From "overfussiness" and complacency to an inability to accept criticism, many things about Singaporeans' attitudes to work irk Mr Victor Mills. The Northern Ireland-born Singapore citizen, 55, who took over as chief executive of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) last June, speaks his mind to Walter Sim.
JAN 26, 2015,
Friday, July 3, 2015
A moonshot to save a warming planet
By Martin Wolf
July 2
Every silver lining has a cloud. The technologies that offer human beings comforts and opportunities that would have been unimaginable two centuries ago ultimately depend on an abundance of energy. Fire is the source of that energy. But the burning of fossil fuels, from which we gain so much, also releases the carbon dioxide that threatens to destabilise the climate.
For some, the answer to this challenge is to embrace poverty. But humanity will not — and should not be expected to — give up the prosperity that some already enjoy and others greatly desire. The answer lies instead in breaking the links between prosperity and fossil fuels, fossil fuels and emissions, and emissions and the climate. We must not reject technology, but transform it.
Every silver lining has a cloud. The technologies that offer human beings comforts and opportunities that would have been unimaginable two centuries ago ultimately depend on an abundance of energy. Fire is the source of that energy. But the burning of fossil fuels, from which we gain so much, also releases the carbon dioxide that threatens to destabilise the climate.
For some, the answer to this challenge is to embrace poverty. But humanity will not — and should not be expected to — give up the prosperity that some already enjoy and others greatly desire. The answer lies instead in breaking the links between prosperity and fossil fuels, fossil fuels and emissions, and emissions and the climate. We must not reject technology, but transform it.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Is there an ideological cleavage in S’pore?
BY INVITATION
FOR a very long time, Singaporeans appear to have had a shared belief in the following values and principles:
- Free trade and investment
- Market economy
- Globalisation
- Foreign talent
- Meritocracy
Speaking in London on Thursday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hinted at the problem.
Unlike many other global cities, he noted, Singapore has no hinterland. This made getting the balance "between national identity and cosmopolitan openness, between free market competition and social solidarity" especially important.
Are the stresses and strains associated with the drive to be a global city producing a potentially destabilising ideological cleavage?
PM sets out challenges Singapore could face in next 50 years
JULY 1
In his Ho Rih Hwa Lecture Series speech yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong set out the challenges he expected Singapore to face over the next 50 years at various points, namely growing the economy, an ageing population and strengthening the national identity.
In his Ho Rih Hwa Lecture Series speech yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong set out the challenges he expected Singapore to face over the next 50 years at various points, namely growing the economy, an ageing population and strengthening the national identity.
Survival of Singapore still dependent on NS
As the country looks to the next 50 years, Singaporeans must not allow popular or short-term benefits to undermine the fabric of the NS system. NS must prevail and remain credible. Photo: Tristan Loh
LAW CHWEE KIAT
JULY 1, 2015
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has started to commemorate “SAF50” — in conjunction with SG50, the Republic’s golden jubilee on Aug 9 — with a major SAF Day Parade, to be held today. While this is a time to rejoice, it is also timely to reflect on the role of National Service (NS). This is especially so, given the calls by some Singaporeans on social media and Internet forums for NS to be shortened or done away with, so that the SAF becomes an all-regular force. Others argue that enlistees ought to be given a choice on what they want to do while serving NS.
I wonder if 50 years of peace have lured some Singaporeans into complacency. Have we forgotten the constant threats that we face? Years back, it was the possibility that our water supply could be cut off. Today, it is the aim of militant groups to create an Islamic Caliphate in the entire South-east Asian archipelago.
I hope my three grandsons, now aged between three and 13, will serve NS in its current form, and that NS will at least continue for the next 50 years. Why?
LAW CHWEE KIAT
JULY 1, 2015
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has started to commemorate “SAF50” — in conjunction with SG50, the Republic’s golden jubilee on Aug 9 — with a major SAF Day Parade, to be held today. While this is a time to rejoice, it is also timely to reflect on the role of National Service (NS). This is especially so, given the calls by some Singaporeans on social media and Internet forums for NS to be shortened or done away with, so that the SAF becomes an all-regular force. Others argue that enlistees ought to be given a choice on what they want to do while serving NS.
I wonder if 50 years of peace have lured some Singaporeans into complacency. Have we forgotten the constant threats that we face? Years back, it was the possibility that our water supply could be cut off. Today, it is the aim of militant groups to create an Islamic Caliphate in the entire South-east Asian archipelago.
I hope my three grandsons, now aged between three and 13, will serve NS in its current form, and that NS will at least continue for the next 50 years. Why?
SMU Dialogue with PM Lee
TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue
REGINA MARIE LEE
JULY 1, 2015
SINGAPORE — Questions on developments around the world dominated a dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had with students yesterday, even though his speech was largely centred on the country’s domestic challenges in the years ahead.
Over an hour, seven of the 12 questions raised by members of the 3,500-strong audience at the Ho Rih Hwa lecture organised by the Singapore Management University (SMU) were on external issues. These ranged from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP) to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday to legalise same-sex marriage in the country.
An SMU final-year economics student asked Mr Lee whether a political or judicial solution would better address a “thorny issue” such as same-sex marriage.
REGINA MARIE LEE
JULY 1, 2015
SINGAPORE — Questions on developments around the world dominated a dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had with students yesterday, even though his speech was largely centred on the country’s domestic challenges in the years ahead.
Over an hour, seven of the 12 questions raised by members of the 3,500-strong audience at the Ho Rih Hwa lecture organised by the Singapore Management University (SMU) were on external issues. These ranged from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP) to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday to legalise same-sex marriage in the country.
An SMU final-year economics student asked Mr Lee whether a political or judicial solution would better address a “thorny issue” such as same-sex marriage.
Singapore feeling impact of rapidly ageing population
July 1, 2015
Kelly Ng
SINGAPORE — Stressing how demographics would define the country’s destiny, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday that the ageing population would cause profound problems for the country and that the impact is already being felt today.
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