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Story of Minamata Bay
Between 1932 and 1968, the Chisso factory in Minamata released large numbers of Mercury and Methyl-mercury (Modified by bacteria) into the Minamata Bay. Methyl-mercury is easily absorbed by small organisms; bacteria and shellfish but is not easily broken down. As the Mercury remains in the body of the living organisms it moves itself up the food chain. Eventually dangerous levels of mercury entered the body of many of the locals in Minamata. -
Discovery of Mercury Poisoning in Minamata
It took over 30 years for them to find out the cause of the sickness, affecting thousands of the locals in Minamata. In the early 1950's thousands of people started suffering from the mercury poisoning as the level of mercury in their body had increased to a dangerous level. It was only in 1968 when the Chisso factory stopped releasing Mercury into the Bay. The Chisso factory is still paying off compensation to the people of Minamata due to its long term effects on the people. -
Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring"
Thee ecocentric view on the use of DDT was first explored publicly when Rachel Carson published the book “Silent Spring” in September 1962, evaluating the potential effects the insecticide could have on the environment. Which was seen as a very “hysterical” view by many of the more anthropocentric views, and dominant figures in the time. -
Environmental Impact Assesments
EIA's can be described as a report prior to a development project, evaluating both positive and negative impacts caused/surrounded by the development project. EIA's are used to examine and document the environmental impacts of a development project, for example airport/port developments. The NEPA was first passed in 1969 by the US Government, overtime other countries starting including EIA's as part of their planning policies. -
WHO Ban on the Use of DDT
DDT is a persistent organochlorine insecticide. As Rachel Carson discuses in her book Silent Spring, DDT has an effect on birds of prey, thinning their eggshells which ultimately caused a decrease in population. Although the WHO issued the ban many countries in the tropics still use DDT to combat against Malaria, a deadly parasite transmitted by the mosquito; Anopheles. This ban has sparked a debate on which of the two sides causes a larger negative impact on humans/ the environment. -
DDT US Ban
Following advice from the US Environmental Protection Agency the US banned the manufacture and use of DDT in 1972. This caused a domino effect were most MEDC countries banned the use and production of DDT -
Montreal Protocol
Organised by UNEP. Over 30 countries agree to cut CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons) emission by 50% by 2000. UV radiation releases Chlorine from the CFC's, the chlorine atoms react with the ozone resulting in a chain reaction with positive feedback of ozone destruction. -
Strengthening the Montreal Protocol
London Amendment: Industrialized countries would eliminate CFC Production by 2000, and developing countries by 2010 -
Amendment Montreal Protocol
HCFC - At first seen as a good substitute to CFC. However it was later discovered this was a very strong GHG causing climate change. -
MDG's: Millennium Development Goals
MDGs was established in 2005 at the UN Summit in NY. A document with three chapters was published: Freedom from Want (this was the chapter that had the 8 MDGs), Freedom from Fear, Freedom to Live in Dignity (based on the four freedom’s identified by former US President Franklin Roosevelt) -
Redesign of the MDG's into the 17 SDG's (Sustainable Development Goals)
2015 UN Summit in NY redesigned the MDGs into the 17 SDGs, document published is called Agenda for Sustainable Development, target 2030 (document is sometimes referred to Agenda 2030)
