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Minamata
Minamata was a harmful disease that took place back in 1932 in Japan and lasted until 1968. The specimen targeted the fishing industry that Japan heavily depended on, thus illustrating the importance of regulating the amount of pollution entering the environment.
Millar, H. (2022). Minamata disease: The effects of outbreak and more. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/minamata-disease -
Founding of IUNC
The IUNC has become one of the largest organizations helping the environment. Founded in 1948, the IUNC dictated that no country has the power to make choices for the environment singularly. At its time, it focused on the health of biodiversity and need for impact assessments. Thus, severely having a hand in keeping the environment safe and its standards high.
Seventy five years of experience. (n.d.). IUCN. https://iucn.org/about-iucn/history -
Earth Day
Considered a well-known annual holiday, it was first initiated in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to bring more awareness towards the lack of consideration for the environment and damage done to it. Its presence has now been recognized internationally and has severely aided to the carefulness and value for the environment in every country’s citizens.
EPA History: Earth Day | US EPA. (2024, July 1). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/history/epa-history-earth-day -
India's Bhopal Cyanide Gas Leak
This took place when heavy gas was absorbed into the rivers of India, endangering the water and killing its organisms. Thus, allowing a major crisis to develop, one that they still haven't recovered from since it wasn’t properly dealt with. This event highlights the importance of carefully handling toxic substances especially when it comes into contact with what we depend on.
(The Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Facts & Effects - Lesson | Study.com, n.d.) -
Chernobyl
This major event severely affected countries across Europe including Russia and Belarus, who're still dealing with its long-term consequences. Chernobyl heavily affected wildlife, agriculture, and forests resulting in contamination, radiation sickness, and loss of animal and plant life. Historically, its effects on the environment are unforgettable with a notion to prevent it from repeating.
Beresford, N. Scott, E., & Copplestone, D. (2020). Field effects studies in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone -
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Exxon Valdez cargo spilled a large amount of oil into Bligh Reef, heavily affecting its marine life, & causing the waters to heat up resulting in its ice to melt. Therefore, habitats suffered with a loss of economic activity for those who depended on fishing. Again, leading to much effort to restore Alaska’s waters to their original state, & new legislation was passed for times like this to be dealt with better.
(The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill | response.restoration.noaa.gov, nd) -
Rio Earth Summit
This summit led to an international understanding of how to better deal with issues concerning our environment. Promising global policies and agreements that made sure the environment was considered when other decisions were being made soon leading to the initiation of the Kyoto Protocol.
Research guides: Brazil-U.S. Relations: The Rio Earth Summit (1992). (n.d.). https://guides.loc.gov/brazil-us-relations/rio-earth-summit-1992 -
Fire on the Cuyahoga River
In 1996, the Cuyahoga River was so greatly polluted that sparks from a nearby train lit the river fire. No doubt, this caused great damage to its organisms and habitats. On a positive note, however, sparked an outcry from the people who called for new legislation and presence for cleanup, overall leading to the creation of EPA, OEPA, CWA, and GLWQA.
(“the River Caught Fire”: The Cuyahoga River Fire of 1969 — Collaborative for Health & Environment, n.d.) -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was a decision set in place to better regulate climate change by limiting Green House gas emissions. It was successful as many countries cut their emissions, and had an international effect by taking action against many of the environmental problems present with the fast rate of climate change.
Maizland, L. (2023, December 6). Global climate agreements: successes and failures. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/parisglobal-climate-change-agreements