1_Abigail+Tan+Han+Min

Term 1 Assignment 3(Revised version)

"**In the 21st century, gender inequality is still prevalent in the world**." Do you agree with this statement?

Yes, I agree that in the 21st Century, gender inequality is still prevalent in the world. Gender inequality has favoured men with a better income over similarly qualified women. In Third World countries such as the Dominican Republic, female entrepreneurs are statistically more prone to failure in business. In the event of a business failure women often return to their domestic lifestyle despite the absence of income. On the other hand, men tend to search for other employment as the household is not a priority. The gendered wage gap varies in its width among different races. White comparatively have the greatest wage gap between the genders. With whites, women earn 78% of the wages that white men do. With African Americans, women earn 90% of the wages that African American men do. With people of Hispanic origin, women earn 88% of the wages that men of Hispanic origin do. Statistics has proven that males have better income over similarly qualified women and reflects on how much gender inequality has increased and became prevalent in the world.

(6.5/10)

Females' unequal rights increase because of the gender inequality in education between males and females. In Afghanistan, girls are actively excluded from schooling. In other countries, such as Africa and Latin America, girls have far less opportunity of schooling than boys do, which hinders one's fair opportunity of education. Because of this unfair treatment in education for females, their unequal rights increase as they do not have a fair participation in contributing to the society when they are of working-age. Compared to the males, the males who had education would get a well-paid job and contribute to the society. This unfair treatment to girls in education contributes to the increase of female's unequal rights.

(7/10)

Gender inequality is prevalent in the world. In many countries, men get the custody rights for the child because the society thinks that women would not be able to support and raise the child without a good income. In Bahrain, where family law is not codified, judges have complete power to deny women custody of their children for the most arbitrary reasons. Bahrain women who have been courageous enough to expose and challenge these violations in 2003 were sued for slander by eleven family court judges. From this example, men get the custody rights for the child in Bahrain because of gender inequality. The society disregards women on their capability to raise the child and denies women custody for their children for all kinds of reasons. Even brave women who expose and challenge these judges for these violations were actually sued for slander by eleven family court judges. From such treatment, gender inequality has greatly taken away many opportunities and rights away from women, which prove that gender inequality is prevalent in the world.

(7/10)

Total: 20.5/30

Term 1 Assignment 4(Revised version)

Write a paragraph to rebut each of the 3 arguments below.

1. Being able to tell lies occasionally is important to maintain a healthy relationship. 2. It is better to be a student in our parents' time as students nowadays have to face too much stress. 3. Organ trading should be allowed in Singapore as nothing can be more important than saving a life.

It may be argued that telling lies occasionally is important to maintain a healthy relationship. However, telling lies, even white lies, affects the relationship. In a relationship, when one finds out the other partner's lies, a confrontation or a misunderstanding will arise. The trust towards that partner will also be lost. Relationships are difficult to maintain when they are filled with conflict, negativity and a lack of trust. In such a relationship, this will often lead to a break-up. And this is just one of the negative effects of lies in a relationship. Even if one were to tell lies just once or twice, it can still affect a relationship. When one tells lies, a lost of trust will definitely occur. It will then take time to rebuild trust. For example, a husband who has been caught lying to his wife to play golf with his buddies on the weekend might have to promise to spend every Saturday morning for the next month doing things with the family. And even "white lies" can affect a relationship. When deception is uncovered, even finding out the truth about a small, white lie can lead to problems such as increased suspicion and doubt. If your spouse is willing to bend the truth about something trivial, what about something that really matters?

(7/10)

It may be argued that it is better to be a student in our parents' time as students nowadays have to face too much stress. However, students nowadays have solutions to manage stress and the majority are able to manage it. There are plenty of tips to manage stress on the internet, for example finding a hobby to do in your free time and taking short breaks while doing your homework. In fact, students nowadays have no stress at all as many of us are able to manage it and learn how to cope with it. Also, there are more disadvantages in being a student in our parents' time. For example, during our parents' time, technology was not so advance. Hence, if they have questions to ask after school, they would have to ask their parents or siblings for help. For those students who do not even have siblings or their parents are uneducated, they would have until they see their teachers again to ask their questions. Compared to students nowadays, they can just send a text message or an email to the teachers and get a reply very quickly.

(7/10)

It may be argued that organ trading should be allowed in Singapore as nothing can be more important than saving a life. However, this would lead to exploitation of people who are desperate. In February 2007, an investigation by The Observer into India's cash-for-organs trade revealed that transplants were making for middle men and brokers preying on desperate victims of the tsunami who were selling their kidneys on the black market. This situation will occur if organ trading is allowed in Singapore. Another example is India. Before legislation passed in 1994, India had a successful legal market in organ trading. Low cost and availability brought in business from around the globe and transformed India into one of the largest kidney transplant centres in the world. Several problems began surfacing during the period of legal organ trade in India. In some cases patients were unaware a kidney transplant procedure even took place. Other problems included patients being promised an amount much higher than what was actually paid out. Ethical issues surrounding contribution donation pushed the Indian government to pass legislation banning the sale of organs. Such negative effects of organ trading had arisen in India when they legalised organ trading. Imagine what would happen when organ trading is allowed in Singapore? Even though saving a life is important, nothing can be more important than the state of the entire nation.

(7.5/10)

Total: 21.5/30

Term 1 Assignment 5(Revised version)

Allowing casinos in Singapore was a correct decision. What are your views?

It is not unusual to see casinos in places such as Las Vegas, Macau and Seoul. And every casino in the world is popular in their own respective country. Las Vegas is internationally famous for their casinos, hence explains the large number of tourists flocking there. If having a casino would receive so much popularity, allowing casinos in Singapore should, therefore be a correct decision. However, there are ill effects of casinos that needs to be addressed as well.

In 2003, Singapore was hit by the SARS epidemic and in the aftermath, the Singapore economy took a heavy blow and many jobs were lost. The government realised that to revitalise the economy, the usual way of investment and tourism was not going to bring its economy back on its own two feet in a short span of time. This brought about the idea of allowng casinos in Singapore as the government has data on how casinos in other countries had inevitably brought in tourist dollars. However, the ill effects of casinos are also well recognised to the detriment of the people. After a long debate initiated by the government, they decided to reverse its long-standing opposition to casinos in 2005. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that he  would allow two integrated resorts with casinos to be introduced to Singapore for the very first time.

Allowing casinos in Singapore is not only going to bring tourists dollars to Singapore, but also creates more than 35 000 jobs in Singapore. So far, these jobs were in construction related industries, activities of casinos, service industries, security related businesses, restaurants and shops. The effects of casinos are mostly beneficial to Singapore to a certain extent. In addition, the casinos are expected to contribute a significant returns to Singapore's tax coffer which will help to revitalise and boost the economy. The casinos not only attract more tourists to visit Singapore due to their integrated features of convention avenues, theme parks, food and beverage amenities and shopping experiences, but serve as a boost to the economy as well.

One may argue that despite these benefits that the casinos bring to Singapore, there are ill effects of casinos that need to be addressed as well. For example, allowing casinos would result in an increase of gambling addicts, which will eventually lead to undesirable outcomes; his or her family may even be affected. However, this situation can be moderated through the Casino Exclusion Measures, which is a social safeguard that can stop problem gamblers and those in financial hardship from entering the casinos in Singapore, as well as the imposition of a levy. As such, we see the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) imposing an entrance levy of S$100 on each Singapore citizen and permanent resident when they enter the casino in order to lower the number of gamblers who might become addicts due to these casinos. There are still many other ill effects, such as illegal money lending (loansharks), prositution and illegal junket activites. However, these vices, apart from illegal junket activites, are closely monitored by the Police to ensure that they do not grow out of proportion. Illegal junket activies are closely monitored by the CRA.

The two casinos reflect an attempt by the government in recent years to ease social restrictions and transform the staid city-state into a more attractive destination for tourists, foreigh talent and investors as the country revitalise its economy to stay ahead amidst stiffer economic competition from neighbouring countries. In conclusion, this decision of allowing casinos in Singapore is a correct decision.

//Abigail Tan// 2 Loyalty Total: 23/30

media type="file" key="Sec 2 June holiday hw.mp3" width="240" height="20"Title of article: Pakistani girl forced to don suicide vest Author: Associated Press Written on: 22 June 2011 Written in The Straits Time

Brief summary:

This articles is about millitants in Timergarah, Pakistan, kidnapping 9 year old Sohara Jawed. She was on her way to school when she was grabbed by two women and was forced into a car carrying two men. When she regained her conscious after being knocked out twice, she as forced to put on a heavy vest that contained nearly 9 kg of explosives. The vest was designed to set off remotely and had to be detonated through a remote control as a minor was wearing it. After being released from the kidnappers, she ran towards the soldiers. However, kidnappers did not detonate the bomb. The victim was then rescued and interviewed.

Opinion:

As there was no opinion from the author, thus I will share my own opinion instead. After reading this article, I've came to realise the danger level in Pakistan is so high until you can even get kidnapped while you're on your way to school. I'm unsure whether such occasions were rare in Pakistan but this case has not been the first time in Pakistan. However, according to the author, it is rare that they use young girls to carry out such dangerous activities. Instead, young boys were used, which still is equally bad. For now I'm sure that I'm glad that I live in Singapore!

Title: Marine life in danger of mass extinction Author: Associated Press Written on: 22 June 2011 Written in The Straits Time

Brief summary:

Many marine species and entire marine ecosystem such as coral reefs are facing mass extinction. "Multiple high intensity" factors also led to the previous five mass extinctions events in the pass 600 million years, the scientists noted. The chief causes for extinction now are overfishing and habitat loss, but global warming is "increasingly adding to this", the report said. Carbon dioxide from the burning of coal and other fossil fuels ends up sinking in the ocean which then becomes more acidic. Warmer ocean temperatures also are shifting species from their normal habitats. Add melting sea ice and glaciers to that. Chemicals and plastics are also causing problems for sea creatures.

Opinion:

This article also do not have the author's opinion, so I'll be sharing my own opinion. I feel rather asheamed of what we humans are doing to the ocean. Pollution, overcatching, all of these problems were man-made. And not to mention global warming. This article has made me realised how destructive the negative impacts of global warming is The marine species had to face the threat of mass extinction due to what we have created. Whit this though, I guess I have to think twice about my own actions.

Title: Ease maid employers' burden of responsibility Author: Shanta Danielle Arul(Miss) Written on: 22 June 2011 Written in The Straits Time

Brief summary:

In this article, the author requests MOM(Ministry of Manpower) to reconsider whether maids should have a day off every week(consider law entitling maids to have a day off every week). According to the author, this is something MOM should review if it is committed to higher labour standard and protecting vulnerable workers. Employers should not be held responsible should the maid, for example, get pregnant or run away. However, there are employers who treat their maids with respect and have worked out mutually satisfactory arrangement for both parties. Enforcing one day off a week simply ensures their maid have sufficient rest from work are legally obliged to do so. Such legislation simply protects a vulnerable group of individuals who often suffer in silence.

Opinion:

I agree with the author that employers should not be held responsible when the maid gets pregnant or run away. Instead, I feel that maids with such irresponsible behaviour should not be allowed to work in Singapore. The maids were the one who caused the mess, instead the employers had to clear the mess. Even as students, we are taught how to be responsible for our own actions. Hence, I agree that employees should not be held responsible if legislation entitling maids to have a day off every week.