Voon Shi Tian- Gamblers spent estimated $4.2b on 4-D

Summary of new events

According to Straits Times check, Singaporeans have gambled away billions of dollars last year, with bulk of bets going towards 4-D lotteries.In addition, there is an upward trend of residents spending hundreds of millions on both horse racing and Toto.Also, the giagantic taxes received on 4-D mirror the results of a recent government study which showed it was Singapore's most popular game. Studies also found out that more people see 4-D and Toto as leisure activities.With the lure of hitting the jackpot, it has become easier for people to part with their money and the popularity of 4-D has fatened governments coffers.

My personal Response

I strongly discourage Singaporeans to spend their money on gambling because i think that it is a watse of money.No doubt,it is hard to resist the temptation of trying our luck on 4-D lotteries and other bettings, however this is when self-control comes in.The probability of hitting the jackpot is very very small hence i think there is no point of wasting money on such bets unless you are that kind of very lucky person.By subtracting the amount of money won from the amount of money used on placing bets, the left overs are the sum of money that can be actually put into good use.However,it is not to say that betting on 4-D is totally bad but one must put a limit to it.Unless you are the one who have a lot money, you can bet as much as you like.I have heard that some people were so tempted in gambling that they spent all the savings they had and landed themselves being bankrupted.However,this has not only affected themselves but also their families members.Some even landed up having to divorce as the family members are sick of the gamblers' gambling habits.Worse still, some gamblers do not learnt their lessons and turn to loansharks to borrow more money in hope to buy more luck.However this will cause them to become bad to worst.Therefore, i encourage people to limit themselves on spending money on bets so that more money can be saved and put into good use one day.

Voon Shi Tian - Unclean Water kills 4,000 daily worldwide

Summary of news events

The World Health Organisation(WHO) has warned that polluted drinking water will kill around 1.6 million people this year unlessgovernmentaround the world make a concerted effort to clean up their supplies.In addition, over 4,000 people die each day from water-borne diseases and death toll is not restricted to Third World nations.By bringing experts from around the world together through the Singapore international Water Week,they will discuss management policies, the impact of global warming, and the need to diversify water sources.However, leaders have to put their money where their mouths are and make good on a myraid of promises to provide affordable, clean drinking water.Furthermore, governments also need to invest heavily in building and maintainingwater infrastructure.The WHo hopes to use Singapore as a role model for other water-scarce countries and troughe an aagreement,this country will provide advice and volunteer help to water scarce countries.

My Personal Response

I think that the government has a great responsibility in providing safe drinkable water for his people as dirty water will cause many health problems like water-borne diseases, diarrhea and even deaths.I am relieved to see that the Singapore government has invested lots of money in looking to new technologies like desalination so that his people has clean water to drink from. In addition, i feel lucky and blessed to have clean water to drink from unlike the people in other countries. Through this, i also understand the importance of saving water. Imagine having dirty water to drink, to bathe, etc! Furthermore, i am proud that the WHo wishes to use Singapore as a role model for other water-scarce countries.Although Singapore is just a small island, she is able to make sure that her citizens have their essencials well-provided for and looks into other water sources in case one day Malaysia decides to stop suppying Singapore with clean water. By being a role model of other water- scarce countries, i hope that the water condition in those countries will improve so that lesser people will be affected by the unclean water.

Voon Shi Tian-Prostitute at 14, Aids activist today

Summary of new event

Activist Srey Mom was born the only daughter and the last of seven children to a village baker and his wife. She left school after one month to hawk bread. However, after her father died her mother remarried and left her behind.To survive, she slept on streets and begged before becoming a fruit stall helper.Worse of all, she was sold to a brothel instead of getting a job as a prawn peeler which a woman had promised her.In times when she refuses to have sex with men, she was tortured and locked up in a tiny dark room until she submitted.Soon enough, she was infected with HIV and a volunteer from TRC came to her aid and turnedher life around by helping her recover and equipping with skills to earn a living.

Personal response

I pity the fate that Activist Srey Mom has.Imagine the pains she suffered after her father died early and she had no one to depend on as her mother had abondoned her.At an age of 13, she had to be independent and work in order to survive.Hence i feel that i am blessed to be borned in my family where i am well-provided for. I also get to enjoy all the material comforts that Activist Srey Mom did not get to enjoy so i should learn to be contented with what i have now.In addition, i think that she had hurt her pride as it was not her wish to have sex with men.
She was forced to do so and she was tortured if she refused.After contracting HIV, even her mother chased her out although she had just reunited with her.Therefore i think that the trafficked girls should work with the volunteers to share about their experience in order to raise awareness so that brothel owners and traffickers will be prosecute.

Voon Shi Tian - UP prices of eggs and some vegetables

Summary of news events:

Singaporeans already battered by inflation faced another whammy this week.
Prices of eggs and some vegetables have jumped at wet market across the island. This comes barely a week after Malaysia - Singapore's biggest food supplier - trimmed domestic fuel subsidies. The move has driven up transport costs for fresh-food importers, who truck supplies like vegetables and poultry across the border. This increase has trickled down to wet markets here, which have already been forced to raise prices because of a supply crunch. Furthermore,those who drive taxis running on fuel have suffered as daily fuel cost have nearly doubled.

Personal response:

I think that the increase in Malaysia's fuel price has affected the Singaporeans alot.Singaporeans who to Malaysia regularly to top up their fuels now have to plan carefully on each trips they make.Taxi drivers on the other hand have also suffered as their daily fuel cost have inscreased and this means that their daily earnings have decreased. In addition, housewifes have to scrimp and save now as the increased in Malaysia's fuel price has increased the fuel cost of trucks going into Malaysia for importation of goods like vegetables and poultry.Therefore this cost has been brought down to the consumers of these products and most of them have been affected greatly as they have lesser money to save on for rainy days instead of the usual sum of money.Cost of Fuel, rice, vegetables, eggs and other products have been increasing and familes of low income will now be worrying of their financial situation.Hence, I think that the government should come up with some financial plans to help these families as much as possible.