2020 has been an exhausting and eventful year for all of us, and as it is we already have trouble focusing on the positives rather than the negatives, so in case anyone needed a reminder (because I know I do), here are some of the best things to come out of 2020:
- Attention to Black Lives Matter. With the tragic death of George Floyd, people across the world have started paying attention to the struggles and voices of Black people, especially in America. There have been protests and riots, all fighting racist systems and advocating for racial equality. The fact that it has taken so long is horrific, and the line between genuine activism and performative activism gets blurred further every day, but I have hope that we’ll improve in really listening to all the issues that Black people face that society is so used to suppressing and ignoring.
- Biden won the election! One of the most wholly and undoubtedly good things to come from 2020 was Joe Biden winning the US election. Although policy-wise I’m probably happier that Trump lost than I am that Biden won, I still believe his victory sets a ideological precedent for all future world leaders that we will not tolerate hatred and bigotry in the position of someone who is meant to be representing the whole country, and I only hope that we can see that change in the UK as well.
- Kamala Harris becoming VP! Despite my loathing for identity politics (I’d much rather elect someone in line with my views than someone who looks like me, although both would be lovely), Kamala Harris becoming the first female brown and Black Vice President of the United States is a huge encouragement to all women of colour who aspire to make a real change in the world, and I only hope that she uses her position to push for systemic change in favour of all the communities she has been given the opportunity to represent.
- Carbon emission reductions! COVID-19 has been absolutely horrible in many ways, but one positive thing that has come out of it is the serious reduction of carbon emissions, particularly in big cities. As countries entered lockdows and there were less cars, planes, and trains running, the environment temporarily improved. For the first time in years, you could see animal life in Venice, the skies were clearer than ever in China and India, and here in the UK, there was an uptick in butterflies! As people return to their jobs and start commonly using transport again, I hope we can find a way to keep our waters clean, our skies blue, and our butterflies safe.
- Free Pret. Many of you probably know about the free Pret drinks trick, which has been my absolute saviour, and might have contributed to my development of a coffee addiction… Nonetheless, I will not stop getting free classic frappes all the way into the New Year, and hopefully long after, since I think I now rely on coffee to get me through the day.
- The COVID vaccine!! Ignoring the conspiracy theories that the vaccine is intended as population control (why would you give it to the elderly and at risk FIRST if it were??), the vaccine is now being administered to our population, leading hopefully to a COVID-free 2021, which I think we are all ready for.
- It’s nearly Christmas!! It’s impossible not to feel a sense of joy and warmth near to Christmas despite the freezing weather outside, and electing to ignore the slightly xenophobic nature of the government’s regulations that have ignored other religious holidays, I will instead make the most out of the ability to see my family, and enjoy a lovely Christmas holiday celebrating being around those I love, while still being safe.
- 2021 is nearly here. Perhaps one of the best parts of the year is that it has an end, and I don’t think I could be excited enough for this one, not just because I want this year to end, but because I want the next one to begin. I’m not usually a fan of new year’s resolutions since I believe them to be a tad superficial—if you want to change, why do you need a date on which to start?—however, I do think that this New Year will be a good opportunity for the fresh start that we all so desperately need, and hopefully it will be way better than 2020, and I can’t wait!
As we move into 2021, I’m going to try not to forget any of the bad or good things that happened this year as a way of learning and building on the past and in order to improve for the next year, and I hope you all try and do the same. With that, I wish you all happy holidays and a wonderful New Year!
