Two years ago, the world celebrated the new millennium with strong words condemning terrorism, killing of innocent people, eradicating poverty and disease and destroying of weapons of mass destruction, to name a few. I remember leaders from different countries emphasizing new changes, better economy, increasing human rights, investing more into education and medicine research for fatal diseases like HIV, and helping poor nations to eradicate poverty.

If I recall correctly, some leaders regretted what happened in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, South Africa and very recently in Rwanda, Yugoslavia and the Middle East, to mention a few.

Two years later, it seems nothing has changed. War is ravaging the Middle East, killing of innocent civilians in United States, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Zimbabwe and others. Human rights violations have increased in the Middle East and Africa. Countries like Turkey and Argentina are plunging economically. Legitimate governments are overthrown, some as recently as last week in Venezuela.

HIV is scrounging in Sub- Saharan Africa, killing victims every second. In most African countries, poverty is song for leaders but it is part-and-parcel of the common man. Some nations are joggling with weapons of mass destruction.

Some are struggling to discover ways and techniques to build nukes and bio-weapons.

Well, I guess history is repeating itself and I wonder if there will be a better world tomorrow.

Isa Mbaraka

Graduate student

Chemical engineering