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The year 2008 will be remembered in the future for two world-changing events: U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s electoral victory and the Wall Street crash. The year was also memorable because many people became aware of global problems when things such as oil, rice and milk surprisingly and suddenly attained immense political value.
In many parts of the world, especially in Asia, the problematic economy was indicated by the rising price of rice, which is the staple food of most Asians. Take rice off the table and it could spark uprisings. A “rice revolution” erupted in Bangladesh when workers protested against skyrocketing food prices.
The rice price crisis triggered widespread panic in both rich and poor countries in Asia. To prevent social unrest, many governments vowed to review their agricultural trade policies and land reform programs.
Then and now, oil remains a precious and dangerous political commodity whose price fluctuations have tremendously impacted the stability of big and small economies. Last year, fluctuating oil prices surprised everybody from a record high of almost US$150 per barrel in July to a low of US$50 in December.
Price speculation was clearly behind the erratic behavior of the oil distribution market. High oil prices, however, produced some positive results. Governments are now more aggressive in tapping alternative energy sources, consumers have modified their lifestyles to reduce dependence on oil, and oil companies have promised more transparency in their financial transactions.
Milk became a symbol of infant deaths last year when several China-made milk products were found contaminated with traces of the harmful chemical melamine.
Recently, the guilty milk companies in China issued statements of apology for producing tainted goods. But the damage had been done already with thousands of babies afflicted with kidney and urinary ailments after drinking the tainted milk. The scandal also affected China’s export industry.
If there was a positive consequence to the milk scare, it was increased consumer awareness of food safety issues. Besides milk, many Chinese food products are now subject to stricter regulations in many countries. Several health groups also used the issue to prove that breast milk is superior to infant formula milk products.
In the United States, the subprime mortgage woes resulted in the foreclosure of properties. Thousands of Americans lost their homes, unable to pay their mortgages. The debacle in the real estate sector hit financial institutions and heavy losses triggered a global crisis.
If there was something to be proud of last year, it was the electoral victory of Barack Obama. A majority of Americans, captivated by Obama’s promise of change, voted in his support. His historic victory has since inspired many young people in other countries to believe that change can also happen in their lifetime. The old phrase, “When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold,” could be given a new positive meaning. When Americans voted for Obama, the rest of the world applauded.
Last year, the Olympic Torch and the shoes of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi became the two most important symbols of protest. Popular social networking website Facebook also deserves a special mention for being a vehicle for various protest campaigns. Egypt’s general strike last April was announced through Facebook.
The Olympic Torch relay around the world was delayed several times because of numerous protest actions. Activists disrupted the torch relays to highlight China’s poor human rights record. Many groups used creative and daring tactics during the torch relay parades to draw the attention of people to atrocities committed by the Chinese government.
The Iraqi journalist who threw a pair of shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad is a hero to many Arabs. He has since also earned the admiration of many activists around the world. The shoe throwing was significant as it symbolized the anger of many people against the foreign policies of Bush.
The politicized objects of the past year – rice, oil, milk, the election ballot, the Olympic Torch and shoes – gave people a new understanding of the problems, issues and events in the world. The future seemed bleak when rice and oil prices rose, milk was tainted and homes confiscated by banks. Hope came in the form of votes and frustration was expressed by throwing shoes.
The year 2009 has not begun well. The situation in Gaza is a warning that killing machines and other objects of mass destruction will probably dominate the world this year.
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(Mong Palatino is an activist and regional editor for Southeast Asia of Global Voices Online. He can be reached at mongpalatino@gmail.com and his Web site is www.mongpalatino.motime.com. ©Copyright Mong Palatino)
