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Jan 1, 1000
Easter Island Ecological Disaster
Easter Island was home to a prosperous tribe who used the Easter Island palm. Unfortunately, it was harvested into extiction and the human population was decimated.
Serves as a warning to us today of over-exploitation of resources and overpopulation. -
Jan 1, 1000
Lead Poisoning in Rome
Romans used lead piping to transport water throughout the empire because they did not recognize the dangers of lead poisoning, Lead was also used in winedmaking as a sweetener and was ingested directly. This lead poisoning contributed to the collapse of Rome. -
Jan 1, 1500
Norse Culture Disappearing in Greenland
Vikings colonized Greenland and set up a society similar to theirs at home. However, Greenland's climate cooled down and Norse agrarian practices were not successful. Eventually, the Norse culture died out due to not changing their way in the face of changing ecological conditions. . -
Thomas Malthus
English scholar and philosopher, wrote about populaton issues, how food grows linearly, and population grows exponentially, and how that discrepancy is becoming a problem. -
Henry David Thoreau
19th Centruy Philosopher, wrote "Walden", Transcendentalist, wrote about anarchism in naturalism, that nature will take care of itself. -
John Muir
Scottish Naturalist and philosopher, explored Yosemite, big on outdoors and nature and preservation, formed Sierra Club, wanted for man to stay out of nature, not for use, but for preservation. Fought with Pinchot, who advocated use of resources. -
Theodore Roosevelt
US President who created the U.S. Forest service which protects 193 million acres of forest. Roosevelt also worked to have over 70 nautral areas, including the grand canyon which were designated as national parks, national monuments, or wild life refuges. Provided much of the force of the early conservation movements in USA -
First Oil Well Drilled in USA
• First well drill specifically for Petroleum was in Titusville, Pennsylvania on 28 August 1859.
• Financed by an oil company to get petroleum to refine for Kerosene (for lamps)
• Developed many of the methods used today for drilling for oil.
• Sparked the first oil boom in USA. -
Homestead Act
Government passed this law to settle the west. Gave away undeveloped land for the promise to improve the land. Lead to many people farming in places we shouldn't have. Caused the Dust Bowl. -
Gifford Pinchot
First chief of US Forest Service. Companion of Presidnet Roosevelt and help him to start many conservation ideas.
Feuded with Muir over preservation (which Muir favored) versus the wise use of resources, which Pinchot advocated. -
Alice Hamilton
• February 27, 1869 – September 22, 1970
• A leading expert in the field of Occupational Health.
• A medical doctor who pioneered the field of TOXICOLOGY; especially concerning the effects of metals and chemical upon workers.
• First woman appointed a professor at Harvard University.
• Highest award by NIOSH is the Hamilton Award. -
Yellowstone National Park Established
First ever national park. Extending from Wyoming. Montana, and Idaho. First time any government had set aside wildlife to be perserved. -
Invention of Automobile
Benz invented the first gas engined automobile. This production started the age of modern automobiles. This invention contributes to our global warmning problem because of all the gas now realeased into the air. -
Aldo Leopold
Wrote a sand county Alamac, heavily influanced enviromental ethics and adied the movement for wilderness conservation -
National Sierra Club
A grassroots environmental group aimed to conserve water and habitats and find new sources of clean energy through political action. Founded by John Muir. Mission = to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the Earth!! They currently have 1.4 million members and have an enduring legacy for America's wild places! :) -
Audubon Society
Uses science, policy, and education to restore and protect wildlife habitats- specifically birds. Founded by John James Audubon. -
Lacey Act
First US law that protected wildlife.
This conservation law, brought up by Iowa Rep. John F. Lacey, protects plants and wildlife through criminal penalities for various violations.
It is most known for prohibiting trade of wildlife, fish, and plants that have been taken or stolen. -
Death of Last Passenger Pigeon
Went from being the most abundent bird in North America to being extinct in 100 years. Flocked in groups of a billion. Colonial hunters shot them for cheap food for the slaves and animals. Last pigeon was named "Martha." -
Migratory Bird Treaty and Act
Federal law protecting over 900 species of migratory birds. Unlawful to pursure, hunt, kill, possess, ect. a bird or any apect of the bird. First time more than one country came together to decide to protect wildlife. -
Invention and Use of PCBs
• Polychlorinated biphenyls - A group of organic compounds with chlorines atoms
• PCBs were widely used as insulators and coolants fluids in transformers, capacitors, and electric motors.
• Known to have harmful effects on life
• Very stable compounds and difficult to destroy -
Dust Bowl
Due to the over use of plowing fields and the destruction of trees and other natural barriers, the "dust" had no anchor to keep it in the soil. With strong winds< massive black clouds hit many areas of the mid-west causing must destruction to homes and farm lands. A warning of what happens when we try to change the natural habitats through human intervention. -
Invention and Use of CFCs (chemicals)
A family of chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons) widely used in industry because they were considered very cheap and safe.
Used for refrigeration and an alternative for dangerous chemicals such as ammonia.
In 1970's, it was discovered that hte CFC's were destroying the ozone layer around the Earth. -
Invention and Use of DDT (Insecticide)
A widely used pesticide that is very effective agaist insects; especially those causing Typhus and Malaria
It presists in the environment for a long period of time and is difficult to get rid of.
Also, the pesticide also harms useful organisms such as birds.
Its killing of birds was the subject of "Silent Spring" -
Civilian Conservation Corps
Public work relief program that provided various unskilled manual labor jobs that dealt with the conservation and development of natural resources in rual lands. -
Smog at Donora PA
Over 7,000 were hospitalized or became ill as a result of the smog. This created the first federal and state laws to controal air pollution. -
The Nature Conservancy
A private oraganization that tries to find new ways to help assure that the Earth can continue to support life and population growth and willing to buy to protect. Often buys or established conservationships over ecological sensitive properties to preserve them. -
Invention of the Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear power is seen as a "cleaner" sorce to find energy but can also produce catastrophic enviromental dammage. Proved to be a key role in the discoveries toward nuclear power, and the uses of this new technology. -
Mercury Poisoning in Minamata, Japan
• A town in Japan that was dramatically affected by Mercury poisoning by a local factory.
• In 1956, strange neurological diseases were notices in the local populations; especially children and cats.
• After several years, scientists discovered that it was caused by methylmercury being dumped into the local waters by the Chisso Minamata factory for >20 years.
• The mercury accumulated in the seafood that was eaten by the local people.
• 2,265 victims have been officially certified (1,784 of -
Rachel Carson
Author of "Silent Spring", which exposed the dangers of pesticide DDT, bringing public attention to the Environmental Movement. Considered a key event in the development of environmentalism in the USA. -
Clean Air Act
-a federal law that regulates the air that is emitted from stationary and mobile sources
-enacted by Congress to control air pollution. Requires the EPA to develop and enforce regulations to protect the general public from hazardous, airborne contaminants.
-significant because it was the first major environmental law to include a provision for citizen suits -
Greenpeace
A non-governmental organization with a goal to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity. They fight to protect all living things, to stop Global Warming, and to eliminate Toxins. Originated in Canada and is now one of the best internationally known environmental group. -
Torrey Canyon Incident
860,000 barrels of oil spilled into the sea in London, creating a disaster that still affects the environment to this day. Implemented early warning system for oil spills. First big oil tanker spill -
Paul R. Ehrlich
American biologist & educator known for his (failed) attempt to predict population growth & limited reasoources which he laid out in his award winning book "The Population Bomb."
Despite his failed predictions Pul still had a great impact on the fight agianst ever population and global warming. -
Garrett Hardin
American Ecologist who brought attention to the issues of population growth arguing that (?) Starvation and social disorder will result unless population growth is curbed.
He had a significant effect on bringing the issues of overpopulation and limited reasources on the earth.
Wrote "The Tragedy of the Commons". -
“Earthrise” photo – Apollo 8
• Earthrise is the name given to a photograph of the Earth taken by astronaut William Anders on 24 Dec 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission.
• It has been called "the most influential environmental photograph ever taken."
• Gave humans a better visual recognition of our place in the Universe and how fragile and unique the Earth is.
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/moon/sfeature/sf_audio_pop_01b_qt.html -
Santa Barbara Oil Spill
3rd worst Oil Spill, to Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon, worst of its time. Within 10 days 80-100,000 barrells of oil spillled into the channel. Led to EPA, NEPA, Clean Water Act and Cal Envi Quality Act. -
Cuyahoga River Burns
Cuyahoga River was filled with oil and debris and caught fire in Cleaveland, Ohio.
This started the realization that a Clean Water Act was needed to prevent any more fires. -
Earth Day
Created by Senator Nelson as a political endeavor. Earth Day raises awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. Helped launch the modern environmental movement, in addition to eco-friendly laws. -
NEPA Act
The overall USA enviromental law that created a national policy for the enhancement ot the enviroment and also established the presidents council quality.
Created need for Environmental Impact statements. -
Founding of EPA
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress.
• The agency has approximately 18,000 full-time employees.
• In the midst of many current scientific and political controversies: air quality standards, global warming, greenhouse gases, fuel economy, mercury standards, etc. -
Ramsar Convention
An international treaty dedicated to the conservation and correct use of wetlands. The UK has the largest number of protected sites while Canada has the greatest area of protected wetlands. -
Clean Water Act
Aimed at restoring and maintaining integrity of nation's waters. Eliminated and reduced pollution in bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. Became unlawful to dump pollutatnts in water. -
Love Canal, New York
Neighborhood built on a toxic waste/ dump site. Construction of homes and schools led to exposure of chemicals and rainwater run off into water supply. Government provided federal emergency relief due to increased cancer and low white blood cells counts in people. Leads to CERCLA, or Superfund Act, holds polluters accountable for their damages -
Francisco (Chico) Mendes
Devoted much of life to help saving the Amazon rain forest from his fellow Brazilian rubber tappers,
He also fought greatly for the rights of Brazilians.
He had a significant impact on getting the world aware of the problems of deforestation of the amazon Rainforest & its critical funtion of stabilizing the world climate.
Assassinated by people opposed to his efforts. -
Accident at Three Mile Island
A partial core melt down at a pressurized water reactor in Pennsylvania. There was a result of about 2.5 million curies of radioactive gases and 15 curies of iodine-131. This was a huge reaction, but there weren't any deaths.
No new nuclear power plants have been built in USA since this event. -
"Superfund Act"
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA),
• A federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances
• Authorizes the EPA to force companies to clean up or prevent releases of hazardous substances
• If not possible, EPA does so from a special fund paid for by taxes on companies. -
DOW Chemical Accident in Bhopal, India
• World’s worst industrial accident.
• Occurred at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.
• A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people while they slept.
• The official immediate death toll was 2,259; 558,125 total injuries
• Caused by poor management practices, poor maintenance and poor operating practices. -
Accident at Chernobyl
Worst nuclear accident in history.
An explosion occured in Russia at a nuclear power plant that released a large amount of ratioactive waste into the air. The contamination has spread over Western Russia and Europe. The effects of the explosion officially killed 64 people and affecting tens of thousands of others. A large area aournd the plants is still radioactive.
The former Soviet Union tried to keep it a secret, helping to lead to the political destruction of the USSR. -
Mobro 4000
Barge hauled 3,168 tons of trash back and forth from Islip, New York to Belize and back, searching for a place to dump trash, due to full landfills and concerns about the nature of the trash. Helped spark recycling with environmentalists due to shortage of landfill space and the problem of disposing of solid wastes -
Montreal Protocol
-landmark international agreement to protect the stratosphere ozone layer
-today, all UN-recognized nations have ratified it and continue to ween off of harmful chemicals and searching for ozone-friendly means
-perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date. -
Exxon Valdez Accident
Was worst oil spill in history.
An oil tanker coming from Alaska headed for California struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled 260,000 to 750,000 barrels of crude oil.
Ecologically destroyed pristine Prince William Sound and much wildlife.
Great outcry casued many changes in how oil is transported. -
Earth Liberation Front
The ELFs use economic sabotage and guerrilla warefare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment. They are radical examples of forecful environmentalists. Sometimes, they're called "eco-terrorists". -
Kyoto Treaty
-An agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases
-the treaty places a heavier burden on developed countries under the idea that there are similar but differing responsibilities.
-UNSUCCESSFUL. The cost is too high to convert to any other alternative instead of fossil fuels. Two biggest producers (US and China) are not effected because of no ratification and exemption respectively
