Wishlist for 2010

Presents for Next Christmas - Wishlist for 2010

Adrian Clifton, a senior copy and features editor in London, is delighted to have been recently appointed an editor of Rogue Diplomat, and will thus be providing more content to inform, entertain, amuse and guide readers through the Tweenies (the decade, not the BBC children’s television programme). This will be achieved between his New Year’s resolutions of becoming much classier, exempli gratia of which are using Latin phrases, reading Dickens, watching PMQs religiously and not agreeing with the Daily Mail when he is in irrational, middle-class rage.

Happy New Decade to you all, dear readers! (To any pedants suggesting that the new decade doesn’t start until the end of 2010, I will simply ask: would you class 1990 as part of the 1980s?) I hope you are all well, have had a splendid holiday season and are ready for another year of enjoyment and excitement on this site.

In keeping with this season of renewal, and best wishes and goodwill to all, I present my wish list for 2010 in world affairs. Whilst, as so often, it could be summarised in the simple commandment that binds all decent humanity together: viz., love thy neighbour (unless he is Simon Cowell), some specific assistances to this have been highlighted.

What will 2010 hold? Adrian C makes five wishes

Wish 1 - A Green Light for the Green Revolution

During last year's Iranian protests, sympathisezers around the world changed images to include green in supportUndoubtedly both the most exciting and saddening events of 2009, for those of us desperate to see peace on earth, occurred in that never-dull of nations, Iran. The amount of time spent over the last decade by US presidents in planning how to manage relations with the country demonstrates how crucial it is.

Democracy and religious tolerance in Iran, so long a central figure in the Middle East and the Islamic world, and home to a growing number of educated young people that deserve the chance to lead the country to a better future, would bring a far greater chance of peace to the entire region and a chance for an oft-wrongly maligned faith to gain the acceptance it deserves amongst a cynical West. Furthermore, the removal of megalomaniacal dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his planned arsenal would bring about a lessening of growing worries about nuclear weapons that we all hoped had been left behind after the Cold War. In short, nothing could do more to advance hope and peace worldwide than the current despotic regime’s fall.

Last year’s election ‘victory’ for Mr Ahmadinejad, so flagrantly fraudulent that it was clearly inspired by the Robert Mugabe Guide to Vote-Rigging, had an unexpected silver lining: the good people of the country cried “enough” and bravely stood up for their fundamental right to have the government they had voted for. We watched, hoped and prayed that justice might be done, and those at fault might undo some of the harm they had caused by acknowledging the necessity to depart.

And we still wait. The scenes as the authorities fell back on brute force as their last resort of holding power were as disgraceful and horrific as those in Tiananmen Square in 1989, in Prague in 1968 and Budapest in 1953. My mother was raised in Poland under the horrors of the Soviet regime responsible for the latter two outrages. The idea of such an existence, where citizens are not able to express fundamental truths without the risk of death, makes me shudder; that it should still be happening today makes me furious.

Yet, we wait with unexpected hope. The Green Revolution may be stuck at a signal, but I believe it is not a red one, but an amber. The brutal killing by government forces of Neda Soltan, a young woman who had studied philosophy and was an aspiring singer, galvanised fury around the world. Her music teacher said simply of her attendance at a protest that she “couldn’t stand the injustice of it. All she wanted was the proper vote of the people to be counted. She wanted to show with her presence that, ‘I’m here, I also voted, and my vote wasn’t counted’.” The Times named her their Person of the Year, and she has become the face of a growing movement that continues work towards its goal. I wish those involved all the luck in the world, and have growing conviction that this year may see the outcome we crave.

Wish 2 - Lessening of the Baracking

If, as Harold Wilson sagaciously noted, “A week is a long time in politics,” goodness knows how the 44th Obama's Presidential campaign had one key theme, one of hope and opportunity. 2009, however, has proved to be a very tough time for the US economy and Obama has faced some criticism over his handling of the financial crisis.US President must feel about a year. As his first anniversary in office approaches, the feting of Barack Obama has turned to fury, and the bunting to brickbats, in what Americans term a sophomore effect: his approval rating on 16 December 2009 had dropped to 50%

Why so? Okay, the Nobel Peace Prize may have been a tad excessive, but it wasn’t as if he made that decision. The economy may not yet be restored to what it was, but did anyone expect it to be? (It is in any case growing, albeit slowly: by 2.2% in the third-quarter of 2009, the fastest pace since Q3 2007.) Above all, the controversy caused by his healthcare plan is staggering: that in the richest country in the world those who could not afford treatment could not receive it beggars belief, and that it has taken so to change this astonishes me. If he leaves no other legacy, this will be enough to mark him as a man who realised what needed to be done.

Not all he has touched has turned to gold, certainly. Democratic relations with Iran were to be welcomed, but a subsequent pullout suggested there may have been an element of ‘we’re off now we have the information we have come for’; although peaceful negotiation with the regime was exceedingly difficult, a follow-up to the talks after the Iranian election might have brought greater realisation to Tehran’s eyes of the need for its current leaders to step aside. (Note, ‘might.’ This is a piece full of hope, but not devoid of realism). Copenhagen, too, was a disappointment, but such a criticism can be levelled at all present.

Mr Obama entered office after one of the least effective administrations in history, in the midst of a global economic crisis not seen since before Vera Lynn was the Forces’ Sweetheart first time round (incidentally, her reaching number one with a beautiful album at the age of 92 was for me one of the loveliest and most inspiring moments of 2009). Even Ahmadinejad’s creative accountancy could not have been expected to record a perfect balance sheet under such circumstances, but progress has been tangible and above all this president has brought back decency and respect to the White House; a crucial point, given the US’s position in the world. Remember what things were like under Dubya, people, and cut his replacement some slack.

Wish 3 - Copenhagen’s Climate to be Changed

Metaphorical storm clouds gathered over the Copenhagen summit, which failed to reach a legally binding solutionIt wasn’t so bad, was it? Surely such a summit must have come up with something, mustn’t it? We haven’t condemned the planet to destruction, have we?

Well, no, no and no. (You thought I was going to be all excitable and hyperbolic there, didn’t you? Admit it, you did.) Copenhagen wasn’t a complete shambles. That such a meeting took place at all was excellent, and showed the world can attempt to work together. Furthermore, key beliefs that are necessary to achieve a successful outcome - of the importance of low-carbon economies and recognition of the dangers of climate change - have been made clear and reinforced to all.

But the final outcome was disappointing, hugely so. There was, as Noel Edmonds might say, No Deal, and all the good work could potentially go to waste if the ideas expressed are not implemented going forward, and a way to sign and enforce an agreement is not found swiftly. Copenhagen needs to be a means, not an end: plans must be put in operation instantaneously and if another summit is necessary to thrash out a deal then it must be brought about. Things are not yet too late, certainly, but all it takes for climate change to flourish is for good (and indifferent) leaders and their people to do nothing.

Wish 4 - Keep up the Good Work, Boris

I don’t think I was alone in thinking that Boris Johnson’s election as Mayor of London might have been the most effective way found to destroy London since Thomas Farynor’s bakery in Pudding Lane went up in flames in 1666. Likeable and amusing BoJo might be, but he seemed to have the political nous of Bridget ‘where’s Germany?’ Jones. Indeed, a friend of mine, a Conservative activist, admitted that all he knew in the party’s local office had despairingly voted for Ken Livingstone in the belief that a term for Boris would create such despondency amongst the London public for the Tory Party that their next election victory would come on the other side of Doomsday.

And yes, he fell in a river, and his oratory is still on the one-inch-thick-dust side of unpolished. But credit to the man, he has realised that instead of being a clown he had to learn to become a ringmaster, and he has made a decent job of it. London has not fallen apart under his jurisdiction; indeed things seem a little calmer, perhaps brought about by the excellent policy of banning drinking on public transport. He has become a figurehead that may not necessarily be the most impressive, but that is at least open, honest and likeable, and left experts in charge of their specialities. This is perhaps best shown by the excellent progress made for the Olympics in 2012, where plans are ahead of schedule.

But things can change quickly (just ask Obama) and there is a long way to go. We are delighted you have proven us wrong so far, Boris; please keep it up.

Wish 5 - Live and Let Live

If we all obeyed that simple yet wise statement it would eliminate a lot of the world’s problems. ‘Nuff said.

Comments

[Edward Alexander]

A few points if I may Mr Clifton:

1) Absolutelly agree about Iran. Under that crazy second-hand-besuited madman Amadinejad, Iran has established itself as a spider at the center of a very sinister web. Look at where it is on the map, and which countries it's next to...is it too far fetched to believe that it could have been a hand that rocked the cradle in some of the more volatile regions...? Luckilly, the intelligent, highly educted youth of Iran, are starting to make there voices heard.

2) Obama should learn a bit of humility and start to honour us as its allies. How dare this guy send the flower of British youth out to die in droves in Afghanistan, yet repeatedly snub our nation and our prime minister. In my eyes, Obama is every bit as detestable and vile as Amadinejad, the only difference being that our media doesn't wet itself with excitement every time Amadinejad has an ice-cream or does the f***ing hula hoop.

3) Yes, climate change should be taken seriously, if only becuase we're starting to see the reprocussions and they're not good.

4)Well said. We like Boris.

5) Again, I agree.

[Adrian C]

Thanks for the comments Ed, much enjoyed! You need to get writing for this site.

[Adrian]

An additional point: just listening to the Gospel According to Bob Dylan. We could also do worse than listen to him more!

[Edward Alexander]

"Hey Obama, you've just pissed a bunch of people off by blowing a routine yet slightly jobsworthy arrest of a college professor out of all proportion, thus making you look like a cock..."

"Don't worry, I'll just invite them all to the White House for a beer. That will make me look like less of a cock! Now let's do another story about me eating ice-cream in f***ing Hawaiii..."

Seriously, everything this guy does is annoying. Putin's twice the man Obama will ever be.

[Adrian C]

Ice cram and beer? Bad combination, I have to agree with you on his bad taste there ...