Trade offs:

  • involves making a decision between 2 or more things that cannot be obtained at the same time due to limited resources
  • means that having 1 of one thing would result in having less of another

SocialStudiesExamples Cross Island Line Project

  • SG govt ⇒ announced plans to build a cross island line (CRL) → as SGs 8th MRT line
  • CRL ⇒ proposed to pass through and run under central catchment nature reserve
  • when completed ⇒ it will be longest fully underground line and will link major hubs → such as Jurong Lake district and Punggol digital district
    • CRL is projected ⇒ to serve 600 000 commuters per day ⇒ increasing to over 1 million in longer time
    • CRL ⇒ will have highest number of interchange stations ⇒ with almost half the stations on the line linked to existing rail stations

July 2013 ⇒ nature society Singapore ⇒ NSS ⇒ non govt and non profit organization ⇒ dedicated to the appreciation, conservation, study and enjoyment of SGs natural heritage ⇒ officially raised its concerns about construction of CRL

  • Presented to SG govt its views on how CRL ⇒ would affect habitats within central catchment nature reserve
  • NSS ⇒ then recommended adjusting route to skirt around rather than passing under nature reserve

Direct route ⇒ better for meeting needs and interests of Singaporeans

  • direct route will lower public transport fares by about 15% on average ⇒ due to it being shorter ⇒ and more direct. Also presents reduction in construction costs by about 2 billion for taxpayers

Skirting route ⇒ better for meeting needs and interests of Singaporeans

  • Loss of flora and soil disturbance ⇒ due to access roads required for placement of equipment
  • Once surface is broken through soil investigation activities, future erosion risk is very high
  • Risk of contamination ⇒ of soil and streams of toxic chemicals → used during drilling. Should these materials escape into env, they will be severely detrimental to health of the habitat.