2007: Looking Back- Part 1

2007 was a very interesting year. As this decade of the 21st century draws even closer, events are getting more bloodier, and the future seems uncertain. The world and its people are even more at the crossroads then ever before. Decisions are getting harder to make, and the polarization has not made things any easier for the ordinary individual. This post will not recollect all of them, but rather some interesting pieces of News from continents where no one knows much about.

If there is a feeling of Deja-Vu around the world, it is resonated more in the continents of Asia and Africa. As each year passes, events seem to occur which changes the entire dynamics of the region. These incidences can set back development by decades or can increase instability and volatility for the time to come.

As I am writing this post, events have gotten very bloody in Kenya. The claims of Election Fraud have polarized the whole country, thus letting blood flow on the streetS. Kenya joins a band of nations that are struggling to cope up with Democracy. It could be Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Congo, Zimbabwe and Somalia. There are many more on the list, but it can only be speculated. If the world knows something about Africa, it is only with regard to Darfur and Zimbabwe.

These two events have eclipsed other major incidences which plague Africa. Darfur is now losing hope for a resolution, and Zimbabwe continues to disintegrate, leading one to believe that it is now beyond repair. By the time Mugabe departs from natural causes, Zimbabwe may have gone too deep into the Muck of destruction. The African Union (AU) has also managed to be ineffective, because of its internal bickerings. The AU could not maintain security in Darfur, rather it had to scramble out of the place to protect itself. The AU force needed protection!

Congo continues to burn, involving other nations into the mix. Africa's world war shows no sign of ending, and with volaitility all around, it may continue well into the year 2008. But, if a region has witnessed change, both good and bad, it has to be Asia. This diverse continent is in the grip of Climate change, Terrorism and Olympics!

2008 promises to be China's year, for it will host the Beijing Olympics. The time has now come, when China's economic clout and its growing Sport Superpower status is put on display. This has not come without problems. Beijing continues to suffer from Pollution, and this may put the factor of Environment firmly in the minds of the Chinese, How things develop both within and outside of the Olympics in China will be worth seeing. Australia entered into the new year with a change in leadership. For a dozen years, Australia Prime Minister John Howard made the country as strong as ever, and now the new Prime Minster Kevin Rudd has only to prolong that. The best part was that Australia agreed to sign the Kyoto protocol on Climate change.

Australia continue to dominate the world of Cricket. In 2007, they became the first team to win 4 world Cups. The 2007 World cup held in the Caribbean islands showed that Australia are the greatest team on this planet. The incredible thing will be that they went the first decade of the 21st century undefeated in a World Cup Match. Their domination will continue for a long time

The rest of the continent witnessed natural calamities and political changes. From and earthquake in New Zealand to Thailand Prime Minister Thakshin Shinawatra getting removed by an Army coup, the continent witnessed several incidences. But, looking at how diverse Asia is, it is a bit unfair. I will come back to it later