Environmental ScienceHistorical 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

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.

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

Nations

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

DDT: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

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.

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.

OZONE Layer Hole

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 CO2. U.S. refused to sign.

Captain Planet: He’s our hero. Takes pollution down to zero.

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?

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