American Enviromental Movement

Environmentalism is a social movement that a lot of people seem to forget because now it seems like such a normal part of life, but a few decades ago there was an urgent need for this movement. Environmentalism is defined as "a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group" and "advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; especially : the movement to control pollution." In terms of Boston College's article on the subject, it is seen as the grassroots aspect of the movement is what has helped attain their goal more than any other. Stacy Silveria states, “As a social movement, the environmental movement has reached its apex with the rise of grassroots environmentalism. Grassroots environmentalism, fueled by anger, energy, and a commitment to democratic processes, has strengthened the environmental movement by introducing diversity and expanding the concept of environmentalism. Indeed, these groups have emerged to impact both the environmental movement and the public consciousness through direct action and protest strategies.” It is also important to note that though this is a historical movement it is still ongoing and will be for a long time. Stacy mentions that the start of this movement was more of an ideology. It started with the ideas of conservation and preservation. Conservation became the dominant strategy during Roosevelt's time as President after he presented plans for resource management to Congress. The ability to get a strong footing in government was an extremely important tactic, creating greater acceptance and adding a large influence to their repertoire. It was during this time that people were realizing the effects humans have had over the environment, thus creating a need to establish the Reclamation Act and the U.S. Forest Service. It is also noted that many of the environmental organizations that are still around today, such as the Sierra club, were created in the 1800s. Yet these groups lacked diversity and were more of a debate between rich white men (between those who wished to leave the natural environment in a pristine state and those who viewed it as a place for recreation and pleasure) to preserve a place for outdoor recreation . This was an important start and what initially led to the social movement, yet what was to come in the 60's established environmentalism as a social movement. Silveira's states,

"The publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 marked the beginning of modern environmentalism. Carson, known as the “godmother of modern environmentalism,” impacted the American public’s consciousness with her detailed exposition on the dangers of environmental pollution to human health. By examining the ecological impacts of hazardous substances that pollute both the natural and human environments, like pesticides, Carson fundamentally altered the way Americans perceived the environment and the dangers of toxins to themselves. Emphasizing the problems associated with industrial society, Carson argued that science and technology had been effectively removed from any larger policy framework and insulated from public input and opinion. Carson’s controversial thesis not only made Silent Spring an epoch event in the history of environmentalism, but also helped to launch a new decade of rebellion and protest in which the concept of “nature” was broadly construed to include quality-of-life issues. The Environmental Movement differs markedly from other American social movements because it was saddled, from its inception, with conservative traditions. Indeed, some activists were initially cautious about the association of environmentalism with population control and anti-urban elitism. Nevertheless, the Environmental Movement flourished in the 1960s amid an era of social activism which fostered the rise of the Civil Rights, Peace, and Women’s movements. Most activists linked environmentalism with novel values that could restructure society and form alternative institutions and lifestyles. Increasing ecological awareness in the areas of organic gardening and urban and rural communal living grew in popularity and were popularized by the underground press. Moreover, “[s]everal New Left ecology collectives were organized in the late 1960s to focus [*PG505]on the waste issue and were pivotal in the formation of community-based recycling centers.” Furthermore, the Environmental Movement was precipitated by two major social changes in American culture. First, citizens began searching for improved standards of living and amenities, beyond necessities and conveniences, due to increased personal and social “real income.” Rising standards of living allowed Americans to view nature as an essential provider of recreational activities. Second, increasing levels of education spawned values associated with personal creativity and self-development, including involvement with the natural environment. Both of these societal changes allowed individuals to think broadly about the natural habitat in which they lived, worked, and played. Moreover, by the late 1960s, activists began to link the destruction of the natural environment to the complex interplay of new technology, industry, political power, and economic power. Grassroots community groups arose to support family and community autonomy against the powerful institutional forces of corporate industry and government bureaucracy. In addition, concerns regarding human health led to demands for increased activism to make natural environments more available for use and to ward off threats from industrial production. The emergence of these shifts created novel political opportunities through a heightened degree of consumer action not previously known to American politics. New forms of consumption provided focal points of organized activity in common leisure and recreational interest groups. “[B]y emphasizing community organization to protect community environmental values against threats from external developmental pressures, consumer impulses went through a degree of mobilization and activity which they had not previously enjoyed.” Finally, a series of dramatic environmental catastrophes in the 1960s galvanized environmentalists into action. These events included the 1965 power blackout and garbage strikes of New York City, the 1969 burning of the Ohio River along the industrial sections of Cleveland, and the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Symbolic protests on college campuses across the nation, which included letter writing campaigns and “guerrilla theater-like” events, brought students into the Environmental Movement. At Columbia University, for example, sit-ins were organized initially to protest the conversion of parkland in a neighboring black community into a university gymnasium. Similarly, the 1969 People’s Park protests at Berkeley, designed to prevent the bulldozing of a spontaneous community garden into a university parking lot, further heightened environmental awareness. In all, both these catastrophes and protests served to heighten awareness of environmental issues in America. Environmentalists responded to these events by demanding government protection from environmental degradation and pollution. Environmental activists helped to draft legislation, including the Wilderness Act (1965); the Clean Air Act (1967); National Trails Act (1968); and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968). Their efforts and the increasing momentum of the environmental movement culminated in the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970."

The rising standard of living and issues regarding quality of life were not tactics, but did help a great deal in creating environmental change. Without these things happening we might see environmentalism quite differently, though it is hard to imagine. In addition, the increased awareness, more education and the catastrophes that happened during this time were a great help for the movement. Obviously the catastrophes were by accident, but greater awareness from and further education added a lot of knowledge to the repertoire as well as the amount of solidarity created through college campuses and the companies that protested. Though the protests were used as disruptions, the events that occurred on their own (catastrophes, etc.), in my opinion, created the biggest disruptions because it brought into consciousness the limits that human consumption can exceed and the detriment that we had caused to the environment thus far. Since the 70s the bulk of the movement has been a grassroots movement, with most of the work and future of the movement in the hands of individuals and environmental groups, even though the government still regulates various aspects and implements the change that these people are working so hard to establish. I did know about this movement, though this is because it is still a prevalent movement that is still as important today as it was in the 60s or 70s. This movement is extremely significant, because we have done a lot of harm to the environment and now the limits to our consumption is known for many things and without conservation and preservation we will see many problems in the future that we have not seen yet. The Acts, political established departments, environmental groups, etc. created a legacy that will continue to shape our lives and the ongoing environmental movement in the future.

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