From: Ornan Wei
Subject: English
Date: 25 August 2007
Topic: English commentary 2
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sector in many countries. It improve the economic growth of a country, this will thus affect the social, political, environment factors. Tourism is good as it also promote international understanding and peace.
However, its negative impacts are often ignored. They were ignored as of the presumption that the income from the tourism sector , could make up for the loss. Governments think by ‘sustainable tourism development’, the income derived from tourism is higher and it is able to cover the cost arise from tourism. Instead, the increase of tourism, is also the increase of problems.
The main benefit of tourism is: international tourism produce flow of foreign currency into the host country which add to the country’s gross intake. This inflow of revenue increases business yield and provide employments for many people. Hence, tourism will increase the country’s GDP(Gross Domestic Productivity). This also mean that the country’s social welfare will be better taken care off. Tourism is able to develop better understanding of culture and improve ties between countries. Many believed when tourists travel, and come to understand other cultures, they will respect the qualities of individuals of each nation, hence building world peace and international understanding.
Although tourism positively contributes to the society, skepticism start to grow. The media highlight the destructive nature of leisure travel, how we have destroyed some scenic places that had been our country’s heritage. The fact that if there are more global tourism, there would be more competition. Actually, in recent times, positive effect is declining and the rapid increase of negative impact.
Poor planing of tourism result in short term benefit but long term problems. For example, adventurous travelers may find a tourism spot that has beautiful natural surroundings. They spread the good news, and the spot starts to attract a rapid increase of tourist. Soon, the government will provide facilities like high-rise hotels, transport system, small shops will start to bloom in that spot. In the course of action of these entrepreneurs and the government, the beautiful spot would have lost its scenery an also lost its attractiveness. Soon, tourists would abandon that spot and economic sector and environment would suffer huge loses.
Did the Singapore government consider the environment problems it would faced after the construction of the IR?(integrated resort)
Often, lands of different terrains ,like marshland and swamps, are cleared for creating tourism. Without marshlands and swamps, they no longer support flood control. Deforestation may cause soil erosion and loss of rare plants and organisms species. Exponential growth and excessive commercialization may cause the uniqueness of a tourist place to fade off. The Singapore government should be able to construct sustainable development so that the present needs could be met without jeopardizing the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
Frequently, tourism interfere with the host unique cultures and practices. They have to change their customs and treat and serve customers according to the customers’ liking. Thus, this will cause locals to lose their identity.
The moment has come, Singapore lacks of lands that are needed for tourism, thus needed to have more consideration for sustainable tourism in the interest of long-term welfare of the people. Allow these tourists to take photos and leave impressions but not destroy the country’s identity.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Today's Sport
24 August 2007
Sports are long-established, for the display of athletic qualities. They have fostered goodwill among participants and spectators and symbolised the value of excellence and the will to achieve one’ s best. We have many meets, ranging from national to international which are theoretically the contests of athletic skill and power. In today’s context, the ideals of competition and fair-play have been plague by certain problems.
Often, the association sports is fair-play, humility in victory, etc. The ideal of competing in the Olympic games, is to be friendly and this noble ideal is often ignored. In the times before the 19th century, Olympic athletes took pride in competing for their countries and developed friendship and promoted international understanding. Since, Hitler the dictator, politicised the 1936 Berlin games, these meets held once in every four years have obtained political implications. In the 1980, when the United States boycotted the moscow games in protest against the soviet invasion of Afghanistan, its lead was followed by about forty nations. Russia acted by not participating in the Los Angeles games of 1984, this might be considered as an act of revenge. The pursuit of national glory should not be allowed to be affected by politics of participating nations.
In recent times, sports today is the involvement of money. People participate in sports to gain wealth and fame. The importance of winning medals seems to have died out. There is an impulse for the filthy lucre, this is being sought after not only by participants but also sports organizers. The spirit of competition and the true victory and achievement are being eroded by professionalism. One exceptional example is the game of soccer. In today’s context soccer is not only seen as a game based on team-spirit and skills but also as a mean to great wealth. Soccer players are traded with profit for the club as motive. Many athletes are sponsored by huge corporations and these athletes are motivated by money to serve the purposes of sponsors. Hence, sports is being polluted by greed. There are many athletes who do not have a sense of patriotism, they bid farewell to national pride and join another club or other countries that are able to offer a higher pay. If the project on human genome is immensely successful, clones of famous athletes can be made. This would cause the formation of individualistic teams and thus, tarnishing the values of sports. As a result, sports, in the future, would be fully commercialized.
Is your passion motivated by money or genuine interest?
Nowadays, parents are ambitious and coaches are demanding. No one would disagree that sports for children are pleasurable and to keep them occupied and make them both physically and mentally fit. However, when parents are involved, sports became a task rather than being active and having fun. These children are fed with their parents ego. These ambitious parents may try to realise in their children what they failed to do so when they are in their youth. These children have to satisfy the demands of their coach. When parents create an atmosphere of professional sports for them, their interest fade off, but carry on despite their dislike and developing years that are to be enjoyed by engaging in variety of activities are wasted.
Athletes are constantly in the public eye as participants in sports, icons, endorsers,etc. There are many athletes who disrespect their opponents and throw tantrum, while there are those who help charities and people who are in need. Although, an athlete skills and strengths are esteemed by people, their rude and crude behaviors have a negative influence on teenagers. These youths may think that their superstar/idol is worth imitating, to be cool or represent their loyalty to their superstar/idol.
In addition, pure sportsmanship is being corrupted by the use of drugs. These drugs enhance the performance of athletes. Those who use the drugs have the dishonorable advantage. Doping is unethical and is absolutely cheating.
In conclusion, sports should the pursue of passion and not filthy lucre. Theoretically, sports should eliminate atrocious behavior and influences of money and fame. Also, competitions should not be commercialized and should draw out virtues that are valued from athletes.
Athletes that are considered as bad role models are those who:
-pursue fame and filthy lucre
-Doping
-Rude and crude behaviors
Athletes that are considered as good role models are those who;
-Pursue their passion
-Kind hearted (doing charity activities)
-Do not cheat
-Respect other athletes including referees.
-Bring out the virtues of their sport.
Sports are long-established, for the display of athletic qualities. They have fostered goodwill among participants and spectators and symbolised the value of excellence and the will to achieve one’ s best. We have many meets, ranging from national to international which are theoretically the contests of athletic skill and power. In today’s context, the ideals of competition and fair-play have been plague by certain problems.
Often, the association sports is fair-play, humility in victory, etc. The ideal of competing in the Olympic games, is to be friendly and this noble ideal is often ignored. In the times before the 19th century, Olympic athletes took pride in competing for their countries and developed friendship and promoted international understanding. Since, Hitler the dictator, politicised the 1936 Berlin games, these meets held once in every four years have obtained political implications. In the 1980, when the United States boycotted the moscow games in protest against the soviet invasion of Afghanistan, its lead was followed by about forty nations. Russia acted by not participating in the Los Angeles games of 1984, this might be considered as an act of revenge. The pursuit of national glory should not be allowed to be affected by politics of participating nations.
In recent times, sports today is the involvement of money. People participate in sports to gain wealth and fame. The importance of winning medals seems to have died out. There is an impulse for the filthy lucre, this is being sought after not only by participants but also sports organizers. The spirit of competition and the true victory and achievement are being eroded by professionalism. One exceptional example is the game of soccer. In today’s context soccer is not only seen as a game based on team-spirit and skills but also as a mean to great wealth. Soccer players are traded with profit for the club as motive. Many athletes are sponsored by huge corporations and these athletes are motivated by money to serve the purposes of sponsors. Hence, sports is being polluted by greed. There are many athletes who do not have a sense of patriotism, they bid farewell to national pride and join another club or other countries that are able to offer a higher pay. If the project on human genome is immensely successful, clones of famous athletes can be made. This would cause the formation of individualistic teams and thus, tarnishing the values of sports. As a result, sports, in the future, would be fully commercialized.
Is your passion motivated by money or genuine interest?
Nowadays, parents are ambitious and coaches are demanding. No one would disagree that sports for children are pleasurable and to keep them occupied and make them both physically and mentally fit. However, when parents are involved, sports became a task rather than being active and having fun. These children are fed with their parents ego. These ambitious parents may try to realise in their children what they failed to do so when they are in their youth. These children have to satisfy the demands of their coach. When parents create an atmosphere of professional sports for them, their interest fade off, but carry on despite their dislike and developing years that are to be enjoyed by engaging in variety of activities are wasted.
Athletes are constantly in the public eye as participants in sports, icons, endorsers,etc. There are many athletes who disrespect their opponents and throw tantrum, while there are those who help charities and people who are in need. Although, an athlete skills and strengths are esteemed by people, their rude and crude behaviors have a negative influence on teenagers. These youths may think that their superstar/idol is worth imitating, to be cool or represent their loyalty to their superstar/idol.
In addition, pure sportsmanship is being corrupted by the use of drugs. These drugs enhance the performance of athletes. Those who use the drugs have the dishonorable advantage. Doping is unethical and is absolutely cheating.
In conclusion, sports should the pursue of passion and not filthy lucre. Theoretically, sports should eliminate atrocious behavior and influences of money and fame. Also, competitions should not be commercialized and should draw out virtues that are valued from athletes.
Athletes that are considered as bad role models are those who:
-pursue fame and filthy lucre
-Doping
-Rude and crude behaviors
Athletes that are considered as good role models are those who;
-Pursue their passion
-Kind hearted (doing charity activities)
-Do not cheat
-Respect other athletes including referees.
-Bring out the virtues of their sport.
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