As this year is predicted by many to be a year of change, I thought I’d throw some more fuel on the fire and make some of my own predictions as to what I think will happen this year. Hopefully, I won’t precipitate a Conspiracy Theory situation where masked agents abseil through my windows if I get any of this right, so I’ll state on the record that all this is just a wild guess! But then I would say that wouldn’t I. Hmm. Regardless, here goes with my 2012 predictions!
1. World Economy – The economy will continue to falter with commodities being stockpiled by wealthy nations causing prices to rise exponentially. China refuses to trade with anyone else, requiring its natural resources for its own wellbeing and the West is forced to initiate compulsory purchase measures from its own citizens. The price of gold reaches record highs.
2. Oil – A new oilfield will be found in Antarctica large enough to sustain the world for another 100 years. This will cause a major problem with environmentalists who will seek to stop oil exploration, but a new world oil committee will force through a bill allowing slant oil drilling to take place in approved areas only in order to bolster a faltering global economy. China will be excluded from this agreement until it agrees to join the world oil committee.
3. Middle East – Regime change in Syria causes a ripple effect throughout the Middle East, with US commercial interests further reducing in the region. Saudi Arabia reduces its diplomatic connections with the US. Iran is found guilty of repeated incursions into neighbouring countries and global sanctions are imposed against them with stiff penalties for any countries that breach sanctions. US and UK stealth operations within Iran are exposed when a drone spyplane is captured. Million Person March 2 happens simultaneously in London, Paris, and Washington.
4. Far East – Kim Jong Un, the new leader of North Korea, signs partnership agreement with South Korea, in exchange for open borders and increased trade opportunities with the West. Japan opposes this move. A new leader is elected in Japan. An earthquake in the Phillipines creates a new island with unusual plants.
5. Olympics – Britain wins more gold medals in the Olympics than ever before. The US win most medals, although France also does surprisingly well. A new 100m world record is set by Usain Bolt with a superhuman time of 9.39 seconds, prompting a scandal where unbelievers declare that the time is impossible to be set by a human being and eliciting an investigation where Usain Bolt is cleared of any wrongdoing. The opening ceremony is marred by anti-Government protests.
6. Space – Definitive evidence that there was once life on Mars is uncovered, prompting questions about its origin which would only be plausible if the life came from another planet outside our solar system. This prompts renewed international fervour in space exploration. An amateur astronomer receives a faint electronic signal from outer space. A second attempt to position a Chinese satellite in space fails, and foul play is suspected. The first commercial voyages around the moon are advertised.
7. Entertainment – A new television sensation is broadcast simultaneously in multiple countries where one person stands a chance to win £1m per year for life. The largest television audience in history watches the weekly show. Holographic televisions are demonstrated for the first time by Google. A reality show public voting scandal causes several shows to be taken off air.
8. Business – Commercial sponsorship of the military is made possible, with corporate webcams attached to each soldier in the field broadcasting live images of combat situations. The gambling industry capitalises on this. Walmart announces record profits and moves into the pharmaceutical business by buying a major drugs company in the US, selling off a number of retail assets in the process. The first commercial advertisement appears in space that is visible with the naked eye by the world’s population. Global trading tax incentives are increased, prompting a surge in globalisation and expansion into different countries by SMEs. A new invention promises to revolutionise the way we work. Recycling becomes the new boom industry.
9. Internet – A new battle between Facebook and Google causes Google to lose stock value when Microsoft buys Facebook and launches a credible service. Yahoo forms a partnership with Baidu, but rapidly fades into the background, with Baidu reaching market dominance within the first year. Google is hacked and its latest search ranking algorithm is stolen and released on the Internet. Twitter is taken over by the US Government in a secret deal worth several billion dollars.
10. Technology – A computer is taught how to create its own code to solve problems. The first domestic robots are released at an affordable level to the general public capable of domestic chores, and with various modular upgrades for different activities. A new electric car is released commercially by Google that can drive itself. Evidence comes to light that the first self aware computer has evolved. Will Smith buys a dog.
That’s about it. Any of this stuff could happen, and it might be interesting to look back in a year’s time and see how I did. I’ve been kind of generous to myself though, as some of it will probably happen, but if any men in black are reading this, I don’t know which parts!
Happy New Year to you all. May all your hopes and dreams come true, and may good things happen to you all. Above all, keep smiling. 
