Robert Reich summed up good wishes for the coming year when he said: "I wish you not just a prosperous new year; on that score, 2009 may be something of a bummer. No, I wish you and your kids and grandkids, and Ella, a good and peaceful and generous new year". As we look forward to 2009, let us dream of increased peace in Iraq, common sense and a sense of a common humanity in Israel and its Palestinian neighbours, a Russia and China that put the lives and concerns of their peoples before their political machinations, a Zimbabwe free of the tyranny of Mugabe, a Darfur free of genocide, a Tibet free from China, an Afghanistan free from the Taliban: may all these hopes not be a delusion and pipe dream.
