The highs and lows of 2021 - part 1 - 29th December 2021

We entered 2021 with a glimmer of hope that the world could overcome the challenges of Covid-19. Brazil's vaccination brought the country welcome relief from the worst ravages of the pandemic, while cultural life adjusted to the new normal with artists using augmented reality to generate an invisible, Covid-safe exhibition along the river Thames.

Daniel Birbaum: "One of the, you know, ideas has been to democratise art - to, to, to, in a way, make art visible in places where normally it's not visible."

However, this calm was broken when right-wing protestors attacked the US Capitol, the heart of American democracy, in an attempt to overturn the election result. The insurrection failed, and the lawfully elected President Biden was sworn in later that month, with a message that our individual and collective faith is the guarantee for the future.

Amanda Gorman: "For there is always light if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

This belief echoed in protests around the world. Indian farmers and supporters of the poisoned Russian opposition leader defended people's rights, and the citizens of Myanmar responded to a military coup d'état.

Meanwhile, 2021 saw people pushing other boundaries too. A groundbreaking dialogue between Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Sistani took place, Singapore floated solar energy generation, and attractions in Dubai broke records, raising the tallest ever swing ride.

Milton D'Souza: "Standing at 460 feet tall, Bollywood Skyflyer is the tallest swing ride. So right now, this is as tall as the Pyramid of Giza."

However, devastation never dipped below the horizon in 2021, with Covid-19 leaving cities and offices deserted and with the indelible mark of public memorials - and as Lebanon faced ever-deteriorating circumstances, pressures on medical staff became too great to bear.

Nour al-Jalbout: "I mean, we're known for our resilience, it's kind of, of a double-edged sword. Like, the Lebanese resilience, I'm like fed up of being resilient. I don't want to live this life anymore, you know."

People in Japan marked the tenth anniversary of the devastating tsunami which had shattered so many lives in 2011, and the Zulu kingdom came together to mourn the death of its king.

Gugulethu Chonco: "It is important to me 'cause that is where I found my, my identity as a Zulu woman. This is where I've learned about my culture."

Global concerns over environmental sustainability rose further as fertile land in Turkey fell into sinkholes due to over-reliance on underground water reserves. Avocado orchards claimed land forever used for rearing elephant calves, disrupting the endangered mammals' breeding. However, Malaysian apiarists rescued and rehomed city bee colonies.

Minority groups raised their voices as China's wheelchair users battled for equitable treatment and Pakistan's Hazara women took karate self-defence classes. On the 100th anniversary of the brutal Tulsa massacre, Black Americans held vigils and President Biden corrected the historical record.

President Biden: "This was not a riot. This was a massacre."

Approaching the middle of 2021, our ability to find innovative solutions to modern problems continued. Salt therapy was being administered to rehabilitate long-Covid sufferers, and women in Djibouti found livelihoods as money changers, increasing liquidity in the economy.

Medina: "When you sit here, you have a cash flow. You don't need to beg from anyone working on your own."

Driverless technology was deployed on solar-powered Atlantic research vessels, while conservationists launched high-tech coral reef rehabilitation programmes. Supporting new coral growth today were accompanying measures for future protection.

Louis Hadjioannou: "Our aim is to primarily educate children, they are the future. They are the ones who are going to become the future conservationists."