It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone.
As the year 2022 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on the events and trends that have shaped the world in the past 12 months.
From political upheaval and social justice movements to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, there has been no shortage of significant events to keep us on our toes.
In this article, we'll take a look back at some of the biggest headlines and stories of every month in 2022.
January
In a momentous decision on January 8th, 2022, Canada officially banned conversion therapy, joining a select few countries in this progressive move.
President Justin Trudeau announced: “As of today, it’s official: Conversion therapy is banned in Canada. Our government’s legislation has come into force —which means it is now illegal to promote, advertise, benefit from, or subject someone to this hateful and harmful practice. LGBTQ2 rights are human rights.”
Conversion therapy is sometimes called “reparative therapy” or “ex-gay therapy” and is believed to have abilities to turn someone into a heterosexual being.
February
On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
The devastating escalation of the war resulted in a bloody war, killing or injuring at least 200,000 soldiers and 40,000 civilians. On top of that, the invasion created a massive refugee crisis in Europe as hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in search of safety.
The ongoing war has had far-reaching consequences, including a breakdown of relations between Russia and other countries, economic instability, and a global food chain supply disruption.
The war is going on to its 11th month this January.
March
March was a remarkable moment for the film industry and its significant progress towards diversity and inclusivity with the release and recognition of several notable films.
Pixar’s Turning Red, which follows a young Chinese-Canadian girl's journey through adolescence, received widespread acclaim and touched the hearts of many. The casting was also a big deal as it was the first Pixar feature film to have a female Asian lead.
Not only that, Ms. Marvel had its first Muslim superhero film, which featured a Pakistani-American protagonist played by Pakistani-born Canadian Iman Vellani.
Meanwhile, CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), a film in which deaf characters are played by deaf actors, bagged not just one but two Oscars for best picture and best supporting actor. This remarkable month demonstrated the industry's stance on representation and inclusion.
April
April’s highlight of the month was not great news at all for all environmentalists and nature-lovers. Why? It’s because the Amazon rainforest in Brazil saw the highest recorded deforestation rate in its history in April 2022.
Satellite images showed that large swaths of the forest were being cleared at an alarming rate, with illegal logging and fires contributing to the destruction.
Despite the indigenous groups and activists calling on the government to take action to protect the rainforest, deforestation continues to be a pressing concern.
May
May 2022 saw a major crash in the cryptocurrency market in a matter of hours, sending shockwaves through the community and investors alike.
While different agencies hold different theories about the cause of the crash – whether it be caused by a large sell-off by a single investor, inflation or tighter monetary policies – many were burned by the crash, losing significant value in their investment portfolios.
Regardless of what the future holds, the crash serves as a reminder of the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency space.
June
Half way into the year, women of the United States were revoked of their right to abortion. On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, making abortion in the United States illegal.
This decision sparked outrage and protests from pro-choice advocates who argued that the decision would disproportionately impact low-income and marginalized communities, while the pro-life advocates celebrated their victory.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade marked a significant shift in the legal landscape of abortion in the United States, and the ramifications of the ruling are still being felt today.
July
The newest and largest species of waterlily, Victoria boliviana, has been hiding in plain sight for the last 177 years until it was discovered in July.
Only found in the flood plains of the Llanos de Moxos in Bolivia, the latest waterlily species is massive. It can grow to nearly 10 feet wide in the wild, be seen through satellite imagery, and can change the colors of its flowers between white and pink.
It’s moments like this that makes us realize just how much there is left of Earth to explore and discover.
August
On 30 August 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, died at age 91 after a long and serious illness at the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital in Russia.
The former Soviet leader took power in 1985 and brought the Cold War to an end, earning the respect of many even outside of Russia.
After hearing about Gorbachev’s death, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to him, saying that “Mikhail Gorbachev was a one-of-a kind statesman. The world has lost a towering global leader, committed multilateralist, and tireless advocate for peace.”
September
On September 8th, 2022, much of the world was saddened by the news of Queen Elizabeth II's death. After a long and illustrious reign of over 70 years, the Queen passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 96.
Her death marked the end of an era and was met with an outpouring of grief from people around the globe, as well as cheers from anti-colonial and monarchy abolitionist movements.
Nonetheless, tributes poured in from world leaders, celebrities, and ordinary citizens who had been impacted by her grace, wisdom, kindness.
October
Elon Musk's newest acquisition of Twitter caused a stir in the social media world.
From a $8 monthly charge for a verified account and banning his impersonators to firing half the Twitter staff and restoring ex-president Donald Trump’s account, the series of controversial company policies have sparked debates and outrage from many.
While some praised his bold and unconventional approach, others criticized the damage inflicted on the bird app. Despite the backlash, Musk's tweets and business strategy continues to dominate headlines and be the center of scrutiny and analyses.
November and December
November and December were essentially the season of soccer, as the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022 was held from November 20th to December 18th.
The sport captivated the world with its thrilling matches and passionate fans, and its evident in the fan celebrations after Argentina emerged as World Cup champions, defeating France in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
The long, nerve-wracking World Cup finale is considered one of the most thrilling matches in soccer history. Millions of fans gathered in the streets of Buenos Aires to cheer for their national champions.
The end of an era, hello 2023!
That’s it for our 2022 roundup and review. Things might not have seemed so positive, but the greatest asset of humanity is the ability to go forward, adapt, and learn.
As we move forward into the new year, stay informed and engaged in the world around us and its current affairs. Onwards to a better and brighter 2023. Happy New Year!