-
1960
David Brower carries photos of the wilderness across the country by way of Sierra Club Publishing Program. -
1962
Rachel Carson raises awareness of harm from pesticides as well as other human created polluntants setting the environmental activism movement rolling with her piece, Silent Spring. Murray Bookchin furthers theories of pollution damaging human health in his book, Our Sythetic Environment. -
1963
Barry Commoner brings attention to the threat of radioactive fallout as a result of atomic testing with his work, Science and Survival. -
1965
Lyndon Johnson holds White House Conference on Natural Beauty, setting the stage for public awareness of antilittering and roadside beautification efforts. -
1966
Article, "Concentration Camps for Dogs," published by Life, bringing in huge amounts of public sympathy as well as establishment of Laboratory Animal Welfare Act. -
1967
Policy group, The Environmental Defense Fund, formed to bring in legal expertise on the war against pesticides and the lobbying for environmental rights. This group developed many standards and policies for recycling, toxic pollution, as well as rain forest and wetlands protection. -
1968
Rene Dubois states that humans are permanently damaging the environment, therefore permanently damaging their health in his piece, So Human an Animal.
The Sierra Club, along with many other groups, halt the building of a dam and power generating facility on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Native American activism brought along by the formation of the American Indian Movement, in which natives attempt to reclaim their land and protect sacred lands and resources. -
1969
Get Oil Out! formed in Santa Barbara, California, to advocate the need to clean up after an offshore oil spil that damaged marine life as well as beaches; also demanding for the removal of offshore oil platforms.
The Union of Concerned Scientists formed bringing scientists and engineers into the nuclear power debate, created because of a call from the faculty of MIT for them to assume responsibility for what their research produces. -
1970 continued
The League of Conservation Voters formed, supporting pro-environment candidates and giving money to those endorsed. Becomes information source for voters, analyzing campaign advertising, looking for greenscam.
Natural Resouces Defense Council created by attorneys Richard Ayres and John Adams. Key players in legislation concerning pollution and environmental protection. -
1970
Teach-ins, hosted at the University of Michigan, draw 15,000 studetns, corporate executives, and public officials bringing credibility to issues presented.
First Earth Day Celebrated on April 22 to bring attention to environmental issues.
Environmental Action formed to alert public of corporations with bad pollution records. -
1971
Don't Make a Wave Committtee sails to Alaska to protest nuclear weapon testing, later evolving into Greenpeace.
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund established to provide scientific research and legal expertise to force compliance with environmental laws. -
1972
Spin off of League of Conservation Voters, The Environmental Policy Center, opens in Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of water issues.
Stockholm's United Nations Conference on the Human Environment brings together international environmental leaders.
U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sierra Club v. Morton gives environmental groups more power in lawsuits even when not directly affected. -
1973
First environmental strike against Shell Oil staged. -
1974
Critical Mass created to confront nuclear power issues.
Worldwatch Institute founded as environmental publication center, reporting on international environmental issues. -
1975
Greenpeace uses nonviolent confrontation strategies to halt Soviet whaling.
Environmentalists for Full Employment confronts claims environmental regulation would cost jobs.
Building of Tocks Island Dam stopped that would have affected free-flowing rivers.
Edward Abbey inspires radical Environmentalism with his book, The Mokey Wrench Gang.
Greenpeace halts baby seal harvesting bringing credibility to Greenpeace. -
1976
Clamshell Alliance formed to combat proposed nuclear facility in New Hampshire. -
1977
Militant Greenpeace members break off to form Shepherd Conservation Society, using direct action strategies.
Cato Institute opens in San Fransisco as a Libertarian think tank for commentary on social and environmental issues. -
1978
New York residents experience severe health problems as well as the report of toxic contamination. It is later learned that the specific city was built over the remains of a toxic waste dump -
1979
Sagebrush Rebellion Act enacted in nevada opposing federal wilderness policies.
Nuclear power plant incident on Three Mile Island, bring back antinuclear power sentiment.