Angola achieves independence from Portugal
After many years of conflict, the nation gained its independence on 11 November 1975, after the 1974 coup d’état in Lisbon, Portugal.
Nations
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora enters into force
CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. It is now one of the largest and oldest conservation and sustainable use agreements in existence.
China begins producing solar energy cells for first time
The first solar cell factories were located in Ningbo and Kaifeng. Annual national solar capacity installations were still low, as only 0.5 kW of photovoltaic capacity was installed. This increased to 8 kW in 1980, 70 kW in 1985, 500 kW in 1990, and 1550 kW in 1995. Soon, China would become the world’s undisputed leader in solar energy production.
Sweden replaces its Instrument of Government making it a crowned republic
The new Instrument of Government stripped the king of even nominal political power and made Sweden a de facto crowned republic.
The British House of Lords votes to give The Bahamas its independence
The British House of Lords voted to give the Bahamas its independence on 22 June 1973. It joined the Commonwealth of Nations weeks later.
Sweden goes first to ban aerosol sprays
Scientific evidence had mounted that CFCs were damaging to Earth’s ozone layer. Sweden was the first to act on this evidence.
The Republic of Sri Lanka is officially formed
Dominion status within the British Commonwealth was retained until 22 May 1972 when the country became the Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Soviet Union launches humanity’s first space station, Salyut
Salyut 1 (DOS-1) was the first space station of any kind, launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. The Salyut program followed this with five more successful launches of seven more stations
Bangladesh achieves independence from Pakistan
Modern Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971 after breaking away and achieving independence from Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The country’s borders corresponded with the major portion of the ancient and historic region of Bengal
U.S. NASA’s Mariner 9 becomes the first articial satellite of Mars
Mariner 9 was launched successfully on May 30, 1971, and became the first artificial satellite of Mars when it arrived and went into orbit.