Term 2 Week 7 task 4

Can Singapore go car-less? The newspaer. march 2007.

In view of the global warming, many countries are doing their part to conserve the environment. The main problem of global warming is the emission of carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas evolved from the burning of fuels. In car engines, petroleum burnt to produce carbon dioxide. This contributes to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, ultimately, the result of global warming.

Global warming brings only harm to the people. It affects people’s health by increasing the global climate. People may even diagnose with skin cancer if expose to too much sunlight. Increase the global climate means that in general, countries near the equator will face problem of drought while countries near the brim of the world will encounter floods. Glaciers and icebergs will melt, causing an increase in sea level. Many small islands may even submerged. This brings disaster to the world.

To minimize cars in Singapore, is that possible? Yes, ii think that if everyone tries to take public forms of transport, like buses and the mass rapid transmit [MRT], the number of vehicles on the road would be brought down.

In my own opinions, I think that Singapore government should exercise the “no-car-day” more often, for instance, once a month, instead of the currently once a year. In this way, it does not only help in reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, but also prevents any traffic congestion in the near future. It is predicted that by the year 2020, Singapore would be clogged. If the cars in Singapore are arranged in bumper to bumper, it is estimated that it may stretch all the way to Beijing, China. This is breathtaking, are we sure we are going to live in a place like this where there’s no room for pedestrians; we have to squeeze our way out through the vehicles lying on the roads. How would this look like?

To solve the urgent problem of global warming, we should do our little part to conserve the earth. We can help in reducing the usage of plastic bags and anything that can cause the emission of carbon dioxide.

Cutting down on the usage of vehicles in Singapore would be an effective way. Singapore has always set high standards in managing the car populations here. She has won many countries’ compliments. In Singapore, her people have received top education and know what the root to global warming is. They would of course do their part to prevent global warming, if not, at least reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. Singapore has a well established transport network system. Getting the commuters from places to places within minutes means more people are willing to give up their own cars to board the public transports. If more and more people are willing to do that, I am sure there will be one day Singapore goes car-less.

However, there will be case when this does not work in Singapore. Many Singaporeans may find it a chore to haul a cab or run after the public transports, they would just stay in this way – drive their own cars. To many Singaporeans, driving their private cars would mean that they can go to their destinations at one go. Singaporeans living in a cosy city here would not want to squeeze in the bus with the city dwellers. They prefer their own private cars. Some people refuse to take public transports because they are some public figures and they do not want to expose their identity in the public transport. Some may owe cars due to the inaccessibility of their working places.

I think that the government can encourage its people to take the public transport by limiting the number of cars sold. The car ownership should be reviewed so that people do not get a car easily. These can help in bringing down the number of cars on the road. Thus reducing global warming and prevents traffic jam.