IV. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

Background

• In 1958 Olga Huckins noticed several dead birds in her backyard the day after her neighborhood had been sprayed with DDT to control mosquitoes

• Olga wrote to her friend Rachel Carson to look into a possible connection

• Carson’s research results in her writing the book Silent Spring which started the environmental movement

Environmental Movement

• Began in the 1960s• Demanded the government to take actions to

preserve and restore the environment and natural resources

• Began to realize that products being used to improve people’s lives were harming the environment

Rachel Carson

• Carson along with being a biologist was also an award winning author

• She promoted the idea that – humans are part of nature and that all parts of

nature interact– Humans are responsible for the health of the

environment because they have the power to change it• Silent Spring warned against the abuse of this power

Silent Spring

• In the book Carson warns against the use of chemical pesticides – Especially DDT

• Carson argued that DDT had increased agricultural productivity by limiting pests but also killed plants and animals that were not the intended target– Bald eagles were being especially threatened by DDT– Noted that the chemicals carried from one living thing

to the next and could ultimately harm humans

• The book was a huge success and resulted in much debate– Chemical industry argued that Carson confused

issues – Public tended to side with Carson– A government committee was formed to research

the issue• President Johnson agreed that there needed to

be greater focus and governmental regulation on the effects of the use of chemicals, fumes and toxic waste

Nuclear Power

• Concerns over the use of nonrenewable energy sources (i.e. coal and gas) prompted the use of nuclear power plants to generate electricity– Caused less air pollution

• However, these plants dumped water that had been used to cool the nuclear reactor into waterways– Raised the water temperature killing plant and

animal life

• Concern began to grow over the water pollution of nuclear power plants as well as the possibility of a catastrophe should radioactive material be released into the air

• The result was the formation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1974– Oversees all nuclear power plant facilities

Public Response

• In 1969 an oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA blew out and killed much wildlife and fouled the beaches

• Grassroots environmental movements began to spring up around the country supporting conservation efforts

Earth Day

• In 1969 Senator Nelson from Wisconsin announced his state would be holding a day of discussion and teaching about the environment on April 22, 1970

• The next year the first Earth Day was celebrated

• Goals were to– Improve awareness about environmental issues– Bring an end to environmental damage

Government Actions

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970– Sets and enforces national pollution standards– Made an agreement with car manufacturers to add

catalytic converters to cars to turn pollutants into less harmful substances

• Clean Air Act of 1970– Control business and car emissions

• Clean Water Act of 1972– Regulate discharge of wastewater– Built sewage treatment facilities– Regulates disposal of solid waste

Balancing Business and the Environment

• Concern over cost to businesses to implements government environmental regulations

• Government and businesses had to work together towards sustainable development

• Example– Alaskan pipe line built in 1974