The world entered 2022 in trepidation following the tragedies of the COVID-19 outbreak that dominated our lives for nearly 3 years. And this year certainly didn’t disappoint in offering historical moments that made 2022 memorable.
1. Russia Invades Ukraine
In February 2022, it was announced that Russia would invade Ukraine. Traveling via social media, the news swiftly reached global attention. The news documented Russian President Vladimir Putin invading Ukrainian territory with violent air strikes and explosions. In July 2022, the last city in Ukrainian control, Lysychansk, fell to the control of Russia. By September, Ukraine had launched an effective counter-offensive. The world came together in an outpouring of support for Ukraine as evidenced as they championed the Eurovision 2022.
2. Political Dismay in the UK
The UK government has long become a source of global attention following a series of public scandals. Previous Health Secretary Matt Hancock entered the Australian Jungle in the famous I’m A Celebrity TV show, sparking mass controversy in the UK. But the most notable news in the British government was the resignation of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister after a 3 year period. Liz Truss of the Conservative Party was elected in his place. Liz Truss made history as the shortest-serving Prime Minister after only 7 weeks before her resignation. Rishi Sunak took over as Conservative Prime Minister in October 2022 and has since faced numerous strikes across the country.
3. Queen Elizabeth II
The longest-serving British monarch, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, died at Balmoral Castle in September 2022. The Queen was a mechanic during the Second World War, acting as the only female member of the royal family to have worked in the armed forces. The Queen hence introduced the Elizabeth Cross in 2009 to honor the families of those who died during military operations or in acts of terrorism. Her Majesty was succeeded by her son, Charles III.
4. Roe vs. Wade
In January 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe vs Wade federal law which legalized safe abortion. Federal law is a nationwide constitutional act that is in place across all 50 states. In 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs Wade that the decision to end a pregnancy was in the power of the woman, and safe abortion should be legalized. In 2022, this decision was overturned meaning it is now down to the individual state to decide whether abortion is allowed to continue being accessible. States such as Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida put significant restrictions in place regarding abortion following the overturning of Roe vs Wade in 2022.
