depend on animals for essential food and other products.
Instead, it recommended cutting meat consumption by at least half and making sure animals were fed as much as possible on grass and food waste which could not be eaten by humans.
The head of the United Nations (UN) intergovernmental panel on climate change, Mr Rajendra Pachauri, also sparked global debate this month when he urged people to have at least one meat-free day a week.
The FCRN found that measured by production, the British food sector produces greenhouse gases equivalent to 33 million tonnes of carbon. Measured by consumption, the total rises to 43.3 million tonnes. Both figures work out at under one fifth of British emissions, but they exclude the indirect impact of actions such as clearing rainforest for cattle and crops, which other studies estimate would add up to 5 to 20 per cent of global emissions.
The report found that the meat and dairy sectors together accounted for just over half of those emissions.
It called for meat and dairy consumption to be cut in developed countries so that global production remains stable as the population grows to an estimated nine billion by 2050. At the same time, emissions from farms, transport, manufacturing and retail could be cut, it said.
The UN and other bodies recommend that developed countries should reduce total emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. However, the National Farmers' Union warned that its own study, with other industry players, published last year, found net emissions from agriculture could be cut by only up to 50 per cent.

For those of you who always eat burgers for lunch. This article is food for thought. Cut down on your meat, and ask for more vegetables.

Population hits 4.84m

THE sense of a growing squeeze in shopping malls, MRT trains and hawker centres has been borne out by figures released by the Government on Friday.

Singapore's population grew by a record 5.5 per cent last year, the highest annual spike since Census figures were collected in 1871.

This means that as of June, there are 4.84 million people living in this country, up from 4.59 million last year.

Of these, the number of foreigners - fuelled by a fast-trotting economy last year - expanded the most rapidly, by a whopping 19 per cent, swelling their numbers to 1.2 million.

In contrast, the number of citizens grew by 1 per cent, while the number of permanent residents climbed 6.5 per cent. Together, they add up to 3.64 million residents.

The figures were released by the National Population Secretariat (NPS), under the Prime Minister's Office, which is tasked with overseeing Singapore's population policies.

The nation's total fertility rate (TFR) is still low but more births were registered.

The resident TFR rose slightly from 1.28 in 2006 to 1.29 in 2007. There were 18,032 resident births registered in the first six months this year, compared with 17,325 births a year ago. The increase is primarily due to more first-order births.

With the recent enhancement of the Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package, the Government hopes to support more Singaporeans in getting married and having children.

Singapore also welcomed more new permanent residents and new citizens. There were more foreigners becoming PRs and citizens, with 34,800 granted PRs and 9,600 granted citizenship in the first six months, compared to 28,500 and 7,300 in the same period in 2007.

More Singaporeans are also going overseas for work and study.

As of June, there were about 153,500 overseas Singaporeans (OS) compared with 147,500 a year ago.

The countries with a high concentration of overseas Singaporeans are Australia, the UK, the US and China.

Mr Roy Quek, Director of the NPS, who also heads the OSU, noted that 'having more Singaporeans go overseas is not a problem per se, so long as they stay engaged and connected with Singapore'.

'The fact that many Overseas Singaporeans have done well in other countries attests to the success of the Singaporean system in producing top students, professionals and entrepreneurs who can succeed outside of Singapore,' he added.

'We should celebrate their successes and help them stay connected to home, so that they remain Singaporeans in their hearts and minds even when they are physically away from the rest of us'.

Sec 3 SS SEQ on "Population"

1a) Which is more important in ensuring good governance in Singapore? Having able leaders in the government or encouraging active citizen involvement. Explain your answer. [12]

1b) Here are three schemes to encourage population growth in Singapore.

The graduate mothers scheme

Have three or more if you can afford it

Attract foreign talent

Which is the most effective scheme? Explain your answer. [13]

Reflection for trip to Shandong

It has been a long time since I update my blog. Frankly, I think most of the pupils who visit my blog are the 4N pupils. Since most of them are busy mugging, I think I kind of lose the motivation to blog.

Today I feel like blogging about my recent trip to Shandong. Though this was my second trip to Shandong, I still enjoyed it very much. The itinerary was the same but somehow the experiences were quite different. Perhaps it was the season. Last year I went during winter when it was very cold, this year I went during autumn and the weather was great. The students I brought were different too therefore there was a different dynamic.

I was warmly received by the teacher and pupils at Licheng No.2 Middle School. This is our twinning sister school which we've been having exchange programme. I must say that I'm very proud of the CCSS pupils that I brought during this trip. They were really a bunch of very nice kids. It's partly because of them, I enjoyed my trip very much. During the trip, the pupils were helpful and often made themselves useful by helping to carry luggages, banners and any other things. They were punctual most of the time and listened to instructions and did the right thing.On one of the days, some of the pupils surprised the teachers by buying us roses to show their appreciation. I was really touched. Bringing them to the trip was really worth the effort. Well, frankly, planning the trip really takes up a lot of time and effort. I think the pupils understand.

The daily night reflections with them were very fruitful. I could see the pupils grow during the trip by listening to how they feel and what they have learnt during the trip. I was impressed with their sharing especially the sec 3 pupils. The one thing perhaps they can improve is to be more outgoing and vocal in the activities.

With each visit to China, it increases my interest on the Chinese culture. The Chinese poetry, the Chinese calligraphy and the Chinese history are areas I would like to read up.