1989

Of many events of 1989 we have hit the corner stone transitioning into the 21st century. At the end of the 80’s era we were transitioning into new pop culture, music, dance, traditions, and many things that would make up to how society is today. During the timeline of 1989 the following major events took place in which have made the history books today. These events were the fall of Berlin Wall, Cold Fusion, world wide ban of ivory, and Vietnam withdraws from Cambodia. (In the 80’s)

The fall of the Berlin Wall happened when the split between East and West Germany was taken down in unity and travel restrictions were gone. When the wall went down people went through and were celebrating breaking off chunks of the wall itself. Since then that day is considered Freedom Day and is celebrated across Germany and the United States. This event made a new holiday in the calendars and was a big corner stone because this act helped end the Cold War. (The awesome 80’s)

Cold Fusion switched on how we look at energy today because this caused a change into a more renewable energy than fossil fuels. Cold Fusion made differences because it is still considered impossible today but what happened was a fluke and we still are looking for the answer that caused this reaction to happen. Back in 1989 we had glimmer of hope for renewable energy until cold fusion was considered “clumsy science” which in other words was an accident. The experiments for making Cold Fusion started in 1940 but the “Accident” occurred in 1989 during which ended the Energy crises for a brief moment. (Cold Fusion Research)

The ivory ban was to reduce poaching of elephants in 1989. Poachers would kill around 5,000 elephants a year until the ban which reduced the kills to around 55 elephants a year. Ivory was very valuable that it would sell around $300 per kilo. The ban reduced the price drastically that all sales of ivory had to be eliminated thus reducing the price down to $3 per kilo. And still today the ban is in effect and it is now considered illegal to purchase ivory products through E-bay. (Iclark Chapter 6)

In the end of the cold war Vietnam withdrew from Cambodia in defeat and we also withdrew our troops from the Vietnam War. The war was started duet to failed negotiations in the peace treaty in which china had actually invaded Cambodia and Vietnam was fighting in a war against communism. (Congressional Research Service)

Resources

• In The 80’s timeline http://www.inthe80s.com/time1989.shtml
• The Awesome 80’s Berlin Wall http://www.awesome80s.com/Awesome80s/News/1989/November/9-Berlin_Wall_Torn_Down.asp
• Cold Fusion Research http://www.ncas.org/erab/
• Iclark ivory ban article Chapter 6 http://www.lclark.edu/~soan/ivory.html
• Congressional Research Service-Vietnam War http://ftp.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33803.pdf