Burma (Myanmar) Anti-Government Protests – Saffron Revolution
Event: In late September, Buddhist monks led large-scale protests against the military junta in Burma (Myanmar).
Details: The protests were triggered by a sudden rise in fuel prices and quickly turned into a broader call for democracy. Thousands marched, and images of monks being beaten and detained circulated globally.
Impact: The junta violently suppressed the movement, resulting in several deaths. The global community condemned the actions, and the movement became a symbol of resistance against military rule in Myanmar.
Blackwater Shooting in Baghdad (September 16)
Event: Contractors from the private security firm Blackwater (now Academi) opened fire in Nisour Square, Baghdad, killing 17 Iraqi civilians.
Details: The incident caused an international outcry and strained U.S.-Iraqi relations. It raised questions about the accountability of private military contractors.
Impact: Multiple investigations followed, and the U.S. Congress held hearings. The incident led to long-term legal consequences for those involved.
Financial Crisis Signs Begin to Emerge Globally
Event: Global markets started showing significant stress due to the subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S., which would later become the 2008 financial crisis.
Details: In September 2007, central banks like the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England intervened to provide liquidity to credit markets. Northern Rock, a British bank, faced a bank run—the first in the UK in over 150 years—after requesting emergency funding.
Impact: This marked one of the earliest visible signals of the financial meltdown that would grip the world economy in the coming year.
