By Hadassa Ferreira, Arts & Culture Editor
Dec. 31, the final day of the year, is a time when people reflect on the past year, recall significant moments—both good and bad—and consider new changes and goals for the year ahead.
2024 was a year defined by remarkable events across various sectors of society. In the environmental sector, it was notably marked by natural disasters impacting countries around the globe.
On Jan. 1, Japan experienced a severe earthquake. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the Noto Earthquake was a major event, reaching the maximum seismic intensity of 7 on Japan’s shindo scale. It struck the northern coast of the Noto Peninsula, with the city of Wajima being one of the hardest hit areas.
Other nations affected by natural disasters in the first half of 2024 (January through June) included Brazil, which experienced severe flooding, as well as Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, where wildfires were fueled by severe droughts in the Amazon region.
In Brazil, the Rio Grande do Sul floods began on April 27 and lasted more than a month, leaving nearly 500,000 people homeless and claiming 172 lives, according to the Pan American Health Organization. As for the Amazon wildfires, the organization stated that 2024 was the most drought-stricken and devastating year for the forest since 2005, raising concerns among environmentalists about significant losses in the region’s vast biome.
In the United States, Hurricane Beryl marked the start of the hurricane season in Texas, according to the Austin American Statesman. Beryl broke multiple records, including being the earliest Category 4 and 5 hurricanes ever recorded. Tragically, the storm claimed 36 lives.
Hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, particularly Helene and Milton, made 2024 the deadliest natural disaster year in the United States. It was also the first year since 2005 to see so many hurricanes in the Gulf Coast during the same season.
“It is crazy and sad how the hurricane season brings so much devastation to so many people in Florida,” said Judrich Raphael, a junior student majoring in computer science with a minor in math.
In addition to environmental disasters, politics was another major topic with significant events worldwide.
In Mexico, the historic election of Claudia Sheinbaum on June 6 marked a significant moment in the country’s politics as she became the first female president of Mexico. Her election also saw the highest voter turnout—60%—since the country’s transition to democracy in 2001. According to Brookings, more than 60 million voters cast their ballots for Sheinbaum.
In Europe, political polarization marked the landscape in many countries, and in the United Kingdom, the victory of the Labour Party redefined British politics—a shift that had not occurred in a long time. According to the National Public Radio, the center-left party achieved its first victory in 19 years.
Like the United Kingdom, the United States experienced a year marked by political polarization, as seen in the closely contested presidential election between the two major parties—the Democrats and the Republicans. The election ultimately resulted in a significant victory for the Republican Party, with Donald Trump securing 312 electoral votes, nearly 100 more than Harris and 42 votes above the 270 needed to win.
In terms of foreign relations, while many changes and significant events occurred in the social sectors during 2024, the world order remained largely unchanged from previous years.
The most severe conflicts the international community currently faces are the wars between Ukraine and Russia and the war between Israel and Hamas. In both conflicts, there were moments of heightened tension, with escalations involving attacks on new territories and the use of more destructive weapons. However, no peace or cease-fire agreements were reached for either conflict.
In sports and entertainment, the 2024 Olympics gave nations the chance to cheer on their top athletes. A standout feature was the exceptional performance of female athletes across many sports.
Athletes like Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade shattered gymnastics records, bringing immense pride to the United States and Brazil. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands achieved an unprecedented feat, winning gold in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the marathon, becoming the first female to win gold in all three events.
Raphael added, “I feel so glad to see females succeeding internationally in sports. For so long, it was so difficult for females to conquer their space in so many sectors of society that their success nowadays is inspiring!”
Women broke numerous records in 2024, not only in sports but also in arts and music. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour surpassed $2 billion in sales, setting a world record for gross ticket sales. The tour also became a cultural milestone, drawing fans from around the globe.
While Taylor Swift exemplified the music industry’s success in 2024, it also faced significant controversies, with Sean Combs (P. Diddy) being at the center of the most notable one.
The first sexual assault accusation against Sean Combs was made in November 2023, but the situation escalated with additional allegations in March 2024. Since then, several criminal accusations have surfaced, shedding light on potential dark truths behind many beloved songs.
Equally tragic as the controversies in the music industry, 2024 saw the loss of many figures who deeply impacted people worldwide. Names like Willie Mays and Rickey Henderson will forever be remembered by millions of baseball fans, while Maggie Smith will remain in the hearts of Potterheads, and Liam Payne will continue to be the voice for a generation of Directioners around the globe.
While many events unfolded in 2024, it was a year of laughter, sorrow, and lasting memories. Here’s to hoping 2025 is as memorable as 2024. Happy New Year!
