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Sierra club movement 1892
Movement started in 1892 when a group of people worked to make sure mountains and forests stayed safe and clean. This was significant because it helped set the idea that preserving nature is important for both the environment and human well-being. -
Founding of IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature was created to help protect animals and plants and make sure they have a safe place to live. This is important for the modern environmental movement because it brought together people from all over the world to work together to protect nature and animals. -
Minamata
The Minamata incident happened in Japan when a factory dumped mercury into the water, causing people who ate fish from that water to get very sick. This was significant because it raised awareness about the harmful effects of pollution on human health and the environment. -
Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" Published
This book talks about how using too many chemicals, can hurt the environment and make animals sick. This is significant because it raised awareness about the harmful effects of pollution on human health and the environment. -
Santa Barbara oil spill
This oil spill happened off the coast of California, when a big oil well spilled into the ocean causing major damage to sea life and beaches. This was significant because it showed to impact of oil spills on the environment and played an important role in shaping modern environmental regulations and awareness about the important of protecting our planet. -
Fire on the Cuyahoga River
This fire happened in 1969 because it was so polluted with oil and trash that one spark from a passing train caused it to set fire. This was significant because it made people realize the importance of protecting our environment and led to laws to prevent such pollution disasters from happening again. -
Greenpeace movement 1971
Started when a small group of activists who aimed to bring attention to environmental issues through protests sailed on a boat to stop nuclear testing in the ocean. This was significant because it showed how ordinary people can make a difference by standing up for the planet. -
Clean Water Act
This law helps keep our lakes, rivers, and oceans clean by stopping pollution from going into them. This is significant because it sets important rules to protect our water, ensuring that we have clean water for drinking and for animals to live in. -
Gaia Hypothesis
The idea that Earth works like a big, living organism where all the plants, animals, air, and oceans help keep everything in balance. This is significant because it emphasizes the importance of understanding earth as a living system and how everything is connected and works together. -
Chernobyl
Chernobyl was a tragedy where a nuclear power plant exploded, releasing dangerous radiation into the air causing severe harm to people, animals, and the environment. This was significant because it showed how dangerous nuclear accidents can be and the long-lasting effects they can have on nature and people. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was a promise made by many countries to work together to reduce the pollution that causes climate change. The agreed to limit the amount of harmful gases they release into the air to protect the environment. This was significant because it was one of the first big agreements where countries agreed to take action together to fight climate change. -
Documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth" released
This film explains how pollution is making the earth warmer, which can lead to problems like stronger storms and melting ice. This is significant because it raised global awareness about climate change and inspired people to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.