Optimism Prevails Despite the Many Challenges of 2008
Malak Kira and Aya Kordy
As they say “nothing is impossible”, that makes us expect anything and everything from 2009. What changes will occur economically, politically, and globally in 2009? The economic crisis of the past year was unprecedented, and it is unrealistic to think that businesses and individuals will recover immediately. After facing many obstacles in 2008, the people are hoping for a better and promising future; nonetheless, the challenges of 2008 are yet to be overcome.
Businesses and individuals will be facing many economic challenges in 2009. The speed at which the economy plunged into recession in 2008 after a period of growth and prosperity was really terrifying. Unfortunately, that does not essentially mean we can recover as quickly. The year 2009 is expected to be the worst economical year the world will face since 1947.
Economists predict that unemployment will almost double over the next two years in the United Kingdom. There will be a fall in the housing market; the prices will go down by 10% to 15% this year on top of last year's decline of 16%. People are expecting that the Obama administration will revive economic and foreign policy. The question remains whether there will be any turnaround.
As for politics, the continued violence in the Middle East, due to the war between Israel and Hamas will dominate world debates in 2009. In addition, the U.S. military presence in Iraq will be considerably reduced as the U.S. forces will slowly pull out while the Iraqi forces will gradually have full security control. There will definitely be a turning point in Iraq in 2009, possibly the most significant since the U.S. intervention it nearly six years ago.
Furthermore, the most talked about inauguration in history took place. President Barack Obama headed to the White House on January 20, 2009. It was an evening filled with parades, speeches, performances and despite all that, it was still referred to as a “ball”. About 49 years ago John F. Kennedy gave an unforgettable inauguration speech in which he stated, "Ask not what not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country". The world in 2009 will continue to ask, “Will Obama inspire the change we need?”
Evidence of global warming is emerging in 2009, particularly in the Arctic where scientists had predicted it would hit first. Summer ice cover has dropped dramatically while permafrost in Siberia is melting. The first incident reduces the planet's ability to reflect solar heat back into space. The second will release excess amounts of methane, which will worsen the rate of global warming. A conference will be held this December in Copenhagen, to agree to a new Global Climate Change Treaty that will reinstate the Kyoto Agreement, which expires in 2012. “Only a decision then to establish tight, binding laws to cut emission levels will save the planet”, say campaigners.
The year 2009 offers the chance for some of the most major changes in years. As time passes, everyone wishes to start a new page; however, realistically speaking, starting all over is rarely an option, because fixing the past is our only hope to get rid of the many problems in our world.
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