Name: Antonio
First Cry: 10/6/87
Nicks: lotsa of nicks... either they are funny or weird
Skool: yangzheng pri zhonghua sec temasek jc(1 week onli) anderson jc
Contact: sniperantz87@hotmail.com
What I Adore________
Food: everything in the world that is nice n one thing i dun force myself to go on diet
Drinks: soy bean.. :>
Pastimes: nothing at the moment except sleeping
People: great people with great aspiration n achievement
Music: black eyed peas linkin park jay david tao... hip hop rock r&b oldies n other soothing music...
What I Hate_________
People: anyone that is irritating
Things: nothing i can think of now
Food: nothing.. i like all the food in the world!
In My Memories___
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
November 2004
January 2005
March 2005
May 2005
|xiuming|
lynn|
keni|
shiqi|
|jessica|
janet|
iris|
joanna|
|chunwei|
mingwei|
benedict|
|fengchen|
justin|
yekwai|
ronald|
|mark|
alvin|
junming|
keatmeng|
|weibin|
ritchie|
pengwen|
terence|
|senggim|
|sebastian|
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There are numerous debate around the world over the justification of the use of therapeutic cloning to cure certain diseases such as the Parkinson's disease. Therapeutic cloning involves the extraction of stem cells from the human embryos, after which, the human embryos will be discarded as it wil be of no use. Such action spark off international objections on stem cell research as they deemed it as a devaluation of the human life. These objections normally revolve around the religious and moral views of the issue. Certain religions such as Catholicism strongly disagree on the carrying out of stem cell research while others such as Islam agree to the research as long as it benefits humanity. As can be seen, different religions have different beliefs and views on stem cell research.
I will choose the use of therapeutic cloning if that is the only cure to the illness. If the use of stem cells in human embryos will result in such strong objections from the international community, the scientists can always work on adult stem cells. Although the use of adult stem cells might not be as successful as those found in the human embryos, it can at least resolve the arguments on the moral and religious aspect of the issue. Furthermore, I believe that with the advancement of technology, adult stem cells can proved to be as useful as the stem cells in human embryos in the future.
After reading all the different viewpoints on the debate of GM food, I would have second thoughts buying GM food. Personally, I believe that people will buy GM food as long as it is proven scientifically safe by scientists. Till today, there is no peer-reviewed publications of clinical studies on the effects of GM food on human. Even animal studies are few and far between. It is such uncertainty that makes people think twice about purchasing GM food. Some people bought GM food without even realising that they are gentically modified products. This is due to the fact that there are no label on the products that state that they are genetically engineered food. Hence, consumers bought them, thinking that they are buying safe natural products. Therefore, I believe that consumers should have the right to know what they are eating and that producers should have the resposibility to inform the consumers that they are buying GM food by putting labels on the products.
By purchasing GM food, we are telling the producers that there is a demand for such products. Hence, sometimes, producers and manufacturers will produce different kinds of GM food in a short period of time, ignoring the needs to test for its effect on the human body and the environment. There might be unseen effect of the GM food on the environment. Unintended genes might be produced in the process of manufacturing GM food. These genes might have an adverse negative effect on the surrounding. For example, monarch butterflies are reported to be poisoned by pollen from corns genetically engineered to resist insect pests. Such effect can be minimised if producers are willing to spend more time to test their products, ensuring that they are safe for human beings and the environment.
As one of the decision makers of a 3rd world country where its people are suffering from malnutrition and hunger, I would advocate the use of GM crops. Under such conditions, the first thing in mind of a decision maker of the country is to minimise or eliminate the sufferings of the people. According to Judith N. Scoville, an ethicist at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, she said that 'Christianity has always had a strong moral imperative to feed the hungry'. Therefore, the most important and urgent matter to do is to find food supply, large amount of food to feed the people, regardless of its ethnic issues surrounding the matter and the food supply source.
The reason why there is a debate over the use of GM food is beacause they think that GM food is unsafe, both for the consumers and the environment. Hence, as long as people take the efforts to prove that GM food is safe for consumption and it does not bring any harm to the environment, I see no reason why GM food should not be sold in the market. Furthermore, when ejected with certain genes, it can bring about great benefit to mankind. When people consume GM food that contain 'helpful' genes, it can help them to deter against certain diseases such as Hepatitis B. A research team of the Science University of Tokyo has succeeded in using genetically modified rice plants to produce the Hepatitis B antibody, which can be used to produce immunity to the virus. Therefore, it can be seen that GM food can help human beings to defend themselves against certain diseases.
Moreover, GM food is able to provide a stable supply of consistently high quality products. Plants with their genes modified are able to grow at a much faster rate than those which are not. Hence, GM food provides the solution to a country that is facing with widespread hunger and malnutrition.
In the modern society, people do care lot about their looks and image. This leads to a rise in the demand for beauty products and treatments. The media began to advertise extensively beauty products such as wrinkle-free lotion, black spots removal wash and other kinds of products that will make one look youthful and energetic. However, other than beauty products and treatments, there are other far more important events in the world that are worth giving attention to. People are also paying attention to global events that are happening in the world such as natural disasters that shocked the entire Asia, sports event that are constantly taking place and other domestic news that are happening in one’s country. Therefore, to a smaller extent, far too much attention is given to beauty products and treatments.
There are other global issues that people are giving their attention to. For example, the media is giving a huge coverage on the tsunami that occurred in the Asia-Pacific region. That natural disaster shocked the whole world with a death toll of almost half a million. People are paying attention to the issue and governments of the respective countries are trying to help by sending medical staffs and personnel over to the countries in need. People are raising funds, donating necessities and doing what they can for the tsunami victims. At this point in time, there is no mood and time for beauty products and treatments. Therefore, it can be seen that more attention are given to the tsunami victims and families in time of emergency and needs.
Perhaps that is something that makes the world goes round. Perhaps that is something that makes strangers from different parts of the world to come together and befriend with each other. Maybe, it is something that helps to sustain a friendship or any other kinds of relationship. Countries work together for a common interest, a common goal. They hope to achieve a win-win situation where no party loses out in the agreement. Maybe that is how things work out in reality. Probably that is how businessmen work out their contracts and clinch a deal. They believe in something called 'mutual benefits', or should I say 'self-interest'? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps permanent interest only exists if man only thinks about himself. There can be permanent friends if one chooses to believe that one does not live in a world of one’s own and that one thinks of others before oneself. Two different people from two different parts of the world are brought together by the name of fate. Isn't it amazing how you met this friend of yours out of the billions of people that exist in this world? If the statement 'There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests' is true, are we saying that the friends around us are still with us because they are still of value to us and that we can still make use of them? I hope not. If it is, think again.
The letters present to The Straits Times show several views of the public on whether gifted children should be allowed to skip grades and advance to a higher level as compared to their peers. Basically, there are three writers, namely, Siti Aisha Mostafa, Lai Ee Sa and Thomas Anthony who agreed that skipping grades help to develop the potential of gifted children better as by advancing to a higher level, they will be presented with a more challenging education path. However, I disagree with what these writers wrote. I agree with Lee Siew Peng who too believed that no matter how gifted the child is, he should not be allowed to skip grades. ''Grade skipping might teach a young child to calculate the trajectory of a ball. But children are probably happiest when they are able to throw and catch a ball and play with their age peers instead,'' an academically gifted child too needs to play and mingle with friends of his age. This helps to develop the social aspects of this child. It allows the child to build up his social skills and widen his social circle. Furthermore, a gifted child can explore other areas such as Greek mythology or subjects that interest them where the 'slower' children have to no time explore in. This helps to develop a gifted child laterally and diversify his scope of general knowledge. Isn't it a better way to develop a 10 year-old mathematics whiz-child than having the child preparing for Advanced Level Mathematics where children of his age only study in tertiary education? I believe that gifted children should advance together with their peers so that they are able to communicate with them and understand them better. All in all, gifted children are still children, they still need to have fun and make friends, let nature takes course and allow them to develop according to their interests. I believe in this way, they will have a more memorable and happy childhood.