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Industrial Revolution in Europe
Transformed economics into one that is based on large scale industry, mechanized manufacturing, and the factory system. The increase of factories and migration to the cities led to increased urbanization, resource usage and pollution. It helped the European countries become wealthier while having the rest of the world under their control. (Book,Website) -
The Passenger Pigeon Becomes Extinct
September 1, 1914, the last known passenger pigeon died at the Cincinnati Zoo. It is believed that they took up 25-40% of the total bird population of the United States. Commercial exploitation of pigeon meat on a massive scale and loss of habitat led them to smaller flocks which led them to extinction. The result of the extinction of the passenger pigeon was that it led to the need for strong conservation laws. These laws were put into effect, which saved many other species.(book, website) -
Leopold writes 'A Sand County Almanac'
Concept of 'stewardship' is applied to nature. Leopold uses A Sand County Almanac to communicate the true connection between people and the natural world. (Book, website) -
UK's ten National Parks are established
Recognition of need to conserve natural areas.
The first ten National Parks are made starting with the Peak District in 1951. By the end of the decade the Lake District, Snowdonia, Dartmoor, Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor, Northumberland and Brecon Beacons National Parks were established. (Book, website) -
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Minamata Bay Disaster
On a spring day, a five year old girl in Minamata was found to have unusual symptoms. She was the first case of Minamata disease. Minamata disease was a kind of organic mercury poisoning that came from polluted fish and shellfish caught in Minamata Bay. More than 900 people died and thousands of others were left permanently disabled. The outbreak ended because the consumption of fish and shellfish from Minamata Bay was banned. (Book, website) -
NGOs gain following
NGO’s, non-governmental organization, are a voluntary group or institution with a social mission that operates independently from the government. The public awareness of NGO’s grows. The WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth all formed. (ngosource.com, Website) -
Nairobi Earth Summit
A partnership between governments, civil society, and the private sector to work together for the sustainable management Western Indian Ocean Region with healthy rivers, coasts and oceans. It urges all Governments and people of the world to ensure that our small planet is passed over to future generations in a good and healthy condition. It was signed by signed by Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, and the Republic of South Africa (website) -
Bhopal Disaster
On December 3, 1984, about 45 tons of the dangerous gas methyl isocyanate leaked from an insecticide plant in Bhopal, India. The leak was due to the failure or lack of safety controls. The gas drifted over the densely populated neighborhoods around the plant that killed thousands of people immediately. The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 people. Half a million survivors suffered respiratory problems. (Website) -
Chernobyl Disaster
The Number Four RBMK reactor at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, went out of control during a test which lead to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. The blame for the disaster was put on the operating personnel, the plant management, the design of the reactor, and the lack of adequate safety information. The death toll was 31 people but it effect millions of people around it. (Website) -
Johannesburg Earth Summit
The summit's main objectives were to renew global support for sustainable development at the highest political level. This Summit had the participation of more than a hundred heads of state and government and tens of thousands of government representatives and non-governmental organizations. The plans were to globally improve water and sanitation, energy supply issues, health, agricultural abuse, biodiversity reduction. (Website) -
Kyoto Protocol Becomes a Legal Requirement
The Kyoto Protocol uses the UN Framework Convention on climate change by telling industrialized countries and economies to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It only asks countries to adopt policies and measures on mitigation and to report it.Its based of the Convention and follows an annex-based structure. It only limits developed countries and places a heavier blame on them because it they are largely responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere.(website) -
Fukushima Accident
The Fukushima accident, also called Fukushima nuclear accident was caused by an earthquake and tsunami that led to power loss in the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Without power, the cooling systems failed in three reactors and their cores overheated. (britannica.com, website)