2016 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ...

2016 is about to end and we want to remember the events that have marked this year. There are too many events to mention so,  unfortunately, we have had to omit some. Here are the 8 ones we think must be remembered.

CELEBRITY DEATHS IN 2016 

2016 was marked by the losses of great artists who, with their departure, have left a void in their fans. Among the many losses we quote: January 10, David Bowie left us, the icon of rock music, who died after a long battle against cancer. On April 21,  one of the greatest American artists, Princean icon of pop music leaves the scene. October 13,  a great pillar of  Italian culture and modern literature died: Dario Fo, 90,   Nobel Prize for Literature. The year continued with more mourning for the world of music: December 25 George Michael died. Only two days later Carrie Fisher died, unforgettable Princess Leia in the Star Wars saga.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY QUEEN ELIZABETH!

We can’t forget to mention the birthday of the year: the Queen Elizabeth turned 90 last April 21. London   celebrates the Queen with military parades, ceremonies, the traditional appearence of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace and finally a very big party. But nothing is ever enough to celebrate a Queen's birthday. Not to mention of clothes that the Queen has sported: a fluorescent green dress and a fuchsia one!

NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2016: BOB DYLAN

The Nobel Prize for Literature 2016 was awarded to Bob Dylan, "for creating new poetic expressions in the great tradition of American song," says the Swedish Academy. What have Poetry, art, literature in common with  music? Many people wondered if Dylan's work can be considered literature. We have no doubt his music is pure art.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO… LEONARDO DI CAPRIO!

For us the victory of the century, rather than of life! After 6 nominations Leo finally managed to win the coveted statuette. The theatre  at the awards ceremony  burst into applause with a standing ovation and, as expected, also online a celebration went on with meme, video and gifs that celebrate Leo’s long-waited for triumph. Leo, you are our hero!

HYDROGEN BOMB: A VERY DANGEROUS INVENTION

At the beginning of this year the seismograph in South Korea, Japan and United States recorded an earthquake of 5.1 on the Richter scale. Analyzing the seismic waves it was found out that the phenomenon was not an earthquake but an atomic explosion. Pyongyang, the North Korean dictator, revealed that he had made the fourth nuclear test using a hydrogen bomb. But what’s the difference between hydrogen and atomic bomb?

NATURAL DISASTERS IN ITALY AND HAITI   

After the devastating heartquake that in August destroyed the centre of the Italy ( if you want, you can read the post written by Camilla and Francesca about the eartquakes) in October a terrible hurricane caused  the death of hundreds. The hurricane was the worst natural disaster in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. The consequences  of that hurricane were serious: thousands of homes were destroyed and the population suffered lack of food and drinking water.

TERRORISTS ATTACKS IN EUROPE

The nightmare of terrorist attacks has been haunting us this year,  six with a total of 138 dead and 382 wounded.

22 March: Brussels,   a bomb explodes at Zaventem airport , 31 die.

14 July, Nice, during he celebrations of the French national holiday a man in a truck kills 84 people.

18 July, Wurzburg, a 17-year-old boy wounds 5 people on a regional train with an axe.

22 July, Munich, a boy shoots at the crowd in a shopping centre and kills 9 people.

24 July, Reutlighen, a man kills a pregnant woman with a machetes

26 July, Rouen, two men enter a church and slaughter a priest.

19 December, Berlin, a man in a lorry kills 12 people and wounds 48 at a Christmas street market. He will   later on be killed in Italy by two policemen. (our post)

RIO OLYMPICS

Let’s end our post with something lighter! There are 3 curious facts about this year’s Olympics:

1. Rio 2016 was the first time in Olympic history that a South American country  hosted the Games. The city won its bid in 2009, beating out Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.

2. The opening and closing ceremonies were held in Rio's Maracanã Stadium, which boasts the world record for the most fans ever to attend a soccer game . Maracanã also hosted the latest World Cup final  in 2014.

3. Golf returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to reinstate the sport, which previously was played in the 1900 and 1904 Games. The 18 holes in Rio were designed by American golf-course architect Gil Hanse, who is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania

That’s all from us.  Now, it’s your turn. What do you think of this year? What are other events that have marked 2016 in your opinion? Tell us in your comments.

Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s hope 2017 will bring more peace and love to our world. We pray war may stop in all the regions where it's been killing off life, joy and dignity.

Chiara & G.B.