World readies to ring in 2023
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 4 years ago • 37 commentsBy: Agence France-Presse (Raw Story - Celebrating Years of Independent Journalism)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The world's eight billion people on Saturday prepared to usher in 2023 and farewell a turbulent 12 months marked by war in Europe, stinging price rises and Lionel Messi's world cup glory.
After a few pandemic-dampened years, many will be looking to cut loose this New Year's Eve -- setting aside pinched budgets and a virus that is increasingly forgotten, but not gone.
Sydney will be among the first major cities to ring in 2023, restaking its claim to be the "New Year's Eve capital of the world" after two years of lockdown and Omicron-muted festivities.
Australia's borders have now reopened, and more than one million people are expected to line Sydney's sparkling harbor to watch 100,000 pyrotechnics illuminate the southern sky.
By lunch, hundreds of eager revelers had already claimed the best vantage points to welcome 2023 with a bang.
"It's been a fairly good year for us; getting past Covid of course is great," David Hugh-Paterson told AFP, as he waited near the Sydney Opera House in a growing crowd, many sheltering under umbrellas from the summer sun.
"Looking forward to the future as well," the 52-year-old said.
Sydney authorities expect almost half a billion more people will see the festivities online or on TV.
"If we can bring everyone together in celebration and looking to the year ahead with renewed optimism and joy, then we'll see that as a job well done," said fireworks organizer Fortunato Foti.
For some, 2022 was a year of Wordles, the Great Resignation, a new Taylor Swift album, an Oscar slap and billionaire meltdowns.
It also saw the deaths of Queen Elizabeth II, Brazilian football icon Pele, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jiang Zemin and Shinzo Abe.
But 2022 is most likely to be remembered for armed conflict returning to Europe -- a continent that was the crucible of two world wars.
'A peaceful sky'
More than 300 days into Russia's botched invasion of Ukraine, about 7,000 civilians have been killed and 10,000 more injured, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
About 16 million Ukrainians have fled their homes.
For those who remain, an 11:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew will be in place amid periodic blackouts and Russian missile barrages.
While some will mark the occasion with quiet candlelit prayers, others intend to party through the night in a collective show of resolve.
In past years, "people always stayed with us until three or four in the morning, so staying here for another hour or two will not be a problem," said Kyiv restaurateur Tetyana Mytrofanov.
In Vladimir Putin's Russia, there seems to be a dulled appetite for grand celebrations.
Moscow has cancelled its traditional fireworks show after Mayor Sergei Sobyanin asked residents to vote on how to mark the occasion.
Muscovites like Irina Shapovalova, a 51-year-old nursery worker, said their main wish for 2023 was for "a peaceful sky above our heads".
State-owned broadcaster VGTRK has promised to provide a "New Year's atmosphere, despite the changes in the country and the world".
But this year's broadcast will be conspicuously without stalwart performer and key presenter Maxim Galkin, who fled to exile after denouncing the Ukraine war.
He has since been branded a "foreign agent" by Russian authorities.
While Covid-19 vaccines have allowed life to return to semi-normal in most parts of the world, in China, the virus is continuing to thwart attempts to move on.
Hospitals in the world's most populous nation have been overwhelmed by an explosion of cases following Beijing's decision to lift strict "zero-Covid" rules.
New Year's Eve parties are still planned in innumerable bars, theaters and malls.
But authorities in Shanghai have stated there will be no formal activities on the city's famed Bund waterfront.
© 2022 AFP
Tags
Who is online
89 visitors
look at that smile - hope for a better future springs eternal
-
Happy New Year
-
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it There ain't nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to The top of the hill
But since we're on our way down We might as well enjoy the ride
The secret of love is in opening up your heart
It's okay to feel afraid But don't let that stand in your way
'Cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since we're only here for a while Might as well show some style
Give us a smile
Isn't it a lovely ride
Sliding down Gliding down Try not to try too hard It's just a lovely ride
Now the thing about time is that time Isn't really real
It's just your point of view How does it feel for you
Einstein said he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space The smile upon your face Welcome to the human race
Some kind of lovely ride I'll be sliding down I'll be gliding down
Try not to try too hard It's just a lovely ride Isn't it a lovely ride
Sliding down Gliding down Try not to try too hard It's just a lovely ride
Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
"The Secret Of Life" Songwriters: Taylor James V
Comment - Les McCann
A Happy and healthy New Year to everyone and their families!
Same to you, Perrie !
I would like to take this end of year opportunity to remember Sister Mary Agnes Ample Bottom. She is missed here.
I didn't know she passed. I loved her sense of humor.
I dont know if she passed either. I know she was very sick and we havent heard from her in many months.
With the passing of time, we realize the importance of relationships.
As we mourn the loss of loved ones, we appreciate the forming of new friendships that helped walk us through those losses.
Let us all take a moment to remember the past but more importantly, remember we have a responsibility to pay it forward, if in only honoring that remembrance…be kind.
Peace to you all.
Very true. My wife and I just completed our first road trip together since I got sick In early 2020, We went to see four close friends from out of state. We used to vacation together and I hadn’t seen them other than Facetime since 2019. It was wonderful to reconnect.
Happy New Year🎉
Happy New Year Drinker... hope 2023 is a good one for you health wise...yes the road at times seems very long...
But there are many of us on it...and I for one would be more than happy to walk along side you..
Now my first majour decision for 2023 what to have for brekkie..🦘🐨
Happiest of New Years, shona. I’m sure that the fireworks last night were spectacular. Will you be grilling some lamb or sausage today?
It is a long road and I’m very grateful to be on it. I would happily walk with you as well, there is strength in numbers.
Morning...no think an egg and bacon sanga is the go with a coffee..
Lovely morning here, dead calm, overcast and slightly foggy... meant to be around 30c today so good swimming weather..
Enjoy your New Year and stay safe...
Morning.. Happy New year!!...we are already 7 hours into it.. what 2023 brings who knows.
But hopefully with grace and dignity, we will face it front on whatever fate deals us...
2023...bring it on..🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇
Happy New Year to you Shona !
Morning...thank you and Happy New Year to you too.
MINO OSHKI BIBOON, GAKINAWENEN.
(Happy New Year, everyone)
WAANAKIIWIN
(Peace)
Happy New Year Kavika.. hope it will be a good one for all the mob...
Yes Peace....if only...
New Year’s does nothing for me. There is nothing magical about January 1 or a new year. There is no more reason to be hopeful or happy tomorrow than there is today. And if we’re honest, all the promises and dreams people profess for themselves or the world on January 1 are forgotten by January 2.
Every other holiday we have remembers something real that actually happened - for good or for bad. But on New Year’s Day, we all get collectively delusional and celebrate something that could happen in the future but probably won’t. I don’t see why everyone gets so excited for it.
The grinch that stole New Years, lol.
Of course the New Year means something. Why? Because people agree that it does.
You might as well say beauty or grace or honesty dont mean anything, or the Super Bowl or engagement parties. 4th of July parades and baptisms dont mean anything either. Nothing means anything until people accept it as meaning something.
Ok, well, the Grinch literally steals their stuff. He tries to interfere with the enjoyment of others. I don’t. I just feel differently for myself.
No, you might say that. But you’d have to ignore the detailed reasoning I gave, and the contrasts I offered with other holidays. I’m not surprised you either didn’t read or didn’t comprehend my words. Maybe next year, that will finally change. Then, it will be a happy new year.
Yeah, that's called hope....
I try to have hope all year round.
well according to the comp its the new years, at least here .
May life give everyone what life thinks they deserve . cant be any fairer than that i think, for good or not .
see y'all on the other side .