26. Looking Forward to the 21st Century

　　I am eagerly waiting the arrival of the 21st century, because it promises exciting new developments in science and technology. First of all, it is likely that telecommunications will expand by leaps and bounds. Secondly, more progress will be made in medicine, and thirdly the coming century will see mankind really come to grips with environmental pollution.

　　As far as communications is concerned, e-mail and the Internet will probably become available all over the globe, enhancing mutual understanding and making wars less frequent. Advances in medicine will enable us to live longer and healthier lives, and science and technology will provide more tools for tackling the pollution problem.

　　However, there will be new challenges to face in the new century. Population will continue to grow, putting pressure on the food supply. Moreover, there is a danger that people will become too dependent on machines to look after them, leading to a weakening of their spiritual lives.

　　I intend to prepare myself for the 21st century by keeping abreast of the latest developments in science and technology. But at the same time, I will not neglect cultural pursuits.