|
|
|
Written by Marshall Brain, McClatchy-Tribune
|
|
Tuesday, 17 April 2007 |
|
|
|
|
It is hard for us to believe it today, but Americans in 1970 were facing an environmental crisis of massive proportions.
Water pollution was a huge problem — untreated sewage, factory waste and chemicals like phosphates flowed straight into many rivers, turning those rivers into a smelly, disgusting mess.
1969 marked the famous "burning river" incident in Ohio. Oil and chemicals in the river lit on fire and in some places the flames leapt 50 feet or more into the air.
Air pollution from cars and factories was also a big problem. Cars had no emission control systems, and they all burned leaded gasoline. Smog was a curse in large cities, and tons of lead were being released into the environment.
We faced the pesticide and related mercury problems revealed in Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring". Some bird species were being wiped out when their eggs did not form properly because of toxins in the environment. And political leaders were pretty much ignoring all of it. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) did not even exist.
On April 22, 1970, America celebrated its first Earth day. On that day there was an immense outpouring of support for the environment. It is estimated that 20 million people participated in the United States, and given all the problems it is easy to understand why.
For the first time, politicians saw just how important environmental issues were to the American people, and they paid attention. A wide range of changes soon followed.
Cars started using catalytic converters, positive crankcase ventilation systems, evaporative emissions canisters and unleaded gasoline. Factory smokestacks were regulated for particulates and toxins. A massive effort to upgrade the sewage treatment system and cut off the flow of toxic waste from factories helped the rivers. The pesticide industry saw much more regulation and many problematic chemicals were banned. The Environmental Protection Agency came to life and environmental standards got better and better. A few years later, the ban on Freon helped preserve the ozone layer.
In other words, the first Earth day and the annual celebrations and protests that followed had a huge effect. We all benefit from the changes that came into being because of Earth Day participants and environmental activism. The air and water are far cleaner, many endangered species are rebounding, the ozone layer is in much better shape, and the idea of a river lighting on fire seems ridiculous today.
Earth Day happens every April 22nd. It is a day to celebrate our planet and its environment. It is a day marked by celebrations, festivals and protests. It is a chance to think about things we can do to help our planet and make the environment better for everyone.
This year, one of the key focal points is global warming. It is the signature issue of our decade, and a problem that will require a complete redesign of many parts of our economic infrastructure if we are going to actually reach a complete solution.
How big a problem is it?
Think about it this way: When you burn a tank of gas containing 20 gallons of gasoline, you dump about 400 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And you probably burn 20 gallons of gas every two weeks or so, meaning that in a year you dump 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air per year. You can't see it so you don't even realize it is happening, but 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide is a shocking amount. Imagine 2,000 five-pound bags of sugar.
That's how much carbon dioxide a typical car dumps into the air every year. Now multiply that by the hundreds of millions of cars in the United States. Then add in the millions of trucks, buses, trains and airplanes doing the same thing. Then add all the coal-burning and natural gas power plants. Now you start to see the magnitude of the problem we face in stopping the release of carbon into the environment.
But we can solve the problem. We could solve it in 10 to 20 years if we put our minds to it — if we had the political will. For example, if we took a small piece of the state of Texas — a parcel of land approximately 125 miles square — and if we planted it with solar arrays instead of scrub cactus ... we could generate all of the power that the nation needs. The electricity might be slightly more expensive than the electricity we use today, but then again it might be a little less expensive because economies of scale would kick in. That electricity could power everything we run today, as well as most of our cars. If we had the will, we could easily do this.
On Earth Day, we try to focus as much of our collective consciousness as possible on ideas like these so that, as a nation, we generate the political will to make real changes. Just like we did on the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
___
Looking for more? For more on this or the scoop on other fascinating topics, go to HowStuffWorks.com. Contact Marshall Brain, founder of HowStuffWorks, at
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
___
© 2007 How Stuff Works Inc.
| Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
