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South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: After a fatal road accident in Malaysia, was this TikTok apology sincere?
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Tiffany Taw, 14, German Swiss International School Tiffany Taw attends German Swiss International School. Photo: Handout On March 6, an 18-year-old driver in Malaysia without a valid licence killed three teenage motorcyclists in a traffic accident. The driver's sister, Nur Athirah Najwa, posted a video online admitting her brother's involvement but pleaded that the public pray for his recovery instead of blaming him. She did not acknowledge the deaths caused by the crash. This sparked criticism of the seeming lack of empathy for the families of those who died. I agree with the public. Nur Athirah completely disregarded the innocent victims who lost their lives as well as their grieving families who are going through an extremely difficult time. While I understand her concern for her brother, it was wrong to focus solely on his condition when families are mourning the deaths of their loved ones. Additionally, regardless of intent, her brother was still the culprit of the accident; he should bear at least some responsibility for this tragic event. While his sister had nothing to do with the incident, she should have expressed her condolences to the victims' families. Following the outrage, Nur Athirah uploaded another video apologising for her insensitivity. Many accused her of using this video to pacify the customers of her father's business. This reflects a broader issue that is becoming a trend on social media. Celebrities these days apologise after making mistakes – such as insensitive comments – simply to appease followers and fans and fix their reputation. In reality, a verbal or written apology on its own is not enough to resolve problems. In this case, a Facebook user wrote, 'Doing a [TikTok] live just to apologise will not bring back the dead'. On the other hand, the public may have been too critical of her apology. There was no proof of insincerity or that she was only appeasing her father's customers. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' – set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke – is the latest entry in the hugely popular video game series. Image: Ubisoft French video game developer Ubisoft is receiving complaints in Japan for what critics claim are historical inaccuracies and the desecration of a Shinto shrine. Assassin's Creed Shadows is the first game in the series to be set in Japan. It takes place during the 15th and 16th centuries and allows users to play as a warrior called Yasuke, a real-life historical figure known in pop culture as the first Black samurai. However, there is little surviving historical documentation of Yasuke's life, including whether he was considered a samurai. He is believed to have arrived in Japan from Mozambique with Portuguese priests around 1580 and later served Oda Nobunaga, a daimyo (feudal lord) known as a unifier of Japan. Critics of the game argue that there is no evidence that Yasuke was a samurai warrior. They say a foreigner should not be a protagonist in a game about Japanese history. Mathew Thompson, an associate professor of premodern Japanese literature at Tokyo's Sophia University, said he believed the people offended by the game had fixed views. 'There are many groups in Japan that have [set] views of certain historical topics, and this pushes their buttons,' he said. 'These groups tend to take a conservative or even nationalistic approach to history,' he explained, adding that a game which took liberties with Japan's past was bound to provoke their anger. The developers have also been criticised for showing a real 1,400-year-old Shinto shrine in the game without contacting its caretakers. Messages on social media called the depiction 'offensive' to the Shinto religion. 'If you borrow Japanese culture and history for business, you need to respect it,' a comment on the Japanese newspaper Sankei's website read. 'I think any country would find it insulting to see their temples being destroyed.' Staff writers Research and respond Do you think the video game developers deserved this backlash? Why or why not? How should the developers respond to the public's comments?
South China Morning Post
09-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: American woman killed by hippo during safari raises safety concerns
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Charis Chan, 15, Malvern College Hong Kong Charis Chan raises questions over safety measures and guide qualifications at wildlife excursions. Photo: Handout There is currently an ongoing lawsuit against the safari tour company African Portfolio following the tragic death of an American woman in a hippo attack. I believe that African Portfolio should take some responsibility for this incident. First and foremost, they arranged the walking safari and should have been aware of the specifics of the trip, including potential dangers and the qualifications of the tour guides. Given the well-documented risks associated with wildlife encounters, African Portfolio should have provided the couple with thorough warnings about possible dangers and outlined the steps to take in case of an accident. However, it is important to note that African Portfolio is not solely to blame for this tragedy. As stated by Rodney Gould, the company's lawyer, they do not have full control over operations in Zambia. Their focus is to arrange lodging, and the owners of the lodging provide the guides. Being based in the US makes it challenging for African Portfolio to ascertain how tour guides are trained and how the animals and tourists behave. This lack of direct oversight complicates their ability to prevent such incidents. To minimise risks on future safaris, companies could make it mandatory for customers to remain in a safe vehicle while observing wildlife. If customers desire closer contact with animals, the company should provide protective gear to ensure safety from potential bites. Additionally, tour guides should possess proven skills in handling weapons to effectively address emergencies, thereby protecting customers from severe animal attacks. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe The US joined Russia in voting against a UN resolution that called for an end to the war in Ukraine and condemned Russia's aggression. Photo: AFP The administration of US President Donald Trump is temporarily suspending US military aid for Ukraine, the White House confirmed last week. The suspension was announced just days after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. During his election campaign, Trump had questioned the necessity of US aid to Ukraine. Under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, the US was Ukraine's largest supporter in the defensive struggle against Russia. The United States also split with its European allies last month by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three UN resolutions seeking an end to the three-year war. In the UN General Assembly, the US joined Russia in voting against a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution that called out Moscow's aggression and demanded a withdrawal of Russian troops. The US pushed for a vote on its original draft in the more powerful UN Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding, and it has veto power along with Russia, China, Britain and France. The vote in the 15-member council was 10-0, with five European countries abstaining. The duelling resolutions reflect the tensions between the US and Ukraine after Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict quickly. In the first vote, the General Assembly approved the Ukrainian resolution 93-18 with 65 abstentions. The result showed some diminished support for Ukraine because previous assembly votes saw more than 140 nations condemn Russia's aggression. The assembly then turned to the US-drafted resolution. The resolution acknowledges 'the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict' and 'implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia', but never mentions Moscow's aggression. Research and respond What is the role of the United States and President Donald Trump in the UN General Assembly? What are the implications of the US stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
South China Morning Post
23-02-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: Trump's executive orders on DEI spark major lawsuit
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Last week's response Mischa Lan, 13, Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School The recent lawsuit filed by the city of Baltimore, alongside several organisations, against US President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes pinpoints critical concerns about the ramifications of dismantling such initiatives. Trump's campaign rhetoric targeted programmes designed to assist women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ individuals in securing government jobs, framing them as unfair advantages. However, civil rights advocates contend that these programmes are vital for addressing ongoing discrimination and serve as a deterrent against systemic inequities. The lawsuit claims Trump's actions represent an overreach of power that contests Congress's exclusive control over federal spending. Under-represented groups often rely on DEI initiatives for equitable access to job opportunities and resources. Without these programmes, systemic inequities may be amplified, resulting in a workforce that lacks diversity and inclusivity. Moreover, the lawsuit says that Trump's orders could harm free speech within institutions. Individuals and organisations may self-censor their advocacy for diversity by threatening penalties for supporting DEI initiatives. The backlash against the dismantling of DEI programmes is largely justified. Advocates argue that these initiatives are essential for correcting historical injustices and stimulating an inclusive environment reflecting core values of American justice. As this legal dispute progresses, it is important to consider both the constitutional implications and the societal consequences. The outcome may determine whether diversity remains a priority in federal policies or is relegated to the past. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Attendees at the 2024 Pink Dot rally in Singapore, an annual event in support of the LGBTQ community, form the word 'equality' with light torches. Photo: Reuters When Sarah* told her supervisor at a security company that she was transitioning to become a woman, his immediate response was to use an expletive and ask if she had cut off her genitalia. Sarah, a 29-year-old Singaporean, was then asked to wear a company shirt and track pants to work, remove her manicured nails and cut her hair, while her colleagues had no such dress code. Sarah is one of around 65 per cent of transgender people who took part in a recent survey and said they had negative experiences in the workplace in Singapore. Thirty six per cent had received comments and questions about their lifestyle, sexual orientation, gender identity or sex life. The study findings come after Singapore passed a bill legislating against workplace discrimination. Firms found guilty of showing bias against protected characteristics, such as age, nationality, sex, race and disability, can be ordered by the court to pay a civil penalty. During the parliamentary debate before the bill's passage, MPs from the ruling People's Action Party and opposition Workers' Party took issue with how legal protections under the new law were not extended to individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Hareenderpal Singh, managing director of HRS Security Services, urged management to implement policies that would allow transgender workers not to feel discriminated against. Aside from the workplace, the study looked at the treatment of transgender people in school. It found that 55.1 per cent of the respondents reported verbal abuse, 14.5 per cent encountered physical abuse, and 8.9 per cent experienced sexual abuse while in school. * Name changed at interviewee's request Staff writers Research and respond Why do you think gender identity and sexual orientation were not included in the new workplace anti-discrimination law? What steps can the Singaporean government and companies take to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for transgender and gender-fluid individuals?
South China Morning Post
09-02-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: Taiwan's death penalty and its clash between human rights and local feelings
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Last week's response Chan Bo-wen, 16, HKCCCU Logos Academy Chan Bo-wen attends HKCCCU Logos Academy. Photo: Handout Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the state-sanctioned execution of an individual for committing a specific crime. Since 1976, more than 85 nations have abolished the death penalty, with human rights organisation Amnesty International stating that it breaches human rights laws. In January, Taiwan carried out its first use of capital punishment in five years, executing rapist and murderer Huang Lin-kai. Despite its reputation as Asia's most liberal democracy, capital punishment remains broadly popular in Taiwan, according to opinion polls. The execution led to strong pushback from the European Union and human rights groups, with the EU's diplomatic service calling for Taiwan to abolish the death penalty. The EU is a leading donor of global humanitarian aid, providing millions of people worldwide with need-based assistance. With all its constituent countries having abolished the death penalty, the EU should have a right to give opinions on the legality and ethics of the death penalty globally. The EU is actively developing its foreign policies, which are influenced by humanitarian and geostrategic concerns; hence, it should also be free to get involved in this particular discussion. The vast majority of Taiwanese citizens support the death penalty as a way to prevent serious crimes. This could be due to the attitude of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, which strongly supports capital punishment. Being the largest single party in the legislature, its position on the criminal justice system strongly affects public sentiment. Furthermore, Taiwan is a collectivistic society that heavily emphasises group harmony. Individuals who disrupt the collective welfare are viewed as deserving of harsh punishment, backed by the need for retribution. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Greenland residents overwhelmingly reject US annexation, according to a new poll. Photo: Xinhua According to a recent poll, the vast majority of Greenland residents do not want their island to become part of the United States, as envisioned by US President Donald Trump. Trump has signalled that he wants the Arctic island – which is believed to hold large untapped mineral and oil reserves – to become part of the US. He has suggested the possibility of using force or tariffs to annex the territory. When asked if they wanted to become part of the United States, 85 per cent of Greenlanders said no, according to the poll published in the Danish Berlingske and Greenland's Sermitsiaq dailies. Six per cent of those polled said they were in favour, and nine per cent were undecided, according to the poll by the Verian agency. 'It's the first poll that asked a representative section of Greenland's population, and I think this is very important,' Kasper Moller Hansen, a political-science professor at the University of Copenhagen, said. 'I think this poll shows very clearly that they do not want to be American,' he added. Around 45 per cent of Greenlanders view Trump's interest in their island as a 'threat', while 43 per cent view it as an 'opportunity'. Another 13 per cent are still undecided, according to the poll. The poll questioned 497 respondents aged 18 and older between January 22 and 26, with a margin of error of 1.9 to 4.4 percentage points. Greenland has 57,000 residents. Officials in Greenland, which depends heavily on Denmark for subsidies, have long been pushing for independence but have said they are open to doing business with the United States. A day after Trump was sworn in as president, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede insisted that Greenlanders 'don't want to be American'. Staff writers and Agence France-Presse Research and respond Why do you think US President Trump is interested in annexing Greenland? Do you think the US has a right to fight for this land? What does the poll signify about Greenlanders' attitudes towards this dispute?
