World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by HyperFocal @ Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:42:29 +0800

HyperFocal — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:42:29 +0800

... I tell you, our over-paid govt. are only concerned about and busy all the time hoarding money...

... what we'd get from them under these critical circumstance are largely and usually, Token Moves...

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:57:00 +0800

Atobe — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:57:00 +0800

The Straits Times - Tuesday edition - reported that a lowly paid Thai Minister had taken the initiative to call for a meeting of Ministers from the oil producing countries in the Middle-east and rice / food growing countries in Asia , to jointly tackle the challenges of rising demand to a limited supply of oil and food from an ever growing world population.

This Wednesday evening ChannelnewsAsia had reported that an average salaried A/Professor from the local NTU had suggested that the Singapore Government should invest some funds to help in the research for new breeds of high yield seedling to assist our agricultural neighbors to increase food production to everyone's benefit.

What is the overpaid Singapore Ministers doing to show at least some initiative and imagination in facing the growing challenges that will surely overwhelm us ?

Other then depending on diversifying our sources of food supply for the present, can we depend on these different sources over the longer term, when these will also surely face the same diminishing problems in the long term ?

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:24:28 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:24:28 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

"The camaradie is the beginning of the building blocks to establish a unit. If you cannot find any camaradie or bonding with any of your platoon mates - despite the common spite towards the NS concept - then you must be loner."

Actually I am a loner who had friends with the other people who are also loners . Like in any other organization, there are always cliques vying for power. I wonder how old are you Atobe, your response indicate you must be relatively young to believe that camadrie is determining the fighting effectiveness of a unit. You want to know why Hamas are so effective in willing to die for their cause, they are bound by a common HATRED of an enemy who constantly kill their people. Does such a cause exist for SAF?

At this point in time, there is nothing that is threatening Singapore on the same scale as the ''HATRED'' that the Palestinians have towards the Israelis.

Except for the looming Global Food shortage that will threaten the future of Singapore - there is little that the SAF can do to help alleviate this potential threat that is looming.

Even amongst the loners, whom you have found some solace and comfort in association - surely there is some sense of friendship, camaradie in common ground to fret and wallow in the same mud pool ?

Surely, amongst the group of loners that you have ''cliqued with'' - there will some degree of bonding of a common cause and identity - much like some of the Palestinians with the HAMAS cause ?

Will it not be logical to expect that you may respond to protect or warn your 'loner' friends to any imminent danger even as it expose yourself to some lesser degree of the same danger ?

Or should I be disappointed to a negative response from someone who express some higher values in his views ?

"Surely, you do not expect me to doubt that you will not defend yourself and your family from some bully ? "

The "bully" is the Singaporean government and my friends are all that oppose the PAP and the need for a wayang NSF.

When the SAF was feverishly expanded through National Service conscription, despite the apprehensions and gripes from the parents of that generation in 1967-68, they all realised the danger of Singapore standing exposed without any means to protect ourselves after being thrown out of the comfort zone of a large Malaysian home.

Singapore was still threatened by Konfrontasi from an charamastic Indonesia President Sukarno, and the Malay Ultra Politicians were eyeing Singapore for their own personal ambitions.

The built-up of the SAF was at a very high tempo, and despite the tough training by the Israeli - the first batch of trainees were not entirely from the 1949 generation. Many were drawn from earlier generations, and despite their grouses, they gave their very best, and were the back bones in establishing and revising the newer doctrines that were first initiated by the Israelis.

It has been 40 years since the first batch of NS men were called up, the threats today are lesser as the potency of the SAF is known - and those within the region that bear us ill will can only make life as difficult as they can without resorting to the military option, as they know that they cannot match us in equipment, and they have seen the commitment from the earlier generations that build up the SAF.

While there is no external ''bully'', there remains one obnoxious one internally.

I hope that your new found camaradie in your common cause with a group of ''loners'' - and can find the means to defeat the ''bully''.

"Gaza strip is a scene of civil strife"

I forgot the West Bank, Lebanon and Iraq. Its hardly civil strife when Israelis are fighting against Palestineans.

As much as you can add more regions into the list - civil strife will always continue where the theatre war ends and do not clearly resolve the issues at hand.

The main wars in Afghanistan and Iraq maybe over, but civil strife in its different intensity and violence will continue when the outcome is not resolutely established with a clear plan to manage the events after the main campaign.

This has been the problems in the Middle-east with the Israeli military victory, also with the US supposed victory in overthrowing Saddam in Iraq; and also with the US victory in Afghanistan over the Talebans.

All three area of conflict reflected a lack of clear plan in handling the politics of the respective regions.

The difference between civil strife and wars - is in the intensity, the theatre size and resources mobilized.

The fight between the Israelis and the Hizzbolah in Lebanon was a short war, and do not come close to the daily civilian Hamas led armed uprising in the Gaza Strip that resulted in the heavy but limited use of deadly response from the Israeli military.

It is like coffee and tea - and the smell is as different as the taste.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:53:36 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:53:36 +0800

As to being a cynic, I have no illusions as to politics being the path to power to push forward one's own particular agenda. For whatever reason people bond together for politics, it would be against a common enemy and in their own self interests in the long run.

Malaysia kicked Singapore out it isnt because the People of Singapore wanted independence, it was the PAP causing all sorts of trouble for Malaysia.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:43:40 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:43:40 +0800

"Surely, you do not expect me to doubt that you will not defend yourself and your family from some bully ? "

The "bully" is the Singaporean government and my friends are all that oppose the PAP and the need for a wayang NSF.

"Gaza strip is a scene of civil strife"

I forgot the West Bank, Lebanon and Iraq. Its hardly civil strife when Israelis are fighting against Palestineans.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:40:05 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:40:05 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

"In any profession, it is the commitment and dedication that an individual will give to his assigned task that make the sum total of the efforts applied, so as to make the outcome a success."

Exactly the scholar solider mentality I am talking about. WAR is not business in case you haven't noticed.

Why the hell am I wasting my time - SAF didnt fight a war for Singaporean independence so there goes your military authority altogether. If Lim Bo Seng had survived and gone on to create the Republic of Singapore, then its a different story altogether.

I doubt that people who are not brave enough to come forward for their beliefs and face the consequences come what may are brave enough to go to war. Say and think what you want about CSJ, he is willing to be tortured by PAP like many others before him.

Atobe you sound like a "patriotic" Singaporean. Why dont you join the opposition yourself? I dunno about your history, but it was the PAP that wanted Singapore to be independent.

Positivism doesnt mean making pie in the sky dreams. Try taking a dose of realism from time to time. You want to know war is like, go to the Gaza Strip.

Gaza strip is a scene of civil strife, not a war zone. It hardly resemble anything like the various cities in Iraq, where the people suffer daily threats of sudden death from IEDs and assassination by insurgents who erroneously and mistakenly believe that you are a threat to their cause.

It was not the PAP who wanted Singapore to be independent.

It was David Marshall that planted the seed of independence for Singapore, but his ideas and his cause was untimely, and did not match with the Colonial Government agenda for that period in time.

PAP under LKY sought independence by bonding Singaporean's future with Malaysia - against the warnings from the the various Opposition Leaders supported by the larger Chinese business community who are familiar with the political culture in Malaya.

Singapore found real independence and total relief when Malaysia kicked Singapore out - nobody cried, except for LKY over his broken dream of a larger political stage.

Each of us have our ways to support and grow the Alternative Parties, and in many forms.

For you to contribute positively, you have to be less pessimistic, even if you continue to be a strong cynic.

If need be, drink the coffee and not just smell it - I prefer tea.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:28:25 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:28:25 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

"If you prefer to be inactive about your firm pessimistic views, it will be left in the hands of LKY, his Family, and his Political Party to ride on this wave on inaction and resigned pessimism - as they will find the many niches of positivism to grow their own space."

I have my own ideas on how progress should look like and if it is 180 degrees to what you envision then too bad. Why should I surrender my destiny to a bunch of yes-men who says their vision is the only "correct" one? Why should anyone for that matter? Fuck your camadrie, its not CAMPING you are talking about; its WAR.

What good is a contingous training of 2-3 weeks / year going to do?

The 2-3 weeks / year of training is more then sufficient and is typical of armies built on conscription - as seen in South Korea and Israel, both being in a constant state of war.

The camaradie is the beginning of the building blocks to establish a unit. If you cannot find any camaradie or bonding with any of your platoon mates - despite the common spite towards the NS concept - then you must be loner.

The HAMAS in the Gaza fought together for a common cause - and Singaporeans will similarly stand up like the Palestinians for a common cause against the injustices and threats to our common well being and survival.

The intensity and passion that you have placed in your expressed words reveal the potential in you through the emotional reactions about events in Singapore.

How much will you give to translate that passion into action when you are pushed by events to defend your space when someone threaten you or your family ?

Surely, you do not expect me to doubt that you will not defend yourself and your family from some bully ?

"Yet, we find overseas Chinese taking up high political office in the countries that they adopted - and all based on their personal merits."

You mean like in USA, Australia UK etc. wake up and smell the coffee.

The coffee or tea, ''kopi-O'' and ''teh-tarek'' - smell about the same time here and anywhere else where you happen to wake up, and they all have their characteristic differences in flavor and fragrance.

How will you judge them by ?

It depends on which brand we have been brought up with, resulting in the preferences and personal attitudes to the differences in the smells.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:33:51 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:33:51 +0800

Atobe you sound like a "patriotic" Singaporean. Why dont you join the opposition yourself? I dunno about your history, but it was the PAP that wanted Singapore to be independent.

Positivism doesnt mean making pie in the sky dreams. Try taking a dose of realism from time to time. You want to know war is like, go to the Gaza Strip.

"In any profession, it is the commitment and dedication that an individual will give to his assigned task that make the sum total of the efforts applied, so as to make the outcome a success."

Exactly the scholar solider mentality I am talking about. WAR is not business in case you haven't noticed.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:29:44 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:29:44 +0800

What good is a contingous training of 2-3 weeks / year going to do?

"Yet, we find overseas Chinese taking up high political office in the countries that they adopted - and all based on their personal merits."

You mean like in USA, Australia UK etc. wake up and smell the coffee.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:13:42 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:13:42 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

"Have you forgotten the potency of the small Israeli Defence Force - that is similar to our SAF - and which fought against the largely ''professional'' Arab armies that were raised to exterminater the artificially created country of Israel ?"

Excuse me arent they bolstered by American/Western Jewish unofficial forces. In case they lost they still had the nuke.

Excuse me, if the nuke is ever used - is there anything left that is worth fighting for ?

"Do you seriously doubt the ability of the SAF over the Professional Armies around this Little Red Dot ?"

Yes I do. Ask yourself if your unit is prepared to go to WAR at a moment's notice like a professional army. War would include non-conventional warfare nowdays. Your equipment may be superior but training please lah. NSF is WORKING civilian in uniform, playing soldier for a day. You free everyday go to range is it? The Leadership is part of the PAP mindset, scholars planted to pose no threat to the ruling party.

War is not entirely about non-conventional warfare - even if it begin or develop into one.

In any profession, it is the commitment and dedication that an individual will give to his assigned task that make the sum total of the efforts applied, so as to make the outcome a success.

If you believe that Singapore is what it is today - is entirely due to the sum total efforts of every Singaporean since the past generations - and NOT due to the singular efforts of LKY and his Political Party - and despite all the difficulties that he has brought onto Singaporean lives - then why will you doubt the ability of Singaporeans to defend what has been their own creation ?

Excuse me, we do not return to NSF training for just a day - if you have ever returned for your NS Reservist Training.

The short 2 to 3 weeks of In-camp training is to refresh and maintain the ''military skills'' that were first planted during the 2 to 3 years of Full Time National Service.

There seem to be a trend to deride NS and to doubt the ability of the SAF.

You should be rest assured that you are in good company since NS was introduced in 1967 - as every batch of NSF will curse and swear about NS; yet whenever they ever regroup either during Reserve Training or during informal gatherings - the camaradie is not lost. The essence of that unit remains bonded.

More importantly you mentioned the drive. I am not Jewish, Singapore is not Israel its a ridiculous comparison. Is there such a thing as a powerful American Singaporean lobby or Chinese Singaporean lobby in China for that matter? I cant say the same about you but fighting for PAP / LKY legacy is not what I want to do.

Is there any marked difference between a Jew or a Chinese - an Israeli or a Singaporean - other then the colors, the cultural and religious differences ?

The industry, intelligence, dedication and sense of commitment and pride remains at about the same quotient of efficiency between the two races.

No two countries are ever alike - yet given the circumstances, there are parallel similarities between Singapore and Israel that are not so ridiculous.

Do the Chinese ever depended on lobbying for their survival - as an individual or as a community ?

Through the centuries, migrant Chinese have toiled and depended on themselves, their clans and their own communities, and family ties to survive.

Has the overseas Chinese in Australia, Europe, UK or the USA depended on China to survive in their chosen countries ?

Yet, we find overseas Chinese taking up high political office in the countries that they adopted - and all based on their personal merits.

Does the Chinese ever depended on the charity of others to survive in this World ?

Perhaps you have been living in Singapore for too long - tied to some apron strings as well ?

Singapore is created by generations of Singaporeans - including you and I, and perhaps our children as well in the future. This Island maybe controlled by LKY, his Family, and his Political Party - at the end of the day, he and his creation will evaporate into the pages of history.

Time and tide will wash away old events, and bring in fresh experiences - as we have seen the events in China - from Mao's disastrous Cultural Revolution that brought hardship and tears to millions of Chinese, and to the present positive events under the present President Hu and Premier Wen.

Singapore's future is in the hands of Singaporeans - and if you persist to be pesimistic about the individual abilities of your generation, you will need to ask how much are you willing to give and shake the trees around you, so as to make some impact in the space around you, and how big a space you intend to take responsibility for yourself to grow in.

If you prefer to be inactive about your established pessimistic views, it will be left in the hands of LKY, his Family, and his Political Party to ride on this wave on inaction and resigned pessimism - as they will find the many niches of positivism to grow their own space.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:34:47 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:34:47 +0800

Excuse me arent they bolstered by American/Western Jewish unofficial forces. In case they lost they still had the nuke. Moreover if I am not wrong, the Arab armies comprise mainly of CONSCRIPTS.

"Do you seriously doubt the ability of the SAF over the Professional Armies around this Little Red Dot ?"

Since you are talking about Middle East comparison, I rather have Hamas rather than SAF soldiers.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:24:31 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:24:31 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

Atobe it isnt that the million $ ministers are not war-mongers. They are realists. Can Singapore win any war of conquest? First of all the US will never back such a war and secondly you think the part time miltia called SAF can triumph over a professional army?

Fortunately, for you and I - and every NSF guys - the million $ ministers prefer to keep us all alive so that they can continue to milk our pockets rather than go to war.

They feed everyone in the SAF with the cheapest but most nutritious rice so that we continue to work for the money - so that they can collect 7 percent on every cent that is spent.

Without us around can this Government gloat about the success that they claim for themselves ?

Do you seriously doubt the ability of the SAF over the ''Professional Armies'' around this Little Red Dot ?

A ''professional'' armed force may not necessarily have a critical mass of soldiers who are professional - even as they lean to the military for a profession simply to bring home some bread and butter - or rice and vegetable - to feed their families.

Have you forgotten the potency of the small Israeli Defence Force - that is similar to our SAF - and which fought against the largely ''professional'' Arab armies that were raised to exterminater the artificially created country of Israel ?

I believe in our individual fighting ability that make up the sum total of the fighting ability and contributing to the potency of the SAF.

Our equipment and training is superior, the leadership is clear in their strategies and operation plans, and the drive of an NSF force is consistent.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:55:18 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:55:18 +0800

Atobe it isnt that the million $ ministers are not war-mongers. They are realists. Can Singapore win any war of conquest? First of all the US will never back such a war and secondly you think the part time miltia called SAF can triumph over a professional army?

Its just a RICE short term price surge only not Global starvation. Agriculture business for the moment still dont produce that good profits (except for biofuel) otherwise everyone would want a slice of it. I agree electronics margins continue to be reduced daily though.

No the worry should be on indirect inflation on the economy.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Atobe @ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:01:13 +0800

Atobe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:01:13 +0800

''Originally posted by tripwire:

mankind has been fighting for resources since recorded times.... and last i check... its still the same in this modern day and time... as nations jeolously guards their border and their resources within.''

Do you seriously believe that nations jealously guard their border merely for the resources only ?

If your assumption is true, what worth is there to guard the borders of nations without any natural resources - such as Singapore ?

Do you not consider that it is also for reason of POLITICS - that include national sovereignty, independence, and all the other nationalistic hullabaloo that accompanies it.

''the only reason that is holding back every nation from conquering their neighbours is simply because its cheaper to trade than going to war.... when there are excess resources for sale.

wat if there is a global shortage??? are we suppose to believe that you will gladly see your family starve or thirst to death because its "smarter" than going to war to obtain those resources your family needs like those past colonial wars of economic hegemony?''

Thank god that the Singapore Ministers that are paid Million Dollar wages are not similar war-mongers that harbor similar thinking as you have articulated.

Is there anything to fight for when - as you have said - the shortage is global, and is there any worth to fight for what little that is left in the neighboring country or countries ?

Is there any morality to charge into someone else's home, to steal what rightfully belong to others, simply to keep yourself alive ?

Is human death worth paying for the value of the low price food - as you have so cleverly articulated below ?

lets be honest... food is a low price goods compare to the price of a PC chip... one laptop computer is easily worth 1500 plates of chicken rice. thus its no surprise to the learned minds that the value of singapore food output could not possibly constitute a major proportion in the overall GDP.

to produce sufficient output in food production to match the output value of other manufacturing sectors requires massive amount of land... a luxury that singapore do not have.

considering the high opportunity cost of farming in singapore due to our lack of arable land... its insane to put food production above that of other more high value goods production.

just in case you have not realised... let me remind you that food production requires land... lots of fine arable land... do you see that in singapore? ''

You prefer to lock your imagination to the high cost of traditional forms of food production that require large tracts of arable land.

Have you not heard of hydroponics and agro-culture - in which higher yield of food production can be extracted from a similar plot of land that allow vertical farming to take place ?

Look again at the price of a laptop or PC that is tumbling as the unit cost of each chip fall when it enter a mature phase after its initial launch, and newer chip design is introduced. Have you appreciated the short life cycle of each laptop model that is introduced ?

The same cannot be said about agriculture, when the unit cost remains quite stable until over production occurs, or when scarcity will push the price of the agricultural products even higher - as will also happen to the production of computer chips.

Surely you do not take yourself so seriously to believe your own imagination that one highly overpriced laptop can fetch 1500 plates of chicken rice - at $2.00 per plate or $4.50 ? Your statement seem to scorn the lowly chicken rice trade compared to your bias towards the high tech product of the laptop.

You will be surprised to learn that the profit margins of the chicken rice seller maybe higher then the laptop retailer - at the exchange rate of ONE laptop to 1500 plates of chicken rice.

Show more respect for a plate of chicken rice.

sure we can give abit more land to the agriculture sector... but as we face ever rising opportunity cost... we would not be even one step closer to self sufficiency... at least realise that part.

with regard to water from malaysia... we were blessed with access to unlimited water from the sea and the sky... tell me friend.. where can i find unlimited land in singapore?

Have you tried vertical thinking, if your mind find limitation on the horizontal plane ?

If you want to allow yourself to be locked into the Government propaganda about the limited land space for Singaporeans, no one can help you to think the manner in which you allow yourself to be locked in.

Try to give yourself more space and look at the large tracts of land that the government has hoarded, and releasing the various parcels of land to drive the speculative prices upwards.

If land is as limited as the Government has claimed, do you not find it contradictory that it will plan for the population numbers to grow to 6 million from the present level - by way of accepting more foreigners into our midst ?

Where do you think this Government is finding the scarce land to accomodate the large number of new arrivals ?

It seems that your alarmist methods at arguing your position resemble the same scare tactics of the Government.

for your information... even japan have grudgeingly accepted the fact that they have become more and more dependent on food import to meet demand... the recent food poisoning has brought that much to light if you have follow the news...

Japan has always accepted the fact that it is not rich in resources, and it has limited land space - was this fact disputed ?

It was mentioned in my last post, that despite this fact - the Japanese Government has not insisted on any deliberate decision to sacrifice its agricultural sector to make way for the industries - to use your preferred analogy :- giving up the selling of chickens or chicken rice to concentrate entirely on manufacturing computer chips and laptops.

ask the lion if he will starve his cubs to preserve the lives of his preys.... we live in a finite world with limited resources... with an exploding population... its a matter of time before one side must give... which side would you sacrifice? yours or others?

Why will you want to wait until it becomes ''a matter of time before one side must give....'' ?

Why will this highly paid Ministers remain inattentive to the present situation that is becoming globally desperate, and leave matters to time that will force any one of us to make a decision as to which side to sacrifice ?

As I have mentioned in my earlier post on Page 4 of this topic, our highly paid Ministers should take on the lead role to mobilise the Regional and Global Governments into action, and address this problem - in the same manner that it had taken the lead role to push for the Law of the Sea Convention to protect the interests of small nations, as much as it protects the interests of the large ones.

and thus i ask you my martian friend... how is the weather back on mars?

For one who reflect the ideology of a war monger - by advocating the morality of force to take from others in order to keep oneself alive - should you not know the Martian weather better than anyone else ?

Have you given up the opportunity to be a ''mini-God'' to control even the weather in your little room ?

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:27:20 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:27:20 +0800

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/31/business/AS-FIN-Malaysia-Rice-Price.php

"Malaysia has no plans to raise the retail price of rice but efforts are under way to ensure adequate rice stockpiles in case of a shortage of supply, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday.

The government regulates the price of rice, which is one of the essential items it subsidizes. It also gives financial aid to rice farmers, who produce about 70 percent of the country's rice needs."

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:50:52 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:50:52 +0800

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/03/31/business/business_30069564.php

"As a smart exporter, Thailand should form an alliance with major rice-exporting countries such as India and Vietnam to strengthen their collective bargaining power in the international market.

Export prices should be set by exporting countries rather than at the demand of importing countries as in the past.

However, this does not mean that rice-exporting countries want to create a cartel. They only hope to stabilise rice prices through management of the market mechanism.

Rice-exporting countries should jointly set up an "ideal price" or "benchmark", based mainly on the same fixed costs of oil, fertiliser and other key factors of production. The strategy would provide security for both rice production and prices in the long run."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=126782

"Chookiat criticised Thai Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan for encouraging Thai farmers to hoard their rice in order to fetch better prices for it. Not only farmers, but millers and local businessmen have started hording and speculating on Thai rice, creating an artificial shortage for exports.

The government currently has a 2.1-million-ton stockpile that it has promised to distribute to the poor to alleviate high rice prices.

The stock is expected to last about three months, after which the government will need to go to the market to replenish their stocks, predicted Chookiat."

----

Straits Times, Channel newsasia zuo bo. Maybe have Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries in the future.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:51:31 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:51:31 +0800

"lol.. our MPs can teach other countries how to earn big money.."

Everyone knows how to make money from monopolies and when you have inside information and government agencies collecting commerical data from your privately run rivals. They cant teach people to innovate or make anything useful though...

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by Uncle Ver SG @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:28:41 +0800

Uncle Ver SG — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:28:41 +0800

"ask the lion if he will starve his cubs to preserve the lives of his preys.... we live in a finite world with limited resources... with an exploding population... its a matter of time before one side must give... which side would you sacrifice? yours or others?"

Its every man for himself when that occurs. My side doesnt include LKY slaves. You will see plenty of assassinations and coups my friend.

It will be quite like the French Revolution when Ho Ching says "Let them eat gui" when everyone else is starving. I mean they are paid millions now already arent they; what do you think will happen when bad times occur?

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by 333225520 @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:07:18 +0800

333225520 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:07:18 +0800

Originally posted by purpledragon84:

what would the opposition have done?

You will know when they take over the gov.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by purpledragon84 @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:40:56 +0800

purpledragon84 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:40:56 +0800

Originally posted by stupidissmart:

To be frank, I think to make singapore not reliant on food from other sources is impossible.

It is not like like making Japan not reliant on food from outside (they need to import food heavily too) They r much bigger and less densely populated than singapore in tis case.

Asking singapore to be self reliant on food is as difficult as making the city of Tokyo self reliant on food.

Which major city in tis world can actually be self reliant on the city itself on food ? It is impossible. No one even wanna try. Even if u use up some land to make agriculture, the land price is too expensive and the food is not gonna be cheaper than buying from other sources. Even if we bulldoze all the buildings down, the land size if not enough for us to be self reliant anyway and we still starve to dead if other sources of food stop their import. So wat is the point ?

R&D have its limit as well. Food need land, time, sunlight and manpower. We do not have land. Then it is game over. If u compare with water, it just need a water sources. Even if u can make food out of no land, it will be so heavily modified and chemically laden tat it is not popular nor healthy to eat. People r going for organic food now, not chemical food.

Furthermore, research in agriculture have gone for centuries and even if u give it another 10 years, there will be little improvements to it. It is already a matured field of science. U want tomato to look redder it is redder. U want mushrooms to be bigger it is bigger. U want chicken wings the size of your fist it is already done. Do u wanna pump in billions of dollars of tax money into something which have no outcome ? I think it is futile.

Asking singapore gov, who have totally no experience in agriculture and food to take a world leader role and pro active role in argiculture and food issue, is like asking babies to teach their grandmother how to plant rice. To be frank, most countries in the world have more qualification than singapore.

lol.. our MPs can teach other countries how to earn big money..

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by tripwire @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:31:16 +0800

tripwire — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:31:16 +0800

Your reply confirms the present precarious position that Singapore is in, yet your solution seems to be heavily colored by the historical events that led to WW1 and WW2 - have you not learnt from the foolishness of those past colonial wars of economic hegemony ?

the only reason that is holding back every nation from conquering their neighbours is simply because its cheaper to trade than going to war.... when there are excess resources for sale.

From the available statistics for 2007 { http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/sif2007.pdf } Singapore's food output can be found in the statistics for Manufacturing - the first item in the list being ''Food, Beverage & Tobacco'' - producing an Annual Value of S$5,223.5 million - that is only 2.226 percent from an Annual Total Manufacturing Output of S$234,609.3 Million.

The labor employed for this Manufacturing sector is 301.7 Thousands from a total labor force of 1,796.7 Thousand, or 16.79 percent of the labor force.

The food manufactured in Singapore will probably be the processed food, and the small but concentrated high rise agriculture in the Lim Chu Kang area.

Given the size of the labor force employed in this sector, and the dismal productivity compared with the numbers available from the other sector - surely more support can be given to increase the productivity levels ?

to produce sufficient output in food production to match the output value of other manufacturing sectors requires massive amount of land... a luxury that singapore do not have.

considering the high opportunity cost of farming in singapore due to our lack of arable land... its insane to put food production above that of other more high value goods production.

Have I hinted anywhere in my postings about going to war, or has it been your position to seek war to grab our neighbor's land so as to maintain our own survival?

What is the purpose and direction of your shock approach that is nothing more then sensationalising your own assumed speculative position than put any effort to take any position to address the situation ??

just in case you have not realised... let me remind you that food production requires land... lots of fine arable land... do you see that in singapore?

Are you certain that more land cannot be given for the purpose of achieving some degree of being less reliant on food imports - at least for certain essential foodstuff ?

Could we not do something for the Food Manufacturing Sector in the same manner as we have managed to produce NuWater to reduce the volume of water that need to be imported from Malaysia ?

sure we can give abit more land to the agriculture sector... but as we face ever rising opportunity cost... we would not be even one step closer to self sufficiency... at least realise that part.

with regard to water from malaysia... we were blessed with access to unlimited water from the sea and the sky... tell me friend.. where can i find unlimited land in singapore?

Even in Japan, where land is more expensive and scarce, the Japanese Government has never attempted to remove the rice farms nor reduce available land for agricultural unless it has to give way to infrastructure - as in the construction of Narita Airport.

Are you still living in the 1900s, when it is common for countries to make land grabs to extend their own economic control over raw materials and markets ?

It is little comfort in your belief that ''it is kinda extreme'' - but what solution do you have to address the food shortage besides all the shocking sensational statements ?

Australia and Indonesia are two different basket cases - even as Australia had encountered problems with drought, it remains self-sufficient to feed its own population living in the limited areas that can accomodate people along the West Coast, North-eastern, Eastern and South-eastern areas of the Australian land mass that remains largely uninhabitable.

The inability of Indonesia to feed its own is due very much to its own politics, social and cultural aptitudes; and the corruption that is endemic within its system that lock them in a perpetual path towards poverty.

Philippines used to be the leading rice exporting countries in the 1950s through the 1960s, but through decades of corruption and inaction during the Marcos rule, its position was overtaken by Thailand and Vietnam. Its present position is no different from Indonesia, with both countries having an inefficient production management system, and a non-existent or ineffective birth control program.

China and Korea - as well as the USA - have been self-sufficient in most of their essential foodstuff, and importing little to meet domestic needs for those essential foodstuff, and this ability to meet their own needs remains consistent despite the natures rough abuses on their respective territories.

and wat is holding back singapore from being self sufficient? where is our massive INVISIBLE chunk of arable land may i ask that i kept failing to notice?

If you had carefully considered what you have read in my post dated 29 March 2008 at 10.19 P.M - on Page 4 of this thread, before making your first response to this topic that came immediately below my post - perhaps you would not have asked what can I do about it if I were in the shoes of this Government.

The answers to your question were already given.

and thus i ask you my martian friend... how is the weather back on mars?

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by stupidissmart @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:24:45 +0800

stupidissmart — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:24:45 +0800

To be frank, I think to make singapore not reliant on food from other sources is impossible.

It is not like like making Japan not reliant on food from outside (they need to import food heavily too) They r much bigger and less densely populated than singapore in tis case.

Asking singapore to be self reliant on food is as difficult as making the city of Tokyo self reliant on food.

Which major city in tis world can actually be self reliant on the city itself on food ? It is impossible. No one even wanna try. Even if u use up some land to make agriculture, the land price is too expensive and the food is not gonna be cheaper than buying from other sources. Even if we bulldoze all the buildings down, the land size if not enough for us to be self reliant anyway and we still starve to dead if other sources of food stop their import. So wat is the point ?

R&D have its limit as well. Food need land, time, sunlight and manpower. We do not have land. Then it is game over. If u compare with water, it just need a water sources. Even if u can make food out of no land, it will be so heavily modified and chemically laden tat it is not popular nor healthy to eat. People r going for organic food now, not chemical food.

Furthermore, research in agriculture have gone for centuries and even if u give it another 10 years, there will be little improvements to it. It is already a matured field of science. U want tomato to look redder it is redder. U want mushrooms to be bigger it is bigger. U want chicken wings the size of your fist it is already done. Do u wanna pump in billions of dollars of tax money into something which have no outcome ? I think it is futile.

Asking singapore gov, who have totally no experience in agriculture and food to take a world leader role and pro active role in argiculture and food issue, is like asking babies to teach their grandmother how to plant rice. To be frank, most countries in the world have more qualification than singapore.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by iori8888 @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:58:41 +0800

iori8888 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:58:41 +0800

DON’T JUST COMPLAIN. SUPPORT DEMOCRACY!

It’s time to do something to protect your rights and your interests. Pick up the phone, get on your email, or send us a letter. Whatever you do, it beats doing nothing.

Join us today and help us build a more democratic and just Singapore. Contact us at speakup@singaporedemocrat.org.

“Our lives begin to end
the day we become
silent about the things
that matter.”

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by maurizio13 @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:49:27 +0800

maurizio13 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:49:27 +0800

Wong Kan Seng got a mention on Wikipedia.

On 27th February, an alleged JI leader escaped from the Whitley detention centre, leading to the largest manhunt in Singapore. Wong apologised in Parliament for the escape on the next day after the occurence. He revealed that Mas Selamat escaped when he was being taken to the toilet before a meeting at the Family Visit Room^[5].

Criticism has been directed towards Wong Kan Seng, the Minister of Home Affairs in Singapore, with regards to the fact that news of Mas Selamat's escape was not disseminated to the public until 4 hours after its occurrence^[6]. There have been calls for Wong to step down, given the severity of the security lapse. The fallout has also been exacerbated over the public's outrage over the major pay hike for MPs in Singapore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Kan_Seng

World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ? replied by maurizio13 @ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:46:54 +0800

maurizio13 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:46:54 +0800

Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:

Melbourne is already losing a lot of money. $33 billion of tax payer money. + night race even more. If Singapore faces the same kind of losses, who will come forward and take responsibility? Mah Bow Tan will do a WKS.

Now WKS is like those terms they use on Ocean's 11 to name con jobs.

WKS: committing a mistake by letting a suspected terrorist doing a toilet con job, then go on camera to tell everybody to forget about it and work together,

then start a committee of inquiry to put the blame on some junior officer.

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