15 September 1971

The first Greenpeace ship departs from Vancouver to protest against the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska.

Greenpeace is an international environmental organization known for its campaigns aimed at protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. Founded in 1971 in Vancouver, Canada, Greenpeace works on a wide range of issues, including:

Climate Change: Advocating for policies to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

Deforestation: Campaigning to stop illegal logging, protect ancient forests, and advocate for sustainable forest management.

Oceans: Working to stop overfishing, reduce plastic pollution, and protect marine ecosystems.

Biodiversity: Focusing on the protection of endangered species and ecosystems, both on land and in the oceans.

Pollution: Fighting against toxic chemical use, advocating for safer alternatives, and working to reduce pollution that harms the environment and public health.

15 September 1954

Marilyn Monroe’s iconic skirt scene is shot during filming for The Seven Year Itch.

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, and died on August 5, 1962, was an iconic American actress, model, and singer. She is one of the most enduring and celebrated sex symbols in the history of popular culture.

Early Life: Marilyn Monroe was born in Los Angeles, California, and had a challenging upbringing. She spent much of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages. She later married at a young age but divorced before embarking on her career in entertainment.

Modeling Career: Marilyn began her career as a model, initially working for various agencies in Los Angeles. Her beauty and charisma helped her gain attention, and she appeared on the covers of popular magazines.

Acting Career: Marilyn Monroe made her film debut in a bit part in the 1947 film “Dangerous Years.” However, her breakthrough came with roles in films like “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), and “Some Like It Hot” (1959). Her performances in these movies showcased her comedic talent and sultry appeal.

Iconic Roles: Monroe’s most iconic roles often portrayed her as a glamorous, somewhat ditzy blonde bombshell, but she also displayed depth and vulnerability in films like “Bus Stop” (1956) and “The Misfits” (1961).

Personal Life: Marilyn Monroe’s personal life was marked by tumultuous relationships and struggles with mental health. She was married three times, including to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller. She battled depression and substance abuse throughout her life.

Music Career: In addition to acting, Monroe had a music career and recorded several songs. Her rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” for President John F. Kennedy in 1962 became particularly famous.

Legacy: Marilyn Monroe’s tragic death at the age of 36 has contributed to her enduring mystique. She remains an iconic figure and continues to influence popular culture. Her image is frequently referenced in fashion, art, and media.

Cultural Impact: Monroe’s image and persona have been widely studied and analyzed by scholars and cultural critics. She is often seen as a symbol of femininity, sexuality, and the American dream. Her life and career have inspired countless books, documentaries, and biopics.

Posthumous Fame: Despite her untimely death, Marilyn Monroe’s popularity has not waned. Her films are still widely watched, and her memorabilia, including photographs and personal items, are highly sought after by collectors.

Marilyn Monroe Institute: In her memory, the Marilyn Monroe Institute was established to research and promote mental health and well-being, given her struggles with mental health during her lifetime.

15 September 1947

Typhoon Kathleen hit the Kanto Region in Japan killing 1,077.

On September 15, 1947, Typhoon Kathleen made landfall in the Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo. One-minute sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 120 km/h—just barely equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane. In Shizuoka Prefecture, south of Kanagawa, one-minute sustained winds exceeding 88 km/h tropical storm strength were reported. Having weakened by the time of landfall, wind damage was restricted to towns along the immediate coast.

More extensive, however, was the damage from precipitation-induced flooding from Typhoon Kathleen, which dropped between 300 and 800 mm of rain in the Tone River basin in just two days from September 13 to 15—yielding the highest flood discharge ever observed. North and east of Tokyo, several dikes were breached and embankments suffered failures, resulting in severe flooding along the Tone River, particularly in Kurihashi. More than 303,000 buildings were inundated, and 1,077 people were killed.

15 September 2008

Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the largest bankruptcy filing in USA history.

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Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank, succumbed to the subprime mortgage crisis it helped create in the biggest bankruptcy filing in history.

The 158-year-old firm, which survived railroad bankruptcies of the 1800s, the Great Depression in the 1930s and the collapse of Long-Term Capital Management a decade ago, filed a Chapter 11 petition with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan on Monday. The collapse of Lehman, which listed more than US$613-billion of debt, dwarves WorldCom Inc.’s insolvency in 2002 and Drexel Burnham Lambert’s failure in 1990.

Lehman was forced into bankruptcy after Barclays PLC and Bank of America Corp. abandoned takeover talks on Sunday and the company lost 94% of its market value this year. Chief Executive Officer Richard Fuld, who turned the New York-based firm into the biggest underwriter of mortgage-backed securities at the top of the U.S. real estate market, joins his counterparts at Bear Stearns Cos., Merrill Lynch & Co. and more than 10 banks that couldn’t survive this year’s credit crunch.

Lehman shares dropped 81% in Frankfurt trading to 75 cents from their US$3.65 close in New York on Friday. UBS AG, HBOS PLC, and Axa SA led a decline of more than 3% for European stock markets on speculation a forced sale of Lehman’s assets could lead to further writedowns at other banks.

15 September 1961

Hurricane Carla, Galveston, TX, 1961

Hurricane Carla hits land in Texas with winds of 175 miles per hour.

Hurricane Carla ranks as the most intense U.S. tropical cyclone landfall on the Hurricane history. Carla developed from an area of squally weather in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward, and by September 5, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla. About 24 hours later, Carla was upgraded to a hurricane. The storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatán Channel. Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula. By early on the following day, the storm became a major hurricane after reaching Category 3 intensity. Resuming its northwestward course, Carla continued intensification and on September 11, it was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane. Rapidly moving northeastward, Carla’s remnants reached the Labrador Sea, Canada and dissipated on September 17, 1961.