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Population 1 Billion
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Population 2 Billion
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Love Canal Disaster1942-1953
The Love Canal disaster occurred when the Hooker Chemical company used a partially dug canal as a place for chemical waste. By the end it contained 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals that were capped in clay and then sold to the Niagra Falls School Board. Awareness only occurred when epilepsy, migraines, nephrosis, asthma, and birth defects came to the surface around the area. It then symbolized an unknown number of waste disposal sites around the United States that could also turn into disasters. -
Hydrogen Bomb Testing on Bikini Atoll
(The first bomb to be denotated was July 1, 1946) The United States started nuclear testing for Operation Crossroads in 1946 on the Bikini Atoll island located in the Pacific Ocean. This was a series of two bombs called BAKER and ABLE which were to see the effects of nuclear weapons on naval ships. Residents of the island weren't allowed to return till 1978 due to the vast amount of radioactive materials that were causing damage to the naval force's health. -
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act determines the discharge of pollutants into waters in the Unites States and regulates the standard for surface waters. It was enacted in 1948 as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which was eventually heavily reorganized in 1972, which is when it became commonly known as the Clean Water Act. -
Founding of IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature was founded on October 5, 1948, in Fontainebleau, France. It was the first global environmental union, and it brought together governments with a shared goal to protect nature. -
Minamata
In May 1956, in Minamata, Japan, four people were admitted to hospital with a very high fever, loss of consciousness, coma, and finally death. 13 patients later, they figured out it was mercury poisoning. There was mercury in the water because a chemical plant. The mercury contaminated the water and, Overall, 900 people died, and 2,265 people were effected. This helped companies and the government set better and safer disposing laws. -
Population 3 Billion
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Agent Orange
Agent Orange is a chemical weapon that is made with the same chemicals as weed killers. It was used in Vietnam from around 1961-1971 and was exposed to over 4 million people, 3 million became ill. The United Nations ratified United Nations General Assembly Resolution 31/72 and the Environmental Modification Convention. -
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Publshed
(Published on September 27, 1962) Written by Rachel Carson, this novel shows real community based examples of how DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) has put wildlife such as birds, bees, animals/pets, and humans in danger. Carsons book explains how her 6 years of research have shown that humans have been using harmful chemicals before even knowing what kind of damage is being done to our habitat. -
Clean Air Act of 1963
This Act, regarding air pollution control, was passed by congress establishing a federal program within the US Health Service. Its purpose was to end testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere and to ratify the limited nuclear test ban treaty. There was also research put into monitoring and controlling air pollution thus advancing our environmental health overall. -
Santa Barbara Oil Spill
On January 28, 1969, thirty square miles of the ocean were covered in oil that had been spilled in Santa Barbra. This oil spilled put birds, sea lions, as well as may other animals in danger, while polluting the beaches of Santa Barbra and a vast amount of the coast. This oil spill caused many environmental laws to be put in place such as, the creation of the first earth day, The National Environmental Policy Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency. -
The First Earth Day
Earth day was thought of by Senator Gaylord Nelson. He wanted to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment. He also wanted to have it put in the national political agenda. Earth day led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. -
Gaia Hypothesis
The Gaia Hypothesis, formulated by chemist James Lovelock and microbiologist Lynn Margulis, was a theory about how Earch sustains and regulates itself. In the 1970’s, it was hypothesized that a complex self–regulating system is created by organisms and their inorganic surroundings contributing to ‘homeostasis’ regarding temperature, ocean salinity, and oxygen. They studied the biosphere impacting social sciences, and biogeochemistry. -
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Congress passed the Endangered Species Act unanimously finalizing CITES. This all started when the U.S Forest Service was sued by Izaak Walton for clear-cutting, and he wanted to put an end to this for the sake of the environment and wildlife. The purpose of this Act was to conserve endangered species along with the preservation of ecosystems. This means taking unauthorized endangered species was prohibited and endangered species were determined. -
Population 4 Billion
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Whaling (save the whale)
Whaling is whale hunting, and its purpose is to obtain valuable whale materials, such as meat and blubber, that can turn into a special type of oil. This started during the Industrial Revolution but is now illegal. Save the Whales was created in 1977 to preserve ocean wildlife and protect whales. They protect marine mammals, but also specialize in stopping navy “ship shock” tests, stopping salt marine operations, supporting rescue efforts, and campaigning for the protection of whales. -
Bhopal
On December 2, 1984, the Union Carbide Pesticide plant located in Bhopal, India, released approximately 30 tons of methyl isocyanate. This toxic gas as well as many others, were emitted into the air of over 600,000 civilians that night. The gases were at a low level which affected the civilians by causing nausea, burning eyes, as well as an estimate of 3,000-16,000 deaths. -
Chernobyl
Chernobyl was due to a reactor flaw that was then operated by inadequately trained staff. Two plant workers died due to the explosion and then 28 followed the next few weeks due to radiation syndrome. The explosion released about 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the environment. Around 350,000 people were evacuated as a result. Long term this area has been unusable as it has been being cleaned for the last few years but recently people are starting to move in as the area heals. -
Sandoz Chemical Spill
On 1 November 1986, The Sandoz chemical spill happened because of a fire. The fire went to Sandoz agrochemical storehouse in the Schweizerhall industrial complex, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland. It released toxic agrochemicals into the air and resulted in mass contamination of the Rhine river. It flowed downstream and destroyed the eel population and killed other animals. -
Population 5 Billion
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Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer regulates the production and consumption of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, called ozone depleting substances (ODS). The protocol was adopted on September 15th, 1987 and is the only UN treaty that has been ratified by every country on Earth, 197 UN Member States. -
Kyoto
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on December 11th, 1997 and started its work on February 16th, 2005. Kyoto works through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They do this by committing industrialized countries and economies to adopt policies that help reach a set target by the convention. The convention binds only developed countries since they are the ones that are contributing the most to greenhouse gas emissions. -
Population 6 Billion
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Documentary film An Inconvenient Truth Released
An Inconvenient Truth is a movie addressing how climate change is real, man made, and will be disastrous if not taken care of. The movie presents the tone very lightheartedly with facts that allow the audience to not feel weighed down by the heaviness of the subject while still understanding the gravity of the situation. -
Population 7 Billion