The year 2022 often felt like being caught in a time warp of crises. With each additional breaking news flashing on the cell phone, the fear of new bad news increased. February 24th – the day on which Russia’s army invaded Ukraine – became a turning point for Europe. The proclaimed “turn of the era” followed, more than 40,000 civilians lost their lives so far, around 30 million people were driven from their homes.
Economically, these were tough times. First the corona pandemic, then war in Europe – inflation kept the global economy firmly in its grip. Like no other year, 2022 was also characterized by climate change: heat wave in Europe, floods in South Asia and devastating drought in Africa, to name just a few of the extremes.
And there were also severe setbacks for human rights: starting with Putin’s war of aggression, which violated international law, to the overturned abortion law in the USA, to the Iranian regime’s brutal action against the democracy movement and the extreme restrictions on civil liberties in China.
But it wasn’t all gloomy.
2022: A year of protests for freedom, peace and climate
Even if they were often lost in the maelstrom of bad news, there were rays of hope in 2022. Contrary to all expectations, Ukraine is proving its ability to defend itself ten months after the start of the war and was able to recapture many areas. Rather than dividing them, Russia’s attack has drawn Western countries closer together. When it comes to taking in Ukrainian refugees, Poland and Germany show great solidarity.
Meanwhile, Iran is witnessing its biggest protests, not seen in 50 years. Led by women, thousands across the country are protesting against the Islamic Republic and risking their own lives for democratic values. In China, too, people took to the streets for freedom in autumn and demanded the end of the restrictive zero-Covid policy.
There are also victories for democracy on the other side of the Atlantic – in the midterms in the United States and the presidential election in Brazil.
And then there were those moments that burned in beyond the serious topics: a slap in the face at the Oscars, the prince stealing the show from the Queen, tomato soup on Van Gogh and a jubilant Messi. Time for a review of the year in pictures.