Water Planet

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Reflections of an Eventful Year

2008 had been an eventful year, hadn't it.
Before we bid our farewell to it, I think its worthwhile to spend some time reflecting on what the year had brought us, or even take away from us.
I think this is really the point of a countdown - to reflect on the goods and the bads in the past year, so as to hope for a better year ahead.

May 12th
Sichuan Earthquake
With a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter Scale, the earthquake was the deadliest since 1976. With a total death toll of 69,227, and a reported 374,176 injured and 18,222 missing, the earthquake left 4.8 million people homeless.
COuld you imagine how at a loss you would be, if you were among the casualties of the quake. With your home gone and your loved ones either missing or dead, you might never know. Would you be able to pick up the courage to start life all over again?

July 16th
Chinese Milk Scandal
The day when 6 infants died from kidney stones and other kidney damages, while 860 other babies still hospitalized - suddenly the Rabbit Milk Candy that you had been eating since young is not safe anymore.
That was the same with other dairy products such as M&Ms, milk, and ice-cream.
Never thought that some unscrupulous businessmen would deliberately poison the their fellow human race with melamine for profits.

1.5% Growth
Economic Downturn
With the fall of the Lehman Brothers in the US, recession hits Singapore rapidly like a plague. Retrenhment was strife, especially DBS's swift slashing of over 500 staffs without consulting the Trades Union.
Remember those times when inflation was on the rise? Every now and then, we hear the prices of oil soaring, before the that of commodities follow in trend.
And worse, the recession is staying till next year.

1 of our own lost to the face of terror
2008 Mumbai Attacks
A 28 year-old lawyer, newly wedded, and on a business trip to Mumbai. Taken hostage by Pakistani terrorists in the Taj Mahal Hotel. Her last words to her husband over the phone were neither cries of fear nore spelling of any last wishes, instead, she calmly and courageously said the three words to him. She was later killed by gunfire.
Never thought that one of our people would be the fatal victim of terror far away from the coast of our nation. This highlights the ever treacherour transboundary nature of terrorism.

Seriously, 2008 had been a really bad year for all of us.
On a personal note,. despite the joy of commissioning, nothing's really good this year. Didn't expect him to leave either...

Really hoping that 2009 would be a better. Much, much better.

mE posted at 12:09 AM