Changemakersmagazine.org

As the world marks the 100th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, a prize has been launched to cultivate interest in the island’s history while sparking dialogue about its unique place in the world. The NUS Singapore History Prize is open to writings that seek to broaden definitions of history and explore the multifaceted stories that have shaped the city-state.

A Dutch microbiologist’s research on using wastewater to trace COVID-19 infection has revolutionised the way public health agencies detect and respond to outbreaks, winning him this year’s Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize. Prof Gertjan Medema’s pioneering work showed that wastewater monitoring could help identify trends in COVID-19 spread, even before a single case is reported in a community.

The prize, named after the late Singapore founder and longtime UN ambassador, was launched by Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute and the current jury’s chair. It is the first time that a Singapore-based prize has been established in honour of an individual’s life and work, Mahbubani says.

Britain’s Prince William rolled out the green carpet for this year’s winners of the third Earthshot prize, which was unveiled by celebrities and local luminaries at the National Museum of Singapore on Tuesday (July 31). Celebrities including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and actors Donnie Yen and Lana Condor joined renowned wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin to present awards for solutions that ranged from solar-powered dryers to combatting food waste and making electric car batteries cleaner.

Retired engineer A. K. Varadharajan scored his first nomination in the Tamil poetry category for his self-published book Lee Kuan Yew Imaginary Childhood, which he wrote to show his gratitude to Singapore’s founding premier. He will go up against Oxford professor of poetry Simon Armitage for his English poetry collection, Finger-Pointing Expert, as well as a plethora of other writers in the shortlist.

For the first time, this year’s shortlist for the annual Singapore Literature Prize includes submissions in Chinese, English and Malay. It also features first-time nominations for Nirmal Ghosh, the Straits Times United States bureau chief for his non-fiction book Unquiet Kingdom about Thailand’s tumultuous political transition, Charmaine Leung’s memoir 17A Keong Saik Road about growing up as the daughter of a brothel owner, and Farihan Bahron, 39, for his speculative short story collection Avatar’s Wrath and poetry book Finger-Pointing Expert.

This year’s inaugural NUS Singapore History Prize was established in 2014 to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country’s past, while sparking dialogue about its unique place in world history. The prize is awarded by a panel of judges to recognise works that explore the multifaceted stories that have shaped Singapore over the years. This year’s prize is worth S$100,000. The winning work will be featured in an exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore, venue supporter for the prize. The other 15 finalists will receive S$15,000 each. A People’s Choice Award will also be awarded to the work that receives the most votes by visitors on-site at the exhibition.

Gambling is an activity that involves risking something of value, such as money or goods, on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value. It is not only the obvious casino games and sports betting that are considered gambling, but also scratchcards, online poker, and DIY investing. While there is no single form of gambling that is more addictive than others, some forms are more likely to cause problems, especially when used compulsively.

Gamblers can be motivated by the desire for excitement, a chance to win money, or the need to escape from reality and relax in an artificial environment. Some people are also attracted to the social setting of casinos and other gambling venues. However, some studies have linked gambling with negative consequences such as increased crime rates, higher living costs, and a loss of community spirit and social cohesion.

Some researchers have found that a person’s psychological state and life circumstances can be a significant factor in determining their risk of developing a gambling problem. As a result, many psychiatrists now focus on treating underlying mood disorders rather than gambling addiction alone. These include depression, anxiety, stress and substance abuse. While this change in approach is a positive step, it may be difficult to overcome compulsive gambling without treatment for the underlying mood disorder.

Although many people are aware of the risks associated with gambling, some people still gamble compulsively. While this is a serious problem, it is important to remember that not everyone who gambles becomes an addict. The causes of gambling addiction are complex, and vary from person to person. However, there are a number of things that can help prevent or treat gambling addiction.

One of the most important factors is financial management. If someone you know has a gambling addiction, it’s important to take steps to protect their finances. This could mean limiting access to credit cards, putting someone else in charge of paying bills, closing online betting accounts, or limiting their overall spending.

Another way to help someone with a gambling problem is to find other ways for them to relieve boredom and loneliness. This might mean finding new hobbies, getting involved in a sports team or book club, or volunteering for charity. Lastly, it’s important to seek support from friends and family. Many problem gamblers find recovery through peer support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is a 12-step program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous.

Historically, understanding the adverse consequences of gambling has been limited to its financial impact. However, the field of psychology is rapidly advancing, and it has recently been recognized that pathological gambling is an illness. The decision to add gambling disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was a landmark development. This change reflects our growing understanding of the biology underlying gambling addiction, and it will ultimately change the way psychiatrists treat people who are struggling with this condition. It may take time to implement this change, but it will be worth it in the long run.