Parents: Late Sardar Sarmukh Singh Gill & Late Mata Sant Kaur Grewal
A year has gone by since you left us.
No words can describe the emptiness with you gone. Cherished forever and fondly remembered by beloved wife, Mata Rajinder Kaur Grewal d/o Santok Singh Grewal & Family.
Kirtan and Katha will be held on Sunday, 23rd January 2022 at Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya from 10am followed by Sahej Path Da Bhog at 11.30am. Guru ka Langgar will be served.
Please treat this as a personal invitation from the family and comply with the Covid-19 SOPs in force.
Enquiries contact – 019-2751217
| Entry: 18 Jan 2022 | Source: Family
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
Veteran Sufi singer Abida Parveen and folk singer Naseebo Lal came together for an explosive release of ‘Tu Jhoom’
The soulful song was released by Coke Studio Pakistan on Friday (14 Jan 2022) at its Youtube channel, kick-starting its fourteenth season.
In one feedback, a reader commented: Something very deep is said at 3:23-3:35: “You’ll always find what belongs to you, one way or another. Nothing is in your control in this life, I tell myself”. That’s the essence of faith. Beautifully said!!
The song was curated and produced by Xulfi.
TU JHOOM
Peeda nu mai seene laavan
[I will] accept pain
Te mai hasdi jaavan
then laughing all the way
Oooh, peeda nu mai seene laavan
[I will] accept pain
Te mai hasdi jaavan
then laughing all the way
Dhuppan de naal lad-lad ke ve labhiya apniyan chaavan
Fighting with sunlight, I found my shade
Dukh v apne, sukh v apne, mai te bas eh jaana..
Sadness is mine, Happiness is mine, that’s all I know
Sab nu samajh ke ki karna aye
What will I do by understanding everyone?
Dil nu eh samjhavan
That’s what I keep explaining to my heart
[Chorus: Naseebo Lal]
Tu jhoom, jhoom, jhoom, jhoom
Just swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl x2
Verse 2: Abida Parveen
Mai deewani, kuch na jaana
I love deeply, I know nothing
Mast hoke gaavan
I sing with extreme passion
Duniya raaji karke kamle
You can spend time making the world happy
Phir v chain nai aauna
But you will still never find peace
Saari khushiyan mil ja mann te
If I attain every form of happiness
Picche ki reh jaana
What will remain?
Saari khushiyan mil ja mann te
If I attain every form of happiness
Picche ki reh jaana
What will remain?
Tere bas me kuch v nahi eh
Nothing is in your control
Dil nu eh samjhavan
I keep trying to tell my heart
Chorus: Abida Parveen & Background Singers
Tu jhoom, jhoom, jhoom, jhoom
Just swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl
Oohoo, tu jhoom, jhoom, jhoom, jhoom Tuu jhooom, jhoom Tu jhoom, jhoom, jhoom, jhoomx3 Oohhooo, tu jhoom
Verse 3: Naseebo Lal & Abida Parveen
Mai raazi apni zaat toh
I am satisfied with myself
Mai utte apni aukaat toh
I am higher than what I can accomplish
Eh duniya meri fikar nahi..
This world is of no concern to me
Mai samajh gayi har baat nu
I understand every single thing
Ki karna eh unchiya shaana nu
Why do we need the highest status?
Ki khatrana aasmana nu
Why do we need to touch the sky? [reach new heights]
Mai hasdi-hasdi hai jeena
I want to live my life laughing away [happy, without any sadness]
Mei nikal gayi gumaana toh
I’ve stopped thinking about things
Mai te mere wargiyan ki
Khud ko roshan maana
Duniya raazi kar v layi eh
Even if you make the whole world happy
Phir v chain nahi aauna
You still won’t find any peace
Jo hai tera labh jaayega, karke koi bahana
Whatever is yours will find you, one way or the other
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
You don’t often cross paths with young people all fired up to promote the welfare of foreign workers. In most parts of the world, the foreign labourers don’t get treated well, despite their contribution.
Songwriter and filmmaker Jagraj Singh Wasan comes across as one such person. The Singapore-born artist feels for them. His fire rages from speaking up against animal abuse to bullying to modern-day slavery.
“I’ve always had a penchant for the voiceless, be it the animals we harm, the bullied child at school, or the under-appreciated in our society,” he told Asia Samachar.
During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, he went to work to produce a video that captures the dreams and ground reality of foreign workers.
“Dance Karneya is a fun dance number that is told through the eyes of a Punjabi worker, who’s left his family and home, in hopes of building a brighter future in a foreign land. He has big dreams and aspirations but is met with the reality of the situation – one without a voice, often taken advantage of, and underappreciated,” he said.
The idea was to create something that migrant workers could relate to, something that was fun and something to honour their high-spirited nature and tenacity.
“With the song and the video, my hope is that we spark more discussion about what more can be done for the people that help build our country,” he said.
His first single entitled ‘Time to go to sleep’, released in 2018, explored the issue of inbred terrorism and highlights the ostracisation faced by Sikhs. The music video was premiered at the International Filmmaker Festival of New York.
Jagraj and his band of volunteers had put together a screening of the Dance Karneya last month as the world celebrated International Migrants Day on 18 December. Click here to view the music video.
Here are excerpts from an email interview with Jagraj.
What prompted you to pursue the plight of the foreign workers?
I’ve always had a penchant for the voiceless, be it the animals we harm, the bullied child at school, or the under-appreciated in our society. This might have stemmed from me looking different, and being made to feel so, growing up. But I’d like to think we don’t have to go through bad experiences to be able to relate to and have empathy for the ‘other’ i.e to be able to put ourselves in another’s shoes.
Seven years ago, I shot footage for a documentary I wanted to make about our foreign workers, prompted by the Little India riot. I conducted some interviews with the workers, all of whom were not comfortable showing their faces on camera (in fear of losing their jobs presumably), as well as with the non-profit organisations dealing in their issues. Unfortunately, I never completed the project, and always felt guilty about it. I guess I lost motivation because there were already so many of these documentaries out there, all with the same sob stories.
I did a bit of soul searching these past few years, asking myself how I could best serve such topics as an artist in my own unique way. That answer in this case, came to me in the form of a fun, upbeat Bhangra/Rock track to lift everyone’s spirits. With Covid serving as a catalyst, ‘Dance Karneya’ was born.
How do you view their situation in Singapore today?
It’s getting better, with more light shed on the issue, people volunteering, policies being updated. But there is still much that can and needs to be done. Ensuring the workers get paid fairly, are treated equally, have access to and knowledge of their rights, proper healthcare, and that they are not taken advantage of because of the imbalance of power. We really owe them a debt of gratitude. So much of how fast Singapore has progressed, and constantly updates itself today, is due to their hard work and low wages.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
Role: GSK is sourcing for a suitable candidate to provide secretarial and administration support services to GSK. The services will cover GSK, Punjabi Education Center Kajang, Development Committee, Education Fund and the Trustees of Kajang Crematorium Land.
Working Hours (Work Physically at GSK’s office in New Building in Kajang):
a. Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 4.30pm; and
b. Sunday: 7.45am to 1.00pm
We can also work out a flexi hour scheme with the candidate.
Salary: Based on the experience of the candidate.
Part time students pursing diploma and degree are encourage to apply. If interested, Whatsapp your details to +6012-2811042
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
FOR many people, the picture of the Helmeted hornbill is among Sanjitpaal Singh’s most powerful images. And he gets it. “It’s a rare bird to photograph,” he concedes, with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
It was important now more than ever to try, though. The Helmeted hornbill is heading towards extinction because of the booming black market for carvings made from its “horn”. Other hornbills have hollow casques, as their horns are called, but the Helmeted hornbill’s is solid and easy to carve into beads, figurines and intricate scenes.
“Parts of the hornbill were being sold off by locals for a pittance. It’s such a pity because they could actually earn so much more through ecotourism. The latter allows them to make money off natural resources while protecting them,” he asserts.
It’s not too late to save the Helmeted hornbill, Sanjit (as he’s fondly known) tells me, but to get people to care, they had to be able to show the bird in all its splendour. “I knew it was going to be hard,” he says, adding: “Twenty years ago, it was hard. And now they’ve been hunted so much more, they’re even rarer. But it turned out to be even harder than I expected.”
Sanjit spent around 450 hours and walked approximately 180 km to get this shot of the critically endangered Helmeted hornbill! – Photo: Sanjitpal Singh
Too demanding? Well, consider what he did to get the striking picture of a Helmeted hornbill with a very small fig in its bill.
He took a two-hour flight to Sabah, and journeyed for another two-and-a-half-hours to the village where he and his researcher wife, Dr Ravinder Kaur (or Ravin as I know her) were to stay for the duration of their trip.
They travelled by boat daily through the misty Kinabatangan River — at an unearthly hour of 4am — to reach the forest, traversed through rugged terrain in the dark while juggling equipment that weighed more than 14kg to arrive at the hornbill’s roosting site before the break of dawn.
“We didn’t want to miss the first feed of the day,” he says, referring to the breeding season where chances of catching a glimpse of the male Helmeted hornbill is almost a guarantee if they can spot an active nest.
That’s when the female seals herself inside a tree cavity to incubate her egg and raise the chick for up to 150 days. During that period, the male must deliver food multiple times a day.
Ravin and his wife have been studying the breeding biology of the Helmeted hornbills. The daily journey to and fro the Lower Kinabatangan Forest Reserve for a whopping 45 days wasn’t without risks.
Read the full story, ‘Wildlife photographer and activist Sanjitpaal Singh is a rock star out in the wild!’ (NST, 16 Jan 2022), here.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
Jaskirt Boora (left) with her two award-winning entries
By Asia Samachar Team | Britain |
Capturing the resilience of frontliners landed Sikh photographer Jaskirt Boora a spot among the winners of the Portrait of Britain 2021.
The Birmingham-born photographer captured the extraordinary commitment of members of the health service when she came face to face with Dr Jaskaran Singh Mavi.
Dr Mavi, a frontline doctor at Heartlands hospital during the pandemic, was on the medical emergencies ward.
“At its worst our staffing was so stretched we had doctors deployed in areas of the hospital they hadn’t practiced in for 15 or 20 years,” he told Jaskirt, as reported in The Guardian.
He added: “We had a gynaecologist managing my ward for a week. Medical students were stepping up as doctors, consultants were working in different specialities and there was no sense of hierarchy. That completely went. And morale was so high.”
The photograph was among the 100 selected to win the Portrait of Britain 2021 organised by the 1854 Media and British Journal of Photography (BJP).
Jaskirt also won the first prize winner of the RBSA Photography Prize 2021. Here, the winning entry was the art work of Aabidah Shah from the series Birmingham Lockdown Stories 2020.
Asia Samachar interviewed Jaskirt. Here are excerpts from the email interview:
Tell us a little bit about your background?
I’m an 80s baby and was born and grew up in Birmingham. My parents immigrated from the Panjab in 1970s, I am currently making a book about the migration of my family from the Panjab to the UK called Mitti di Khushboo. I studied Communication, Culture and Media at Coventry University and that’s where I first picked up a camera, a Mamiya 7ii, and started taking photos.
And what about your parents?
My parents, like many immigrants in that time, first met when my mom came to England, and soon after they were married. Dad has been a bus driver and taxi driver, working in the foundaries when he was younger. My mom has been a shopkeeper and run the family business for the best part of 35years.
What inspires you as an artist?
I’m inspired by the people I meet and local communities I work with. I find a lot of news very triggering, there is so many negative stories and events happening in the world, be it violence against women, gender inequality or racism. The work I make as an artist tries to readdress this balance of the visual imagery we see online and in real life, which can often be negative or reinforce stereotypes and unconscious bias. I draw my inspiration from social activism and in my own quiet way I am make work for outdoor exhibitions that is more hopeful and positive, to shine a light on marginalised communities and amplify the voices of people that are often unheard or misrepresented.
Covid-19 pandemic frontliner Frontliner Dr Jaskaran Singh in a protrait captured by Jaskirt Boora, a winning entry for Portrait of Britain
Is this your main vocation or do you do something else as well?
I mix my photographic practice with teaching. I lecture at Birmingham City university 2 days a week, and the rest of my working week I dedicate to my visual arts practice, making work for exhibitions. Currently I am working on a big project for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, I have spent the last year taking photographs of grassroots sports across the region which will be exhibited in outdoor spaces across Birmingham and Sandwell from March 2022 and during the official Commonwealth Games.
What would you like to tell our readers?
I think in our culture we are often told the arts are not a worthwhile career, but we need more balance in the arts and culture so that we see a bigger range of work and stories come through. The arts is crucial in helping us to understand the world around us, and we only get to hear the voices of diverse communities in the mainstream if we are on the ground making the work. So I would encourage you to pursue your passions and tell stories that you care about and believe in.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
To date, 14 of the 24 episodes have been presented on the website. The story of Nanak and his travels (udasis) has moved eastwards from Punjab (present day Pakistan and also Afghanistan) across the northernmost reaches of the Indian subcontinent, to Assam in the far north-east, down the east coast of India through scenic states like Orissa to the port of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Then by boat from there to Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
Episode 14 covered Baba Ji’s visit to Sri Lanka and he has just travelled northwards from Sri Lanka to the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent after traversing Sri Lanka – and the story continues…. (Amardeep releases one episode every Thursday).
Amardeep and his team including his wife, has produced a unique docuseries taking one along on this journey with ‘period’ music, Sikh hymn-singing (in the appropriate raags as they appear in the Guru Granth Sahib) and awe-inspiring cinematography. The ‘journeys’ are very well researched and very well presented by Amardeep himself in clear English with care not to hurt anyone’s sentiments concerning religious views, rites and rituals yet ensuring that the truth as perceived by Nanak and mainstream Sikh-thought prevails.
We take our own limited knowledge of Baba Ji’s travels as adequate until one views this series. There is a great deal we do not know and we do not truly know the extent of Baba Ji’s travels, how he influenced thousands along the way, and how he is remembered and revered even today. Arguably Guru Nanak was the most travelled of the great prophets and spiritual guides of this planet.
Another unique factor is the deep meditational effect each episode has with the tranquil way it is rendered, with soothing deep philosophical and travelogue-style narrative by Amardeep. With the deep spiritual music and hymn rendering, it is, in itself, a form of blissful simran!
I am also impressed by the occasional diversion to other ‘spiritual sites’ of interest along the way. Most informative.
I have been blown away by the series so far and cannot wait to see how it progresses further. I look forward to seeing how Amardeep deals with Baba Ji’s travels in Arabia and beyond as there are travel restrictions to non-Muslims in these parts especially Mecca and Medina! (Amardeep informs that he sent his Muslim team members to video those parts.)
This series will prove invaluable for posterity as restrictions on travel increase, firstly, hopefully, short-term due to Covid-19 pandemic but sadly, also politically and along religious divides – think present-day Afghanistan. It is also a repository of great information on Nanak and his travels which can be used by future generations in their understanding of Nanak and the uniqueness of Sikhism.
Guru Nanak in Sri Lanka. A map depicted in Amardeep Singh’s docu-series ‘Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak’s Travels’
Amardeep would like to dub the entire series in Punjabi and also Hindi. He needs help to continue with this unique work. Those interested in donating please register on the website. Enjoy, be uplifted, learn more about our unique Nanak and encourage the younger generations to view this series for their own Sikh educational and spiritual progress.
I feel the Sikh Quom owes Amardeep Singh Ji accolades, and a vote of gratitude for this monumental sewa especially for Sikhs, present and future, and anybody else curious enough to know more.
Sikhism is the best kept secret of this planet. I believe this docu-series will help to spread further, the life philosophy of Nanak if we play our part in firstly watching it and encouraging family and friends in watching it, promoting it and assisting Amardeep in further dubbing in Punjabi and Hindi.
I highly recommend this series to all.
Malaysian-born Dya Singh, who now resides in Australia, is an accomplished musician and a roving Sikh preacher. The Dya Singh World Music Group performs full scale concerts on ‘music for the soul’ based on North Indian classical and semi-classical styles of music with hymns from mainly the Sikh, Hindu and Sufi ‘faiths’. He is also the author of SIKH-ING: Success and Happiness. He can be contacted at dyasingh@khalsa.com
* This is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
Serbegeth in action against England – Photo: Stadium Astro
By Asia Samachar Team | Malaysia |
As a kid, Serbegeth Singh lived with with his extended family in Mengkibol Estate in Kluang, Johor. Among others, his father and grandfather had reared cows and they did jaga, the Malay word for watchmen.
“His family lived in the estate for most part of their lives. They didn’t have electricity till probably the 1980s,” said a fellow Sikh from the neighbourhood.
Such was the humble beginning of the former Malaysian national footballer and later football pundit Serbegeth, popularly known as Shebby Singh, who died while cycling at Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on Wednesday (12 Jan). He was 61. His remains were cremated in Kuala Lumpur today.
Serbegeth battled all odds to become a brand name across the nation, and beyond.
“In those days, his father, grandfather and uncle would cycle around town delivering milk. They were known to almost everyone in that area. His father also did jaga job at the Kluang bus station. He was well liked by everyone,” Gurvinder Singh, who runs a business in Kluang, tells Asia Samachar.
He said Serbegeth went to Secondary English School, now known as Sekolah Tinggi Kluang. “He used to play football for the school and the state. It was his passion from those days,” he said.
FOOTBALL CAREER
Born in Kluang on Aug 20, 1960, his sporting talents were discovered by the late Abdul Shatar Khan, a former Malaysian youth coach.
Serbegeth started his football career as a defender for Johor in the late 1970s and made his impact in the M-League after moving to Kuala Lumour. Described as a rock in the KL central defence, Shebby played a key role in the legendary KL team that won the Malaysia Cup three years in a row from 1987-89.
On the national front, he first represented Harimau Malaya – Malaysia’s national football team – in the President’s Cup in South Korea in 1982. It was a beginning to a long career that saw him picking up 61 caps.
“Shebby was one of the last in the era when Malaysia had better football players,” senior sports journalists Jugjet Singh tells Asia Samachar. “It was not easy to break into the national team then, as we had some great players.”
Serbegeth appeared in three Asian Games and won a South East Asian Games gold medal. He bowed out as a national player when he donned the nation’s jersey against England at the Merdeka Stadium in 1991.
After retiring, he worked as a coach and a football pundit who made appearances on various TV networks. He was Blackburn Rovers’ Global Adviser during the 2012–13 season.
In 2006, Serbegeth joined Khairy Jamaluddin to form ‘MyTeam’, a band of amateur Malaysian footballers that was part of a Malaysian reality television show. They went around the nation to spot football talent. The maiden team played to a scoreless draw against a selection of Manchester united players. In the following year, ‘MyTeam2’ lost 2–0 to Indonesia.
Khairy, now the health minister, made mention of the MyTeam when sharing his condolences. He had also gone to the Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium today to pay his last respects.
Khairy Jamaluddin paying last respects to football legend Serbegeth Singh at Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium on 14 Jan 2022 – Photo: KJ Twitter
REINVENTION
After he retired, Serbegeth became famous as a sports pundit and commentator for leading networks like ESPN and Fox sports. It brought him fame, from Dubai to Hong Kong and UK.
“He created generational following. Boomers knew him as a player, the young generation as leading sports pundit,” said former sports writer Randhir Singh. “He reinvented himself and remained relevant.”
TRIBUTES
Serbegeth’s death saw an avalanche of tributes, including from the Malaysian king. In a post on the Istana Negara Facebook page, their Majesties said they ‘greatly appreciate’ his services and sacrifices to the country and that his passing was ‘a big loss to Malaysian football’.
Former Singapore international Fandi Ahmad, who fought alongside Serbegeth to help Kuala Lumpur win every major domestic honour in the 1980s, said: “Our captain was a great teammate and a good talker, who was honest. A sad day for Malaysian football.”
Serbegeth is survived by his wife Harbans Kaur and two children, Natassha Kaur dan Sonuljit Singh.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
Accounting and finance graduate Kiran Kaur Sidhu is thrilled with to flexible and remote working, though she do at times miss the opportunity to huddle with colleagues to negotiate tough corners.
“Work-life balance to me is mainly about feeling good about how my time is spent as a whole – this could mean more time spent on work some days and balancing that with downtime on other days,” she tells Balance the Grind, a work-life balance publication built on conversations, ideas and community.
The former treasurer assistant manager and writer is now a growth manager at TruTrip, a platform combining travel technology with South East Asia’s travel ecosystem into a travel management solution for businesses of all sizes.
She moved to the travel solutions provider in May 2021 after a three-year stint as a writer at technology portal Digital News Asia (DNA). Her current role involves content management, SEO, PR outreach and lead generation.
In the interview, she was asked how does her current role allow for flexible or remote working and how does that fit into her life and routine.
“Yes, in fact, this is my second full-time remote work role. 7 years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined a flexible working arrangement like this one. It has been life-changing for me – I no longer dread long daily office commutes and I’m more driven than ever to give my best at work.
“However, having worked remotely for some time now, I also see the benefits of being in the same room with colleagues. t’s just easier to check in with each other and huddle around the same computer screen to problem-solve. I think the best arrangement is somewhere in the middle combining work from anywhere with timely team meetups,” she said.
Asked about he rtypica day, she said: “I start my day with a shower, and then some news and social media to find out what’s new in the world. Every Monday, I typically set out a sheet with all the tasks I aim to complete for the week with a catch-all section for new ideas too. As the week progresses, I use this sheet to stay on top of my work and prioritise as needed.”
Read the full story, ‘Balancing the Grind with Kiran Sidhu, Growth Manager at TruTrip’ (13 Jan 2022, Balance The Grind), here.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
By Ioanna Roumeliotis & Brenda Witmer | CBC News |
It’s not a secret, but it may as well be. Few Canadians know the truth, and few may want to hear it: Alcohol, any amount of alcohol, can cause cancer. There is no safe amount, and the calls to inform Canadians are growing.
“Even drinking one drink a day increases your risk of some cancers — including, if you’re a woman, breast cancer — but also cancers of the digestive system, the mouth, stomach,” said Tim Stockwell, a senior scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria.
“The risk increases with every drink you take.”
Alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans) for decades by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It’s right up there with tobacco and asbestos. Alcohol is also a top cause of preventable cancer after smoking and obesity.
But the vast majority of Canadians have no idea of the risk.
Stockwell wants to change that, and he and other health experts are advocating for cancer warning labels on alcohol containers. People need to know, he says, that though there are other genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to developing cancer, every drink comes with a risk.
“The risk from alcohol, it’s a dose response. The bigger and more frequent the dose, the higher your risk.”
Kathy Andrews had no idea that the wine she enjoyed most nights before she got pregnant was dangerous. The Vancouver resident was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.
“Some of the risk factors for me were that I’d been through IVF with my child and then pregnancy, as well as a stressful lifestyle and drinking, not exercising enough. So all of those things, I think, played a role,” she said.
When Andrews did her own research after her diagnosis, she says she was shocked to discover that moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to an approximate 30 to 50 per cent increased risk of breast cancer.
Read the full story, ‘Alcohol should have cancer warning labels, say doctors and researchers pushing to raise awareness of risk’ (CBC News, 08 Jan 2022), here.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
