Apathy has become a widespread disease

As the curtains close in 2025, I wonder why millions of people have remained indifferent to the unfolding events while lawbreakers have been changing the world. Regrettably, many choose to ignore it, whether out of ignorance or convenience. I view this as a wake-up call.

The terrible changes occurring are a result of human choices, not divine will. Those in power are normalising the most troubling aspects of human behaviour, while we passively, like sitting ducks, wait to be the next victims.

I wonder what world we will live in a year or a decade from now. Technological advances, economic instability and geopolitical unrest were major themes of the year, with troubling issues like wars, genocide, modern slavery and dubious business practices becoming normalised. It is as if all sense of humanity is lost. Yet, it is our nature to remain optimistic.

During the year, bots emerged as ‘hidden influences’ within the digital landscape, coinciding with the rise of artificial intelligence. We noted that the BRICS alliance is gaining strength amid global instability, while climate-related disasters are intensifying. However, the US-China trade tensions became the defining feature of the year.

As 2026 approaches, I contemplate whether emerging leaders can cultivate trust amid persistent political and economic instability.

Urgent environmental issues, significant technological advancements and evolving political situations will intersect to shape the upcoming year. Social and ethical issues are turning into major concerns. I see less investment in education and more in weapons and defence as nations assess their priorities.

The planet’s abundant natural wealth, while essential for modern society and life itself, is being rapidly exploited and turned into a commodity for economic profit in the hands of a few. People rarely grasp the long-term environmental and societal consequences of this accelerated extraction. Rushing to turn natural resources into financial capital might be shortsighted without appreciating the vital importance of these reserves for future generations.

The race for rare earths has the potential to fuel geopolitical tensions, as these elements are vital for green tech, defence and electronics. Economic reliance, the weaponisation of supply chains and competition for the newly accessible resources in the Arctic are some consequences, along with a lack of concern for environmental damage.

Who cares? Wealth inequality is expanding faster than the rate of poverty reduction around the world. Over 35 per cent of all personal wealth is in the hands of the world's wealthiest 1 per cent, exceeding the combined wealth of the bottom 95 per cent. This highlights a split caused by disproportionate asset growth for the super-rich.

Then, I step away from the grandeur to focus on the every day. Every time I go grocery shopping, I wonder how families cope with feeding their children. Fresh fruits and vegetables, often called ‘pure gifts from Mother Nature’, are increasingly becoming luxury items because of rising costs caused by climate change, inflation, labour issues and complex supply chains. Consumers are seeing items priced out of reach, affecting their health and creating a divide where food feels like a luxury.

There is widespread lethargy because people don't see the situation as their concern. But it is! We are helping power-centric people become ultra-billionaires. The small screen damages mental development, the excessive reliance on digital tools reduces critical thinking (if any exists), fosters mental laziness (which is plentiful), and harms reading and writing skills. Who needs these abilities when artificial intelligence can do the work? We are also losing strength in our arms and fingers as they become better at tapping buttons. Technologies are pushing us towards machine-generated solutions, which insult our incredible physical capabilities.

Whatever we are turning into is already taking shape. Challenging reality, with its sheer scale of absurdity and impact, is becoming a common way to explain the inexplicable in our modernity.