It's that time of the year when it all goes through your head in a flash.
Here we go:
Pakistan tragedy and Malala Yusafzai
A tragedy beyond belief.
Just some days ago more than 140 people, mostly children and their teachers, were torn to bits and burnt to the ground by the Taliban.
On the other hand the irony of sorts is that Malala a Pakistani teenager pluri-decorated and known for her human rights advocacy focusing mainly on education of girls, has been awarded one prize after another; the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, one of Time Magazine's most influential teens and a Nobel Peace Prize shared with Kailash Satyarthi.
President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
After some speculation of who is going to follow in the footsteps of George Abela we got ourselves the second woman President.
Some speculated that PM Muscat wanted her out of the Cabinet of Ministers as this would have provided for an excellent opportunity to do some re-shuffling. Not too sure about this conjecture especially considering that she was amongst the most popular Ministers at the time. The truth of the matter is that she is growing into this role at a fast pace making social inclusion and the fight against poverty a linchpin of her tenure.
For sure this was an opportunity to introduce some fresh faces in the Cabinet of Ministers, amongst other Hon Justyne Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging and Hon Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport. Both PSs are performing well and 'producing the goods' especially considering they have just been in this post for less than a year.
Kim Kardashian
Paid for doing nothing except going round wearing designer clothes!
With some 25 million Twitter followers, tabloids headlining her relationship, parenting tribulations and a narcissistic behavior especially expressed in endless selfie sessions, she is considered one of the most popular 'personalities' of 2014.
Obviously her ample curves seem to draw the foremost attention.
This time round she has surpassed herself and wears nothing except a champagne glass on her derrière for the paper.mag photo-shoot and gets the accolades - bless her soul!
The (little) Wild West now in Malta
The Mallia-gate sapped all the energy of the Prime Minister in these last weeks. He had to deal with a Minister (and a friend) who would not go so had no alternative but to chuck him out of Cabinet after his driver infamously fired shots in what appears to be an act of road-rage.
This also meant that the Acting Police Commissioner Zammit had to stop 'Acting' - he got the boot as well and was back to Deputizing.
Will this crisis haunt the Government in the coming years?
Simon Busuttil 'ixammar il-kmiem'
Looks like finally we are starting to see some of Busuttil's drive that characterized him during his tenure as a very effective MEP. With his tixmira and pseudo-relaxed way of speaking to the faithful at the Convention and General Council people are starting to believe that finally the PN will start moving forward.
So far so good, except that 57.9% still trust Dr Joseph Muscat against the 25.4% of Dr Simon Busuttil as per The Malta Independent survey.
However, the quote (attributed to Harold Wilson) turned cliché, 'a week is a long time in politics', should put Muscat on his toes. Another Mallia-gate or Gass-gate and the trust ratings will start sliding down.
The media in Malta
The Media in Malta was a protagonist this year even if for the wrong reasons.
In my opinion, cases like the alleged abusive relationships that Father Charles Fenech had with 'vulnerable' women and the Tanti-Zahra muddle have not only provided opportunity to the media to report the facts but to act as judge and jury.
One wonders if this will compromise the verdict.
Ebola
The Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa infected thousands, killing many.
Malta had its own Ebola controversy and this took the form of a collapsed tent.
Tent booboos and this Government are becoming quite joined at the hip.
Kamara
This case only brings disgrace on our political class.
Nothing to add.
EP elections
Less said for the PN the better.
Faces were saved after the third PN MEP managed to squeeze through, even though there were some 36,000 votes between them. Let's face it, traces of our voting system are a farce.
In my opinion the silver lining in all of this fiasco for the PN was in having Dr Therese Comodini Cachia elected as the third MEP with a hands-on approach to civil and human rights issues. I like her. She will do much good to the EU and the PN. I can see her leading the pack in time to come.
Alternattiva Demokratika
So much to offer in our political landscape but hardly any popular support.
Future is bleak.
Leadership is puny.
Marlene Farrugia is the 'most wanted'
I would probably vote her the 'most wanted' of the year.
Obviously she is 'most wanted' by the PN (and 'most wanted' in a different way by the PL diehards). She features in many of NET TVs programmes and on the other hand hardly seen on the PL's stations. PN did the same thing with JPO and Dr Franco Debono and they got it wrong.
Drawing from the President of Malta's Republic Day speech, we need to have an engaged and critical society and if our MPs are shifted around by their Party because they don't toe the line it will risk making our political class irrelevant.
So one might agree or disagree with Marlene Farrugia, but having her around might prove of good use to the PL.
Robin Williams
Still can't fathom what happened to this icon and genius.
A heartbreaking loss indeed, making it even worse knowing the tragedy that lies behind that death.
Civil Unions Bill
After a half-baked national debate and a voting bedlam in the PN's parliamentary group, a gritty Prime Minister brought about the recognition of same-sex unions in Malta.
A massive statement indeed, in terms of vicil rights.
Lisa Marie Zahra and Erin Tanti
A most tragic case of suicide, wacky love relationships and family dealings, now sitting in the lap of the Courts of Justice.
We will never really know what happened. All we're getting till now are emotional laden potions some of them carried by journalists because they think that this is the best way to satiate people's voyeurisms.
The Church
What Church?
It was another year to forget for the Church in Malta which seems to be in free-fall. Sex scandals, an ailing Archbishop, now turned emeritus, a Bishop who has been around for two years and hasn't managed to turn things around, a disheveled strategy in all 'sizzling' vehement issues, priests taking it on themselves to criticize the institution publicly and privately.
For 2015, the only way is up!
International conflicts
The chaos in Libya, the atrocities in Syria, the teenagers abduction by Boko Haram, the Crimea conflict, the anarchy in Ukraine, the autocrats in Russia, the tyrant in North Korea, the carnage in the form of beheading, sex slavery and abuse of ISIS, the never ending discord between Palestine and Israel, the politicians turned bullies in many countries in Africa, have characterized our observation of the news beyond our territory.
But I must admit that the story that shocked me most was the declassified information that emerged of what was going on in Guantanamo by the CIA.
Obama is an American President I believed in. I would have expected him, with all the power he has, to be able to bring justice in his homeland and manage to close his own concentration camp.
A good decoy was the hope that has been recently rekindled in the relationship Cuba-USA.
Concerts and Monuments
Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjoniijiet Nazzjonali this year was at the forefront organizing concerts to celebrate 50 years of Independence, 40 years as a Republic, 35 years of Freedom and 10 years of membership in the European Union. In-between, a couple of monuments of some of the most weighty politicians and artistic installations were unveiled.
Have these events led towards a better understanding of our political history?
I seriously doubt.
It all needs to start in schools where history needs to be taught in terms of narratives and not numerals.
So was it an exercise in waste of money? OK, next question please!
Not much 'Left' is left
It has been one hell of a month for Prime Minister Muscat. The oil hedging and some Ministerial bravados will surely mark a black spot in 2014.
I feel that other than that, during this year the hallmark of his leadership was continuity and permanence - not too many shifts and changes so people could get on with their life. Tourism remains strong, unemployment keeps going down and economic steadiness is palpable.
On the other hand, nothing too much 'Left' is left in this Government which is what worries me most even though the civil rights agenda, sensitivity to a number of minorities like persons with disability have been taken note of. Business interests, land speculation and an economy that keeps rewarding those doing well is concerning.
The policies that will tackle poverty, precarious employment, immigration are still too hazy.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
No news is bad and sad news.
Pope Francis
He remains the international personality of the year as far as I'm concerned.
Even though this year he has struggled in the Synod to get things done the way he wants, he remains an inspiration to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He is truthful to the message of Jesus, that speaks peace, community and fullness of life.
Daniela Poggiali
Ferocious, brutal and wicked is the only way I can describe the tragedy that hit Lugo in Italy when Poggiali of 42 years who was directly involved in 93 deaths.
Investigators claim that she drip-fed potassium chloride to patients, the same chemical used in lethal injections in the U.S.
One can't forget the smirk on her face as she was being taken into custody.
2014 the year of botched executions
It took almost 2 hours for Joseph Rudolph Wood to be executed. For Dennis McGuire it was only after 25 minutes before he could be pronounced dead. Clayton Lockett got a heart attack following a botched execution after medication was injected straight into his groin. He died because he couldn't take the pain.
A legalized brutality of mega proportions coming from the mother of all democracies, proponent of civil rights and champion of social justice!
I rest my case.
Sports
Football tops my attention.
Germany wins the World Cup, England and Italy collapse and Southampton FC keep having an extraordinary campaign in the English Premier league. Ronaldo wows the crowds, probably the greatest footballer ever.
But I can't not mention the great strides forward gymnastics has taken in Malta.
Claire, my daughter and her colleague gymnasts are the epitome of commitment. They have taken this sport forward together at club (Gymstars Gymnastics Club) and international level alike by training 3 hours a day, Monday to Saturday.
Who knows, maybe it is high time that we see beyond the 'sphere' in terms of sports investment in this country
Local Personality of the Year
Undoubtedly Oliver Scicluna, the young Chairman of the National Commission Persons with a Disability, a disabled person himself who has a refreshing outlook, that was sought after and needed in this sector.
This hip-hop dancer turned activist and now policy maker gave a lease of life to the disability field, brought about by simple and effective changes based on understanding and firmness, dialogue and exchange of ideas.
He has a mammoth task ahead of him but with his passion, his gentleness and openness to do what is right we can finally say that we are starting to have leadership in the disability field.
Leisure Clothing
A sad story indeed.
Our own 'personalized' sweatshop in our back-garden.
Shame on all who knew about this but did nothing.
Shame on the Trade Unions who should have been proactive and know about this before us all.
Well done media-link (PN media house) for bringing out the truth - it's what journalism is really about after all.
Farewells
It is always immensely difficult to bid farewell to people who have left an impact on their communities.
Amongst other, two 'political' personalities, Lino Spiteri and Maurice Tanti Burlo' have departed this World. Two great personalities that have left a lasting legacy not only on their families and friends but on the Maltese society as a whole. They thought us that life is all about dedication to others.
Allow me to go personal here.
I need to mention a dear loss our family had to endure during this year.
A celebrated footballer (with Valletta FC and the National Team), a dedicated dad, a most loving grandfather and a superb Uncle. We laughed, we cried, we shared - and Uncle Tony (Calleja) was always there, present, fiery and zealous.
The truth is that you know you have loved someone so ardently when you feel he hasn't really left - and this is the case with dear Uncle Tony.
Ghandi xi Nghid
It has been a good year for Ghandi xi Nghid on TVM (broadcasted until June of this year) with good reviews and strong surveys.
Ghandi xi Nghid on Radju Malta won the best radio show broadcast for the third year running confirmed by outstanding survey results recently published by the Broadcasting Authority. The radio show this year round is going out in the streets with three correspondents chasing the story 'out-there'.
What made Ghandi xi Nghid successful?
Simple, being true to the account.
Halleluiah!
Finally we have a decent news portal in the form of www.independent.com.mt (It probably got a bit more respectable as soon as I started blogging in this news portal J!)
However I've been informed that my efforts might get somewhat wasted at times as people prefer to read trivialities like the 'Halleluiah' booboo the PM cried out during an interview on TVM. Consumers of this portal, my informant said, seem to prefer these 'stories' than reading opinion pieces.
Possibly one of my new year's resolutions (which I don't plan on keeping anyway) will be that of focusing my views on inconsequentialities - who knows, I might get my own share of 'Halleluiah' following!
Happy New Year!
These events are not listed in any chronological or priority order.