Look to the stars in 2009 and work for reconciliation

So 2008 was the International Year of Languages - and of the potato, and of the frog and of sanitation ... The year of languages will officially end on February 21st 2009 on International Mother Tongue Day. International years are often a way of starting to change things, the beginning of campaigning of issues rather than the end of them so there's still lots to do on linguistic issues - as well as on sanitation, protecting the frog and promoting the potato.

Meanwhile 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy - truly a year in which to look to the stars! You can find out more about the launch next month here.
2009 is also the International Year of Reconciliation and there will be many ways of taking part in that too and churches worldwide are backing the initiative. As the old year endsand the new one begins with so much news of enmity, war and hatred rather than work on the healing of memories, it's an important call.
2009 is also the European year of churches responding to migration.
Elsewhere some are saying that 2009 will be the year of the hacker and talking about "cognitive surplus" in the job market - all related to all that stuff I've seen out of the corner of my eye about the long tail. Hmm ... one thing that my first full year of blogging has told me is that there is far more out there for me to know about than I will ever even begin to comprehend or eve have time to learn about.
Finally as I wish my three readers out there in cyberspace a happy new year I'm sure you're also all desperate to know that 2009 is also the International Year of Natural Fibres, the website is rather fun - surprisingly perhaps.
Thanks to the splendid capacity of blogger to post posts at later times, I hope to be eating fondue and quaffing some bubbly champagne of beer by the time this goes online. Here's to the future, look up, look to the stars and work for reconciliation in 2009 - you could even wear cotton or hemp clothes if you're so moved. The universe is ours to discover.