Going GreenGoing GreenBirth of the Environmental Birth of the Environmental

MovementMovement21.421.4

Early American EffortsEarly American Efforts

Teddy Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt created first created first National ParksNational Parks

Urban Parks Urban Parks created at the turn created at the turn of the 1900’sof the 1900’s

Hippies go “back Hippies go “back to nature” to avoid to nature” to avoid modern societymodern society

Early Activists Early Activists OrganizeOrganize

Sierra Club – founded Sierra Club – founded by John Muir in 1892by John Muir in 1892

Wilderness Society -Wilderness Society -founded in 1935founded in 1935

Focused on Focused on Conservation Conservation originally, later originally, later expanded into all expanded into all areas of environmentareas of environment

The World Is StunnedThe World Is Stunned 1952 – coal smog floats 1952 – coal smog floats

through Londonthrough London 12,000 Killed by 12,000 Killed by

asphyxiation!!!asphyxiation!!!

Rachel CarsonRachel Carson 1962 – Wrote 1962 – Wrote

“Silent Spring”“Silent Spring” Described impact Described impact

of pesticides on of pesticides on plants, animals plants, animals and peopleand people

Claimed people Claimed people were impacting were impacting the environmentthe environment

Public Shocked!!!Public Shocked!!!

Carson’s Object LessonCarson’s Object Lesson

1969 – Cleveland’s 1969 – Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River Cuyahoga River catches fire catches fire (industrial waste & (industrial waste & oil sludge)oil sludge)

Activists organize Activists organize around this event, around this event, fired up over fired up over pollution…pollution…

Lake Erie Dead ZonesLake Erie Dead Zones

Congress Takes ActionCongress Takes Action Bans DDT Bans DDT

for use as a for use as a pesticidepesticide Birth defectsBirth defects Soft Eggs Soft Eggs

for birdsfor birds

Earth DayEarth Day

WI senator WI senator Gaylord Nelson Gaylord Nelson creates to bring creates to bring issues to govn’t.issues to govn’t.

20 Million take 20 Million take part in actionpart in action

First Earth DayFirst Earth Day

Nixon: the Nixon: the new Teddy new Teddy RooseveltRoosevelt

1970 – Environmental 1970 – Environmental Protection AgencyProtection Agency Protect the entire Protect the entire

ecological chainecological chain The Clean Air ActThe Clean Air Act The Clean Water ActThe Clean Water Act Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act

1974 - Ford continues w/ 1974 - Ford continues w/ Nuclear Regulatory Nuclear Regulatory CommissionCommission

The Carter Years: Green Gets DirtyThe Carter Years: Green Gets Dirty Love Canal – Toxic waste Love Canal – Toxic waste

from NY chemical plants from NY chemical plants caused birth defects & caused birth defects & cancer in childrencancer in children Homeowners take EPA Homeowners take EPA

officials hostage until officials hostage until Carter buys their homesCarter buys their homes

1980 - Congress creates 1980 - Congress creates “Superfund” to clean up “Superfund” to clean up environmental hazardsenvironmental hazards

The China The China SyndromeSyndrome

March, 1979 – Three March, 1979 – Three Mile Island nuclear Mile Island nuclear plant in PA began to plant in PA began to meltdownmeltdown

Reactor shut down & Reactor shut down & Pres. Carter toured Pres. Carter toured plant to reassure publicplant to reassure public US TERRIFIED of US TERRIFIED of

nuclear powernuclear power Gov bans new plantsGov bans new plants

iCue Three Mile Island

Cold War Politics Cold War Politics & the Environment& the Environment

Communist economies create Communist economies create environmental disasters:environmental disasters: No incentive to change No incentive to change

production methodsproduction methods Unresponsive to demands so Unresponsive to demands so

unconcerned w/ public outcryunconcerned w/ public outcry Lack of free press to informLack of free press to inform Fear of failing govn’t demandsFear of failing govn’t demands

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

Environmentalism In Your EraEnvironmentalism In Your Era Exxon Valdez - 1989Exxon Valdez - 1989 Global Cooling then Global Cooling then

Global WarmingGlobal Warming Climate Change nowClimate Change now

Oil Drilling: ANWROil Drilling: ANWR Sea Level ChangeSea Level Change Mass Extinctions as Mass Extinctions as

seas & land warmsseas & land warms

BPBPGulf CoastGulf Coast

Oil SpillOil SpillApril April 20102010

206 million gallons spilled206 million gallons spilled

Present Day Japan Present Day Japan Terror-2011Terror-2011

•During a visit to the doctor to check for cancer you will be exposed to a maximum of 4 Rads

The predicted range of the nuclear fallout if the Fukushima Daiichi plant has a

meltdown

The DebateThe Debate Is it happening at all?Is it happening at all? Private Property Rights Private Property Rights

vs. Public Healthvs. Public Health Is this a natural cycle Is this a natural cycle

caused by solar cycles caused by solar cycles or man made?or man made?

How should US gov. How should US gov. behave if it puts US behave if it puts US business in competitive business in competitive disadvantage w/ world?disadvantage w/ world?