Nick Lyth

What did you find most encouraging?
No nomination

What did you find most discouraging?
In considering the events of the first decade of the 21st century since the birth of Christ, it is hard to see past 9/11. In the broad sweep of history, this surely stands as a defining moment of change. The day after it happened, the president of the United States at the time, arguably the most powerful man on earth, made a speech in which he declared that 'a great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundations of America'.
     That was the start of the decade. The end of the decade saw the financial collapse that has shaken the foundations of the American economy; a gathering threat to the American way of life from global warming and climate change; and a grinding stalemate in the military offensives launched by America in the wake of 9/11. The foundations of America have not just been touched, they are crumbling. It is hard not to relate this to 9/11. 9/11 was an announcement that few people in the political establishment of the US or UK heard or tried to understand. The people who organised 9/11 hate America.
     All civilisations are subject to cycles of growth, maturity and decline. As decline sets in, the pressures that are brought to bear are violent, unforgiving, and remorseless.
     Many believe the new power that will replace America to be China. There is hope in this belief. After all, China did not launch the attacks of 9/11. China does not hate us (I should explain that I think America, for these purposes, means us.) China might benefit the most from the consequences, but might use its inheritance wisely and well. It has certainly managed its economy with the wisdom necessary to avoid the worst impacts of the global recession.
     There is another far more frightening possibility. The outcome of the decline of America, the outcome of all the things that America has done, and which have been the object of such hatred by the perpetrators of 9/11, the outcome of its unfettered greed and aggression, might be something far worse.
     The economic machine unleashed by America in the 80's can now be seen in all its hideous glory. The consequences of a free, global market controlled by the IMF and the World Bank and serving the purposes of the American economic machine are global pollution on a scale that threatens human life as we know it. We may be facing a return to the Dark Ages.
     In this, the first decade of the 21st century since the birth of Christ, I think we have witnessed the end of the major civilisation of the 20th century. We have been exposed to what will follow, but we do not yet know which of the possible routes will be the one we will pursue. Or whether there is a third way, offering hope of something better?
     I believe we can all do something to steer our future on Earth. The next decade will reveal whether we have the will, the determination and the vision to do it. This one has shown us the problems we must overcome.

Which public figure did you most admire?
No nomination

Which public figure did you least admire?
The first decade of the 21st century since the birth of Christ witnessed the remorseless erosion of the Christian-based capitalism that was coincidentally led, at the time, by two evangelicals – George Bush hand in hand with Tony Blair.