In 2010, natural disasters caused heavy losses to central Vietnam. The country also saw its athletes’ failures in the international contests. Violence against children and among young people has amounted to an alarming level. And the Vinashin incident was an ‘unforgettable’ event of the year.

There are many reasons behind them, they are still noted in human behaviour.

The central region is frequently hit by floods. But there were cases where lives of tens of people were taken away due to human carelessness. For example, a bus driver tried to cross a flooding river, which resulted in the deaths of many innocent passengers, including young people. Accidents like this have sparked many controversies about a boom in hydroelectric power plants, deforestation, and responsibilities of sectors and officials in preventing natural calamities.

Many violent acts by young people were recorded and posted onto the internet. These, together with the shocking criminal case of Nguyen Duc Nghia (who brutally murdered his girlfriend) have forced us to think about the roots of violence and the collapse of some basic ethic standards. The educational system must be held responsible for this and we cannot turn a blind eye to the evil.

Positive signals

Leaders of the Party and State have become increasingly involved in debates, many of which are broadcast live on TV or the radio. More openness toward the press also heralds better transparency and greater consensus in society.

Only by upholding the national spirit and the sense of responsibility can we succeed in building a nation that has sustainable development. Laying emphasis on responsibility also helps the country select the right persons for important tasks related to the future of the nation.

Once ordinary people are deeply concerned about political affairs and actively discuss and propose solutions to those in power, the nation will have a great chance to progress.

In 2010, Vietnamese leaders successfully hosted many diplomatic events, presiding over sessions that gathered powers from around the world. These have elated Vietnamese people inside and outside the country.

In order to prevent negative incidents from occurring again, it’s high time for us to look at them with a critical eye.