As this year comes to a close, it is once again time for introspection, new resolutions and taking stock of the year that went by.
Pandemic is one of the most challenging events in history, and yet we forged on, prepared to tackle what lay ahead. With self-belief and united in spirit we rolled out vaccines, and what seemed impossible, is already possible today. The menace is still dangling over our heads like a Damocles’ sword, yet we are no longer gripped with fear. We stood together and have weathered the worst with great fortitude. This year heralded a new beginning for us as businesses re-opened. We are meeting one another face to face, families are catching up, celebrating after three long years of draught.
In crisis we joined hands, but as soon as the threat faded our niceness also diminished, we humans once again are insecure, and sadly have started to build walls around us. Distrust, the need for supremacy, control have replaced the feeling of love, brotherhood and unity. As early as January, a nationwide state of emergency is declared in Kazakhstan. Pakistan prime minister, Imran Khan is ousted, with a motion of no confidence. Later, Russia decides to attack Ukraine, in a day and age where we are trying to cherish and celebrate life, a country deems it natural or rational to attack another nation. This goes on, a suicide attack in Afghanistan, 50 killed in mass shooting bomb attack in Owo, Nigeria, economic crisis in Sri Lanka, China conducting military exercises of alarming proportions around Taiwan,…
All this is aggravated by natural disasters, like severe heatwaves which hit Europe in July-August causing at least 53,000 deaths and additionally causing major wildfires, travel disruption, and record high temperatures in many countries. We had a Monkey Pox scare too.
As the year draws to a close, the virus has bounced back with vengeance, fiercer and scarier than ever before. Are the leaders of the world wondering if they should let humans wage war on each other, and ignore the pandemic threat? Or should they opt for a global lockdown again, and allow us to reconnect, rise to the occasion and help each other? As we herald the new year, we can once again unite and try to find a permanent solution for the pandemic and Nature can recuperate too, blossom again.
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