Millions around the world gathered (or plan to gather for those who haven’t hit 2020 yet) to celebrate a new decade, but this year’s celebrations were hampered by protests, climate change, and drones.
In Sydney, Australia, which is already hours into 2020, authorities went ahead with a fireworks display over the city’s iconic harbor despite calls to cancel the revelries in solidarity with the New South Wales region facing devastating flames. The region, where Sydney is the capital, is facing what is being described as “apocalyptic” wildfires.
Thousands have been displaced and hundreds have lost their homes, and on the east coast of the country, thousands were trapped by the fires. Across the nation, 12 people have died, including three volunteer firefighters. Responding to criticism, Sydney’s Mayor Clover Moore told reporters the resources had already been allocated to the fireworks and the event boosts the region’s economy. Many had called for the event to be canceled and resources reallocated to the fire-stricken regions.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, only three hours behind Sydney, protesters, more than six months into demonstrations over Chinese influence on the independent territory, staged a march. Thousands broke into pro-democracy chants along the city’s Victoria Harbor and briefly blocked a major road. Authorities had canceled midnight fireworks out of security concerns, and more protests are planned for New Year’s Day. Hong Kong rang in the New Year along with the rest of the time zone’s inhabitants, which is the world’s most populous.
Celebrations were soaked with torrential rains in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta, while others around the Sunda Strait faced another, potentially larger eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcano that had erupted last year just before Christmas killing hundreds.
While others are enjoying their first night of the new decade, New York is still gearing up for the big ball drop in Times Square — featuring drones for the first time. In addition to 1,200 security cameras, thousands of uniformed and plainclothes police officers, 200 vehicles to block off traffic, and bomb-sniffing dogs, police in New York City will use the drones for surveillance. Plans last year to use drones were canceled because of inclement weather, but mild weather expected this evening will allow for the operation this year.
