History of the Environmental Movement

By Ricchard

  • Founding of IUCN

    In Fontainebleau, France, this was established as the first global environmental union. Their aim was to provide scientific knowledge and encourage international cooperation to guide conservation.
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    Minamata

    This disease is a poisoning disease that damages the nervous system. It was first identified between 1953-1959. Over 2000 people have died to this disease and the survivors of this disease have been blinded.

  • Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Published

    When this was published in 1962, this revealed the damaging effects of indiscriminate use of chemicals. Carson gave more caution for these “elixirs of death” and then stated that if people live with chemicals, they had better know something about the chemicals’ “power.”

  • First Earth Day

    On that day, 10% of the U. S. population organized a teach in about environmental issues. Since that day, people recognize the importance of protecting natural resources of the world.

  • Club Of Rome 1972

    This is a platform for diverse thought leaders focusing on finding solutions to the hard solutions in the planet today. This club has published over 45 reports, has included over 100 members and 35 national associations.
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    James Lovelock's Gaia

    His theory shaped the scientist community’s understanding about global warming. He said that the Gaia theory could “shift a system as large as the atmosphere of the earth.”
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    Stockholm Conference

    This linked environmental protection with sustainable development, also made concrete ideas to preserve the environment. The massive interest led to a massive shift in global attitude towards this environment.

  • Whaling (save the whale)

    On April 27, 1975, Greenpeace launched the world’s first anti-whaling campaign from the docks of Vancouver. Blue whales are increasing by 8.2% a year, Southern right whales are increasing by 7% year, Eastern gray whales have increased3.1% a year in the Northwest Atlantic.
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    Bhopal gas tragedy

    Sometime in December 1984, a defective tank caused an exothermic reaction, releasing a deadly gas into the air, exposing itself throughout the city of Bhopal. This caused great panic throughout the city as people woke up with a burning sensation in their lungs.

  • Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior

    This was meant to terrorize the environmental organization and to calmly protest the French nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. A crew member of the Rainbow Warrior had been killed when the ship had been bombed, then sunk down.
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    Chernobyl disaster

    This was a result of a flawed reactor design, which later exploded and there was major radiation after the blast. This led to many infections from 1986 to 2004, including a few deaths too.

  • Our Common Future

    This was an urgent call by the General Assembly of the United Nations to propose long term environmental strategies by the year 2000 and going forward. They wanted to find more solutions on how the international community can deal more wisely with environmental concerns.

  • Agenda 21

    Over 170 countries were committed to applying policies to achieve sustainable development. Agenda 21 is not possible without citizen participation, even though they are encouraged by public or private powers.
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    Earth Summit

    This conference highlighted how many factors evolve together independently, and how success requires action to be made overtime. This concept sparked a great debate for many governments to ensure sustainability for development.
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    Kyoto Protocol

    This protocol aimed to reduce CO2 emissions so that greenhouse gases would not threaten the climate. Countries that ratified this protocol were assigned maximum carbon emission levels and got involved in carbon credit training.

  • The documentary film An Inconvenient Truth was released.

    Selective clips from this documentary resulted in participants motivated to change their lifestyle when in climate change. Watching this documentary raised questions about the role of humanity in global warming.

  • An Inconvenient Truth

    This focuses on the challenge of global warming and climate change. This has been made part of many curricula around the world too.
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    Copenhagen's COP-15

    This project was to cap the global temperature rise by emission reductions and raising funds. This also recognizes the need for transfer of technology and to upgrade development action.