What Happened in September?

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurs in Taiwan. The death toll from the devastating earthquake was 2,375 and .It caused billions of dollars in damages and left an estimated 100,000 homeless. the catastrophic quake was centered in central Taiwan but major damage was inflicted throughout the island. More

The Millennium Summit of the United Nations outlines the Millennium Development Goals. The conference took place during the 6-8 September 2000 in New York City. More

The second Intifada, a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian conflict, begins with the visit of Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, sparking protests and escalating violence in the region.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. take place. Resulting in the loss of nearly 3,000 people in those cataclysmic hours, and significant infrastructure damage. More

The Beslan school Islamic terrorist attack begins in North Ossetia, Russia. A group of armed militants takes over resulting in a three days hostage crisis of more than 1,100 people and the tragic deaths of 334 of them including 186 children. as well as 31 of the attackers. It is considered the deadliest school shooting in history.

The principle of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit. Expand +

The Irish Republican Army (IRA ) officially disarms, giving up its weapons to independent weapons inspectors, two months after announcing its intention to do so. The IRA was originally founded in 1919 to oppose British rule in Ireland. It had operated since the 1960s as the military arm of Sinn Fein. More

The United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; setting a global standard for the treatment of Indigenous Peoples. While the Declaration is not legally binding, it is a vital step in securing Indigenous rights worldwide. It has since been ratified by 143 countries. More

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) experiences widespread protests led by Buddhist monks and activists, known as the Saffron Revolution, demanding democratic reforms and an end to military rule.

Lehman Brothers, one of the largest investment banks in the world, files for bankruptcy, marking the beginning of the global financial crisis that would have far-reaching effects on the global economy.

The stock market experiences a significant drop as the Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, the largest single-day point decline at that time, reflecting the deepening financial crisis and concerns over the global economy.

The Eurozone officially enters a recession, as confirmed by the European Union's statistical agency Eurostat, following the global financial crisis that began in 2008.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum opens to the public in New York City, commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and preserving the history and memory of the tragic event.

2009, September 29 - The H1N1 influenza virus, also known as the swine flu, is declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus spreads rapidly worldwide, resulting in widespread illness and increased public health measures.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) successfully impact the Moon's surface as part of a mission to search for water ice in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar poles.

The Canterbury earthquake strikes the South Island of New Zealand with a magnitude of 7.1 Some damaging aftershocks followed, the strongest of which was a magnitude 6.3 shock known as the Christchurch earthquake that occurred nearly six months later on 22 February 2011 and was much more destructive due to its  proximity to Christchurch, and resulted in the deaths of 185 people.

A massive gas line pipeline explosion in the Crestmoor residential neighborhood of San Bruno, California quickly engulfs nearby houses. Eight people perished, 58 were reported injured and many homes were destroyed. Expand +

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, is attacked.

The Occupy Wall Street movement begins in New York City. Inspired by the Arab Spring, the protest was initiated by the anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters and targeted economic inequality and corporate greed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. More

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is officially repealed.