The Tapestry of 2004
A Global Retrospective: Exploring the pivotal events, cultural milestones, and significant developments that defined a transformative year.
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Global Demographics
Population Growth
The global population reached an estimated 6.462 billion at the start of 2004 and grew to approximately 6.545 billion by the year's end. This period saw an estimated 136.6 million births and 53.2 million deaths worldwide.
Life Expectancy
The average global life expectancy saw a modest increase, reaching 67.7 years, marking a 0.3-year improvement over the previous year. This reflects ongoing advancements in healthcare and living conditions across various regions.
Refugee Situation
The number of global refugees experienced a slight decrease, falling from 9.59 million to 9.24 million. Afghanistan remained the largest single source of refugees, with approximately 2.1 million individuals displaced.
Global Conflicts
Persistent Conflicts
The year 2004 was marked by numerous armed conflicts. Thirty-two conflicts resulted in at least 25 fatalities, many involving non-state actors. Seven of these conflicts were particularly severe, each causing over 1,000 fatalities.
Major Hotspots
Key areas of conflict included the Colombian conflict, the Iraqi insurgency, the Kashmir insurgency, the Nepalese Civil War, the Second Chechen War in Russia, the Second Sudanese Civil War, the War in Darfur, and the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in Uganda.
International Impact
The Iraqi insurgency expanded significantly, impacting various regions. Conflicts with extremist groups like Al-Qaeda continued, particularly along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Regional conflicts in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan also remained prominent.
Cultural Landscape
Cinematic Highlights
Globally, Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Spider-Man 2 dominated the box office. Critically acclaimed films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kill Bill: Volume 2, and Million Dollar Baby also garnered significant attention.
Musical Trends
Music sales showed resilience, with Usher's Confessions leading global sales. Norah Jones' Feels Like Home and Eminem's Encore were also top performers. The Japanese album Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1 was the 19th best-selling album worldwide.
Gaming Innovations
The video game industry saw major releases that defined the year. Critically lauded titles included Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Half-Life 2, and Halo 2, showcasing advancements in gameplay and storytelling.
Yearly Events
January
Flash Airlines Flight 604
On January 3, Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashed into the Red Sea, killing all 148 aboard, marking a significant aviation tragedy for Egypt.
Mars Exploration
NASA's Spirit rover successfully landed on Mars on January 4, initiating a new phase of robotic exploration of the Red Planet.
Queen Mary 2 Christened
The luxurious RMS Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner of its time, was christened by Queen Elizabeth II on January 8.
February
Super Bowl Controversy
During the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show on February 1, Janet Jackson experienced a widely publicized "wardrobe malfunction" during her performance with Justin Timberlake.
Facebook Launched
Mark Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook," a social networking site for Harvard University students, on February 4, marking the beginning of a global social media phenomenon.
Moscow Metro Bombing
A terrorist suicide bombing in the Moscow Metro on February 6 killed 41 people, highlighting the ongoing threat of terrorism.
March
Madrid Train Bombings
On March 11, Al-Qaeda-linked bombings targeted commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing at least 192 people in a devastating act of terrorism.
NATO Expansion
Seven Eastern European nationsโBulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Sloveniaโjoined NATO on March 29, marking the alliance's largest expansion.
Air America Broadcasts
Air America, a progressive talk radio network, began broadcasting on March 31, aiming to provide an alternative to conservative media.
April
Unborn Victims Act
On April 1, President George W. Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, recognizing a fetus as a legal victim in federal crimes.
Rwanda Genocide Anniversary
Rwanda observed a moment of silence on April 7 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
Abu Ghraib Scandal
CBS News broke the story on April 28 detailing the torture and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, sparking international outrage.
May
EU Expansion
The European Union expanded significantly on May 1, welcoming ten new member states from Central and Eastern Europe.
Afghan Leadership
Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first popularly-elected president on May 7, marking a new chapter for the nation.
Eurovision Victory
Ukraine's Ruslana won the Eurovision Song Contest held in Istanbul on May 15 with her song "Wild Dances."
June
SpaceShipOne Flight
On June 21, SpaceShipOne achieved the first privately funded human spaceflight, launching from Mojave, California.
UEFA Euro 2004
Portugal hosted the UEFA Euro 2004 football tournament, culminating in Greece's surprising victory on July 4.
Iraqi Sovereignty Transfer
The Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government on June 28, marking a symbolic shift in Iraq's governance.
July
Cassini Reaches Saturn
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft arrived at Saturn on July 1, beginning its extensive mission to study the ringed planet and its moons.
Iraqi Trial Begins
Preliminary hearings commenced on June 30 for former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Bangkok Subway Opens
Bangkok, Thailand, inaugurated its first modern subway system, the Blue Line, on July 3, improving urban transit.
August
Athens Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, from August 13 to 29, bringing together athletes from around the globe.
Munch Museum Heist
Two of Edvard Munch's masterpieces, including "The Scream," were stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, on August 22.
Russian Plane Bombings
Two Russian passenger planes were downed by suspected suicide bombers on August 24, killing all 90 people aboard.
September
Beslan School Siege
The Beslan school siege in Russia concluded on September 3 after Chechen rebels took over 1,100 hostages, resulting in over 330 deaths.
Jakarta Embassy Bombing
A car bomb exploded at the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 9, killing nine people.
Assault Weapons Ban Expires
The U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired on September 13 without renewal, sparking debate on gun control.
October
Sinai Bombings
On October 8, coordinated bombings in Taba, Egypt, targeted tourist sites, killing 34 people and injuring 171.
Red Sox World Series Win
The Boston Red Sox won the World Series on October 27, ending an 86-year championship drought by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals.
EU Constitution Signed
European leaders signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in Rome on October 29, aiming for greater integration.
November
US Presidential Election
George W. Bush was re-elected President of the United States on November 2, defeating John Kerry in a closely watched election.
Orange Revolution Begins
The Orange Revolution commenced on November 22 in Ukraine, protesting alleged fraud in the presidential election and advocating for Viktor Yushchenko.
Hypersonic Flight Record
NASA's experimental Scramjet achieved a record velocity of Mach 9.6 during a hypersonic flight test on November 16.
December
EU Accession Talks
The European Council decided on December 16 to begin accession negotiations with Turkey, a significant step towards potential EU membership.
Taipei 101 Opens
Taipei 101, then the world's tallest skyscraper, officially opened on December 31, symbolizing architectural ambition.
Indian Ocean Tsunami
On December 26, a massive earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, causing widespread destruction and killing over 227,000 people across multiple countries.
Notable People
Global Leaders
Key leadership changes occurred, including Hamid Karzai becoming Afghanistan's first popularly elected president and Manmohan Singh becoming India's first non-Hindu prime minister. Vladimir Putin began his second term as Russia's president.
Cultural Figures
In culture, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook, and influential films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Million Dollar Baby were released, alongside chart-topping music from artists like Usher.
Scientific Achievements
The year saw significant scientific endeavors, including NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) landing, and the Cassini spacecraft reaching Saturn.
Nobel Laureates
Science and Medicine
Chemistry: Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, Irwin Rose for ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation.
Physics: David J. Gross, Hugh David Politzer, Frank Wilczek for asymptotic freedom.
Physiology or Medicine: Linda B. Buck, Richard Axel for olfactory receptors.
Literature and Peace
Literature: Elfriede Jelinek for her lyrical flow of "voices and counter-voices" in novels and plays.
Peace: Wangarฤฉ Maathai for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
Economics
Economics: Finn E. Kydland and Edward C. Prescott for their contributions to dynamic macroeconomics, particularly the timing of government policy.
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References
References
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2024.
- UN High Commissioner for Refugees 2005, p.ย 2.
- UN High Commissioner for Refugees 2005, p.ย 3.
- https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/124807
- 31 August 2006: Beslan รขยย Two Years On, UNICEF
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional historical analysis or consultation. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified experts for definitive historical context.
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