Post-War Boom Essay Example for Free

Post-War Boom evidenceEvery 22nd of April, the world celebrates Earth Day, where the importance of milieualism given emphasis. What was once an ideology is now a social transaction, with major corporations joining in the cause to preserve the environment. In the US, the road to environmental bowel movement started as early as the 1960s but only reached extensive recognition in the 70s. In 1962, Rachel Carson, a biologist, wrote a book entitled Silent Spring, which exposed the threats brought on by the use of pesticides (Brinkley 875). She wrote that it was the head start time that human beings were being subjected to dangerous chemicals and called on the government to act on it (LaFeber et al 547). only if it was not only Carson who loose the door for environmental movement. Following the war, the drastic effect on the environment was starting to put people in a crisis. Water pollution was spreading toxic exhaust from factories and power plants had started to infiltrate t he water and the atmosphere (Brinkley 876-877). In Ohio, for example, the Cuyahoga River had burst into flames following constant dumping of crude oil waste into it (877).The word smog was created to refer to the combination of potty and fog which relentlessly plagued the people subsisting in cities (877). Environmental destruction had started. The realization make people become aware of the possible remedy it could inflict not just on the people but also on their surroundings. In fact, as early as 1950s, the Sierra Club, a traditional conservation organization, had contested the proposal to dam the unfledged River in Colorado (Glen Canyon Institute 2008). Sierra Club deemed the proposal as Americas most regretted environmental mistake (2008). The group sought to check into it but was in vain.The Glen Canyon damming opened the waters (put intended) for the environmental movement that when proposals for damming Marble and Grand Canyon were put forward, the Sierra Club present not just protests but also placed advertisement in the New York Times to stop it. In a way, the Colorado incident put forth the rising environmental movement. It triggered the concern for environmental conservation and preservation. Among the environmental problems which people hoped to address were the aforementioned water problem, ozone layer, greenhouse effect, nuclear power and the escalating core of garbage (Divine et al 870-871).For instance, studies in the 70s revealed the effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) to the earths ozone layer (870). Scientists also discovered that smoke and other toxic fumes contributed to the formation of acid rain, which was dangerous not only to forests but the cobalt ultramarine (870). Only April 1970 the first Earth Day was celebrated in campuses, the start of what was to be a campaign to expand the threats of toxic wastes to the environment (LaFeber 547). Earth Day was the idea of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who initially thought of c onducting a series of talks around campus (Brinkley 878).Compared to the antiwar rallies that as common during these days, the Earth Day demonstration had an unthreatening aura that made it interesting to people. During President Nixons first term, the Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act and the mental hospital of the Environmental Protection Agency (Brinkley 878). Laws were also created to regulate environmental hazards, preserve endangered species and protect state of nature areas (LaFeber 547). The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act were passed in 1972 (Brinkley 878).The support of government in environmentalism made it easier to somehow alleviate environmental degradation brought on by pollution and the advancing industrial society. However, during the Reagan administration, federal cuts were made in favor of promoting private enterprises (547). Reagan also hoped to abolish the Council on Environmental superior and cut funds for the Environmental Protection Agency (547). However, his anti-environmental revolution only made the environmental movement stronger. Environmental groups saw rise in its members.