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Major Events of August 2012: 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 August 2012 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of August 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Aug 2012 Great Britain's First Olympic Rowing Gold: Heather Stanning and Helen Glover won Great Britain's first-ever gold medal in women's rowing, specifically in the coxless pairs event at the London Olympics.
  • 02 Aug 2012 30th Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in London: The 30th Summer Olympics opened in London, England, with an impressive gathering of 10,500 athletes from 204 countries, competing in over 300 diverse sporting events. This global sporting spectacle showcased international unity and athletic excellence.
  • 03 Aug 2012 UN General Assembly Condemns Syrian Government: The United Nations General Assembly passes a non-binding resolution criticizing the Syrian government's use of force against civilians, also noting human rights abuses by opposition forces and reproaching the UN Security Council's inaction.
  • 04 Aug 2012 Arab Spring Continues: A significant period of political and social upheaval across multiple Middle Eastern and North African countries, characterized by widespread protests, civil unrest, and demands for democratic reforms.
  • 05 Aug 2012 Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting: On August 5, 2012, a tragic mass shooting occurred at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, where a white supremacist gunman killed six worshippers and wounded four others before being fatally shot by police. The victims included temple founder Satwant Singh Kaleka, brothers Sita and Ranjit Singh, Prakash Singh, Paramjit Kaur, and Suveg Singh. The perpetrator, Wade Michael Page, had known affiliations with white supremacist and Neo-Nazi groups.
  • 06 Aug 2012 NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars: NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully landed the Curiosity rover on the Martian surface, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The rover, equipped with advanced scientific instruments, began transmitting images and data back to Earth, promising groundbreaking research about the Red Planet's geology and potential for past or present life.
  • 07 Aug 2012 Sikh Temple Shooting by Neo-Nazi: Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old U.S. Army veteran with neo-Nazi affiliations, was identified as the shooter in the Sikh temple attack in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
  • 08 Aug 2012 Egypt Retaliatory Airstrike in Sinai: Egypt launched its first significant airstrike in years in the Sinai Peninsula, targeting militants in retaliation for an earlier attack that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers. President Mohammed Morsi ordered the strike, which resulted in approximately 20 militants being killed.
  • 09 Aug 2012 Usain Bolt's Historic Olympic Achievement: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt becomes the first athlete to win both 100m and 200m gold medals in back-to-back Summer Olympics, cementing his status as a legendary track and field athlete.
  • 10 Aug 2012 Usain Bolt Makes Olympic History: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt became the first athlete to win both 100m and 200m gold medals in consecutive Olympics, solidifying his status as the greatest sprinter of his generation.
  • 11 Aug 2012 Romney Selects Paul Ryan as VP Candidate: Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, announced Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate, a strategic choice that would significantly impact the upcoming election campaign.
  • 12 Aug 2012 2012 Summer Olympics in London: The 2012 Summer Olympics in London showcase global athletic excellence and international cooperation through sports.
  • 13 Aug 2012 2012 Summer Olympics Developments: Belarusian shot put competitor Nadzeya Obschuk lost her gold medal. Irish boxer Katie Taylor returned to Bray, where thousands of people greeted her after her Olympic victory.
  • 14 Aug 2012 Ecuador Grants Asylum to Julian Assange: Ecuador granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who had been seeking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, marking a significant moment in international diplomatic relations.
  • 15 Aug 2012 UN Confirms War Crimes in Syrian Conflict: UN Commissioners Pinheiro and Abuzayd reported war crimes committed by Syrian government troops and, to a lesser extent, anti-government groups, highlighting the Houla massacre.
  • 16 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: Syria faces international isolation as its membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is suspended. The UN Security Council ends its observer mission, highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian crisis with an estimated 1 million people displaced and 2.5 million requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.
  • 17 Aug 2012 Marikana Massacre: South African Police Kill Striking Miners: South African police officers killed more than 30 striking platinum miners in a violent confrontation at the Lonmin PLC mine, marking the country's bloodiest security operation since the end of apartheid. The miners were demanding higher wages when police opened fire on a crowd of 3,000 strikers, rekindling painful memories of racial oppression and highlighting ongoing social tensions.
  • 18 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: The Syrian Civil War continues to intensify, with multiple international actors and local factions engaged in a complex and devastating conflict that would reshape the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.
  • 19 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates on Eid ul-Fitr: During the Eid ul-Fitr holiday, at least 19 people were killed in ongoing violence in Syria. President Bashar al-Assad was seen praying in Damascus, while Lakhdar Brahimi accepted the role of UN special envoy, signaling continued international diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
  • 20 Aug 2012 Myanmar Ends Media Censorship: Myanmar announces the end of media censorship as part of its ongoing political reforms, signaling a significant step towards press freedom and democratic transformation.
  • 21 Aug 2012 Russia Warns United States over Syria Conflict: Russia issues a diplomatic warning to the United States regarding the Syrian civil war, proposing to assist in negotiating a deadline to end the ongoing violence.
  • 22 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates: Intense fighting continues in Syria, with Syrian forces shelling two districts in Damascus. Rebels report at least 47 casualties. The United Nations confirms 18,000 total deaths in this devastating conflict, marking a significant humanitarian crisis.
  • 23 Aug 2012 Lance Armstrong Doping Controversy: Lance Armstrong announced he would not contest U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charges, potentially leading to the loss of his seven Tour de France titles and marking a significant moment in sports ethics.
  • 24 Aug 2012 Anders Behring Breivik Sentenced for Norway Attacks: Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the devastating 2011 Norway terrorist attacks, was sentenced to 21 years of preventive detention by a Norwegian court. Breivik had intentionally killed 77 people in a horrific terror attack in July 2011, targeting a youth political camp and central Oslo.
  • 25 Aug 2012 Voyager 1 Enters Interstellar Space: NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft becomes the first human-made object to enter interstellar space, crossing beyond the Sun's heliosphere after a remarkable 35-year journey. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone in space exploration, providing unprecedented insights into the region beyond our solar system.
  • 26 Aug 2012 First Interplanetary Voice Transmission: NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity made history by broadcasting the first human voice recording from another planet, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
  • 27 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: Ongoing civil war in Syria continues with intense fighting and significant regional destabilization, marking a critical period of conflict with widespread humanitarian implications.
  • 28 Aug 2012 Mitt Romney Nominated as Republican Presidential Candidate: At the National Convention in Tampa, Florida, the United States Republican Party officially nominated Mitt Romney as its presidential candidate for the 2012 election.
  • 29 Aug 2012 UN and Arab League Investigation Request in Syria: Russia formally requested a joint investigation by the United Nations and Arab League into alleged terrorist mass killings of civilians during the Syrian Civil War.
  • 30 Aug 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: Ongoing Syrian Civil War continues with increasing international attention and diplomatic tensions, involving multiple regional and global stakeholders.
  • 31 Aug 2012 Enrique Peña Nieto Declared Mexican President-Elect: Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was declared the president-elect of Mexico, signaling a potential political shift in the country.