The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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2022 C.E. January 9Parliament of the Faroe Islands grants equal parental rights for same-sex couples
The government coalition stood on the brink of collapse ahead of today’s third reading of two bills relating to parental rights of same-sex co-parents. Both bills from the opposition were adopted with 18 votes in favor and 13 against.
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2022 C.E. January 7United Arab Emirates permanently stops censoring films
For decades, as with many Islamic countries, cinemas in the Middle Eastern country have been censored to prevent viewers from watching scenes involving nudity, homosexuality, sex, and other content deemed inappropriate by the government and religious leaders.
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2022 C.E. January 6Pakistan confirms appointment of first female Supreme Court judge
A commission that decides on the promotion of judges on Thursday voted to make 55-year-old Justice Ayesha Malik the first female judge on the Supreme Court in the 75 years since the South Asian country's independence.
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2022 C.E. January 6Ten nations commit to build a massive ‘Great Blue Wall’ to help conserve western Indian Ocean
Only around 5-8% of the marine area in the Indian Ocean is under some form of legal protection, a far cry from the goal of protecting 30% of Earth’s land and oceans by 2030.
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2022 C.E. January 6Kazakhstan abolishes death penalty
President Tokayev signed a law on ratification of the second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with the purpose of abolishing the death penalty.
-
2022 C.E. January 3Italy to ban all fur farming in 2022
A new amendment to Italy’s budget law requires all of the country’s remaining ten mink farms to be permanently closed no later than June 30, 2022, according to EcoWatch.
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2021 C.E. December 17European supermarkets discontinue selling Brazilian beef to protect the Amazon
Sainsbury’s in the U.K., Lidl in the Netherlands, and the Dutch retailer Alhold Delhaize were among the companies saying they would move away from stocking Brazilian beef.
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2021 C.E. December 17New York City votes to electrify new buildings, ban natural gas
The legislation, which Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign, requires electricity-powered heat and hot water in most new buildings under seven stories by 2024 and all other buildings in 2027.
-
2021 C.E. December 17Pittsburgh will become a dark sky city in 2022
Pittsburgh will follow the International Dark Sky Association’s new values-centered outdoor lighting guidelines and switch to lower wattage LED bulbs in streetlights, bridges, and other public spaces.
-
2021 C.E. December 16Wind power becomes Spain’s leading energy source for 2021
So far this year, renewable sources have contributed almost 47% of the country's total consumption needs compared to less than 30% a decade ago.
-
2022 C.E. January 9Parliament of the Faroe Islands grants equal parental rights for same-sex couples
The government coalition stood on the brink of collapse ahead of today’s third reading of two bills relating to parental rights of same-sex co-parents. Both bills from the opposition were adopted with 18 votes in favor and 13 against.
-
2022 C.E. January 7United Arab Emirates permanently stops censoring films
For decades, as with many Islamic countries, cinemas in the Middle Eastern country have been censored to prevent viewers from watching scenes involving nudity, homosexuality, sex, and other content deemed inappropriate by the government and religious leaders.
-
2022 C.E. January 6Pakistan confirms appointment of first female Supreme Court judge
A commission that decides on the promotion of judges on Thursday voted to make 55-year-old Justice Ayesha Malik the first female judge on the Supreme Court in the 75 years since the South Asian country's independence.
-
2022 C.E. January 6Ten nations commit to build a massive ‘Great Blue Wall’ to help conserve western Indian Ocean
Only around 5-8% of the marine area in the Indian Ocean is under some form of legal protection, a far cry from the goal of protecting 30% of Earth’s land and oceans by 2030.
-
2022 C.E. January 6Kazakhstan abolishes death penalty
President Tokayev signed a law on ratification of the second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with the purpose of abolishing the death penalty.
-
2022 C.E. January 3Italy to ban all fur farming in 2022
A new amendment to Italy’s budget law requires all of the country’s remaining ten mink farms to be permanently closed no later than June 30, 2022, according to EcoWatch.
-
2021 C.E. December 17European supermarkets discontinue selling Brazilian beef to protect the Amazon
Sainsbury’s in the U.K., Lidl in the Netherlands, and the Dutch retailer Alhold Delhaize were among the companies saying they would move away from stocking Brazilian beef.
-
2021 C.E. December 17New York City votes to electrify new buildings, ban natural gas
The legislation, which Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign, requires electricity-powered heat and hot water in most new buildings under seven stories by 2024 and all other buildings in 2027.
-
2021 C.E. December 17Pittsburgh will become a dark sky city in 2022
Pittsburgh will follow the International Dark Sky Association’s new values-centered outdoor lighting guidelines and switch to lower wattage LED bulbs in streetlights, bridges, and other public spaces.
-
2021 C.E. December 16Wind power becomes Spain’s leading energy source for 2021
So far this year, renewable sources have contributed almost 47% of the country's total consumption needs compared to less than 30% a decade ago.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.