All hopes pinned on one man

By Eef Gerard Van Emmerik
MY GENERATION has come of age during the Asian financial crisis, the war on terror, the climate change crisis, and now the worst recession in a century.
Despite growing up in an environment that could have encouraged cynicism, the United States election last year and MrBarack Obama’s victory show [...]

Advances in life sciences signal exciting times ahead

By Tabitha Mok
AS A doctor in training, much of what has happened in the past 12 months has made me sure that one thing is definitely going to be part of my future career: research in the life sciences.
That’s because the year’s developments are moving towards curing global ailments.
Back in [...]

The power to destroy…and build

By Eisen Teo
IN CASUAL T-shirt and pants, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 21, looked like any young commuter at Mumbai’s historic central railway terminus on Nov 26.
Then he and his accomplice whipped out hand grenades and AK-47 rifles, and within minutes, bloodied the place with the bodies of more than 40 innocent people. His [...]

Let’s talk about sex – seriously

By Bryna Sim
SEX, sex, sex – yes, it seems that is all young people think about. Yet it appears we remain largely ignorant about it.
As a group, news reports have it that we are a walking contradiction.
There are those who are utterly clueless about sex – 2008 yielded news reports that young [...]

Here’s to an accessible govt with lots of heart

In the last of our five-part series featuring YouthInk’s best writers and their views on Singapore, Sanjiv Nanwani sizes up the Government.
THIS year was a commendable start for the ‘new’ Singapore Government.
Backed by a strong mandate, it delivered sterling results, perhaps most vividly indicated by a booming economy.
It all sounds well and good, and the [...]

What it’ll take to create a spirit of derring-do

In the fourth of a series, YouthInk’s best writers look back on living in and liking Singapore. This week, Abdullah Luqman Hussin writes on Singapore as an intellectual hub.
THE world’s ‘idea capitals’ have something in common.
Picture ancient Cordoba, streets buzzing with ideas and banter. Or the Silicon Valley’s sprawling campuses.
As far as intellectual hubs go, [...]

Planning your future career is a tough job

In a continuing series about living in and liking Singapore, top YouthInk writer Alicia Ng talks about making the right career choices.
GEARING up for the workforce is a bittersweet sensation for any young adult.
After years of academic hothousing and competing for a coveted degree, picking from the current smorgasbord of opportunities comes with some sense [...]

It’s fun to be young in Singapore

By: Eisen Teo.
IT’S a good time to be young.
Singapore’s youth not only have more choices to have fun, they also have the means to pay for it.
The year brought with it a major shift in local banking policy, allowing youth and young adults more financial freedom to indulge in lifestyle activities.
In July, Citibank rolled out [...]

We are free to love and hate – and not afraid to say it out loud

Five of YouthInk’s top writers talk about living in and liking Singapore. This week, Edward Choy contemplates personal happiness.
THE Section 377A debate was really what defined this year for me.
As an actor, theatre student and writer, I have many friends and acquaintances who stand firmly against Section 377A and believe it to be a gross [...]