Its been an year

Its been an year since I last posted on my blog.

So many things have happened in the last one year. So many events nationally, internationally. Some have made people happy, but majority have resulted in gloom. I am trying to recall some of them which I followed regularly, not necessarily in the chronological order, loosely in the order of their consequences. Since I follow Politics more than anything else, they are going to dominate the list.

• First the BIG one, which is hitting the entire world's population in one or the other way. Sky rocketing Crude Oil prices, which is leading to high food prices. The support the ethanol production is getting in Americas and the EU is resulting in less food grains being supplied to the developing world. Countries which do not grow their staple food are hit hard. Egypt, world's largest importer of wheat has seen violent clashes and has increased the salaries by 33% to support people to buy the wheat. Protests have also taken place in Pakistan, Afghanistan. The supply of rice to Middle East is almost cut off.
  

Ever increasing demand of energy has made developing economies like China, India also compete with US, EU for the Crude Oil in Middle East, spiraling Crude Oil Prices. India and China, at last, increased Petroleum products prices few weeks back. I do not know how far can they go shielding the half the world's population from a World Phenomenon. Its high time they educate everybody that both of them DO NOT have enough OIL with in their boundaries and they depend on overseas.

I hope at least this event makes people aware that Oil is not a permanent source of Energy and educate them to save every 'joule' of energy. Only Solar, Wind or Oceans can be answer for the world's hungry for energy.

• Second one too is a BIG one, which is important to the entire world. Barack Obama won the US Democratic Party Candidature for the US Presidential elections, after a long, close battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the beginning, analysts believed Hillary will sweep the US Democratic Primaries against Obama. But Obama with his motto of "Change" steadily built his path to victory. He will be fighting with John McCain, who is the US Republican Party Presidential Candidate. This will be great fight to watch out for.

• Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi during an Election Rally. I have read that she has never been good for India. But I think she was of some hope for US to fight the Al-quaeda.

• Russian Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. The One-party dominated (Remember Congress in Nehru's time) democracy in Russia sweeps both the polls. Vladimir Putin is continuing his strong influence in Russia as Prime Minister. He has selected Medevedev as the next President. Italy gets its 63rd Government since World War II. Argentina gets their first Woman President - Cristina Fernandez.

• Now this is a recent one. National Drama over Energy. The Nuclear Deal with US. Congress vs. CPI(M). The demand for Electricity in India is so high that, for the time being, I believe Nuclear Energy is the only answer, since all renewable sources still need more research and high investment and not capable of producing the Electricity needed. As the 2009 Union Elections are approaching, CPI(M) definitely cannot be with Congress till the Elections, as they cannot fight with their ally - Congress on their 3 strongholds - West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. On top of this their "Anti-US" agenda is inspiring them to threaten to pull out support for Congress led UPA government at the Centre.

• Now something to cheer! Karnataka gets a near-One-Party Government. After the debacle and the unholy tie ups of the opponents after the 2004 State Assembly elections, people have been eager to see one party Government. With BJP installing the first Goverment down south, BJP is now hoping to win the next Union Elections too. There is little possibility a single party Government will be installed at the Centre in near future.

• Supreme Court clears path for Arjun Singh to implement the OBC reservations in admissions to IITs, IIMs. Now his yesterday's order says the quota will also be implemented for the Teaching Faculty as well. I see the caste based reservations in Buses and trains coming in the near future.

• Now the showdown of Vote Bank! Gujjars went on rampage demanding the State/Central Government (The case went on a merry go round between the State and Centre, finally landing With Raje). The public bear the brunt of no trains between Mumbai and Delhi. The Gujjar leader Mr. Bhainsla walks free and sets an example of how to arm twist the Governments when the next elections are near, and get the work done. Is Democracy just securing the Vote-Banks?
  

• Sudden burst of protests in Tibet. And the whole Anti-China world woke up and called for dialogue between Dalai Lama and China. The protests went so far that many countries threaten to pull out of the Olympic Games, which the Chinese Government is using to show China's Prominence in today's world. China faced a mammoth Earthquake in Siachun province with the death toll raising to more than 100,000. The sorrow, the quick response of the Chinese Government, and the media freedom allowed to cover the event suppresses the Tibetan protests. A new conspiracy theory is floating around in the internet, which are linked to the 5 Olympic Mascots. There have been 5 disasters in the recent past in China which some people have linked with those Mascots. Chinese are strong believers in Superstitions. The Olympics are starting on 08-08-08 at 08:08:08 PM, yes, no prizes for guessing, 8 is the lucky number, so believe the Chinese.
  

• Another Disaster. Cyclone in Burma. The effect of that gets multiplied thanks to the Military Government in Burma. The Government even held a referendum for its new constitution amidst the disaster! The exact death toll is still unknown. Many International Media reporters are directly sent back from Rangoon Airport. China. Floods in Tobasco, Mexico, US Mid-west have been severe this time.

• Elections in 2 key African Countries go haywire. Nobody is ready to give up the post. Nobody is trying to accept the defeat. Kenya saw a long period of protests, battles. At last some sort of Compromise has been made. Robert Mugabe does not seem to give up power till he dies. Even though he lost in the First round of elections, through his Presidential influence, he made sure that he wins the second round. Zimbabwe inflation at 6 figures!

• Now the Indian Media. Sensational at its best! Price rise - Go on listing the effects of it in the first page. A short article for the reason of Price-rise in the Business Page, which 99% will not read! Who will educate the people about the World wide phenomenon? Amitabh, Rajinikanth, Shahrukh, Reality Shows, Smriti's comeback to Kyunki have come over to the front page in News papers and become Breaking News in News(?) channels. Reality show SMS business model must be growing in leaps and bounds looking at the number of Reality shows in each GEC on all Saturdays and Sundays.

• IPL took over the Front + Sports pages of almost all newspapers for almost 2 months. People replaced their serials with Cricket Matches. I guess by next year by April, there will be 2 TV sets in around 10% of households in India, one for IPL and another for non-IPL. Thank God! At least some people do not waste time on the day long Cricket Matches from now on.
  

• When I am writing this blog, Spain have won the Euro - 2008. I do not know Football much. I had read that Spain have played really well in all their matches. Spain have won in the final too. A win to cheer! No Italy, No Portugal, No controversies.
  

Many events are continuing as before.

• Global Warming increasing. Arctic Ice Caps now getting lesser. Russia plants their flag to establish sovereignty over the North Pole.
  
• Terrorism attacks/threats as before.
  
• The call for "Talks" and Dialogues" (I have heard enough of these words. I guess they will loose their meaning in a few years from now, like many few words mean now the opposite of what they meant before) for the ever continuing Middle East Crisis. Gazans broke the Border wall with Egypt because of the blockade by Israel.
  
• Iran-Nuclear crisis is still continuing. Some doubts were raised also on Syria on the basis of some satellite photographs.
  
• TOI is still printing 1/2 page news daily and they have extended the same to 3 more cities - Chennai, Goa and Jaipur. I feel sorry for them. TOI Bangalore fills 2 page news about Bangalore's new International Airport for 15 days.

I hope the days ahead brings more happiness to world.