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Dear All,

Thanks for taking time to read the blog - we have a new site up at Singapore Fashion Blog

Do check out the posts there to keep up with the latest fashion trends, news and events in Singapore.

Ed.

James

Time for a Singaporean Singapore

I was very surprised by the strong support shown by the Singaporean public for the opposition during this election. Whoever said that Singaporeans are apathetic will definitely have to eat his/her words this time round.

So what has suddenly stirred up this strong resistance in Singaporeans? Could it be the recent revolts in the Middle East which have brought true democracy to these once authoritarian strongholds? Has the spirit of our nation been roused from sleep by the demonstration of the power of a unified voice?

I like to think of this force as resistance that was born out of desperation. As a 24-year-old diploma holder who's been working for close to two years now, I've personally experienced how powerless Singaporeans are when it comes to escaping this rat race that has enslaved and drained the vitality of our minds and souls.

It's undeniable that our economy has flourished under the government, although what is still progressing slowly is the derived benefit for citizens. Our salaries have remained roughly the same while rising costs of living take away the joys of daily life.

As a young Singaporean adult, I dare not hope for a future of my choosing. All I see in the near and distant futures is having to slog hard just to achieve the status quo: a HDB flat, a family and maybe a car. Oh, and also to mention the tens of thousands of CPF dollars which could really come in handy when you die and your children fight for your assets.

And that's me talking as a graduating degree holder. I've often wondered about how ITE students are going to break even and settle for a life that is even more unsatisfying than my own. Why are they being penalised for not achieving education standards which may be well beyond their abilities?

The government will not set a minimum wage to protect low-income Singaporeans from exploitation and raise salary prospects. They say that it will scare corporates and investors away, but how do they know this? Will Mcdonalds really pack up and go expand their business in Africa instead?

Time and time again, what I've seen of the government is the safeguarding of the interests of corporations. They do push for citizens' benefits when it correlates with their aim of economic dominance in Asia. But in truth, we're all just being given muzzles and nooses to drive the economy forward. Like workhorses with carrots dangled in front of them, very few of us will actually taste the beta-carotene goodness.

Does the public know how many million dollars each Ministry spends annually for advertising and public relations work to communicate their 'contributions' to Singapore? I sometimes wonder whether even an equal amount is being used directly for citizens' benefit.

Many people say that all the opposition does is criticise the PAP and lack the abilities to craft viable proposals for Singapore's progress and improvement. This is entirely no fault of theirs, as 'democratic' Singapore does not have a Freedom of Information act to keep the government accountable.

What this means is that you can email/ask the Ministries or Ministers in Parliament about certain facts/figures and you'll never get the information you want. We're all just being smoked with statistics which do not reflect the whole picture. You'll never know how much they are spending and on what, because they know you'll protest if you knew.

However, you can lie through statistics for only so long. The effects I've mentioned above are manifesting themselves more visibly and the government can no longer hide behind their well-structured statistics and annual reports.

What I think every Singaporean should consider before voting is what kind of leaders they want and the Singapore they want. Do we want rigid and unsympathetic leaders who listen to the cash register, but not the people? Do we want a slumbering government which is complacent and reactive, instead of proactively implementing policies which benefit the people who've elected them?

Good leaders are the ones with heart; those who understand what you're going through and care enough to do something about it. One who tries to walk in your shoes and give you a voice to let you know that you're not the only one who feels this way.

Lastly, what is the kind of world you want your children to grow up in? One where all their lives they are told by their parents (that's YOU) that they better not be a stupid ITE kid? A child who's afraid to pursue his dreams of being an artist or dancer? A person who's smart but shallow? A dull child with no imagination, creativity or boldness to truly shine on the world stage?


Compare Singapore to other first-world countries and you can see that Singaporeans are being severely shortchanged. We don't have a welfare system or a strong social safety net. The government loves foreign workers and developing foreign talent. Be prepared to see a few other races added to our ethnic majority groups in the next few decades.

I believe the opposition is competent enough to make a difference once they are in office. They'll have the information they need to make informed decisions. And guess what, an annual gift of $800 is not going to mitigate these long-term costs of living Singaporeans have to deal with on a daily basis.

Make us proud, fellow Singaporeans. I can smell Egypt in the air and I know a revolution is brewing to transform the political landscape of Singapore into one that puts Singaporeans' interests first. Majulah Singapura!

‘Green’horns in a Greenhouse

(Children playing at the fountain at Bugis Square)

Held at Bugis Junction, the Gaia Life Challenge kicked off at 1pm today, with its three contestants vying for the top prize of $5,000 by answering questions related to environmental protection. On top of that, they have to spend 24 hours in Perspex rooms specially set up at the crowded Bugis Square to rally the cause of environmental conservation.

In the light of the recent flash floods at Orchard Road and other affected areas in Singapore, the activity seemed to suggest that if we do not take care of the environment, there might come a day when we can longer step outside our houses.

Part of MediaCorp’s Saving Gaia initiative, now in its fourth year, the Gaia Life Challenge was organised to raise awareness about environmental issues and educate the public about becoming more eco-friendly.

In commemoration of World Environment Day, the month-long campaign also included a public education infomercial with the tagline “If we save our planet, we’re saving ourselves.” on national television, highlighting the human race’s dependence on the environment to survive.

Ms Ling Tay, an eco-preneur in her mid-twenties, commented that this year’s infomercial was a lot better than the previous years’. She also felt that the media in Singapore had done a good job in educating the public about saving the environment.

It was a documentary about the effects of global warming on the polar ice caps that first inspired her to start her online blogshop Tangochocolat.com, which sells green products like collapsible cups, and teddy bears and bags made out of remnant cloth.

“Contrary to popular belief, receptivity to environmental conservation is greater in Asia than in the United States. A lot of people think that going green means greatly inconveniencing yourself. But environmental friendliness is actually a natural process, with a person taking baby steps to change their lifestyle.

If you think about it, if every person in China wastes one less spoonful of rice, it could feed an entire nation. In the same way, bringing your own eco-bags and containers when you go shopping and order takeaway meals can have a huge positive effect on the environment,” said Ms Tay.

Mr Andy Pham, a 26-year-old tourist from Vietnam, said “I love Singapore’s environment and you can see that Singaporeans care a lot about their environment. Compared to Ho Chih Ming where there are a lot of traffic jams and air pollution, Singapore has a much cleaner and healthier environment.”

Shoppers and passersby at Bugis Junction were also given incentives to make a Gaia Pledge on what they would do to save the environment, with those who did so between 11am and 1pm today receiving a free eco-bag.