Monday, 16 May 2011
40 arrested in China for child trafficking
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Untrained animal catchers a cause for concern
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)
Sunday, 1 May 2011
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