Impact of Year 2021 and Expectations in 2023– by Ashook Ramsaran

Most impactful in 2022: The adverse global economic stress on costs, supplies, employment and affordability as countries emerged from 3 years of Covid-19; election of Indian origin prime minister Rishi Sunak in UK (among others: Ireland, Mauritius, Seychelles, Suriname and Guyana); continuing devastating effects of climate change globally while token steps internationally and by individual countries; gradual improvement in energy storage and use of non-fossil fuels; disastrous flood waters due to extra-ordinary rainfall and rising tides on coastal area; devastating continuation of the war in Ukraine; continuing global impact of political and cultural divisiveness with underlying misinformation; little improvement of effective and humanitarian care of seniors in convalescent facilities; shortages of skilled, unskilled, educators and medical workers worldwide; informed electorates opted for political stability over authoritarian regimes; a changing economy requiring variations of needed skills.

Expectations in 2023: Alarming sharp rise in Covid-19 and variants resulting in reduced migration, travel, trade and economic growth; less than anticipated attendance at PBD2023 in India; political stability due to more informed and active electorates in USA, Europe, Europe and Pacific region, while potential for conflicts in the Middle East; potential for resolution of the war in Ukraine; conflicts between China and Taiwan, and others; continuing increase in military spending worldwide;Europe and US interest in tapping Africa’s natural and mineral resources; continuing devastating effects of climate change globally; world population growth a strain on food, medical, housing, energy supplies, increasing pollution and climate change; continuing rise in migrants at US southern border; rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence impacting everyday life; severe shortages of workers in developed nations impacting food and medical supplies, and services; continuing dominance of multi-national corporations and wealthy nations; struggles for health, wellbeing and improvement in the lives of poor and working people.; continued youthful optimism and enthusiasm.

Ashook Ramsaran

(President, Indian Diaspora Council International, New York, USA)