2010: My reflection on the big stories

WE MAY be five days already into the new year and whilst 2011 offers most the chance of a fresh start, the year 2010 gave us some dramatic stories in one of the most spectacular years of recent modern times.  Here are my own personal reflections of ten of the top stories that made the headlines last year.

The Chilean miners’ miracle

For me, the story of the year was the miraculous rescue of the Chilean miners.  When the 33 miners were first reported missing on August 6, there seemed to be little hope of survival.  However, they sent messages at the end of the month which confirmed they were still alive, and on one emotional October day, the 33 men were bought to surface for the first time since the mine they were working on collapsed.  Mining is a dangerous business, as was tragically shown by the events in New Zealand at the end of the year, but this was the miracle of all miracles.  All the miners seem to be relatively uninjured, despite being underground for over two months and now are experiencing fame for the outcome.  The whole rescue was amazing and gave me such a positive vibe, to have a happy story dominate the headlines, rather than the usual depressing gloom of political strife or our brave soldiers perishing in conflicts abroad.

Haiti’s devastating earthquake

In the late hours of Tuesday January 12, the lives of thousands of people in Haiti changed forever, when a devastating earthquake hit the country.  Measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, it bought scenes of tragedy, carnage and devastation to a nation already suffering as one of the poorest in the world.  With the cholera outbreak at the end of the year, the people of Haiti will want to forget 2010 in a hurry.  If you weren’t moved by this story, then you have serious mental issues!  The pictures on the news shook me up totally.  Seeing the stories of broken families, tales of staggering survival brought tears to my eyes.  The aid appeal was unbelievable, something not seen around for over 25 years.  I donated some of my own money and it makes you stop and think ‘How lucky we are,’ when others are so less fortunate.

 

The General Election

DEBATE: The leadership televised contests were intriguing

Traditionally, the General Election has been nothing more than a damp squib, certainly in my generation.  It was so different in 2010, with a stuttering Gordon Brown, a confident David Cameron and the underdog, Nick Clegg all fighting for supremacy.  The televised leadership debates put a new dimension on the election campaign and when Brown uttered his ‘bigoted woman’ comment after a confrontation with Gillian Duffy in Rochdale, his fate was sealed.  A ‘hung parliament’ for the first time since the 1970’s put the country on tenterhooks.  Eventually, Brown did the dignified thing and stepped down and a new coalition government was formed, with Cameron at the head of it.  The election campaign was spectacular and 2010 was the most interesting race for a long time.  Even though I’m not a politics fan, it was a great campaign and I enjoyed every minute of it. 

England’s superstars flop in South Africa

FLOP: Gerrard was one of many to under-perform in South Africa

The World Cup went to Africa for the first time ever last summer, and whilst the ‘vuvuzela’ took a lot of the colourful atmosphere, England’s failure to perform was maybe not a total surprise, but certainly, an unexpected shock.  Once Robert Green made his catastrophic mistake against the United States in Rustenberg, England’s campaign went downhill from there.  Fabio Capello failed to manage the players, former captain John Terry led a player rebellion which went nowhere and Wayne Rooney’s lack of performance was startling.  Forget the ‘goal’ in Bloemfontein against the younger and stronger German side; we still would have lost the game anyway.  England arrived in South Africa full of pride of confidence.  When they left, that had turned into shattered dreams of epic failure.  It was a crushing disappointment and made me ashamed to support the national team, so much so, I’m not interested in their Euro 2012 campaign.  The superstars flopped in spectacular fashion.

Cheryl Cole’s miserable year

If any celebrity had the worst year in 2010, it had to be Cheryl Cole.  The Girls Aloud singer and X-Factor judge broke up from Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole, after allegations of Ashley sleeping around with women were published in the tabloids again.  In the summer, a mosquito bite she picked up whilst on holiday with good friend Derek Hough in Tanzania led to Cheryl picking up a deadly case of malaria.  She was close to death, but pulled through and began work on the X-Factor.  Her judging decisions in not selecting Gamu Nhengu for the final stages and for not choosing between her acts Treyc Cohen and Katie Waissel during a live elimination also led to a barrage of criticism in her direction.  For me, Cheryl is the nation’s sweetheart and she had no choice to end her marriage and the malaria was a real shock to many in general.  She didn’t have the greatest X-Factor ever, but I’m confident that Cheryl will be back to her best this year.

Tragic mass shootings in Cumbria

The tragic mass shootings in Cumbria bought a community together and placed a nation into grieving shock.  The actions of taxi driver Derrick Bird were despicable and left twelve innocent people dead and twenty-five seriously wounded.  Whitehaven may be able to recover in the future, but it will sadly have a place in the history books for being Britain’s biggest massacre since the Dunblane tragedy of 1996.  Like everyone else, thoughts were with the friends and family of the dead and I was at a loss to sum it all up.

Volcanic ash cloud

Air travel was left in shutdown mode by the massive volcanic eruption in Iceland.  Large amounts of ash were thrown into the skyline, which left many passengers stranded across airports in Europe for safety reasons.  Organisation could have been improved, but what can you do when Mother Nature decides to take control?  It was a unique event, as I can’t remember a time when air travel had completely been shut for this kind of reason and for those close to the volcano, made for a lovely picture sight.  

The travel chaos & the BA cabin crew strikes

TOUGH: It was a year to forget for the travel industry.

The Icelandic volcanic eruption added to the troubles for the travel industry, which endured a bleak 2010.  Chaos by snow in the UK throughout January and December created misery for many and the British Airways cabin crew strikes of the spring were to me, seen as poor, unnecessary and silly.  BA’s fortunes recovered slightly in the second half of the year, but their reputation took some daft knocks at the start of the year.

The hunt for Raoul Moat

Less than a month after the Cumbria shootings, news headlines were dominated by more shootings, this time the hunt of Raoul Moat.  Moat was released from prison after an 18-week sentence and ended up shooting his ex-girlfriend, killed her new lover and blinded an innocent police officer.  After a tense six hour stand-off with police in Rothbury on Friday July 9, Moat shot himself dead, bringing an unsavoury conclusion to a drama that gripped the nation.  My feelings were of a mixed feeling.  Moat’s actions can’t be condoned and the police were placed in a very difficult position when it came to the final stand-off.

Tuition fees violence

UNSAVOURY: The tuition fees violence bought dark days back

The decision to raise tuition fees at University for upto £9,000 a year from 2012 onwards was a drastic measure by the coalition government, and bought scenes of violence in the capital that hadn’t been seen since the Poll Tax Riots of 1990.  The actions of those who decided just to destroy things, such as smash windows in the Treasury, throw a fire extinguisher off Tory HQ and attack the car of the Prince of Wales bought the good name in ‘student’ down.  However, Nick Clegg’s u-turn couldn’t be ignored and he was a deserved target for students who felt that their promises had been broken and vote in the election wasted.  Although the rise has gone through in both the House of Commons and House of Lords, there are many unhappy with the situation and I don’t predict an end to the unsavoury scenes we saw in the final two months of 2010.

Chile's Deadly Earthquake - Mother Nature Strikes Again

Less than two months after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the world was shook up again by another deadly earthquake on Saturday morning, as Mother Nature took her path again into the path of destruction.  Struck this time was the South American country of Chile, one of the wealthiest countries in the region.  One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded has left the country in shock and ruins, but fortunately, not quite in the mess and trauma that happened to the people of Haiti.

Measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, the death toll by last night had reached at least 700 people and is likely to rise in the next few days.  The outgoing President Bachelet, who has ten days left in office, has put the country in a state of national mourning and a state of emergency.  Tsunami warnings went sent across the Pacific after the quake, reaching as far as Japan and Australia.  Fortunately, these were stood down yesterday morning and people returned to their homes, especially in Japan, who had a powerful earthquake, themselves on Friday, which recorded 7.3 on the Richter scale, but didn’t cause much damage.  So, why has the earthquake in Chile been less damaging that the Haiti quake yet was more powerful?

The answer is simple; Chile is a dangerous earthquake zone, as it is on the border of Argentina and the Pacific.  The city of Valdivia was struck in 1960 by the most powerful earthquake ever, recording 9.5 on the Richter scale and claimed 600,000 lives.  Since then, the majority of the buildings in Chile have been made earthquake resistant, meaning though the damage is still horrific, it doesn’t look as bad as it did in Haiti.  The main reason for that is Chile’s resources are far greater than Haiti, which has always struggled on a global basis.  Nevertheless, up to 17 aftershocks have been recorded in the worst-hit areas, recording the highest of 6.6 on the scale and there is the fear that more buildings will collapse because of this.

Many survivors have lost their possessions and been starved of food for two whole days.  Looting has taken place already and the Chilean Army has been brought in to try and keep things under control.  The worst hit area in the country was the seaside resort of Concepcion, where the trouble has taken place.  The capital Santiago, also took a hit, with at least 40 people dead, buildings collapsed and the international Airport shutdown.  Only the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 was more powerful on the Richter scale than this quake in the last thirty years. 

Bachelet has called the disaster as a “catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort for Chile to recover.”  Prime Minister Gordon Brown has vowed to send out aid to the battered country, should it be requested.  Throughout the country, power supplies have been heavily disrupted, with damage from this latest disaster already estimated into the excess of £20billion.  More than half a million homes have been destroyed and 2million people displaced.  Rescue efforts have begun in a desperate attempt for the death toll not to rise.

Once again, my thoughts go out to the people of Chile, as no-one deserves this deadly disaster to strike them and I hope the public are just as generous as we were with Haiti to help rebuild people’s shattered lives in the country.  What I’m concerned about is the spate of recent earthquakes that have struck the world.  It is estimated by geologists that the Nazca Plate is moving eastward beneath the South American Plate (where Chile is situated) at approximately 8.9cm a year.  Does this mean that we will be hearing more tragic tales of this kind of horrific damage in the next few years; I hope I’m wrong but my fears are it is likely to be the case.  What can anyone do, when nature decides to cause such destruction…?

Helping Haiti - A Worthy Cause

The debates can rage on about the subject, but as long as it is giving to the people who need it the most, the sufferers in Haiti, then that’s the most important thing.

Having bought and listened to the single, I would agree that this isn’t the strongest charity single I’ve ever heard, certainly nowhere near the famous 1984 hit ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas,’ which raised millions for the dreadful famine conditions in Ethiopia.  However, sometimes we must put musicality aside to see what the real story is.

The people of Haiti need all the support they can get, following the devastating earthquake, which struck just under a month ago.  Many survivors are battling against the elements, still in urgent need of aid, such as water and food to stay alive, and in a country so poor as Haiti, there is always the risk of disease setting in.  Therefore, everyone needs to give and donate as much as they can to help these unfortunate people who do not deserve what they are going through.  The emotions are still running along, and although it’s not so much a feature on news broadcasts, we must not forget those who need your support.

Together, Simon Cowell and the Sun newspaper have teamed up for a real charitable course.  The demand of artists who wanted to get involved in the single just shows how much dedication there is in the music industry, to human causes. In the end, cuts had to be made – as there weren’t enough lines for everyone to sing a cover version of R.E.M’s 1993 hit ‘Everybody Hurts.’  Cowell’s choice in song is a bit odd, it doesn’t really go with the cause, but nevertheless, it is still a powerful effort from everyone, despite it lacking the obvious feeling and musicality of the original version.

Twenty-one artists feature on the single, including Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, Alexandra Burke, Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Joe McElderrey and Gary Barlow.  Like mentioned earlier, it doesn’t have the voices of the original, but sometimes that doesn’t matter, especially for these worthwhile causes.  This is not a money-making exercise, it’s another source of income for the people of Haiti and I encourage everyone to download or buy the single, because it is going to a worthy cause, not Cowell’s back-pocket, as some music people have suggested.  I also must ask about musicality and what would you buy?  This version of ‘Everybody Hurts,’ is a decent attempt and wins hands-down over Jedward’s horrific cover of Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice, Ice, Baby,’ which quite frankly, a bunch of primary school students could do better.

It may turn out to be one of the weakest No.1’s of the entire year, but already a million downloads have been purchased in just over twenty-four hours – so it will be amongst one of the fastest singles of all-time.

To sum it up, this is a ‘must-buy,’ for a worthy cause.  Let’s not forget, the people of Haiti need all the help and hope they can get in such a depressing situation.

Haiti - Miracles & Stories of Pain

This was first posted on January 25th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

In a world where most of us live in fear with the genuine threat of international terrorism, anti-social behaviour issues and the financial meltdown that could potentially last for years to come, it is when natural disasters occur that makes us stop and think: ‘How lucky are we?’

In the late hours of Tuesday 12th January UK time, a powerful earthquake struck to country of Haiti. It measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, one of the most powerful of recent times and it was Haiti’s worst quake for almost two centuries. Buildings were shattered, hospitals collapsed, prisons crumbled and access roads cut off in one of the poorest countries in the North America area.

Predictions of 2million have been made homeless by the earthquake and the Prime Minister recently confirmed a prediction of 200,000 thought to have been killed. This is unofficial though, and with several aftershocks striking the region after the disaster and a fear of disease striking the thoughts of many, that figure could sadly significantly rise.

In a flash, news reporters across the globe covered the story so quickly. The devastation by the many video feeds and pictures of homeless people clearly suffering has stunned many – especially yours truly. Personally, I haven’t seen such trauma and pain from a natural disaster since the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. Generations further back could maybe recall the horrific earthquakes that struck Mexico City in 1985 and Kobe, Japan in 1995.

In an instant, relief and aid were one of the most important items needed for the suffering. Like the Tsunami tragedy of five years ago, the world has opened its arms into doing what it can. Charities such as Oxfam, Unicef, the British Red Cross and many more have workers over in Haiti, doing all they can to support those who need the help the most. Today, it was revealed that donations from the UK have reached £46million, after another generous donation figure of £4million over the weekend. It is a staggering effort from the UK, considering we are meant to be in the midst of a recession that is still causing financial issues for many.

Last Thursday, Simon Cowell revealed he will be getting music stars from around the world to record a charity song, with all donations going to the earthquake appeal. This week, the likes of Kasabian, Florence & the Machine, Leona Lewis, JLS, Alexandra Burke, Rod Stewart, Cheryl Cole & Susan Boyle are set to record a version of R.E.M’s 1980’s hit ‘Everybody Hurts.’ The single is expected to make millions and storm the UK charts for the next few weeks. Across the globe in America, actor George Clooney and singer/rapper Wyclef Jean have already led a benefit concert on Saturday. Stars from Hollywood took personal calls for donations in a concert called ‘Hope for Haiti Now.’ It was streamed live to millions on the video-sharing site, YouTube. Once again, America has done its bit to help others who need it.

The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince has been the main base for reports to come in of tales of sorrow, woe and miraculous escapes. The villages of Jacmel and Petionville have also been severely hit or majorly affected, almost completely wiped out the map. Remarkably, eleven days after the earthquake, William Extantus was pulled out of the rubble from the remains of the Napoli Inn Hotel, alive. It is these stories that fulfil both a nation and a world’s hope that more can be found alive, however unlikely that is. Miracles are possible.

With the main prison collapsing in the quake, there have been concerns over riots in Haiti, which has had a history for political unrest. The hostile scenes broadcast on TV make the desperation for aid, such as basic utilities like water and food a necessity. Some are looting the remaining local shops still standing, in a desperate attempt to feed their families. Although this is morally wrong, it is quite understandable in these precarious circumstances. Former US president, Bill Clinton, worked for the UN over in Haiti has been worried about the amount of aid coming through. This has been a concern, but everyone is trying to do the best they can in a scenario, which for many is almost unimaginable.

Personally, I have been left shocked to the core by the events in Haiti; I have made a small donation myself to the earthquake appeal, because it is desperately needed to help those who are most unfortunate in this world. These people have done nothing wrong; they don’t deserve what has happened to them. Unfortunately, it is another case of ‘Mother Nature taking its course.’ My thoughts are with all the survivors of the disaster and those who have lost loved in such a sorrow catastrophe. It could take Haiti years, maybe even decades to rebuild from the shattered remains and it might not even recover. However, like the incredible story of William Extantus this weekend, we can only believe there can be more stories of relief and miracles to come from this shocking earthquake.

For more information and how to donate, visit www.google.co.uk and follow the link for more information.