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. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
Filters
Search
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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2021 C.E. November 23Target to keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for good
“You don’t have to wonder whether this is the last Thanksgiving you’ll spend with family and friends for a while," Target CEO Brian Cornell wrote in a note to employees.
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2021 C.E. November 23Jaguar populations in Mexico are growing, a sign that conservation strategies are working
The first surveys to count jaguars in Mexico revealed a 20% increase in the population from 2010 to 2018, up to 4,800 animals.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Milan enacts groundbreaking strategy to cut food waste in half
Milan is the world's first major city to enforce a citywide food waste policy, relying on the wide-ranging cooperation of public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities, and private businesses.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Indonesia declares largest manta ray sanctuary in the world
Indonesia, a nation that has been the world’s largest fishery for sharks and rays for decades, has announced legislation that will fully protect all manta rays within its nearly 6 million square km exclusive economic zone.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Portugal becomes fourth E.U. country to stop using coal plants
The Pego plant located 90 miles northeast of Lisbon stopped generating over the weekend, as Portugal became the fourth E.U. country to stop burning coal to produce electricity.
-
2021 C.E. November 19Apple to start backing self-service technology repair
The program, Self Service Repair, will include tools, manuals, and Apple parts for users to fix their own products when something goes awry. It is set to launch in 2022.
-
2021 C.E. November 19New ATM helps Kenyans switch from charcoal to eco-friendly fuel
The blue ATMs from the startup Koko dispense bioethanol made from sugarcane. As of now, there are 700 Koko ATMs across Nairobi.
-
2021 C.E. November 19Major French dictionary adds non-binary pronouns for the first time
An entry for iel and iels was added to the dictionary Le Robert that says: “Third person subject personal pronoun – singular and plural – used to refer to a person of any gender.”
-
2021 C.E. November 18U.S. Education Department announces $2 billion of student loans will be cancelled within weeks
Borrowers who are pursuing public service student loan forgiveness will be able to count previously ineligible student loan payments, get credit for late student loan payments that were late, and more.
-
2021 C.E. November 18India greatly enhances solar module manufacturing incentive
India has increased its incentive package for solar module manufacturing by a factor of 5, to $3 billion. This scheme is part of India’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in renewable power equipment.
-
2021 C.E. November 23Target to keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for good
“You don’t have to wonder whether this is the last Thanksgiving you’ll spend with family and friends for a while," Target CEO Brian Cornell wrote in a note to employees.
-
2021 C.E. November 23Jaguar populations in Mexico are growing, a sign that conservation strategies are working
The first surveys to count jaguars in Mexico revealed a 20% increase in the population from 2010 to 2018, up to 4,800 animals.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Milan enacts groundbreaking strategy to cut food waste in half
Milan is the world's first major city to enforce a citywide food waste policy, relying on the wide-ranging cooperation of public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities, and private businesses.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Indonesia declares largest manta ray sanctuary in the world
Indonesia, a nation that has been the world’s largest fishery for sharks and rays for decades, has announced legislation that will fully protect all manta rays within its nearly 6 million square km exclusive economic zone.
-
2021 C.E. November 22Portugal becomes fourth E.U. country to stop using coal plants
The Pego plant located 90 miles northeast of Lisbon stopped generating over the weekend, as Portugal became the fourth E.U. country to stop burning coal to produce electricity.
-
2021 C.E. November 19Apple to start backing self-service technology repair
The program, Self Service Repair, will include tools, manuals, and Apple parts for users to fix their own products when something goes awry. It is set to launch in 2022.
-
2021 C.E. November 19New ATM helps Kenyans switch from charcoal to eco-friendly fuel
The blue ATMs from the startup Koko dispense bioethanol made from sugarcane. As of now, there are 700 Koko ATMs across Nairobi.
-
2021 C.E. November 19Major French dictionary adds non-binary pronouns for the first time
An entry for iel and iels was added to the dictionary Le Robert that says: “Third person subject personal pronoun – singular and plural – used to refer to a person of any gender.”
-
2021 C.E. November 18U.S. Education Department announces $2 billion of student loans will be cancelled within weeks
Borrowers who are pursuing public service student loan forgiveness will be able to count previously ineligible student loan payments, get credit for late student loan payments that were late, and more.
-
2021 C.E. November 18India greatly enhances solar module manufacturing incentive
India has increased its incentive package for solar module manufacturing by a factor of 5, to $3 billion. This scheme is part of India’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in renewable power equipment.
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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.