BBC Knowledge Magazine - February 2016

In this issue

It’s a new year and change is again knocking at our doors. As all years go, 2015 was eventful too. But I think some events that occurred, have made this past year a bit more significant than others to the story of our world.
Exactly a year ago in January, the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris rattled the western world. Terrorism, foreign policies, religion, drones, became and remain the talk of our times. In March, Iran and 6 other world powers including the United States signed a historic nuclear deal intended as a major step towards making the world safer. In August, the crisis of Syrian migrants overwhelmed Europe and emerged as one of the compelling humanitarian issue of our times; September made us more cynical about big corporations, thanks to the deceit perpetuated by Volkswagen globally with its emissions scandal. Same month, NASA confirmed there was liquid flowing water on Mars. The Paris Attacks in November made many question if this was the beginning of a third world war.
But despite the ban on diesel cars and the smog in Delhi, December ended on hope - a new, momentous climate change treaty was agreed upon by 200 nations in Paris - a big big deal since climate change and a country’s responsibility towards this man-made problem has always been a point of contention.
Do you see how each and every one of these events will affect our lives? Change is indeed in the air and 2016 will bring more of it. So let’s embrace it – let’s know more, innovate more and do more, read, learn & discuss more, and explore more.
Have a great year.