1 Lecture #1 The History of Environmentalism

2 Environment- – Conditions or circumstances that surround an organism or groups of organisms – The complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

3 Environmental Science – The systematic study of our environment and how humans interact with it. – People live vastly different lifestyles throughout the earth. – Human societies interact with nature with varying intensity in the ways they exploit the natural environment

4 Environmental Science is……. Interdisciplinary Integrative – Natural Sciences – Social Sciences – Humanities Mission oriented

5 Environmental Science vs. Environmentalism Environmental science - use of scientific method to study processes and systems in the environment Environmentalism - working to influence attitudes and policies that affect our environment

6 Historical Perspective Four Distinct Stages in environmental history 1.Pragmatic Resource Conservation 2.Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation 3.Concern about Health and Ecological Damage 4.Global Environmental Citizenship – These are not mutually exclusive; parts of each persist today in the environmental movement.

7 1.Pragmatic Resource Conservation Conservation- Managing and protecting natural resources and using them sustainably. – This focuses on instrumental value

8 George Perkins Marsh Man and Nature published in 1864, (which influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot.) Called attention to the destructive impact of human activity on land, especially through deforestation. Advocated conservation

9 Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration- early 1900’s Creation of the US Forest Service (1905) Expansion of National Forest holdings Establishment of 53 wildlife refuges

10 United States Forest Service (USFS) Multiple, Sustainable Use Policy To be “used for the greatest good, for the greatest number for the longest time”

11 Gifford Pinchot First American- born Forester Appointed First Chief of the U.S. Forest Service

12 2. Moral & Aesthetic Nature Preservation aka ‘Biocentric preservation’ Preservation: Protecting natural environments from human development Focus on intrinsic value “nature deserves to exist for its own sake regardless of its usefulness to us.”

13 John Muir Believed in preservation of pristine wilderness areas Founded the Sierra Club in 1892 “Father of National Parks”

14 Frederick Law Olmstead Father of American Landscape Architecture Developed Central Park in 1857

15 Olmstead’s Words Served as the foundation for legislation establishing the National Park Service “To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

16 National Park Service Founded in 1916 To preserve for the benefit, use, and inspiration of present and future generations…

17 Creation of National Parks 1872 Yellowstone World’s First National Park

’s Ecology and Economy Clash Hetch-Hetchy Valley Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

19 3. Concern about Health & Ecological Damage Modern Environmental Movement Industrial explosion of WW II added new concerns to the environmental agenda.

20 Rachel Carson Alerted the general public in 1962 to the dangers of pesticides in her book Silent Spring. This work led to the banning of DDT in 1972.

21 Wangari Maathai Founded the Greenbelt movement (1970’s), an organization focused on planting trees, environmental conservation and women’s rights. Won the Nobel Peace Prize for environmental action (2004).

22 Polarization Continued urban growth and associated pollution caused divergence of: 1.Those who supported and profited from industrialization (‘industry’). 2. Those who worried about the effects of pollution (‘environmentalists’).

23 The Rise of National Green Organizations (NGO’s) World Wildlife Federation (WWF) 1961 Environmental Defense Fund 1967

24 Catalysts 1969 Burning of the Cuyahoga River, OH

25 Catalyst 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill

26 New Legislation The Federal Government Responds: 1963 Clean Air Act 1965 Water Quality Act 1966 Endangered Species Conservation Act 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

27 Issues of the 1960’ and 1970’s Human Population Growth Nuclear Weapons Testing Nuclear Power Fossil Fuel Drilling RecyclingAir Pollution Water Pollution Wilderness Protection Landfilling Waste

’s The Environmental Decade The Federal Government continued to respond: 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1970: Creation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by President Richard M. Nixon. – This agency is responsible for national issues of environmental health, a responsibility shared with the Department of the Interior Endangered Species Act 1977 Clean Water Act

29 Earth Day April 22, 1970

30 The Empire Strikes Back? Industry responds to new regulations: Form research groups Develop educational materials Enhance public relations Industry successfully battles NGO’s in the courts.

31 Shifting Strategies Broadening issues weakens NGO’s Rise of Radical Environmentalism Greenpeace 1971 Sea Shepherd 1977 Earth First 1980

32 Deregulation Reagan Administration Goal- to minimize federal regulations CEQ: 1 member and a small budget Reagan used White House councils to sidestep the EPA

33 Environmental Disasters These disasters kept focus on the environment. Love Canal 1978 Ixtoc I 1979 Three Mile Island 1979 Bhopal 1984 Chernobyl 1986 Exxon Valdez 1989

34 4. Global Environmental Citizenship Global Interconnections Increased technology has greatly expanded international communications. – Daily events now reported worldwide instead of locally or regionally Global Environmentalism

35 Global Awareness 1990’s: elevation of environmental issues Scientific evidence of ozone hole, global warming, declining resources Earth Day; 1992 Earth Summit Strong environmental policy of Clinton-Gore Administration ( )

36 21 st Century Environmental issues low priority under the Bush-Chaney administration Economic downturn Energy issues Terrorism and National Security War

37 " President Obama “ Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -– but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation –- workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors.“ -President Obama, June 15, 2010

38 Environmental Issues are a much higher priority under the Obama administration.

39 So now what?????????????????? The future is in OUR hands.