2012 - The Year of Change

[Capt. Anand Kumar]

Many doomsayers have predicted 2012 as the end of the world year. That is still to be seen. However, looking at the events calendar it does appear that the year may see large scale changes around the world through ballot boxes. The year kicks off with an election in Taiwan and will end with a landmark election in the US. In each of the elections, going by the trend of 2011, existing governments are likely to be replaced. One hopes that the new governments that take over will be more in sync with the concerns of the ordinary people world over and there will be lesser conflict in the years to come. Both, amongst the people as well as with the environment. Take a look at the following dates:

January 14^th  Presidential Elections in Taiwan

February       Elections in 5 States of India, likely to lead to a general mid-term election later in the year.

March 4        Russian President’s Election

April 22         General Elections in France

October        Change of guard in China. Xi Jinping will take over from Hu Jintao as the General Secretary of the Communist Party.

November     US Presidential Elections

In between some of the countries affected by Eurozone crisis may opt for elections too and at least two Arab Dictators could be on the way out. Pakistan is likely to see a change of guard as well. One only hopes it is for the better. So from east to west, 2012 will be remembered as the year of change.

What do you think?

[Joe Fulton]

I have lots of hope for 2012 not only for the world but for theosophy.net.

For the world I hope that the Occupy movement finds its footing and makes a case for sanity in economics.  We cannot continue with an economy that rewards poor behaviors the way that exists now.  We need better.

For that to happen, however, I believe that we need to understand economics a lot better.  It's not just the small green pieces of paper that matter.  It's the psychological, neurological and cultural forces which drives its movement.  Until we come up with some kind of integrative science that properly describes the whole there will be no basis for properly managing economies, both national and personal.  The whole effort will remain one of proving Darwin right.  It is my wish for 2012 that we start seeing the higher order of realities at play.

For 2012 theosophy.net is undergoing a lot of changes.  Stay tuned.  Life is good.

[Joe Fulton]

The other wild card, not decided by any vote is the earth itself.  Being a huge follower of all things geological the potential is there for any number of major eruptions or fault line disruptions.

Of particular concern are the segments south of Alaska which caused the 1964 earthquake and the Cascadia Subduction Zone which fuels Mt. Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, Shasta and Lassen Peak.  In the Eastern US the New Madrid Seismic Zone may hold surprises for St. Louis and Memphis much the way it did when the area was relatively uninhabited in the winter of 1811 - 1812.  Further east is the zone around Charleston, SC which is still poorly understood but capable of lots of shaking.

One other geologic phenomenon which hasn't manifested itself is underwater landslides.  We have not seen any major landslides in several hundred years.

[Joe Fulton]

2012 will be a year that sees an increasing mating up of human and electronics. By the end of the year we may be seeing a lot of science fiction on the shelves. 

How does this relate into a hope/wish for the new year?

I hope that we have the wisdom to understand the implications of mating our minds more directly to the outside world.  For many centuries daily existence has been one of moving through the filters of the senses and into the world.  Removing these barriers will present new challenges and opportunities.

Theosophies represent efforts to come in contact with the divine.  They are, by nature, very experiential.  The ability to make our deepest yearnings manifest in objectivity is going to be a major shift.