Singapore Youth Culture

Singapore Youth Culture

-Usage of mobile devices have increased: popularly-used apps include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Oovoo, Tumblr and many others.

-Food options of fast-food restaurants have largely replaced visits to coffee shops/hawker centres during mealtimes  

-Hobbies more concentrated indoors: watching television, sleeping, playing games

-Hard-core fans of popular figures from all around the world, especially Korea  

-Fashion: more favoured towards wearing modern fashion, such as sneakers, shorts...

-Work-headed: go to school every weekday and pressed to complete projects works and prepare for examinations

-Festivals: chances to be exposed to cultures and practices from another ethic group's festival

Thoughts About Animal Abuse In China

"As of 2006 there were no laws in China governing acts of cruelty to animals. In certain jurisdictions such as Fuzhou, dog control officers may kill any unaccompanied dogs on sight. " -Wikipedia
China has provided limited amount of protection for the animals. They have only began to enforce laws against animal abuse in the recent years. However, there are still no organisations or government-supported organisation against animal abuse in China. 
 

In contrast, Singapore has a strong government supported organisation called the SPCA (Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty Towards Animals). Cruelty towards any animal or bird in Singapore is a crime, and any cases of abandoned or badly wounded animals or dead animals will be taken very seriously. The public is also well-educated on how to be responsible when handling animals and well-aware on these animal abuse acts.
 

Group Point Of View: 

Animals are living creatures, they have feelings just like us humans. Why do we have the rights reserved to treat animals as lesser individuals. Laws have been implied to prevent cruelty to animal in Singapore, but we feel that it is not easy to change the mindset of animal abusers, especially for a huge country like China, where only larger and better developed cities are more educated on how to be responsible towards animals.

We feel that pet owners should be responsible for their pets. If people aren't sure if they can take care of their pets or aren't sure if they will be fully responsible for them they should not have even purchase or adopt the pet in the first place. Also, it is definitely not right for people to rant their anger on these poor animals who are not capable of fighting back against the humans. It is a sin to make someone suffer for one's pleasure. There are several examples in China, where dogs are beaten to death once they are in sight by humans. These acts are unacceptable and irresponsible, and this people should have been put to justice, but it is unfortunate that there has not been strict monitoring or laws to protect these animals. Thus, we feel that the Chinese Government do need to look into these cases seriously and strictly deal with the abusers, and at the same time increase the education on the public about animals. 

Taiwanese Culture

Background Info:

Food
History: Taiwanese cuisine is strongly influenced by food rooted in mainland China, Fujian province and also bu=y the cuisines of Fuzhou, Chaozhou and Guangdong. During Taiwan's half century of Japanese colonial rule, Japanese style cooking techniques also began to colour Taiwanese food. Such as Japanese fried prawns and raw fish are also Taiwanese specialties.

Japanese fried prawn dish

MUST TRYS!!
(A country of fish eaters. Fishes are cooked slowly in soups and stews or quickly deep fried.)

1.  Eel noodles on Minzu street of Tainan.  This is an example of Japanese inspired Taiwanese cuisine.
2. 棺材面包 Coffin bread. Tainan specialty. It is a fried piece of toast stuffed with savoury seafood and vegetable chowder.
3. Fish Chin Soup. Mixed with medley of vegetables, broth is glutinous. An example of a fish dish of Taiwanese cuisine!!

Lastly, Taiwan is famous for its tea, especially the lightly roasted Oolong tea. Teahouses exists in almost every town and most households serve tea to guests.

Fashion 

History: Taiwanese traditional clothing represents the prominent features of each tribe. It symbolises culture ideas and beliefs with vivid colour and diverse styles. Every indigenous tribe has its own unique clothing style and characteristics.

Facts:(An example of a tribe clothing, Rukai) menswear is similar to female garments. Patterns and weaves are alike. The men trousers can be categorised into open seat pants. Women wearing a whole suit were considered elegant and graceful. Figures, lilies and pottery pots are themes of woven on clothes. 

Folks

Background: Taiwan's population is mostly the Han Chinese who were born in mainland China or ancestors that were from there. They are divided based on dialect of Chinese the speak: Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin. They have a small population of aborigines who compromise about 2 percent of total population.

Beliefs:

1. Confucianism: Teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in society. Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. The basic tenets are based upon 5 different relationships. 1. Ruler and subject 2. Husband and wife 3. Parents and children 4. Brothers and sisters 5. Friend and friend. Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity,
2. 关系 Most Taiwanese business is conducted among friends and families, Such connections, 关系 are developed with people at your own level or of a higher status in both business and social situations, 关系 open doors, smoothens problems and lead to even more 关系。

 

Festivals

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. We've learnt during our RV literature lesson that the sky lantern, 孔明灯 was  invented by 诸葛亮 during the 3 Kingdoms (this not searched from web one! :). 

It is a festival whose sky lanterns carry the prayers and vows of people and by whivh they seek purification of their souls and a festival that advertises the Taiwan spirit to the world. Laterns are lit, slowly rises and flames of prayers dance in the air. Beautiful and magnificent sign=ht transcends cultural barriers so when festival time arrives each year,  Pingxi is always overwhelmed with visitors.

No fixed festival date. It was held on March 5~15 this year.

Song-Jiang Battle Array 

It is a type of folk street parade. The Song Jiang Array originally organised to strengthen, defend and unite the town under historical, generational and government influence turned into s theatrical drama that combined entertainment for the gods with furtive military training becoming the well known folk art that it is today. It is preformed by mostly primary and middle school children. Preserving and handling down an important folk art schools organise Sing Jiang Battle Array and develop creative approaches to make this traditional formation attractive and foster valuable feelings of friendship while interacting id also at the ore of the Song Jiang Battle Array.

 

Sources:

http://www.taiwan-travel-experience.com/image-files/fusion-taiwan-food.jpg

http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2012/08/20120823-tainan-coffinbread-cw.JPG

http://thetaiwanphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06_Rukai_%E9%AD%AF%E5%87%B1%E6%97%8F_Aboriginal_Tribe_Taiwan.jpg

http://thetaiwanphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06_Rukai_%E9%AD%AF%E5%87%B1%E6%97%8F_Aboriginal_Tribe_Taiwan.jpg

http://www.hdwallpapersimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Lantern-Festival-Pingxi-Taiwan-HD-Images.jpghttp://eventaiwan.tw/d_upload_tour100/activity/image/A0/B0/C0/D-562/E-770/F-799/a5b72a2a-4b57-4748-becb-c96ac59c0b2c_640%23640.jpg

Tang Dynasty - Mindmap