EDITOR'S LETTER
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
Looking back at 12 months past, it seems like a lifetime. It started and ended with horror, and at times it hasn't been that good in between as well. If we put all the killing, the attacks, the molestations and other acts of violence, plane crashes and natural disasters aside, just for a minute, what do we have left. Viola Davis was the first woman of color to win the best actress in a drama series award at the 2015 Emmys, which was about fucking time. We made some enormous strides in space exploration – and then I'm not talking about the recent opening of the 7th Star Wars movie. We landed on a comet, discovered liquid water on Mars and finally know what Pluto looks like. The Ebola Epidemic was brought under control (for now) and a medicine has been made available that prevents catching the HIV virus. Cuba and the United States end a 54-year stretch of hostility between the nations, though if that is good news on the long run for Cuba remains to be seen. The Expo 2015 was held in Milan and a global climate change pact is agreed at the COP 21 summit in Paris, committing all countries to reduce carbon emissions for the first time… I'm sure there are more positive things that happened. I mean, 365 days… there must be something, right?
As the year comes to a close, we remember what was on our minds in 2015, and the difference we made by coming together. There are events that are big. I mean, world news format. And there are things that are much smaller, but therefor not less important. An Uber passenger was left speechless when her lost wallet - complete with bank cards, driving licence and cash - were returned in the post by the Uber driver whose car they were left in. She was even more touched when she realised he spent £6.40 sending it back - more than he earned from £5 taxi journey. A group of kind-hearted friends went over and above the call of duty to rescue an abandoned dog left stranded in the Nišava River in Serbia. One of them scaled his way down a vertical brick wall to reach the riverside and was pulled back up by his friends - but only after lifting the dog to safety. People in Toronto created a temporary memorial to a dead raccoon after the city forgot to pick it up. And Madonna sang 3 songs at the Place de la Republique in Paris in memory of the victims of the November 13 attacks. OK that WAS kind of a big thing, but it's not like she HAD to do it, right?
Though I'd like to say 2015 is a year to forget as soon as possible, we should also remember that it hasn't all been bad. Let's look at the people we love and who love us, the pets who await us at night when we come home from work, moments with friends and family to cherish. It's the disasters and the shocks that we remember, but it is the smallest expressions of love that keeps us going. I said before that we can't love away the misery that has fallen upon us, but for Christ sake, let's also not forget to love. Let's not give up on ourselves and on each other because there is still so much good to live for. 2015 had its change and to my opinion pretty much blew it. So here's to a new one. Cheers. Happy 2016.
First paragraph: quote Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities
Cover photography by Eric Guichaoua-Serra (EGS)
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