Forget speeches and fireworks, on National Day in Singapore, baby-making is ‘civic duty’
SINGAPORE, Aug 8 — To celebrate Singapore’s National Day tomorrow, a video is asking citizens to do their civic duty and turn National Day into a National Night focused on making babies.
The advertising campaign created by the mint brand Mentos and the advertising agency BBH calls on Singapore’s citizens to “make Singapore’s birthrate spike!”
The video, also posted on Mentos’ Facebook page, has received more than 110,000 views. It begins with a man’s voice saying, “This August the 9th, it’s time to do our civic duty, and I’m not talking about speeches, fireworks or parades... I’m talking about the stuff after that stuff. I’m talking about making a baby, baby. You ready?”
The campaign aims to increase the birthrate in Singapore, which, like many other developed nations, is facing lower fertility rates as well as an aging population. According to the Statistics Singapore website, in 2011 the fertility rate per female was 1.2.
The government of Singapore has been taking measures to promote fertility in the country, such as running a dating service called the Social Development Network. Another program under the name of Baby Bonus offers parents US$18,000 (RM54,000) for having a fifth child.
National Day in Singapore is celebrated on August 9 in commemoration of Singapore’s independence from Malaysia back in 1965. Celebrations include a parade and speeches by Singapore’s prime Minister plus many fireworks celebrations. — AFP/Relaxnews
