40 arrested in China for child trafficking

More than 200 police were involved in the arresting of 40 people suspected of buying at least 22 children in coastal Fujian province, the nation's southwest and trafficking them to a wealthier region.

Human trafficking remains a serious problem in China. According to state press reports, about 20 children were forcibly taken away from families who were allegedly in violation of the birth control policy, and put up for adoption abroad. Under the "one-child" policy, aimed at controlling the world's largest population of 1.3 billion, people who live in urban areas are generally allowed one child, while rural families can have two if the first is a girl.

Is China's "one-child" policy effective or not? Couples who wants to carry on the family surname, they may abandon their daughters, so as to be able to continue giving birth until they give birth to a son. This leads to human trafficking due to the large number of children abandoned.

The policy only manage to control the number of children living in a family, but it did not successfully control the number of children in the whole country. Moreover, this policy had caused many girls to grow up in a environment without love and care. In the future, when they get married, they may give up their daughters again, so as to carry on the family surname of their husband's.

People working in the primary industry (for example, farmers) needed more labour. Most of the time,especially the sons, were the ones who would be helping their fathers in farming. When a couple give birth to a daughter, they would tend to give up the daughter , so that they could try and conceive a son.

Most people chose not to abort their fetus as they felt that it has a life after all. However, upon giving birth to their baby, and abandoning them, the child would never be able to grow up in a healthy and complete family, and nobody would be able to teach them what is right and wrong, and the basic principles in life. Thus causing them to be unable to contribute anything to the society.

By introducing the "One-child" policy is a start to control the population in China. However, it has got its own pros and cons. Causing it only to be effective to a certain extent. If the government could come up with policies to prevent human trafficking in the country, it will benefit both the citizens and the country.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=china&id=1128605

Done by: Chua Qing Ling (Christina)

Untrained animal catchers a cause for concern

Often,we come across articles and photographs about animal abuse. Most of the times, we will see stray cats and dogs, be it at void decks, or roadside. To control the number of stray dogs and minimize the chances of the spread of diseases such as rabies, about 1800 dogs are put down to sleep annually.

In Singapore, there are animal catchers who make use of unconventional tools such as fishing lines and hooks which will indirectly led to the death of a stray dog. According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) , these animal catchers have no structured training programmes.

Mr Francis Lee, a dog catcher was fined by the AVA for his role in the death of the dog, which died from strangulation after being caught in a noose trap, after it fell into a drain next to the trap.

As animal catchers, they are supposed to work with police, parks and recreation departments, and health departments by confining animals or investigating animal bites to humans, and also to rescue animals so that they may be returned to their owners or transported to veterinary clinic or animal shelter. They should have love towards animals. They should be treated more humanely. We may not be able to understand what these animals are thinking, but if we put ourselves in its' shoes, we would never want to be treated the same way. Animals have feelings too. Can you imagine how its parents would feel? Would you ever let anyone bully your own child? I think that the penalty Mr Francis Lee should receive was not harsh enough. He should be sentenced to jail for a few years. If someone was murdered, the murderer was sentenced to death, then why is it that when animals get killed, the murderer was set free?

Done by: Chua Qing Ling (Christina)

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110416-0000344/Untrained-animal-catchers-a-cause-for-concern

China launches ban on smoking in public venues

China launches ban on smoking in public venues .
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1126037/1/.html



China launched a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other indoor public spaces on Sunday. After reading this article, I am truly glad that China finally realises the importance of baning smoking in indoor public venues. Firstly, I strongly believe that the majority of us are aware that China is the world's largest producer and consumer of tobacco which causes serious health problems in China. Smoking harms the smokers by putting them at a risk of developing lungs and heart diseases that may result in fatality. Moreover, it also harms the people who inhale tobacco smoke. These people are known as the second hand smokers who are at an even higher risk of developing lungs and heart diseases. I think that these people are the ones that need to be protected from the smokers as the inhalation of smoke produced by the tobacco causes their health to deteriorate unknowingly. I also feel that smoking indoors should be strictly prohibited as air indoors are not as well ventilated in comparison to outdoors. Hence, smoking indoors results in an increased concentration of smoke in the air we inhale.

Putting a ban on smoking in indoor public areas; this may not produce instantaneous results as it is highly impossible to quell smoking indoors effectively. The mindset of the people thus, becomes the challenge. It is dubious that everyone is willing to abide strictly to the rule voluntarily. After all, whether one is willing to change his habit, again, falls back to the basic principle of his mindset.

All in all, this ban adopted by China may not be thoroughly effective. Although many people in China will still continue to smoke indoors, but at the very least, this serves as a good start for China to encourage her citizens to stop smoking.


- CLAIRE TEO