Farewell 2022: the world is preparing to move into 2023

Farewell 2022: the 8 billion Earthlings are preparing on Saturday December 31 to leave behind them an eventful year, between the crisis in Ukraine, inflation and the world coronation of Lionel Messi, before fully entering 2023.

For many, New Year’s Day will be a time to drive away the memories of COVID, as the virus fades from people’s minds, but doesn’t fade away.

Untie his purse, too, and put aside months of sobriety forced by the pandemic and inflation records all around the globe.

In Australia, Sydney will be one of the first major cities to ring the bell in 2023, reclaiming its title of “New Year’s Eve capital of the world” after two years of closure and festivities stifled by the Omicron variant.

Australian borders have since reopened and more than a million people are expected in Sydney Harbor to witness the launch of more than 100,000 pyrotechnic devices. City officials estimate nearly half a billion viewers will watch the show online or on TV.

By midday, hundreds of people were already occupying the best places to watch the show. “It was a pretty good year for us, getting rid of COVID is great”commented David Hugh-Paterson, 52, installed in front of the Sydney Opera House amid the growing crowds who protected themselves from the summer showers under umbrellas.

“If we can get everyone to join the party and approach the coming year with renewed optimism and joy, then we will have succeeded,” said fireworks organizer Fortunato Foti.

Something to contrast with the feeling left by 2022, which saw Queen Elizabeth II, Pelé, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jiang Zemin and Shinzo Abe disappear.

A woman wearing makeup for New Year’s Eve, December 30 in Amritsar, India.

Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN

This year also rhymed with the “Great Resignation”, a phenomenon of massive departure of employees from their jobs after the pandemic, with a slap in the face at the Oscars ceremony and the ruin of billionaires, swept away by the cryptocurrency crash.

But above all, it will forever be associated with the return of the crisis in Europe with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“A peaceful sky”

In more than 300 days, nearly 7,000 civilians have been killed and 10,000 injured, according to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Sixteen million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes.

In terms of health, COVID has made a resounding comeback in China, while vaccination is allowing the rest of the world to return to a semblance of normal life.

Beijing suddenly abandoned its “zero COVID” policy earlier this month, a reversal immediately followed by an explosion in the number of contaminations. Hospitals, like crematoriums, may be overwhelmed, rallies are planned everywhere for the passage in 2023. Hospitals, like crematoriums, may be overwhelmed, rallies are planned everywhere for the passage in 2023.

AFP/VNA/CVN