Important Events From This day in History – 15th February

Today in History

• 2003 The largest peace demonstration in history takes place

  Up to 30 million people protested the Iraq War in 600 cities around the world.

• 2001 The first draft of the human genome is published

  The human genome contains complete human genetic information.

• 1989 The Soviet Union pulls out of Afghanistan

  Despite their superior military strength, the Soviet and Afghan armies were unable to break the Mujahideen insurgents’ resistance.

• 1971 The United Kingdom and Ireland decimalize their currencies

  Before the change, a pound sterling was made up of 240 pence, or 20 shillings.

• 1965 Canada adopts its current national flag showing a maple leaf

  The leaf represents the country’s forests, the white stripe in the middle represents arctic snow, and the red stripes represent the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.