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Minimata disease
The Minimata “disease” was during 1956 due to the Chisso chemical plant dumping mass amounts of methylmercury into the Minimata Bay. This caused an outbreak of Minimata and cat disease. Because the methylmercury in the bay that contaminated various fish and shellfish, when people consumed them it made them sick causing neurological issues. This event impacted Kumamoto, Japan and the Minimata bay’s ecosystem and environment permanently.(Minimata) -
Silent Spring
Written in 1960 by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring is about the abuse of DDT and how it directly affected the environment, animal species (mainly birds), and people. But because of the time period and the status women had in the 60s the book wasn’t popular until later. This book was heavily debated through the scientific community because it spoke about how DDT should be banned, being there was more negative impacts than positive.(Legacy) -
Bhopal
In 1984, a massive gas leak was caused by an insecticide plant, spreading through highly populated neighborhoods causing 20,000 deaths. This was due to the lack in staff and safety procedures. The survivors of this crisis dealt with respiratory and health issues.(Bhopal) -
Chernobyl
The Chernobyl incident was caused by a test that went out of control because of the negligent personal that I didn’t follow proper safety precautions. Because of the Chernobyl incident, the environment in Chernobyl will be not habitable for thousands of years because of the striking levels of radioactivity; mutations in plants and animals have occurred and it is not safe to live or visit, only for short periods of time.(Frequently)
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/chernobyl/faqs -
Julia Butterfly Hill
Julia Butterfly was an activist who lived in a 200 foot tree. She lived in the tree for 2 years to protest against clear cutting. She influenced many and opened there eyes to the true acts ecological wreckage that the Pacific Lumber Company was committing. She was faced with the toughest conditions and survived through it all.(Watson)
https://www.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/julia-butterfly-hill#\. -
Dame Ellen MacArthur
In 2005, Dame Ellen was deemed the fastest solo sailor to sail around the world. She then started a foundation whose main focus is to push toward a circular economy that values issues, such as climate change, to help better our environment and planet. (Ellen’s)
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/about-us/ellens-story -
Fukushima
The tsunami that hit Fukushima, Japan, caused a terrible impact on the environment and the sea life inhabiting the area. 6 nuclear plants off the coast were being affected by the tsunami, releasing nuclear waste into the ocean. This affected sea life, contaminating them with nuclear waste. It impacted locals health because they were consuming the fish and getting their health put at large risk. (Fukushima) https://www.iaea.org/topics/response/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-accident -
Iron Eyes
Iron eyes, an American-activist and leader of ReZpect our Water, spoke against the Dakota Access Pipeline. This pipeline follows under the standing Rocks Sioux tribe.Assessments were made but there is worry about freshwater contamination. (Text) -
Greta Thungberg
Greta Thungberg leads one of the biggest climate change protests in New York City, United States. She spoke on how the world should take greater action to prevent climate change from getting worse. (Greta)
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/09/20/culture-re-view-when-greta-thunberg-led-the-biggest-climate-protest-in-history#:~:text=20%20September%202019%3A%20A%2016,greater%20action%20against%20climate%20change. -
Wawa
Wanjiku is a climate storyteller and environmentalist, who strives to make climate justice mainstream and accessible to everyone. In 2021 she founded Black Girl Environmentalists, whose mission is to empower women, black girls, and non-binary in the climate change movement. Wawa wants to make sure their voices are heard. (Wawa)
https://www.wawagatheru.org/about