People of Mandela, we have seen the best, even craze of politics and the worst of the global economy in 2008. We've been in China to sprint and in Zimbabwe to weep, we've been in the US to marvel at the monumental campaigns and phenomenal election, the opposite in the Country we wept in. We've also seen the highs and lows of Wall Street, the Madoff Scandol to worsen it. A pair of shoes became popular for unpopular reasons and a US Governor too. Most of all, in tribute to the Man this Blog is named after, Nelson Mandela turned 90. But in the end, the very end, it was Israel and the Palestines again, how sad! We still fought in Iraq and Afghanistan anyways.
Mandelatics are forward looking people so the future is what we assess here. The world looks forward to stability in all forms, especially in the economy. We current Economic downturn in our view presents more opportunities that it does present threats, not in the interim anyways. Now more than ever, the quest for economic depth interwoven with the demands of Climate Change is one area where stimulus packages can reverse the recession. As jobs in the wind mills, the solar houses, a new environment-driven motor industry are created, big economies will be cleansed of paralysis to a very large extent.
The dynamism of the Climate Problem is thus more of an opportunity than a threat. Ban Ki-Moon, Nicholas Sarkozy among others have advocated massive investment in this direction and 2009 is the time, the year when we will see the seriousness of the these calls-if world leaders act in support, and if they see it as a means to free economies.
Also in 2009, in Somalia, Guinea and Zimbabwe will exist in testing times, the whole world will watch to see what happens especially in Zimbabwe, a time when the International Community must redefine sovereignty, the UN must do more to Unite Nations by campaigning for support to intervene swiftly.
The Foreign Policy of Barak Obama will be of special interest also, it is predictable he will sustain most of the incumbent's, but we see a more progressive and objective strategy in the long term that complements the overall Obama program.
In 2009, recovery of the economy and the environment will undoubtedly be in the spot light, we will see how much of this is achieve.
Hey!! I almost forgot, we'd see how much a barrel of oil sells for, OPEC must be having a migraine on both sides, one for the prevailing price and the other for the threat imposed by alternative energy.
I was at the Suria KLCC in Malaysia to witness the Countdown and Firework Celebrations into 2009, it was flabouyantly colourful, a 2009 like that celebration will be heaven. Stop hallucinating and read on!!
Let's blog it all the way.
Happy New Year People of Mandela!!