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october 3 – 16, 2014 • MCI (P) 100/09/2014 • SINGAPORE EDITION • theepochtimes.com
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INSIDE EPOCH TIMES news & perspectives
HONG KONG
Political Tug-of-War Beijing Officials Play Tug-of-War Over Hong Kong 8
Values & Virtues
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An Ode to Children’s Day
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This Is Singapore The Art of Petals 4
food & travel
This Children’s Day, we delve into the psyche of our little adults and discover what it takes to raise kind children
That was when I realise I can’t teach kids at that age. They are so impressionable; they imitate whatever you do. I’ve to be a good role model all the time.
FOTOLIA
By Claire Ong Epoch Times Staff
A
n acquaintance recently related a story from her days as a kindergarten teacher. Once, in haste, she started throwing workbooks to her pupils at the back of the classroom. To expedite the process, she asked a boy to help her distribute.
To her horror, he started throwing workbooks as well. “That was when I realise I can’t teach kids at that age. They are so impressionable; they imitate whatever you do. I’ve to be a good role model all the time,” she mused. See Children on Page 34
It takes both nature and nurture to raise a kind child.
FOOD
Antoinette Restaurant A Taste of French Elegance at Antoinette 33
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A pro-democracy protester protects himself from tear gas in Hong Kong during a demonstration on September 28, 2014. Police fired tear gas as tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators brought parts of central Hong Kong to a standstill on Sunday, in a dramatic escalation of protests that have gripped the semi-autonomous Chinese city for days.
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NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Indian Business Community Encourages SMEs to Venture Overseas SUN MINGGUO/EPOCH TIMES
By Michael Ng Epoch Times Staff The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) celebrated its 90th anniversary with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Guest of Honour at a special Gala Dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on September 26, to mark nine decades of excellence in promoting business and industry and playing a crucial role in Singapore’s nation-building. To commemorate this historic milestone, the Chamber announced new initiatives to grow its membership and to serve Singapore’s business community, in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs), across different industries and ethnic backgrounds to venture overseas – especially India. PM Lee presented the SICCI-DBS Indian Entre-
preneur Awards (SIEA) 2014 at the gala dinner to three outstanding businessmen: Ajit Aravind Prabhu, Chairman & CEO of QuEST Global Service, was recipient of the SICCI-DBS Outstanding Entrepreneur award; Gopal Balakrishnan, Director of A-Star Testing & Inspection, received the Promising Entrepreneur award; and Dinesh Verma, Chairman of V 2 U Healthcare, was presented the New Upcoming Entrepreneur award. Launched in 2004, the awards are presented annually to recognise and reward the best entrepreneurs in the Indian business community in Singapore and to serve as a motivation for budding Indian entrepreneurs. Speaking to an audience of close to 1,000 who attended the Gala Dinner, SICCI’s Chairman, Dr R. Theyvendran, said, “Over the years, SICCI has faced many significant changes
Dr R. Theyvendran, Chairman of Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI)
and overcome many challenges affecting the Indian business community. “As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we will embark on new initiatives to offer more value-added services to enhance our membership and we will also implement a new ‘Venture India’ drive to encourage and facili-
tate Singapore businesses – especially homegrown SMEs – to seize the wealth of opportunities that India, the third largest economy in Asia, can offer. “In addition, we will also increase assistance to SMEs through our rejuvenated Trade Match services to help link SICCI mem-
bers and companies in Singapore with suitable business partners, both locally and internationally. Its customised services are helpful and relevant to companies which seek new business ventures or are looking to expand into other emerging markets in the region and beyond.”
SICCI has grown its membership significantly over the years. Today, its membership stands close to 800. “We have plans to expand our membership to over 1,000 within the next three months through a proactive membership drive with a slew of benefits; we will also come up with several incentives to enhance value to existing members,” Dr Theyvendran said. SICCI’s newly enhanced membership benef its include discounts on trade documentation services, access to business matching and networking events organised by SICCI, as well as complimentary commercial information dissemination services. Active promotion of members’ development and provision of networking opportunities to boost growth of members’ businesses are also part of SICCI’s plans to rope in new members.
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october 3 – 16, 2014
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this is singapore
Epoch Times
all Photos Courtesy of Grace ciao
Joy is like a flower that blooms when you do. Grace Ciao
The Art of Petals By Ang Xue Er Grace Ciao is a freelance fashion illustrator and a final year business student at the National University of Singapore. The self-taught fashion illustrator began integrating real flower petals into her sketches in April this year. She posted her flower petals fashion outfits on Facebook and Instagram, and her followers increased by an overwhelming 20,000 within three months. Since then, she has been receiving favourable attention from online media, and growing requests for her works from clients around the world. Andrea Romano from Mashable, a website covering the top social media news, comments: “Ciao creates unique and totally wearable fashions.” Curious about how leaves and petals become enchantments through Grace Ciao’s magical fingers? What lies behind her unique imagination? Read on to learn about her journey, and what it’s really like to be able to call something yours. Would you like to introduce yourself? Hello! I’m Grace Ciao, a 22-year-old fashion illustrator, and my personal style mainly revolves around markers and water colours to construct designs. Not long ago, I started conceptualising creative fashion outfits by integrating real flower petals into my sketches. And I am truly gleeful from the
generous feeding of positive responses towards the designs that I have posted on my social media (@Grace_Ciao). All of these affirmative reactions to my works have pushed me on to venture deeper into this pet project. Will you turn your flower designs into real clothes? Yes, definitely! How did you feel when you had your first deal? When I first started out, I would rejoice simply over an email. I recall that my very first email was from a Singaporean lady, who chanced upon my portfolio on Instagram (@Grace_ Ciao) and specially requested to have a wedding card designed exclusively for her. I was beyond ecstatic; I could barely sleep a wink that night! [I] get more emails now as time passes. And as much as I can finish reading all of them, I can’t reply as quickly as I wish! Who is your favourite designer? I admire Elie Saab (a Lebanese fashion designer) a lot! I love how his designs create emphasis on [femininity] and elegance! I’m very much attracted to his style in particular and pretty much on how he could embody a flower like nature – in a clean cut and elegant manner. He makes mere use of flowers and jewels to create a very sophisticated vibe. If I were to launch my own couture line, I
Fashion illustration made using lily petals.
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Epoch Times
would want to create such sophisticated dresses too.
artworks yet managed to pull through without the support of my parents.
Since you are studying business, what will be your future career path? I have plans of starting my own business and launching my own fashion line one day. This has been a long childhood dream of mine that I’ve been wanting to fulfil. Sharing more on that, [I am] intrigued [by] romantic, fairy-tale like weddings. Hence, my dream clothing line will be mostly inspired by bridal and couture of late.
(Delphinium boldness)
(Red Roses and Pansies represent love and romance) What’s your motto in life? “Always have an attitude of gratitude.” I have actually picked up a habit of writing at least three things that I am thankful for every day. Flipping through my writings now, I see that I have it in abundance. What else would you like to share about your journey? Well, back then my parents were hardly supportive of me pursuing a creative education or career despite my liking. However, I painted a lot during my own free time and even had to hide my
represents
october 3 – 16, 2014
Grace’s favourite illustration.
I’m really thankful for this happy chance: [my] results and [recognition have since] brought about my parents’ support. Also, I’ve grown old enough to decide my own future and I know what and how I want to build it. You see, my favourite quote is – ‘Joy is like a flower that blooms when you do.’ I always believe that as long as we fight on for what we love, happiness and joy will follow after, in a matter of time. Always remember – gratitude. (Pink Carnation gratitude)
represents
THIS IS SINGAPORE This Is Singapore is a fortnightly feature that delves into the life of an inspiring and talented individual in Singapore. Read all our interviews here:
Grace’s first flower petals illustrations.
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REUTERS
US Airstrikes Pound Islamic State Targets A pair of US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles fly over northern Iraq after conducting airstrikes in Syria, as seen in this US Air Force handout photo on Sept 23, 2014. AP
REUTERS
Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel (L), accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, briefs reporters about ongoing operations against Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq during a news conference at the Pentagon.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the 69th UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York on Sept 26, 2014.
strategy, but not an Iraq-only strategy. He said the strikes in Syria show Islamic State fighters they have no safe haven. He added that any ground troops he might recommend for Iraq’s future use would be international and comprise Iraqis, Kurds and Syrian opposition forces.
Thorning-Schmidt announced last Friday that her country would provide seven F-16 fighter jets to carry out airstrikes in Iraq. Belgium is contributing six F-16s. Before the vote in Britain’s parliament to join the strikes in Iraq, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned a military campaign against the Islamic State could take years. But he said the air strikes are necessary because the Islamic State has what he called a “proven intention to attack our country and our people”. The Islamic State swept through large parts of Iraq in June, defeating US-trained-andarmed Iraqi forces and seizing large amounts of their weapons. It already controlled large amounts of territory in Syria, where it is fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. A US-led coalition has been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria for the last several days and in Iraq for the last several weeks.
VOA News A Syrian watchdog group says airstrikes, likely carried out by US-led forces, hit Islamic State targets on Sept 27 in Syria. The Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights says coalition warplanes struck Aleppo province near al-Etihad University, an Islamic State headquarters. The Observatory says “31 massive explosions” were heard in the province of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold, and casualties were reported. The monitoring group reported warplanes also struck areas east of the desert town of Palmyra in Homs province last Saturday. American fighter jets, drones and other aircraft also pounded Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria last Friday. The attacks came on a day that Britain, Denmark and Belgium announced they will carry out airstrikes against the group in Iraq. US Central Command said four Islamic State tanks were destroyed in Syria’s Deir el-Zour province. A group monitoring the war in Syria said last Friday that oil facilities were the apparent target of overnight strikes in Deir el-Zour. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a command centre for the Islamic State group was also hit. In northern Syria, a video posted to social media purports to show Kurdish fighters launching attacks on Islamic State targets near the town of Kobani, which for days has been the centre of a struggle between the two sides.
Left unchecked, we will face a terrorist caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member, with a declared and proven determination to attack our country and our people. British Prime Minister David Cameron The US news network CNN aired live coverage from across the border in Turkey of Islamic State fighters moving across a hillside near Kobani while engaging in gunfire with what were believed to be Kurdish fighters. In Iraq, CENTCOM said seven strikes targeted armoured vehicles, including three Humvees and a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle. It said several other vehicles and outposts were hit in strikes near Kirkuk, west of Baghdad, and near al-Qaim. US Trainers in Saudi Arabia As airstrikes continued, US teams tasked with training select Syrian rebel groups were getting in place to start their work. Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel announced at a press conference with the chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, that assessment teams have arrived in Saudi Arabia. The teams are part of the US military’s plan to train elements of the Syrian opposition to fight Islamic State militants. The defence secretary said the opposition fighters are being vetted by US military, diplomatic, and intelligence experts to determine which Syrians will be trained, but the rebel groups will choose their own leadership Hagel also said last Friday that the ongoing strikes deny Islamic State militants the freedom of movement. He said more than 200 airstrikes were conducted in Iraq last week and 43 in Syria. He also said he spoke with Britain’s defence secretary and welcomed Britain’s decision to join the air campaign in Iraq. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said last Friday the military campaign is an Iraq-first
Russia Condemns Strikes Speaking at the United Nations last Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the airstrikes in Syria are a violation of international law because the US-led coalition has not received permission from Damascus. Lavrov said, even now, the coalition should seek Syrian cooperation not only for legal reasons but to ensure “the efficiency of the effort”. Lavrov’s statement was the strongest criticism yet at the UN General Assembly where most speakers have spoken out against Islamic State threats. In another development, Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle
Epoch Times
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Vietnam Sets Sights on High-Tech Economy By Lien Hoang VOA News HO CHI MINH CITY—Vietnam is getting a little tired of coffee and rice – or at least it wants to be known for more than being a top exporter of those commodities. So it is currently eyeing a more lustrous industry: high-tech and especially electronics. Talks of igniting Vietnam’s own Silicon Valley might be a bit much. But in recent years, the country has succeeded in drawing big names like Microsoft, Samsung, and Intel. All three are making Vietnam a major link in their global manufacturing networks. That is a sign that Vietnam has some desirable traits to help it develop a tech sector. But the question is whether it can turn that potential into an engine for economic growth. 2020 Vision The domestic push into a tech economy is benefiting young engineers like Nguyen Trong Nhan. He returned from Australia with a master’s in programming and quickly found a job at National Instruments last year. The Vietnamese company provides hardware and software to other businesses, but mostly to schools with science labs. “I think we’re very good in education,” Nhan said. “But now we want to build relationships in industry.” Most likely, there will be a larger tech industry for his company to serve in the coming years. In
2012, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed a decision that laid out a national strategy for science and technology. It projected that by 2020, the value of high-tech products and applications should make up 45% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product. Radhika Srinivasan, IBM’s programme director for technology alliances and licensing, said Sept 17 at the Vietnam Semiconductor Strategy Summit in Ho Chi Minh City that Vietnam was betting its future on the right field. “Why should Vietnam – or any emerging economy, really – focus on microelectronics or semiconductors?” Srinivasan asked. “It drives innovation and entrepreneurship, and hence fuels economic growth.” Favourable Factors Investors say they are drawn to this nation of 90 million people because of its location near China and key shipping lanes, its emphasis on consensus and teamwork, and its entrepreneurial work ethic. Many Vietnamese citizens run family businesses and have a welcoming attitude to foreigners. Some even say it helps that the Vietnamese language, unlike Chinese, uses Roman lettering, which makes it easier for locals to adopt English, the lingua franca of global commerce. Vietnam also has favourable demographics, particularly a young, tech-savvy population that obsesses over tablets and smartphones. “Favour factors for Vietnam are
october 3 – 16, 2014
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REUTERS
A scientist presents a silicon wafer.
low wages and a high number of fresh graduates from university,” said Pham Ba Tuan, senior expert at CNS, a large state-run corporation that is working to build a silicon wafer fabrication facility. The Education Challenge Despite all the graduates, education remains a work in progress. Although school is the main priority for most families, businesses often complain that students enter the workforce without necessary skills. For example, Intel reportedly tested 2,000 graduates about six years ago, out of which just 40 had the technical and language capacity the company needed. Since then, Intel has invested millions to educate Vietnamese by sending them to either a university in the United States or an Australian university with a campus in Vietnam, according to Intel Vietnam general manager Sherry Boger. Scholarship recipients work for Intel after they graduate.
Boger said a problem is that Vietnamese classrooms, where teachers lecture to students, tend to be “one-directional”. “Students don’t feel comfortable [asking] a lot of questions,” she said. “And so what we want to be able to see in the workplace is, employees voice out their ideas, their concerns, and that we have a free-flow exchange.” ‘Quite a Jump’ In addition to cleaning up infrastructure and regulations, Vietnam will need this educational progress if it wants to graduate its technology sector from the assembly line stage. Electronics recently became the country’s top export, worth US$21.7 billion (S$27.7 billion) in the first eight months of 2014, according to the General Statistics Office. But Vietnam’s role in that value chain mostly involves putting devices together and packaging them. To be able to create advanced products, such as
semiconductor chips, Vietnam is hoping for technology transfers from foreign firms. “This field in Vietnam is very new, and we need to absorb information and technology experience from foreigners,” Le Manh Ha, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said in an opening speech at the semiconductor summit. Absorbing technology would help Vietnam’s ambitious plans to enter the silicon wafer fabrication business. Eduard Hoeberichts, founder and CEO of the Dutch semiconductor company FabMax, said that fewer than 20 countries have this “wafer-fab” ability. But he was encouraged because a fortnight earlier, Hanoi granted another level of approvals to the wafer facility proposal from CNS. “The importance of the decision is, it’s a statement that Vietnam is investing in real technology,” Hoeberichts said. “For a developing country, it’s quite a jump.”
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OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Epoch Times
Beijing Officials Play Tug-of-War Over Hong Kong Chris McGrath/Getty Images
By Lin Yi and Li Yi Epoch Times Staff The very different treatment state-run media gave to two Chinese officials’ visits to Shenzhen reflects a behind-the-scenes power struggle over the issue of Hong Kong. Shenzhen City in southern China’s Guangdong Province is located right next to Hong Kong. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, a supporter of current CCP leader Xi Jinping, visited Shenzhen and nearby cities for two days in September to inspect foreign trade-related work, according to the Chinese Communist Party-mouthpiece Nanfang Daily. Official media made high-profile reports on the trip. Wang was accompanied on his tour by Guangdong Province secretary Hu Chunhua and governor Zhu Xiaodan. Wang’s other recent excursions have also been reported in news columns by the state-run news agency Xinhua, under the headings “Wang Yang Activity Reports” and “Important Event Reports”. Wang has made these frequent media appearances just as Occupy Central, a nonviolent movement for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, was about to take place. Meanwhile Zhang Dejiang, a member of the CCP’s Politburo Standing Committee, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and a supporter of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin, went to Shenzhen in July this year. Zhang spent three days there meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and members of Hong Kong’s pro-establishment camp, but official media never reported it. Hong Kong is currently in a critical political situation as its citizens fight to gain universal suffrage for their next Chief Executive election. The media’s different treatment of Zhang and Wang reveals an intense power struggle in Beijing. Sources have indicated that the faction of the CCP loyal to former Party leader Jiang Zemin is purposely stirring up chaos in Hong Kong to make trouble for the faction loyal to current Party leader Xi Jinping. It has been speculated that Wang is trying to prevent the Jiang faction from further aggravating the situation in Hong Kong. Political Battleground On Aug 31, the CCP’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee denied Hong Kong people true universal suffrage. As a result, disgruntled Hong Kongers have launched protests and student strikes – and the Occupy Central movement demanding universal suffrage has caught the world’s attention with its civil and dignified demonstrations, where
Protesters sing songs and wave their handphones in the air outside the Hong Kong Government Complex after a massive thunderstorm passed over on September 30, 2014.
participants sort trash and recycle the morning after. A source reported that when Zhang went to Shenzhen, he personally summoned and deployed Guangdong underground CCP members and gang groups. He also decided to hold an Anti-Occupy Central parade, which took place on Aug 17, Jiang Zemin’s birthday.
Zhang and other Jiang faction members have turned Hong Kong into Beijing’s political battlefield. Zhang’s tactics are thought to be aimed at infuriating the Hong Kong public. Similarly, Zhang helped write the June 10 white paper that angered Hong Kongers by stating that Hong Kong only has as much independence as China is willing to give it. On Sept 16, Zhang met with a delegation of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade
Unions (FTU) in Beijing. During the meeting, he said the NPC’s decision on universal suffrage has “the highest legal authority” and “cannot be shaken”. Official media filtered out these two sensitive comments. Shi Cangshan, a China expert based in Washington, D.C., said Zhang’s activity is meant to tear Hong Kong apart, intensify social conflicts in Hong Kong, and challenge the Xi faction, which is in the process of eliminating the forces of Jiang faction. “When Zhang Dejiang met with the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the most sensitive remarks were filtered out by Xi authorities,” Shi said. “This indicates that Xi’s views on political reform for Hong Kong are different from those of Zhang. Officials serving Xi deliberately made the differences public, which is clearly to send signals to the Hong Kong people.” Zhang and other Jiang faction members have turned Hong Kong into Beijing’s political battlefield. This is causing the Hong Kong pro-establishment camp to fall into an unprecedented split. The Heung Yee Kuk, or Rural Council, boycotted Zhang’s anti-Occupy Central parade. Legislative Council (LegCo)
president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, former Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie, and other prominent figures of the proestablishment camp voiced different opinions from that of the Jiang faction after the NPC shut the door on the political reform package for universal suffrage. For example, Tsang has repeatedly stressed that the central Chinese government should take some responsibility for the failure of the reform package. Elsie Leung recently indicated that the NPC’s decision concerning the nominating committee for the Hong Kong Chief Executive is not unchangeable. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s peaceful ‘Umbrella Revolution’ speaks volumes of the people’s desire for democracy. “An umbrella looks non-threatening,” said Chloe Ho, 20, as quoted in the New York Times. The history student was seen distributing food and wet towels to protesters. “It shows how mild we Hong Kong people are, but when you cross our bottom line, we all come out together, just like the umbrellas all come out at the same time when it rains.” Translated by Susan Wang. Written in English by Sally Appert. Updated on Sept 30.
Epoch Times
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014
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China’s ‘Hard Landing’ Approaches Key indicators point to slower growth, policy response minimal so far By Rahul Vaidyanath Epoch Times Staff The China “hard landing” scenario has long been considered a tail risk, but not anymore. The list of economic data misses in August is long. Imports were expected to rise 3 percent, but instead fell 2.4 percent, reflecting weakening consumer demand. Supply side inflation (producer price index) fell a greater-than-expected 1.2 percent. This points to slowing economic activity in terms of reduced demand for raw materials (oil, coal, steel, cement etc.) by producers to create goods for the end user. According to Bloomberg, this statistic has been falling for 30 months. The consumer price index reached a four-month low at 2 percent, far below the 3.5 percent central bank target rate. A critical measure of Chinese economic activity, credit expansion (money supply), also missed expectations. More Bad News On Sept 13, economic worries intensified. Fixed investment growth (capital expenditures for real estate or productive capacity) decelerated to 16.5 percent, down from 17 percent. This economic statistic has fallen back to 2001 levels and has been on a gradual decline since 2010. Fixed investment was responsible for 80 percent of Chinese growth over the last decade. Its slowing down is necessary to rebalance the economy in the long term, but will cause pain in the short term. Retail sales also printed below expectations (11.9 percent vs. expectations of 12.1 percent). Industrial production fell sharply to 6.9 percent, a level not seen since the onset of the financial crisis in late 2008. The temporary stability in China’s economy seen during the summer has faded and reality is now setting in. As a result, growth forecasts have been revised lower, and to some extent a repricing of assets such as commodities and currencies, among others, have taken place. Back in July, second-quarter Chinese GDP came in right at 7.5 percent. A Bloomberg survey of 49 economists conducted Sept 18-23 forecasts thirdquarter GDP at 7.2 percent. However, third-quarter GDP growth could well come in below 7 percent should September’s numbers follow the same trend as August’s. Trading Partners Suffer China’s financial system is relatively closed. This means financial stresses from within the Middle Kingdom have
only indirect effects on other financial systems, unlike the Lehman crisis in 2008. But the big worry about China is that it is a key driver of global economic growth, and when its growth slows, markets worldwide feel those effects directly. These direct effects could begin with reduced demand for commodities, reduced confidence, which impact spending and ultimately feed back to a vicious cycle of deflationary pressures, and reduced growth. The Australian dollar, for example, is closely tied to the Chinese economy. It has fallen sharply (down roughly 5 percent) in September to its lowest level since February. The Canadian dollar is more insulated from the tremors in China, but the commodity weakness has adversely affected it as well (down 2 percent) this month. Copper is down 3 percent in September, hitting a three-month low. To put that in perspective, the metal is down about 6 percent this year. China is its biggest consumer. Copper is back at levels seen in June around the time of the first wave of Chinese stimulus measures this year.
The temporary stability in China’s economy seen during the summer has faded and reality is now setting in. Stimulus Hopes Analysts are of the opinion that China needs to loosen monetary policy to limit downside risks from its slowing economic growth. So it comes as no surprise that following the Sept 13 data releases, the People’s Bank of China provided liquidity of 500 billion yuan (equivalent to S$104 billion) to the five biggest Chinese banks. While the amount is not particularly significant, the fact that the PBoC utilised this facility, which had seen very limited use in 2014, suggests concern on its part. “We believe the central bank is moving towards more aggressive easing in an effort to avert a further economic slowdown in the coming months, as support from previous rounds of targeted easing is diminishing more rapidly than many had expected it to,” Standard Chartered Bank said in a note to clients.
William West/AFP/Getty Images
China’s finance minister Lou Jiwei talks with US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Cairns, Australia, on Sept 20, 2014.
10 OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
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Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Scotland and Hong Kong: Similar Quest, Different Treatment
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Global Insights By James Green The recent Scottish independence referendum inspires comparison with Hong Kong’s quest for genuine universal suffrage. While the Scots had the opportunity to cast their sacred vote to decide on their own future, on the other side of the globe, people in Hong Kong are agonising over their demand for democracy and autonomy from Beijing.
If the referendum affair between Scotland and England is likened to a marriage crisis, then that between Hong Kong and Beijing is a paternity battle. A number of incidental parallels can be drawn between Scotland and Hong Kong, both a part of the United Kingdom, present and past. In March 1979, the Scots held their first referendum for a devolved deliberative assembly, which did not mate-
rialise as less than 40% of the total electorate voted for it. In the same month, Murray MacLehose, then Governor of Hong Kong, visited Deng Xiaoping to understand Beijing’s stand on Hong Kong and its territories, which subsequently led to formal negotiations on the handover of Hong Kong. MacLehose is a Scotsman. In 1997, the second Scotland referendum saw 70% of Scottish people going to the polls to vote for a devolution referendum to create a Scottish Parliament with devolved powers. In the same year, Hong Kong was handed over to China after 156 years of British rule, seeding the grounds for Hong Kong democracy. Events crossed paths for the third time this year. On September 18, the Scots held the independence referendum; it did not go through but they exercised the sanctity of voting. Just a few weeks earlier on August 31, Beijing tightened its grip on Hong Kong’s universal suffrage and sparked the current pro-democracy protests. If the referendum affair between Scotland and England is likened to a marriage crisis, then that between Hong Kong and Beijing is a paternity battle. While Scotland reconciled upon England’s graciousness to remain status quo, Hong Kong had its rude awakening to the truth that staying by the
side of Daddy does not accord freedom as promised. People’s Self-determination Versus State Totalitarianism In January 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron acceded to the people of Scotland to hold an independence referendum (“We owe the Scottish people something that is fair, legal and decisive”) and argued that the referendum should be held “sooner rather than later”. And so in September 2014, the people of Scotland went through a referendum process that is devoid of anything but fairness. Anyone residing in Scotland who is 16 years and above, including foreigners from EU and Commonwealth countries, cast an “in/out” vote on the single question referendum: Should Scotland be an independent country? The process was open, democratic, and reputably respectful of the Scottish people’s rights of self-determination. In 1997, Beijing emphatically re-affirmed its policy of “one country, two systems”, saying “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” with “a high degree of autonomy” would remain China’s long-term basic policies towards Hong Kong. The pledge changed on August 31 this year when Beijing set the framework for Hong Kong’s universal suffrage: Beijing holds the right to determine who can
stand for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive election. Benny Tai Yiu-ting, cofounder of the Occupy Central with Love and Peace movement, said Beijing’s fake universal suffrage “is like a pineapple bun made with gutter oil”, referring to the recycled oil scandal in Taiwan. “On the surface it looks like a normal bun, but when the carcinogens start taking effect, it will be too late to regret.” Hong Kong saw Beijing’s promise of a “high degree of autonomy” infringed – and resorted to civil disobedience en masse to have their voices heard. Heartfelt Pleas Versus Antisecession Threats Emotions, family ties, and pleas were how UK went about urging Scotland to stay. “So this is our message to the people of Scotland ... We want you to stay. Head and heart and soul, we want you to stay,” Da-
vid Cameron said. “If we lost Scotland, if the UK changed, we would rip the rug from under our own reputation. The plain fact is we matter more in the world together.” “If you don’t like me – I won’t be here forever. If you don’t like this Government – it won’t last forever. But if you leave the UK – that will be forever.” Under a banner declaring “Let’s Stick Together”, Cameron said he “would be utterly heart-broken by the break-up of the United Kingdom”. He added: “It’s about dividing people, closing doors, making foreigners of our friends and family.” “So as you reach your final decision, please … please … don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be a proud Scot and a proud Brit.” “So please, from all of us: Vote to stick together ... Vote to stay, vote to save our United Kingdom.” David Beckham, UK’s global
(Top) Members of the public watch Orangemen and women march during a pro union parade in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Bottom) Protesters clash with riot police on Sept 27, 2014 in Hong Kong.
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soccer icon, chipped in, “My sincere hope is that you will vote to renew our historic bond which has been such a success over the centuries and the envy of the entire world … What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.” In Hong Kong, people are obviously unhappy and worried about Beijing’s opposition to universal suffrage. They know that without some form of pressure, Beijing will not grant Hong Kong genuine democracy. The current Occupy Central civil disobedience was
a last resort against a hard-lined government that is determined to dictate how Hong Kong is governed. The September 28 sit-ins resulted in anti-riot police using tear gas and pepper spays against protestors when they blocked busy thoroughfare that runs through the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district. Beijing claimed that foreign anti-China forces are at work in Hong Kong to dip into China’s domestic affairs. On September 25, officers from the anti-corruption agency in
Hong Kong searched the home of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken supporter of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, whose newspaper Apple Daily is frequently critical of the Chinese government. Martin Lee said he smells “white terror” in the air. As a matter of fact, one can easily see the parallels in the usual political statements made by Beijing when faced with an independence referendum: “Scotland has been an inalienable part of the UK since ancient times; any attempt to separate Scotland from the UK would
be futile; UK resolutely opposed foreign forces with ulterior motives to dabble in UK’s domestic affairs.” Chinese micro-blogs were flooded with sentimental tweets on the Scottish independence referendum vis-à-vis democracy quests back home. Blogger Cao Xi Men Xia (曹溪门下) said, “The Scottish referendum demonstrated to the world that UK did not enact antisecession laws to block Scotland’s independence efforts; there were no military tanks on the streets of Scotland; Scotland First Minister
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Salmond was not arrested for antisubversion; Great Britain maintains its greatness!” Another blogger, Li Xue Wen ( 黎学文), said, “Scottish independence failed, but UK is the biggest winner of all. It showed the whole world how confident and civilised a society they are, and how they respected human rights and people’s will.” Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
NINE COMMENTARIES
China’s Great Famine, the infamous result of CCP’s Great Leap Forward campaign between 1958 to 1961, was often considered one of China’s most devastating catastrophes. Inthenameofindustrialisation and collectivisation, millions of peasants were ordered away from their fields to join the iron and steel production, leaving crops to rot there. But despite the deepening food crisis, regional officials instead escalated their claims of production yields to protect their positions. Gansu Province even refused food aid from Shaanxi Province, claiming Gansu had “too great a food surplus”. Lavish taxes were levied on crops according to these exaggerated yields. In Huanjiang County, cooking was forbidden to preserve the crops for taxation, and regular night patrols were conducted to spot any light from fire. The
CCP also ordered blockage of roads to prevent escapes from famine as it was considered disgraceful. When maddening hunger drove peasants to snatch from grain depots, they were shot and labelled as counterrevolutionaries. ADutchexpertonthehistoryof modern China, Frank Dikötter, estimated that at least 45 million died from starvation, overwork and state violence in this period. In typical propaganda, the CCP called these deaths a noble honour in the brave fight against “natural disasters”. However, the academic consensus is that the famine was intentional or due to wilful negligence. Evidence showed that 22 million tons of grain was held in public granaries at the height of the famine while reports of starvation were ignored by top officials. To save face, foreign aid was rejected and CCP continued exporting grains.
It was famously said that Communist regimes turned mass crime into a full blown system of government. Each of them has received its just verdict in history – all but the Communist Party of China which has persisted to this day.
Picture of backyard steel furnaces during the Great Leap era. Mao Zedong ordered the establishment of small backyard steel furnaces in every commune. Peasants and workers melted any steel object they could find, including pots, pans, and even bicycles to meet production target of steel. However, without adequate knowledge of metallurgy, the result was highly unsatisfactory, creating flawed pig iron rather than steel.
Economist Steven Rosefielde argues that Mao’s slaughter was caused by “terror-starvation, that is, voluntary manslaughter rather than innocuous famine”. Adapted from Commentary 7, On the Chinese Communist Party’s History of Killing
Quitting the Chinese Communist Party
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people have renounced the CCP as of September 29, 2014.
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Thousands of Chinese people are quitting on public walls and poles, or writing on the Chinese Communist Party and its af- banknotes. filiate organisations every day through a Read the full “Nine Commentaries” book, special website established by The Epoch as well as recent statements from ChiTimes. Others are quitting by calling an nese people who have quit the Party, at international hotline, posting statements www.theepochtimes.com
The “Nine Commentaries” is an award winning editorial series that offers a vivid and perceptive account of the CCP from its inception to the present. By unmasking its perversion, Nine Commentaries seek to recall the Chinese people and the world from the slumber of ignorance and inaction. Thus far, the series first published in November 2004 has led more than 170 million Chinese to renounce the CCP and its affiliations, trailblazing a massive yet peaceful movement for China’s transformation and change. Read more of this groundbreaking editorial series at: http://goo.gl/yQ2Jox
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PayPal to Cooperate With Bitcoin Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images
By Valentin Schmid Epoch Times Staff No, you won’t be able to select “pay with bitcoin” when you pay for your next eBay item with PayPal. However, the announcement of electronic payment provider PayPal to let merchants handle Bitcoin through its Payments Hub is big news and another step towards full market acceptance of bitcoin. “We’re fierce advocates of giving businesses, and in turn their customers, flexibility and the freedom of choice,” Scott Ellison, a PayPal director, wrote on the company’s blog. This freedom of choice will now include bitcoins. Merchants already handle credit cards, mobile payments and other methods through Payments Hub. They will now also be able to handle bitcoin if a customer approaches them with bitcoin technology from the companies BitPay, Coinbase and GoCoin. The initiative will be limited to North America. “We believe digital goods merchants will be excited to work with these industryleading companies to sell ringtones, games and music and get paid with bitcoin,” wrote Ellis. Earlier in September, the company’s Braintree unit said it was developing a system to enable its clients like Uber and Airbnb to accept bitcoin payments.
PayPal is using a step-by-step approach to integrate bitcoin into its system. The most important first step has been taken and there is no reason why there shouldn’t be a consumer link in the medium term future.
No Consumer Link Yet “PayPal has always embraced innovation, but always in ways that make payments safer and more reliable for our customers. Our approach to Bitcoin is no different. That’s why we’re proceeding gradually, supporting Bitcoin in some ways today and holding off on other ways until we see how things develop,” writes Ellis. This means there will not be a consumer link yet, i.e. if you buy something with PayPal you will have to stick with your credit card and bank account, at least for now.
Apple Pay Some analysts think the PayPal move has to do with Apple’s recent foray into mobile payments. “Apple’s announcement is just another data point. As an established payments processor, PayPal can’t afford to be left behind if any of these new schemes take off,” Roger Kay, tech analyst and founder of Endpoint Technologies Associates Inc., told Marketwatch. However, PayPal had been working on this deal for months, as executives of the bitcoin companies told CoinDesk.com.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
A PayPal sign at the LeWeb expo in Paris, on Dec 5, 2012 (top). A photo taken in Washington, DC, on May 1, 2014 shows a bitcoin medal (right).
“When we were working with PayPal, it wasn’t ‘What’s square one?’ It was a team that understood bitcoin, and recognised the potential benefits as well as risks,” Coinbase director Adam White told CoinDesk.com. Apple so far has not commented on its plans with bitcoin and whether it will be available on Apple Pay, which is starting next month. With PayPal having made the first move, Apple could take the next step and enable a bitcoin consumer link.
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Speak for Yourself By Dave Mather Over the years, I’ve listened to thousands of business people in conversations ranging from one-on-ones to those in front of audiences of several thousand. A common speech phenomenon is “universal speaking”. This involves speaking for others as if we are all the same. It’s innocent enough, except it clouds our speech and tends to inadvertently alienate others. I’ve heard people switch almost mid-sentence, shifting from speaking for the “I” to speaking for the universal “we” or “you”. We’re often told to use inclusive speech, to include others in the conversation. For example, instead of saying, “You need to set meaningful goals,” we might say, “It’s important we set meaningful goals,” thus including both the speaker and the listeners. This is good advice. However,
when we use universal speaking, if we assume that we are all the same, it can be a dangerous habit. In one of my early experiences working with a business coach, I stated, quite authoritatively: “Life is hard, it’s a battle!” My coach pointed out, “For you.” I missed his point, so I added: “You’ve got to fight for results, push hard. That’s the way life is!” “For you,” he repeated. I finally caught on. Notice he didn’t argue by saying, “No, life is not like that.” This might have engaged us in a “right/wrong” conversation, perhaps elevating to a heated debate. He told me: “Speak for yourself—I speak for me, you speak for you.” Everyone sees things through his or her own filters of life experiences, views of the world, interpretations, etc. Like it or not, most of us are thinking from the perception of interpreting what we see. One innocent use of universal speaking often occurs during a friend’s or relative’s tragic moment. The worst thing we can
say is, “I know how you feel.” We want to be empathetic, but we often inadvertently distance ourselves. We don’t know for certain how others feel, and they know it. Instead, try, “We are here for you. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you.” This is only one approach. There are many others. In sports interviews and movies, people often switch to the third person. For example, “When you’re so far behind it plays tricks on your mind, you can’t think clearly.” This is true for some, but not universally true. Being behind in a sport often energises athletes and spurs them on to concentrate. By using universal speaking, we distance ourselves from reality and minimise our chances of thinking clearly. The above athlete could say, “Up until now, when I got behind on points, I tended to panic and allowed myself to get bluffed out. Today, I choose to focus on the task at hand, making adjustments to my game based on what is really going on here and now.”
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Everyone sees things through his or her own filters of life experiences, views of the world, interpretations, etc. Like it or not, most of us are thinking from the perception of interpreting what we see.
Notice this gives him or her a chance to refocus on reality. Of course, the time to think of this is not during critical moments, but before life hands us challenges. We develop this competency first through awareness—observing how others use universal speaking, then reviewing our own thoughts and disciplining ourselves to clean up our speech. The good news is that, once we hear ourselves using universal language, we will no longer “not” hear it. It’s not egotistical to speak for
ourselves with phrases like, “In my view …” or “The way I see this is …” Ask others for their views, such as, “What is your view? How are you experiencing this?” I believe you’ll be amazed at the possibilities that open up when listening to others’ views rather than falling into the speaking-for-others trap. Dave Mather is a 40-year veteran business coach. He specialises in helping senior managers/owners turn desired outcomes into viable business realities.
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Six Considerations Before Starting to Invest in Real Estate
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By Jim Pellerin Before you dive headfirst into real estate investing, there are a number of things you need to think about. Real estate investing is not just about going out, buying a property, and then figuring out what to do with it. If you take some time and think about the following things, you will have a much better chance of success. Success in real estate investing is all about making a profit. Profits can be made either from a monthly cash flow or from the sale of a property at a higher price. Here are six things to think about when starting to invest in real estate. 1. Why? Why exactly do you want to invest in real estate? Some people are looking to generate an ongoing stream of income while others are just looking to make a quick profit on each deal. Some people are looking for a retirement strategy. By investing in income-producing properties, a retirement portfolio could be built as a diversification from stocks and bonds or mutual funds. A lot of people just want to get rich. Sure, they have seen all those “get rich quick” commercials, so they think they can make a lot of money really quickly. In most cases, it just does not work that way. So be clear what your objective is when you invest in real estate. 2. Time How much time do you have? Do you have another job? Do you have a family? This will help you decide what type of real estate investment strategy you want to get into. “Buy, rent, and hold” investing does not usually take a lot of time, and you can always hire a property manager to do most of the work. If you are a busy person, maybe you want to enter into a joint venture with another party. You provide the funds and the other party finds the property and does all the marketing, sales, management, etc. There are many experienced investors looking for other people’s money to invest. These investors want to use other people’s money to help increase their leverage. This allows them to do more deals and get a better return on their investment while at the same time providing other people an improved return. Make sure you partner with a reputable person. To make sure you find the right person to partner with, you should ask for references and ask to see some of the
To be a successful real estate investor, you need a clear idea of the right strategies and objectives that are appropriate for your situation.
deals they have done. If you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to ask questions. 3. Skills What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Are you good with your hands or are you good with spreadsheets? Do you like evaluating deals or swinging a hammer? Your skills will play a big part in deciding what type of real estate investing you get into. For example, if you are good with your hands, maybe “fix and flips” are good for you. A fix and flip is when you purchase a property that needs some type of repair. It could be cosmetic repair or a major renovation. You then “fix” the property and then sell “flip” it once the repairs have been made. If you are not good with numbers, you may want to partner with someone who can do all the estimating and costing for you. Or you can always hire someone. 4. Capital/Career How much capital do you have to start investing? Or are you looking to make real estate investing your full-time job? If you don’t have any capital to invest, that obviously limits your options, but there are ways to make money in real estate without having any of your own. For example, you could find someone with capital to partner with.
Or you could do “sandwich lease” options, wherein you lease the property from an owner and then sublet it to someone else with an option to buy. This is actually a rent-to-own strategy. You could even act as a “middleman” and find deals for other people and get paid that way.
You should spend some time educating yourself. You need to know a little bit of everything so that you can manage the people and process of real estate investing. 5. Education No matter what your answers were to the above questions, you should spend some time educating yourself. You need to know a little bit of everything so that you can manage the people and process of real estate investing. Start by reading a couple of good books
or going to a real estate investing club meeting. There are some good blogs out there that cover a lot of topics on real estate investing. But do be careful, as there are a lot of people giving bad advice. Ask other people if they recommend someone to follow. The amount you educate yourself will depend on how much time you have, as mentioned above. You may just want to have another investor invest your money and be a “silent partner”. There are many ways to do that as well, but it is important to educate yourself so that you understand your options. 6. Plan After you have analysed your situation and determined what type(s) of real estate investing you want to get involved in, then you should develop a business plan. I’m not talking about a 30-page detailed plan here. A 1- or 2-page plan will do. Your plan needs to identify the type of real estate investing strategy you are pursuing, as well as your marketing and financing strategies. Jim Pellerin has been investing in real estate for over 25 years. He is the author of “7 Steps to Real Estate Riches”. Check out his blog at www.jimpellerin.com
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New Portable Device Detects Gluten in Food
Two MIT graduates have developed a sensor that will scan your meal for any trace of gluten – and it comes with an app Courtesy of thegadgetflow.com
By Stephanie Stutzman www.thegadgetflow.com If you, or anyone you know, have Celiac Disease, then you understand how difficult it can be to eat food that won’t harm your insides. Seems easy enough, right? Just don’t eat food that isn’t compatible with your body. For many, however, it isn’t so foolproof. With Celiac Disease, even the slightest bit of gluten can result in unfortunate, and sometimes life-threatening, side effects. Whether you’re eating out with friends, or making food at home, it’s important for anyone struggling with a gluten intolerance to steer clear of gluten products. This can prove difficult because of possible crosscontamination in restaurants and factories. Thankfully, there is a company that is trying to
make living the gluten-free life less of a hassle. 6SensorLabs is the product of two gluten-intolerant MIT graduates with a mission: to help anyone struggling with a gluten allergy to struggle a little
bit less. They’ve developed a sensor, smaller than an iPhone, that will essentially scan your meal for any gluten product. It will help prevent the accidental consumption of gluten, which should lead to a decrease in the
number of ill physical reactions. The Founder of 6SensorLabs, Shireen Yates, notes that the company’s aim is to make the device appealing to its users in both style and functionality. However, there’s no word on
the specifics of the device as of yet. It is worth noting that there will be an accompanying app for your smartphone. With the app, you’ll be able to communicate with other users, discuss restaurants and food, and keep a record of restaurants with good (or not so good) options for gluten avoiders. For anyone that is gluten sensitive and struggling with food, 6SensorLabs offers an informational blog on the subject of gluten, Celiac Disease, and gluten sensitivity. It’s a good read – I mean, did you know that the adhesive on envelopes is made from wheat? Or that lip balms may contain gluten? I sure didn’t. Keep checking back for updates on this device – it could help save a life, or just make finding gluten-free foods a little bit easier. Website: http://thegadgetflow. com/blog/
Why Samsung Might Quit Notebook, PC Business In Europe David Becker/Getty Images; effects by Epoch Times
By Alexander www.hitechreview.com When it comes to smartphones, tablets, memory and other digital products, Samsung has been the de facto leader for years in a row. Unfortunately for the company, it has never been that successful in the notebook market: it has always been overshadowed by companies like Dell, HP, Acer and others. This is the reason why Samsung has decided to exit the notebook business in the near future. As of now, the change affects just the European market where the planned exit will take place in 2015. Samsung has already started the process – 2014 is the last year when Samsung will have new notebooks, which means there will be no such upcoming products in 2015. The
process will include not only Windows-based notebooks, but also Chromebooks as well as PCs. “We quickly adapt to market needs and demands,” Samsung said in a statement. “In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now. This is specific to the region – and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets. We will continue to thoroughly evaluate market conditions and will make further adjustments to maintain our competitiveness in emerging PC categories.” This move by Samsung follows a similar move by Sony, which sold its Vaio business to an investment fund back in February 2014. Apparently it gets tougher and tougher to be in the PC and notebook business these days.
The Samsung Series 9 ultra laptop on display at the 2013 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Centre on Jan 8, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Top 5 Fitness Trackers Stay on top of your fitness and health with these gadgets and work towards a better you By The Scoop www.thetechgeek.com As far as fitness trackers go, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. Take a look at a few that we are impressed with and you can decide which best fits your lifestyle and needs. Jawbone Up Jawbone offers two versions of their fitness tracker, UP and UP24. The UP system learns about your normal diet, sleep patterns, and activity in order to offer you ways to improve your way of living, making it a more personalised and customised journey towards a healthier lifestyle. For a beginner, the most intimidating thing about a healthy lifestyle can be just knowing where to begin. UP from Jawbone allows you to ease into it for a better success rate. UP tracks your diet, activity, and sleep; all these components contribute towards a better you. The accompanying app helps you do all these things so easily that it won’t feel like extra work at all. A massive food library that includes restaurant menus makes tracking your diet so easy, and viewing your activity during the day and at night while you sleep helps you see where you can make changes to improve yourself. To top it off, the UP and UP24 are so sleek and lightweight that you don’t have to worry about adding any bulk to your
everyday routine. Choose from a variety of colours to express your style and keep it fun! You can purchase Jawbone UP for just US$79.99 (S$102) and UP24 for US$149.99 (S$191). Samsung Gear Fit Sleek and stylish, Samsung’s Gear Fit offers you an effortless glimpse of your journey towards a healthy lifestyle. It’s comfortable for when you’re working out and looks great for use throughout the day. Change the band to better fit your style and make it a permanent piece in your wardrobe. The Gear Fit is dustproof and water resistant to keep up with you no matter what your day holds. It’s so light (just 27 grams) you won’t even know it’s there, so there’s no holding you back from the activities you love. On a full charge, the Gear Fit can last you three full days, which is perfect for someone who is always on the go and needs a fitness tracker that can keep up. Speaking of busy days, you can view emails, texts and alerts on the screen display, so you’ll be kept up to date at all times. Dismiss calls or alarms with just a tap. Check it out now on Samsung’s website for US$149.99 (S$191). Fitbit Fitbit fully believes in supporting you to become a better and healthier version of yourself. Track your steps throughout your day and see how great you’ll
A lunch-time jogger takes advantage of the sunshine running along Curran Street towards the Auckland Harbour Bridge on June 3, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.
feel when you achieve your daily goals. Fitbit also helps you stay connected to those within your social community, so that you can have a support system that will back you up when you need it. Keep things fun and interesting by not only challenging yourself, but also your friends and peers! You’ll be more successful if you embark on a healthy lifestyle with your friends. Keep track of your food intake and how well you sleep, all from this small and lightweight device. It can also help you keep tabs on your weight and BMI. Its online tools and apps were created to be simple and easy to use, so there’s no need to figure anything out or spend too much time on data input. Go about your regular day and see how you can change your life for the better. The Fitbit Flex is available for US$99.95 (S$127). Nike+ FuelBand SE The Nike+ FuelBand SE tracks how much daily activity you participate in along with how
often and how intense your activity is. You can receive insights on how to help you move better and live a healthier and more active lifestyle. Set your daily goal and the Nike+ FuelBand SE helps you achieve that without having to drastically change your regular lifestyle. Set reminders to get you moving so you can adjust and slowly become more active. Your device is always connected, so all you need to do is press a little button to see your progress throughout the day. Easily connect with friends and others to have full support and motivation, to help you stay on track. Share your progress, see how your friends are doing, and even challenge each other for the top spot of the leader board. Collect trophies for surpassing your daily goals and receive accomplishments for your milestones. It’s all about feeling good about doing better for yourself! You can buy yours now for US$99 (S$126) and get
started right away. LifeTrak Core C210 The Core C210 from LifeTrak is simple and easy to use. Track your movement throughout the day and your sleep during the night to see how you can improve your health and lifestyle. Get accurate heart rate readings and precise calories burned along with number of steps and distance travelled. Sleep is just as important as activity and movement, and with the C210 it’s even easier to track and understand. All the data and information you need to lead yourself to a better lifestyle is right on your wrist, available whenever you want it. The C210 is available from LifeTrak for US$69.99 (S$89), but they offer a wide range of products so there is something for everyone no matter the fitness level. The C200 is available for US$59.99 (S$76), the C300 for US$79.99 (S$102), and the C410 for US$99.99 (S$127). WebSite: thetechgeek.com
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BEYOND SCIENCE
Mystical Science of Alchemy Arose Independently in Ancient Egypt, China, India By Tara MacIsaac Epoch Times Staff The universe is full of mysteries that challenge our current knowledge. In “Beyond Science”, Epoch Times collects stories about these strange phenomena to stimulate the imagination and open up previously undreamed of possibilities. Are they true? You decide. A similar quest evidently began in ancient India, China, and Egypt thousands of years ago. All of these cultures sought to turn lead or other substances into gold and to attain immortality through learning to manipulate and purify matter as such. Though the goals and procedures are similar, the alchemical practices in these societies seem, nonetheless, to have sprung up independently. “In the second century A.D., Egyptian craftsmen in Alexandria were the first alchemists who tried desperately to convert metal into gold. Almost simultaneously and independently, the Taoist monks (not pure alchemists but religious magicians) believed gold to be a miraculous medicine and they, too, sought to produce it, not for wealth but for perpetual youth and immortality,” wrote acupuncturist Joseph P. Hou, PhD, in his book “Healthy Longevity Techniques”. The late Dr Allen G. Debus (1926–2009) also wrote of the nearly simultaneous and independent emergence of alchemy in different cultures. Debus received a Ph.D. at Harvard University and became well-known as a science historian. He wrote in his book “Alchemy and Early Modern
Chemistry” that alchemy emerged independently not only in Egypt and China, but also in India. Though alchemy in China and India showed some crossinfluences at a later period, Debus believed the two began independently. An outline of an alchemy course at the University of Hawai’i defines the ancient practice: “Alchemy is a cosmic art by which parts of that cosmos—the mineral and animal parts—can be liberated from their temporal existence and attain states of perfection: gold in the case of minerals, and for humans, longevity, immortality, and redemption. Such transformations can be brought about on one hand by the use of a material substance such as the ‘philosopher’s stone’ or elixir, or, on the other hand by revelatory knowledge or psychological enlightenment.” Alchemy may have emerged in various cultures because of its bearing on common or universal theories, Debus wrote. These theories relate to, for example, the concept of immortality and the early association of gold with the state of perfection. Debus outlined some of the similarities and differences across cultures. Egyptian alchemy was not as closely associated with religion as the Chinese and Indians were. In Egypt, it was of a more practical nature than of a mystical nature. Chinese and Greek alchemy were comparable in some ways. The origin of Greek alchemy is unclear, but one theory holds that it came from Egypt. Both the Chinese and the Greeks included the factor of physical breath. The Greek alchemists used the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. Similarly,
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China.org.cn
Concept images of alchemy tools and alchemical symbols Scientific apparatus in the alchemist’s workshop, 1580 Alchemy in China China.org.cn
Alchemy is a cosmic art by which parts of that cosmos—the mineral and animal parts—can be liberated from their temporal existence and attain states of perfection. University of Hawai’i the Chinese discipline included the five elements of fire, wood, water, earth, and metal. Chinese alchemy sought a balance between yin and yang (yin and yang were associated with the feminine
and masculine, the earthly and the heavenly, and other such contrary elements respectively). For example, Chinese alchemists mixed saltpeter, associated with yin, and sulphur, associated with yang, and the resultant bang announced the discovery of gunpowder. Greeks also held contraries to be important. They worked with contraries such as hot-cold, moist-dry, earth-air, and firewater. As with the discovery of gunpowder (long used for firecrackers before purposed for weaponry), alchemy’s observations of chemical reactions contributed largely to the foundation of modern chemistry. Many alchemical practices eventually became esoteric and cryptic. The University of Hawaii gives examples of the riddles in which alchemists began to write: “The grey wolf devours the King,
after which it is buried on a pyre, consuming the wolf and restoring the King to life.” This translates as an “extraction of gold from alloys by skimming off lesser metal sulphides and roasting of the gold antimony alloy until antimony evaporates and pure gold remains”. The university’s paper notes that the cryptic alchemical message is no less mystifying than modern chemistry jargon; for example, “dehydrohalogenated vicinal dihalides with amide ion to provide alkynes”. Modern scientists, such as Sir Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, and John Locke, were alchemists. Bill Newman, a historian at Indiana University, studied Newton’s secret coded recipes. He told NOVA: “If you look at the experimental notebooks that he kept for about 30 years, it really is impossible to avoid the conclusion that he was trying to produce the philosopher’s stone.”
Epoch Times
technology & science
OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014 19
Ability to Sense When Someone’s Staring at You Is Common, Studies Show By Tara MacIsaac Epoch Times Staff Cumulative data from tens of thousands of trials shows it is extremely likely that humans (and perhaps animals) have the ability to sense when someone is looking at them, according to Dr Dean Radin. Having analysed 60 well-supervised experiments by various scientists, Radin concluded that, overall, the subjects were able to sense when they were being watched 54.5 percent of the time, where chance expectation is 50 percent. The consistency of results across a huge number of tests done under a variety of circumstances balloons this divergence from chance to great proportions: “The overall odds against chance are a staggering 202 octodecillion (that’s 2 x 1059) to 1,” Radin wrote in his book “Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality”. Radin is the chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a nonprofit research organisation that focuses especially on conscious-
ness, and an adjunct faculty member in the department of psychology at Sonoma State University. He received a PhD in psychology and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He has held appointments at Princeton University, among other universities, and at several Silicon Valley think-tanks. Dr Rupert Sheldrake has also analysed studies and conducted his own research on the phenomenon. Sheldrake has a PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge University and he studied philosophy and history of science at Harvard University. In surveys across Europe and North America, Sheldrake discovered that between 70 and 97 percent of people reported experiencing this phenomenon. Anecdotally, detectives, celebrity photographers, and hunters all told him they believe in this ability. For example, a narcotics officer said that when police are watching a criminal, the criminal often seems to know: “We often have someone look right in our direction even though he can’t see us. A lot of times we’re inside a vehi-
cle.” Some oriental martial arts schools teach students to heighten their awareness of when someone is watching them from behind, noted Sheldrake in his paper “The Sense of Being Stared At”. When people are being watched through closed-circuit television (CCTV), their physical responses have also been measured. Sheldrake described tests measuring galvanic skin response, as in liedetector tests. Thus, not all experiments depended on the test subjects’ reporting whether they felt someone staring or not. In these CCTV tests, the physical responses were measured, showing a correlation to whether someone was staring at the test subject. Some of the experiments in which the subject reported whether he or she felt the stare went something like this: John sits behind Jane and flips a coin to decide whether or not to look at Jane; Jane reports whether she feels John looking at her or not. Some experiments occurred through windows and at various distances. Criticisms Addressed Critics have replicated these exper-
iments with success, initially, then tried again and failed to obtain positive results. Sheldrake looks at the tests by four scientists with the Committee for Sceptical Inquiry (formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, CSICOP). He suggests that their failure to replicate his results has to do with the interference of their own expectations. Sheldrake wrote: “Interestingly, the research initiated by all four CSICOP fellows, Robert Baker, David Marks, Susan Blackmore, and Richard Wiseman, gave positive results to start with. Baker, Marks, and Wiseman then reacted to their positive findings in a similar way. First they tried to dismiss the results as artifacts. Then in follow-up experiments, they themselves, or their colleagues, did all the staring [as opposed to test subjects], achieving the nonsignificant results they expected.” Radin addressed the criticism that positive results may be obtained through selective reporting. Failed experiments may not have been published, creating what is known as the file-drawer effect.
With only successful experiments published, the overall results may be skewed. But according to Radin’s calculations, in order to make a dent in the statistics showing that people are capable of detecting someone staring at them, there would have to be 1,417 studies without significant results in the file drawer. “This is most implausible,” Radin wrote, “so selective reporting cannot explain the results.” Animals: Predator, Prey A study by Gerald Winer at Ohio State University found that 34 percent of adults report having sensed when an animal was looking at them. About 50 percent believed animals could sense when humans are looking at them. Sheldrake noted that this would be a useful sense for survival, helping an animal avoid predators. He also noted that many pet owners feel they are able to wake their pets up by staring at them. Hunters told Sheldrake they have both felt the stare of animals and they believe staring at an animal for a long period of time makes the animal more likely to sense their presence.
20 OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014
technology & science
Epoch Times
MONGABAY.COM
Cargill Stops Deforestation for Entire Global Chain
Rainforest and cattle pasture in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Cattle ranching drives more than 70 percent of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Rhett A. Butler
We understand that this sort of commitment cannot be limited to just select commodities or supply chains. That’s why Cargill will take practical measures to protect forests across our agricultural supply chains around the world.
The economic future belongs to the companies that are at the forefront of protecting forests and fighting climate change. Glenn Hurowitz, Chairman of Forest Heroes By Rhett A. Butler Cargill, one of the world’s largest agricultural companies, has extended its zero deforestation commitment for palm oil to all commodities it produces. The commitment, announced last Tuesday at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York, is the most far-reaching zero deforestation policy ever established, covering Cargill’s sprawling global empire of businesses, including palm oil, sugar, soy, cattle, and cocoa. “We understand that this sort of commitment cannot be limited to just select commodities
David MacLennan, Cargill CEO Destruction of rainforest in Malaysia for palm oil production.
or supply chains,” said Cargill CEO David MacLennan. “That’s why Cargill will take practical measures to protect forests across our agricultural supply chains around the world.” “We know we can do it. Our stakeholders demand it. And it is the right thing to do.” The commitment comes just days after Cargill announced it had signed a deal with The For-
est Trust (TFT) to implement a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” for its palm oil supply chain. It also follows years of campaigning by Rainforest Action Network (RAN) around the giant’s palm oil sourcing practices. The activist group immediately welcomed the commitment. “Today’s deforestation pledge by Cargill’s CEO is a welcome
commitment and marks an important new course for the company,” said RAN Executive Director Lindsey Allen. “RAN looks forward to opportunities to engage with Cargill as they move forward over the next few months to translate this pledge into effective policies – and then to implement these reforms within Cargill’s daily operations in order to bring this pledge to life.”
Cargill’s pledge was also welcomed by Forest Heroes, a new campaign focusing on the links between big agricultural companies and tropical deforestation. “Cargill’s commitment to cut deforestation across all commodities has the potential to be a transformative move in the fight against climate change,” said Glenn Hurowitz, Chairman of Forest Heroes, in a statement.
Epoch Times
“Cargill helped pioneer the success of the No Deforestation approach through its participation in the Brazilian moratorium on deforestation for soy in the Amazon. As the future of the soy moratorium hangs in the balance, it will be essential for Cargill and its peers to continue this essential policy in order to realise the company’s forest protection commitments. While implementation is the key, Cargill is doing the right thing by announcing it will take steps to protect forests wherever they are threatened.” Cargill isn’t the first agribusiness giant to establish a zero deforestation sourcing policy across all of its supply chains — Singapore-based Wilmar made the same commitment last December. Since then, dozens of major commodity buyers have announced zero deforestation commitments, ratcheting up pressure on other producers. Now Hurowitz is calling for Bunge and ADM to do the same.
Today’s deforestation pledge by Cargill’s CEO is a welcome commitment and marks an important new course for the company. Lindsey Allen, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) Executive Director “With Wilmar and Cargill moving to protect forest across a range of different crops, it’s time for Bunge and ADM to join them in creating this second green revolution that increases agricultural production while protecting the world’s forests,” said Hurowitz. “The economic future belongs to the companies that are at the forefront of protecting forests and fighting climate change.” Commercial agriculture is the largest direct driver of tropical deforestation. After cattle ranching — the world’s largest cause of forest loss — palm oil, soy and sugar cane production have had a major role in forest conversion. Logging also contributes by facilitating access to remote areas and increasing pressure to clear forests for agriculture.
technology & science
OCTOBER 3 – 16, 2014 21
Leonardo DiCaprio Speaks to the UN Climate Summit
Mike McCoy
By Jeremy Hance Actor, environmental activist, and recently named UN Messenger of Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio, spoke to the UN Climate Summit last Tuesday. The summit, which hosted the largest gathering of world leaders to address the crisis in five years, is meant to pave the way for a new climate agreement in Paris in 2015. “As an actor I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems,” said DiCaprio, who on Sept 21 marched with 400,000 people in New York City demanding action on climate change. “I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way: as if it were a fiction, as if pretending that climate change wasn’t real would somehow make it go away. But I think we know better than that.” Pointing to the many impacts already documented by climate change, from rising temperatures to worsening droughts, and melting ice sheets to acidifying oceans, DiCaprio said, “None of this is rhetoric, and none of it is hysteria. It is fact.” “The scientific community knows it, industry knows it, governments know it, even the United States military knows it. The chief of the US navy’s Pacific command, admiral Samuel Locklear, recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat.” DiCaprio also noted that the problem had gone well beyond the power of individual citizens to solve. “This is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car. This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make,” he said. “This is
now about our industries, and our governments around the world taking decisive, largescale action.” DiCaprio urged leaders to put a price-tag on carbon emissions and cut all government subsidies for fossil fuel producers, actions that scientists and experts have been pushing for years. “We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free-market economy. They do not deserve our tax dollars, they deserve our scrutiny,” he said, adding that “the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse”. This year’s Global Carbon Budget, released just before the summit, found that global carbon emissions rose 2.5 percent last year and are set to hit 40 billion tonnes this year, a new record. According to the report, at this rate the world will blow through its carbon budget in just 30 years. The budget counts how much more carbon can be burned before we are likely to warm 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, a ceiling that the world’s governments have agreed on staying under. “My friends, this body— perhaps more than any other gathering in human history— now faces this difficult, but achievable, task,” DiCaprio said. “You can make history or you will be vilified by it.”
The Great Barrier Reef is threatened by global warming and ocean acidification, both caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
真 善忍 Zhen Shan Ren Art Exhibition
The Art of Zhen, Shan, Ren (Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance) International Exhibition is an extraordinarily moving, intimate and inspiring exhibition which features realistic oil paintings and Chinese watercolours. The paintings detail an unique insight into the spiritual discipline of Falun Dafa and give accounts to an outer human rights tragedy. The depicted artwork by Chen Xiaoping is entitled “In Harmony”. This painting depicts a young woman doing the fifth exercise of Falun Gong. The clear water and blue sky reflect her tranquility and give a feeling of her union with heaven while she meditates.
Advertorial sponsored by en.falunart.org