20 Momentous Events of 2020
- bey0ndM@gz!ne
- February 3, 2021
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2020 has been a standout year for many reasons. The world faced a global pandemic, many natural disasters occured, airplane crashes, and the untimely demise of several beloved personalities.
While we revisit the 20 most challenging events of 2020, in no particular order, it is important to acknowledge that we have overcome each event, and will continue to power through in 2021, with strength and resilience.
1. COVID-19 Pandemic:
The unprecedented virus that first surfaced in China in 2019 and turned into a global pandemic within the first three months of 2020. The virus has now taken millions of lives.
2. Australian Bushfires:
The year began with the shaking news of one of the most devastating wildfires in Australia. The blazes continued from December 2019 and were spread across 47 million acres of land.
3. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the Royal family:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down as “senior” royals in January. They planned to become financially independent.
4. Worldwide Lockdowns:
The year 2020 stopped our lives for the first time in many years. With the government imposing lockdowns, it felt and continues to feel like the ‘pause’ button has been pressed for countries worldwide. No movies, restaurants, parties, weddings, offices, schools, or or college classes, which felt unreal at the onset of the lockdown, but has become part of our day-to-day.
5. Kobe Bryant Death:
The legendary Los Angeles Lakers player died along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on 26 January. Fans all over the world mourned the loss.
6. Giant Asian Hornet Invasion in The US:
The Asian hornets invaded certain pockets of the US, adding another woe to the list in 2020. The giant ‘Murder Hornets’ are around two inches long, and have the potential to kill humans, if stung multiple times.
7. Locust Attack:
In a bizarre turn of events, hundreds of billions of locusts swarmed through East Africa and South Asia and was the worst infestation seen in a quarter-century. Alarmingly, food supplies were threatened due to the locust plague.
8. Beirut Explosion:
Six months in to 2020, a massive explosion shattered Beirut on 4 August. More than 100 people died, and more than more than 4,000 people. It is estimated that there was USD 5 Billion worth of damages.
9. UFO videos:
The only thing left to happen this year was an alien invasion! It does not seem too far away. The Pentagon in the U.S released declassified videos showing unidentified aerial phenomenons!
10. Monoliths erected across the world:
In a series of strange events, mysterious monoliths were erected and then removed in Utah, Romania, California, and San Antonio in November. It is still not known who was behind it and how they were related to one another.
ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE, LET US REVISIT SOME OF THE POSITIVE AND REVIVING EVENTS OF 2020.
1. Nature Is On The Mend:
With humans under lockdown, nature started restoring itself. Global emissions came down by 17% this year. In fact, 2020 is now known as the ‘super year’ for nature.
2. Real Heroes Were Recognised:
For a long time, we were idolising movie actors as heroes, until 2020. The pandemic made us realise who the real heroes were. All the doctors, teachers, nurses, and other front-line workers received the respect they deserved.
3. Work From Home:
A dream for many in the workforce came true in 2020. With the COVID-19 restrictions, most employees were working from their homes. Not only did it prove to be beneficial for the employees, but also companies realised the viability of remote working.
4. Black Lives Matter:
In the event of police-involved killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, the year sparked a worldwide movement called “Black Lives Matter” against racial injustice. People worldwide joined the protest, truly making a mark.
5. Polio Free Africa:
On 24 August, the WHO delivered the news that no new cases of wild poliovirus have been recorded in Africa since 2016. Africa has finally become polio-free!
6. Scotland Outshined:
While the world was focused on the pandemic and politics, Scotland came out with a massive reform. It became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to menstrual products.
7. The comeback of Drive-in Cinemas:
In a world where movies meant sitting in a closed hall, 2020 brought the 80’s trend back. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, people could not enjoy the cinema as they used to, which brought back drive-in cinemas, giving us some major nostalgic feels.
8. Breaking Records:
Kamala Harris became the US Vice President in the 2020 presidential elections. What’s record-breaking is that she is the first female, first black, and first South Asian US Vice President.
9. Vaccine for COVID-19:
With all the countries working day and night to find a cure for the COVID-19 virus, vaccines for COVID-19 were created and approved in a recordbreaking time.
10. Winter solstice great conjunction:
On 21 December, the world witnessed a rare “great conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn. Such a conjunction only happens once in 60 years. The next one will be in 2080!
While a stretch of bad events kicked off from the first quarter of the year, and some of which will follow us to 2021, there were bright moments to appreciate.
