2003 - News We Remember

[Jonathan]

This is a thread were we can look back and remember all the news from 2003.

Like the Sars virus which spread itself from southern China and infected about 8,000 people around the world, mostly in Asia and Canada. A few hundred died, which is nothing when you think of that hundreds of thousands of people die in flu every year. Then Sars seemed to just disappear in July, the epidemy was over. Even though Sars proved to be not so dangerous after all, the virus was very harmful to the Asian economy with less foreign investments and less tourism and all.

Then we have the war in Iraq and the aftermath. The world was split in two – those who supported the war and those who did not – and old friends became enemies.
Tanks rolled into Baghdad though Comical Ali said they were not, Hussein’s rule ended and the management of Iraq was given to the Coalition forces. Hussein himself was captured in mid-December – news which many thought were the best news of the year.
Though the war isn’t really over yet, Coalition soldiers are killed almost every day in Iraq. We will have to hope that 2004 becomes a calmer year for those in Iraq.

The Europeans might remember about Eastern Europe and the many referendums which were held there about joining the EU. A majority of the people in the countries voted ‘Yes’, so the EU will become ten member states richer next year.
And the talks about the new EU Constitution failed. It might take a long while and many summits until the 25 member states can agree with a new constitution. We just have to wait and see.

We remember the space shuttle Columbia and the 7 astronauts who died – six Americans and one Israeli. It must have been horrible for their families to see them just blow up like that.
Hope NASA can get the remaining shuttles up and running soon.

And Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor in California! I thought that was really cool . I am sure the Californians will be satisfied with him.



Any other news you would like to bring up and shed some light on now at the end of the year?

[gollum9630]

the forest fires in kelowna BC, burning hundreds of homes while leaving other s untouched, all on the same street. Then the flooding in BC that left 4 dead after there car fell into a river when a bridge was swept away.

[jerseydevil]

Hurricane isabel and the fear that it was a going to be a category 5 when it hit land. Luckily it went down to a category 3 and 2 the day before it hit.

The mud slides in Calfornia that just happened this week, along with the forest fires in Calfornia.

Libya coming forward about weapons programs and agreeing to inspections.

[Valandil]

The Cubs and Red Sox (of all teams!!!) both coming within a game of the World Series!!

It's new news... but this quake that hit Iran. They're estimating maybe 50,000 dead now.

The release of the third installment in the 'Lord of the Rings' movies: "The Return of the King"

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Jonathan
This is a thread were we can look back and remember all the news from 2003.

Like the Sars virus which spread itself from southern China and infected about 8,000 people around the world, mostly in Asia and Canada. A few hundred died, which is nothing when you think of that hundreds of thousands of people die in flu every year. Then Sars seemed to just disappear in July, the epidemy was over. Even though Sars proved to be not so dangerous after all, the virus was very harmful to the Asian economy with less foreign investments and less tourism and all.

Actually, China has confirmed that there has been a person, who has fallen ill with SARS this week..

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
Actually, China has confirmed that there has been a person, who has fallen ill with SARS this week..

Yeah, I know there was this one person who they suspected had SARS. So they have confirmed it actually is SARS now?

Well at least the epidemic is over and I don't think this new person is going to start a new one.

[Nerdanel]

Yes, they confirmed it a couple of years ago.

No, I don't think so either. I just wanted u to know.

The Iraq-thing messed up politics in Finland too. We had to form a new Government, since our prime minister had some weird stuff going on. And it had to do with the crisis in Iraq.
Guess every country was affected by it in its own way.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
Yes, they confirmed it a couple of years ago.

No, I don't think so either. I just wanted u to know.

The Iraq-thing messed up politics in Finland too. We had to form a new Government, since our prime minister had some weird stuff going on. And it had to do with the crisis in Iraq.
Guess every country was affected by it in its own way.

A couple of years ago

Yes, just look at the UK and the suicide of David Kelly. The war in Iraq has started off a few crises around the world.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Jonathan
A couple of years ago

Oh, my.. Maybe it's time for me to go to bed..

[jerseydevil]

How could I forget the #1 news item - NJ beating the damn Canadians and then the Devils going onto beat the Ducks to win the Stanley Cup for the THIRD time.

To relive this moment - go to the victory page of The Hockey Thread. Read it and weep Gimli.

[gollum9630]

this is gimli posting as gollum. just watch out next year JD and dont forget your two allstars on that team are canadian think where would you be without brodeurand stevens, so dont forget

[katya]

Death of Johhny Cash, Warren Zevon, John Ritter. RIP all.

[Ruinel]

More personal news: finding out a few months after I quit my job that I wasn't as replaceable as my boss told me I was, and hearing of the total havock I created by leaving. That was totally sweet.