It’s been a year of unprecedented events that have shaped the world in significant ways. From a global pandemic that changed the way we live to massive political upheavals, 2021 has been a year that will go down in history.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to dominate the headlines in 2021. The year saw the emergence of new strains of the virus, which led to a fresh wave of infections across several countries. The vaccination drive started in many countries, providing some hope of an eventual end to the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy and a perceived lack of efficacy of some vaccines have slowed the global vaccination drive. This has led to the continuation of restrictions and lockdowns in some countries, particularly India, which has experienced a devastating second wave of the pandemic.
Political Instability
Political instability also made headlines in 2021. The coup d’état in Myanmar, which led to the arrest and detention of the country’s elected leader, Canadian News Today Aung San Suu Kyi, drew international condemnation. The situation in Afghanistan further escalated with the Taliban’s seizure of power, leading to a hasty withdrawal of American forces from the country after 20 years of occupation. The Taliban’s return to power has raised concerns over the treatment of women and ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan. The crisis in Belarus continues, with the president, Alexander Lukashenko, still refusing to step down despite widespread protests and international pressure.
Climate Change
The effects of climate change continued to be felt worldwide in 2021. Disasters such as the wildfires raging across Australia, the United States, and Canada, the flooding in Germany and Belgium, and record-breaking heat waves hit headlines globally. The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 was held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, and countries committed to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, many climate activists believe that the commitments made are not enough to limit the rise in global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Space Exploration
2021 has been a significant year for space exploration, with several private companies and government agencies launching rockets and spacecraft into space. SpaceX sent the first all-civilian mission into orbit, paving the way for space tourism in the future. The United Arab Emirates and China sent probes to Mars, while NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the red planet in February. The successful launch and landing of the Mars sampler return mission by China, which aims to bring back samples from Mars, drew widespread attention, with experts warning of an emerging space race.
Conclusion
2021 has been a year of challenges and turbulence, with unprecedented events changing the way we live and see the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, climate change, and space exploration dominated the headlines throughout the year. However, the year has also shown humanity’s resilience, adaptability, and determination to overcome these challenges. As the world moves towards a new year, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and what new challenges will emerge.