Reverse Map Game 2022 - 2021
Jan. 4th, 2022 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fardell242021
Worldwide
COVID-19 continues to be a problem, especially with the arising of the Delta and Omicron variants.
The various supply chains struggle to keep up with demand. Mainly because of the Pandemic but also due to the fiasco around the Ever Given incident.
North America
Canada
The Liberal Party retains power as a result of the latest Federal Election. Justin Trudeau remains Prime Minister, despite some scandals and his handling of the Pandemic at the Federal level.
The various provincial administrations are also implicated for mishandling the Pandemic.
British Columbia
Not only COVID, but also the effects of climate change are hitting the province hard, with record breaking wildfires occurring in various areas.
Alberta
Despite climate change concerns there is increased development of the Athabasca oil sands…
Saskatchewan
The Delta variant of COVID hits the province hard, but some recovery occurs later in the year.
United States
The Pandemic continues to rage as a result of the incompetence of the Trump Administration, the legacy of which continues after Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20th. The consequences of Trump’s refusal to concede defeat after the previous year’s presidential election spill over into this year, concluding with a mob storming the Capitol Building during the final Electoral Count on January 6th.
Trump would continue to have an influence on the Republican party after he leaves office.
The Black Lives Matter Movement continues to gain influence.
Georgia
One of the states where the Trumpists are gaining influence, despite a large Democrat win the previous year. COVID (especially the Omicron variant) spreads like wildfire towards the end of the year.
Florida
With the launch of the Space X Crew Dragon Endeavour, the American manned space program begins after a hiatus of over a decade. American astronauts no longer need to ride on Russian Soyuz capsules.
Mexico
Migrant Caravans from Central America to the United States begin again this year after the Pandemic-related halt the previous year.
In Mexico City, the Day of the Dead March is larger than in the years preceding the Pandemic.
Caribbean
The tourism industry slowly recovers from the Pandemic.
South America
Venezuela
Hyperinflation continues. As does the Presidential crisis, with Nicolas Maduro claiming he was legitimately re-elected and Juan Guaidó claiming that Maduro’s re-election was a sham.
Brazil
The administration of President Jair Bolsonaro continues to be controversial. (What with COVID spreading, deforestation, etc.) Incidents of protests against the Federal Government increase through the year.
Argentina
Despite largely being spared in the Pandemic so far, cases increase dramatically in the middle of the year.
Europe
United Kingdom and Ireland
The Article 50 process completes early in the year, with the United Kingdom officially leaving the European Union as a result. However, the transitional period had just begun.
The incompetence of the Conservatives under Boris Johnson continues to be laid bare, with the acrimonious negotiations with the European Union in previous years having led to a lack of preparation for the actual exit.
Then there is the management of the Pandemic. With a ‘Freedom day’ declared when an arbitrary level of vaccination was reached, the health authorities were unprepared when the Omicron wave came.
Then there is Northern Ireland… To say that Northern Ireland is a source of trouble would be stating the obvious. With the province/region remaining within the European Union trade area, the Unionists object, stating that it’s a slippery slope to a United Ireland. (But what else is new?)
But at least a free trade agreement was reached with Australia. (Along with a defence pact with them and the United States to provide nuclear submarines. More on the French response to that development below.)
Scandinavia
COVID continues causing problems.
Western Europe
The authorities in Brussels lose what remaining trust they had in the representatives of the British Government, the result of continually moving goalposts in the Brexit negotiations over the last several years since the Brexit Referendum and the following Triggering of Article 50.
An international incident occurs between France and Australia when the latter country withdraws from an agreement with a French defence contractor to build diesel powered submarines. The AUKUS pact comes out of the blue. (More on that below.) President Macron recalls their ambassador as a result.
Of course, that is not all that happens. The alt right continues to gain support amongst the French population…
In Germany, Angela Merkel retires after over a decade of being Chancellor.
Eastern Europe
Russia increases its support of the pro-Russia breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. By the end of the year, there is a threat of war. It seems Putin’s empire in the form of the Russian Federation is expanding again.
Africa
The continent with the least COVID vaccination coverage at the end of the year.
Western Africa
Boko Haram continues to be a running sore in the north of Nigeria. But it is only part of the issues Nigeria has to face.
Southern Africa
COVID exacerbates the pre-existing political tensions in South Africa.
Eastern Africa
A volatile situation in Ethiopia explodes when forces in the Tigray region rebel against the federal government.
Asia
Middle East
The Ever Given Incident. The Evergreen Marine cargo ship Ever Given becomes stuck in the Suez Canal in late March. It being stuck in an area where there is only one channel, it brings traffic through the canal to a standstill. This exacerbates the pre-existing supply chain issues.
The ship is stuck in the Canal for nearly two weeks before it is freed.
Of course, the Incident generates a large number of Internet memes.
In Israel, long time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigns due to being investigated for corruption. Naftali Bennet becomes Prime Minister.
Afghanistan
The Taliban retake the country by storm in the middle of the year, as the National Army literally gives up. With the United States withdrawing its peacekeeping force in mid-August, Kabul falls in early August. Without the American forces there Australia and the various European nations involved in the peacekeeping effort also withdraw their forces. The Taliban again represses minorities and women, denying them access to education and employment…
Indian Subcontinent
China
Many build up over the year. More evidence of genocide against the Uyghurs comes out. The autonomy of Hong Kong continues to stripped away. Then there is Taiwan. The People’s Republic’s posturing over the ‘breakaway’ province intensifies through the year. There are fears that war would come soon, one which would draw in the United States and its allies…
Another development is that a trade war had started with Australia, more on that below.
Koreas
Status quo between North and South Korea. (Although there are questions about Kim Jung Un’s health.)
Japan
The Olympics had been delayed the previous year due to the Pandemic. The Despite the Delta strain spreading in Tokyo, the Olympics and Paralympics go ahead without spectators.
Long time Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retires due to poor health. Yoshihide Suga becomes Prime Minister. This happens later in the year. Earlier in the year. Emperor Akihito had abdicated due to his own poor health. Naruhito is the latest to sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Thus, the Heisei era ends and the Reiwa era begins.
Oceania
Australia is largely free from COVID at the beginning of the year. Apart from Victoria, that is, where Melbourne emerges from lockdown towards the end of January. However, Melbourne would go back into lockdown again when the Delta Variant arrived in June, this time with Sydney. New South Wales had weathered the pandemic rather well, but Delta overwhelms the state’s contact tracing capability before the Government reluctantly instituted a lockdown for the Sydney Metropolitan Area.
The Vaccine rollout is slow at first, but the Delta Wave was a great incentive for people to get their shots, especially in the two states affected, as well as in Canberra.
The AUKUS Pact is signed in September. The Australian Defence Force was far from pleased with how the French naval contractor was delivering their new diesel powered submarines. Given rising tensions with China, Australia partners with the United States and the United Kingdom for nuclear powered submarines, the first of which would be delivered in the ‘30s. The already long in the tooth Collins class needs to somehow last far longer than expected.
Relations with China had been getting tense for a while. There are many reasons why this was so. The Australian Government supporting an international investigation into the situation in Xinjiang certainly was a contributing factor.
The World on 1st January 2021
Worldwide
COVID-19 continues to be a problem, especially with the arising of the Delta and Omicron variants.
The various supply chains struggle to keep up with demand. Mainly because of the Pandemic but also due to the fiasco around the Ever Given incident.
North America
Canada
The Liberal Party retains power as a result of the latest Federal Election. Justin Trudeau remains Prime Minister, despite some scandals and his handling of the Pandemic at the Federal level.
The various provincial administrations are also implicated for mishandling the Pandemic.
British Columbia
Not only COVID, but also the effects of climate change are hitting the province hard, with record breaking wildfires occurring in various areas.
Alberta
Despite climate change concerns there is increased development of the Athabasca oil sands…
Saskatchewan
The Delta variant of COVID hits the province hard, but some recovery occurs later in the year.
United States
The Pandemic continues to rage as a result of the incompetence of the Trump Administration, the legacy of which continues after Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20th. The consequences of Trump’s refusal to concede defeat after the previous year’s presidential election spill over into this year, concluding with a mob storming the Capitol Building during the final Electoral Count on January 6th.
Trump would continue to have an influence on the Republican party after he leaves office.
The Black Lives Matter Movement continues to gain influence.
Georgia
One of the states where the Trumpists are gaining influence, despite a large Democrat win the previous year. COVID (especially the Omicron variant) spreads like wildfire towards the end of the year.
Florida
With the launch of the Space X Crew Dragon Endeavour, the American manned space program begins after a hiatus of over a decade. American astronauts no longer need to ride on Russian Soyuz capsules.
Mexico
Migrant Caravans from Central America to the United States begin again this year after the Pandemic-related halt the previous year.
In Mexico City, the Day of the Dead March is larger than in the years preceding the Pandemic.
Caribbean
The tourism industry slowly recovers from the Pandemic.
South America
Venezuela
Hyperinflation continues. As does the Presidential crisis, with Nicolas Maduro claiming he was legitimately re-elected and Juan Guaidó claiming that Maduro’s re-election was a sham.
Brazil
The administration of President Jair Bolsonaro continues to be controversial. (What with COVID spreading, deforestation, etc.) Incidents of protests against the Federal Government increase through the year.
Argentina
Despite largely being spared in the Pandemic so far, cases increase dramatically in the middle of the year.
Europe
United Kingdom and Ireland
The Article 50 process completes early in the year, with the United Kingdom officially leaving the European Union as a result. However, the transitional period had just begun.
The incompetence of the Conservatives under Boris Johnson continues to be laid bare, with the acrimonious negotiations with the European Union in previous years having led to a lack of preparation for the actual exit.
Then there is the management of the Pandemic. With a ‘Freedom day’ declared when an arbitrary level of vaccination was reached, the health authorities were unprepared when the Omicron wave came.
Then there is Northern Ireland… To say that Northern Ireland is a source of trouble would be stating the obvious. With the province/region remaining within the European Union trade area, the Unionists object, stating that it’s a slippery slope to a United Ireland. (But what else is new?)
But at least a free trade agreement was reached with Australia. (Along with a defence pact with them and the United States to provide nuclear submarines. More on the French response to that development below.)
Scandinavia
COVID continues causing problems.
Western Europe
The authorities in Brussels lose what remaining trust they had in the representatives of the British Government, the result of continually moving goalposts in the Brexit negotiations over the last several years since the Brexit Referendum and the following Triggering of Article 50.
An international incident occurs between France and Australia when the latter country withdraws from an agreement with a French defence contractor to build diesel powered submarines. The AUKUS pact comes out of the blue. (More on that below.) President Macron recalls their ambassador as a result.
Of course, that is not all that happens. The alt right continues to gain support amongst the French population…
In Germany, Angela Merkel retires after over a decade of being Chancellor.
Eastern Europe
Russia increases its support of the pro-Russia breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. By the end of the year, there is a threat of war. It seems Putin’s empire in the form of the Russian Federation is expanding again.
Africa
The continent with the least COVID vaccination coverage at the end of the year.
Western Africa
Boko Haram continues to be a running sore in the north of Nigeria. But it is only part of the issues Nigeria has to face.
Southern Africa
COVID exacerbates the pre-existing political tensions in South Africa.
Eastern Africa
A volatile situation in Ethiopia explodes when forces in the Tigray region rebel against the federal government.
Asia
Middle East
The Ever Given Incident. The Evergreen Marine cargo ship Ever Given becomes stuck in the Suez Canal in late March. It being stuck in an area where there is only one channel, it brings traffic through the canal to a standstill. This exacerbates the pre-existing supply chain issues.
The ship is stuck in the Canal for nearly two weeks before it is freed.
Of course, the Incident generates a large number of Internet memes.
In Israel, long time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigns due to being investigated for corruption. Naftali Bennet becomes Prime Minister.
Afghanistan
The Taliban retake the country by storm in the middle of the year, as the National Army literally gives up. With the United States withdrawing its peacekeeping force in mid-August, Kabul falls in early August. Without the American forces there Australia and the various European nations involved in the peacekeeping effort also withdraw their forces. The Taliban again represses minorities and women, denying them access to education and employment…
Indian Subcontinent
China
Many build up over the year. More evidence of genocide against the Uyghurs comes out. The autonomy of Hong Kong continues to stripped away. Then there is Taiwan. The People’s Republic’s posturing over the ‘breakaway’ province intensifies through the year. There are fears that war would come soon, one which would draw in the United States and its allies…
Another development is that a trade war had started with Australia, more on that below.
Koreas
Status quo between North and South Korea. (Although there are questions about Kim Jung Un’s health.)
Japan
The Olympics had been delayed the previous year due to the Pandemic. The Despite the Delta strain spreading in Tokyo, the Olympics and Paralympics go ahead without spectators.
Long time Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retires due to poor health. Yoshihide Suga becomes Prime Minister. This happens later in the year. Earlier in the year. Emperor Akihito had abdicated due to his own poor health. Naruhito is the latest to sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Thus, the Heisei era ends and the Reiwa era begins.
Oceania
Australia is largely free from COVID at the beginning of the year. Apart from Victoria, that is, where Melbourne emerges from lockdown towards the end of January. However, Melbourne would go back into lockdown again when the Delta Variant arrived in June, this time with Sydney. New South Wales had weathered the pandemic rather well, but Delta overwhelms the state’s contact tracing capability before the Government reluctantly instituted a lockdown for the Sydney Metropolitan Area.
The Vaccine rollout is slow at first, but the Delta Wave was a great incentive for people to get their shots, especially in the two states affected, as well as in Canberra.
The AUKUS Pact is signed in September. The Australian Defence Force was far from pleased with how the French naval contractor was delivering their new diesel powered submarines. Given rising tensions with China, Australia partners with the United States and the United Kingdom for nuclear powered submarines, the first of which would be delivered in the ‘30s. The already long in the tooth Collins class needs to somehow last far longer than expected.
Relations with China had been getting tense for a while. There are many reasons why this was so. The Australian Government supporting an international investigation into the situation in Xinjiang certainly was a contributing factor.
The World on 1st January 2021
