Historical Overview of the modern environmental movement Whatever befalls Earth befalls the sons of the Earth Humankind has not woven the web of life We are but one thread within it Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselvesChief Seattle 1855 ID: 464297
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Environmental Science
Historical Overview of the modern environmental movement.Slide2
Whatever befalls Earth, befalls the sons of the Earth. Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.-Chief Seattle, 1855.
Take 5 minutes and write a paragraph on what you think Chief Seattle was trying to say. Share your thoughts with a partner.Slide3
Modern Environmental Movement Influences
Influential Individuals (i.e. Rachel Carson, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Teddy Roosevelt)
Independent pressure groups: Greenpeace, NGO’s
Corporate businesses: ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, DOW Chemical, etc.
Governments
Intergovernmental bodies: United NationsSlide4
3 Founding Principles
Natural resources are not infinite-if we do not conserve them we will run out
Our natural environment and the life within it must be preserved for future generations to enjoy and exploit
The pollution that we generate and our activities endanger life on Earth. Slide5
If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos- Edward O. Wilson
What do you think? Is this a true statement? What message is Wilson trying to get across here?Slide6
1800-1900: Preservation vs. Conservation
Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club) fought to preserve Yosemite National Park as place not disturbed by humans taking resources
Gifford Pinchot (director of U.S. Forest Service) believed that forests should be used and renewed both to maintain a flow of resources for human use and to conserve the environment.
What is the difference between preservation and conservation? Is one better/worse than the other?Slide7
1900-1960: Environmental Awareness Grows
1914 Aldo Leopold writes A Sand County Almanac: Argues nature is not our servant to be used and abused and we have and ethical responsibility to maintain the balance of nature.
What do you think? Is nature our servant, or do we have a responsibility to maintain a balance? Slide8
1960’s: Modern Environmental Movement is born
Rachel Carson writes Silent Spring in 1962.
Warns of the effects of pesticides and how the chemicals work their way up the food chain to kill others (hence silent spring)
Chemical industries tried to discredit her and ban the book
Eventually, Federal Government bans pesticides like DDT. Slide9
DDT: DichlorodiphenyltrichloroethaneSlide10
1970’s: Movement Goes Global
Greenpeace established
Media coverage becomes more common
Earth Summit on the Environment held at UN with 113 nations
Convention on International trade in Endangered Species
Idea of Stewardship: Humans are responsible for caring for the environment, not exploiting it.Slide11
1980’s: Sustainability and Disasters
1983: UN World Commission on Environment and Development: Develop land without destroying it for future generations
1984: Bhopal, India: A pesticide plant releases 40 tons of pesticide gas killing 22,000 people.
1986: Chernobyl nuclear power plant explodes killing estimated 60, 000.
1987: Montreal Protocol seeks to limit CFCs which were causing a hole in the ozone layer leading to skin cancer.Slide12
OZONE Layer HoleSlide13
1990’s: Global warming
People made connection between carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and the warming climate of the planet
Based on information from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), over 100 nations signed the Kyoto Protocol agreeing to limit CO
2
. U.S. refused to sign.Slide14
Captain Planet: He’s our hero. Takes pollution down to zero.Slide15
2000’s and beyond: Climate change, a time for action?
Five areas identified as needing global attention:
Water and sanitation, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity.
Climate change still a huge issue (the issue of our time?)
What do you think is the most important environmental issue of your generation? Why do you think it’s important and what can you do about it personally?Slide16
To do:
Research an environmental scientist, author, or advocate. Who are they and when/where did they live? What did they do for the environmental movement? What has their influence been?
Write a one page, single spaced paper answering these questions. List at least 2 sources at the end of your paper. Due by next class period.
Suggestions: Rachel Carson, Mahatma
Gahndi
, Henry Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Edward O. Wilson, Al Gore, Ralph
Waldo Emerson