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Industrial Revolution
A surge in machinery used in manufacturing in the 18th century which lead to a change from handicraft to machine-made manufacturing, causing an increase in pollutants released in water sources and the atmosphere due to the use of fossil fuels. -
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Agricultural revolution
A transformation in the farming system, resulting in deforestation of forest for agricultural land. -
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Population growth
The current world population is 8 billion, and rising, which negatively impacts the environment since it increase the extraction of natural resources for human needs, as well as the amount of waste. -
Minimata Disease
A partially fatal disease which was spread due to an oregano-mercury compound leaked into the sea and infecting fish, which then infected local fishermen and villagers. It caused great harm to the sea ecosystem and to the species. -
Rachel Carsons ‘Silent Spring’
Rachel Carson wrote a book on the indiscriminate insecticide and pesticide, raising awareness around the world as well as presenting new ideas and research about such chemicals. -
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Green Revolution
A rise in the production of grains (wheat, rice etc), due to its introduction to developing countries, causing the global usage of chemicals in agriculture. -
The First Earth Day
Earth day began in the US, originally promoted by Senator Gaylord Nelson, and eventually became a global tradition where people around the world raise awareness and take even further action on earth day. -
Gaia Hypothesis
James Lovelock suggests that “ living organisms on the planet interact with their surrounding inorganic environment to forma synergetic and self regulating system that created, and now maintains, the climate and biochemical conditions that make life on Earth possible.” -
‘Save the Whales’ by Greenpeace
It is a campaign that began in Vancouver against whaling, to spread awareness and attempt to stop whaling a round the world. The campaign led to a global ban on commercial whaling -
Bhopal Disaster
A chemical leak in where 45 tons of gas methyl isocyanate from an insecticide plant in India, which lead to thousands of deaths and polluted waters. -
Chernobyl Incident
AN explosion in Ukraine, which released radioactive chemicals killing over 30 people and contaminating neighbouring ecosystems. -
Kyoto Protocol
A protocol involving the limitation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Industrialized targeted countries, involving policies, measures on mitigation and periodic reports. -
‘Fridays for Futures’ Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg initiated a protest on schooldays for three weeks where her and her classmates sat in front of the Swedish parliament in protest on the climate crisis. Fridays for Future is now a world wide organization which spreads awareness and protest for actions to be taken towards the climate crisis. -
Amazon Rainforest wildfires
Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and other countries in the amazon region experienced 47 million hectares of land being burnt during the wildfires in the amazon forest. These forest fires ruined numerous ecosystems, habitats and species, and also polluted water sources and the atmosphere.