In 1991 the dismantling of apartheid began.
Russia emerged from communism.
Grunge signalled the arrival of Generation X.
Antarctica was dedicated to science and peace.
And the internet went public.
The dismantling of Apartheid began
The “Rainbow Nation” emerged on 17 June 1991 when Apartheid legislation was repealed, followed by South Africa’s first fully free elections a few years later. Today, while living with the challenges presented by the vestiges of Apartheid, South Africa has continued to meet multiple challenges with courage and humour.
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The world protected Antarctica
The Protocol on Environmental Protection was added to the Antarctic Treaty and signed in Madrid on 4 October, 1991. The Protocol designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” (Art. 2) and made the entire continent off-limits to commercial exploitation and pollution.
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A new generation is heard
When Nirvana’s track ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ topped charts around the world grunge was propelled into the mainstream and gave Gen X their anthem.
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Russia emerges from Communism
On Christmas Day 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as head of the party which had steered the Soviet Union since its inception 74 years before. Communist control was over and in its place, a newly independent Russian state emerged.
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The internet goes global
In August 1991, Tim Berners-Lee announced the WorldWideWeb (WWW) project aims "to allow links to be made to any information anywhere” and asked for collaborators to help spread the web to other areas. Interest in the project spread around the world and the internet as we know it had begun.
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