53 years ago today, on February 9, 1972 (December 25, 1971 in the lunar calendar), the British government declared a "state of emergency" across the country. On February 9, 1972, the British government declared a "state of emergency" across the country to deal with the nationwide strike of 300,000 coal miners that had lasted for a month, and attempted to use state power to undermine the strike. According to the "state of emergency" decree, electricity consumption for all walks of life and people's lives in the UK was restricted, causing the most serious power supply crisis in the UK since the Second World War.