Summary: The White Paper on Population is the first comprehensive report to outline the country's strategy to ensure a sustainable

population. At the heart of the White Paper's strategy lies 3 principles -- maintain a strong Singaporean core, create good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans, and have a high quality living environment. They project a population of 6.5 -6.9 million by 2030. (yikes!)

Helpful Figures: 1. By 2025, Singapore's citizen population size will start to decline. 2. The total fertility rate (TFR) has been below the replacement level of 2.1. Last year, the TFR was about 1.3, according to preliminary figures. 3. By 2030, more people will exit than enter the workforce. By 2050, there will be more people above the age of 50 than younger Singaporeans. 4. The goal for population growth is to maintain a GDP of about 3% consistently. 5. To hit targets, the proposal is to take in 30,000 new permanent residents (PRs) every year

Points you can use the White Paper as an example for: 1. The impact of globalisation and national identity. Not unique to Singapore, this large influx of immigrants poses challenges to infrastructure and more importantly, to National Identity. Fears of Singapore no longer being 'Singapore'. Fears of cultural clash or tensions if the new immigrants do not assimilate properly or bring in practices and values that are at odds with ours. (similar to France and the banning of Burqa) Creating a "us" vs "me" mentality and threatening social cohesion. 2. The movement of talent and brain-drain Also linked to globalisation, such situations highlight how every country especially aims to attract top talent.This is why Singapore is so fixated on being a vibrant, global city with good jobs, good culture, good entertainment etc. Not because it is 'fun' or 'cool' but because if pple are our resources, we need to do a lot to ensure the right pple are attracted to our city-state. There's also the fear that our best and brightest will de-camp if S'pore declines. Yet, if not handled well, it has consequences on the population (see point 1).

Examples would include Economic competition, lowering the quality of life when there is insufficient infrastructure. Too focused on economic gains at the expense of social quality (i.e work life balance, conducive pro-family environment, sufficient space for everyone etc) 3. The challenges of a changing demographic The white paper also highlights other issues: 1. The need to actively engage the elderly and tap on them as a viable workforce (to offset the need for so many immigrants) 2. The need for a state to provide a strong social support system to care for all these elderly. This would of course hurt the reserves but should everything be measured in dollars and cents? 4. Social Media You can even use it an example of the impact of social media: There was a strong reaction to the White Paper. A) Netizens were quick to use Social Media like FB to organise S'pore's largest protest since postindependence. About 2000+ pple turned up at Hong Lim Park, Speakers Corner. While not exactly the Arab Spring, it highlights how new media cannot be ignored in its ability to garner support and organise campaigns and politicking.

B) The new media also provided a host of alternative proposals and reasoned criticisms by experts which were not featured in the main stream media. Essentially, you can argue the new media provided a healthy variety of perspectives and generated more awareness and debate. This is good for any democratic country as compared to an uninformed and apathetic society. 5. The role of the govt If you are supportive, the White Paper is a good example of how a good govt's responsibility is to do what's right and not what's popular. If you are not, the White Paper is an example of how a lack of opposition creates an unhealthy political system where policies can be passed without sufficient debate. (The White Paper was debated and cleared within 5 days of it being unveiled!)