Moratorium facts for kids

A moratorium is like a temporary pause or a hold on an activity or a rule. It's a way to stop something for a while, often to give people time to think, make decisions, or fix problems. The word comes from a Latin word meaning "delaying."

Sometimes, a moratorium is put in place by a government or an organization. Other times, people might call for a moratorium to protest something they don't agree with.

Moratoriums in Law

A moratorium can be a legal order that temporarily stops a specific activity or law from being used. For example, a government might put a moratorium on building new houses in a certain area if there are problems with water supply. This pause gives them time to solve the water issue before more houses are built.

Protests and Moratoriums

People sometimes use the idea of a moratorium to organize protests. They might call for a "moratorium" on a certain action to show their strong disagreement and demand a stop.

Black Moratorium

In January 1972, there was a protest in Australia called the Black Moratorium. This was a series of demonstrations where Indigenous Australians and their supporters called for their rights to be recognized and respected. They wanted to highlight issues like land rights and fair treatment.

Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam

In 1969, large demonstrations took place in the United States and Australia. These were called the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. Millions of people protested against the Vietnam War, calling for it to stop. These events were some of the biggest protests in American history.

Other Types of Moratoriums

Moratoriums can happen in many different areas, not just law or protests.

Deepwater Drilling Pause

In 2010, after a very large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the United States government put a six-month pause on deepwater oil drilling. This was called the 2010 United States deepwater drilling moratorium. It gave experts time to investigate what went wrong and to put new safety rules in place to prevent similar disasters.

Debt Payment Delay

A debt moratorium is when someone is allowed to delay paying back money they owe. This can happen if a person or even a country is going through a difficult time and needs a temporary break from their payments.

NBA July Moratorium

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there's a period in July called the July Moratorium. During this time, teams can talk to players, but they can't officially sign new contracts or make trades. This pause happens before the league announces the official salary cap for the new season, giving teams time to plan their budgets.

Entertainment Sales Pause

Sometimes, companies that sell movies or TV shows on DVDs or Blu-rays will temporarily stop selling them. This practice is called a Moratorium (entertainment). They do this to make the products more special or to create excitement before they are released again later.