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Environmental Movements: From Silent Spring to Earth Day

Explore the history of environmental movements, from the banning of DDT to the creation of Earth Day and government actions like the EPA. Learn about key figures like Rachel Carson and events like Love Canal, all shaping the modern environmental landscape.

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Environmental Movements: From Silent Spring to Earth Day

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  1. Bell Ringer • Do you recycle or take other steps to protect the environment? List a few.

  2. Tree Huggers Unite! Environmental Movement

  3. Pinch of Salt and Bug Repellant • Powerful pesticides (DDT) were being used to mosquitos in NY • Harmful to those who consume • The Yannacones successfully sued to stop DDT use • The courts: new place to address environmental issues • “the one place where facts and evidence, not politics and emotions, would decide the outcome”

  4. Stopping DDT • Environmental Defense Fund • Used the contributions for a series of legal battles • Nationwide ban on DDT in 1972

  5. A Silent Spring • Rachel Carson: soft-spoken marine biologist • Wrote Silent Spring in 1962 • Attacked use of pesticides • Killed insects but also killed birds, fish, and others

  6. Enviromental Issues • Cutting down the forests • Smog • Oil spills • Construction • Lake pollution

  7. Earth Day • Growing concern for environ’t • 1970 • Millions participated • From picking up litter to public demonstrations

  8. Gov’t Steps In • Created the Environmental Protection Agency • Set and enforce pollution standards, promote research, coordinate antipollution activities

  9. Other Gov’t Actions • Clean Air Act-established emissions standards for factories and cars • Clean Water Act-restricted water pollution in lakes and rivers • Endangered Species Act-established measures for saving threatened animals species

  10. Love Canal • Rising health concerns: nerve damage, blood disease, cancer, miscarriages, and birth defects • Built on a toxic waste dump • 800 families would be relocated

  11. Nuclear Energy • Supporters: Considered cleaner and less expensive than fossil fuels • Critics: What if it leaks? • Provides 20% of US electricity

  12. Three Mile Island • Harrisburg, PA • Cooling system failed • Overheated and leaked low levels of radiation • Declared safe after repairs

  13. San Onofre • Opened in 1968 • Used by 19% of CA Edison customers • Required 18 sq miles solar panels to make up for this plant • Premature wear led to minor leaks within the dome • Being decommissioned

  14. Solar Energy • 12 total plants • 11 in CA • 1 in NV • Pros: no pollutants and minimal impact on envir’t • Cons: too varied and requires a lot of space

  15. Other Forms of Energy Wind-2.5% of world power Hyrdo-16% of world power

  16. Consumer Movement

  17. Product Safety • New “things” brings new concerns • Ralph Nader • Unsafe at Any Speed • Charged automobile makers with putting speed, style, and cost ahead of safety

  18. National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act • 1966 • Set mandatory safety standards • Established way for notifying car owners of defects • Had to make cars safer • Seat belts, door locks, safer fuel tanks

  19. Other Product Regulations • Laws for… • Dangerous toys • Flammable fabrics • Unsafe meat and poultry

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