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1st Billion
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2nd Billion
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Chernobyl
April 26,1935 a nuclear reactor malfunctioned, and this created the largest uncontrolled release of radioactive waste into the environment. The release of radioactive materials lasted for 10 days but still to this day it is unhabitable. This was the worst manmade disaster in human history. -
Founding of IUCN
the iucn was the first global conservation group. The group was the first to analyze the damaging effects of human impact on the environment. They established the global list for endagered species that led on to be used wordwide by many countries. The iucn brought many of the damaging ecolgical effects to the worlds eyes and assisted in exemplifying to the public the damaging effects that come from these negative ecological effects. -
Minamata
Shin Nitchitsu opened a chemical factory in Minamata in 1908 and in February 1959, Investigations of Minamata Bay uncovered shocking mercury contamination in the waters. Minamata disease is classified as a poisoning disease... caused by the consumption of seafood and fish from these waters. Very dangerous as the primary diet of Japan consists of fish and seafood products. -
3rd billion
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Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Published
The growing concerns of unintended effects of pesticides led to Rachel Carson’s writing of silent spring. Vast research was done on ddt and similar chemicals and she vouched for minimal usage of the substance. Her reports drove global governments to began to phase out the usage of ddt while not completely ending the usage of the substance. -
The Clear Air Act passes
Federal government authority was given authority to reduce highway air pollution, regulate emission standards, and give authority to invest in technology that would give them the ability to remove sulfur from coal and oil. The Clear Air Act limits particle emissions, ozone deterioration and other pollutants. Air quality in the United States has improved immensely because of this act and what it was put out for. -
The Water Quality Act passes
The overall goal was to protect and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. Not only a focus on the population of humans with water but also the protection of wildlife and organisms in the water. 3 focuses... Physical Integrity, Biological Integrity, Chemical Integrity. -
The Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act
The motor vehicle air pollution act was passed in 1965. The act set a standard level for emmison levels that are acceptable from cars. This set the standard for many car companies that were influenced by this act and forced to reduce emissions. -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Purpose shows protection of all Americans in health and environmental wellness. This agency ensures the national efforts in reducing environmental risks which utilize top quality scientific information. National policies want to outline the fact that environmental health is heavily integral to the federal systems. -
Gaia Hypothesis
The Gaia hypothesis was created and put forward by James Lovelock and later worked on with Lynn Margulis. This is a hypothesis which essentially states that Earth is like a huge self-regulating organism. States that both living and dead organisms, as well as inorganic material, all form part of a constantly moving system that makes up the biosphere. -
The Marine Mammal Protection Act
The marine mammal protection act was passed in 1972. The act banned the usage of animals for hunting , capture or importation. This also helped slow down the Exhange of exotic animals. -
The Coastal Zone Management Act
Passed in 1972 in response to threats on the nation’s oceans and coastlines. The overall purpose of this act is to protect the water quality in our coastal zone. It balances the resources of protection with economic, recreational, and cultural needs. -
The Endangered Species Act
The endangered species act was passed in growing concern of the population decrease of certain species. The act banned was set in place In order to protect near extinction species that are detrimental to our ecosystems. -
4th Billion
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Safe Drinking Water Act
The safe drinking water act was passed in 1974. The act passed as a federal law to protect communities and provide uncontaminated water that is safe for the general public to drink. -
Whaling
Save the whales was founded in 1975 April 27. The first no whaling campaign was launched on this day by the Green Peace Foundation. The campaign helped lead to the ban on commercial whale fishing. This ban of commercial whale fishing led to a steady growth of the whale population although they are still threatened -
The Toxic Substances Control Act
The toxic substance act gives the EPA( the environmental protection angency acess to banning chemicals that are toxic to the general public. The substance mainly banned was (PCB) -
Bhopal
On the night of December 2nd 1984 , a pesticides plant in Bhopal, India, began leaking a hefty amount of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the atmosphere. Residents of Bhopal awoke in absolute terror, lungs choked, eyes burning, suffering, looking in desperation for their loved ones as their ultimate objective was to get out of Bhopal and get to safety. All safety systems failed; it seemed like there was no hope for the local residents. -
5th Billion
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Montreal Protocol
Signed by Japan, Canada, and The United States, The Montreal Protocol's main purpose was to get countries to agree on phasing out ozone-depleting CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) by the year 2000. In the long term as we can tell, it did work to an extent. It has been strongly useful in slowing and reversing the increase of these gases in the atmosphere. -
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
In 1988 President Reagan signed the ocean dumping ban act. The act banned all major trash companies from dumping trash into the ocean. The act was passed in 1988 but only began in 1992 -
Kyoto
Kyoto protocol also known as the Kyoto Accord between nations designed to combat global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The ultimate feature of the Kyoto protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent compared to the year 1950. -
6th Billion
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Documentary film An Inconvenient Truth release
The documentary was released on May,24 2006. The documentary was directed by Davis Guggenheim and inspired by presidents Al gore's campaign on the concerns of degrading environmental factors due to human impact. The film touched on many severe ecological impacts due to human growth and emissions. The film was accredited to Raising awareness on environmental movements to the general public worldwide. -
7th Billion
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8 Billion