Review of 2021 (part 1)

2021 saw the world start to beat the pandemic. In Brazil, nurses began vaccinating people, which reduced deaths. And cultural activities adapted, as a gallery held a Covid-safe exhibition in London. The river Thames became home to augmented reality art.

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."

Then people watched in horror as right-wing Americans attacked democracy. They invaded the US Capitol to reverse the election result. However, the US national guard removed them and Joe Biden took office as the 46th US president. The ceremony included a powerful statement about our responsibility 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 responsibility showed in other countries. Farmers in India wanted fairness, people in Russia demonstrated against political violence, and the public tried to prevent the military takeover in Myanmar.

2021 saw progress in many areas. Religious leaders Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Sistani met, and Singapore built solar farms that float. And a swing ride in Dubai set a world record-breaking height.

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."

But we could still see the difficulties of Covid-19 in deserted cities and offices, and in public memorials to its victims. Meanwhile, the difficulties in Lebanon increased further. They caused experienced doctors to decide the pressures were impossible.

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."

Japan stood in silence to remember the 2011 tsunami that caused so much destruction. And Zulu people showed their grief in South Africa when the Zulu king passed away.

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."

The environment continued to suffer too. Farmers in Turkey saw the cost of overusing underground water when huge sinkholes appeared. Kenyan avocado plantations pushed elephants out of their breeding areas. However, communities in Malaysia supported bee populations by rehoming unwanted hives.

People also helped themselves. In China, wheelchair users demanded better services, while Hazara women learned to defend themselves. And 100 years after the Tulsa massacre of Black Americans, President Biden corrected the historical narrative.

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

Human innovation continued in 2021. By summer we saw salt therapy bringing hope to long-Covid patients. Women in Djibouti solved the city's cash flow problem by bringing money changing into the streets.

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

Driverless boats set sail with solar-powered instruments, and technology was helping to grow coral reefs. Alongside environmental education, this gives coral hope for the future.

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."

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