Happy 2009?

New Year’s morning has to be one of the the best times to go for a surf, most new year’s eve revelers are still far from waking up and nursing their hangovers, leaving the beach, at 6:30am, almost deserted. I started the new year by going for a surf at Stockton Beach, Australia, in beautiful clean water, with a new 3 foot swell shared with only three other surfers and a large pod of Dolphins. Spectacular! What a good way to start the year.

Driving home, and in new years day reflection, I realize how fortunate I am to have the kind of life that allows me the freedom to do what I like, and when. Not necessarily fortunate because of what I do or have, that’s of my own making, but fortunate simply because of where on the earth I was born, and where I now live.

I stopped for a moment an thought about all those people living under oppression, whether religious, political, social or cultural. People living under despotic regimes or who’s lands are occupied by an aggressor, who would never even have the luxury of dreaming of a life like mine, and I’m wondering will 2009 bring more freedom to any of these people?

If it is it will require a massive paradigm shift in the thinking of the west and the courage to take swift and decisive action.

Happy 2009? I’m not holding my breath.