As I did in summer, today i will present my top 10 events of 2008. Events that influenced our life in various fields and in my opinion will influence next year. Personally, 2008 leaves a bad taste. I wouldnt count it as a positive year. It was the year of fear and uncertainty and the most disappointing thought is that 2009 could be worse. In 2008 i lost my optimism. The key words among my friends are : Professional Insecurity, Fear, Disappointment. If i’m write or wrong, time will tell. Anyhow, hope dies last.
On the following list of ten events (presented as a countdown), I’m including a picture of 2008 in various sectors of our life. The judgement is yours if its a real picture or not. Bear in mind that all humans we are sensing history on a personal basis, primarily. So the following list is very personal and m viewers could add or change other important incidents.
No 10 – The comeback of Sir Alex and his favourite band (sorry football team…!!!) Manchester United.
I never understood why Manchester United had such an appeal to me. When i was a child back in 70′s , facing the Golden decade of Liverpool, I was still amazed by Manchester U. In my childish mind was seen as a rock band. Because of its popularity, its political history, and the players that became legends through the club, Manchester was always a symbol of a rock era. In contemporary football history, George Best, Eric Cantona, Roy Kean,David Beckham were the rock mega stars, but in my view, Ryan Giggs was and is the real rock symbol of the team. In sports, the victory on Champion’s League final in Moscow, was the last tribute to an excellent player that soon his carreer comes to an end on the pitch. I hope we will see him more outside the pitch.
No 9- TV on The Radio – Dear Science
This NY at Brooklyn group, along with John Mellenchamp and Cold Play this year, created a mood towards the dark years to come. Tv on the radio, were facing the problem with hope, by creating a party music album. I had also other choices in mind , but in the era of despair i choose the most optimistic one. Here is the song Family Tree
No 8- Beijing Olympics and Olympic Flame fiasco over Tibet
I wrote during 2008 on the political issues around China’s propaganda in order to keep well hidden the skeletons in the closet. What happened during the Olympic Flame travel all over the world, in combination with other events this year, demonstrated people’s will not to be obedient to the mass media images. People with courage and braveness, and lots of anger, destroyed the fakeness of China’s miracle. Sponsor’s plans and TV’s Broadcasters, couldnt repair in people’s minds, the image of a modern country that is integrating to the modern world. The question of Tibet, raised issues of human rights and if combine Olympic’s dopping cases, put the model of modern Olympics in question.
No 7- The maturity of social media
Namely blogging, Face Book, My Space, Twitter and other social media plattforms demonstrated their undoubtful strength during 2008. Obama’s campaign and recent Greek riots verified that people are forming their own media sources and peer to peer campaigns are more powerful than ever. I’m quoting Ms Leslie Harris, President of the Center of Democracy & Technology in Washington DC :”The most important lesson is to trust the Internet. The Internet is not a “problem to be solved” as lawmakers often view it. It is our most important and innovative tool for reinvigorating our democracy and returning power to the people.”
No 6- The Irish No to EU’s Lisbon Treaty
The country that few months later was close to bankruptcy, earlier this year, halted the EU’s road to verify the Lisbon Treaty. Supposingly the succesor of European Constitution -that was agreed after long negotiations among European Member States of European Union- would pass anonymously through parliaments and without referrendums. The strong will of Ireland to put a referrendum in place and the failure to persuade irish people to vote in favour, disclose the problems of European bureaucracy at large. Lack of transparency, the democratic deficit of its institutions, the monetary discipline that overrules labour legislation and social policies, makes the Union less and less attractive to its own citizens. In 2009, a new effort to persuade Irish is under way. But is there anyone that trully believes, if we were asking all Europeans to vote on the Treaty, the majority of the answers would be yes?
No 5- Isreali Palestinian Conflict
A long ago announced conflict, finally broke out. Isreal for sure, wouldnt stand for long Hamas’ attacks to civilian targets and Hamas wouldnt stand for long Israel’s constraints to their constitutional freedom. The attacks of Hamas on Dec 24th and the retaliation by Israeli Air Force on Dec 26th, will lead us to a general turmoil in the region. Bear in mind, that financial crisis would be a triggering factor, as long as Europeans and US administration wouldnt be able to interferre more than the traditional diplomatic means. For sure the conflict will run all over 2009 and the danger of the involvement of other regional players is most possible.
No 4- The failure of Bali, raising hopes in Poznan
“Climate Change” needs global sollutions to a global problem. The failure in Bali conference on climate change could be just a negative step, and efforts continued till the meeting in Poznan that raised hopes that a new deal is possible. I have serious doubts on that, since Obama didnt announce yet his commitment towards a deal and other major players waiting him to decide. Still 2009 is a crucial year, time is ticking, and the problem consider us all. Lets hope!!! And lets act to push them in a decision.
No 3- Obama’s election as President of USA
I quote Paff Diddy’s description of the Obama election :“I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that’s how much power it felt like I had. “
The above quotation, expresses the majority of americans voting for Obama. His campaign had a key phrase : Power to People!!! Now if this hope will turn to acts excusing the key phrase, is something i cannot answer. Time will tell also. But for sure, Obama will face major historical challenges and the rest of the world will keep fingers crossed for his decisions.
a photo by my friend Stratos Safioleas, under his license
No 2- Greek Riots on December of 2008
In my view , Greek Riots are linked directly to No 1 “the Financial Crisis”. Is the first symptom of a world full of despair and anger. The accidental murdering of a teenager of 15, in the center of Athens, was not the cause but the excuse. A Greek youth that facing only problems: lack of ideology, weak political representation, a finacial oligarchy leading them to poverty and social discomfort, states that situation could not continue like this. Radical changes are needed, a real paradigm shift is the demand. The extended coverage of the riots by international media, the stress of other European governments to explain and to prevent riots to be epidemic, gives the importance of this violent period. I hope that the political system took the message. Hope is again the word, but i’m pesimistic on that, considering my country.
No 1- The Collapse of Bond’s Markets
The collapse of stock markets, but most importantly the collapse of the banking system, was the major event of 2008. The amazing element of this crisis was behavioural. Nobody was predicting the storm that was coming. Or that, or everybody was lying. Both options are quite discouraging for our future. Both options are proving the corrupted political system, the institutional weakness of our modern capitalism, the lack of alternative models for seeking out sollutions. Even when governments assured us for the maximum of efforts to protect income and society not falling apart, is difficult to believe them. Greek riots proved that very few people today are having trust to state institutions. And if tomorrow will not bring alternatives, transparency, democratic ethics, I fear that crisis will pass not only to real economy, but to real politics!!!. The answers would not be found in violence. Only if there would be the ultimate option.
