Chapter 4: Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies2

What are the consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict?

Factors: Political Consequences, Economic Consequences and Social Consequences
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Identify: Political Consequences

• Armed Conflict,

Describe:(Why the factor was important before the conflict

• Prior to the violence, in the 1950s demonstrators against the government policies were peacefully carried out.
• The Tamils wanted the Tamil areas to be recognized as a federation within the same country; they did not ask for a separate state.
• They did not use violence.
• In 1976, the newly formed Tamil united Liberation Front asked for a separate, Independent State called Tamil Eelam.

Explain(How the conflict affected the factor)

• Since the Sri Lankan Government rejected the proposal, conflict aroused.
• many Tamil youths lost hope in the government and formed a militant group, called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)
• They resorted to violence.
• Tamils supporting the government were also attacked.
• Tamil Politicians who did not support the proposed separate state were also attacked.
• Sinhalese used violence against the Tamils too.
• Many were killed and others injured.
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• Foreign Intervention

Describe:

• before the conflict, as an independent country, Sri Lanka was making its own decision on both internal and external matters.

Explain:

• During the conflict, India tried to be the mediator in response to the July 1983 riots.
• In 1987, it sent 20 ships to jaffna to send food and petroleum products to the Sri lankan tamils.
• Air-dropped Food and medical supplies in jaffna when the ship were turned back by the Sri lankan navy.
• This was in violation of Sri Lankan Airspace.
• Provided peacekeeping services in northeastern provinces.
• Sri lanka thus saw active involvement of a stronger neighbour in its internal affairs due to the conflict.
  

Identify:Economic Consequences

• Unemployment
  
  
  
  Describe: Before the conflict, many job opportunities were available in Sri lanka as the tourism industry was thriving, foreign countries and locals were investing in Sri Lanka

Explain: Due to the July 1983 riots, many factories and companies were burnt.

• Many businesses especially by foreigners closed down their companies.
• This meant that thousand of factory workers and plantation workers lost their jobs.
  

• Loss of Foreign Investments from other countries
  
  
  
  Describe:
  
• Before the conflict, Sri lanka was seen as one of the role model country for many developing countries.
• This attracted a lot of foreign investments into Sri lanka
• Sri Lanka's economy was boosted by these foreign investments.

Explain:

• Due to the conflict, foreign investors lost confidence in Sri Lanka
• They were afraid of losing their investment in Sri Lanka.
• They decided to look elsewhere besides Sri lanka for their investments.
• The economy thus suffered badly.

Identify: fall in number of tourists

Describe:

• Before the conflict, one of the major source of revenue for Sri lanka came from tourism.
• Tourism was thus a key player in the growth of the economy.

Explain:

• Due to the conflict, countries discouraged their people from travelling to Sri lanka.
• Tourists were also hesitant to come to Sri lanka.
• Thus there was a drastic fall in tourism industry resulting in unemployment and loss of income from for Sri lanka.
• Thus the economy was affected badly.

Social Consequence

• identify: Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland

Describe:

• Before the conflict, Sri lankan Tamils mainly resided in the northern and Eastern provinces of Sri lanka.

Explain:

• Due to the 1983 riots, many Tamils fled to Tamil nadu in south India.
• Up till today, many Sri Lankans still remain as refuges in india.
• High Security Zones(HSZ) were also cset up by the Sri Lankan Army to keep the LTTE away.
• Many Tamils were displaced when the Sri lankan Army moved to jaffna to take on the LTTE.
• Many Tamils were forced to live in refugee camps with poor living conditions.

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Social Studies Skill Inference notes -Political cartoons

Inference:

What does it mean: To infer means to draw a conclusion about an issue by using information that is available to you and what you already know.

Inferring usually means to interpret the clues/details in the source by applying your contextual knowledge or what you already know about the subject.
Sometimes the question will need you to understand what the underlying message of the source is or the question may require you to give your reasoning why the author/cartoonist reacted in the way shown in the source.

How would I answer a source-based question that deals with the inferential skill?

Steps:

1.) look for clues/details that you can find in the source.
2.) Use your contextual knowledge to interpret the source/or make sense of details in the source.
3.) Draw a conclusion about the source/infer the purpose of the author.

Some examples of inference questions:

• What is the source telling you about....?
• What is the author's view about....?
• What is the cartoonist trying to say......?
• Why did the author/cartoonist draw this source?
• Why do you think the cartoonist portray the issue the way he does?
• Do you think the author of the source supports/opposes...?
• Does the source prove that..........?
  (These questions require you to do more than just infer the underlying meaning. You need to give the purpose of the author. You have to give the factors that influenced the author/cartoonist.)

What are the common source types you may see when having to answer this SBQ?

• Newspaper Articles
• Speeches
• Oral interviews
• Political cartoons
• Photographs
• Statistics

When you answer the question, remember to:

• Look at the issue. Your answer to the question must be kept in line with the issue.
• Understand what exactly you need to infer by underlining the key words in the question. As you infer, keep asking yourself if your inference relates to what is asked in the question.
• Keep to the point. Do not provide an overview of the source or describe the cartoon or photograph(no marks are given)
• When you state the purpose, keep in mind these 4 key words:
  W(Word), A(Action),O(outcome/Impact) S(Support)

What to look for in different types of source?

Text: Look for key words,phrases or quotes

Cartoon: Look for symbols (to represent something) and character's features (Caricatures), Size of Characters.tag-lines, Character's comments

Photographs: The photograph may appear to capture reality but it should not always be taken at face value because it should be part of a larger scene/context

Dealing with Political Cartoons

• Political cartoons are found in a newspaper across the globe, and they are a powerful vehicle for swaying public opinion and criticising or praising political leaders.
• Political cartoons are thought-provoking with the intention of informing the readers about issues. The views presented in the cartoons reflect the opinions of the cartoonists.
• In the source, the text is used to describe and add meaning to the cartoon. Texts may contain elements of irony or satire.

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Chapter 4: Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies

SRI LANKA-CAUSES OF CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA

Factors: Citizenship Rights, Sinhala Only Policy, University Admission and Resettlement of population

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Identify the factor:Citizenship Rights

Describe: in 1948, Sri Lanka granted citizenship to only those who were either born in Sri lanka or those fathers and grandfathers were born there. As a result, many Indian Tamils found themselves stateless. Thought India tried to solve the problem, many Indian Tamils continued to remain stateless in the late 1980s.

In 2003, Sri Lanka passed the Grant of Citizenship to persons of Indian origin Bill- Citizenship was given to any person (or descendants ) of Indian origin who lived in Sri Lanka since 1964.

Explain: This meant that they were unhappy as despite contributing to the economy, they were not given citizenship. Thus they supported the Tamil Tigers in the conflict against the government.

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Identify the factor: Sinhala-Only Policy

Describe: Under the British rule , Tamils held the powerful jobs in the government service because of their good command of English. However, based on the 1956 Official language Act, Sinhalese because the language of administration. The Tamils held a peaceful demonstration which was however disrupted by the supporters of Sinhala language.

Since 1957, the government has granted greater recognition to the Tamil language by declaring it a national language, language of administration in the northern and eastern provinces,

Explain: This upset the Tamils as they that they were unable to secure jobs or be promoted. They also concluded that peaceful means might not work and violence might be the answer to the problem.

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Identify the factor: University Admission

Describe: Before 1970, the Tamils were unhappy with the education system as it was based on merit. However, from 1970 onwards, the Tamils have to score higher marks that the Sinhalese to enter the most popular courses in the university.

This system is still in place today.

Explain: This made the Tamils unhappy and resent the government. They felt that the government was biased against them and in the process,deprived them of good job opportunities. They thus supported the Tamil Tigers against the government.

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Identify the factor: Resettlement of the population

Describe: The government implemented a policy to provide land for the poor Sinhalese peasants. These peasants were transferred from the densely populated south-western and central areas into Tamil areas. however, the Buddhist monks and the Sri lanka Army came with the other Sinhalese to the Tamil areas to occupy the lands

Explain: This caused unhappiness because the Tamils now have to compete with the Sinhalese peasants for lands, as well as jobs and sales of their products. They thus resented the government.

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Which one is the most important factor?
Without a proper education , you wouldn't be able to secure a good job in any sectors. Even if the discriminatory policies regarding jobs are lifted, it will be pointless without a good education. Most Tamils were not even able to get a university education they deserve. Furthermore, most university graduates were young and energetic. Thus, they become good recruitment grounds for the Tamils, even if they are not studying in the university due to discrimination. Thus, I think that the discrimination at University admission is the most important that the discrimination at jobs or the Official Language Act.

Which one is the least important factor?
The citizenship rights only affected Tamils in certain districts, this only concerns the Tamils who were brought over from India by the British to work in the tea plantation estates in Sri Lanka. This is different from the other reason which directly affected the Sri lankan Tamils in the northeastern provinces in Sri lanka. the Tamil tigers were using the citizenship issue to their advantage to highlight the discrimination against the Tamils. thus, in my opinion, the citizenship right is not as important a factor as the other factors. The Tamils needed proper education to secure a good job. They also need good support from the government to make a good living in their area. thus the other three factors: Discrimination at Universities, The "Sinhala Only" Policy and the resettlement are equally important.

Chapter 3 Notes Welfare State of Britian

Chapter 3 Notes

Welfare State of Britain

A welfare state uses a system in which the government uses tax revenue to look after the welfare of its citizens from cradle to grave. Free Social Services such as health and education, old age pensions and financial support for the disabled or unemployed by the government.

Origins: Early 20Th Century: After World WWII, there was a period of high unemployment, poverty. shortage of food, fuel, lack of medical and social services. The government started to act on Beveridge's plans to create a welfare state to look after its citizens for life.

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Aims of British Govt.(Create a welfare state that looked after the welfare of citizens from cradle to grave.)

Measures taken

Nationalised Public Utilities & important industries

• Took after the management of public utilities like electricity and gas, port authorities, railway and bus companies, coal mining and steel making industries

Provision of Social Welfare

1. Create a basket of welfare benefits to ease hardship caused by poverty,sickness or unemployment.
   
2. Maternity grants and allowance
3. Child Benefits
4. Sickness, injury unemployment,supplement benefit
5. Retirement,pension
6. Death Grant
7. Money came from government and taxes collected from workers and employers.

Impact of Provision of Social Welfare

• To ensure that every citizen would have a minumum standard of welfare for a decent life.

Provided health & Medical care

• Created the National Health Service (NHS) to provide free medical,dental and even optical treatment for all citizens.
• Money came from taxes and workers insurance payments.

Impact of provison of Health and Medical Care

• The NHS was set up to provide free healthcare for its people at the point of need.
• The people do not have to pay for the medical treatments that they receive when they are attended by doctors at clinics and hospitals.
• Initally, the NHS was very popular with the people.
• However, the increase in demand went beyond expectations.
• In addition, doctors used treatments without much consideration for cost.
• By 1951, the NHS was unable to meet expectations of a healthcare system that was "free at the point of service"
• Medical treatments were no longer free. NHS had to charge a small fee for medicine given to patients.

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Aims of British government (1980s-Present ) Reform the NHS to meet the needs of the public.

Managing government spending

• Cutting back on government spending on welfare benefits.
• In order to create a system to make the individual more responsible for his own healthcare & Welfare.

Impact of Measures(Managing government spending)

• However.this was difficult as it was impossible to remove free healthcare without losing government support.
• reduction of government spending would also mean the inability to provide free healthcare services.
• The British government has tried to manage government spending while meeting the people's needs at the same time- BUT NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL as increase in government spending would mean increase in contributions to National Insurance to finance the NHS.

Increasing Efficiency

• Privatisation within the NHS-e.g. contracting out non-medical services e.g. laundry , cleaning and catering in hospitals.
• To reduce government subsides, save costs and make the NHS more efficient.
• With privatisation, patients would have more choices and hospitals would have to improve services to meet the people's needs.

Impact of Increasing efficiency

• British citizens were encouraged to take responsibility for their own welfare and health.
• Medical treatments were no longer free except for a few group of people.
  

Providing Quality Service

• NHS needed to modernise to meet the demands of the public.
• Focus on providing quality service for patients.
• Patients were given more information to help them decide their own treatment and care.

Other Improvements

• NHS Plan 2000 where changes were made based on feedback from staff and patients.
• It also planned to work towards offering patients faster and more convenient services-by letting NHS make use of facilities in private hospitals without having the patient work for it.
• NHS Improvement Plan 2004 where patients have the right to choose from 4 different healthcare providers and NHS would pay for the treatment.
• Every patient has access to their own personal healthspace on the Internet where they can see their own care records.
• NHS Direct-a service to provide medical care over the phone to patients with minor illnesses so that they can save a visit to the doctor.

Impact of Providing Quality Service.

• Changes were aimed to deliver quality service by putting the needs of the patients as top priority.
• This would also not strain the resources of the NHS.

Visit the NHS websites

1.) Official Homepage: http://www.nhs.uk/

2.) NHS Direct http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Chapter 3: Healthcare Services in Singapore (1960-1980)

Aims of the government during the 1960s (Providing basic health care)

Measures taken to achieve Aims.

• Built more health facilities such as hospitals, clinics and outpatient dispensaries.
• Introduced Island-Wide inoculation/immunisation programme against diseases such as tuberculosis and smallpox.
• School/Health Service- Medical Officers and nurses were routinely sent to schools to examine pupils.
• Implemented measures to prevent infectious diseases such as malaria that were caused by littering and improper disposal of rubbish.
• Publicity posters to keep Singapore clean
• Organised campaigns such as"Keep Singapore Clean" Campaign.

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Aims of the government during the 1970s(Improving Health care Services)

Measures taken to achieve aims

• Emphasis on specialization of medical services. The economy had improved considerably and people were wealthier and better-educated, leading to greater demand for better quality medical services.
• Dispensaries replaced by polyclinics which provided better health care services.
• One stop Health centers which offered services such as outpatient medical care.maternal and child health care.
• Located in town centers of housing estates.
• Facilities in government hospitals were well-improved,better quality services introduced.

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Aims of the government during the 1980s (Taking Personal responsibility by staying healthy)

Measures taken to achieve aims

• SELF-RELIANCE
• Government could no longer offer to give generous health subsidies to the public.
• Avoid over-reliance of the public on state welfare.
• Singaporeans to pay part of their medical expenses and be responsoble for their own health.
• Basic health care and services were kept affordable by giving subsidies through medisave and Medishield.
• Medisave-Compulsory savings scheme to help Singaporeans pay for their family members' and their hospitalization fees,especially after retirement, derived from the worker's salary.
• Medishield-Voluntary scheme designed to help pay medical fees incurred by serious or prolonged illnesses such as cancer and kidney failure. An insurance scheme where members pay a small sum of money through their medisave.

Impact of measures (SELF RELIANCE) during the 1980s

• With medisave, the people share the costs of healthcare with the government.
• This lightens the government's burden in paying for health care services.
• This avoids a situation where people's initiative to work reduces.
• Healthcare becomes a shared responsibility.
• This the government need not depend on raising taxes to pay for healthcare costs.

MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP

• Humanitarian concern for the welfare of people especially in the lower income group.
• Class "C" wards for the needy patients:Patients in these wards pay much less for the basic medical care and services.
• Medifund Scheme provides assistance to those who are too poor to even afford heavily subsidized charges at public hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics.
• Patients have to apply for help at the hospital where they seek treatment.

Impact of measures(MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP)

• This ensures that no Singaporean is denied treatment despite belonging to lower income group.
• Although these schemes and subsidies are direct help from the government,they ensure that the lower income group takes responsibility for their health and not completely rely on the government for their healthcare costs-- as the lower income group still have to shoulder part of the responsibility to pay for healthcare costs.

RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS

• Hospitals would have more freedom to reorganize to meet to the needs of Singaporeans.
• The government would be able to reduce the amount of subsidies to hospitals.

Impact of (RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS)

• By restructuring hospitals, the government has been able to manage rising healthcare costs.

MEANS TESTING

• A way to check whether the patients are able to pay for healthcare.
• For example, it would take into consideration of the patient's background, gross income to decide how much subsidies the patient receives.
• However, it has not yet been implemented in hospitals yet.

Impact of MEANS TESTING

• Resources would be more fairly distributed.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

• Emphasis on health equation to stay fit- government provides
• Information to help people make informed choices on physical activities and diet.
• Screening programmes for early detection such as diabetes and heart diseases.

Impact of HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

• Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain health lifestyle and equip them with adequate knowledge to take personal responsibility for their health.

WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS

• Community also provides healthcare support services to meet the needs of the people.
• This is because it is impossible for the government to run all healthcare services.
• Voluntary welfare organizations and private organizations are given grants to run community hospitals,nursing home and day rehabilitation centers.
• Some of the organizations provide specific healthcare support services,For example. National Kidney Foundation (NKF) provides kidney dialysis.Singapore chung Hwa Medical institution provides Chinese traditional medicine. 

Impact of WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS

• Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain healthy lifestyle & equip them with adequate knowledge to take responsibility for their health.
• These healthcare services cater to the needs of specific groups of people such as the poor or those who with a particular illness.

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Websites to visit

Ministry of Health , Singapore http://www.moh.gov.sg

Reliability skill Worksheet 3

Study the sources carefully, and then answer the given question.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

1a) Study Source E

Can we believe what source E says about the pro-baby incentive?
Explain your answer. [7]

Issue: Singapore's Population Policies
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Source A: Adapted from Singapore's Population Data by Age Group [1970-2000]


year 0-4 years
1970 235456
1980 185840
1990 223403
2000 213 278
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Source B: Adapted from an article in The Straits Times,2003
It is a long-term trend that as economics around the world improve, people have fewer children. Here, however, the economic downturn has worsened the situation. with more people delaying starting a family until times are better. Mr Chan Soo Sen, who heads a programme to promote marriage and families, commented that many couples delay because families are not a priority. Singaporeans admit that they are pragmatic people who calculate the value of everything,
i ncluding the costs involved in having children.
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Source C: An adapted comment by a female government servant, who is a mother of 2 boys, published in The New paper, 2004

The government should be more accepting when it comes to new mothers taking no-pay leave. I was passed over for promotion because I asled for 4 months no pay leave, after delivering my second child. It was disappointing and devastating to find out that my boss would not hold the position for me. I had worked extremely hard for it, and proven my ability throughout my years in service. I found out,that by taking no pay leave, promotions and pay increments are withheld. Why am I being penalized for wanting to be a good mother and wishing to spend time with my young children?
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Source D: A couple sharing their views on the procreation issue
"There is no urgency or moltivation for us." gymnasium owner, Mr Teong said. "Sometimes, pressure from our families and seeing friends who have become parents sometimes prompt us to think about starting a family, But these are fleeting thoughts. Seeing friends with their children reminds me that I'm getting on in years, but we are too busy with our careers and too comfortable with our lifestyle to make any changes," he added.

His wife highlighted the stressful education system here, and costs as further deterrents. They are both adamant that they don't want their lives to be dictated by anyone. They stress that they will start a family when they are ready.
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Source E: A local professional sharing her perspective on the pro-baby incentives introduced in 2004 and 2005
Couples not too certain about whether or not they want children, are being swayed, due to the government's attractive package to start a family. That being said though,they are quick to add that it's not all about the money. Dr Low Ee Ling, an academic, is concerned that she won't have enough time to spend with her child. What she likes about the package are the longer maternity leave and 5-day work week. She believes that it is important to bring up a child holistically,looking beyond the financial, to encompass spiritual and emotional support as well. The latter two, should be in fact the top priority for the child's well-being.

SS Notes Source based Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast

What it means: To compare and contrast means to look for similarities and differences between the two sources. In order to do this, you need to look for "matching" or common issue in both the sources.

How do we identify similarities and differences?

There are a few steps we need to follow when comparing and contrasting two or more things.

Steps to comparing and contrasting

What factors are important to the purpose of comparison?
Eg. Source type, Provenance, Content, tone, purpose of sources

For each factor, what are the similarities or differences?

Example?

Source type : Is it a text, picture, memoir, newspaper article, cartoon

Content: What is the source all about

Tone: (optimistic/ Pessimistic, Supportive/against, formal/informal,neutral/bias, offensive,defensive,sad/happy
Sensationalizing/downplaying

Purpose: IMPACT of source on the readers/audience
What conclusion can you draw that is significant to the purpose of comparison?

There are two main types of comparison questions

Question type 1
1.) Questions that requires you to point out either the similarities OR differences between the sources

Instruction words

• In what ways are they different/similar
• How do they differ?
• How are they similar?
• Contrast..........

Question type 2
2) Questions that require you to point out the similarities AND differences

• How different?
• How similar?
• Compare.......