Year In Review

One year has gone and another is about to begin. The year of 2008 has brought with it moments of grief, an eminent sense of “hard times” ahead and brief glimpses at hope and achievement. Personally, this year has brought with it much more trials and I hope for brighter days in 2009.
Many crises began and are ongoing without a predictable end. It seems wars can only be started by our leaders of today; there is no sense of justification anymore. There are no visible efforts by any to promote resolution to conflicts and peace negotiations have become a tool of propaganda. No one expects anything positive to come out of these meetings as they sit on their lofty chairs discussing “world events” as they are happening. Who is ethically responsible? Who will be morally empowered enough to take responsibility? The answer is obvious in each scenario. Needless to say we are all awaiting someone to fulfill the role of the latter.
The year remembered as, “Yes WE can!”, but what we can and cannot do is not of importance in these crucial days. What WE MUST do is the challenge that everyone has chosen to overlook, well at least those of power and influence have chosen to do so.
It was just days ago the world witnessed yet another present day massacre and all the masses can do is stage protests and sign petitions that fall on deaf ears. Who is the Israeli Prime Minister to reject a proposal for a 48-hour humanitarian truce in Gaza? This man has the power to save lives yet he has publicly chosen not to.
“An eye for an eye will leave everyone blind”. The crisis continues in the Middle East…
While they remain blind, I chose to see even if this sight has an ultimate price. Who amongst us is brave enough to end resentment and revenge? Even for the cowards where will they cower to? Conflict is inescapable and crime is rampant.
“They” warn of creating dependency on “AID” but one must agree in order to build there must be a few essentials, the right to food, shelter, safety, education, in fact in most cases it goes as basic as the right to life! Until these are not met how can you expect anything other than hands outstretched for relief? The crisis continues in Africa…
The world faces yet another challenge, global financial crisis as thousands are finding it increasingly difficult to remain employed. As stock markets fall and fail miserably, deaths due to conflicts, war, disease and crime rise continuously and consistently. The cost of food has risen so sharply and abruptly it raises many questions ands doubts on the reason for this level of inflation. Is it in a bid to secure “rich” nations from losing momentum as the poor become poorer and the rich become richer?
There is still a far greater challenge ahead of us, and every single one of us has a part to play if we wish to continue the race of man on earth. We are destroying the very earth that supports our living and the global climate changes that we are witnessing are as a direct result of our own actions. This year has also seen an increase in natural disasters but what of years to come?...
One highlight of this year was the successful hosting of the Olympics in Beijing. The Caribbean region were made proud of their Jamaican son and records we smashed at the indoor pool arena where I chose to believe man began to morph into fish… lol
This is how I choose to see the world I live in. I am alot of things but one thing is for certain I am not blind. I am but a spectator with the choice to see and an opportunity to write. I thank you all for reading and I leave you now with a “World in Review" picture story…
A picture tells a thousand words or so they say :) …
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On the fifth day of the Gaza conflict, Israeli air strikes destroyed the offices of the head of Hamas in Gaza
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senator Barack Obama began the year on the campaign trail, 12 months later he was president elect of the United States of America.
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In the Rift Valley town of Nakuru, Kenya, political and ethnic violence in the wake of a disputed presidential election left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured.
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More than 55,000 people are known to have died in an earthquake that struck south-west China on 12 May. This woman was searching for her daughter and husband in Beichuan.
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Palestinian protesters take cover as they get caught in a barrage of tear gas canisters fired by Israeli troops during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Nilin, near Modin.
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Rising food prices made basic staples like rice, corn and cooking oil unaffordable for many people all over the world. Fears of a global food shortage saw some rioting and unrest. Here in Lahore, Pakistan, people struggle in an attempt to get bread.
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The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games saw more than 10,000 athletes compete for nearly 1,000 medals. Two names stood out, sprinter Usain Bolt who claimed three world records and swimmer Michael Phelps who won a staggering eight gold medals in the pool.
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Thousands of civilians were caught up in fighting in and around South Ossetia, which began on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake the region by force after a series of lower-level clashes with Russian-backed rebels.
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Four children died and more than 50,000 were made ill by contaminated milk powder in China. The problem was revealed when milk powder from the Sanlu Group was found to contain melamine, an industrial chemical. But the problem spread as other companies become involved.
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A global crisis in the world’s financial markets led to huge losses on stock exchanges, cuts in interest rates and massive government bailouts to keep some banks afloat.
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US Republican Senator John McCain pulls a face having turned the wrong way to leave the stage after shaking hands with Obama at the end of the final presidential debate in New York.
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An estimated 250,000 civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo fled their homes and are living in desperate conditions following an outbreak of violence in the eastern part of the country.
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Extensive Flooding in England
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Dedicated to Palestine...

Naci En Palestina - Amel Mathlouthi

All the Best for the year 2009/ 1430 AH
Blogging with purpose,
Mariamlelue

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