Some Some Experiences of Experiences of

SufferingSuffering1984 - 1999

1984: Indira Gandhi four times Prime Indira Gandhi four times Prime

Minister of India is assassinatedMinister of India is assassinated

1984: Police Officer Yvonne Fletcher gunned Police Officer Yvonne Fletcher gunned

down in Londondown in London

1984: Bhopal India – toxic gas leak at Bhopal India – toxic gas leak at

insecticide plant kills more than 2100 insecticide plant kills more than 2100 people; many more permanently people; many more permanently affected by inhalation of gasaffected by inhalation of gas

1985: Earthquake in Mexico (registering 7.8 Earthquake in Mexico (registering 7.8

on the Richter Scale with an on the Richter Scale with an aftershock of 7.3) kills thousandsaftershock of 7.3) kills thousands

1985: Rock Hudson, Hollywood A List star, Rock Hudson, Hollywood A List star,

dies of AIDS, age 59dies of AIDS, age 59

1985: Hijacked hostages in Beirut freed after Hijacked hostages in Beirut freed after

seventeen daysseventeen days

1985: Live Aid concerts for African famine Live Aid concerts for African famine

relief, co-ordinated by Bob Geldorf, relief, co-ordinated by Bob Geldorf, take place at the Wembley Stadium in take place at the Wembley Stadium in London and in Philadelphia. The line-London and in Philadelphia. The line-ups include Bob Dylan, Sting, Queen, ups include Bob Dylan, Sting, Queen, Madonna and Mick Jagger.Madonna and Mick Jagger.

1986: Corrupt dictators flee – Corrupt dictators flee –

‘‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier of Haiti flees to Papa Doc’ Duvalier of Haiti flees to FranceFrance

Ferdinand Marcos of The Philippines Ferdinand Marcos of The Philippines flees flees

1986: Chernobyl USSR – nuclear generating plant Chernobyl USSR – nuclear generating plant

disasterdisaster

More than 336,000 people had to be evacuated More than 336,000 people had to be evacuated and resettledand resettled

60% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus60% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus

400 times more radioactive fallout was released 400 times more radioactive fallout was released than had been by the atomic bombing of than had been by the atomic bombing of HiroshimaHiroshima

1986: Challenger Space Shuttle explodes Challenger Space Shuttle explodes

shortly after take off from Cape shortly after take off from Cape Canaveral; seven astronauts killedCanaveral; seven astronauts killed

1987: British ferry, The Herald of Free British ferry, The Herald of Free

Enterprise capsizes on its way from Enterprise capsizes on its way from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Dover, Zeebrugge, Belgium to Dover, EnglandEngland

1988: Major American cities facing ‘Crack’ Major American cities facing ‘Crack’

invasioninvasion Iraq admits using chemical weaponsIraq admits using chemical weapons Huge earthquake devastates ArmeniaHuge earthquake devastates Armenia New Arab – Israeli clashes in East New Arab – Israeli clashes in East

Jerusalem at the Dome of the Rock Jerusalem at the Dome of the Rock (one of the holiest sites in the city(one of the holiest sites in the city

1989: Massive earthquake in San Francisco Massive earthquake in San Francisco

Bay – 270 deathsBay – 270 deaths Vast oil spill of more than a million Vast oil spill of more than a million

barrels of crude oil from the Exxon barrels of crude oil from the Exxon Valdez tanker pollutes more than 500 Valdez tanker pollutes more than 500 square miles of Alaskan waters and square miles of Alaskan waters and coastline to a depth of one foot on some coastline to a depth of one foot on some beaches and causes massive loss of beaches and causes massive loss of wild life including birds, seals and otterswild life including birds, seals and otters

1989: The Berlin Wall comes down The Berlin Wall comes down

Rumanian Revolution takes placeRumanian Revolution takes place

Tiananmen Square massacre – Chinese Tiananmen Square massacre – Chinese soldiers kill several hundred civilians and soldiers kill several hundred civilians and students protesting for democratic change students protesting for democratic change

1990: Nelson Mandela freedNelson Mandela freed

East and West Germany reunited after 45 East and West Germany reunited after 45 years and becomes The Federal Republic of years and becomes The Federal Republic of GermanyGermany

Disaster in Mecca: 1400 pilgrims suffocated, Disaster in Mecca: 1400 pilgrims suffocated, crushed or trampled to death in a tunnel crushed or trampled to death in a tunnel leading from the Ka’aba shrine inside the leading from the Ka’aba shrine inside the Great Mosque to nearby Mount ArafatGreat Mosque to nearby Mount Arafat

1991: Yugoslavia edges closer to civil warYugoslavia edges closer to civil war

[Slovenia and Croatia have [Slovenia and Croatia have democratically elected presidents; democratically elected presidents; Serbia is the most powerful republic]Serbia is the most powerful republic]

1992: Serbian death camps in Bosnia shock Serbian death camps in Bosnia shock

the world; rumours of brutality, the world; rumours of brutality, murder and rape confirmed by TV murder and rape confirmed by TV picturespictures

Serbian ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Policy Serbian ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Policy denounced by U.S. officialsdenounced by U.S. officials

1992: Racial tensions erupt - Los Angeles Racial tensions erupt - Los Angeles

burns after Rodney King verdictburns after Rodney King verdict

1993: Huge explosion shakes the 110 floor high Huge explosion shakes the 110 floor high

Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. Five killed and hundreds affected New York. Five killed and hundreds affected by smoke inhalation – ‘the worst terrorist by smoke inhalation – ‘the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history’* attack in U.S. history’*

* Superseded in 2001 when the Twin Towers * Superseded in 2001 when the Twin Towers were targeted again and thousands of were targeted again and thousands of fatalities occurredfatalities occurred

1993: White rule in South Africa ends –White rule in South Africa ends –

First all race elections scheduled for April First all race elections scheduled for April 1994. Frederik de Klerk, the white president 1994. Frederik de Klerk, the white president who was the architect of the reforms said, who was the architect of the reforms said, ‘the next parliament will remove the albatross ‘the next parliament will remove the albatross of injustice, exclusion and discrimination’. of injustice, exclusion and discrimination’.

The move is bitterly opposed by white The move is bitterly opposed by white supremacistssupremacists

1994: N.A.T.O. involved in the first offensive N.A.T.O. involved in the first offensive

action in its 45 year history as it action in its 45 year history as it launches an air attack over Bosnia. launches an air attack over Bosnia. Two Bosnian Serb aircraft shot down Two Bosnian Serb aircraft shot down having twice ignored warnings to having twice ignored warnings to leave the U.N. ‘No Fly Zone’.leave the U.N. ‘No Fly Zone’.

1994: Rwanda’s ‘Killing Fields’ rooted in conflict Rwanda’s ‘Killing Fields’ rooted in conflict

between the Hutu government and the between the Hutu government and the Tutsi rebelsTutsi rebels

Makeshift refugee camps overwhelmed by Makeshift refugee camps overwhelmed by starvation and disease. Drugs, food and starvation and disease. Drugs, food and clean water are desperately neededclean water are desperately needed

The Red Cross estimates that over 100,000 The Red Cross estimates that over 100,000 people have been killed in two weeks of people have been killed in two weeks of tribal slaughtertribal slaughter

1994: Nelson Mandela sworn in as South Nelson Mandela sworn in as South

Africa’s first black presidentAfrica’s first black president

1995: Kobe, Japan experiences its worst Kobe, Japan experiences its worst

earthquake since 1923earthquake since 1923

The 20 second shock, measuring 7.2 The 20 second shock, measuring 7.2 on The Richter Scale leaves more on The Richter Scale leaves more than 4000 people deadthan 4000 people dead

1995: In Rwanda Hutus massacred by the In Rwanda Hutus massacred by the

Tutsi dominated army at the Kibeho Tutsi dominated army at the Kibeho refugee camprefugee camp

Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzah Rabin Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzah Rabin shot dead after calling for peace. His shot dead after calling for peace. His assailant, 25 year old student Yigal assailant, 25 year old student Yigal Amir told police, ‘I acted alone on Amir told police, ‘I acted alone on God’s orders and have no regrets’.God’s orders and have no regrets’.

1995: Bosnian peace deal brokered by U.S. negotiator Bosnian peace deal brokered by U.S. negotiator

Richard Holbrooke. Milosevic of Serbia, Richard Holbrooke. Milosevic of Serbia, Trudjman of Croatia and Izetbegovic of Bosnia Trudjman of Croatia and Izetbegovic of Bosnia consented to a formula that ‘ostensibly creates consented to a formula that ‘ostensibly creates a unified Bosnia, but in facts divides the a unified Bosnia, but in facts divides the country along racial lines.country along racial lines.Two self-governing parts created – a Moslem-Two self-governing parts created – a Moslem-Croat Federation and a Bosnia Serb RepublicCroat Federation and a Bosnia Serb RepublicThe agreement is backed up by 60,00 N.A.T.O. The agreement is backed up by 60,00 N.A.T.O. troops – 20 thousand from the U.S. and 13 troops – 20 thousand from the U.S. and 13 thousand from the U.K.thousand from the U.K.

1995: Tokyo on alert after poison Serin Tokyo on alert after poison Serin

nerve gas attack in the subway nerve gas attack in the subway system system

1996: I.R.A. blast in London’s Docklands I.R.A. blast in London’s Docklands

ends fragile ceasefire and is seen as ends fragile ceasefire and is seen as an attempt to derail the Peace an attempt to derail the Peace ProcessProcess

Pipe bomb at the Atlanta Olympics Pipe bomb at the Atlanta Olympics leaves two dead and more than a leaves two dead and more than a hundred injured hundred injured

1996: Mid-air disaster over Delhi, India when a Mid-air disaster over Delhi, India when a

Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 collided with Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 collided with an Ilyushin 76. All 312 people on the 747 an Ilyushin 76. All 312 people on the 747 and 38 people on the Ilyushin died in the and 38 people on the Ilyushin died in the world’s third worst ever mid-air collision.world’s third worst ever mid-air collision.

The Ilyusin was flying 1000 feet too low. The Ilyusin was flying 1000 feet too low.

1996: Two years on over 500,000 refugees Two years on over 500,000 refugees

return to their Rwandan homeland, return to their Rwandan homeland, most having fled the bloody ethnic most having fled the bloody ethnic conflict in their countryconflict in their country

Hundreds of thousands have no food Hundreds of thousands have no food or basic suppliesor basic supplies

1996: Manchester City Centre devastated by Manchester City Centre devastated by

I.R.A. bombI.R.A. bomb

1997: 3131stst August – Death of Princess Diana in Paris August – Death of Princess Diana in Paris

The Princess was well-known for her work for many The Princess was well-known for her work for many humanitarian causes, including support for victims of land humanitarian causes, including support for victims of land mines and those suffering from HIV/AIDSmines and those suffering from HIV/AIDS

Millions of people around the world experienced a sense of Millions of people around the world experienced a sense of loss and many felt directly and deeply affected by her deathloss and many felt directly and deeply affected by her death

Coverage of her funeral was broadcast live by the BBC and Coverage of her funeral was broadcast live by the BBC and flags across the country were flown at half mastflags across the country were flown at half mast

1997: 55thth September - Mother Teresa*, ‘The September - Mother Teresa*, ‘The

Saint of the Slums’ dies aged 87 in Saint of the Slums’ dies aged 87 in Calcutta, India having devoted her life Calcutta, India having devoted her life to looking after the destitute and the to looking after the destitute and the dyingdying

*Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19*Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19thth October 2003 October 2003

1998: Northern Ireland peace settlement Northern Ireland peace settlement

‘The Good Friday Accord’ agreed‘The Good Friday Accord’ agreed Bomb explodes in Omagh, Northern Bomb explodes in Omagh, Northern

Ireland killing 28 (August)Ireland killing 28 (August) Negotiators David Trimble and John Negotiators David Trimble and John

Hume receive the Nobel Peace Prize Hume receive the Nobel Peace Prize for their part in securing the Accord for their part in securing the Accord (October(October)

1998: Mass trials begin in Rwanda for the Mass trials begin in Rwanda for the

1994 genocide – 125,000 suspects for 1994 genocide – 125,000 suspects for thethe

500,000 murders500,000 murders

1998: Worst floods of the century devastate Worst floods of the century devastate

low-lying Bangladeshlow-lying Bangladesh

More than 900 people dead More than 900 people dead

30 million people left homeless30 million people left homeless

1998: Hurricane Georges devastates Florida Hurricane Georges devastates Florida

Keys after killing more than 250 Keys after killing more than 250 people in the Caribbeanpeople in the Caribbean

1998: Hurricane Mitch strikes Honduras, Hurricane Mitch strikes Honduras,

Nicaragua and Guatemala killing an Nicaragua and Guatemala killing an estimated 5000 peopleestimated 5000 people600,000, nearly 10% of Honduras’s 600,000, nearly 10% of Honduras’s population, left homeless by the population, left homeless by the hurricane are forced to flee hurricane are forced to flee The worst hurricane season in the The worst hurricane season in the Atlantic for 200 yearsAtlantic for 200 years

1999: Colombia crushed by earthquakeColombia crushed by earthquake

Avalanches near Chamonix in the Avalanches near Chamonix in the French Alps kills eighteen – worst French Alps kills eighteen – worst avalanche season for ninety yearsavalanche season for ninety years