TheWorldJournal.com

The Year In Review
By Jean-Francois Numainville, TheWorldJournal.com

2001: You Rocked My World

No doubt about it, nobody is going to forget the last twelve months. Whether your personal life or your perception of the world changed after this intense year, everybody was touched in one way or another. A small overview of the events that shaped the year 2001 is somewhat necessary.

Winter:

- George W. Bush is inaugurated 43rd President of the United States ending a fierce legal battle for the claim of the presidency.
- Bush's celebration comes to an abrupt end when confronted to a diplomatic imbroglio with the republic of China after a US spy plane crashes in their territory.

Spring:

- The Kyoto treaty (limiting toxic gas emissions) is rejected by the American and Canadian government creating a torrent of criticism from the international community.
- The human genome decoding is completed and issues of bioethics about what we should do with it are raised.
- Stocks of the technological sector plummeted leading to a bear market situation across the world.

Summer:

- Record high temperatures made 2001 the second warmest year in 150 years of meteorology history.
- The fist successful attempt to implant an artificial heart is achieved.
- A foot and mouth disease outbreak stroke cattle in the United Kingdom eventually spreading to continental Europe.
- The G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, is overwhelmed by clashes of violence: 4 persons will die.
- Concrete signs of recessions struck North America as well as many other regions of the globe.
- September the 11th 2001.

Fall:

- Anthrax attacks are reported in the US east coast in a wave of panic due to September 11th.
- The international community engaged a war against the Taliban regime suspected of harboring terrorist camps.
- The Afghan political regime falls, but the Taliban and terrorists leaders are nowhere to be found.
- After 3 years of miserable living conditions caused by an agonizing economy, the anger of the Argentinean people forced their government to step down.

2002: The Legacy

The way the dramatic events of September the 11th will be remembered is going to be decided in the coming year. If the death of 3,500 individuals will spur revenge and destruction, then this faithful September morning is just the beginning of an ugly and bitter cycle. On the other hand, if we are wise enough, this day will serve as a lesson that teaches everybody that it is pointless to hate and destroy each other since we all live on the same planet.

Let's hope for the last option, and certainly 2002 and the rest of the decade will lead us on a road where a better world unfolds.

© December 22, 2001