The New Year message delivered by Enver Hoxha, who ruled Albania for over 40 years, to his people in 1967 offers a tempting epitaph for 2019 and a cautious promise for 2020. Hoxha said: "This year will be harder than last year. On the other hand, it will be easier than next year". It would be easy to believe the past twelve months have been one of the worst periods globally for the cohesion and happiness of mankind in a decade of seemingly grim developments.
Equally, we would be forgiven for thinking that there will be more of the same in 2020 and the decade it heralds. No doubt, this year will bring more challenges but I cannot give in to the idea that it will be defined by them.
Yes, we are experiencing unfathomable levels of inequality and the systematic targeting of ethnic and religious minorities. Our anxiety over the US-China trade war is affecting economic activity and the damage being wrought by climate change has created disasters around the world. Then there are seemingly never-ending, deadly protests in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere. It has been a hard year to look at in the eye and yet we or I, at least, must.
This is because too much being said these days is in terms of black and white. Thanks to hyper-tribal political and social loyalties, we have become prolific at judging a situation ‘bad’ even when there is potential good in it. We seem to think that if we are not conclusively winning then we must be losing. This line of thinking is unconstructive and tragically addictive. It prevents the idea taking hold that there is enough room in this world for all of us, with all our contradictory beliefs and opinions.
Looking back to 2019 I can recall events that certainly made me and many others happy, perhaps you too.
1. The UAE made its mark in two of the most important arenas of the coming decade: space and artificial intelligence. Hazza Al Mansouri's journey to space at the end of September and the launch of the pioneering Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in October positioned the UAE as being adept at creating exciting opportunities and thriving as a society.
2. The same week that Maj Al Mansouri set off on his historic mission, Greta Thunberg was at the UN in New York to make it clear that her generation would not tolerate the global lack of effort to save the planet. Her passion, humility and dedication was both a sight to behold and offered hope that we can collectively make a difference and that it is not too late to do so.
3. Women’s football was ignited in the summer when the larger than life stars of the US team won the World Cup, with scenes that proved that sport really is more than simply about winning or losing. It is how you play the game that has the greater impact on inclusion and well-being.
4. The region's private sector – so critical for future job creation – got a huge boost from a number of initiatives and landmark deals in 2019, providing positive momentum to turn sentiment back on an upward trajectory. From Ghadan 21's private sector-focused push in June, which included a commitment to an open data culture and bank-guaranteed loans for small businesses to Careem being bought by Uber for $3.1 billion in March, to the UAE's new oil and gas finds giving it the sixth largest reserves in the world, to the Saudi Aramco IPO in December, there has been lots to get excited about as we head into 2020.
5. A Sudanese teen named Hadeel Anwar bursting into tears of joy as she won the Arab Reading Challenge in November was a moment that underlined how education will always be the cornerstone of a hopeful future, with the ability to transform lives.
6. We got a personal insolvency law in the UAE in November which comes into effect this year and could alter the fortunes of many struggling with debt. The new law will redress the balance, allowing borrowers to resolve their financial difficulties without fear of prosecution.
7. The UAE's Golden Card scheme, announced in May, not only created immense happiness for those who deservedly received their long-term visas but it also inspired a whole new generation of entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, academics and professionals currently making this country their home, where they may one day be able to settle too.
8. Pope Francis' historic visit to Abu Dhabi in February was the hallmark of the Year of Tolerance and provided ample evidence that there is enough room for people of different beliefs to co-exist peacefully.
You can’t tell me otherwise after witnessing the emotion the Pope’s visit created among the tens of thousands that gathered at Zayed Sports City to see him, or the goosebumps I felt at the signing of the Human Fraternity Document.
As we set foot into 2020, it is all of these events and several others that, instead of making me fearful, offer me a bit of hope.
Mustafa Alrawi is an assistant editor-in-chief at The National
