Do support!

This is an award winning murder mystery play, it's for charity. Details are all in the poster above.

Those interested pls sms me or find me in class. thanks

There is a higher throne

Really beautiful song by Keith Getty

There is a higher throne
Than all this world has known
Where faithful ones from every tongue
Will one day come
Before the Son we'll stand
Made faultless through the Lamb
Believing hearts find promised grace
Salvation comes

Hear heaven's voices sing
Their thunderous anthem rings
Through emerald courts and sapphire skies
Their praises rise
All glory, wisdom, power
Strength, thanks and honour are
To God our King who reigns on high
For evermore

And there we'll find our home
Our life before the throne
We'll honour Him in perfect song
Where we belong
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die
The Lamb comes as our Shepherd King
We'll reign with him.


This song is probably inspired by Revelations 7:9-16

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.



Your spirit is more powerful than your flesh
adapted from from Christnotes

The Holy Spirit, who lives in you if you've accepted God, is greater than anything in the world, including your flesh. Therefore, you do not have to be controlled by your flesh and worldly lusts.

This doesn't mean that things won't come against us, but it does mean that even when hard things come against us, God has given us the power to remain peaceful and joyful even in the midst of the difficult circumstances.Remember that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

The power God has given us is amazing; however, many Christians never activate that power in their own lives because they don't really believe that God will personally work in them.

Remember that Jesus said, "it shall be done for you as you have believed" (Matthew 8:13). Therefore, dare to believe that God has given you the power to do awesome things for Him -- things that you can only do because your spirit is more powerful than your flesh.

3am

I just realised original flavour ruffles taste nice with mayonese. And cheese actually tastes better when you nibble it slowly. Chewing is actually stimulates your brain...

Listening to josh groban can give me good ideas, Kenny G improves analytical thought,and Tchaikovsky lets me do maths accurately. Green day prevents me from stoning and Vanessa Mee or Maxim does wonders to lethargy.

You see, at 3am in the morning, when you know that you got a ton of homework and projects to finish, but the bed seems so comfortable and sleep a temporal opium, you try ways and means to try and win the tug of war with lethargy. You better do it, or else you're screwed, and will wake up a deranged individual "between worlds" (ask morbid little ashish or jiawei how he inteprets that)

Btw... wenjie would like to caution everyone to avoid instant noodles like the plague in such a situation: from his personal experience, eating instant noodles makes the evil, evil instant noodle ghost tie its long strands of yellow noodle to your bed and switch on its electromagnet in search of his magnetic instant noodle babies in your stomach, dragging you to the bed by magnetic attraction in the process. Once you hit the sack it's KO. Game over. You're screwed.

That was totally random. Can't help being a little spastic at 3am.

I'm very sure many 3C (read: C for "CHAO mugger") peeps chiong homework at night (more accurately, morning) too. And got like daniel tan that kind of superman can don't sleep at all for 2 consecutive days one.

Argh... there should be 32 hours in a day. Soccer got extra time one. How come do homework dun have?

But after you get used to sleeping 4 hours a day, u don't feel tired anymore. Only very sian in the morning, especially when my radio automatically turns on at 6am and blasts national anthem!!! as if it's asking me to jump out of bed and sediah or something. NO WAY. why must they play it at my wake-up time...

What defines humanity

"Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am) may be the words of Descartes. Indeed he is not wrong.

But the greater dichotomy between man and beast, that allows us to juxtapose ourselves against the rest of the animal kingdom as a higher organism is probably the capacity to feel and to empathise, and in goodness and in love, act on this empathy, such that we edify the lives of others.

Go figure.

The incredible non-existant holiday

A note for miss kuang:

I'm perfectly capable of code switching between proper, eloquent standard English and basilectal Singlish. But language is ultimately a tool of expression. And if Singlish best expresses what I want to say, how I want to say it, then I believe there is no reason to distance myself from this Uniquely Singapore rojak of languages and dialects.

I'll leave the discourse on how the Singaporean government should not impose a supposedly "refined" culture on Singaporean society, but for now, I'll just say that
(1) Society evolves its own culture ("melting pot"), culture should not be artificially constructed or imposed. (2) there is no such thing as a "superior" or "refined" culture (only modern and moral practices). Let me have my rojak... lah!


Ironies, ironies... our world got so many...

Like school holidays, or lack thereof (not even part thereof). Holidays and weekends supposedly time to do something fun and escape from the pressure-cooker grind of life one, budden got sooo much work until no more holiday and no more weekend liao... no need go school means sit at home do work...

Ok lah i admit i quite greedy and a bit workaholic lah, budden who say i dun like to play com? Surprise surprise... I love simcity and warcraft and command and conquer generals er...train simulator . Who wants to challenge me to C&C generals (if got time)?

I think they should at least let us off during december holidays. Ahem...chinese department? 良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行 (the first time i use chinese on my blog!). Faham tak? Atau mau faham tak? December no kw den i can do my own stuff (i.e. slack - my definition of slacking includes both reading stuff like economist and playing com though).

Ok rant over.

Make poverty history

Original article:

Category: social issues
Muhammad Yunus wins the Nobel peace prize for providing micro credit to the poor in Bangaladesh. The Economist discusses his achievements, as well as microfinance in general, and their impact on eradicating poverty.


Macro credit: Muhammad Yunus has won the Nobel peace prize for his role in promoting financial services for the poor

Oct 19th 2006, from the Economist print edition.
Also available online with a subscription. Click here

FOR many of the supporters of Muhammad Yunus and the institution he created, the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, the announcement that the two will share a Nobel peace prize is long overdue—the only surprise is that it was so long in coming. Grameen's website lists 60 awards, 27 honorary degrees, and 15 other “special honours” previously received by Mr Yunus directly, and seven received by Grameen. The selection committee said the prize was for developing what “had appeared to be an impossible idea”, namely loans to people who lack collateral.

Mr Yunus has unquestionably helped create an industry that provides financial services to the poor, combining his experience of growing up in a small village with his academic background as an economist to popularise what was once just a fringe area of banking and an obscure idea about alleviating poverty. Grameen has become a sizeable institution, with 6.7m customers, most of them women and all of them poor. Grameen has, by its own reckoning, distributed $6 billion in loans, each on average less than $200. Dressed in a traditional Bangladeshi outfit made by a Grameen affiliate, the charismatic Mr Yunus, with his soft voice and warm smile, can transform the dry, grinding mechanics of banking into a bewitching story about beggars, children and empowered women, all benefiting from credit that should be a human right and could even, he says, end poverty.

Even so, loans to the poor have existed for thousands of years. The formalised system of small borrowing that Mr Yunus pushed in Bangladesh beginning in the mid-1970s was being tried in bits and pieces around the world at the same time, and earlier as well. Even in Bangladesh, where his award was warmly received as an international endorsement, there are two other equally large and innovative microfinance institutions: BRAC, which dates back to the same era as Grameen, and ASA, which came later but improved on the basic model. Yet as remarkable as these three are, to single them out is, in a sense, unfair. There are thousands of financial institutions around the world providing financial services to the very poor. It is a world of extraordinary individuals, and one that has advanced as a result of collective insights. Physics and chemistry, to cite two other Nobel categories, may be built upon the shoulders of a few giants, but microfinance needs—and has—thousands of them.

Mr Yunus and Grameen succeeded by seizing an idea, expanding quickly, proselytising and resisting the temptation to move beyond the poor. His particular approach to microfinance has not, however, been without controversy. By legend, Grameen grew out of a $27 loan Mr Yunus made in 1974 to a woman manufacturing furniture who did have credit, but at an exorbitant price. Grameen emerged soon thereafter, based on several key operational techniques: loans were made to individuals but through small groups who in effect (if not explicitly) had joint liability; the loans were for business, not consumption; and collection was frequent, usually weekly. Interest charges were significant—the money was not aid, and a fundamental tenet of Grameen is that the poor are creditworthy—but the rates were relatively low (currently just above 20%).

This approach had virtues and limitations. Low rates and lower savings (except as a back-up for repayment) meant that in its early years, Grameen relied on capital from public and private donors—something that less charismatic or connected entrepreneurs than Mr Yunus found hard to replicate. Joint liability for loans became an increasing problem for groups when some members wanted to borrow more than others. And it was unclear whether the money received really did always go to business, rather than daily needs. A deeper question is just how helpful such tiny loans really are. Heart-warming case studies abound, but rigorous analyses are rare. The few studies that have been done suggest that small loans are beneficial, but not dramatically so. A further question is whether an approach emphasising credit really can eradicate poverty: a ridiculously ambitious goal, though one that Mr Yunus's evangelical view of the virtues of credit has perpetuated. Whether this form of lending has led to peace, the presumptive reasoning behind the award, is just as big an unanswered question.


Credit where credit's due

The classic Grameen model began to fray in the 1990s and hit a wall in 1998, when a devastating flood pushed up losses and people began missing weekly payment meetings. Mr Yunus was no doubt familiar with microfinance innovations in other countries: BRI in Indonesia had transformed itself from a wreck into a huge success by emphasising savings, not credit, and other institutions had started to abandon group lending. Grameen restructured in 2001, emphasising savings (deposits now exceed loans) and relying less on joint liability for groups.

With Grameen now thriving and the Nobel on the shelf, what will Mr Yunus do next? There are persistent rumours that he might enter politics, given his prestige within Bangladesh. And this could be a good time for him to step away from microfinance, which appears to be at an inflection point. Institutions continue to emerge and grow, many funded by private capital and seeking a real return, an approach Mr Yunus opposes. They often begin by charging higher rates than Mr Yunus considers legitimate, but cut prices when their returns draw competitors—a tough but theoretically more supple model. Microfinance would also benefit from a voluntary regulatory structure to improve its access to capital, and greater use of technology to reduce transaction costs. What it needs, in short, are the boring, quiet innovations that dynamic industries depend upon, but which, alas, do not win prizes. The Nobel, and its recognition of microfinance's most charismatic cheerleader, may mark the end of an era as a more mature industry starts to emerge.

------------------------------

Personal response

photo: The orion “Don’t waste food. The children in Nigeria are starving.” I only really understood my mum’s oft-repeated rhetoric when I saw poverty, in all its disgrace, for myself.

I was in Beijing on an exchange programme last December. One evening, as I walked down a filthy street, burying my hands away from the icy gale, in the snug comfort of my pockets, I noticed a scrawny man - with a stump for his right hand – shiver in the bitter cold in his filthy cardbox “home”. He only had a tattered (and probably scavenged) bedsheet for warmth. Hesitating, I decided he wasn’t one of those I had been warned about, and rummaged in my haversack (chock full with cheap shopping) for some shirts to offer to him. The gratitude in his eyes pierced my conscience. Hopefully, they would keep him warm.

Born into prosperity - and all its luxuries - I consider myself blessed. I know not what it is like to be poor and hungry. All I know it that it isn’t nice – and that that’s an understatement.


The root of dystopia

Looking at the affluent first world, capitalism seems to work as an economic model. But it’s far from a panacea. It causes extreme polarization. 1.1 billion worldwide subsist on less than US$1 a day (see endnote 1). The very concept of survival of the fittest, which makes capitalism successful, also makes it cruel. While the fittest survive, the rest, like that disabled man in Beijing, languish. The race to riches has sidelined many.

The poor world is also plagued with a deluge of problems – ranging from political turmoil (Bangladesh) to civil war (Iraq) and even genocide (Sudan). These only exacerbate an already dire situation via direct damage and killing off what little economic opportunities there are.


Hope of a better age

It is only right that we, on the greener pasture, emerge from our selfish disinterest and help the poverty-tormented.

But throwing money at the problem won’t work. Aid is only temporary relief; it doesn’t make the poor any richer. When donor fatigue sets in, the poor are often left to rot (see footnote 2). To reap sustainable long-term benefits, on a scale much greater than what aid can do, the poor must stand on their own two feet: they need to sort out their domestic bedlam, and develop their economy. Education is key to escaping the poverty cycle.

We should help them along. Micro-credit to the poor, as Yunus has done, is one good way to give the poor opportunities to move up the economic ladder, and kickstart the third-world economy. It would be sad if others extend micro-credit as a profiteering business – every single cent should go to the poor, not into someone’s fat wallet.

Yunus deserves his Nobel. If only others could follow his example – especially those politicians and farmers who sabotaged the Doha trade talks with their selfish demands.

The children in Nigeria deserve better. They’re humans too.


You too can help eradicate poverty. Click here.

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English online blog of personal response to current affairs.
Portfolio submission 1 for Term 1

Nigel Fong (3C / 6)
19 February 2007

Word count: 499, excluding endnotes & bibliography.


Endnotes & Bibliography

1. Glossary. The World Bank. Retrieved 20.2.2007, from http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/global/glossary.html#52 Click here

2. A good background reader on and example of donor fatigue: Purtill, Corinne, (2005). Charities fear ‘donor fatigue’. Retrieved 20.7.2007, from http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/1012ev-needs12Z10.html Click here

3. Update: The economist article ends by acknowledging rumours that Yunus might enter politics. These rumours turn out to be true. Yunus has formed a political party and entered Bangaladeshi politics. He is a welcome addition to Bangaladeshi's chaotic politcal scene, dominated by 2 women perpertually at loggerheads. There are fears, however, that he might succumb to the corruption that pervades Bangaladeshi politics. Further reading

Personal response to "Stop stop the chop chop"

Original article:

Category: environment
Brazil proposes a fund to reward developing countries to cut their rate of deforestation. Others regard trading “avoided deforestation” certificates as carbon-credits as a better alternative.


Stop stop the chop chop: Trees and how to save them

Nov 2nd 2006, from the Economist print edition.
Also available online with a subscription. Click here

FEW things on earth seem as defenceless as a forest. To many people, it is worthless unless harvested for its trees or destroyed to create farmland. Tropical forest is vanishing at a rate of 5% a decade, wrecking habitats and releasing 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, a fifth of global greenhouse emissions.

Most tropical forest is in poor countries, so giving it monetary value may be the best way to save it. Efforts to do that are accelerating. At a United Nations meeting on climate change in Kenya next week, Brazil is expected to propose a fund to reward developing countries that cut their rate of deforestation. This is a change of heart: till last year, Brazil had resisted the idea of taking cash in return for keeping trees intact.

Brazil's idea relies on contributors' goodwill. The only penalty for countries that cheat would be the loss of future incentives. Some think it might be better to trade certificates in “avoided deforestation” in the global carbon-credit market, through which polluters in rich countries can pay others to reduce emissions.

The economic value of chopping down trees varies widely, the World Bank notes in a new study. Pasture in the Amazon is worth as little as $200 a hectare. At the current price of carbon credits (which is volatile) the same area of dense rainforest would be worth around $7,500, says Kenneth Chomitz, the report's main author. So the gains from clearance are often much less than the cost to the planet of the carbon released by burning or rotting trees. Thus it may make sense for rich polluters to pay, via the market, for the forests' upkeep.

Sceptics say “dumping” forests on the world's carbon market would lower the price, thus reducing the incentive for rich countries to use greener power—unless emission targets were toughened, which would tighten the market. Other greens say countries should be paid for providing “eco-services”—like biodiversity—and not just for avoiding destruction.

But even if the effect of “cash for non-deforestation” is short-term, it is worth having: it could buy time to develop non-fossil fuels.

In any case, Brazil is already making progress. Deforestation in the year to August dropped 30% to 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 square miles). Last year's fall was similar. One (changeable) factor is a strong currency, which depresses prices for farm products. IPAM, a think-tank, also credits tougher state action against land grabbing and corruption.

All this will boost Brazil's case as it sets out to convince other countries it can reliably deliver exactly what they say they need—intact forests.

------------------------------

Personal response

photo from this page , source uncertain

Humans have imposed a plethora of changes on our planet. Transforming barren land into prosperous is sensible; but relentless, short-sighted development has had its ramifications on the environment – 80% of the Earth’s natural forests have been destroyed (see endnote 1). It is a question of finding a balance.


It’s the economy, stupid (see endnote 2)

Chopping trees down and selling their wood is quick and easy money. I do not blame the poor and hungry when desperation forces them to do so to fill their grumbling stomachs – and that of their children. But the greedy (like big logging companies) who deforest in astronomical volumes to fatten their wallets should be condemned. I may not fully understand the unique situation of some, for whom there is no alternative livelihood to logging, but all I can say is this: don’t be greedy.

We, at the other end of the wood trade, are also to blame. It is our insatiable demand for paper and wooden furniture that makes the tree-killing business so profitable and attractive.


We ought to do better

Considering that forests are a pillar of our very existence, blessing us with oxygen, fertile land, wood, and much more, removing them is illogical and shocking. All that deforestation for short-term material benefits has long-term consequences.

And utility isn’t the only impetus to conserve. It is selfish and egocentric to regard the forests as our own property (hence we have every right to do as we please with it, as the argument goes). No. Forests are the common property of past, present, and future generations of all living things on this earth. Morality dictates that we avoid depriving others – including our descendants – of this vital resource.


Light at the end of the tunnel

I am no expert in this, but I feel a fund to reward developing countries that cut their deforestation rate and trading “avoided deforestation” certificates as carbon credits (see endnote 3) are both feasible solutions. Here’s how they work:

The economic inconsistency fundamental to deforestation is this: the value of trees is intangible; hence they don’t have an attached monetary value (a “price tag”). In terms of dollars and cents, trees are free – hence the incentive to cut them down and monetize them.

Both solutions would address this economic inconsistency by attaching a monetary value to trees (you have to pay to deforest). Hence economic self-regulation can occur: making deforesting more expensive reduces the profitability to deforest, hence less deforestation occurs, and wood products become more expensive, reducing demand. All in all, less trees will be cut down.

At the very least, these proposals are a step in the right direction, indicating a newfound commitment to overcome the collective action problem (see endnote 4) and stop deforestation.


Is it too late?

We often take things for granted – until it is too late. Hopefully, it isn’t too late to save the trees, but we must act immediately, for, with each ticking second, we are more likely to have crossed the path of no return.


--------------------------

English online blog of personal response to current affairs.
Portfolio submission 1 for Term 1

Nigel Fong (3C / 6)
19 February 2007

Word count: 498, excluding endnotes & bibliography.


Endnotes & Bibliography

1. Forest Holocaust, (n.d.). Retrieved 17.2.2007, from National Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/effect.html Click here

2. Phrase originates from Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 US presidential campaign against George H.W. Bush.

3. See Kyoto protocol for background information on carbon credits

4. Collective action problem (background information): When the benefits of doing something are dissipated among everyone, but the cost is concentrated on one party, there is no impetus for that party to carry out that action. This results in a lot of foot-dragging. A perfect example of this would be the crazy amount of foot-dragging by nations in solving global environmental and trade problems. The collective action problem is overcome when the detriments of inaction are so severe that all parties involved get together and act collectively.

Why

The essence of christianity.

It is marvelous how God provides me with unmeasurable strength and carries me through times of need, always making a way even when i seem to have hit a dead end. It is even more amazing how I can speak to him and feel him comforting and encouraging me deep in my heart. And I rest in the confidence that he, in his great love and forgiveness, will take care of me, and whatever happens is whatever he intended to happen, even though I may not always see why.

Prefect's investiture

The long nights of staying back till 11 to rehearse and do decor finally paid off. Was quite a memorable occasion, went smoothly. Kudos to all the ICs and exco for taking charge of the planning. Black shoes look nice haha

But the unite cheer was terrible... pls lah ri pple, that screaming (in a high-pitched girl/gay voice) is so embarrassing.

Paul tern kena dunk in swimming pool after event... haha... looked quite crazy, 70 orange-shirted prefects all chiong-ing from hall towards the pool (carrying paul) and chanting "let's go paul tern let's go". btw i heard it's not the first time, he also kena during some CCAL thing, like how anish (debates chair) nearly kena last time after debates farewell party for our previous coach (but his weight saved him - cannot carry to pool from atrium, so halfway give up and released him).