A lesson on tolerance

Canadian Mayor's reply to Muslims against pork 

MAYOR REFUSES TO REMOVE PORK FROM SCHOOL CANTEEN MENU... EXPLAINS WHY
Muslim parents demanded the abolition of pork in all the school canteens of a Montreal suburb.
The mayor of the Montreal suburb of Dorval, has refused, and the town clerk sent a note to all parents to explain why...
“Muslims must understand that they have to adapt to Canada and Quebec, its customs, its traditions, its way of life, because that's where they chose to immigrate.
“They must understand that they have to integrate and learn to live in Quebec.
“They must understand that it is for them to change their lifestyle, not the Canadians who so generously welcomed them.
“They must understand that Canadians are neither racist nor xenophobic, they accepted many immigrants before Muslims (whereas the reverse is not true, in that Muslim states do not accept non-Muslim immigrants).
“That no more than other nations, Canadians are not willing to give up their identity, their culture.
“And if Canada is a land of welcome, it's not the Mayor of Dorval who welcomes foreigners, but the Canadian-Quebecois people as a whole.
“Finally, they must understand that in Canada (Quebec) with its Judeo-Christian roots, Christmas trees, churches and religious festivals, religion must remain in the private domain.
The municipality of Dorval was right to refuse any concessions to Islam and Sharia.
“For Muslims who disagree with secularism and do not feel comfortable in Canada, there are 57 beautiful Muslim countries in the world, most of them under-populated and ready to receive them with open halal arms in accordance with Sharia.
“If you left your country for Canada, and not for other Muslim countries, it is because you have considered that life is better in Canada than elsewhere.
“Ask yourself the question, just once, “Why is it better here in Canada than where you come from?”
“A canteen with pork is part of the answer.”
Share this story, to promote tolerance in the world.

you must know this....

france

Mothers can take up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave for the first two children and 26 weeks for the third child. At the end of the maternity leave, the mother or father can take parental leave, or opt to work part-time till the child reaches the age of three. Women are guaranteed full-time jobs when they choose to return. Maternity leave, both prenatally and postnatally, is mandatory

Weeks after giving birth, French women are offered a state-paid course to help them start having sex again as soon as possible. Other freebies include a personal trainer and computer games that help them exercise.This is in addition to other perks such as free nursery schools, tax deductions for each child and generous family allowances

sweden

In 1974, Sweden became the first country to replace maternity leave with parental leave, which covers maternity, paternity and adoption leave. Parents are entitled to 480 days of parent leave for each child. Parents who have twins are entitled to an additional 180 days and are encouraged to split these days equally between them. If this is done, they will be entitled to an additional equality bonus. At least 60 days of the parental leave must be claimed by fathers.

All legal Swedish residents are entitled to the basic parental leave payment of 180 Swedish kroner (S$33) a day. Working parents can continue to receive 80 per cent of their salary while on leave. In the Scandinavian countries, it is written into law that women have the right to return to their jobs on a part-time or full-time basis after maternity leave.

switzerland

All women workers in Switzerland qualify for a minimum of 14 weeks of maternity leave. Both full-time and part-time workers are paid 80 per cent of their normal salary, or up to 196 Swiss francs (S$274) a day. The individual cantons may provide additional benefits. For instance, in the Canton of Geneva, maternity leave lasts for up to 16 weeks. 

Paternity leave is not governed by the legislation and is left to the discretion of the father's employer. Swiss companies grant new fathers on average between two and five days of paid leave.

japan

Paid maternity leave in Japan covers a total period of 14 weeks at two thirds of the monthly salary. Mothers are not allowed to return to the workplace within the first eight weeks following childbirth, although under a doctor's approval, she may return after six weeks.

Low-income families earning less than 7.8 million yen (S$120,900) a year receive 5,000 yen (S$77.50) each for the first and second child and 10,000 yen (S$155) for the third child until their children complete the third year of primary school. Local authorities offer additional incentives.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants men to take time off after their children are born, under a campaign dubbed the Ikumen Project, which translates as men raising children. The goals is to raise the percentage of men taking paternity leave from 1.9 per cent in 2012 to 13 per cent by 2020.

south korea

n South Korea, working mothers are entitled to three months of maternity leave - the first two with full pay and the third month capped at 1.35 million won (S$1654). Following childbirth, mothers can opt for unpaid leave of up to a year.

In 2009, flexi-work arrangements were introduced for women. Bosses must give paternity leave of three days, in what is seen as a big move in a country where cultural attitudes dictate that children are a mother’s concern.

instead of north korea .... cite this as an example

Zarechny: a rare glimpse into one of Russia's last closed cities

Photographer Ksenia Yurkova provides intimate portraits of life inside a relic of the Soviet era; secret cities. Under Communism these cities were home to sensitive strategic facilities meaning most were wiped off the map, and movement was heavily restricted. Today some, like Zarechny, are gradually opening up, but dozens remain closed to the outside world, The Calvert Journal reports

1 Under Communism, closed cities were usually home to sensitive strategic facilities. Most were not shown on maps, and freedom of movement was heavily restricted.

2 Even today, Zarechny is full of out-of-bounds areas, most notably Rosatom, a state-owned corporation that manufactures parts for nuclear weapons; photography is banned there. 

3 It was only in 1986 that Russians were officially told of the closed cities in their country. More than one million people lived in them.

4 Visitors to closed cities had to be invited by residents, and even then it wasn't guaranteed they would be allowed a permit to enter

5 Zarechny’s 62,000 inhabitants are now free to come and go, but still live encircled by barbed wire fence

6 Closed cities were nicknamed “post boxes” because mail for the inhabitants would have to be sent to special post boxes in nearby towns rather than delivered directly. 

7 With cheap food and low salaries and the absence of political tensions either with nationalists or the opposition, Zarechny looks like a model Socialist wonderland

8 Though closed cities like Zarechny have gradually been opening up, dozens of others remain disconnected from the outside world.

9 “As long as Russia remains the target of aggression, we will need to test our rockets and keep the tests behind the wall to provide secrecy,” Sergey Markov, a former Duma deputy, said in 2009. 

THE NEW FACE OF TERRORISM

The two brothers suspected of the Boston bombings, Chechens who grew up in America, fit the profile of a new generation of jihadists who are radicalized online and strike in their home countries.

 "It seems the issue here is less that they conducted training in camps or not and radicalized in Chechnya, and more that they were involved in a social media radicalization," he said prior to the arrest of Dzhokhar.

Some say  the uprooting of young people at an early age can make them more vulnerable to being radicalized in later years.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev had a YouTube page in his name, created in August 2012, where he favorited several Islamist videos in a category entitled "terrorism."
It had links to videos of a radical Australian preacher, Feiz Mohammad, and a playlist entitled "terrorists," according to the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group.
Fiona Hill, a Caucasus specialist at the Brookings Institution think tank, said the conflict in Chechnya is used as a recruiting tool for Al-Qaeda.
"Videos from Chechnya are all over the Internet. They're constantly packaged as part of the Al-Qaeda network recruitment," she said.
Dzhokhar used Twitter and VKontakte -- the Russian equivalent of Facebook -- where his profile identifies "Islam" as his world view, lists information about Chechnya and Islam, and relates jokes about the unfair treatment of Muslims in the Caucasus.
Ben Wittes, an expert on terrorism and national security at Brookings, said the attack in Boston could be construed as domestic but have international resonance.


 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

1 IS IT FAIR TO BLAME THE MEDIA?
2 YOU MUST BE PRETTY GULLIBLE TO BE RADICALISED ONLINE?
3 ARE THEY ALREADY PREDISPOSED TO SUCH VIOLENCE AND HATRED?
4 WERE THE PARENTS ANTI- AMERICAN?
5 HOW IS IT THAT AN AMERICAN EDUCATION DID NOT HELP MAKE THEM MORE MODERATE?

WHO IS TO BLAME? OR SHOULD WE FOCUS OF WORKING ON HOW TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME?

some interesting insights about foreign labour

1. the global village increasingly requires a “new global ethic” to save it—global solutions to big emerging problems such as financial crisis, flu outbreaks, and climate change
2. As a result of the global crisis, the future will see much more selective migration, with advanced economies less willing to accept unskilled immigrants.
3. But aging populations makes foreign labour a necessity
4. Investing in immigrants’ language abilities, health, and job skills is an investment in the host country’s future too.

lee kuan yew's comment causes unhappiness

• lee kuan yew
• I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community... I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration – friends, inter-marriages and so on – than Muslims... I would say, today, we can integrate all religions and races, except Islam.
  • from his book 'Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going' (Asia One, March 08 2011 

Hard Truths was a book based on 32 hours of interviews over a period of two years. I made this one comment on the Muslims integrating with other communities probably two or three years ago. Ministers and MPs, both Malay and non-Malay, have since told me that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that my call is out of date. I stand corrected, but only just this instance! I hope that this trend will continue in the future.


were there protests? no
was there unhappiness amongst the muslim community ? yes
how was it resolved
= lky retracted his statement...
the opinion of one person cannot make or break a religion or cultural group

you do....

so stay calm, collected and show them you are made of finer stuff...friends...

No one community is to blame for the cracks that appear...everybody must bear responsibility and take action...

I hope our children will live in a better world than we did.

sigh nobody likeS us everybody hates us

(CNN) -- One of Australia's largest supermarket chains has come under fire for an online job ad that specified that "no Indians or Asians" should apply.

The ad, which sought cleaners at a Coles supermarket near the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, sparked condemnation after it was posted Sunday, according to Australian media reports.

Coles said the offending ad was placed by a cleaning subcontractor without the company's knowledge, in a written statement from spokesperson Jim Cooper.

"Coles is a proud, equal-opportunity employer and at no time have we ever issued the directives contained in this ad."

The company said it was "extremely concerned to learn of the ad and its contents" and has terminated the subcontractor's services as a result. It said it will also retrain its cleaning contractor on equal opportunity employment policies.

The ad has since been removed from the popular Gumtree classifieds website.

"I'm certainly going to look at commencing an investigation into what's happening—the role of Gumtree, what Coles' role was, and find out more details about the subcontractor," said Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Robin Banks.

She said the ad was clearly "discriminatory on the basis of race" and a breach of the Tasmania Anti-Discrimination Act.

 EVALUATE THIS:  is enough being done to end discrimination? maybe not, given that it is still rife; but it is obvious that businesses do not like the stigma of being seen as racist....its a public relations disaster and we have the media to thank for this...notice how coles rushed to its defence..

is this a human rights violation...well not quite...discrimination...

MAGDALENE: BUT IT'S OK...WE MAY BECOME YOUR BOSSES ONE DAY...AND WE WILL BE BETTER PEOPLE AND FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO OUR PEOPLE..AFTER ALL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN TWO BILLION INDIANS AND ASIANS!!!!.

CECELIA: NOOOOOOO...IF WE DO NOT GIVE THEM A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE, THEY WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE...

THOMAS: HEY TAKE IT EASY FOLKS...NO NEED TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY... THE UNINFORMED FEW DO NOT REPRESENT THe MAJORITY...EVEN IF THEY DO...THEY ARE LOST SOULS...AND THEY MAY END UP MARRYING OUR KIDS ANYWAY....SO CHILL

hmm....

Singapore has been ranked the third most ideal place to live in, due to its quality of life and career opportunities, according to HSBC's Expat Explorer survey.

Australia is first and USA second

a cultural gap

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/norway-authorities-take-away-indian-couple-s-kids-say-feeding-with-hands-wrong-167660

ew Delhi: Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya - an Indian couple from Kolkata are living a nightmare in Norway. Their children - a three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter - were taken away from them by Norway's child protective services and placed in foster care eight months ago.

The drastic measure was taken because, according to the child protective services, the couple were not bringing the children up properly. What did they do wrong? They fed the children with their hands and the infants slept in the same bed as the parents.

"My son was sleeping with my husband. They said he should sleep separately from your son," said Mrs Bhattacharya.


"Feeding a child with the hand is normal in Indian tradition and when the mother is feeding with a spoon there could be phases when she was overfeeding the child. They said it was force feeding. These are basically cultural differences," said Mr Bhattacharya.

Recently, the Indian Embassy in Oslo stepped in and an officer even met the children, though the parents were not allowed to.

Norway's Child Protective Service is a powerful body charged with protecting the rights of children living in difficult family situations. But there are many reports of excesses.

"There has been a report in UN in 2005 which criticized Norway for taking too many children in public care. The amount was 12,500 children and Norway is a small country," said Svein Kjetil Lode Svendsen, lawyer.

The Bhattacharyas' visas expire in March. If they don't get their children by then, the couple will be forced to stay on.

"What we have thought is we are not going to apply for visa for my children. But if the case doesn't get sorted we have to apply because we cannot come back to India without our children," said Mr Bhattacharya.

It's a nightmare that, at this moment, seems without end.


BUT...PLEASE DO BE CAREFUL BEFORE WE JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS...
READ COMMENTS

...Nothing can be said without proper data and information. I was in one of these scandic countries with a similar aged daughter, and find their kindergarten and nurseries are extremely well managed and caring for kids. These kinds of things do happen, but in very rare cases, and it can happen to any parents. But there are many steps before this takes place, and cannot happen without any distinctive proof .... There are many steps goes into before this extreme ... 2/3 stages of counseling, counseling if there is autism ... many checks goes into health care, immunization record, family issue, etc. etc. before the foster care comes into place ...... so I am really skeptical about what is the reality here ...

... The parents are not saying what they really did wrong here .... norway is not a lawless country ...there is no dictatorship there.... its been over 8 months since the babies were taken away, and if the parents are not able to get them back legally ...then there is more to the story than what we are being told here!

A new twist to national identity

Indian curry is what it takes to start a mass campaign with political overtones in Singapore.

Tens of thousands of people in the Southeast Asian city-state said they would cook or eat curry today in a protest highlighting growing anger over increased immigration.

The campaign began after an immigrant family from China complained about the smell of curry from a Singaporean Indian neighbour's home and local officials brought about a compromise.

A Facebook page devoted to the row after reports were published in a local newspaper has drawn over 57,600 members, many of who said they were cooking curry today in a show of solidarity with the Indian family.

"Because we live in Singapore and Singapore is such a cramped place, neighbours should understand each others' culture," said Stanley Wong, a 37-year-old accountant who helped organise the Facebook page.

He and a dozen friends and family were gathering in a small government-built flat for a potluck curry dinner.

Most of the diners were ethnic Chinese, like the overwhelming majority of Singapore's 5.1 million people. But residents say curry is a Singaporean dish and that immigrants, including those from mainland China, should accept it is part of the local culture.

"The case could create problems with the integration of foreign nationals," said Florence Leow, a freelance writer in her 40s who also was one of the organisers of the event.

"Through this event we hope to cook and share a pot of curry and get to appreciate and embrace our culture."



MAG SAY - SO WHY DO WE NEED NE LESSONS?
AFTER ALL, JUST STARTING A CONTROVERSY CAN HELP RALLY PEOPLE TO STAND UP FOR SINGAPORE AND SINGAPOREANS

CECELIA SAYS - HMMM! SOUNDS INTERESTING BUT IS THAT A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO FOSTER NATIONAL IDENTITY?

SANE THOMAS - NO...NOT A GOOD IDEA; UNLESS WE CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FOSTER NATIONAL IDENTITY, NE IS HERE TO STAY

MALAYSIA BOLEH (CAN)

two Singaporean women were handcuffed and made to do squats naked by Malaysian immigration officials.

Two Singaporean women who drove to Johor Baru for supper were questioned by Malaysian immigration officials, handcuffed, thrown behind bars and made to do squats while naked, the Singapore Straits Times reported today.

The two women said they had driven into Johor Baru without getting their passports stamped, through an unmanned immigration lane.

Following their punishment, they were allowed to return to Singapore after 48 hours with a warning.

“People won’t want to come to our country anymore if this kind of practice occurs ... this will affect the country’s image as a tourist destination.

MAG - HELLO!!! THESE WOMEN WERE MANHANDLED AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT MALAYSIA'S REPUTATION - WHERE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE?

CECELIA - THEY ARE LOOKING AT LONG TERM AND BIGGER IMPACT, SILLY! THIS IS CALLED CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH ACTIONS

SANE THOMAS - THIS IS QUITE BIZZARRE!! THAT THEY DARE TO DO SUCH THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THEIR INSTITUTIONS...DON'T THEY HAVE WATCHDOG GROUPS AND LEADERS OVERSEEING THEM? PERHAPS ITS TIME TO RESORT TO "STAYCATIONS" RATHER THAN VACATIONS ... JUST VISIT ANY OF OUR OWN ISLANDS...

TUNISIA 'S TROUBLES SPILL OVER TO ITALY

Unrest has continued to grip Tunisia since an uprising in January toppled President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Italy says about 20,000 migrants have arrived on its shores - mostly on Lampedusa - in the past three months, aboard overcrowded boats from Tunisia and war-torn Libya.

taly has transferred 1,716 North African migrants - most of them Tunisian - to a temporary camp site in its south-eastern Puglia region.

The migrants arrived by ship on Thursday from Lampedusa, a tiny island packed with thousands fleeing poverty and unrest in Tunisia.

A "tent city" has been set up to accommodate them in Manduria, a town in the southern heel of Italy.

Overcrowding has created unhygienic conditions on Lampedusa, officials say.

its about perspectives, isn't it?

NOW THESE ARE WHAT I CALL REAL PROBLEMS...

so if you think the world is against you and you are suffering...read on

The giant rusty fence of metal bars along the border here, built in recent years to keep illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States, has a new nickname among local residents: Jurassic Park Gate, a nod to the barrier in a 1993 movie that kept dangerous dinosaurs at bay in a theme park.

On the other side, a brutal war between drug gangs has forced dozens of fearful families from the Mexican town of El Porvenir to come to the border seeking political asylum, and scores of other Mexicans have used special visas known as border-crossing cards to flee into the United States. They say drug gangs have laid waste to their town, burning down houses and killing people in the street.

Americans are taking in their Mexican relatives, and the local schools have swelled with traumatized children, many of whom have witnessed gangland violence, school officials say.


THIS IS THE WORLD MANY ARE BORN INTO FOLKS!
SO QUIT COMPLAINING AND START LIVING ...BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE,
AND WHAT YOU DON'T

ABOUT THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS...ARE U ANYTHING LIKE WHAT IS DESCRIBED OF YOU

Traditionalists : Born before 1946

BABY BOOMERS
Baby Boomers : Born 1946 - 1964
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context, and sometimes used to describe someone who was born during the post-WWII baby boom.

GENERATION X
Gen X : Born 1965 - 1976
they grew up in the shadow of the boomers and are pretty independent. they are a resilient lot who have entered into the workforce when companies and governments were downsizing. This led to remaining marketable as an employee, positive and determined but also gave us a love for more in life than simply working for another company. They place high value on life outside of work and are unsure of our retirement standings. Generation Xers are independent and are more adapt to change careers or jobs and remain competitive in the marketplace because of this. They love working from home and so managing this group differs from Boomers. They love technology but are also used to old school methods

Generation Y –Born 1977-2000.. This generation has been born into a culturally more diverse community with more acceptance of everything different from themselves which is a great thing. They have been encouraged to have their own voice. However they have been surrounding by a lot of violence and support from adults other than their parents which has added to them being used to receiving a lot of guidance. They have been told yes but with options, almost to the point of a barter system, and do not place the same value on work as the other generations. With technology changing at a rapid rate they also not used to many traditional methods and may need more direction around certain company “methods” with an explanation why. They want absolute instant gratification and are used to calling the shots and love being seen and so job shadowing and mentoring programs can work well for this group. They are used to learning about technology on their own and need that informal constant gratification so let them know when they are doing a good job… often. They are also multi-tasker oriented when it comes to communication and technology so forming teams and collaboration can work well. Since unrealistic expectations on salary may be present let them know that the position will help their resume and support bonuses and creative pay methods

DO U THINK CHINA WILL FACE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE EXPERIENCED?

With more than 160 million people over the age of 60 and its ageing rate gaining pace, China is facing a curious problem: It is greying while still in development - a challenge other economies have only had to face at a more advanced stage.

The speed at which the number of elderly in China is increasing has alarmed both the government and demographers about the future, with the nation's health-care system already straining and two-thirds of rural workers without pensions.

'Population ageing is going to be a big social problem in China,' said Ms Wang Xiaoyan, the founder of Community Alliance, one of the few non-governmental organisations in China that addresses the needs of senior citizens.

The first generation of parents affected by China's population control policy put in place in 1979 - which the government says has averted 400 million births - is now hitting the age of 60.

The tens of millions of one-child homes, coupled with mass migration of students and workers to urban areas, has destroyed the traditional nuclear family model.

Instead, ordinary Chinese are coping with a 4-2-1 inverted pyramid - four grandparents and two parents, all the responsibility of an only child.

As a result, half of China's over-60s - 80 million people - live in 'empty nests' without their children, who are unable to assume responsibility for their ageing parents.

'This is why we have problems now,' said demographer Wu Cangping, 88, who still teaches at Renmin University. 'Children do not have enough money to take care of their parents. We're getting old before we are getting rich.'

The thorny problem of a greying population has not escaped notice in the corridors of power in Beijing.

The authorities have put in place a system effective this year that will give pensions to 10 per cent of rural workers. In recent years, they have also been raising health-care allotments for the elderly.

The government wants to allow 90 per cent of older people to receive family care with welfare assistance, 6 per cent to receive state-backed community care services and the other 4 per cent to move to nursing facilities.

But the country's 40,000 retirement homes have only 2.5 million beds - enough for a little more than a quarter of the eight million it needs.

singapore population stats - a summary

Singapore’s population trends

2009 june

POPULATION SIZE : 4.99 MILLION

and.

Singapore residents: 3.73 million (Singapore citizens - 3.20 million. Permanent residents 0.53 Million)

Non-residents: 1.25 million

Singapore Residents and Permanent Residents formed 75% of the population

females outnumber males by 44,400.

MAGDALENE – RICH PICKINGS FOR THE MEN!!!

CECELIA – POLYGAMY!...BUT WATCH OUT GUYS…THERE’S ALSO A GREATER CHANCE YOUR BOSS MIGHT BE A WOMAN

OTHER TRENDS

1 MORE MARRIAGES
2MORE MARRYING LATE – THIRTIES AND HAVING KIDS LATE
3 MORE STAYING SINGLE
4 MORE STAYING ALONE
5 BIRTH RATE CONTINUES TO DECLINE

SANE THOMAS

A MESSAGE FOR YOU HERE

GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY….BUT PLEASE GET MARRIED FIRST…AND STAY MARRIED

read this - compare singapore and canadian system

Patriotism and gratitude require reciprocity
The following is by Mr Cheong Wing Lee in response to Canadian, Mr Eric J Brooks’s second letter to the Straits Times. Mr Cheong emigrated to Canada from Singapore and is now a Canadian citizen.

Dear Editor,

Mr. Brooks’ second letter published in ST reiterate that Singaporeans should be grateful for what they have. He cited more examples of the failed Canadian welfare system as compared to the successful welfare system that Singaporeans are enjoying but have taken for granted.

Again I am embarrassed by a fellow Canadian who misrepresented his own country. It is easy to verify what Mr Brooks had said through the Canadian High Commission or Amnesty International.

Canada may not have a perfect welfare system but having lived and worked in several countries myself, I must say that Canada is as good as anyone could wish for.

When I immigrated to Canada, I bought three cars for the price of one in Singapore and a 4,000 sq. ft house for the price of a 5-room HDB apartment. A similar house in Singapore would have cost S$2 million

Yes, the Canadian taxes are high but the citizens are well treated. For me, the savings on the purchase of the house and cars could pay my income tax for the rest of my life.

Every child in Canada gets free education from kindergarten to Grade 12, the equivalent of junior college in Singapore. Most schools are within walking distance from home. Free transportation is provided for students living farther away. Each child gets C$250 a month as “milk” allowance until 18 years of age. However this benefit may have been rescinded.

Contrary to what Mr. Brooks claimed, all my three children graduated from reputable universities in Canada without any problem. My children’s university education did not cost me much as my children were able to obtain grants and student loans to pay for their university fees. They took part-time jobs to supplement their pocket money.

The greatest joy for parents is to see the happiness expressed in their children’s eyes when they play in the beautiful parks during the summers, springs and autumns and snow in the winters. The satisfaction is more than money can buy. This is in contrast to the daily intensive tuition that Singapore children are subjected to.

Mr. Brooks’ assertion that many bright Canadian children are denied the opportunity to attend universities in Canada but could obtain full scholarships in Singapore is untrue. In fact it is the other way around. My niece who could not get into Singapore University, was admitted into a reputable American University. She finished her Masters, secured a good job and sadly did not return to Singapore.

In Canada, senior citizens are well respected and treated. Seniors travel free on public transport, i.e. the MRT, bus and ferry rides, from Mondays to Thursdays. They get discount for weekend travel, food and most purchases. They are entitled to old age pension and workman pension when they reach the age of 65. The combined income from these two pensions is about C$1,000 to C$2,000 or more a month. Seniors get subsidies for housing. Seniors can study in reputable universities and get a degree by paying a token fee of less than C$100 per semester.

When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, it cost the Canadian Healthcare C$80,000 a year for dialysis and medical treatments to keep me alive. I paid C$90 a month for healthcare insurance that covers both my wife and I. The Canadian healthcare pays for all hospital expenses including medications. It was free for me. When I travel overseas, my dialysis and medical expenses are reimbursed by Canadian healthcare up to the amount it costs in Canada.

The homeless issue was greatly exaggerated by Mr Brooks. This issue is universal and every country has its fair share of homeless people including Singapore. In Canada, most of the homeless people are there by choice because of their drug addiction. No amount of government assistance can help pay for their expensive habit. In Singapore, most of the homeless people are there because of economic reasons. They are either without pension and too old to get a job or abandoned by their children.

For Mr Eric Brooks to say that Canada has a failed welfare system is unfair and bias. Check with the Canada High Commission and verify what I said.

SM Goh Chok Tong can call us quitters and losers because he cannot see beyond his comfort zone. He has no worries. His job is secured for life and is paying him by the millions. It is little wonder that his wife said that $500,000 a year salary is peanuts. If he could only spend one day outside his comfort zone and live like an ordinary Singaporean drawing less than $2,000 a month with the anxiety of losing his job, the burden of getting his children through the fiercely competitive education system, the stress of living in a materialistic environment and the uncertainty of having a dignified retirement, SM Goh may then understand the plight of the ordinary citizens. It is easy for him to pass judgement when he already has everything.

Patriotism and gratitude require reciprocity. If a citizen feels unwanted and treated without respect, it is no shame for the outcast to seek greener pasture and realize his potential elsewhere. It would be naive to expect the outcast to be patriotic and risk his life to protect a privileged group who continue to reward themselves unchallenged by the millions.

My decision to immigrate was not politically motivated. It was based solely on the future of my family. I have three children when the Singapore government’s strict policy then was, “Two is enough”.

As for education, I was expelled from school at secondary two. I obtained an “O” level and a certificate from Singapore Vocational Institute (fore-runner of ITE) through evening classes. In a highly competitive society like Singapore where you are judged by academic excellence and materialistic possessions, my credentials would be sneered at. I would most likely be a minimum wage worker, praying not to get sick when I am old and retired.

The lifestyle difference between a typical Singaporean and a Canadian is that a Singaporean spends his life making a living, whereas a Canadian lives his life.

Regardless of all the negative misinformation that Mr. Eric Brooks has said about Canada, I am deeply beholden to Canada who has given me my self-respect, dignity and a chance to realize my potential. Most of all, a bright future for my children. Herein lies my gratitude.

Thank you, Canada.

Yours truly,

Wing Lee Cheong
North Vancouver, BC, Canada

——–

Read: Canadian tells Singaporeans to be grateful.

Read also: Mr Cheong’s first letter in response to Mr Brooks’s original letter to the Straits Times Forum: Be thankful to Canada, Mr Brooks.

——–

The following is a response from Amnesty International’s Coordinator for S’pore and Malaysia, Ms Margaret John.

A different view from Canada:

I understand that Canadian Eric J Brooks recently wrote to the Straits Times in praise of Singapore as a country that takes care of its citizens. He appears, however, to have only part of the total Singapore picture. For a fuller view, he has only to check Amnesty International’s information. There he will read about defamation suits and other restrictive measures used against opposition activists, human rights defenders, foreign media and conscientious objectors.

He may change his opinion of Singapore when he finds that a climate of fear and self-censorship discourages Singaporeans from fully participating in public affairs. And he may be shocked to discover that Singapore is believed to have one of the highest per capita rates of execution in the world (often after trials that fail to meet international standards for a fair trial). Has he discussed his views with Dr Chee Soon Juan, who has been imprisoned some seven times after attempts to exercise his right to freedom of expression?

Margaret John
Amnesty International
Coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia

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MIGRANT WORKERS SUFFFER TOO

THANK YOU ADELINE

Overseas domestic workers are probably the group of workers that experience the most systematic form of abuse - sexual, physical, mental," Kejser said, explaining that their work situation often rendered them powerless and completely dependent on their employers.

Indonesian migrant workers are among the least protected in the world. From high placement fees and poor training to lack of legal papers and government support, low salaries and lack of benefits, Indonesian migrant workers fare worse than those from countries such as the Philippines.

should we help refugees?

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group from Myanmar's Rakhine state. Because the Myanmar government refuses to grant them citizenship, many have flooded neighbouring Bangladesh, while others have fled to India, Thailand and Indonesia.

The group made headlines earlier this year, after some drowned and bodies were found at the Andaman Islands.

because of Singapore's limited land and natural resources, the Government has for decades been against accepting refugees.

however, Singapore will 'assist such persons by providing humanitarian assistance, so that they can depart for a third country'.

some pointers on migration

which are the strongest pull factors for migrants?

you could link migration with topics like
1 courage 2 population 3 economy 4 education

In deciding whether to emigrate or otherwise, the following factors play a part:
 personal perception of homeland
 rational analysis of situation
 personality / nature of individual

Opinions of the following people will be considered:
 those who have left one’s country
 those who are adamant on staying
 citizens of other countries

FOR THE POINTS MADE BELOW - THINK OF EXAMPLES

1. Social conditions in one’s country may paint a more favourable picture of other countries:
- economic instability
- poverty
- bureaucracy
- crime
Though one has no full knowledge of the situation in other countries, when plagued with such problems in one’s own, the former would seem more appealing to the individual.

2 Sometimes the situation in one’s homeland is so bad that the only logical decision is to leave to seek opportunities elsewhere.
- overcrowding
- unemployment
- moral decadence
- rampant poverty


At times, the impetus to leave is motivated by one’s own desire for a change in environment or a challenge or two.

The above three factors involve a personal analysis. One makes the decision based on the merits of the situation itself or one’s personality.

However, in some cases, individuals tend to assess situations based on what other people have to say about the above factors or what they have already done when faced with similar situations.

1. Despite knowing fully well the current situation in one’s country, it is what others say about it that increases the fear to stay and hence influences one to leave:
- people from more developed countries paint an exaggerated picture of the situation -

people who have left assert that they feel lucky to have left before it is too late.

2. The media may also create a more hopeful scenario of other countries, taking advantage of the overwhelming conditions in a country.
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A. FACTORS THAT MAY PERSUADE ONE TO STAY:
- high living standard in Singapore
- low crime rate / reasonably high level of security
- good education system
- stable economy
- reliable government / political stability
- Government’s plea for local talents to return after studying abroad etc.
- instability even in more developed countries in Europe and Asia


B. FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE ONE TO LEAVE
- current regional economic crisis
- Brain drain of local talents (lucrative offers overseas / aspirations to fulfill)
- Public perception that the government is too paternalistic or authoritarian
- Education system - too stressful/stifling/no creativity
- Society too competitive
- High cost of living; too expensive to own cars compared to Australia/USA, limited land space which results in unaffordable property.
- Climate too hot and humid
- Availability of jobs/careers overseas e.g. research avenues
- External threats (e.g. water issue)
- Globalization leads to businesses being set up abroad and jobs