Hannah+W.+Year

The United States started off the year of 1977 with Jimmy Carter being elected President. Jimmy Carter already being a forward thinker warns Americans that they need to make profound changes in their oil consumption. The irony in that is within the same year the Trans-Alaskan oil pipeline opens. While also in office he grants pardon to American Draft dodgers of the Vietnam War Period. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. is finally remembered for his greatness by being awarded the Medal of Freedom. His death was a great tragedy to many, but it is amazing to see the United States has come this far in the fight against racism. Another accomplishment by the United States is the World Trade Center in New York is finally complete. The Word Trade Center also known as the “Twin Towers” was home to many offices, and was the world’s tallest, and largest buildings until the Sears Tower surpassed them both. Sadly on September 11, 2001 the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists. Outside of the United States many other things were happening in other countries, good and bad. There were several natural disasters that occurred throughout the world. In Romania, there was an earthquake that killed more than 1,500 people. The earthquake measured a whopping 7.2 on the Richter scale and lasted more than almost a minute, during which time almost every building in the Romanian capital shook wildly. Another devastating disaster happened in India, where a cyclone killed 20,000 people and left 2 million homeless. It was known as perhaps the worst cyclonic storm to hit the Indian shores in the last century. Six-meter high tidal waves swept across village in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Though the natural disasters that occurred were awful, there was positive things that happened in the world during the year of 1977. Canada adopted French as the official language of Quebec. Of course English was still spoken throughout the country of Canada, Canadians were taught both English and French in school. In the United Kingdom, Jubilee celebrations are held on the 7th of June to celebrate twenty-five years of Elizabeth II’s reign. It was known as the Silver Jubilee Year were not only did she celebrate her reign but also the arrival of her first grandchild. Queen Elizabeth II presided at a London banquet attended by the leaders of thirty-six members of the Commonwealth, and during a tour of thirty-six counties in the United Kingdom visited numerous schools, gave thousands of children the chance to see the Queen. There were also some technological advances and discoveries during the year of 1977. The first MRI scanner was tested in Brooklyn. The first MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, after nearly five hours after the start, the first human scan was made as the first MRI prototype. The Voyager I and Voyager II were launched unmanned to explore the outer solar system. After nearly thirty-three years since its launch in 1977 the twin voyagers has been returning unprecedented data about the giant outer planets, the properties of the solar wind between and beyond planets and the interaction of the solar wind with intersellar winds in the heliosheath. Both of these accomplishments in science and health care have helped the human race not only in knowledge, but discovery. It shows that curiosity can lead to exploration, which in turn can result in something positive. There was a lot that happened in the year of 1977, but where would the human race be without it’s history. The year had it’s ups and downs for different people and places. There were technological advances, and natural disasters, both being influential to the economy and society. It shows that even though we progress, mother nature can always set us back. Where would be without the year of 1977?