A Look at Total Defence

What does the word TOTAL mean ? According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, it means Complete, Absolute. Thus we know that when the Singapore Government came up with this TOTAL DEFENCE concept in 1984, they are leaving nothing to chance.

The 5 aspects of TOTAL DEFENCE:

• Military Defence
• Civil Defence
• Economic Defence
• Social Defence
• Psychological Defence So how did TOTAL DEFENCE come about ?

There are 2 reasons why this concept was inked and carried out.

Firstly, Singapore is a young nation with a small population and we are unable to afford a regular armed force, thus we need to include every Singapore in the bid to maintain national security in times of crisis.

Secondly, war now is very different from the past and is not longer about attacking using bombs, gunfire and tanks. It can be in non-military ways such as using chemicals, nuclear and viral.

In Short:

TOTAL DEFENCE is not only a defence strategy that can be applied only during times of war but it is a framework for a comprehensive response to deal with all kinds of threats and challenges.

For example during the SARS period in 2003 and even in our most recent case of Mas Selamat's escape from the detention centre. Total defence calls for everyone's participation to ensure Singapore continual survival and success. Everyone has a personal responsiblity and a part to play to help keep Singapore safe and secure.

So the next question you may ask is : I'm only a student. How can I be involved ?

Well.......the answer is very simple... we need to take personal responsibility even in seemingly small things.

• Remember the fire-drill that our school conducted in Term 1 ? We all stopped our lessons and went in an orderly manner to the open field opposite our school.

• Remember the temperature taking exercise we conducted in our own classes ? Teachers were chasing you all to bring your thermometers and collecting them from you in a bid to make sure everyone takes their temperature on that day.

• Remember Racial Harmony Day that we have every year ? On this day we celebrate our differences and seek to achieve racial and religious understanding.

All of us took part and we contributed in our small ways to building and strengthening of the country's security. We need to be vigilant at all times.

Go to this website to read some stories teaching you how you can be a part of Total Defence
http://www.totaldefence.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/resources/srp.html

Watch this video clip on Youtube on NATION MOULDERS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3W0EtSEucY

On Celebrating Chinese New Year

Since Chinese Lunar New year is just round the corner, thought I'd write something on the History of the Chinese celebrating their NEW YEAR. Since I am no expert on this, I've done my research and this is what I've found....

The Chinese New Year Festival is the most significant holiday for Chinese people around the world, regardless of the origin of their ancestors. It is also known as the Lunar New Year Festival because it is based on the lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar. The holiday is a very jubilant occasion mainly because it is the time when people take a break from work to get together with family and friends.

The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back thousands of years through a continually evolving series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the most famous legends is that of Nien, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast, which the Chinese believe, eats people on New Year's Eve. To keep Nien away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nien is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises. Early the next morning, as feelings of triumph and renewal fill the air at successfully keeping Nien away for another year, the most popular greeting heard is kung-hsi, or "congratulations."

Even though Chinese New Year celebrations generally only last for several days, starting on New Year's Eve, the festival itself is actually about three weeks long. It begins on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day, it is believed, when various gods ascend to heaven to pay their respects and report on household affairs to the Jade Emperor, the supreme Taoist deity. According to tradition, households busily honor these gods by burning ritualistic paper money to provide for their traveling expenses. Another ritual is to smear malt sugar on the lips of the Kitchen God, one of the traveling deities, to ensure that he either submits a favorable report to the Jade Emperor or keeps silent.

Next, "spring couplets" are hung up around the house. Spring couplets are paper scrolls and squares inscribed with blessings and auspicious words, such as "good fortune," "wealth," "longevity," and "springtime." The paper squares are usually pasted upside down, because the Mandarin Chinese word for "upside down," tao, is a homonym of the word "arrival." Thus, the paper squares represent the "arrival" of spring and the "coming" of prosperous times.

On lunar New Year's Eve, family members who are no longer living at home make a special effort to return home for reunion and share in a sumptuous meal. At that time, family members hand out "lucky money" in red envelopes to elders and children and stay up all night to welcome the New Year. Chinese people have long believed that staying awake all night on New Year's Eve would help their parents to live a longer life. Thus, lights are kept on the entire night--not just to drive away Nien, as in ancient times, but also as an excuse to make the most of the family get-together. Some families even hold religious ceremonies after midnight to welcome the God of the New Year into their homes, a ritual that is often concluded with a huge barrage of firecrackers.

(adapted from website http://chinese-new-year.123holidays.net )

So as you feast on the new year goodies and collect your ang baos (red packets with money inside), look around you and see which traditions have been carried down from age-old and maybe you can help explain to those who still do not know why we do these things.

Happy Lunar New Year!!!

Reconstructing History

That's me (Mdm Low) when I was a toddler!! Cute or not? You will find that your parents' potraits when they were young were probably like mine; taken next to a pot of sunflower and on cemented floor.

My 3rd aunt's wedding where I was a flower girl. That's my grandmother who had already passed away, next to her.

My family potrait before my 2nd brother was born. See the similarities between my dad and I?

How would you go about constructing your own family History ?

How far back do you think you will be able to trace back to ? Your great-grandparents' time or your great great great grandparents' era ? Is there a proper record kept that has listed down ALL your family members ? Do you still know of any long lost relatives still living in China or Malaysia or India?

Do you have any idea what they did in the past for a living? Or where they stayed or how life was like in the olden days? Who can you ask to prove that they really existed? What evidence will you be able to find ?

I found out a long, long time ago when my grandmother was still alive, that she lived in China when she was young, before their family came to Singapore. She had a brother who then went to Thailand tobecome a Thai boxer. I remember her showing me age-old photographs with very blurry images but I was not interested then. She told me about her life in the kampong when she was young and how fire had destroyed her home 2 times and all her possessions were gone and she had to start all over again. I found out about how during the Japanese Occupation and she was pregnant with my uncle, the Japanese raided their house but they gave her food when they saw that she was with child. I also learnt how her husband, my grandfather committed suicide because he was in debts...and many many more interesting stories.

My grandfather from my father's side of the family was originally from China. They all came here because of the job opportunities in the early 1900s. Up to today, my uncles are still in touch with some of our relatives from China. In 1995, one of my grand uncles from China came to visit and I learnt that I have a cousin who is a scientist with the government building rockets to go to the moon!!

Check out this blogsite of a Chinatown boy who loves his history:
http://kinkonkid.blogspot.com/

So are you going to find out more now about your family history? Who are the people you can ask? Where can you find records and pictures? Wouldn't it be great if you can pass down these information to YOUR own children!! YOU can start by keeping a record of your own childhood photographs, videos and even journals/diaries. In another ten, twenty, thrity years down the road, we can all look back and marvel at how time has flown and things have changed.

Check out our own Jalan Kayu website and take a trip down memory lane :
http://jalankayutrail.blogspot.com/2007/02/old-jalan-kayu-photographs.html

Happy Constructing! And a Happy Lunar New Year!!!

'Race' against Time

I have another important question to ask you this week.

How many of you Chinese students have a good friend who is a Malay or Indian?
And how many of you Indian and Malay students have a good friend who is Chinese?

Do you know the different cultures of your friends? When is their New Year? What traditions do they carry out?

Do you know the reasons why we have a special day set aside called the Racial Harmony Day? Why is it important for us to celebrate our differences and live together peacefully?

Let's go back in time to see how race can become a big, no HUGE problem which can tear a country apart if not dealt with properly.


The Holocaust

How many of you were aware that the Holocaust was supposed to wipe out an entire race? Approximately 6 millions Jews were killed mercilessly by Adolf Hitler, the most notorious personality in History. It was one of the most horrific events in the History of the 21st century and even the children were not spared. (1.5 million were killed).

Even though the Jews in Germany considered themselves Germans and fought in the war, they were considered the 'opposite race' and had to be eradicated. Most of them were sent to death camps and ghettos where they were killed systematically in gas chambers.

Watch also this video titled "Children of the Holocaust'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZlGCs78KEI

Now I want to bring you back to somewhere nearer to home.

Malaysia, Nov 2007

'Minority ethnic Indians are fighting a "losing battle" for equal rights in Malaysia, and their fledgling protest movement against the Muslim-dominated government is likely to die soon, a protest leader told The Associated Press.

"We have to close the chapter. There may be a new chapter, but we may not be part of the next chapter," a tired-looking Moorthy said during the chat at a McDonald's restaurant. "I know, eventually we will also fail."

Ethnic Indians form about 8 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people, and complain that the government denies them opportunities in jobs, education and business. They say that years of systematic repression have kept them at the bottom of society. The government denies this and says all Malaysians have benefited from the spectacular progress of the export-driven economy since independence in 1957.' (extracted from International Herald Tribune)

To see the protestors in action, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96FCTKHNA8

Racial discrimination is very real in our world as history has shown. When people become prejudiced against each other based on their race, skin colour, religion or their origin, violence and oppression can result.

Can it be prevented? Let me know your views by leaving a comment.

Will YOU be making History in Pei Hwa?

Paris Hilton sentenced to 45 days in jail

Welcome to a new year in Pei Hwa. The teachers at Humanities Dept wish you a year filled with discovery, excitement and growth. However, how your year will turn out will depend on what you plan to do in this year. You can choose to let things happen to you or you can choose to make things happen. Your Choice.

Have you ever wondered about why we study History? If we break up the word, it says ' His Story'. And that is what it means exactly. We learn about stories that happened to certain 'famous' people in the past, events that affected and changed the world. Through real life stories that happened in the past, we learn from their successes and mistakes.

Everyone has a history, including YOU. My question to you is this: Will you be making History in Pei Hwa? 4 or 5 years down the road, how will Pei Hwa remember you?

TOP student in class/level?
Best in English/History?
Most helpful student in school?

OR

The student who played the most truant?
The student who beat up his classmates?
The student who got the most caning?

Think about it... You can let YOUR Story be continued for years to come in Pei Hwa by the deeds you do.