Has Transactional Lifestyle in Singapore Crossed the Family Line?

The housing and immigration issues faced by Singapore have unexpectedly led to discussions about broader social values including that of family, which is a fundamental unit of society.  Through conversations with friends and colleagues alike, many shared that they found life in Singapore to be very transactional. In other words, most activities appear not to be very far from calculations of opportunity cost and expected benefits from participation.

As I was having dinner yesterday, I noticed something very interesting from the table across ours. It was occupied by a typical family who seemed to be enjoying their food and each other’s company. A short while later, one member called the food stall owner over but instead of asking him for the total bill, she actually asked him to calculate the bill only for her portion. Each member (barring the children of course) then continued the process. Although this is a single observation and may not be representative of the entire society, I cannot help but question whether transactional lifestyle is so entrenched in the way of life here that it is even practiced among family members.

There’s no doubt that life in Singapore is getting tougher economically and each member probably has difficulty paying for other family members. But surely, there is at least one way to do so less explicitly. What about one member paying for all first and the rest to pay him/her back just before they part?

Improving Workers' Condition: From Another Perspective

The plight of factory workers, notably in China has captured the attention of many people across the world. Sights of squalid living quarters, seemingly unending working hours and absence of basic welfare in these factory towns resulted in rightful calls for better treatment for the most important people in the production lines.

In a rush to support this just cause, we appear to have forgotten one thing and unknowingly have committed a mistake, that is, of asking the workers what they really want in their working life but instead enforcing our definition of what’s best on them.

A TED presentation by Leslie T. Chang gave support to this view. In a series of interviews with workers whom she had established relationships with, Chang found out that while workers probably appreciate improvements in issues raised as examples above, they actually gain higher utility (in the words of an economist) from things/activities that may result in potentially better jobs. Some of these include the opportunity to learn computer skills and English.

As we close 2012 and embrace 2013, I thought this is a good reminder to everyone who has the good intentions of helping someone: never assume but in the words of Ernesto Sirolli (another TED presenter), shut up and listen before we come up with ways to help someone.

Happy New Year Eve!

Drainage Oil From Another Perspective

The case of drainage oil from China maybe old news for some readers but it is a new one for me, having heard about it from a friend last week. I think that it is a case worth mentioning if we are to consider that China’s food industry continues to draw flaks. However, I would like to end this post with some thought-provoking statements.

For those of you who need a refresher or have never heard about this case, drainage oil is a term used to describe used cooking oil that is poured into the drainage. Rumor has it that some oil recyclers literally collect them from the drainage, process and then sell them back as recycled cooking oil.

According to the media, this is a serious problem in China but is it really true? Could it just have been a case that is blown out of proportion in light of the negative publicity surrounding China’s food industry? If this idea of recycling cooking oil from the drainage has been carried out in the developed countries, would it have been viewed negatively? Would it instead have been singled out as an innovative technique?

How Many Amina Filali(s) Are Out There?

The recent case of Amina Filali brings to the public attention practices that supposedly should not have been around in the current state of the world. It is surprising that people in parts of Morocco still think that it is a dishonour for her and her family if a girl/woman is raped. This is tantamount to saying it is her fault for being raped. So, you have a situation whereby instead of consoling and providing support, people around her are actually blaming and perhaps scolding her for her predicament.

What is more surprising is the law allowing the rapist to marry the girl/woman. This brings the question on the state of mind of the girl/woman to be sharing the same bed with someone who has just inflicted some kind of pain or trauma on her. I wonder how many such similar practices or even worse go unreported.

Education and Employment in the UK

It does not come as a surprise that one of the thriving industries in times of economic crisis is tertiary education. Enrollments double if not triple as young adults decide to go back to schools and prime themselves in anticipation of recovery. The issue seldom mentioned is the fact that not all young adults have the means or rather the luxury to obtain those additional degrees. This puts them in a rather disadvantage position when it comes to job search as they are of less value than their school-returning peers. In other words, they can never break away from the vicious cycle of no education-no employment. This is indeed the plight of approximately 22 percent of the young adults in the UK whose future hangs in the balance, not to mention the implications that it may have on the nation’s future as a whole.

While critics may argue that tackling this issue will bring no significant improvements in their employment prospects since there just isn’t enough aggregate demand in the economy fundamentally, it is also sensible to argue that the different starting points of these two groups of young adults has already put those with less education in a weaker position regardless of whether times are good or bad.

It is thus justifiable for the relevant authorities to correct this failure either by providing training opportunities to boost their competitiveness or providing support for them to return to school and gain that extra knowledge. Austerity is necessary but should we jeopardize the future of the next generation in its pursuit?

Behind the Protest on Camar Bulan and Tanjung Datu

Being countries that share borders which span for thousands of miles, Indonesia and Malaysia have had their fair share of neighborly argument. The last one involves the area of Camar Bulan and Tanjung Datu in West Kalimantan which Indonesians claim to have been “snatched” by the Malaysians. To show their displeasure, several social organizations staged a protest in front of the Malaysian High Commission in Jakarta. As the protest went on, emotions ran high and physical scuffles began.

For those that are against the protest, such acts are an embarrassment to the Indonesian Government who pledged to settle any disagreements on the negotiating tables. To make matters worse, the protesters are not people from the affected area, whom by argument have the right to show their unhappiness. The point is if the affected people do not protest, why should these people protest? Others are more critical, saying that these people are just politicizing the entire issue for their own benefits.

However, one can also look at this entire episode from another angle. Although these protesters are not from the affected area, they are Indonesians by birth and hence have the rights to fight for lands that they believe should belong to Indonesia regardless of whether they are from the area or not. To put it simply, it is a case of by Indonesians for Indonesia.

Additionally, one can also argue from the perspective that these people are simply taking over the role of the Indonesian Government, both central and regional, who have the authority and right to make their displeasure known to their neighbour. These people are effectively replacing the Government whom they feel is not firm enough on acts that breach the sovereignty of the nation.

Reclamation of the Gulf of Jakarta

The reclamation of the Gulf of Jakarta is expected to affect the livelihoods of many fishermen living nearby. Why is it that a country that is not land-scarce needs to reclaim land? Is this going to be another white elephant project with no direct benefits to the people? Have anyone done a proper cost-benefit analysis of this project?

Isn’t it better to invest in improving the transport infrastructure? Isn’t it better to invest in improving the drainage system?

Ethiopia and Foreign Agricultural Investment

Globalization has indeed changed the ways things are done. Nowadays, countries no longer need to set aside lands within their borders for agricultural purposes so as to feed their population. They can lease large plots of fertile land in another country for such purposes and this is what some countries like Ethiopia has exploited to get foreign direct investment (FDI). Ironically, despite being the “food-producers” for the world, Ethiopians are among the world’s most malnourished people. To make matters worse, many Ethiopians have been displaced as their villages lie in areas leased out to these foreign firms. Does it mean that Ethiopia should abandon this strategy of getting FDI?

Not necessarily because it is a good strategy in general. The devil lies in the details. With a couple of twists and improvements, this strategy can potentially aid the growth of its economy. For example, the Ethiopian authorities can demand that these foreign firms bear the costs of the displacements. With a bit of negotiating skills, they can get these firms to build new villages complete with basic facilities such as schools and medical centres. They can also persuade the firms to hire the locals to work in their farms. In response to the claims that foods are not reaching the Ethiopians, the authorities can work out some mutually beneficial agreements where the Ethiopians get access to food grown in their country and the firms do not incur any losses.

There are other countless possibilities to turn this strategy into one that is more inclusive towards the Ethiopian society. What we see now is the results of Ethiopian authorities who are not assertive enough to fight for the rights of their citizens, not a fundamental flaw in the strategy.

Journey to the West: Afghan Immigrants in Greece

To outsiders who learned about the predicament of Afghan immigrants in Greece from documentaries, it is an anti-climactic end to arduous and dangerous journeys that span thousands of kilometers. Many leave their hometowns in search of better lives for them and their families only to find that the “promised land” of Europe is not what they have envisioned in their minds. In an attempt to conserve their savings, many stay in rooms of 10-20 people each when they are originally built to accommodate less than 5 people. Many are unable to find jobs and as their hard-earned savings dwindle, begin to sleep along pedestrian walkways. This is of course besides the issue that many are subjected to discriminatory treatments by the Greeks, who quite rightfully argue that these immigrants are creating social problems in their cities. The question is considering the close tribal relationships among these immigrants, why is it that their predicaments have not slowed down the desire to make the journey to the west?

One possibility is that these immigrants who managed to enter Greece have not been entirely honest with their families and friends back in Afghanistan. I recalled an immigrant interviewed for a documentary who said that he had been sleeping on the streets but was reluctant to tell his family the truth because he was ashamed to do so. To give the impression that he had made it, he actually sent a photo of himself with a luxury car which he claimed was his.

Even if one is to be honest to his family back in Afghanistan, one wonders if it will lead would-be immigrants to think twice before making the journey. After all, the living conditions at home are so dire that one considers it unfathomable that wealthy Europe can be any worse. Rational thinking probably lead to them thinking that life will be better and in a worst-case scenario, cannot be worse. Unless the situation in Afghanistan improves dramatically, the uncertainty in Europe ironically seems to give better odds than staying put at home.

India and International Aid

A couple of weeks ago, I found out that India has established its own international aid agency. While this shows a country that is rising and ready to do more globally, I can’t help but to pour cold water into this perception. India is a developing country where a large percentage of its population still live below the poverty line. Wander around the big cities and you will see slums as well as how the dwellers make ends meet. Travel to the countryside and you will see many villages whose Gram Panchayat are not carrying out their duties and roads which are supposed to be repaired but for some reasons have been left as they are among others. If you have the time to have conversations with the villagers, you will realize that they have long lost trust in their government. So if India really has the capability to help others, why not help its own people?

Resources and politics appear to be the two main culprits. Its fast-growing economy means that it is likely to need more resources. In this aspect, India seems to have picked up the strategy of China, its neighbour or some would say rival. The Chinese has built excellent relationships with its African counterparts. In return for access to their wealthy resources, the Chinese has promised infrastructure development. Through its newly established aid agency, I believe India hopes to replicate China’s success in courting the Africans. Additionally, in an ever-integrated world where many issues are discussed at global forums, India may hope to gain supporters for its agenda.

In its pursuit for “bigger” reasons which I have to acknowledge are valid, the Indian Government appear to have forgotten the welfare of its own people, the very people who put them into power. The two things are not mutually exclusive. There are definitely ways to achieve both and I think India should seriously explore such options.

Rising Inequality = Social Unrest?

Rising inequality is often attributed to the many social unrests that China has to tackle recently. But is this the only reason for the spike of social unrests?

Could the increase simply be due to a more open government that is willing to share news of ongoing unrests? Or rather, due to more areas in China being more accessible to foreign journalists?

Could it also be due to people that are more aware of their rights as citizens? Or simply as an act to reject the current norms of interactions between the government and its people?

The unintended outcome of Japan’s successful nuclear PR

About two weeks ago, I read an article on Japan’s nuclear safety myth in NYT. In essence, the writer was talking about the amount of resources that are spent on convincing the public on the safety of using nuclear energy. The relevant authorities and/or the companies operating the power plants appear to spare no effort in achieving this goal to the extent that they created information centre that looks a lot like theme parks with characters to appeal to children.

The interesting part of the article is its argument that these public relations exercises are so successful that they start to have the same effect on the planners in addition to the general public that they intend to convince. In other words, people who are involved in the exercises begin to believe that what they are selling to the public is true. As a result, even the authorities and/or companies begin to become complacent and neglect the need to improve safety protocols, infrastructure, etc. To me, this is something extraordinary because you end up being enslaved by the very information that you create.

This brings me to a question about the circumstances on how this may happen considering that we are humans endowed with the ability to enquire. In this case, the original reason for having these exercises appears to have been lost in time, either accidentally or deliberately. One may think that sometime in the process, people who knew the original reason were no longer involved and when they left the scene, they somehow did not manage to pass this on to the subsequent planners. While this information blackout is ideal from the perspective that if you want to convince others, you jolly well convince yourself first, it may have undesirable consequences. One wonders whether the Fukushima incident would have been better handled or even prevented.

Possible Rationale Behind Welfare State

When A has higher utility from private consumption than B, then A wishes to raise B's utility. By contrast, when A has lower utility from private consumption than B, then A wishes to lower B's utility. Is this why there's populist move towards welfare state?

Is WFP Redundant?

I attended the World Food Programme (WFP) talk last week to understand more about its mission and vision. WFP is one of the largest NGO that provides food aid to people all around the world, particularly Africa. Despite its high profile, it is ironic to find that many countries are not willing to support its cause. One of the main reasons, I am guessing, is that WFP’s mission is analogous to giving fishes to poor and able people rather than teaching them how to fish. In other words, its mission does not make its targeted population self-sufficient/ self-sustainable in the long run. Worse, it may make turn them into a bunch of lazy people who are heavily reliant on external help for survival.

I personally share the views of these countries. And I think we should be contented to find that there’s another UN agency, Food and Agriculture Organization that looks into teaching these people to be self-supporting. However, does this mean that there’s no longer any role for WFP in this world? Well, not really.

We have to understand that it takes time for the measures put in place by Food and Agriculture Organization to yield some results. During the period between implementation and outcome, we still need to provide food to these people and no other agencies can do the job better than WFP.

In addition, we have to consider situations such as natural disasters, wars, etc where the only viable option is to provide direct food aid to the victims.

Ending the Piracy in Somalia

For more than a year or so, we have been swarmed with news on pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia almost daily. I have to admit that prior to the very first news on Somalia pirates, the ‘real’ pirates I had heard about were those roaming around the Straits of Malacca. (Sorry to disappoint those who thought I would say Captain Jack Sparrow). Every time I come across articles on this issue, I have always wondered for how long the attacks have been happening? Is it a generation-old situation which sadly has never caught the global media’s attention until now? Or is it a very recent development?

Given the easy access to information in this age, I have no doubt I can find the answer to those questions rather quickly if I want to. However, I would pass that for the time being because I think there is another aspect of this pirate issue which should be given more weights: the ways to solve it.

Last December, after a long debate following weeks of front-page prominence given to this issue by leading newspapers around the world, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1851 which in short, called for further international operations against Somalia pirates. Since then, various countries, inclusive of China which usually prefers not to meddle in other country’s affairs, had sent their navies to the Gulf of Aden to protect ships passing through what is dubbed one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Better equipped and trained, these soldiers had successfully rescued many hostages and also foiled numerous hijacking attempts by the pirates.

Although yielding some positive results, we have to admit this method employs nothing more than a conventional use of force. Just like any other similar method involving force, it may backfire under certain situations such as “a hungry man is an angry man.” situation. Another clear weakness is that it doesn’t solve the issue at its core, which many have identified to be the dire and anarchic situation that Somalia is in. When these countries pull back their navies, which are highly likely considering the deployment cost, the lack of pressure will entice the Somalians, particularly those with no other options, to once again enter this profitable but illegal trade, a case of desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Complimenting the current military operations with social programs may have greater impact in reducing piracy than the operations alone because social programs provide alternatives that these pirates can consider. These programs act as barriers between the Somalians and piracy itself. One important program which UN can explore would be those which result in creation of jobs and hence, the reduction of social problems. Without jobs, these people may have higher tendency to go back to piracy because they, just like any of us, need a mean to support their families. Rehabilitation services can also be provided to educate them and hopefully, mend their ways. Strengthening law enforcement institutions within the country should also be on the cards so that Somalia can play its role as a responsible global citizen.