environmental movement
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Environmental Movement
1970-1980Major events
Creation of EPA (1970)
EPA stands for Environmental Protection Agency
EPA was founded for “the specific purpose of protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment” (Best)
EPA was the first federal agency designed to deal with pollution
EPA revolutionized the way pollution and environmental problems were dealt with
Set a precedent for future environmental agencies
Air Pollutions
Air pollution is significantly reduced by using of catalytic converters on the newer cars
New cars are predicted to be pollution free; however they prove to release harmful chemicals
Water pollution
Pollution is reduced by a large sewage treatment expansion program
Old sewers are being converted back into to the rivers that they used to be
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination system fails to eliminate discharges
Toxic chemicals
Toxic Chemicals become more noticeable dangerous and serious
Large corporations are causing harm to their employees by exposing them to the chemicals while they work
New regulations are forced to be set in 1980
1980-1990Major events
Ozone
Depletion from fluorocarbons is finally taken seriously
Even strong conservatives are realizing the negative effects humans have caused to the ozone
Climate Changes
Global warming is becoming more convincing
More evidence suggests that the serve climate changes are serious
Global warming is warned but not taken as seriously as environmentalists would like
Toxic Waste
Congress passes legislation that allows cleaning up the toxic waste
By the year 2002 superfund runs out
1990-2000
Gulf War
Has a very negative effect on the environment with the multiple burning oil wells
Oil wells depletes a natural resources while releasing harmful fumes and causing harm to marine and land animals
Environment vs. Economy
A poll is taken to see whether Americans favor the environment or economic development
“A Gallup poll finds 76 percent of Americans call themselves environmentalists.” (Kovarik)
There tension between republicans and democrats regarding which issue to support
2000-PresentMajor Events
Change in Presidency
Bill Clinton, a devoted environmentalist, leaves the Presidency
President George W. Bush, a man who favors industry over the environment, becomes president in 2001
However, President Obama restores the environmental missions for activists and government mandated agencies when he is elected in 2009
Coal Mining
Coal mining begins to be viewed as unsafe
With multiple coal mining disasters the public sees coal mining as a waste of effort, people, and coal
The coal industry shrinks because the public realizes how bad coal can be for the environment
Global Climate Change
This issue becomes a priority for political figures, activists, and scientists
The nation becomes more tolerable towards the idea of “being green”
Animals and wild life begin to be severely affected by the climate change