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Major Events of September 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 2009 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of September 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 2009 World War II 70th Anniversary Commemoration: European leaders pay tribute to the victims of World War II at solemn ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the conflict's outbreak, remembering the immense human cost of the global war.
  • 02 Sep 2009 Michael Jackson Death Certificate Amendment: Michael Jackson's death certificate was officially amended to reflect homicide by 'injection of another', adding a significant legal dimension to the pop star's controversial death investigation.
  • 03 Sep 2009 Michael Jackson's Private Funeral: Pop icon Michael Jackson was laid to rest in a private service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, marking the end of a legendary musical career.
  • 04 Sep 2009 US Soldier Sentenced for War Crimes in Iraq: Steven Dale Green, a former US soldier, receives life imprisonment without parole for the 2006 gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and her family in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.
  • 05 Sep 2009 Lockerbie Bomber Release Controversy: British Justice Secretary Jack Straw revealed in an interview that the release of the Lockerbie bomber was influenced by trade negotiations with Libya and strategic oil interests, sparking significant international debate.
  • 06 Sep 2009 SuperFerry 9 Maritime Disaster in Philippines: The ro-ro ferry SuperFerry 9 sank off the Zamboanga Peninsula in the Philippines, with 971 persons aboard. Remarkably, 961 people were rescued, while tragically 10 lives were lost. This incident highlighted maritime safety challenges in the region.
  • 07 Sep 2009 Israel Approves New West Bank Settlements: The Israeli government officially approved construction of new settlements in the contested West Bank region, a move likely to further complicate Israeli-Palestinian territorial negotiations.
  • 08 Sep 2009 Death of Aage Bohr, Danish Physicist: Aage Bohr, a renowned Danish physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away. He was a significant contributor to nuclear physics and followed in the footsteps of his famous father, Niels Bohr.
  • 09 Sep 2009 Joe Wilson's Controversial Outburst: During President Barack Obama's health care speech before Congress, US Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) dramatically interrupted the address by shouting "You lie!", creating a major political controversy and breaching congressional decorum.
  • 10 Sep 2009 British Government Apologizes to Alan Turing: Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially apologized for the shameful treatment of Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician and World War II code-breaker who was chemically castrated for being homosexual. This apology acknowledged the historical injustice against Turing, who played a crucial role in breaking Nazi encryption during the war but was later persecuted for his sexual orientation.
  • 11 Sep 2009 Former Taiwanese President Sentenced for Corruption: Chen Shui-bian and his wife Wu Shu-chen were found guilty of corruption and sentenced to life imprisonment, representing a major legal and political scandal in Taiwan.
  • 12 Sep 2009 Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate, Dies: Norman Borlaug, renowned American agronomist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, known for his groundbreaking work in agricultural science that saved millions from starvation, passed away.
  • 13 Sep 2009 German Election Debate: Merkel and Steinmeier Appear Together: Two weeks before the election, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her political opponent Frank-Walter Steinmeier participated in a televised debate, showcasing the democratic process.
  • 14 Sep 2009 Patrick Swayze Dies of Pancreatic Cancer: Patrick Swayze, a beloved American actor known for iconic roles in 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Ghost', passed away at the age of 57 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. His remarkable career and personal strength during his illness made him a respected figure in Hollywood.
  • 15 Sep 2009 Bernanke Signals End of Economic Recession: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke announced that the worst U.S. economic recession since the 1930s was likely over, while cautioning that economic growth might not be robust enough to quickly reduce unemployment.
  • 16 Sep 2009 UN Goldstone Report on Gaza Conflict: A United Nations fact-finding mission led by Judge Richard Goldstone accused Israel of war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity during its Gaza offensive, reporting over 1,400 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being civilians.
  • 17 Sep 2009 Suicide Attack on AMISOM Compound in Somalia: A devastating suicide attack targeted the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) compound, resulting in nine peacekeepers killed, including the Deputy Force Commander, and at least thirty personnel wounded.
  • 18 Sep 2009 Ahmadinejad's Holocaust Denial: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked international controversy by calling the Holocaust a "myth" and describing Israel's existence as an "insult to human dignity" during a Quds Day rally in Tehran.
  • 19 Sep 2009 Sarkozy Pressures Czech Republic on Lisbon Treaty: French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned the Czech Republic of potential 'consequences' if President Vaclav Klaus refuses to sign the Lisbon Treaty.
  • 20 Sep 2009 War Crimes Transfer: Ndahimana to Face ICTR Trial: The Democratic Republic of Congo transferred Gregoire Ndahimana to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to be prosecuted for the 1994 massacre of at least 2,000 Rwandan Tutsis during the genocide.
  • 21 Sep 2009 Typhoon Ketsana Devastates Southeast Asia: Typhoon Ketsana caused widespread destruction across multiple Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, resulting in approximately 700 fatalities.
  • 22 Sep 2009 Obama Pushes for Middle East Peace Process: U.S. President Barack Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, calling for the resumption of Middle East peace negotiations.
  • 23 Sep 2009 Massive Dust Storm in Australia: An unprecedented dust storm swept through major Australian cities including Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane, causing significant disruption to the New South Wales aviation system. This was considered the worst dust storm in at least 70 years.
  • 24 Sep 2009 UN Security Council Nuclear Non-Proliferation Resolution: The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 1887, a landmark decision aimed at stopping nuclear weapons proliferation. World leaders demonstrated a unified commitment to global nuclear disarmament and preventing the spread of nuclear technologies.
  • 25 Sep 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh Summit Reshapes Global Economic Governance: World leaders at the G-20 Pittsburgh summit announced a significant shift in global economic management, with the G-20 replacing the G-8 as the primary forum for international economic cooperation. This decision was a direct response to the 2008 global financial crisis, aiming to create a more inclusive and representative economic governance structure.
  • 26 Sep 2009 Typhoon Ketsana Devastates Philippines: Typhoon Ketsana struck the Philippines, causing catastrophic damage with 246 deaths and nearly US$100 million in economic losses. The disaster resulted in the worst flooding in 40 years, leaving approximately 300,000 people homeless and destroying over 3,000 houses.
  • 27 Sep 2009 German Federal Election: The Christian Democrats and Liberals win the German federal election, with Angela Merkel poised to continue as Chancellor. The Social Democrats concede defeat, signaling a continuation of the existing political coalition.
  • 28 Sep 2009 Guinea Military Massacre at Protest Rally: On September 28, 2009, the Guinean military brutally attacked a peaceful protest rally, resulting in the deaths of at least 157 demonstrators and wounding hundreds more. The attack was led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara's military junta at the Stade du 28 Septembre.
  • 29 Sep 2009 2009 Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami: Two large earthquakes struck midway between Samoa and American Samoa, triggering a devastating tsunami that killed at least 192 people and caused significant damage to the islands. The earthquake was of magnitude 8.3, with waves reaching up to 4.5 meters high, destroying entire villages and causing widespread destruction.
  • 30 Sep 2009 Devastating Padang Earthquake in Indonesia: A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Padang, Indonesia, a densely populated city of 900,000 inhabitants, causing massive destruction. The earthquake killed over 1,000 people, toppled numerous buildings, and trapped thousands under debris, creating a humanitarian crisis.