[From TODAY newspaper] Where's the war?
-
http://www.todayonline.com/pda/283300ag.htm
War was the single biggest threat to press freedom
Friday • October 24, 2008
PARIS — Singapore is placed in the bottom quarter of a global press freedom index that ranked 173 countries, which was issued on Wednesday by a Paris-based media group.
In the annual World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Sans Frontieres’ (RSF) (Reporters Without Borders), Singapore is ranked 144th. The country fell three places from last year’s index, when it ranked 141st. In 2006, Singapore was in 146th position.
Iceland, Luxembourg and Norway share the top spot this year, with Estonia, Finland and Ireland in joint fourth in the index. United Kingdom was ranked 23rd and the United States, 36th.
Eritrea ranked at the bottom in 173rd place for the second year. Many journalists in Eritrea have been held incommunicado since 2001 by President Isayas Afeworki, according to RSF.
Other countries in the bottom 10 include China at 167th, Myanmar at 170th and North Korea at 172th. Agencies
So where's the war?
-
Interesting to note that while Iceland is top in press freedom, the country almost went bankrupt thanks to its banks over extending themselves.
-
With limited or restricted access to sensitive information, Singapore investors are handicapped in their ability to make sound and balanced judgment and decision for their precious and limited capital.
When Tony Tan made a very public statement back in June 2008 - warning that the writings are already on the wall that an "economic tsunami" was soon to break over Singapore - he was contradicted by more outspoken Singapore Cabinet Ministers who insisted that Singapore's Economy is still sound.
Even MM LKY put in his weight by blowing his hot air to reassure Singaporeans that Singapore still has 5 to 10 years of bright outlook - with a whispered proviso that subject Singapore's future to improvement in external factors.
It was only until the storm broke out in the USA - with the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the shake-down at AIG - that Singaporeans were caught in the world-wide panic to protect their investments in these US Corporations.
Even before the first quarter of 2008 when Singaporean Banks began to offer the mini-bonds issued by Lehman Brothers - as part of a group of 7 International Banks - the news in the USA was circulating that Lehman Brothers were in dire straits.
Somehow, this piece of information was missed by Singapore Banks who again did not exercise due diligence prior to offering foreign packaged financial products to Singaporeans.
Even the sudden withdrawal of GE Cash Loans from the Singapore Financial Sector has largely gone without any public comments by the State controlled news medias.
Meanwhile Singaporeans who have taken up loan offers from GE Cash are now faced with a recall, or subject to new terms and conditions with local banks agreeing to takeover the portfolios from GE Cash Loans.
Can we trust this Singapore Government for any kind of talk about transparency, when it is selectively applied ?
-
Eritrea... where on earth or what is that ? lol
-
Originally posted by ArtBoon:
Interesting to note that while Iceland is top in press freedom, the country almost went bankrupt thanks to its banks over extending themselves.
Right, in Iceland, the country can go bankrupt but the citizens are rich and well taken care of. In countries with no press freedom, the people pay hidden taxes left right and center and they get means testing at the hospitals and ERP and COE and HDebtB....
-
...because Iceland is top of the list in press freedom...
-
...and the dishonorable despots run country is near the bottom...
-
Singaporeans quite well educated but majority hampered by the mass state media propaganda.
Critical and analytical functions partly crippled because of daily state propaganda bombardment.
Sad.
-
66 years back =).