Response to "Singapore gearing up for 6.5m population"

Article retrieved on 10 February 2007

This article is about how the Singaporean government is preparing for a 40% jump in population by implementing plans for future housing, recreation and transport needs. There would be trade-offs, but National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan promises that Singapore would not find herself unable to support 6.5 million people.

Singapore, an island only 683 square kilometers large, has one of the largest population densities in the world. Making room for 6.5 million people while ensuring that the important factories and industries share a large portion of the land requires housing to be built vertically, thus optimizing land area. However, it is undeniable that we would have to live more densely, and doing so might put stress and pressure on the citizens. The government, I feel, has solved this problem by maintaining that Singapore would remain a lush green city. Sky gardens, much like those in the newer HDB estates, would be the trend; waterfront gardens in Marina Bay are being developed, and parks across Singapore would reach a maximum of 400km in area.

I feel that the government, in tackling this problem first, is aware and sensitive to the Singapore citizens' feelings. Most of us live in high-rise estates and the blocks are usually tightly packed together. To increase the population by almost half puts a strain on every one of us; we would have to live with even less space. Greenery, however, is scientifically proven to be able to help us calm down and de-stress. The presence of plants at the roof of an apartment, between flats and essentially in any available space helps us relieve the pressure. Addressing this problem also shows the government's priority to keep the society in good spirits.

Planting vegetation across the island gives Singapore a 'green' image, not just in the literal sense. Plants provide a good supply of oxygen in the day and can help absorb the harmful air pollutants generated by cars and factories. Bringing into account the recent spate of hazes, the need for vegetation is even more apparent.

Overall, I believe that these plans are well thought out and feasible. One of the drawbacks is the time taken for the plans to be implemented. Especially the plan concerning the doubling of the rail network to further connect parts of the island, it would take well over five years to complete, far longer than the Circle Line construction. As for the strong sections of the plans, I feel that the building of new regional business centres in Jurong and Paya Lebar are commendable as they would reduce the congestion in the CBD areas.

Of course, I base these judgments not on professional knowledge, but as a citizen of the society of Singapore. As I only provide the commoner's point of view, I believe that others with accumulated experience have different points of view compared to mine regarding the effectiveness of these plans. However, I am confident of the citizens' feelings towards this project: most would find them enriching yet effective.

Response to "New drug aims to fight obesity-related problems in Britain"

Url: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/europe/view/258017/1/.html

This article is about how scientists in Britain have discovered a new drug which can cope with obesity-related problems, using hormones which restrain the user from eating too much by mimicking the stomach feeling full. That way, obese people would not eat so much and would reduce weight.

This seems like a solution to the obesity problem in Britain, which incidentally records 30,000 deaths yearly due to obesity cases. However, using drugs would not solve such a problem. As I understand it, the problem is that some people in England feel that such a drug is the easiest solution to obesity. In a society where physical appearances and being fit matters, the need to slim down exerts a great pressure on those who are deemed as fat and therefore "unsightly". These people see this new "hormone drug" as the key to their troubles: pump in the appetite-controlling hormone, sit back, and slim down.

There might be unforeseen consequences, however, such as the possibility of the excessive usage of the drug. It could lead to "under-eating" and even death. Another case would be anorexic symptoms. Although this new drug has opened another road in the fight against obesity, I feel that education might be the best method to resolve the problem. Much like drug abuse, the users of such a drug should be educated and cautioned, and the distribution of the drug controlled. It is best to refrain from taking the drug, so obese people should be encouraged to shed weight the hard but safe way.

This situation shows the human nature of wanting to do things the quick and easy way, and how people subject to pressure from the society. This situation can be looked at from both sides. The obese people might be driven to take drugs and other hazardous ways to slim down quickly because of the way the society works. I too have found myself teasing my overweight friends on more than one occasion, and I do not really understand how it is to be the subject of cruel jokes and ridicules. Therefore, it is not really fair for me to judge the obese people in England as the way I do. In their prospective, it might be rational to pursue such a method to cut down on eating food.

In conclusion, I believe that the society is partially to be blamed for this problem. It is not so much of what the trend is in a society, but it is how ordinary people on the streets, including myself, view these obese people. This not only applies to England but to societies worldwide. If we could view them in a better light, and if both the society's people and the obese were to be educated, then the society itself would become a better place to live in. The people on the streets would not be prejudiced against the obese, and the obese would know of better ways to slim down and lead a healthy lifestyle.