2007 is drawing to a close and we are all anxiously waiting for the coming of 2008. What is in store for us in the new year? One can only guess. There are many prophecies and forecasts in the world political arenas, economic predictions, warning about global environmental calamities for the next 12 months, but who can be sure what 2008 will bring for us? Only today, in the newspapers, we read about the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. We live in a world full of uncertainties and turmoil. Major world powers, out of self interest play smaller and weaker countries in the world like a game of chess. The discoveries of natural resources of undeveloped countries tend to bring interested players like bees to nectar. Human greed plays a large part in the most trouble spots around the globe. Corruption, greed and self glorification are the main causes for the misery in many countries.
The world we live in is divided into people who are super rich, a large percentage of middle class and a portion of very deprived and poor people. Inequality in wealth distribution vary from country to country. There are some countries rich in natural resources with 95% of national wealth in the hands of 5% of the population. The situation here in Singapore is much better. There are basically no destitute people in Singapore. Like any country in the world there are some very rich and also there are some poor people, but unlike many other countries no one goes hungry. Even the poorest have their basic needs. The Singaporean government has seen to it that no one is deprived of the basic essentials. However, inflation has increased recently and many are experiencing financial difficulties due to the hike in cost of living. The income gap has grown wider and voices of dissatisfaction can be heard in this otherwise very quiet and subdued city state.
What do I wish for 2008? I pray that 2008 will be a good year for all of us. I pray that all mindless world conflicts be ended. I pray that there will be no more loss of lives through indiscriminate acts of terror. I pray for the end of the Iraq and the Afghanistan wars and any other conflicts elsewhere in the world. Let there be peace, love and goodwill in 2008. I am certain this isn’t too much to ask but may prove an impossibility to achieve.
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