Forum: Let’s believe a better path is possible for the new year

As we stand on the threshold of 2026, we do so with a mixture of solemn reflection and steadfast hope.

The past year has reminded us, often painfully, of our shared vulnerabilities. Conflicts continue to claim lives and displace communities. Hunger, inequality and the scars of discrimination persist. Natural disasters underscore our planet’s fragility, while political and ideological divisions challenge our sense of common purpose. These realities rightly temper our celebrations with trepidation.

Yet, the very act of turning the page on a new year is an innate testament to hope. It is a collective pause, a moment to reaffirm our belief that a better path is possible.

Our hope for 2026 is for a conscious return to sanity and rationality. It is a hope that dialogue will prevail over discord, that evidence and empathy will guide our decisions, and that we will remember our profound interdependence.

True progress is born not from ignoring our challenges, but from confronting them with clear eyes and a collaborative spirit. It is built on the daily acts of kindness in our neighbourhoods, the reasoned debates in our public squares, and the unwavering commitment to lift each other up.

Let us, therefore, welcome 2026 not with naive optimism, but with resolved hope. Let it be a year in which we choose to bridge divides, champion dignity for all, and harness our shared ingenuity for peace and sustainable prosperity.

Our community, like countless others around the globe, has the resilience and the heart to contribute to this renewal. From our homes to the wider world, may this new year bring us closer to the peace and rationality we seek. Happy New Year.

Keith Wong