Top 10 "People who died 2008"

One of the things that you can be certain of when you are alive is that someday it is time for you to go. In 2008, the world lost many fabulous and interesting souls. Like my previous Top 10, the deaths are listed in random order. I simply do not think it is up to me to value or grade their lives. And obviously, there were many more whom the world lost over the past twelve months. I simply could not put them all on the list.

Samuel Huntington (Dec 27 – age 81 ): He was one of the world’s most influencial political scientists, and the author of his book The Clash of Civilizations – which was published in 1996. In his work, he states that clashed between people is inevitable due to cultural and religious differences. He worked at Harvard as a professor for 58 years before retiring last year.

Soeur Emanuelle (Oct 20 - age 99): As a daughter of a lingerie manufacturing French family in Belgium, she studied at the Sorbonne university before becoming a nun. She was known for her unorthodox views on life. She for instance approved the use of contraceptive and did not object to priests getting married. Because of her charity work she has often been compared to Mother Theresa and in 2008, she was voted one pf the most popular people in France. She passed away in her sleep a few days before her 100th birthday.

Heath Ledger (Jan 22 - age 28): Australian born Ledger was one of the most promising and brightest actors of his generation, best known for his performance in Broke back Mountain. He did other films, including Four Feathers, Casanova, I am Not There, and Ten Things I Hate About You. He died during the shooting Batman - Dark Knight. He played the role of The Joker. A medical examiner said that Ledger died of an overdose of prescription drugs that included painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication.

Miriam Makeba (Nov 10 – age 76): 'Mama Africa' died after a concert in Italy at the age of 76. Not only did she put South Africa on the international musical and did she as the first African woman win a Grammy Award, Makeba also put quite a bit of effort in making the world aware of what happened in her country during the dark apartheid years. She spent 30 years in exile for taking part in the freedom struggle, and returned home in 1990 - after Nelson Mandela, who was just freed, asked her to come back.

Deep Throat (Dec 19 – age 95): Thirty years after the Watergate Scandal, former FBI second-in-command W. Mark Felt revealed himself as "Deep Throat"; the person who tipped off reporters to the event that toppled president Nixon.

Yves Saint-Laurent (June 1, 2008 – age 71): As one of the world’s best and most famous fashion designer, he redesigned the rules of fashion and redefined how modern women dressed. Saint Laurent was widely considered the last of a generation that included Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and he contributed to turn Paris into the fashion capital of the world.

Sir Edmund Hillary (Jan 11 – age 88): Hillary was the first man to top Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, eventhough he didnt want to admit it at first. He acomplished this chilling mission on May 29 1953, together with his longtime climbing partner Tenzing Norgay.

Bettie Page ( Dec 13 - age 85): Page will be remembered as one of the world's most famous pin-ups ever, a cult figure that helped usher the sexual revolution in the west. During the high-tide of her career, between 149 and 1957, an estimated 20.000 black and white pictures were taken of her.

Edna Parker (Nov 26 – age 115): Up until her death, this American lady was the world’s oldest human being following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan in 2007.

Gregoire (Dec 17 – age 66): As Africa’s oldest known chimpanzee, Gegoire resided in the Tchimpounga Sanctuary (part of the Jane Goodall Institute) in the Congo. Prior that he was subjected to solitary confinement for 40 years in a small cage in a Zoo in the country’s capital before being rescued by the Jane Goodall Institute. He died peacefully in his sleep.