“I can’t breathe” is the quote of 2020.
The devastating last words of George Floyd shook America and woke some in the country to persistent racism, wrapped like a parasite to a host, from the nation's largest institutions right down to the daily lives of its citizens.
While those words rang out to rally the cry once again that black lives matter, it was also the call to action for anyone addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, who were legion.
When facing death, and all shades of turmoil this year, we instinctively reach out of the present and into a future state. We become future-obsessed.
Like alchemy for the multiverse, our primal fight or flight response is all about escaping the present and altering the course ahead that spells certain death.
This goes even beyond healing America’s original sin or the triage and eradication of a global pandemic.
The conversations – and indeed the actions – over the health of the planet, the primacy of Big Tech, the implications of artificial intelligence and even our understanding of science have been hastened by our year of facing mortality.
This is some capital-F Future stuff.
While the internet has been around for decades, some were beginning to wonder if the hurdles to societal progress via computer science were too big to surmount. One of my last stories before the pandemic hit mulled the possibility of another AI winter, despite major leaps forward in the field.
Perhaps, I sometimes wondered, we are already the slovenly humans in constant, consuming repose, as seen in the Disney movie Wall-E. Perhaps solving our biggest existential threats at scale through sheer productivity is simply too difficult for our fragile human bodies.
But then 2020 happened. “I can’t breathe” happened. These were the words that brought our future forward – fatally, necessarily and urgently.
Geopolitical futurist Abishur Prakash told me this week that after nearly a decade of predicting a transition from the old world order governed by oil, 2020 was the year that made the jump. The axes of power on earth now rest on the infrastructure, application and development of technology, he said.
"The gains from truly mobilising the internet may in fact right now be swamping all of the accumulated obstacles we have put in the way of progres," Tyler Cowen, the renowned economist and author of the 2011 book The Great Stagnation, recently mused in a blog post.
In just this year alone, he could point to numerous signs of progress, most that were years in the making and had little to do with the novel coronavirus: the creation of Apple’s M1 chip, OpenAI’s GPT-3, which can produce predictive human-like speech, and DeepMind’s application of AI to protein folding, a challenge that has stymied scientists for half a century and has prevented breakthroughs in cures for diseases.
He also highlighted a phase-3 trial for a malaria vaccine; the use of gene editing technology CRISPR to achieve a cure for sickle cell; and the possibility of a universal flu vaccine and mRNA vaccines, like those developed by Moderna and Pfizer to inoculate against Covid-19.
Professor Cowen’s list continues.
He cited a new electric car battery from Toyota that can go 500 km on one charge and recharge from zero to full in 10 minutes. He pointed to China powering on its nuclear reactor, a kind of artificial sun that may one day generate clean power from nuclear fusion. Then there was space exploration, from the UAE's Mars mission to SpaceX, and the mile-high valuation of Tesla, which this week joined the S&P 500 only shortly after fossil fuel giant Exxon made its exit.
Despite forward momentum, The Economist this month was pointing out a global slowdown, citing figures from the World Bank, which surmises that sluggish trade growth and fewer moves by richer countries into new technology was having a knock-on effect in emerging markets by slowing productivity gains.
The magazine also blamed the skeptics, who continue to ponder if this is all too optimistic, if the precipice we believe to be standing on is solid ground or an apparition of a fantastical future. This is the crowd that likes to point to the 280 characters on Twitter that we got, and wonders where are the flying cars.
There is the doubt, upon which our survival rests: Will the changes we make through technology really provide the lifeline 2020 has shown us we so desperately need?
I often thought of a line from a Mary Oliver poem a year ago, when most of us were innocent to the virus barreling towards us to upend our lives. It is a line printed on the covers of journals, a reliable epigraph, appearing at the fronts of chick-lit novels: Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?
Covering the people hellbent on changing our futures – through breakthroughs, massive amounts of money and radical ideas – always makes me think of it. Some of the people we write stories about seem to answer the question so fiercely.
It is the line for those crazies growing vegetables sustainably in one of the world's harshest climates, the UAE. It is a line you think of after talking to the co-founder of Virgin Hyperloop, hours after the first human test run of the technology he sketched on the back of a bar napkin years before. It is the blockchain believer in China, who can actually describe in plain language how a digital currency will work.
The plans are big and bold.
Seeing Facebook and Google in court are also good steps. These antitrust cases prove that society is starting to understand that the humanity in our digital lives is indeed worth something – and that our data cannot only be the spoils of behemoths.
We are understanding the stakes of our future and how it is twisted up in our tech.
It is easy to suppose that this difficult year will grind on into 2021. For proof, one can easily point to a new, more transmissible mutation in the virus.
But I disagree. When it was a little too warm in Abu Dhabi to be seeking solace in nature, like any good New Englander I read about it. I sought out Ms Oliver's poem, The Summer Day. This line stopped me cold: Tell me, what else should I have done?
Our lives are precious, this we know. But 2020 forced us to ask this question, over and over and over again.
It was a response to "I can't breathe." It was and is the primal strength of our fragile human bodies that we instinctively grasp for a different future.
It is reason enough for hope.
Kelsey Warner is future editor at The National
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
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Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Results
3pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m, Winner: Lancienegaboulevard, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Fawzi Nass (trainer).
3.35pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner: Al Mukhtar Star, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
4.10pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Speedy Move, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar.
5.20pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Moqarrar, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy.
5.55pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Dolman, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
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