In a world full of sadness, war, and struggle it can often be a challenge to see the good that we as humans also do. 2019 and a whole decade has come to an end, so I thought we should reflect on some of the amazing things we have done to move the world forward in a positive direction.

Memes and internet challenges over the last 10 years came and gone, apps rose to popularity in a speed that was almost unheard of 10 years ago. Everyone had a great time competing and viewing the internet. But I want to focus on the more significant milestones and events that have shaped what our world is today.

• June 2015- same-sex marriage became legal in the U.S.
– On June 26th, 2015 the U.S. supreme court stopped all state bans on same-sex marriage, meaning it is now legal in all 50 states across the U.S. This was one of the most significant events for the LGBT community this decade. Acceptance of same-sex couples grew increasingly also.
• January 2017- millions attended the women’s march.

– The women’s march was a worldwide protest on the 21st January 2017, the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. There was an increasing level of stress due to his statements being understood as anti-women and offensive to large groups of people. It is the largest single-day protest in the history of the U.S. It was estimated that worldwide 7 million people attended, with 5 million in the U.S. The Women’s March focused on destroying systems of oppression through non-violent solutions and constructing inclusive systems guiding by self-determination, dignity, and respect.

• October 2017- Me too movement
– The #metoo movement is a movement that is against sexual assault and sexual harassment. It originally began in 2006 on Myspace, when a woman called Tarana Burke spoke out about being a sexual assault victim and survivor in our society. It started to gain even more traction in October 2017 in Hollywood after the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations. Even though the movement started from horrible events that occur every day to women and men alike, it meant that many survivors now feel safe and comfortable about speaking up about their assaults and harassments for the first time. It made people feel less alone and more and more people are speaking up. Thanks to social media, the hashtag was able to create a movement that was so widespread and got attention from huge names. It really made a positive impact on people’s lives. Sometimes the internet can achieve greatness.

• 2018 royal wedding – what it meant for people
– During this decade we were ever so lucky to witness two high royals get married. The world came together on April 29th, 2011  to witness Kate Middleton and Prince William wed, in fact, 3 billion people tuned in from all over our globe. In 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also tied the knot. Even though this wedding did not reach 3 billion views like his brother’s, it was a very significant event for a lot of people. As most of us know Meghan is African-American and Prince Harry is British, this has never happened in British royalty. Their marriage broke walls of racism, prejudice, class, and tradition.

• The most diverse class was sworn into 116th congress in 2019 in history
– On January 3rd, 2019 a new face of power took control, this is the most diverse class of lawmakers in history leading the 116th congress. This means that a record number of women ever seen in congress takes control, not only this but also a record number of women of colour have also been elected. Among these women, the youngest ever congresswomen was elected at just 29 years old, the first Muslim American women and first Native American women were elected also. This is an incredible achievement for America and women all over the world alike because it shows that we are moving forward.

• The youth got their voices heard with the help of Greta in school strike for climate – lead to change
– Whether you like Greta Thunberg or not, you cannot deny the movement she has created through the power of her voice. She is known for her matter-of-fact speaking manner that is blunt and to the point. She voices her opinion this way to the public, the political leaders and also in assemblies, in turn, she urges immediate change to address the climate crisis. She has founded the school strike for climate, which is an international movement empowered by the youth. Since August when it was founded millions and millions of students have protested for urgent political action.

• EU banned single-use plastic by 2021
– In 2019 the EU voted to ban plastic cotton buds, cutlery, straws, stirrers, single-use polystyrene cups and those made from oxo-degradable plastics that disintegrate into tiny fragments by 2021. By 2025, plastic bottles will have to be made of 25% recycled content and by 2029 90%. Wet wipes, sanitary towels, tobacco filters, and cups will need to be labeled that they are made by plastic so consumers are aware of their environmental damage. The EU has taken an important and valuable step in decreasing pollution and littering. Frans Timmermans said ‘we got this, we can do this. Europe is setting new and ambitious standards, paving the way for the rest of the world.’

These are just some of the top world events and movements that we have created.

But every single day good things on a smaller individual scale happen all the time that we should be immensely proud of too. These everyday actions, movements, and events may not change the entire world, but they make a great positive impact on the people we surround ourselves with. Let’s continue to fight for what we believe in, in the next decade and for the rest of our lives. Let’s continue to do good and impactful things and make a difference to the people’s lives around us. And let’s continue to be the best versions of ourselves that make a difference together. We can do this.