We can all agree that 2011 has definitely been a year filled with an extensive diversity of achievements, tragedies and historic events that we will devotedly remember and cherish for the rest of our lives. From the uprising of numerous Arab nations against their iniquitous dictators in the Arab Spring, to countless natural disasters that took place in many countries around the world which included many devastating earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, we can definitely say that 2011 has overall been an extremely wild and hectic year for all of us.
Enraged over soaring unemployment and corruption, this year commenced with Tunisian protesters driving President Zaine el-Abdine bin-Ali from power after 23 years of his iron-fisted rule. As a result, a wave of unrest sparked by the Tunisian revolution struck neighbouring Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Syria, Bahrain, Jordan and Yemen, many of them succeeding while others were restrained forcefully by their government. To me personally, the Libyan revolution was unquestionably the most significant event that occurred this year, with many fearless and courageous individuals who suffered and lost their lives while fighting devotedly for the liberty and contentment they deserved in their country. These triumphant revolutions have definitely made vast changes as well as an immeasurable impact on our lives, hopefully starting a new era of boundless freedom and happiness across the Arab world.
Nevertheless, 2011 has also suffered a number of unfortunate tragedies that have taken place in many parts of the world causing many deaths and loss of homes, including earthquakes in New Zealand and Chile, as well as powerful tornadoes that struck many parts of America and a flood in Thailand. However Japan experienced the most unfortunate disaster of them all, when a vigorous earthquake and a consequential tsunami struck its north-eastern coast, a combined disaster that killed tens of thousands of innocent people and caused one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters.
Furthermore, the deaths of many key figures were also major occurrences this year, and although some deaths had been a disappointment, others we were delighted to say goodbye to. The so-called face of global terrorism, Osama bin-Laden, was killed earlier this year in May, where he was found in his compound in Pakistan and was shot dead by American forces. The co-founder of Apple Inc, Steve Jobs also died this year at 56 while battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer, as well as singer Amy Whinehouse, who was found dead in her home in London, at the age of 27. However, the most talked-about incident of 2011 was probably the death of former leader Muammar al-Gaddafi who was killed after 42 years of his brutal rule over Libya by his own people after being caught hiding in a sewage pipe - how ironic...
After an extremely prolonged and nerve-racking year that many of us have had in Libya, we can all reflect back on 2011 as being a year of victory and success, despite all of the difficulties we have gone through. Many of us have even lost loved ones during these events, who we will never forget and will cherish their memories for the rest of our lives. But now we all have to realise that the clock is ticking down the hours, until 2011 will eventually just become a distant memory in our minds. This year has definitely had its highs and its lows but it is now behind us, and all we can do is hope for the best and be optimistic for what is to come in 2012.
“We will open a book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” Edith L. Pierce
Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year <3
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