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Why Singaporeans are not coming forward to support the YOG
[WHO wants the YOG ? ? ? ?]
Letter from Karen Tan
I WAS at the Padang in February 2008, amid thousands of Singaporeans, when International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced that Singapore was to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games. As an avid sports enthusiast, it was a dream come true.
In July, I watched the live telecast of the flame-lighting ceremony and the subsequent legs of the torch relay over the five continents with pride.
However, as the real competition kicked off, I realised not all Singaporeans were as enthusiastic about the events as they were about the opening ceremony. The attendance rate has been disappointing, even among the students who had been made to attend as a large portion of tickets had been pre-allocated to schools.
Why are more Singaporeans not coming forward to support the Games?
Perhaps organisations could give employees time off to catch the events during this two-week period. Let’s pack the stands and show the world the true face of a sporting nation.

[Why the Cabinet is nOt there ? ? ? ?]

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If they’d rather nOt be there ...

Students should have been asked before tickets were allocated

Letter from Chew Jek Hui

I REFER to the article, “Toughest fight of my life” (Aug 17). It is a pity that Daryl Tan’s parents were unable to get tickets to watch their son win a bronze medal, while at the same time nearly half of the 840 seats were emptyapparently had been allocated to schools. — many of these

While members of the public scramble to get hold of tickets for the Youth Olympic Games, some students are complaining about being forced to attend the events.

Earlier in the year, the Ministry of Education announced that it would procure tickets for students to watch the Games.

Schools were allocated tickets even before the students indicated their interest in attending such events. As a result, schools have to “force” their students to attend the events.

Surely students should have been allowed to indicate their interest before being assigned the tickets. Being there in body but not in spirit — or worse, being no-shows on the day — is a waste of taxpayers’ money and deprives those who are truly interested in supporting an athlete or watching an event of the chance to go.

pharoah88 ( Date: 19-Aug-2010 18:15) Posted:

‘A lesson in responsibility’

Primary school asks students for $5 refundable deposit on FREE YOG tickets

Teo Xuanwei and Alicia Wong

xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

When contacted by MediaCorp, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary principal Clifford Chua said this was not an attempt to coerce the pupils to support the Games — an allegation that has surfaced in some quarters.

Mr Chua said it was “never the school’s intent, nor is there such a necessity”; there was such “overwhelming response” that pupils had to ballot for the 100 tickets the school got for five YOG events.

However, as the school gave out the tickets for free, the intent was to “ensure that our children learn the value of responsibility and not take this rare opportunity for granted, by wasting the ticket and depriving others of the chance”, he told MediaCorp.

The refundable deposit, he said, was only for games that fall on non-school days, to “reinforce this message”. This was explained to parents and pupils, “and they have expressed support”.

Despite the scheme, pupils who fail to turn up, even without a valid reason, will eventually get their deposits back, added Mr Chua. “Children are children. They tend not to value things that are given to them free. But really, the intention is to teach them to commit yourself and to behave responsibly,” he said.

Other schools contacted by MediaCorp said response for YOG tickets has been very good. Several, including Nanyang Girls’ High School, said they gave pupils from a sports co-curricular activity priority to tickets for the same YOG sport. The remainder is given out on a first-come-first-served basis.

At Bukit View Primary, the tickets are distributed equally among the levels. “We strongly encourage students to go, but if they do not want to, we get another student to go,” said the school’s subject head for physical education Goh Wee How.

So far, no student has declined a ticket, and the school has had full attendance for the first game it attended.

At Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), pupils are encouraged to co-pay $1 or $2 to encourage them to treasure the ticket, said principal Richard Lim. For those who are unable to pay, the school picks up the tab.

The school bought additional tickets, on top of those subsidised by the Education Ministry. All tickets have been taken up, he said.

Parents of Kuo Chuan pupils had mixed views about the school’s move.

Technical support officer Md Alkaf, 32, said: “It’s not the right way because if the student is really interested, he would turn up.”

Housewife Michelle Bellido, 43, felt otherwise. She said: “Children may not realise it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It wouldn’t be nice if someone who gets the tickets backs out when others ... are desperate to go.”

Meanwhile, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said more tickets would be released on the spot if there are empty seats at an event that was initially sold out.— To ensure its pupils attend some Youth Olympic Games (YOG) events, a primary school has asked them for a $5 refundable deposit.welfare s

MICA (P) 160/10/2009 • a publication of • NEWS HO TLINE 6822 2268 Thursday August 19, 2010 www.todayonline.com we set you thinking

Primary school asks students for $5 refundable deposit on YOG tickets

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No, sharks’ real nemesis is man

Letter from David Chen

I REFER to the letter “Sharks’ real nemesis: Longlines” (Aug 16).

The writer, Mr Tan Keng Tat, states that the United Nations estimates about 10 million sharks were killed in 2006. But that is just the official number of sharks reported to have been caught; many more are killed off the official radar. At last year’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) talks, fisheries scientists estimated the figure at closer to 73 million.

It is also not true that no sharks are on the Cites endangered species list. First, some, like the great white and whale sharks, are indeed on the list. Second, many species do not make the list for political reasons, with finning-friendly countries lobbying against their inclusion.

Further, it is a logical fallacy to argue that shark finning is all right because long-line fishing is killing off more sharks. If this were true, then it’s all the more reason to stop eating shark fins to protect the dwindling population.

Finally, it is not cultural insensitivity to campaign against shark finning. Many “traditional” practices have fallen, thankfully, by the wayside in recent years: Foot-binding and bear gall consumption, to name but two. Few would argue that these practices have a place in the modern world. This applies, too, to the unsustainable consumption of shark fins.

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Give all workers their due

Letter from Sanjay Perera

I REFER to the letter by human resources manager Grace Seow, “Looking for locals” (Aug 18).

There are two root issues that need to be looked at if any reasonable solution is to be found to the perpetual problem of low wages and hiring foreign workers instead of locals for such jobs like those of a cleaner.

The first is the mindset change needed in moving away from the pyramid structure [MLM] of many businesses, especially of large corporations.

As long as what may be perceived as low-level work is placed at the bottom of the rung in a business, wages will follow suit.

But as Ms Seow points out, what will happen indeed when we run out of people to clean up after us?

Instead of a pyramid [MLM], a web of interconnection should be envisioned for businesses in which everyone — management or non-managerial staff — has a role to play.

A cooperative approach can be taken, moving away from that of accumulating profits above all else.

Have a fair wage where all in a firm share in the profits made, with ratios of sharing in earnings established depending on the contribution an employee makes to the firm.

This beats relying on “market forces”, which are a means for companies to offer staff as little as possible while squeezing the maximum from them.

The other issue is ensuring that all in a firm are treated equally, with due respect.

There is excessive focus on the salaries of CEOs, instead of what are economically sustainable and ethical workplace scenarios.

Talk to the people who sweep our roads and those who clear our garbage daily and you’ll realise they are human beings with dreams of their own.

Giving proper societal and economic recognition to all may help realign our viewpoint on what workplace dignity is about.

It is not always about the money.

pharoah88 ( Date: 18-Aug-2010 19:44) Posted:

despite offering very attractive salary packages and rewarding career paths

ATTRACTIVE SALARY:

1) What is the HOURLY RATE ?

     Is it enOugh tO pay fOr Breakfast of 4-member Family ?

2) What is the DAILY RATE ?

     Is it enOugh tO pay fOr Daily TranspOrt cOst and three sqUare meals fOr 4-member Family ?

3) What is the MONTHLY SALARY ?

    Is it enOugh tO pay fOr MONTHLY EXPENDITURES fOr 4-member Family ?

3.1 MONTHLY RENT Or MONTHLY hOuse   iNstalment

3.2 MONTHLY [3 DAILY MEALS] FOOD and GROERIES EXPENDITURES fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.3 MONTHLY TRANSPORT EXPENDITIRE fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.4 MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEE & CONSERVANCY CHARGES

3.5 MONTHLY UTILITIES EXPENDITURES

3.6 MONTHLY HOME and MOBILE PHONE BILLS

3.7 MONTHLY EDUCATION EXPENDITIRES fOr 2 Children

3.8 MONTHLY POCKET MONEY fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.9 MONTHLY MEDICAL EXPENDITURE fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.10 MONTHLY HOSPITALISATION & SURGERY INSURANCE PREMIUM fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.11 MONTHLY ACCIDENT INSURANCE PREMIUM fOr ALL 4 Family Members

3.12 MONTHLY SAVINGS Of 10% Of Take Home SALARY

4) Is there a Guaranteed 13th Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) ?

5) Is there a 14th Month ANNUAL BONUS ?

In summation, does the Annual Compensation Package enough to cOver ALL annual Living Expenditures Of 4 Member Family ?

This is the UNcOndIOnal CONDITION fOr an EMPLOYEE tO iNVEST  ALL HEART & SOUL intO an EMPLOYMENT.

That is, whether the EMPLOYER iNVESTS ALL HEART & SOUL intO an EMPLOYEE.