Collin's dictionary has revealed its 2022 Word of the Year, summarising how many people have felt this year: permacrisis. According to the dictionary's website, 'permacrisis' describes "an extended period of instability and insecurity."
The word highlights the ongoing crises seen around the world, from political instability and the war in Ukraine to climate change and the cost-of-living crisis – to name just a few.
Hardly the swinging 20s that leaders of state and economists had wished for, the past years have been a protracted trial of emergencies and hardship that tests public perseverance and challenges the will to be hopeful.
Whilst many had been looking forward to a period of calm in the wake of the pandemic, we barely had a chance to catch our breath before disaster struck again with the unprovoked terror that Russia unleashed on Ukraine. The invasion has sent an already fragile global economy into a downward spiral and aggravated global hunger and famine.
Meanwhile, the energy crisis lurches from bad to worse with financial prudence, whether on a personal or national level, being either recommended or forced upon us. And though we might think twice about putting our heating on, glaciers are still melting and ecosystems break down wherever we look.
The list goes on, but we will spare you the discomfort. We lived it, read about it, and battled through the tribulations as best we could. Let's hope next year brings some permaprovidence.
