Singapore

Cleanliness Policies

Singapore is famous internationally for its government's strong measures against individual acts of public uncleanliness. One joking slogan is “Singapore is a fine city,” in reference to the sanctions against, among other activities, urinating in elevators, chewing gum, not flushing public toilets, spitting, and feeding birds.

Defenders of the government's policies point out that the government only instituted them because some Singaporeans had, for example, disabled public transit with chewing gum or commonly urinated in elevators. The most high-profile case internationally went beyond fines when a U.S. teenager living in Singapore was caned for vandalism in 1994. Some affronts to public order can result in jail time after multiple offenses.

The general acceptance of—or acquiescence to—these regulations suggests that many Singaporeans look to the government to beneficently control their excesses. Discussions of these laws often focus either on Singaporeans’ desires and on those of tourists. Many believe that, notwithstanding the shock or amusement expressed in other countries, Singapore's public neatness helps its tourism industry.

Consumption

Perhaps less considered are the environmental effects of Singaporeans’ consumption. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), ranks in the top 10 in the world. A materialistic orientation that motivates many Singaporeans to spend this income has also developed. Singaporeans commonly refer to the “5 Cs” to which most aspire: cash, car, condominium, credit card, and country club. Critics who would amend or replace this formula with more-intangible or communitarian goals recognize materialism's ascendancy. Thus, Singaporeans contribute indirectly to waste from industry and transportation in other places for the many products and materials that they import to achieve their consumptive goals.

Singapore's industries also contribute to the city-state's consumption footprint. Mostly export oriented, they include electronics, oil refining, financial services, and pharmaceuticals. Businesses account for 75 percent of all electricity use. Many of the country's imports are used in industrial production, such as crude oil for refining, steel, machinery, and chemicals. The lists of its major suppliers and markets are similar, featuring Malaysia, the United States, and China at the top of both.

Singapore is the site for activities that arguably belong more fully on others’ account for consumption. For example, Singapore is a major transportation center for people and, especially, products that neither originate nor end their journeys there. A center for transshipment in southeast Asia, Singapore has one of the world's busiest ports for containerized shipping. Oil is a prominent example. With no oil reserves, in 2007, Singapore was the world's 17th-largest exporter of oil, thanks to its massive oil-refining industry. Similarly, Singapore plans to become a center for transporting liquefied natural gas by 2013.

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