1. Agree or disagree: The Internet should be free from censorship?
Censorship limits the flow of information, thus, it prohibits the people's right to information. I strongly agree that the internet should be free from censorship for the following reasons.
Firstly, through the internet, we can get a lot of data that will help us enrich our knowledge and be able to use these information in suitable and positive ways. For instance, many students nowadays rely on the internet to gather details and facts for their school paper or school projects. In this way, these students would know more about a prominent person, the history of a place, or even news around the world.
In addition, without censorship people would be able to exercise democracy online as well. For example, if the people didn’t like how their politicians are running their country, they should have the right to voice out their opinions and be heard, so much so that they’d have the right to receive info about the politicians’ plans for the country’s future. Let's look at China, the country has very strong censorship, hence, many people are naive about what's happening outside China - and they are easily manipulated by their officials.
To conclude, it is the people’s right to know and be informed about the real happenings in the world. Being ignorant of the truth is non-justifiable and never acceptable, therefore, the internet should be free from censorship.
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2. Should countries have the right to posses chemical and biological weapons?
Possessing chemical and biological weapons pose great threat to humanity, therefore, no one country should be allowed to have these kinds of weapons. Allow me to explain my thoughts.
Firstly, the intensity of these weapons are tremendous and beyond human imagination. Take for example the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima a few years back. That was historical, yet, many are still shaken every time they think of that gruesome past. The bombing cost numerous lives, several infrastructure, not to mention the countless of ways it is traumatic to people.
On top of that, there’s always the possibility that the countries with chemical and biological weapon would try to reign supreme. There’s always the chance that instead of exercising diplomacy, countries would result to using this said weapon. North Korea would be a suitable example to take. The country has been trying to perfect their nuclear capabilities by launching rockets for testing. As a result, many neighboring countries and their allies are threatened by this. Another world war is never an option, in fact, that shouldn’t even be in the slightest consideration.
In lieu of developing and possessing chemical and biological weapons, the world should work hand in hand in developing ways to promote world peace and diplomacy, and address other world problems like poverty and environmental issues.
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3. Are moral values on the decline in today’s society?
People’s ideas and their ability to distinguish good and bad are intrinsic in creating a healthy society. Unfortunately nowadays, many people have seem to have forgotten what morality means, thus, the moral values in society today is waning.
According to an article I’ve read, the crime rate of the world is on the rise – this is of course due to several reasons, but what caught my attention was that a large number of these crimes were murder related. And with the advancement of technology, new types of crimes arise such as scamming and identity thieving. It is unfortunate to think that many people these days choose the dark side rather than living their lives in the right.
In addition, based on my observation and what’s reported in the news, many people are engaged in illicit relationships. Husbands would have mistresses and wives would commit adultery. For me, this is an example of disrespect in the highest form. Disrespect to the vows they made, and disrespect to the person they made a commitment to.
Lastly, the youngsters nowadays are not as polite as in the past. In trains for instance, many of them would not offer their seats to elderly people – in fact, they’ll just pretend to be sleeping and be totally oblivious.
The society has changed in many ways, alas, people’s moral values have suffered overtime because of many factors, nevertheless, for the reasons I mentioned, I believe it’s on the downslope.
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4. Has urbanization in Japan gone too far?
Japan, is one of the most advanced and well-developed nations in the world. The country boasts of modern skyscrapers as well as state of the art technology, but despite all this, I don’t think Japan’s urbanization has gone too far. Let me explain why.
Firstly, Tokyo may not be a city known to have plenty of greenery but it has several remarkable parks and gardens which offer the Japanese people and tourists opportunities to enjoy nature. It is rare for people in large cities like Tokyo to stop and take a look at the beauty of nature. These gardens are there to remind them to enjoy life and nature. Especially during Cherry Blossom season, these gardens are filled with people that want to enjoy the feel of nature in a busy city.
On another spectrum, the government is working on preserving many historical and natural beauties in the country. This is very prominent when you visit Kyoto or even smaller cities in the rural areas. To state a fact, as of 2013 Japan has 17 sites that are considered World Heritage sites by UNESCO. This goes to show that the country is not only focused on boosting its industries but it is also very much dedicated to advancing the protection and preservation of natural and historical sites.
True that Japan is a highly urbanized nation but to say that urbanization has gone too far is farfetched. If you go from the cities to its outskirts and beyond, you’ll see a diversified environment which showcases the countries natural beauty.
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5. Should the government prioritize domestic issues over international issues?
With the amount of issues that has arisen over the years, I strongly believe that it would be more beneficial if Japan’s leaders focused and prioritized domestic issues. Here are national dilemmas that I believe need immediate attention.
Firstly, when that big quake hit Japan in 2011, the tsunami that followed it left a huge devastation especially in the northern part of Japan. The nuclear meltdown in Tohoko area frightened not only the people of Japan but also the rest of the world. And as a result, it has left many people homeless and at the same time, it also has affected Japan’s tourism industry.
Another is the country’s declining population which imperils the future of Japan’s labor force. There’s probably a myriad of reasons why many couples nowadays hesitate to have more children. At the same time, many younger people hold back or are unwilling to get married.
Lastly, with globalization comes intense competition. Japan is no longer the only country that can produce high-quality technological gadgets or automobiles. Some Japanese companies are forced to shut down or merge with other companies just to get by.
These, in my opinion, are some issues that need urgent solutions, thus, the government should prioritize and solve them first before tackling some international issues.
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