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It's time to reflect on the moments that mattered in 2021, with its triumphs and tragedies, captured by Newsflare’s contributors. The world fought back against COVID but the last 12 months have shown how fragile our recovery is, and not just with Omicron’s emergence towards the end of the year.
The storming of the US Capitol
The flag of democracy was tested in 2021, starting in January with the storming of the US Capitol. Footage captured by Protestfootage.
Myanmar coup (contains distressing scenes)
Myanmar’s military brutally attempted to put down opposition following a coup. Distressing eyewitness video showed the moment a woman fell to the ground during a protest, the first known fatality. The unrest continues. Footage captured by Sellamoment.
Hong Kong crackdown
Pro-democracy institutions in Hong Kong were forced to close, including Apple Daily and Stand News. The University of Hong Kong removed the "Pillar of Shame" Tiananmen Square sculpture. This footage captured by Visionsofasia shows the last ever copies of pro-democracy Hong Kong tabloid grabbed by queuing customers.
Gaza missile attack
Our boots on the ground captured human rights crises as well, including the moment a photographer calmly captured images as a missile attack destroyed the al-Sharouk Tower in Gaza. Footage by Omaralsersawi.
Afghan exodus
In Kabul, hundreds of desperate Afghans were left standing in sewage in a moat for hours outside the airport overnight before being told they could not enter because they did not have visas in their passports. Footage by NewsTap.
Highlighting violence against women
The death of Sarah Everard sparked an outcry about violence against women in the UK. This footage by SubjectAccess shows the moment police detained women during a memorial following Everard’s kidnap and murder by an officer.
Migrant crisis
In Europe, a new refugee crisis spread. Scores of migrants headed to the Belarusian-Polish border, staying in makeshift camps. Twenty-seven refugees tragically drowned in the English Channel in November. In this rare footage by StringersHub from Belarus-Poland border shows children among the migrants enduring harsh winter conditions.
Supply-chain disruptions
Elsewhere the hard-won gains of decades of globalisation appeared under threat following supply-chain disruptions. A grounded cargo ship got stuck in the Suez Canal while tempers flared at the pumps in the UK during a fuel shortage. Uploaded by Blondie122.
Climate emergency
The planet faces no greater threat than climate change but many were left disappointed by perceived inaction of global leaders at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, including activist Greta Thunberg. Thanks for uploading user_10006696.
Our filmers captured climate change being felt around the world, including Karl Patfield's heart-racing footage from September 10 as the Antelope Fire raged with hellish fury in northern California.
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NewsTap's eyewitness footage captured the moment an entire house collapsed into a swollen river after deadly floods hit the Indian state of Kerala. Accelerating climate change will no doubt be a theme of 2022.
Sport made a comeback in 2021
Global sporting events made a big comeback in 2021, including the delayed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and the Euros. At the latter, England “fans” made their presence felt by trashing London’s Leicester Square in this footage captured by Urban_Pictures_UK.
Fan power saw the proposed breakaway European Super League nixed days after the idea was first mooted, although some got their message across with violence as seen in this footage by PixBoxTV.
From runway to primetime
Newsflare contributors captured the colour and craziness of life in 2021 as well. Like kristenweaver's video of a sassy toddler sashaying across a catwalk during a pageant in Florida. You can read more about how this video was discovered on Newsflare and featured on NBC's Kelly Clarkson Show: READ MORE.
Cake art takes over TikTok
A UK baker (laramasoncakeanything) wowed TikTokers with her stunning hanging Spider-Man cake.
Close encounters of the animal kind
Timmy and his girlfriend Tazz were cycling through the Lion & Safari Park north of Johannesburg when a giraffe approached them and began nuzzling the duo. Timmy managed to capture the incredible encounter on his 360-degree camera which was positioned over his shoulder as the giant animal bent over to sniff him.
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WahyusiLelo's video of Good Samaritans in Indonesia teaming up to help a giant sea turtle was one of our most popular animal rescues of the year.
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Harrysingh3033 captured footage of an Adélie penguin arriving on the shores of New Zealand, at least 3,000km from its natural habitat of Antarctica.
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A rampaging monitor lizard raided a 7-Eleven store in Thailand, climbing up shelves in search of food. Footage was uploaded to Newsflare by ViralPress. You can read all about how this lizard took a store (and the world) by storm on our blog HERE.
Nepal avalanche
A hiker captured the spectacular moment an avalanche cascaded down a mountain into a lake in Nepal. Footage uploaded by ViralPress.
The continuing pandemic
All the while, casualties from the pandemic continued to rise, with divisions over lockdowns and vaccines set to continue into 2022. Footage uploaded by EleventhHour shows MP Michael Gove being ambushed by anti-vaccine passport protesters during a walk around Westminster in London.
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Whatever happens in the next year, I've no doubt our contributors will continue to be our eyes and ears, capturing the moments that matter.
David Hickey is Newsflare's Editor in Chief. He tweets at https://twitter.com/davidahickey.