"The environmental movement has lost its focus." Do you agree?

The degradation of the environment has seen an unprecedented wave of environmental movements aimed at mitigating the ecological hazards confronting the very planet we live in. From individuals to the international community, efforts to raise awareness and save the Earth have been indefatigable. Yet fervent environmentalists argue that these actions are perfunctory in nature and have not been effective in ameliorating damage done to the environment. While conspicuous improvements in the environment are not yet felt on a global scale, it is in my opinion that the focus of the green movement is to slowly but steadily reduce our exploitation of the Earth, which is indeed an increasing global phenomenon. The environmental movement has clearly not lost its focus.

One major component of the environmental movement is to raise awareness and educate the public about the ecological hazards we face today. With the rise in new media, environmental issues have taken on an increased profile. There have been global events such as Earth Hour and Live Earth concerts which purport to raise awareness and actions for environmental causes. Critics bemoan the effectiveness of saving electricity for an hour, and are skeptical about whether concerts can induce actions to save the Earth. However, they miss the point of the environmental movement completely. The aim of such events is to raise awareness about the environment in the general public, which helps to awaken the long-dormant environmental conscience in them which would serve as a precursor to active environmental conservation, rendering the cause less of a futility. Part of the environmental movement is to educate the public, and this can be seen through the release of documentaries such as "An Inconvenient Truth", "How many people can live on Planet Earth?" and "Dark Secrets". These documentaries educate the public about the scientific basis of climate change and people are more aware of the pernicious threats confronting the environment. A survey done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2008 showed that there are now 4 billion people worldwide aware of climate change, a significant increase from only 1 billion people a decade ago. This clearly proves that the environmental movement is far from losing its focus; rather, efforts to raise awareness have been successful.

Another component of the environmental movement is the harnessing of science and technology to reduce our reliance on oil and fossil fuels. Critics argue that such efforts have lost its focus because the results are minimal and not widespread. However, as aforementioned, the real focus of the green movement is to slowly reduce our exploitation of the Earth, which is greatly aided by science and technology. The advent of science and technology has led to unprecedented improvements in environmentally friendly science, rendering the cause more robust and feasible. Researchers in a company called LS9 have created genes which allow bacteria to produce diesel fuels. They have also engineered micro-organisms which can convert sunlight and water into diesel. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), on the other hand, has manufactured highly-efficient solar panels with increased energy output of up to 30% or more. Such is the promise of technology, poised to resolve the environmental problems and carry the environmental cause well into the twenty-first century. The focus of slowly saving the environment is clearly not lost.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are also part of the green movement, and play a significant role in reducing greenhouse emissions. In recent years, many MNCs have started aligning their commercial goals with that of environmentalism. Many MNCs realize that going green might be more cost-effective and efficient in the long run, and are able to use it to garner a positive business reputation at the same time. However, critics lament that these corporations are simply capitalizing on the green movement to increase their revenue and have no real intention of saving the environment. Slapping green labels on their products are just means to increase their sales. While this may be true, it is myopic to overlook contributions by many major companies who have genuine intentions to save the environment. General Electric (GE), a large American engineering firm, already has a thriving wind-turbine business and is investing in solar-energy businesses too. Shell and BP, two of the world's largest oil companies, are sponsoring academic researchers as well as new firms with bright ideas, as is DuPoint, one of the world's largest chemical company. Concomitantly, Wal-Mart is demanding greener practices from its Chinese suppliers and is advising them on greener alternatives. More recently, GM and Nissan have released their long-awaited green electric cars, the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and the all-electric Nissan Leaf. All these MNCs mentioned have the moral calling to play their part in saving the environment. Similarly, their focus is to reduce ecological damages slowly but gradually, and it is laudable that they have been successful in keeping to this focus amid plans to increase their business revenue.

The government of every country is an important component of the green movement today. Many countries today are making significant efforts to keep to the focus of the environmental movement, which is to reduce our reliance on oil and fossil fuels, which thus leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil has the world's second largest and most economically honest biofuel industry, which currently produces 40% of the energy consumed by its cars and will soon supply 15% of electricity through through the burning of sugarcane wastes. Many Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden and Switzerland are adopting hydroelectricity as one of their main sources of energy. Notably, Norway has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. However, critics are skeptical about whether the focus of the green movement is kept because such initiatives are merely adopted by developed countries and not developing countries who lack the financial abilities to do so. While this is generally true today, we must not overlook help rendered by developed countries to help developing countries to develop in an environmentally friendly way. Singapore has collaborated with China to build an eco-city in the northern part of Tianjin. Similarly, there are also plans between Singapore and India to build a highly efficient city in the most environmentally friendly way. The key is that the environment movement has not lost its focus; developed nations have the expertise to be environmentally friendly and in time to come, help will be rendered to developing nations so as to progress economically while saving the environment.

Finally, the global community has an equally important role in saving the environment, through the passing of legislation and protocols to conform people to saving the environment. Critics have pointed out though, that international forums such as the Copenhagen Summit in 2009 are perfunctory without any real actions taken to save the Earth. They argue that government officials come together as a form of obligation and have no real intention of saving the environment. While this is generally true in the case of the Copenhagen Summit, it is myopic to overlook successful initiatives such as the Montreal Protocol in 1992 which has reduced CFC emissions drastically. More recently, President Barack Obama has called for an international forum involving the 17 member states emitting more than 80% of the world's greenhouse gases. Such efforts show that the focus of the environmental movement is still kept. Politicians have the true intent of saving the environment, albeit gradually.

To conclude, the focus of the green movement to raise awareness and save the environment in slow measured steps is prevalent in today's society. As a whole, we are aware of the ecological hazards and the possibility of an environmental apocalypse if we do not start taking actions to conserve our planet. It is incontrovertible that some green movements have other intentions, but on the whole, we realize that the real focus is to save the environment.

Note: This essay was written during the Mid-year examinations under timed conditions, and was awarded a distinction grade of 80%.

Are high salaries for government officials ever justifiable?

The government of any country plays an active role in managing the society and developing the economy, and is paid by the country through taxes collected from its people. Controversially, there have been debates contending whether high salaries for government officials, including heads of state, ministers, members of parliament, judges and civil servants, are ever justifiable. While political leaders such as Minister Mentor of Singapore Lee Kwan Yew are adamant that high salaries are necessary to attract top talent into politics and reduce the incentive for corruption, high ministerial salaries have been a perennial source of disgruntlement for the general populace. Granted, government officials should be rewarded for their good performance, but it is in my opinion that government officials should serve with their heart rather than for the monetary benefits, which leads to the conclusion that high salaries for government officials are unjustifiable.

Supporters for the high salaries for government officials argue that a high pay is justified given the intensity and rigor of the government service. Politicians have to endure late nights, cope with a lack of privacy and are oft-times under immense pressure to perform for the people. Unless high wages are offered, countries would not be able to attract the best and the most capable leaders to serve a nation. The common adage of "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys" is a common argument; perhaps society will indeed be worse off if we trade a lower salary for less-than-capable politicians. As such, civil services around the world have pegged their salaries to the appropriate corresponding rungs in the private sector. In Singapore, for instance, ministers' salaries are currently pegged to two-third of the median salaries of the top 8 earners in the private sector. Basic economics apply here: in a free market economy, the government must compete with the private sector for talents and so official wages must be competitive or most of the top brains will prefer to work in the private sector.

Another strand of argument that is commonly used to support the high salaries of government officials is that it helps in establishing a corrupt-free government. A high salary provides less incentives for corrupt practices. This can be seen in Singapore, where politicians are the most highly paid in the world. The last publicly-available figures in 2009 showed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earning $3.04 million, a staggering 5 times more than what runner-up Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong takes home. In fact, PM Lee's salary alone can fund the combined salaries of 8 of the world's highest paid politicians, including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy. Similarly, an entry-grade minister in Singapore earns much more than his counterparts in other countries, taking home a yearly income of $1.57 million. With the provision of high salaries, Singapore is one of the most corrupt-free countries in the world. High salaries are thus deemed to be justifiable as the money of the people are not pocketed. Rather, it is used to improve the welfare of its people.

However, the above two arguments can be debunked in a few ways. High salaries would attract the best talents into the government, but these talents might not have the innate passion to serve the people. Political office is simply seen as yet another career choice. Without the drive to do the best for its people, politicians would find it a chore to remain in office and this is detrimental to any country's progress. On the other hand, while there is a strong correlation between the salary rates of government and the level of corruption in a country, it does not suggest a causal relation between the two. The world's least corrupt countries, Iceland, Finland and New Zealand, do not provide their government officials with high salaries. It is believed that anti-corruption should be a trait that is embedded in government leaders. Even if the risk of corruption still exists, it can be prevented with the establishment of anti-corruption bureau. In Singapore, a powerful and non-compromising Corrupt Practices and Investigation Bureau is a strong deterrent to politicians who want to have their palms greased. Evidently, the presence of the bureau is more than enough to prevent corruption, and high salaries are thus redundant and unnecessary.

High salaries are unjustifiable because they often result in public dissent. In the United States, a bill legislating the rise of pay for politicians by 33% met vociferous dissent in the House of Representatives, and strong protests were registered across the nation in all mediums, be it in newspaper editorials, web blogs or talk shows like The Daily Show. Catholic Church bishops in France railed against the Government officials' high salaries, which in some cases exceeded one million pesos monthly. In Singapore, the dissatisfaction towards the government is evident in the recent May 7 election, in which the People's Action Party (PAP) only obtained 60.1% of the votes, its lowest mandate since independence in 1965. A pre-election survey conducted by Australian company UMR Research showed that 68% of Singapore's voters are dissatisfied with the overwhelmingly high ministerial pay. Evidently, high salaries of government comes at the expense of alienation from the masses. As such, leaders of a country may face problems in marshaling people to make sacrifices for the country. Citizens should be able to look up to leaders for moral leadership and inspiration. If what they perceive are mercenaries at the helm, then asking them to make sacrifices will be met with cynicism and indifference. This will not bode well for Singapore's future.

Public service must remain a noble undertaking for which people are prepared to make sacrifices in exchange for the benevolent power to improve the lives of others. If we corrupt this by money, we can be efficient but never a country of high ideals. Many countries, including Singapore have acknowledged that salaries must reflect the values and ethos of public service. On May 21, it was announced that NKF chairman Gerard Ee will be the head of a committee to review the basis and level of government salaries. The PAP is aware that the unhappiness over high ministerial pay must be addressed if they are to renew the compact between the government and the people.

In conclusion, high salaries are unjustifiable because we need leaders who serve out of love and patriotism, not workers who simply work for a high pay. The high salaries should neither be used as an incentive to recruit talents nor as a deterrent to corruption. Instead, we need to cultivate a strong sense of nationalism so that talented individuals serve the people on their own accord, while having the moral conscience to handle the public funds with proper care. Only then can we truly progress as a united nation.

"To save the environment, the only way forward is a complete lifestyle change." Discuss.

Against the backdrop of increasingly cosmopolitan societies, the issue of environmental protection is becoming more pertinent and relevant. Each day, 90 million tons of pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere, as if it were an open sewer. The ramifications of climate change are conspicuous: the past ten years have been the hottest years in history; ice glaciers are melting at twice the rate a decade ago; and sea levels are predicted to rise by 40cm in 2050, threatening the existence of low-lying coastal areas. In the face of an imminent ecological disaster, fervent environmentalists are arguing that the only way to conserve the environment for ourselves and our posterity is to alter our lifestyles, in particular, our consumption patterns. However, it is in my opinion that a complete lifestyle change would be impossible given the desire of many countries for economic progress. The best way would be compromises made by individuals, corporations and the government to mitigate and reduce the pernicious effects of environmental degradation.

Incontrovertibly, a complete lifestyle change would be the surest and fastest way to saving the environment. Deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, overfishing and animal poaching are a few of the many causes of the environmental degradation we see today. The total energy consumption of the world stands at an astonishing 15 terawatts, and is expected to shoot up to 40 terrawatts by 2050. In addition, with the emergence of burgeoning economies like China and India, the oil extraction rate has reached 1,016 barrels per second, amounting to a whopping 1 billion barrels per year. If humans change their lifestyles, for example, by adopting cycling as a means of transport, using candles instead of lights, and eliminating the use of all electrical appliances, there would be no need to burn fossil fuels at all. However, this is not feasible and impractical because we need energy to progress. We are at where we are today because of the harnessing of cheap energy sources. While it is important to save the environment, we cannot impede economic growth and deprive ourselves the chance of attaining a higher standard of living. We cannot change our lifestyles completely and live as if we were in the pre-historic era. Instead, we should take small steps to ameliorate the damages done to the environment. With a collective effort from the individuals, the harnessing of science, the corporate world, the government and the global community, we would be able to see conspicuous improvements in our environment in the near future.

The first step to saving the environment is through the individuals, by raising awareness and educating them about the ecological crisis we face today. With the rise in new media, environmental issues have taken on a greater profile. There have been global events such as Earth Hour and Live Earth concerts which purport to raise awareness and action for environmental causes. The influence of the mass media has resulted in a greater awareness about the environment in the general public, and this has helped to awaken a long-dormant environmental conscience which would serve as a precursor to active environmental conservation, rendering the environmental causes less of a futility. Documentaries such as "An Inconvenient Truth", "How many people can live on Planet Earth?" and "Dark Secrets" advocate environmental protection into the social priorities and political agenda of many. The public is thus more aware of the pernicious threats confronting the environment. More importantly, they realize that they have a moral calling to save the environment and this translates into an environmental conscience which would be pivotal in inducing action to save the environment. A change in mindset is a much better and expedient solution than a complete change in lifestyles as it allows individuals to slowly adopt green practices on their own accord, ultimately leading to improvements in the environment.

The advent of technology has also led to unprecedented developments in environmentally-friendly science, rendering the environmental causes more feasible. Researchers in a company called LS9 have created genes which allow bacteria to produce diesel fuels. In addition, they have also engineered micro-organisms which can convert sunlight and water into diesel. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), on the other hand, has manufactured highly-efficient solar panels with increased energy output of up to 30% or more. Such is the promise of technology, poised to resolve the major environmental issues we face today and carry us well into the twenty-first century. While advents in technology might not entirely solve the environmental problems we face today, they do reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and oil which mitigates some of the ecological damages we have done to the Earth.

Greener practices adopted by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) also play a significant role in saving the environment. Many MNCs exist solely to earn profits, but in recent years, they have begun aligning their commercial goals with that of environmentalism. Many MNCs realize that going green might be more cost-effective and efficient in the long run, generating more cost-savings and garnering a positive business reputation at the same time. General Electric (GE), a large American engineering firm, already has a thriving wind-turbine business and is investing in solar-energy businesses too. Shell and BP, two of the world's largest oil companies, are sponsoring academic researchers as well as new firms with bright ideas, as is DuPoint, one of the world's largest chemical company. Concomitantly, Wal-Mart is demanding greener practices from its Chinese suppliers and is advising them on greener alternatives. More recently, GM and Nissan have released their long-awaited green electric cars, plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. These greener practices show that it is not necessary to completely change the lifestyle to save the environment; all we need is a conscious effort to reduce the harm to the environment. If all MNCs do the same, it is irrefutable that we would see significant improvements in our Eco-system.

The government also plays an important role in saving the environment, especially through the adoption of greener energies. It is thus important to note that even the government do not pursue a complete lifestyle change, but rather small changes which would still reduce the ramifications of environmental degradation. Brazil is the world's second largest and most economically honest bio-fuel industry, with 40% of the energy generated through the burning of sugarcane wastes. Many Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Switzerland are using hydroelectricity as a main source of energy. Some minor lifestyle changes can be seen in countries which are very conscious about saving the environment. Japan, for instance, has a strong recycling culture where all its wastes are sorted into different categories, while Danes recycle their beer bottles after consumption. Evidently, these small changes in their lifestyles will contribute to less waste generated, thus reducing the amount of wastes burnt and the amount of pollutants emitted. Such initiatives by the government to cultivate a culture of environmental consciousness would go a long way in saving the environment.

Finally, the global community has to work together to ensure that as we keep our current lifestyles, we make conscious efforts in protecting the environment. Critics argue that we should adhere to a complete lifestyle change because global efforts at saving the environment are limited, as exemplified by the United States' reluctance in ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. However, it is myopic to overlook the many other environmental causes that are already in place and has been successful in saving the environment. The 1992 Rio De Janeiro earth Summit and the 2009 Copenhagen Summit show that the global community is conscious about the state of the environment. Such efforts need not be futile; one only needs to look at the Montreal Protocol a few decades ago to see that global efforts have been successful in reducing CFC production and saving the environment.

In conclusion, it is naive and impractical to totally change our lifestyles to protect the environment because we are all in a pursuit to improve our living standards. There must be a collective bid to raise consciousness and save the environment in other ways.

(Note: This essay was written under examination conditions and was awarded an A-grade of 74%)

‘Conquest without conscience.’ To what extent would you agree with this assessment of our relationship to the environment?

Against the backdrop of an increasingly cosmopolitan global community, every country is embroiled in a rat race to grow its economy and augment the standard of living of its people. This led to the conquest of technology, medicine, and even nature. Oft-times, little considerations is given to the state of the environment and these nations, corporations and individuals pollute the environment without compunction. While it is heart-warming to note the presence of some countries and corporations which are environmentally-conscious, the global trend is still that of excessive consumerism with minimal attempts at environmental conservation.

In the pursuit for technological advancements and economic progress, many companies have no qualms about polluting the environment. In fact, 90 million tons of global-warming pollutants are dumped into the atmosphere each day, as if it were an open sewer. The ramifications of global warming are conspicuous: scientists have confirmed that the last 10 years were the hottest decade since modern records have been kept; almost all of the ice-covered regions are melting- and see levels are rising at a dangerous rate; and droughts are getting longer and deeper in many mid-continent regions. Many companies, such as Exxon Mobile, does not adopt any green practices and have no compunction about polluting the environment. More heinous is how corporations try to shirk off all responsibilities by postulating that environmental change is a natural process, rather than a pernicious result of their relentless pursuit for economic progress. "The global warming swindle", for instance, has been met with many controversies and has been censured for trying to mislead the public into thinking that corporations are not responsible for the environmental degradation we see today.

Eco-tourism is an industry that is abused by profit-driven corporations. Under the veneer of promoting economic growth while protecting the environment, many corporations simply make use of Eco-tourism as a revenue-generating tool. In Eco-tourism, virgin lands are exposed to throngs of tourists for walk-throughs that strip these lands of their natural value. The development of infrastructure for Eco-tourism in Mexico, for instance, ruthlessly annihilated a whole species of native butterflies. After the island of Galapagos was announced as conservation site for Eco-tourism, migrants flocked to Galapagos in search of jobs, causing an over-swell in population number. What was once recognized as exotic areas of nature have now become pollution-generating spots. Evidently, Eco-tourism is a failed venture. Yet corporations are continuing this business because the potential benefits far outweigh the environment costs that they may have to bear. For the monetary benefits, these corporations often overlook their moral conscience and little consideration is given to the welfare of Mother nature.

Similarly, in the conquest for better living conditions, humans poach wildlife for their medicinal and commercial value and little consideration is given to the possible threat of their extinction. The rate of human-induced extinction is an unparalled catastrophe, and earth has not seen a spasm of extinctions like this for 65 million years. Killing of elephant for ivory is rampant in states like Orissa, Uttarancha l, Assam, UP and Karnataka. The proportion of sub -adult and adult tuskers has dropped drastically in the last 20 years. Rare rhinos, such as the one-horned Asiatic rhino are found in protected habitats in India such as Barida National Park in Nepal and Assam. Alarmingly, poachers kill them even in these protected habitats. The flagrant fact that poachers can still hunt animals despite knowing that they are protected shows that they have no conscience at all. In fact, profits is always of paramount importance to them and conservation of wildlife is oft-times a peripheral consideration. More often than not, in our quest for a higher quality of life, through merchandise made from animal tusks and skins, as well as their medicinal value, such as the treatment of cancer, fauna are abused by mankind. Only a small minority, such as animal conservationists and environmentalists are conscious about the survival of these animals.

Despite many countries, corporations and individuals who better themselves at the expense of the environment, there exist a minority who are conscious about the potential threats to the environment and are indefatigable in saving the environment. Many Scandinavian countries aim for economic progress but still maintain efforts in protecting the environment. Brazil has the second largest and most economically honest biofuel industry, which already provides 40% of the fuel consumed by its cars and will soon supply 15% of its electricity through the burning of sugarcane waste. Concomitantly, Norway earns a high spot for being first to the world's largest solar production plant, and has pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2030. Some corporations are also gearing up on their green initiatives to save the environment. General Electric (GE), a large American Engineering firm, already has a thriving wind-turbine business and is gearing up its solar-energy business. BP and Shell, 2 of the world's biggest oil companies, are also sponsoring research in green technology. Such proactive actions by various countries and corporations show that while they are on a conquest for a higher standard of living, they still have a conscience to keep the environment protected.

Incontrovertibly, the conquest for a better life has blinded the conscience of many resulting in the degradation of the environment. Managing the often-conflicting demands of fast economic growth and saving the environment is hard. While it is almost out of the question for us to stop this conquest, perhaps we should slow down and start searching our conscience and play our part in conserving the environment. This is not just for ourselves, but also for our posterity.

Examine the claim that the world is too dependent on oil. ('05)

The rapidly industrializing world has seen an exponential increase in demands for oil in the past few decades. Often termed as the "black gold", oil is an essential component in the lives of individuals, corporations and the government. In the US alone, approximately $1 billion is spent each day on oil. With the emergence of other industrializing nations such as China and India, the oil extraction rate has reached an astonishing 1, 016 barrels per second, amounting to a whopping 1 billion barrels a year. Our over-reliance on oil and its various forms is manifested in its high price of $US 200 per barrel. A slight reduction in oil supply can result in severe economic downturns, disturbances in food production and distribution, as well as conflicts within countries. Although there do exist countries which are turning to alternative sources of energy to ease their over-reliance on oil, majority of the world is still largely dependent on oil- and this does not look set to change in the near future.

The availability of oil greatly determines the state of the economy of the world. Many newly industrializing economies (NIEs) are importing increasing amounts of oil from oil-rich stats to fuel their bustling industry and economy. China, for example, has had a 30% increase in oil imports from African states and Venezuela in the past two years. In addition, many Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and United Emirates have strong and rich economies because they have a lot of oil. As the demand for oil continues to skyrocket, these countries will be able to thrive by providing this natural resource. There are also countries that process raw materials from oil, and oil is a major source of their income. Situated at the crossroads of international sea and air roads, Singapore is particularly reliant on the processing and refining of crude oil at its offshore islands. If oil runs out, the economy of the world would be in a complete paralysis. This is most evidently seen in the 1973 oil crisis, when the world tumbled into a deep recession due to the low supply and thus, high prices of oil.

Our over-reliance on oil can also be seen through our food system. The many processes involved in food production before it is finally served and consumed requires the use of cheap crude oil. Vast amounts of oil are used as raw materials and energy in the manufacture of fertilizers and pesticides, and as cheap and available energy at all stages of production: from planting, irrigation, feeding and harvesting, to processing, distribution and packaging. In addition, oil is essential in the construction and repair of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate this industry, including farm machinery, processing facilities, storage, ships, trucks and roads. The industrial food supply system is one of the biggest consumers of oil. To transport 1 calorie of lettuce across the Atlantic, 127 calories of energy is required. Evidently, a reduction in oil would cause the processes of food production of food to come to a halt, and this would result in global hunger. It is alarming to note that even the most basic thing to keep our population alive is so heavily dependent on oil.

The need for oil in many countries has even translated into conflicts and violence between nation states. A casual glance at the last few decades of history suggests that oil exporting states such as Iraq, Venezuela and Iran have an unfortunate habit of getting involved in international conflicts. During the Iraq war, the United States justified their invasion of Iraq in 2003 and occupation of Iraq as an operation to find weapons of mass destruction and to stop the oppressive regime in Iraq. However, many experts believe that this was more of energy security, as Iraq is an oil rich nation and the US wants to keep the oil flowing into their economies. There are even speculations of a World War III in which the world would fight over the remaining limited supply of oil. Our willingness to kill our own kind for oil is more than enough to prove that we are over-reliant on oil.

While it is irrevocable that the world is heavily dependent on oil, we must not forget that there do exist countries that acknowledge their over-reliance on oil and are slowly but gradually reducing the need. Currently, there are alternative sources of energy, like hydroelectric energy and solar energy that are used by some countries to cut emission rates from the combustion of oil. In Canada and some parts of America, hydroelectric power is used as a source of electricity. Norway, on the other hand, earns a high spot for being first to the world's largest solar production plant, owned by REC Group. They have also pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030, mainly through funding green projects abroad and reducing driving and flying at home. All these technologies and the fact that countries are in the pursuit of alternative sources of energy goes to show that some parts of the world is trying to reduce their dependence on oil. However, such actions are only taken by a minority of the countries in the world, especially by developed countries which have the financial resources to undertake researches on alternative sources of energy. Oft-times, developing countries lack the technology to venture into such alternative resources and they continue to deplete the limited supply of oil.

Oil is becoming a universal commodity and it seems hard to reduce our dependence on oil. The oil supply is expected to peak in a few years' time before it starts to fall drastically. If we do not take any action to reduce our reliance on oil, the world would plunge into a perilous state of entropy. The threat is real, and we need to do something about it now, before the ticking time bomb is finally triggered off.

Special thanks to:

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/5045

http://seekingalpha.com/article/263639-oil-forecast-for-second-quarter-2011

http://www.scribd.com/doc/31925554/Examine-the-Claim-That-the-World-is-Too-Dependent-on-Oil

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1163516/oil_and_our_overdependence_on_it.html

http://www.oildependency.org/articles/index.htm

Discuss the appeal, and the dangers, of attempting to predict the future. ('01)

Since time immemorial, the idea of predicting the future has always been a tantalizing one. Be it looking at the stars to speculate the stability of a country or the simple interpretation of dreams to learn about one's destiny, humans have always been caught up with learning about the future. However, it is their preoccupation with this mysterious art that that they have failed to realize its potential dangers. While precognition is enticing in many aspects, the pitfalls it entails is far too egregious for us to handle.

The ability to see into the future can help us avert cataclysmic disasters and save the lives of many. In the case of major natural events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, violent floods, disease epidemics, tsunamis, drought and soil erosion, failure to predict the future can translate to death, sufferings and loss of loved ones for many. On the contrary, successful predictions of disasters can be a great boon to mankind. One well-known successful earthquake prediction was for the Haicheng, China earthquake of 1975, when an evacuation warning was issued the day before a 7.3 earthquake. The China State Seismological Bureau accurately predicted the occurrence of the earthquake and evacuated about a million people from the affected province. Clearly, the impeccable accuracy of such prediction of natural disasters can help mitigate the potential damages the disasters may pose. Under such circumstances, many innocent lives can be saved and this is incontestably beneficial to humanity.

However, it must be cautioned that attempts to predict the future are mere speculations and in themselves, hypothetical. There exist an element of uncertainty in every single prediction. Oft-times, predictions of the future are inaccurate and this can result in devastating damages to mankind. In the instance of natural disasters, use of advanced science equipments and weather forecasting may be able to predict the occurrence of a disaster, but the exact time and date that it will occur is often uncertain. The recent 8.9 earthquake in Japan was predicted to occur on 29th March, but it went off on 11th March and took the lives of many. High high death toll, homelessness, lack of food and basic sanitation, nuclear disaster and economic crises are concomitant with the failed prediction of the major earthquake. Evidently, the failed attempt in making an accurate prediction resulted in the inability of the Japan authorities to take necessary precautions in time to mitigate the devastation of the earthquake.

Unreliable predictions can also cause unwarranted fear and trepidation in humans. Predictions have often been made, from antiquity until the present, by using paranormal or supernatural means such as prophecy or by observing omens. Such predictions are often made without any scientific proof and analysis, and fear can be easily struck into the hearts of humans if the predictions are gloomy and cataclysmic. In extreme cases, escalating fears and apprehensions may even result in social instability and violence within a community. The "Planetary Conjunction" prediction in the early 90s is one such example. Respected meteorologist Albert Porta predicted that on December 17, 1919 a conjunction of six planets would cause "a magnetic current that would pierce the sun, causing great explosions of flaming gas and eventually engulf the Earth" This prediction, which turns out to be false ultimately, led to some mob violence and a few suicides. Another incidence in which prediction about the future can strike fear in humans can be seen in the "1910 Haley Comet" prediction. Even though the Haley's Comet had been visible many times without any reported deaths, the passing of the comet on May 18, 1910 was predicted to be a deadly threat to people because of poisonous gas coming from its tail. This caused apocalyptic panic, but eventually it turned out to be a false prediction based on religious claims. Clearly, such predictions without any concrete scientific evidences can easily instill fear in humans. The threat of imminent disasters causes humans to cower in fear everyday, and this may even cause permanent damages to their psychological health.

From a more philosophical point of view, it is ironic that humans value freedom and control and yet still seek predictability. On the face of it, it would seem that the two are related: if I can predict, I can control. However, if we view that the future is pre-determined, then it would mean that the future cannot be changed and we are mere puppets living out the life that is designed and specially tailored for us. Complete predictability would leave us with no need to pay attention to anything any longer. If one's prediction of his future, by a fortune teller or sorcerer for that matter, is one that is blithe and successful, he would have no motivation to work hard at all. Similarly, if one's prediction of his future is gloomy, he will see no point in trying to improve his well-being and will simply fester. The ability to predict the future leaves no surprises in life and life becomes meaningless. A husband can predict what his wife is going to give him for his upcoming birthday; a son can no longer surprise his mum with his good grades at school because his mum can easily predict it; surprise farewell or welcome parties become redundant because everyone can predict it happening. These little surprises are what make our lives meaningful and interesting, and without them, we are just going through the motion of life and life simply becomes mundane.

Irrevocably, the ability to predict the future can bring us many benefits if predictions are accurate. However, it can be easily noted that predictions in our millennium is still highly unreliable and brings minimal benefits to mankind. In comparison, the negative ills of predicting the future are much worse, especially with the many trepidations it brings. "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, and that is why it's called the present." The quote from box-office movie Kungfu Panda aptly captures the idea of living each day to the fullest. Perhaps, we should slow down our quest of looking into the future and learn to be contented with the blessings of today.

Is it always important to succeed? ('00)

In today's competitive world, success is often seen as the key to survival. Success has invariably been linked with goals like getting a remunerative job, plush cars, and obtaining high social status and recognition. As a result, everyone is embroiled in a meaningless rat race for success to such an extent that we have completely ignored or trivialized at best, the daily small successes that come our way – the success of every breath, the success of every moment, the success of life. Undeniably, the desire for success is important as it serves as a motivation for us to do our very best, but we must never neglect the process, as well as other aspects of life such as happiness. More importantly, success must never be achieved through underhand means or the expense of compromising our moral and ethical values.

Success is not as important if in the process, we learn and achieve something that we have never achieved before. Granted, the definition of success varies across individuals- one's notion of success may be attaining perfection, while another's idea of success may be just having done his best. In all cases, we must realize that not succeeding does not equate us to being a failure. Hilary Clinton may not have succeeded in being the first female president of America, but she has certainly showed the world that women are equally capable in the field of politics. Her run for presidency has a long-lasting impact on society as it reduced people's prejudice against women, as well as empowered women to take up leadership roles. Similarly, Martin Luthur King may not have succeeded in eradicating racial discrimination in America, but his civil rights movements ultimately resulted in Black Americans having equal rights as other Americans. "Success is a journey, not a destination.", the words of Ben Sweetland aptly captures the idea that success does not matter so long as we achieve something along the way.

Success should not always be viewed as the most important thing in life, as it does not guarantee happiness. In our pursuit for success, we tend to neglect other aspects of our lives, including our families, our friends, and the people dearest to us. A scientist coops himself in a lab all day long while an athlete trains for years in seclusion, just so to achieve success in their respective field. For that moment of recognition, precious time with their loved ones are forgone and sacrificed. One may feel instant gratification at the point of achieving success, but what comes after will just be regret and emptiness. What good is success if at the end of the day, you realize that you have lived your life in vain? Human's desire for success is limitless, as we are always striving to improve and reach greater heights. Hungering for success is not wrong, but one must always seek to strike a balance between success and other aspects of his life.

Success may be important, but we must never be blinded by the prospects of success and achieve it through Machiavellian means. In the pursuit for success, one must always be guided by his/her moral compass and never entertain thoughts of cheating, foul play, or inhumane acts. Oft-times, the benefits of success are enticing and can easily lead one astray onto a path of no return. Use of performance-enhancing drugs in Games is not uncommon. Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall, a Sweedish pentathlete at the 1968 Summer Olympics lost his bronze medal for the consumtion of drugs. In 1990, documents were discovered that showed many East German female athletes, especially swimmers, had been administered anabolic steroids and other drugs by their coaches and trainers. The preoccupation with success has rewired their moral systems and they are trading their integrity for success. More heinous is that some people obtain success without giving any considerations to humanity. Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zhe Tian, got her throne through ruthless and brutal means. In 654 after the birth of her second daughter, she was said to have strangled the newborn infant and accused Empress Wang for the murder. The following year, she accused Empress Wang and Consort Xiao of practicing witchcraft. She did this so as to remove the threats of other empresses so that she is the only empress around the emperor, eventually leading her to usurp the throne. What she did was largerly disturbing and inhumane. For success, she actually sacrificed her own flesh and blood. We must always be guided by principles when pursuing success, if not the success we achieve will never be honored or respected.

Some people see their sole purpose for existing in this world as achieving success, and to them, it is always important to succeed. Failure is a dangerous feeling and the impending fear of probabilistic and potential failure can have serious negative impacts on human psychology including social withdrawal and development of suicidal tendencies. In July 2010, a junior college student in Singapore, Wong Peek Yian, leapt to her death from her seventh-floor bedroom window after finding out that she had done badly in her mid-year examination. Such people have lived in a milieu in which success is highly valued, and have developed the mentality that success is everything. However, such a perception is unhealthy and should be removed, probably through counseling. Success should be created, not pursued. We should draft our own definition of success and not blindly follow society's definition of success. If our definition of success is to have a balanced life and do things that we enjoy, then it is important that we always aim for success.

There is more to life than the materialistic benefits and that instant gratification derived from success. Life is about spending time with your loved ones, living each day with happiness, as well as living out one's dreams and aspirations. Irrevocably, success is very important in life and every one must create success in whatever they do, but blindly following artificial definitions of success is simply befooling oneself. Success only hold meaning if it is really the success that you want.

A film has one purpose - to entertain.'Using examples, consider this view. ('01)

Over the past few decades, technological advances have seen an increase in films- also known as movies or motion pictures- being produced. Recently released movies such as "The chronicles of Narnia: The voyage of the Dawn Treader", "I am Number Four" and "The Green Hornet" may easily lead one to conclude that films are produced for their entertainment factor. However, it must be noted that these films only form a segment of the films industry and there do exist films which inspire, educate and bring about greater societal introspection.

Undeniably, one major and reigning function of films is to entertain. Given the high demand of viewers for thrillers, comedies, and romance, it is not surprising that many movie producers produce movies for the sole purpose of entertainment. Oft-times, these firms are obsessed with profit-making objectives, and little thought and consideration is given to whether the film has any educational value at all. In "Balls of fury", scenes of people playing table tennis sweep through the entire length of the movie; in "Dead or alive" and "Ninja assassin", viewers enjoy gripping combat scenes; and in "Valentine's Day" and "Dear John", viewers bask themselves in the sweetest romance. Films are commercialized and are often used as a revenue-generating tool.

However, films are also used to inspire and ignite hope in viewers. Through recounts of fellow human beings who have faced difficulties in life and yet braced through them with sheer willpower, films have the power to mould the outlook one has on life. A truly touching and enriching film can reduce the pessimism one has about life, and instill optimism so that he/she has the strength to carry move on in life. "Schindler's List" tells the heroic effort made by a businessman in Nazi Germany to save thousands of jews from death. Similarly, "Hotel Rwanda" tells the story of real hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina who saved thousands of refugees fleeing the dangerous milita that had taken over Rwanda. These films throw hope on the human population that people can still maintain their humanity in the face of unhinged barbarism. More recently, "127 hours", a true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah, has received reviews that it was truly inspirational. It shows how we can make it out of adversity so long as we persevere on and never give up. Oscar-winning film, the "king's speech" shows how King George VI overcoming his stutter and becomes a worthy king of Britain. The determination and grit protrayed by lead actor Colin Firth in the movie will definitely inspire viewers to stay positive and never be daunted by shortcomings they possess.

Films, especially documentaries, do have an educational value to it. "Super size me", for instance, shows what happens when one man lives on only Mcdonald's food for thirty days. Watching this film allows the viewer to be more aware of the dangers of fast food, leading to a more conscious eating habit and lifestyle. "The Cove" is a documentary that looks at both the massive slaughter of dolphins that occurs annually in a small Japanese fishing village and the dangerous health impact of mercury poisoning. Documetaries like these increase environmental awareness and may lead to concrete actions aimed at improving our natural habitat. These films are enriching as they provide accurate and insightful information which goes a long way in improving our lives and the society.

Films also bring about greater societal introspection as pertinent social issues are discussed. Familial values and the power of friendship are some of the common issues injected into films. "Sex and the city" had multiple continuing storylines and tackled socially relevant issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex, and promiscuity. It specifically examined the lives of big-city professional women in the late 1990s/early 2000s and how changing roles and expectations for women affected the characters. Despite receiving a not-so-notable three razzies at this year's Oscars, the film and its sequels must be credited for the public debates it has generated about the issue of sex. Besides increasing awareness on social issues, such films have the potential to generate constructive discussions and feedbacks in society.

No doubt, entertainment film is still the most prominent genre in the movie industry, with "Titanic" as the all-time best movie and "Avatar" ranking top in the box-office in 2009. However, it must not be forgotten that there do exist films that do not just entertain, but provide constructive insights on life. Walt Disney, a famous cartoonist once said, "Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood." Indeed, while films exist to entertain, perhaps we should view them with more maturity and grasp the deeper meanings they are trying to present to us.