2010-2020: A Decade in Review
2020 is here! It has been one heck of a decade filled with historical events that continue to shape human history. Let us remember the events that have shaped this decade.
2010
Natural Disasters:
A devastating 7.0 magnitude Earthquake rocked Hati. Its epicenter was about 25 Kilometers west of the Capital Port-au Prince. Over 316,000 people were killed, and 250,000 were wounded. The damage was catastrophic to infrastructure. To this day that Earthquake is considered the 5th deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
The most catastrophic environmental disaster occurred in the Gulf of Mexico when the Oil Rig Deepwater Horizon exploded due to mechanical failure. Over 18 workers were killed, and 31 were injured. Over 130 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico heavily polluting the ocean, and causing a great loss of life for the organisms of the ecosystem.
The ipad:
Apple hot off the success of the iPhone and iPod launched a marvel in Technology. The IPad. Ipad mania spread across the world like wildfire. More than 3 million tablets were sold in less than 3 months, and apps were being developed like crazy. The Ipad cleared the way for Apple to overclipse Microsoft in market value and total net worth. Now Apple owns a huge share of the global stock market.
2011
Arab Spring:
The Arab Spring was a series of uprisings, anti-government protests, and rebellions that occurred in Arab countries. All across the Middle East and North Africa, oppressive regimes were being overthrown, in the hopes of establishing modern democracies across the Arab world.
Bin Laden killed:
On May 4th, 2011, the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, was shot in cold blood. Seal Team 6, under the direction of President Obama, infiltrated his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and shot him in the head. This was a major turning point in the war on terror.
The Royal Wedding:
On April 29th, 2011, a couple got married. Not just an ordinary couple, but another member of the Royal Family. Prince William, the son of the late Princess Diana, and Kate Middleton, officially wed at Westminster Abbey. William is second in line to the British throne, after Prince Charles.
2012
Kim Jong-Un Named Supreme Leader:
On July 18th, Kim Jong Un took power in North Korea, a totalitarian Communist state. He took power after the death of his father Kim Jong Il. Un continues the long dynasty of Kim’s, all started by his Grandfather, Kim Ill Sung the founder of North Korea. Un’s regime has been responsible for the murder, and imprisonment of Political Opponents in Labor Camps. This, in turn, leads to a lot of North Koreans fleeing the country.
Obama Elected to a Second Term:
President Barack Obama, the first African American to hold the office, was re-elected to a second term, defeating Governor Mitt Romney of Utah. Obama campaigned on his major successes, such as the Affordable Care Act, the assassination of Osama Bin Laden, and combating an economic recession. His legacy still lives on today in the American Political arena.
2013
New Pope:
History was made in Rome, as Jorge Mario Bergolio was elected as the 266th Pope of the Holy See. Now known as Pope Francis, Bergolio was the first Jesuit ever elected to be Pope, and the first pope from South America, and Latin America. He is the first “modern” pope, as he actively uses Twitter to spread his message.
Edward Snowden:
Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency employee (NSA), leaked tons of classified documents to the public. The documents that were leaked, showed how the US government, was actively spying on its citizens via wiretapping, and surveillance. Snowden, not wanting to be captured by the US government, sought Asylum in Russia, and is now currently living there. The chances of him going back to the United States are slim.
2014
MH 370: