The Sinking of Singapore!!! (NOT The Sinking of Japan movie!)

As we all know that global warming cause a lot of temperature changes and a rise in the sea level. Singapore has acknowledge this problem on the news, Straits Times, to be one of the most serious problems that will to be face if nothing is to be done. According to the article, it estimates a rise in ocean water levels would vary widely from just a few centimetres to six meters or more in height due to the melting of ice caps and warming. This would therefore greatly affect Singapore as we are surrounded by the sea.

A solution to this problem is to build dykes similar to the Dykes of Netherland. These dykes are like an artificial wall that prevents water from flooding low lying areas from the surrounding ocean/sea. But the dykes are not enough as rain would also cause flooding and a pump would be required to tap out this excess water in order for these areas to be flood free and useable. Singapore has gone to seek advice from Netherland pioneers as they have the expertise and experience of building such structures.

Reference

PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE – Singapore April 24, 2007, http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,479061,00.html

WoW? yeah WOW internet gaming!!!!!!

World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massive online role-playing game (MMORPG) created by Blizzard Entertainment in the late 2004s. The storyline is base upon the continuous game series of warcraft where the universe of warcraft begins. Of course I will not be telling you the story of Warcraft in detail but just to give some people an idea why MMORPG such as WoW are quite addictive in nature and certainly there are always good points and bad points in playing such a game.

Many people do not know that MMORPG actually teaches a person some useful skills and application in real life. Just by being in the virtual community within the game, people can interact through the internet via the game teaching them social skills of communication and even coordination while playing the game. Of course it would also depend on the people you meet whether they are friendly or even hostile towards you.

In some MMOPG, particularly WoW and guildwars, they do introduce events and cultures into the game making it more realistic and attractive. Such event like the lunar New Year and Christmas can promote awareness of different cultures to people around the world to see and understand.

Other points such as virtual economics also exist in many MMOPG. These virtual online games can actually simulate a real-world trade and could be a useful tool for students trying to understand economics in a friendly and safe manner as no actual cash transaction in involved but only virtual currency.

The downside about this is when someone actually gets addicted and obsesses about the game and actually tries to do virtual in-game actions such as flying in real-life.

(Weeeee..... fly.... splat u r dead ( =p) )

How does the increase in waste/rubbish affect Singapore's environment?

In Singapore, The government have done a great job cleaning up our country and is labelled a green city to many locals and foreigners. But little do people know the underlying problems ahead as our waste generated is seemly ballooned up for the past decade. Statistics from the Straits Times shows a 600 percent increase in waste generated from 0.46 million tonnes to 2.786 million tonnes of rubbish in 1970 to 2000.Even though Singapore have four incineration plants to burn most of our waste, but not all of such trash like glass could be incinerated and items like such would required to be dumped into landfills to be ridden off. Furthermore, as Singapore has limited land for landfills, our tiny country might soon not have enough places for us to dispose of our rubbish.

Obvious solution is not to keep finding for more landfills and avoid our current situation, but to face the fact that our trash is increasing more as our population keeps growing. One of the many ways of cutting the amount of waste generated can be performed by us is; to promote / encourage recycling habits. Such small acts of using own carriers instead of plastic bags, throwing glass/metal cans into respective recycle bin and probably even selling/giving to our local “karung guni” man reusable items could help promote and reduce the amount of out garbage produced daily. If everyone plays their humble part in contributing onto our environment, we would have lesser waste and a better tomorrow.

(My blogging buddy is William)

My Home My Environment!!

How does the increase in waste/rubbish affect Singapore's environment?

RUBBISH GONE GOOD: An aerial view of Singapore's Semakau island landfill.

Rise

There is a voice within my mind
Singing the songs of distant times
Speaking the thoughts from lost horizons.
Music and words that must be signs
Shaping the facets that define
How we have come to be the present
Descendants.

BRIDGE
Though we’re from ten different lands
Bound by shores of common sand
Singing out as one
Let’s stand
The world is in our hands

CHORUS
No matter where we’re from
If we could sing one song
Dreams that are yours and mine
They will be realized
Trusting the love we feel
Trust in the love that’s real
Children unite
People of ASEAN rise.

Chapters unfolding from the past
Speaking of wisdom to my heart
Lessons to learn from our ancestors.
Pushing horizons let's have faith
Our differences we will embrace
Shaping as one our common future
Our future.

Composed by Dick Lee
Arranged by Kenn C
Performed by Stefanie Sun

The Meaning of Life

The meaning of life has always puzzled me ever since I was a kid. As a child, I was taught many things such as mathematics, science etc. But when it came to the topic about meaning of life, no one actually had a similar definition of what life is, as each has their own experiences and differences.

Trying to use the knowledge taught at that young age, I found that the meaning of life was impossible be reasoned out, predicted or even calculated. Questions keep popping up from my conscious about what is the meaning or the very existence of my life supposed to be? My parents told me I would understand more as I would grow older.

As time goes by, my parents brought me to different parts of the world, and told me to see for myself what life was in different places. Having exposed to many different culture, religion and society around the world, I figured out why I had so many different answers from the people whom I asked. Each of them was trying to convey their own experiences in life for me to understand.

Even thought I have a picture of what the meaning of life is, but it’s a picture that I couldn't describe myself in simple words or knowledge. I would say that the meaning of life have to be experienced in-order to be appreciated.

EG1471 (Group E11)

Lecturer-in-charge:
Mr Brad Blackstone

Team members:
1)Justin Wong Shui Xiong
2)Liu Yong Jun
3)Chang Tai Wen
4)Wang Chao
5)Yao Yuan
6)William Tan