Many people were glad to see 2023 end. Nobody knows if 2024 will be better. But we can always hope.
Let’s do a quick review of last year, recalling the highlights. Or, should I say, lowlights? If nothing else, perhaps we can learn from some of them.
The decline of worldwide freedom
The stated global goal of U.S. policy back in the day was making the world safe for democracy. A great idea. But decades later, things seem to be going in the wrong direction.
Entering 2023, the non-profit organization Freedom House made an announcement. Freedom and democracy had declined in 2022 for the 17th consecutive year. Now make it 18.
Military governments have ousted democratically-elected governments in African nations, Central America, and Thailand.
Even the democracies in some countries have used laws and intimidation to silence critics. The legal “freedom” to disagree is worthless if people are afraid to exercise it.
Artificial Intelligence Scares
Geoffrey Hinton was one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence. Elon Musk is the world’s wealthiest person and chief technology officer of SpaceX. Steve Wozniak is a co-founder of Apple.
All three possess a huge knowledge base of artificial intelligence (AI). But they also have something else in common. They are all warning about the dangers of AI.
Hinton quit his job at Google to warn the world about AI. Musk and Wozniak signed an open letter discussing AI’s “profound risk to society and humanity.”
AI offers incredible promise. Especially in the fields of robotics and healthcare. But the concern is that it’s growing faster than can be controlled. Dangers associated with it range from mass unemployment to the extinction of humanity.
Hamas Attacks Israel
In one of the most blatant and savage attacks in memory, the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. They killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 200.
A week before the attack, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this. “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades now.” Saudi Arabia was about to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. And there was a ceasefire in Yemen’s civil war.
Following the deadliest day in Israel’s history, Israel launched airstrikes against Gaza and invaded the northern portion. A temporary ceasefire resulted in the freeing of about 100 hostages. But fighting then resumed. It caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Many are still wondering if the war will result in a wider Middle East conflict. In part, it already has. Rockets have landed in Israel from Lebanon and Syria. Israel has responded to those attacks as well. But their main goal in Gaza is to eradicate Hamas.
Weather Records Shattered
It’s no secret that extreme weather has increased in the U.S. and around the world in recent years. There are more extreme weather events than ever before. And they are more severe than ever.
The year 2023 was the hottest year around the world since they began keeping such records. Some scientists say it was the hottest year in 125,000 years.
The excessive heat results in additional snow meltage, which causes flooding. Plus drought, which negatively affects the food supply and increases wildfires.
It also leads to the spreading of disease. Not to mention more strain on electrical grids. Scientists are working on ways to absorb carbon dioxide. But it’s unlikely anything effective will be developed in the near future.
Other Events
Here are some other events from 2023:
- February 3: A Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in water contaminations and evacuations.
- February 4: The U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had drifted across the country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken then canceled a diplomatic trip to Beijing.
- March 12: Federal intervention was required after several regional banks failed. Including Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
- March 30: Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be indicted for a crime.
- June 18: The Titan submersible suffered a catastrophic explosion en route to the Titanic shipwreck. It killed all five aboard.
- July 25: Interest rates soared to their highest level in 22 years in America.
- August 8: A massive wildfire on Maui killed 99 people and nearly destroyed the town of Lahaina.
- October 25: A gunman went on a shooting spree in Lewiston, Maine. He killed 19 people and wounded 13.
As Always – Preparedness Is the Key
Every year will have its ups and downs. It’s inevitable. And every year will feature a new set of problems.
What’s important is to look at what is similar year after year. The single most obvious similarity is emergencies. We will always have them. Some will be weather-related, others will be economic.
Some will result from overseas wars or domestic terrorism. Or supply chain issues or infrastructure deterioration.
We couldn’t control things that went wrong in 2023. And we won’t be able to control things that will go wrong in 2024. The only thing we can control is how prepared we are to deal with the emergencies, crises, and disasters that are right around the corner.
Preparedness is the key. It means peace of mind now and safety and comfort later. It’s well worth the effort.
