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Take a guess..

Take a guess. The U.S. currently has 65 nuclear power plants throughout the country… How many of them have been built since 1974? ZERO!. The Environmental Movement. Background. Prior to the 1960’s, very little attention was paid to the environment Wide use of dangerous pesticides

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Take a guess..

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  1. Take a guess.. The U.S. currently has 65 nuclear power plants throughout the country… How many of them have been built since 1974? ZERO!

  2. The Environmental Movement

  3. Background • Prior to the 1960’s, very little attention was paid to the environment • Wide use of dangerous pesticides • Increasing amount of pollution and smog • Fog that is mixed with smoke and chemical fumes • Growing use of nuclear power • Attention to the health of the environment began to rise in the 60’s • Hippies and their nature-centered philosophies

  4. Earth Day • Annual celebration devoted to addressing the country’s environmental issues • First Earth Day in 1970 seen as the unofficial beginning of the environmental movement • Helped to increase awareness about environmental problems and gain support for changes to be made

  5. Government Action • Creation of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) • Creates and enforces pollution standards • Conducts environmental research • Look for new dangerous/harmful substances currently being used • Clean Air and Clean Water Acts • Establish emission limitations on factories and automotive pollution • The production or release of something • Restricted the release of pollutants into rivers and lakes

  6. Three Mile Island Incident • Nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania • Cooling system failed causing a partial nuclear meltdown • The melting of a nuclear reactor core caused by overheating • Small amounts of radiation were released into the atmosphere • Generated doubt in the American people about the safety of nuclear energy

  7. Impact • Continued focus on environmental concerns has led to many modern changes: • Increased fuel efficiency standards • Less reliance on nuclear energy • Increased emission regulations • Larger production of renewable energy

  8. Quick Review • What is smog? • Fog mixed with smoke and chemicals • What impact did Earth Day have on the environmental movement? • Helped to generate awareness and focus on the environmental problems • What does the EPA do? • Creates environmental regulations & conducts research • What is an emission? • Production or release of something (pollution) • What happened during the Three Mile Island incident? • Partial nuclear meltdown caused radiation to be released

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