Critical Reflection: The next stage for my learning

Like some of my classmates, I dreaded attending English tutorial lessons at the beginning of the semester. I felt cheated, to say the least, of having to commit 4 hour per week for a module with zero credits. However, since it is a compulsory module, I decided from the start to embrace this learning opportunity with an open mindset.

In retrospect, these four months passed quickly. Though there were times where I dreaded the entire journey. But reaching my end goal of completing this module leaves me with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. My perception has shifted from thinking this module is a waste of time, yet now upon thoughtful reflection, it is a journey worth taking. The valuable writing skills I picked up from this module would definitely serve to benefit me in future. Therefore, it may be more accurate for me to say convincingly that every freshman should be required to fulfill this module as part of their graduation requirements.

Next, the feedback from my instructor and fellow classmates kept my flame going through this semester. I am grateful for all the interactions we had, progressing from strangers to friends. Also, the content of this course was refreshing while workload was moderately paced.

Moving forward, I strongly advocate that, academic credits would be granted to students in recognition of their efforts in future. On my personal part, I would strive to continuously improve by embracing life long learning. To further improve my writing, the responsibility lies with me putting in the extra effort to read widely and regularly. With this, I conclude my academic journey of ES1101 on a positive note, wishing everyone a successful and satisfying life!

Globalization Essay Draft 2

Globalization is characterized by the free mobility of goods and resources across borders. Migration of labor has been on the increase everywhere in the world. With low taxes, a safe and competent government, Singapore is a perfect destination for migrants. As one of the wealthiest nation in the world, Singapore has seen an inflow of rich and wealthy expatriates in recent years. With a growing population, the standard of living has increased tremendously. Coincidentally, as citizens feel the strains on infrastructure coupled together with inflation, there has been growing unhappiness, leading them to blame immigrants for their problems.

Early in 2013, Singapore ruling party passed a bill in parliament, projecting that its population will reach 6.9 million in 2030. This makes Singapore one of the most densely populated nations in the world, even over taking close rival Hong Kong. As a comparison, both Singapore and London has a current population of 5.3 million. However, London is twice as big as Singapore. (Lim, 2013). Faced with record low fertility rates, the Singapore government has embarked on free immigration policies, bringing in foreign workers and talents to fill up this gap.  Top government officials often emphasize that Singapore has to tap on foreign-born professionals to combat the problem of an ageing population and shrinking workforce. Presently, Singapore is ranked as the third richest country in the world on Forbes, based on GDP per capita of $56,694. (Yin, 2013). However Singapore may become a victim of its own success as sentiments on the ground show an increasing unhappiness and discontentment among its citizens. This is attributed to the fact that foreigners now make up 38 percent of Singapore’s population. According to the white paper released by the National Population and Talent Division, Singaporeans were expected to make up only slightly more than half of its overall population in 2030. (Sim, 2013). Main concerns from citizens include the shape rise in property and car prices, largely attributed by an increase in demand from a growing population. According to a CNBC article, foreigners purchasing private estates and condominiums have led to a 50 per cent increase in property prices. Ordinary citizens are deprived of the opportunity to purchase a car too, whose prices have surged to record highs. (Ranasinghe, 2013).

Indeed Singapore government can learn a lesson from United States, which has a strong history of being a migrant culture. Anti-migration advocates support the view that overpopulation places an undue strain on the state’s natural resources, while job protectionists argue that immigration leads to rising inequality between the rich foreigners and ordinary citizens (Welch, 2007).

The government has been quick to take measures ensuring the welfare of Singapore citizens while reassuring them of their position here.  The latest report by National Population and Talent Division showed that Singapore recorded its slowest growth rate in nine years (Yuen-C, 2013). Moving forward, Singapore has to find a balance between population growth and taking care of the needs of its people. Recently, Singapore had tightened its immigration policy under the purview of the Ministry of Manpower. Taking effect from 2014, these laws include capping the ratio of foreigners an organization can employ at about one-third of its overall workforce. (Lim, 2013).

In conclusion, tightening the rules for foreign skilled labour would ensure that Singaporeans are put first. Due to the low birth rates and Singapore’s pursue of economic growth at any factors, this has led the ruling elite passing controversial laws such as importing foreign migrants into the system. This has led to much unhappiness among its citizens. Lastly, the Singapore government is taking steps to mitigate the problem by reviewing its immigration policies. A definite measure of success will be revealed at the next election where Singaporeans would express their choice through a vote of confidence in the political party which they are more inclined towards.

References

Lim, K. (2013, January 29). Singapore wants to boost population to 6.9 million by 2030. Reuters. Available:
 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/29/us-singapore-population-idUSBRE90S05U20130129. Last accessed: 17 October 2013.

Lim, K. (2011, August 16). Singapore tightens rules for hiring foreigners. Reuters. Available:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/16/uk-singapore-labour-idUSLNE77F03S20110816. Last accessed: 17 October 2013.

Ranasinghe, D. (2013, January 30). Singapore’s High Cost of Living May Come at a Cost. CNBC. Available: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100418370. Last accessed: 17 October 2013.

Sim, F. (2013, January 30). Fury over 6.9 million population target for Singapore. Yahoo! Newsroom. Available: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/fury-over-6-9-million-population-target-for-singapore-103503070.html. Last accessed: 17 October 2013.

Welch, M. (2007). Anti-immigrant politics. In G. Anderson, & K. Herr (Eds.), Encyclopedia of activism and social justice. (pp. 157-160). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/10.4135/9781412956215.n63

Yin, D. (2013, June 6). Singapore Needs Immigrants, Says Jim Rogers. Forbes. Available: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidyin/2013/06/06/singapore-needs-immigrants-says-jim-rogers/. Last accessed: 17 October 2013.

Globalizaiton Essay

Globalisation: Rising cost of living and inequality 

a.  Description of a situation
Globalization is characterized by the free mobility of goods and resources across borders. Migration of labor has been on the increase. With low taxes, a safe and successful state, Singapore has always been an appealing immigration destination.

b.  Identification of a problem
Singapore, one of the wealthiest nation in the world, has seen an inflow of expatriates and migrants in recent years. With a growing population, the standard of living has increased tremendously. The influx of foreign workers is often seen as the main cause for the rise in housing and transport costs. Furthermore, inequality between the rich and poor rises.

c.  Description of a solution
The feasible solution is for the government to put a cap on population growth, while balancing  between economic growth and the needs of its people.

d.  Evaluation of the solution

Tightening the rules for foreign skilled labour would ensure that Singaporeans are put first.

Reader response final draft

In the "Double Edge of Globalisation", Chanda (2007) investigates how modern globalization has brought about both benefits and detriments to our society. Chanda explains the con of globalization is that it is responsible for environmental problems we face currently such as deforestation and pollution. On a positive note, with new media technologies, people in the world are becoming aware of the realities related to the environmental degradation through news and images of natural disasters. 

Next, Chanda contends that China's reliance on low-cost and high scale manufacturing economy has contaminated the world's air and water. From Chanda's article, it is subtly hinted that China should be responsible for contributing to the environmental problems of the world. I disagree with Chanda's argument. In this essay, I would argue that the main responsibility lies with irresponsible multinational corporations (MNCs), while China lies in a vulnerable position. Instead of placing the blame wholly on China, the world should recognize that China has taken advanced steps to combat this problem. 

Globalization has introduced neoliberalism or free-market ideology, characterized by the free flow of resources, goods and capital across borders, in order to maximize efficiency. Large companies from technology giant Apple to fashion conglomerates have outsourced their operations to developing countries such as China, where there is an abundant supply of cheap labour. Such impressive growth in the economy does come at a cost. Companies operating in China have contributed greatly to environmental problems in the local arena.

In fact, China recorded the worst air pollution in January 2013 as thick smog engulfed Beijing according to the article, 'Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens' by Wong (2013) as reported in the New York Times. Such an event made headline news all over international media as images of Beijing’s smoky and foggy skies started to surface online. In my opinion, the main root of the problem lies with the nonchalant attitude of MNCs. The main aim of these corporations is to produce goods at a cheap cost while top management executives are primarily concerned with making profits. As heterodox economist Ha-Joon Chang argued in his book, 'Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism', Chang (2008) alleged that shareholders do not care about the company’s long-term interest or its social contributions. The bottom line is shareholders own these corporations and add pressure to multinational corporations to achieve maximum profits even at the expense of harming people’s life, in terms of environment degradation. In the eyes of these corporations, environmental protection issues are the responsibility of the local government. 

Moving forward, according to an news article, titled 'The East is Grey' by (The Economist, 2013), the writer states China has been taking massive action to clean up the polluted air and water. It has set up a Ministry for Environmental Protection in 2008 while reiterating that the care for environment is part of their mission and belief system. Furthermore, the article reports that the performance bonus of officials is tied to the condition of the environment in local provinces, providing an incentive for mayors to undertake environmental conservation projects. 

In conclusion, the main point of this essay is to provide a new perspective on the world's environmental problems, while ensuring that we are not quick to pinpoint the entire blame on a particular country, China in this case, but to have a fair and logical assessment of the main actors involved. 

Bibliography 

• Wong, E. (2013, January 30). Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens. The New York Times. 

Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/world/asia/beijing-takes-emergency-steps-to-fight-smog.html 

Last accessed: 18th September 2013 

• Ha-Joon Chang. Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism. Bloomsbury Press, 2008. 

• The Economist. (2013). China and the environment: The East is grey.

Available: http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21583245-china-worlds-worst-polluter-largest-investor-green-energy-its-rise-will-have 

Last accessed: 18th September 2013

Reader Response + Thesis Statement Draft 1

According to Chanda (2007), modern globalization has brought about both benefits and detriments to our society. Chanda mentioned the con of globalization is that it is responsible for environmental problems we face currently such as deforestation and pollution. On a positive note, with new media technologies, people in the world are becoming aware of the realities related to the environmental degradation through news and images of natural disasters. 

Lastly, Chanda mentioned that China's reliance on low-cost and high scale manufacturing economy has contaminated the world's air and water. From Chanda's article, it is subtly hinted that China should be responsible for contributing to the environmental problems of the world. In this essay, I would argue that the main responsibility lies with irresponsible multinational corporations (MNCs), while China lies in a vulnerable position. Instead of placing the blame wholly on China, the world should recognize that China has taken advanced steps to combat this problem. 

Globalization has introduced neoliberalism or free-market ideology, characterized by the free flow of resources, goods and capital across borders, in order to maximize efficiency. Large companies from technology giant Apple to fashion conglomerates have outsourced their operations to developing countries such as China, where there is an abundant supply of cheap labour. Such impressive growth in the economy does come at a cost. Companies operating in China have contributed greatly to environmental problems in the local arena.

In fact, China recorded the worst air pollution in January 2013 as thick smog engulfed Beijing according this article, 'Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens' (Wong, 2013) as reported in the New York Times. Such an event made headline news all over international media as images of Beijing’s smoky and foggy skies started to surface online. In my opinion, the main root of the problem lies with the nonchalant attitude of MNCs. The main aim of these corporations is to produce goods at a cheap cost while top management executives are primarily concerned with making profits. As heterodox economist Ha-Joon Chang argued in his book, 'Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism', Chang (2008) alleged that shareholders do not care about the company’s long-term interest or its social contributions. The bottom line is shareholders own these corporations and adds pressure for multinational corporations to achieve maximum profits even at the expense of harming people’s life, in terms of environment degradation. In the eyes of these corporations, environmental protection issues are the responsibility of the local government. 

In fact, according to an news article, titled 'The East is Grey' by (The Economist, 2013), the writer states China has been taking massive action to clean up the polluted air and water. It has set up a Ministry for Environmental Protection in 2008 while reiterating that the care for environment is part of their mission and belief system. Furthermore, the article reports that the performance bonus of officials is tied to the condition of the environment in local provinces, providing an incentive for mayors to undertake environmental conservation projects. 

In conclusion, the main point of this essay is to provide a new perspective on the world's environmental problems, while ensuring that we are not quick to pinpoint the entire blame on a particular country, China in this case, but to have a fair and logical assessment of the main actors involved. 

Bibliography 

• Wong, E. (2013, January 30). Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens. The New York Times. 

Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/world/asia/beijing-takes-emergency-steps-to-fight-smog.html 

Last accessed: 18th September 2013 

• Ha-Joon Chang. Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism. Bloomsbury Press, 2008. 

• The Economist. (2013). China and the environment: The East is grey.

Available: http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21583245-china-worlds-worst-polluter-largest-investor-green-energy-its-rise-will-have 

Last accessed: 18th September 2013

Summary of "The Double Edge Globalization" Final draft

According to Chanda (2007), modern globalization has brought about both benefits and detriments to our society. Firstly, "globalization" can be referred to as the growing interdependence of countries, based on increased international trade amongst the members. The author then elaborated that globalization is responsible for environmental problems we face currently such as deforestation and pollution. Majority of the blame is placed on transnational corporations, as their main aim is to make profits, even at the expense of destroying the environment. Next, China's reliance on low-cost and high scale manufacturing economy has contaminated the world's air and water. On a positive note, with new media technologies, people in the world are becoming aware of the realities related to the environmental degradation through news and images of natural disasters. Moving on, the author warns its readers of the impending doom that global warming has potential to create a global crisis if left untouched. Lastly, the author notes that the onus in on the world's global powers to start taking action and focus on sustainable development in order to preserve Mother Earth as the giver and sustainer of life for future generations.

Summary of "The Double Edge Globalization"

According to Chandra (2007), modern globalization has brought about both benefits and detriments to our society. Firstly, "globalization" can be referred to as the growing interdependence of countries, based on increased international trade amongst the members. The author, then elaborated that, globalization is responsible for environmental problems we face currently such as deforestation and pollution. Majority of the blame is placed on transnational corporations, as their main aim is to make profits, even at the expense of destroying the environment. Next, China's reliance on low-cost and high scale manufacturing economy has contaminated the world's air and water. On a positive note, with new media technologies, people in the world are becoming aware of the realities related to the environmental degradation through news and images of natural disasters. Moving on, the author warns its readers of the impending doom that global warming has potential to create a global crisis if left untouched. Lastly, the author notes that the onus in on the world's global powers to start taking action and focus on sustainable development in order to preserve Mother Earth as the giver and sustainer of life for future generations.