August 8, 2012 6:42 am
Singapore’s “National Night” Encourages Citizens to Make Babies
A shot from the meant-to-be inspirational “National Night” video. Photo: Mentos National Night
Singapore’s “unbelievably low birthrates” have inspired “National Night,” a campaign to encourage Singaporean couples to “let their patriotism explode” on August 9. Presented by Mentos in partnership with the Singaporean government, National Night is meant to help Singaporeans “give birth to a nation” and to give “our country to population spurt it so desperately needs.” (Literature on National Night, however, is careful to note that this exhortation extends only to “financially secure adults in stable, committed long-term relationships.”)
Mentos made this catchy tune to try to inspire Singaporeans to get randy:
After the parades on August 9, the song will play, cueing potential parents that it’s time to do their civic duty for the country.
Singapore’s population is in steady decline thanks to waning birthrates, with the country’s growth rate currently hovering at around 1 percent per year according to the United Nations. Although the situation is not as dire as in countries like Japan and Germany, which have negative population growth rates, the Singaporean government is concerned, so it’s pushing for a more parent-friendly environment that includes longer maternity and paternity leaves and larger housing for growing families.
In contrast, in countries like Liberia and Zimbabwe, the growth rate is greater than 4 percent per year. India’s population of 1.2 billion is increasing by 1.46 percent per year, while China’s population of 1.3 billion is relatively stable at about 0.48 percent annual growth. With a global population of up to 10.5 billion projected for 2050, Singapore might do better by changing its tune to “National Adoption Night” rather than add to the world’s growing masses.
More from Smithsonian.com:
Looking Back on the Limits of Growth
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Given that the world’s population has already passed 7 billion, and we’re adding 80 million more people every year, and many nations are already struggling to provide their citizens adequate food and water, I agree with the writer: We don’t need to be shedding any tears for Singapore. The United Nations projects that our human population could grow by up to 4 billion hungry, thirsty people in the next 50 years. Pursuing population growth seems incredibly short-sighted. Resources aren’t finite.
Comment by Amy Phillips Bursch — August 9, 2012 @ 12:20 pm
so instead of civilized countries, increasing theyre own population they should take MORE people in from third world countries, These immigrants are already causing a lot of harm, by commiting more crimes when compared to the original population in some countries and refusing to assimilate into the countries culture and norms and demanding theyre own schools and laws and such!
If this is the future, it’s going to be a dark age for europeans atleast.
Comment by sam — April 26, 2013 @ 3:29 am
And who are the Singaporeans going to adopt? Black babies? Muslim babies? And let their own line die out? Singapore needs to protect itself and its own future. Not set up a welfare for people who given the opportunity would stab them in the back. You forget why Singapore exists. Because the Muslims treated the Chinese as Dhimmi (slaves/ 2nd class citizens). They aren’t going to get fair treatment from the Malays or Indonesians.
Anyone who thinks that Western or East Asian countries shouldn’t be having more children and should instead take in more immigration is basically advocating cultural suicide. I don’t want to live with Africans, Hispanics or Muslims. I already do and they treat me and my people like dirt. I want to live with Europeans and East Asians in my country. I don’t want those people in my country. The Singaporeans shouldn’t either. I want them to have their own life and live happily in their own country and me in mine. If you want to destroy our country with mass immigration then you are my enemy. I want to protect the very thing that made the West and East Asian countries great, their people. The Singaporeans should do the same and protect their own people’s future by having more babies.
Comment by Save Civilization — April 26, 2013 @ 2:15 pm