2015 Around the World
As 2015 draws to a close, we recap some of the most significant world events of the year.
December 2015
Sarah Manno '17
2015 is coming to a fast-approaching close with a gritty presidential race in full swing and a peculiar bout of tepid weather. We decided to take a look back at this year of incredible highs and lows. Here’s the inside scoop on what really happened in 2015.
Nepal Earth Slides: In April of 2015, a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck the nation of Nepal. The quake, striking suddenly without warning, killed upwards of 9,000 and injured 23,000 people. In the seconds after the quake began, the resulting seismic reverberations shook loose herculean amounts of rock resulting in landslides. The scale of these earthen avalanches astounded geologists, who gravely underestimated the damage that the quake would incur.
Boko Haram Massacre: A gruesome series of massacres in Baga, Nigeria and surrounding villages by terrorist organization Boko Haram killed more than 2,000 people from January 3rd to the 7th. The terrorist organization’s main motive is the ethnic cleansing of opposing tribal people.
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Ukrainian Ceasefire: Leaders from the nations of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France reach a peace agreement concerning the nuclear stalemate in eastern Ukraine that includes a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weaponry. However, several days after the treaty was ratified, the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian forces claim that the ceasefire was broken over 139 times, as both sides failed at pacifism.
Deadly Alpine Airbus Crash: On March 24th, a A320-211 Airbus operated by Germanwings crashed in the French alps, killing all 150 passengers on board. The crash is believed to have been an intentional suicide plot, masterminded by the co-pilot of the craft.
Ireland Says Yes to Love: On May 23rd, Ireland became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote.
NASA Reaches Pluto: On July 14th, NASA’s spacecraft, New Horizons, performs a flyby of Pluto, becoming the first man-made satellite in history to visit the distant dwarf planet.
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Cuba Buries the Hatchet: On July 24th, Cuba and the United States reestablished full diplomatic relations, ending a 54 year old period of hostility between the two nations.
Volkswagen Scandal: In September, German automobile company, Volkswagen is alleged to have been involved in worldwide rigging of diesel emission tests, affecting an estimated eleven million vehicles globally.
Paris Terror Attacks: On November 13th, multiple attacks orchestrated by the Islamic state or ISIS result in the death of over 150 in Paris.
Let’s Talk About CO2: A global climate change pact is agreed on at the COP21 summit, committing all countries to reduce their carbon emissions for the first time in history.
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