October 19 marks the death of Mozambican President and revolutionary leader Samora Machel, who was killed in a plane crash just inside the border of South Africa. His mysterious death has resulted in widespread suspicions that the apartheid government may have purposely ignored safety procedures and still, 30 years later, the cause of the crash is unknown.
However, Machel’s death is just a name in a long list of world leaders who have died in plane or helicopter crashes. Here is a timeline of political figures who have passed away in aviation accidents.
Women in science, technology, engineering and technology, deserve recognition, and Ada Lovelace Day is the perfect time to highlight the achievements of women in STEM disciplines and create role models for young girls to show that the industry is not exclusive to boys. Here are 7 women in tech everybody should know!
Ada Lovelace
Daughter of poet Lord Byron, Augusta Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace was born in London on December 10, 1815. Ada had an unusual upbringing for an aristocratic girl; her mother insisted her daughter’s tutors taught her mathematics and science and from early on, Lovelace showed a talent for numbers and language. At the age of 17, Ada met mathematician Charles Babbage and through him, she began studying advanced mathematics with University of London Professor Augustus de Morgan. Fascinated by Babbage’s ideas, Ada was later asked to translate an article on Babbage’s analytical engine and she added her own thoughts and ideas on the machine. Her notes ended up being three times longer than the original article and Ada is often considered to be the first computer programmer.
Katherine Johnson
Born in 1918, Johnson was the first African American woman to attend the desegregated graduate school at West Virginia University. She was as American physicist, space scientist, and mathematician. Her incredible contributions to the United States Space Program had her working with NASA for decades. It was her skill and expertise that led the calculations of the launches and emergency back-up return paths for many flights, which included the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. She was instrumental in the adoption of digital computers at NASA.
Grace Hopper
Born in New York City in 1906, Grace Hopper studied math and physics at Vassar College. After graduating from Vassar, she proceeded to Yale where she received a master’s degree in mathematics and later earned a Ph.D. Hopper became an associate professor until she joined the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. She was assigned the Bureau of Ordnance Computation Project at Harvard University, where she learned to program a Mark I computer. After the war, she remained with the Navy, and worked with the Mark II and Mark III computers. She invented the term “computer bug” and her team created the first compiler for computer languages. The compiler would later be used around the world.
Jean Jennings Bartik
Jean Jennings Bartik was born on December 27, 1924 on a farm in Missouri. She attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, she was encouraged to major in physical education, and she received math degree. Bartik would later answer an Army advertisement for recent mathematics graduates and was selected as a programmer on the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) project, on one of the electronic computers. The ENIAC could perform in 30 seconds a calculation that took the computer scientists 20 hours. The work performed by Bartik was a step toward the programming languages that would later be written.
Margaret Hamilton
Margaret Hamilton earned a B.A. in mathematics with a minor in philosophy from Earlham College in 1958. She would move on and get a job as a programmer at MIT, and the plan was for her to support her husband through his studies at Harvard Law. But, Hamilton stayed and worked in the Apollo space programme were she invented core ideas in programming as Hamilton was writing the code for the world’s first portable computer. In 1965, she progressed and became responsible for the flight software on the Apollo computers.
Radia Joy Perlman, born in 1951, was a student at MIT and undertook a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity) within the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She would go on to develop a child friendly version of the educational robotics language LOGO, called TORTIS (“Toddler’s Own Recursive Turtle Interpreter System). Radia would later be described as a pioneer of teaching young children computer programming.
Sophie Wilson
Sophie Wilson was raised in 1957, in Leeds, Yorkshire, and studied computer science at the University of Cambridge. Famously, during her Easter break from university, Wilson designed a microcomputer with a 6502 microprocessor inspired by the earlier MK14 and was used to control feed for cows. She would later, in 1978, join Acorn Computers LTD, after designing a device to prevent cigarette lighter sparks triggering payouts on fruit machines. The design was used to build the Acorn Micro-Computer. In 1983, Wilson designed the instruction set for one of the first RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) processors and this processor type is now used in 95% of smart phones today.
Presidential debates very often bring out the best in candidates. But more often we remember the mistakes and blunders that change the course of an election.
Here is a timeline of some of the most embarrassing moments in debate history.
As part of the United States Constitution, Article III states:
“The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”
In order to provide structure and divide power, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the final interpreter of federal constitutional law, protects civil rights and ensures laws are not passed that contradict the fundamental values common to Americans. This involves making landmark decisions that will influence the lives of millions, such as the recent historic 2015 ruling that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States.
History of Women on the Supreme Court
However, despite the court’s impact on society at large, it took almost 200 years before a woman was chosen as associate justice. This week marks the anniversary of Sandra Day O’Connor’s first day in office as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1981. To celebrate, we would like to spotlight the only four women justices who have served on the Supreme Court: Sandra Day O’Connor; Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Abdel Aziz describes what it was like leaving Morocco and his family as a young man, and live with his friends from his home town in London. He remembers the good times they had; devising a system that made sure everyone was living within their budget and creating a new family in the city.
Storyteller: Abdel Aziz Najah Date of Story: 1980s Location of Story: London, England Location: London, England Date: 25 September, 2016
The promotion of peace is one of the main purposes of the United Nations and so back in 1981 it declared 21 September as the International Day of Peace. This day is meant to encourage people to build a culture of peace, and the UN says that we, the public, should be right at the forefront of the celebrations:
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed, that a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of Governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.”
People across the world celebrate in ways that are unique to them, whether it is personal or political, and to their community. In the last few years, there have been events like peace protests, art exhibitions, tree planting and even picnics!
How are we celebrating?
The theme to this year’s International Day of Peace at the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These goals aim to end all injustices and build a society that focuses on the “people, planet and prosperity.” With the targets ranging from reducing poverty to ensuring quality education, we have compiled a short list of interviews from our citizen historians to celebrate the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and share some of our favourite sustainable development stories.
1. Ensure Quality Education: I want to become a doctor to heal Nepal
Shree Krishna, a 16 year-old student living in a village outside Kathmandu, talks about how the lack of medical resources in his country motivates him to become a doctor.
Storyteller: Shree Krishna
Date of Story: 24 November, 2015 Location of Story: Jitpur Phedi, Nepal Location:Jitpur Phedi, Nepal Date: 24 November, 2015
2. Gender Equality: A self-made 19th century Irish woman
Author Susan Matoff discusses the extraordinary life of Marguerite Gardiner, who became the Countess of Blessington and an influential literary figure despite a series of unfortunate events and systematic discrimination by her peers.
Storyteller: Susan Matoff
Date of Story: 1788-1849 Location of Story: lonmel, Ireland; London, U.K., Naples, Italy; Location:Bushey Heath, UK Date: 22 March, 2016
3. Eliminate Racism and Xenophobia: Regardless of religion, we were all Ukrainian
Ukrainian Prof. Oleh Turij talks about the experiences of his grandmother during World War II, including her relationship with a poor Jewish community that asked her family to take in one of their children as war broke out. He also talks about the importance of looking at oral history, even though not all details may be clear.
Storyteller: Prof. Oleh Turij
Date of Story: 1930s-early 1940s Location of Story: Bukachivtsi, Soviet Ukraine Location:Vienna, Austria Date: 6 June, 2016
4. Sustainable and Clean Energy for All: The human cost of the fuel crisis
Eva Wieners describes one of the tragic consequences of the catastrophic fuel crisis that paralyzed Nepal in the wake of the April 2015 earthquake. Since fuel was scarce, buses ran less frequently and became overcrowded, leading to a surge in traffic accident deaths. Storyteller: Eva Wieners Date of Story: September 2015 Location of Story: Nepal Location: Münster, Germany Date: 17 February, 2016
5. Reduce Income Inequality among Countries: The promise and the reality of the Euro
Businesswoman Sara Carrer explains the effects of the introduction of the Euro in Italy. Storyteller: Sara Carrer Date of Story: 2002 Location of Story: Jesolo, Italy Location: Bruxelles, Belgium Date: 26 February, 2016
Najma describes what it was like leaving her one month old daughter behind when looking for a job in India. She remembers missing the important milestones in her baby’s life and the way she felt when her daughter failed to recognise her.
Storyteller: Najma Rahman Date of Story: 1970s Location of Story: Dhaka, Bangladesh Location: London, England Date: 03 September, 2016
Najma remembers her childhood in Bangladesh. As the eldest child of a poor family, Najma recalls crossing the border from Bangladesh to India in hope of finding a job that could support her family. Once she arrived in India, she faced challenges learning a new language and securing a source of income.
Storyteller: Najma Rahman Date of Story: 1970s Location of Story: Dhaka, Bangladesh Location: London, England Date: 03 September, 2016
The United Nations has declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy. The day celebrates principles like universal suffrage, human rights and freedom of speech.
What Does Democracy Mean to You?
At the heart of the UN campaign is that people from around the world come together, share ideas and think about what makes a democracy. The United Nations accepts that it is a process:
“Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.”
To celebrate and contribute to the discussion , we would like to share our favorite memories of democracy on Tell History. Each story is captured by our citizen historians, contributing to a better human understanding of what democracy means to the individual.
1.The Right to Vote: Baghdad Bans NGOs in Kurdistan
Humanitarian expert Stafford Clarry describes that once the Kurdistan Regional Government was established in 1992, the Iraqi government blocked many international NGOs from operating in the Kurdistan region.
Storyteller: Stafford Clarry Date of Story: May, 1992 Location of Story: Kurdistan Region of Iraq Location: Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq Date: 20 April, 2016
2. The Right to be Elected as Representative: Democracy in a Refugee Camp
Hussain Ali talks about the democratic institutions that have developed inside Baharka Camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Each community elects representatives to help manage essential camp activities, helping build cooperation between the various groups that have lived in the tent city since its creation in 2013.
Storyteller: Hussain Ali Date of Story: 9 April, 2016 Location of Story: Baharka, Kurdistan Region of Iraq Location: Baharka, Kurdistan Region of Iraq Date: 9 April, 2016
3. Freedom of the Press: Predicting a Narrow Win for the Treaty of Maastricht
Julian Nundy talks about how The Independent was a paper that was willing to take risks, illustrated by an episode when the paper backed his prediction that the referendum for the Treaty of Maastricht would only pass by a narrow margin, despite widespread belief there would be a strong majority in favor. Nundy was supported by the editorial board–although there were some doubts about his judgement–and this paid off when results showed only 51% in favor of the treaty.
Storyteller: Julian Nundy Date of Story: 20 September, 1992 Location of Story: Paris, France Location: Paris, France Date: 25 March, 2016
4. The Right to Take Part in Public Affairs: Covering Nelson Mandela’s Release from Prison
Julian Nundy looks back to his first big story for the Independent on Sunday, which involved traveling to South Africa to cover the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. It was also the first time he remembered getting positive feedback about the Independent on Sunday from international readers.
Storyteller: Julian Nundy Date of Story: February, 1990 Location of Story: Johannesburg, South Africa Location: Paris, France Date: 25 March, 2016
5. The Right to Associate with Others: Documenting Berlin Wall from a Dump Truck
Photographer Brian Harris remembers that it wasn’t clear the Berlin Wall would fall and that it took many by surprise. Luckily he was in East Berlin when the moment came, and he describes his long night covering the story as it unfolded.
Storyteller: Brian Harris Date of Story: October-9 November, 1989 Location of Story: East Berlin, Germany Location: Outside Cambridge, UK Date: 6 April, 2016
6. Fair and Free Elections: Politics Has Been Destroyed by Financial Powers
Politician Stefania Craxi explains the legacy of the Tangentopoli bribery scandals of the 1990s. She argues that reforms of the Italian political system failed because of the influence of the financial interests.
Storyteller: Stefania Craxi Date of Story: 1992 Location of Story: Rome, Italy Location: Rome, Italy Date: 2 March, 2016
7. Equal Access to Information: The Undemocratic Age of Computing
Computer scientist John Hayes says that although not much has changed about computers “on the abstract level” for 40 years, pretty much everything else about them is different: who uses them, the hardware, work practices, functionality, and the way we think about them.
Storyteller: John Hayes Date of Story: 1976-present Location of Story: Chalfont St. Giles, UK Location: Chalfont St. Giles, UK Date: 6 February, 2016
8. Freedom of Speech: Freedom of Speech Makes a Brief appearance in Egypt
Journalist Campbell MacDiarmid chronicles the rise and fall of freedom of speech in Egypt, from before the Arab Spring in 2009 through Mohamed Morsi’s reign (2012-2013) until the coup d’état by General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, an event that propelled Campbell and others to leave the country.
Storyteller: Campbell MacDiarmid Date of Story: 2009- 2013 Location of Story: Cairo, Egypt Location:Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Date: 31 October, 2015
9. Freedom of Expression: I Was Part of the 68 Generation in Austria
Silvia Kronberger, 14 in 1968, talks about how her generation rebelled against the conservatism of their parents and helped establish a new kind of society. She hopes that young people today will also question the status quo in politics and culture.
Storyteller: Silvia Kronberger Date of Story: 1968-1970s Location of Story: Salzburg, Austria Location:Salzburg, Austria Date: 29 October, 2015
10. The Right to Protest: Witnessing 1.5 million people demand independence from Spain
Austrian Verena Gruber recounts the experience of observing nearly 1.5 million Catalans demonstrate for independence from Spain just weeks before the Catalonia region voted “yes” in a historic referendum to go their separate way.
Storyteller: Verena Gruber Date of Story: 11 September, 2015; 27 September 2015 Location of Story: Barcelona, Spain Location: Vienna, Austria Date: 26 October, 2015
Najma Rahman remembers her first day as a live-in nanny on September 11, 2001, when two airplanes hit the World Trade Centre. She describes what it was like as an outsider and a new member of an unfamiliar household.
Storyteller: Najma Rahman Date of Story: 11 September, 2001 Location of Story: London, England Location: London, England Date: 3 September, 2016
