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HCMC 2013 Day 3 Reflection: Lawrence S.Ting School and VSIP

LSTS

1. What are three good points about the school, students and staff that you noticed, which SST can learn from? The students are allowed to stay in class during the break when in SST they will make you go out of the class.

2. Why is it important for us to cultivate friendships with people from other nations?

The more the merrier. More friends are better than having enemies lol. If people from other nations do not get along and start a war that would not be fun now would it?

VSIP

1. What are factors influencing industrial location? Why do companies move?

There are many factors to that, such as the environment surrounding the location, how large a place is, and how cheap the land is. Companies move to other countries and set up factories there as production at the country that they intend to sell is much more convenient and cheaper for the company. They might also move due to competition at that particular area.

2. What is Singapore’s role in the VSIP? How does Singapore benefit from her involvement?

Singapore assisted VSIP in its construction and invited companies over to set up their factories there. Singapore gets money from companies and the items that they sell/

3. What influences the socio-econonomic development of a country?

The education and the income of the population working at the country affects how fast the country develops. Socio-economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy and levels of employment. Changes in less-tangible factors are also considered, such as personal dignity, freedom of association, personal safety and freedom from fear of physical harm, and the extent of participation in civil society.

Causes of socio-economic impacts are, for example, new technologies, changes in laws, changes in the physical environment and ecological changes.

HCMC 2013 Day 2 Reflection: Can Gio Biosphere and Local Market

Can Gio Biosphere:

1. As you were travelling down the river, what were some problems you observed? What are the causes of these problems?

The river is filled with trash, making it hard for people to live on it. The people dump their trash inside as it is much more convinient.

The fishes near the river are hard to eat but the villagers in the vicinity only have the fish as their main food source.

2. Why do people stay near a river? How can the use of the river be sustainable?

The people near the river have access to the trading boats that come and go from their small “pier”. They can also use their boats to go to the main city and the market to find income and food. The river can be sustainable if they clean up the river that is filled by the trash therefore making it less smelly and dirty.

3. What does it take for a location/site to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site? Why is it essential for a location like Can Gio to be listed as such a site?

A site goes through a nomination process before being considered for inscription by the World Heritage Committee. A site can be proposed for inscription only by the country in which the property is located. The fame that the place gets and the law which prevents people from damaging its area means that the place will be preserved and that its existence will not be threatened

4. If there is a place in Singapore that you can list as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is it? Why? The shophouses that are still at Chinatown. Since the place was where most of the first Chinese people who came to Singapore lived therefore it holds a sentimental value and past to many Singaporeans.

5. What is the difference between the market that you have visited VS that of Singapore’s. Why do you think there are such differences? The market in Vietnam is much more carefree and relaxed, it is normally much bigger than that of what you can find in Singapore as they use motorbikes to travel around. In Singapore most of the products that the vendor sells will be behind the counter while in Vietnam they just place it right outside their stall. Those that want their products can bring it inside to purchase it. While in Singapore the people don’t really talk to each other the vendors to exactly the opposite.

HCMC 2013 Day 1 Reflection: War Remnants Museum and Water Puppet Show

1. Did you notice any variation in the way the war was being portrayed through the photos? Is there any bias?

The exhibition items mainly displayed how the Americans tortured the Vietnamese people. There were only some items displaying how the Vietnamese captured the Americans and the Vietnameses that were helping them. The museum was obviously  sided towards the Vietnamese an d not the Americans.

2. What are the impacts of the war? Think along the lines of types (economic, social, political, environmental), as well as short/long term impacts. You may consider the impacts of Agent Orange and more.

The economy of both the warring nations and nations surrounding their borders gets affected, lowering the amount of people willing to invest in that particular country. The social ties of the country that declared the war is strained as the other countries will be more wary of making ties with them.

3. Who won and who lost?

In my opinion the Vietnamese won, because if the American forces took over Vietnam, the country would not be what it is today. And if they had not surrendered, the Vietnamese would not have their independance as of today.

4. Are there any lessons from the Vietnam War that Singapore can apply currently/in the future?

Wars are not beneficial to any of the two sides and that war will only cause death and misery to both sides.

Singapore must strengthen its ties with its neighboring countries so as to not fight over resources.

Singapore does not have enough resources to defend itself sufficiently therefore must rely on allies to support it when in times of trouble.

Water Puppets

What do you think is the storyline? What do you know about the sources of livelihood in Vietnam?

The storyline was about how the Vietnamese people spent their day doing, though it was a tough and not really rewarding, at least it was a peaceful and humble way of living.

What is the purpose of the water puppet show? What other function does it serve besides entertainment?

It shows how the Vietnamese spent their time in the past such as fishing and for the Vietnamese farmer, buffaloes are the major source of power and the most valuable animal because they are hardworking and loyal. The show also depicted what animals the Vietnamese favoured most such as the four sacred animals which are the Dragons, Unicorns, Phoenixes and Tortoises.

Would Singapore benefit from its own ‘water puppet show’? Why yes/no?

No, if the story was poorly designed, other races would feel left out while one race feels all mighty about themselves, since Singapore is a Multiultural society it would contradict what Multicultural meant so that would not help Singapore in anyway shape or form.