How will life change in the New Year?

New Year's Eve is the ideal time for resolutions.

Every year, thousands of people say they'll smoke their last cigarette before midnight, or decide to lead an otherwise healthier life.

Have you made any such resolutions?

And what about the wider world? The year 2000 has seen its fair share of conflicts, political upheavals and natural disasters, as well as heart-warming stories of selflessness and sacrifice.

What are your hopes and wishes for the world in 2001?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Perhaps now they will leave other countries alone

David Mercer, Wales

Now that the Americans have the president they deserve, with his breathtaking ignorance of international affairs, perhaps now they will leave other countries alone and not cause the death and misery that seems to make up their foreign policy.
David Mercer, Wales

I'm just waiting for the end of the world.
Anna, USA

For the new Millennium, I would like to see scientists stop playing with nature, as I believe one day our planet might be destroyed
Vincent, France

I AM going to give up smoking this time and I will carry on with my fight for my rights as a commuter on the train in 2001. I will also stop worrying and getting stressed and enjoy life at 23!
Charlotte, UK

I would like to see the end of separate schools in Northern Ireland

Richard Miller, UK

I would like to see the end of separate schools in Northern Ireland and that children in that part of the UK are not taught religion, history or politics until they reach secondary school. As a result children of both denominations will grow up together without a bigoted outlook on life and realise that people on the other side are just as human. For this to happen would require courage on the part of politicians, church leaders and parents.
Richard Miller, UK

My wish for this and every coming New Year is that all people work to remove hatred from their hearts and from their judgement and that they learn to make decisions based upon integrity and fairness. Also I wish love and joy to every child on earth.
Layide Akin-Fadeni, Nigerian in UK

I would like the Scottish people to wake up to the fact that their so-called devolutionary parliament is just one more bunch of self-aggrandising politicians and sack the whole sorry bunch. I would also like to see UK prices (for everything) come down into line with the rest of the world.
Garry, Germany

I do not hope for anything in the New Year, and my only wish is to wish everyone the best. All my love.
Ken, UK

I hope 2001 brings increased understanding of other cultures

Ravi Kumar, India

I hope 2001 brings increased understanding of other cultures, traditions and beliefs by peoples all over the world. It's time to narrow the differences we have in mind about other races, religions and beliefs with the world getting ever closer.
Ravi Kumar, India

I would wish that in 2001 the people of the world have an ideological shift wherein they realise that the dash for cash and commercialistic excess is all in their heads. Corporations begin to do more for their fellow man because it's the only way people will support their products. BUT...since this will not happen I hope I make enough money in 2001 to decorate my entire house in brand new box-shipped IKEA merchandise and I want a laptop.
Jason Wesley Upton, New Orleans, USA

I would like to see better government, via a credible opposition party, and a government with a modest majority in the House of Commons, which hopefully would lead to the end of the current," Star Chamber" political system.
Richard L Garner, England

I wish we could wrest back the way society is being hi-jacked by the various groups who in the name of civil rights are destroying this country. Children who do not know the meaning of discipline because teachers and indeed parents may be hauled into court for trying to instil a sense of respect for others. I could go on but suffice to say in my brief 60 years I have witnessed the gradual demise of respect in this once great country.
Mike, UK

Hangovers and the January sales do not create change, idealistic people with goals and strong willpower do

Benjamin Mossop, UK

People have to remember as they seem to have forgotten that there can be no effective change in the fundamental fabric of society until people make plans for change and carry them out. Hangovers and the January sales do not create change, idealistic people with goals and strong willpower do.
Benjamin Mossop, UK

I hope that India makes forays into imposing tighter birth control regulations and at the same time makes efforts to stop the huge brain-drain that is affecting major sectors of the Indian economy. I also wish that the Indo-Pakistan proxy war ends and both countries realise the potential of working together towards a peaceful and friendly atmosphere in South Asia. And finally moving on to the resolution that I have made for the New Year : I will quit smoking!!
Ajit Balakrishnan, Canada

My wish is that people realise the irony in their use of violence to achieve peace. If only humans learn to value others lives as much as they value their own or that of their loved ones, the world would be a better place to live in.
Praveen Fernandes, USA

My wish is for leaders the world over to let their decision-making be driven less by ego and more by vision.
Mark Wood, Malta

Is it me, or is there a reluctance for the British government to inspire public opinion rather than follow it? My hope for 2001 is that is that it has the courage to confront our collective, long-term concerns even if that means explaining patiently or passionately (whichever works best) why, in order to achieve these, some potentially unpleasant sacrifices may be needed in the short-term and at the personal level.
Greg Arrowsmith, UK

I am tempted to describe the year 2000 as a terrible year for me personally. My boyfriend dumped me, one of my friend's got a brain tumour, another friend's father died, a close family friend was diagnosed as being terminally ill with cancer, my friend had a miscarriage, my grandma died... but I don't feel depressed. I feel energised by the courage and positive attitude all of these people have shown. I feel so lucky to be the friend, granddaughter or even just acquaintance of all these inspirational people. My New Year resolution is to remember their courage, and continue to be brave and positive enough myself to support my friends and family. It's amazing what the power of love and friendship can do! Happy New Year!
Sarah Bate, UK

I would love to see South Asia united and strong, especially Kashmir and the related violence stopped and the whole of South Asia, which was once beautiful and rich (culturally, economically, spiritually) become a masterpiece of God's creation and lead the whole world to attain the same.
Sundar, India

My hope is for an end to the compensation culture. Too often the truth and learning from mistakes is lost in a dash for cash.
Gary, UK

I wish to see some effective population control methods implemented in India. I want to slow down a little bit and enjoy living now.
Sandeep Potnis, USA/India

My fear for 2001 is that the Dome will be knocked down. I loved it when I went there. I wish I had £125m, because I would buy it and turn it into a theme park which would attract 40,000 visitors a day. The Dome is like the landmark Big Ben. If that gets taken away, then that is like taking Big Ben away. I am 12 and my dad agrees with me too. We don't want it to be an office block. Who is going to like that? That boss of the Dome PY has done the Dome wonders, he should be worth a medal. And my wish is that Concorde will fly again, I miss it when it comes over my house in Swindon heading for New York.
Neil Robinson, Swindon, UK

I would like to earn my masters degree before 2002's autumn. On the other hand, I would like my family, my friends, my boyfriend as well as myself to have a bright and smooth future.
Anita, Hong Kong

My wish is for Africa to realise her dreams, which are in the hands of the Africans themselves. God bless Africa and make her fruitful.
Tresphor Mutale, Zambian in Belgium

I have one wish about 2001: I want to go to London again, even for few hours. I love this city
Agata, Poland

I hope that more advancements are made in spaceflight

Paul Tisdale

I wish the world could keep in view how we lived the last year and in fact the last century, relive and learn from the mistakes made to make it a better world. Realistically we cannot do that so let us at least try to make a better this year and century a better one so that the ongoing real estate fighting in our Palestine, Kashmir, Kosovo, and other trouble spots in Africa and elsewhere do not leave grave-lands for the final victors of the conflicts.
Siraj, Karachi, Pakistan

I hope that more advancements are made in spaceflight, similar to those in Arthur C Clarke's 2001 A Space Odyssey
Paul Tisdale, UK

That the rich industrialised nations of the world forgive Third World debt and get on with making the Kyoto Environmental Accord a reality.
David Towner, Canada

I would like to see every human feel the value of our natural resources. Protection of nature is protecting our own selves. Protecting nature is not only a social or moral duty it is part of any religion. We should think 10 times before changing one square foot of mother Earth¿s surface. We should judge a hundred times before digging one foot inside the earth. We should consider a thousand times before signing a development plan. We should consider every creature as important as ourselves.
Raguib Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh

I do not expect a whole new world with better people, honest politicians, decreased poverty, declined terrorism and zero percent hunger and disease. But I hope for a world where each of us gains back our sanity and puts into practise what every religion of the world has taught its believers - love, peace, justice and brotherhood.
Meryum Durrani, Pakistan

I want computers to reach under the £100 mark but there's no chance of that happening. My new year's resolution is to take stock of my life more often and to set more regular goals. It is really quite lazy to only set one goal a year and then break it within a week. Happy New Year everyone.
David Pendray, Liverpool, UK

My first wish is for some originality to return to the music industry, with less cover versions, no further boy/girl bands, and no more rehashed Beatles songs

Matthew Wilde

My first wish is for some originality to return to the music industry, with less cover versions, no further boy/girl bands, and no more rehashed Beatles songs! My second wish is that the price of petrol will drop and stay at a reasonable level! My third wish is for new leadership and peace in the Middle East.
Matthew Wilde, UK

I would like John Prescott to go back to serving drinks on ferries. Then we can get somebody with some common sense to sort out this county's transport problems.
Peter, UK

I would like to see the community spirit being bought back into neighbourhoods - people checking on each other, talking to each other, watching each other's kids, just like how it used to be in the good old days. These days people are so wrapped up in their petty, boring little lives that you just forget to say hello to someone who walks past. Come on everyone, you may think your life is drastically important and your business wont survive without you but that is not true. Take some time out to say hello to a stranger or see if your neighbours are alright. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
Carol, UK

I wish every family in the world will have its own business to have a fair chance in the globalised world.
Mia, UK

A world where we are not afraid to walk the streets due to crime, a world where we can travel without the fear of terrorism, a world where children are safe. And more importantly a world where each and everyone of us respects each other's race and creed.
Marc, UK

My New Year wish is proper respect accorded to the nations of Africa.
Turid, UK

Most people know deep down that materialism is destructive. Events in the past year have merely further confirmed this notion. My one wish in 2001 is for all people to live with a greater presence of mind, to avoid drifting meaninglessly, to place more importance on showing compassion and love for one another in every way.
Michael Low, Canada

Of course I hope the world's political and environmental problems improve but I would also love to fulfil my dream to visit New York and San Francisco this year!
Rob, UK

I pray for citizen's courage and a revolution to take place in my homeland, Burma, for freedom to speak, read and write.
T. Aung, Burma

I am glad that I saw the world when I was young and healthy and urge the next generation to do the same.
Winona, USA

I dream for us all to be treated as equals, whatever our colour, sex, age. It will not happen in the next year, but my New Year's resolution is to ensure that I do everything I can to make this happen.
Jane Callan, UK

I hope peace on the Korean peninsula is settled and lasts until two Koreas are unified in the end. No more conflicts in Korea and in Northern Ireland and in the world...
Sung Ho, South Korea

We should learn to share our cultural, spiritual and economic riches

Daniel, UK

I hope the kids who run Wall Street learn to share their toys this year. We should learn to share our cultural, spiritual and economic riches just as children manage to share their toys this Christmas!
Daniel, UK

Whatever happens, I hope scientists will never be able to clone humans. God forbid if they do!
Harry Chia, Singapore

It will be a big year for me as I will graduate, find a job, finally move out of home and the big one......come out!
Dan, UK

Hopefully South Africa can gain investor confidence in the New Year. Crime is a problem that the government can resolve if it has the money to maintain it thus keeping the streets clean and safe. But here's to South Africa anyway!
Mathew George, South Africa

If 2001 brings considerably less rain then things will start to look up

Jamie Price

2000 was a bad year for just about everything. If 2001 brings considerably less rain and the fall of Westlife and William Hague, then things will start to look up. Some decent music and films and a coherent sentence from George W Bush would go down a treat, too.
Jamie Price, UK

I want to tell as many people out there as I can, that you are never too old to take time out and learn something new. Learning a new perspective to life is like a life starting anew. - Older MBA student
Andrew Wilson, United Kingdom / Zimbabwe

To find someone to love and share my life with, being alone is no fun
Kevin, England

To feel really alive, rather than just "existing"

Josh, UK

To take up sky diving in the New Year, i.e., to get out of the office that seems to be my miserable existence and have some real fun. To feel really alive, rather than just "existing".
Josh, UK

I would wish for peace and fulfilment of legitimate right of Palestinian and Chechen people. I request world leaders not allow to recur a disaster like Gulf War, Bosnian War. I wish to see peace, harmony and prosperity in South Asia. After all I wish to have a cute wife to stop the rebellion of my mind.
Dr. Syed Abid Hussain, India

After the Paddington rail disaster, John Prescott promised to resign if there were another fatal rail accident. He failed to keep his word after Hatfield. I would like to see a New Year where ministers keep their words and where John Prescott resigns.
Alex, NZ (ex-pat)

How about some optimism out there?

Adrienne, American in Germany

How about some optimism out there? All the pessimism, fatalism, and world-weariness may give people a personal sense of worldliness, but it is mighty tiring.
Adrienne, American in Germany

I hope that the people of South Africa can get back to reality and get their heads out of the bubble they live in and realise that crime and Aids are destroying their once beloved nation from the inside out. Its a sad fact the police are fearful for their lives, thus are unable (or as some would say, unwilling) to do their jobs. Crime has got to stop before the country enters a pit it can not climb out of.
Brian, US citizen in South Africa

I hope we all will live like the Jetsons.
George, United States

My hope for the New Year is that the ordinary people of Zimbabwe will stand up and throw Robert Mugabe and his cronies out of power

Chris Whitehead, USA

My hope for the New Year is that the ordinary people of Zimbabwe will stand up and throw Robert Mugabe and his cronies out of power and return Zimbabwe to the rule of law and start the process of rebuilding it to the wonderful nation it once was before Mugabe became a crazy, power hungry Pol Pot style dictator.
Chris Whitehead, USA

World Peace, and end to poverty, equal rights, blah blah etc etc... Don't just sit there, GO OUT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN, else what right have you to wish for it?
Mark, UK

I would like to see a world where politicians stop spinning and using statistics in a dishonest way. I would like them to get down to the job for which they are paid very good salaries, properly representing the voters and actually delivering better services, not just announcing targets and setting up committees and enquiries as a substitute for action.
Brian, U K

I wish people would stop writing requesting such idealistic nonsense as world peace, an end to racial intolerance

Matt Sheldon, Japan

I wish people would stop writing requesting such idealistic nonsense as world peace, an end to racial intolerance, decent British politicians, and solutions to the increasing problem of global warming. None of this will happen. Instead concentrate on something more important - England's bid to qualify for the World Cup...or maybe I should take my own advice...
Matt Sheldon, Japan

I am delighted to see the edge slowly being taken off of European nationalism via the EU, but decidedly unhappy to see the fuel being dumped on the new fire of global regionalism based on which side of the Atlantic you are on. The words of the new USA government elect to the UK come to mind: "are you with us or with them"? That kind of global vision is something we can all do without returning to. Grow the hell up, world!
Jeffrey G, Canada/ROI

The coming new year actually doesn't mean anything different to me...I just want to keep going......life is painful, then get used to it.
Eros, Taiwan

Something that I can do next year is to buy all my Christmas shopping BEFORE the Christmas rush. It is so frustrating having to not only compete with crowds of people in the shops, but it's actually quite stressful thinking of what to buy at the very last minute! I think Christmas is one of the most stressful seasons of the year. You can't relax.
Elisa, UK

My hope for the new-year is that the ill-conceived and cynical piece of legislation that is IR35 will be removed from the statute books and that the BBC and other electronic media will move from their "on message" stance of ignoring this vital issue.
David Poppy, UK

I just hope everyone is as happy as I tell my wife she is...

Ian Hopgood, UK

Tom, Australia - A Californian standard of living for everyone? I'd rather not with the permanent earthquake threat, appalling air quality and a huge murder rate, thanks. I just hope everyone is as happy as I tell my wife she is...
Ian Hopgood, UK

I would like people to be more friendly to each other, smile, wear brighter gaily, coloured clothes and plant more flowers and trees in order to bring a little cheer to this miserable existence.
Mike Hogan, Birmingham, UK

In this new millennium, I'd like to see that revolution in science that I sense is coming. And what revolution will that be - it would be unification of physics and spiritual world, it would be, finally, total understanding of the fact that matter changes its form, but it's never lost. That would completely change our understanding of priorities for the better.
Ljiljana Evans, London, UK

As the year draws to close, hopes are raised and dashed over the peace process in the Middle East. As a citizen of the world, not because I am a Muslim, but as I am a mother, I would like to see an end to the bloodshed in the region.
Sabina Ahmed, United Kingdom

I wish people would stop bickering over what constitutes a good/bad New Years Wish. Just look at some of the attitudes expressed already! Its no wonder there are so many wars!
Finally, is it too much to hope that Gloucester will somehow win the Zurich Premiership? Yep, thought so!!
Jim Anderson, UK

I wish that everyone will stop dumping responsibility on everyone else, knowing that not much will happen, if not each and every individual works on it her/himself

Ingrid, Saudi Arabia/Germany

I hope and wish the same every year since I can remember, that humans start to become honest, take care of our planet, respect the rights of humans, fauna and flora, recognising that we as humans have the power to make this planet a better place.
I wish that everyone will stop dumping responsibility on everyone else, knowing that not much will happen, if not each and every individual works on it her/himself.
I wish that more scientists will become included in political decision making, because scientists have often shown to be able to overcome borders better in order to work together for the same cause. I know that there are so many people who wish the same, but that there are unfortunately many more who don't care. My fears are that everything will go on as it is.
Ingrid, Saudi Arabia/Germany

I foresee fortress Europe moving to the fore as Europe with its increasing economic might vies with the US for the moral high ground. Hence I see it as a year of damaging trade wars especially with a new protectionist administration in the White House and I see it as a year of cooling off of relations with the US and about time too.
Mark, Germany (UK citizen)

What I would like to see is a world free from corruption, famine and racial and religious conflict.
This might all sound a bit far-fetched, but I am sure it can be done, if the worlds leaders get together to deal with them. We would then have a more peaceful century compared to the one we have just had.
SANJAY KHOSLA, United Kingdom

I hope for more understanding all over the world, for as Einstein said: Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Catherine Ball, UK/Thailand

As per usual, my New Year resolution is not to have any.
Pascal Jacquemain, UK (French)

My new years wish is for us all to have respect for and treat with kindness our family, our neighbours, our friends, strangers and most importantly ourselves.
Gem, London

As the new millennium starts I would like to see people pray for a more loving world

Val, England

As the new millennium starts I would like to see people pray for a more loving world. Loving to our 'neighbours' and to those we meet casually throughout the year. We should treat others as we would wish them to treat us. Jesus Christ came into this world to spread love and peace - look what we have done to this wonderful world through our greed and 'me first' motto.
Val, England

World peace would be nice. Failing that, let's at least have a few more diseases eradicated - it can be done.
Tom Wilkinson, UK

I hope that next year, people are actually able to come to some agreements and stick with them: agreements on Israel and Palestine, on global free trade, on helping developing countries, and on weapons proliferation. No doubt there are many others that I missed...
Paul Connor, Canada

I wish that we would stop talking about being open-minded, but actually think outside the box

Andrej, Russia

I wish that we would stop talking about being open-minded, but actually think outside the box. Not give in to stereotypes and widespread, therefore unquestioned ways of thinking. Maybe then I'd see more reasonable material in the press about my and many other countries. I wish Mr Putin all the luck in his undertakings in the year 2001.
Andrej, Russia

I wish the "haves" will have more respect for the "have nots" because we all belong to one race, the human race.
Devika, Malaysia

Poverty is the underlying factor for many conflicts around the world. I hope we shall all work towards alleviating poverty and take good care of our poor neighbours to be able to live decently. And I hope the year 2001 will be "the year of giving". I, for one, have resolved to help the less fortunate ones all I can. After the giving, let us all commit to promote peaceful co-existence among humans on this planet.
Aden Ali, Somalia

I hope people will start thinking more about the environment in the next year and many years to come. Huge amounts of solid wastes produced in urban areas have a potential to become one of the biggest environmental challenges of the 21st century. Let us make a simple resolution that in the year 2001 we will not use plastic bags for our groceries and will not produce any food waste at home.
Samyak, Nepal

My great wish for the new year is for me to be happy and healthy

Nick Hall, England

My great wish for the new year is for me to be happy and healthy. Why do people constantly ask for an end to starvation, disease and famine? 99% of Westerners don't care about the Third World and don't do a thing to help. An end to this hypocrisy is needed.
Nick Hall, England

I would like to see each of the world's children with access to well-resourced schools, medical centres and economically independent family structures. I'd like every family to have a well-constructed home with all modern conveniences. In fact I wish a Californian standard of living for everyone, everywhere. I would like to see everyone being granted the freedom to live wherever they want. I would like to see a world free from religious bigotry and dogma. I would like to see a world where miracles come true, not just for some, for all. Happy New Year!
Tom, Australia

My hope in the New Year is that more people should realise that the greatest danger in this world is poverty. This is why Aids, political upheavals and other problems take place in poverty stricken areas of the world. The New Year should be a source of hope to those that are marginalized because of their belief, political inclination, disability, gender and race.
Clement Chiwaya, Malawian student in the US

I hope people can begin thinking with common sense and reason, without anger and rage in their hearts. I know "world peace and harmony" are a bit too much to ask, but even solving the smallest problems around us every day can help. I wish everyone a more peaceful and happy year.
Navit Tenne, Israel

I would wish for a democracy to appear in the so-called democratic countries.

I would wish for a democracy to appear in the so-called democratic countries

Paul, England

Let's move away from restrictive voting practices for our elected representatives (three-line whip) and let them be accountable for their attendance and voting.
Paul, England

We are killing the "truth" by accepting lies as truth or by being indifferent. Human beings should realise what we are doing to each other and to the planet. We should think for a moment why floods, famines, hurricanes, wars are increasing every year. Unless we change, the coming years are going to get worse. My wish is peace, love, unity to all mankind, but the devil wishes otherwise.
Ethiopiawi, USA/Ethiopian

Although I can't change the world, I have made one resolution which may make it a little bit nicer. I'm going to try and remember people's Christian or forenames as I have found calling people the wrong name is the thing they dislike most.
Anthony, England

I'd like to see compulsory driving tests for everyone every five years; a judicial system which we can have faith in; less emphasis on material things; more on spirituality and family; tabloids sold under a "light entertainment" category; people taking pride in themselves and accepting they are accountable for their actions.
RP, UK

I hope and pray that we will have the willpower and wisdom to let technology be our servant instead of the other way around

Barrie Martindale, Canada

I hope and pray that we will have the willpower and wisdom to let technology be our servant instead of the other way around.
Barrie Martindale, Canada

I wish everyone to have good common-sense.
Shan Mylvaganam, Ceylon/UK

I hope that the world is going to become one with a stronger sense of such values as good inter-personal relationships, right and wrong, unbiased justice, respect for all, freedom, tolerance and understanding.

However, I fear that we are likely however to continue down the road of the "me" culture, convenience morality, rejection of moral ideals, misunderstanding of minorities, intolerance of people who are "inconvenient" eg unwanted babies, the handicapped, the poor and elderly), refusal to pay serious attention to views which aren't liberal humanist, and use of the law to impose the views of the "metropolitan liberal elite" on society.
Dave, Belgium (Ex-pat)

War, disease, famine, flood, death and destruction. What a wonderful year 2000 was! Do we really have any reason to believe that 2001 will be any different?

Life is cheap and we don't deserve the responsibility of looking after this planet. We abuse it, and each other on a daily basis. Let us hope that there is still time for us to learn to live with each other and love each other, despite our petty differences, before whichever greater power that gave us this planet decides to revoke the privilege. Happy new year to all.
Laurie, United Kingdom

I am very glad that you have opened such an opportunity for people, especially Africans, to contribute to what the coming year can bring.

The past year has revealed to everyone that Africans are now ready to stand up to oppression of any kind

Kebba Keita, USA

As for me, the past year has revealed to everyone that Africans are now ready to stand up to oppression of any kind.

From Ivory Coast, Senegal, Sierra Leone, to Guinea Bissau, nobody is prepared to accept any injustice from anybody.

Africans everywhere should try and adopt this stance in the coming year.

Africans have been victimised for a long time and we have seen the way we should try and rise up to defend our dignity in the face of our cruel leaders.

The only time that we have is the coming.

Never mind how much it will cost to do it, let us rise up not for our benefit but for the benefit of our children.
Kebba Keita, USA

Clearing the world of AIDS, at least making a huge effort to rid this killer from Africa, is what I would like to see on the political agenda.

We hope for peace every year, as if we can do something about it, and do we achieve it. No!

I feel sure that raised awareness of AIDS and concerted efforts to find a cure will achieve the goal of ridding the world of AIDS.

Please all of you out there let us get together and do something!! I am tired of losing friends I have made in Africa to this dreadful disease.
Paula Dhot, UK

I just wish the world would slow down a bit. This Christmas has flown past (again) mainly because the shops have been open all hours, we get very little days off over the festive period, and no-one even says 'Merry Christmas' to each other anymore.

Life today can be stressful, and sometimes hard to find the time to do things, but if we all just slow down a bit and put people before profits, things will seem better, and who knows, next year we could re-capture the spirit of Christmas.
Gary Holcombe, UK

I definitely must stop taking liquor once and for all and must start taking the gym seriously as to lose some unwanted weight.
John Sacky, Namibia

I hope I, and everyone else, is here to make another resolution next year

Jonathan Bensley, Australia

Since vague, idealist wishes for things like world peace and an end to poverty are doomed to be disappointed, let me wish for a few slightly more possible things: 1. I wish the culture of celebrity shall cease to be fashionable, giving way to a respect for personal privacy; 2. that reason replace hysteria in public dialogue; 3. that the news media in democratic systems finally realise that freedom of speech carries with it a duty to inform; 4. that the desire to find villains and apportion blame give way to the practical impulse to repair the damage or solve the problem; 5. and, above all, that common sense finally become, well, common. Mind you, these are probably wishes as idealistic as any others, but perhaps just one?
C. Lowther, Canada

Hi, I believe and hope that the British government does something to help manufacturing in the UK IN 2001. As an employee of Nissan my job, and many others WILL depend on it.
Terry Wilson, England

My hope is that some semblance of law and order will return. I think my greatest fear is that Phoney Tony will call, and win, the next general election. If he does I'm moving all my dosh to America!
John B, UK

Thank God another Christmas has passed us by. I feel that it has become too commercial and we have lost a sense of what it is really all about. For the New Year I would like to see people taking more time to help others out and let's bring back more manners and discipline. We have all become self centred and greedy.
Christina Ryan, UK

My hope for the new year is that the so called developed nations should look at Africa as one of them and not a field for almost all trials.
Keizi Kisia, Kenya

Looking after the planet? I work two jobs just to keep my family going

Richard, USA

My New Year wish for everyone is to take things lighter. If you look around - things aren't that bad. It's a beautiful thing to be alive in this beautiful planet...what else could you wish for - so don't be miserable and be happy.
Alina, New York, USA

Grandiose statements of wishes for the world are one thing, but the more important resolutions are those that individuals can do themselves. It's small-scale stuff - but a resolution is not supposed to be a hope for what someone else in power can do. Instead, look to what you can do yourself to make yourself a better person. What can one person do..not what can one person wish for someone else to do?
Clare V, Australia

I wished to have a boyfriend, I don't want to be single for another year!!!.
Evonne O, UK.

My hope for the new year is for things to continue pretty much as they are now.
Guy, USA

There must be something done about the polarisation of wealth between the haves and have nots. This should apply to both individuals as well as nations.
Bert Wyman, United States of America

I hope the media will be unbiased in reporting foreign news.
kathirgamanathan, UK

I wish the hand-picked Greek word "democracy" changed to a more polite word, because it is creating two kinds of people on this planet, those who are dying of starvation and those who are dying of indigestion (over eating).
Tamrat Melese, Waterloo, Canada

I quit smoking six weeks ago and my goal for the next year (and the rest of my life) is to STAY quit. I hope for world peace and all jazz as much as the next person, but we must all improve the world by improving ourselves first. For me, that means taking care of my body and not the bank accounts of tobacco companies who don't care one bit whether your next breath is your last. If I can do it, then anyone can!
Erik Larson, Oregon, USA

I hope I can be more compassionate in the next and coming years. All those I and others have failed are in fact ourselves in other guises. I am someone else's pet hate, bug bear, foreigner...
Paul Bridle, UK

I would like to see a set of traffic lights at the end of my road

Martin, Cambridge, UK

Looking after the planet? I work two jobs just to keep my family going. I spend my time worrying about them, not the planet. I am tired of the endless grief of Africa and other such places. They've had many decades to get their houses in order. This coming year will not be any different for them. My advice is to take care of your own family and help your neighbours as much as you can. Your needy neighbours are just as worthy of good works as the people around the other side of the world. Of course, it's easier to cluck your tongues and pity the poor far away because you don't have to see them face to face.
Richard, USA

The advent of Bush in this bushwhacked nation presents a bleak view for the little guy. In 2001, American may look forward to a snowballing of deregulation, consumer protections destroyed, the environment degraded, the poor made poorer, the rich made richer, tobacco crowned king yet again, etc. Every empire eventually perishes, but it truly is depressing to be a part of the close of the American Empire.
David Kleist, Emmaus, PA, USA

I hope I, and everyone else, is here to make another resolution next year!
Jonathan Bensley, Australia

I would like to see a set of traffic lights at the end of my road. I'm getting fed up with waiting 10-20 minutes to get out in the morning because self-important people won't let me through the 2mph stop-start traffic to go in the other direction in case I might add 5 seconds to their pathetically congested journey time.
Martin, Cambridge, UK