Chapter 21.3 outline: Importance of Individuals

Table 4: early environmentalists – concerned about the environment

Henry David Thoreau – Walden Pond

John Muir – naturalist, explorer, founded Sierra Club

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt – conservation president, national forest, parks, monuments

Alice Hamilton – diseases caused by chemicals (like lead)

Rachael Carson – biologist, pesticides, Silent Spring

Paul Ehrlich – ecologist, The Population Bomb

Jane Goodall – primate behavior research, endangered species

Marion Stoddart – A river ran wild, Mass. river

Jacues Cousteau – French oceanographer, documentary films to promote env. awareness

Garrett Hardin -- “The Tragedy of the Commons”

1960s – Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring  congress passed the Wilderness Act  designated wilderness areas, allowed minimal impact activities like camping and hiking

1960s – disasters

Air pollution in NYC blamed for 300 deaths

Bald eagle becomes endangered through use of DDT

Oil spill, pollution

Applying your knowledge

Voting – for candidates that support issues that are important to you. – influence

Candidate legislative history through media, voter organizations, Web sites

Non-profit organizations

Weighing the evidence – “think globally, act locally” – every day actions have broad effects

Be aware of how actions affect our environment

Consumer Choices – “reduse, reuse, recycle” actions people can take for the environment