Era of Earth Day

Nature and Americans

Water Pollution Disasters

Several major oil spills in 1967

Torrey Canyon disaster

First supertanker spill

Santa Barbara Oil Spill

– Oil well blowout, Santa Barbara Channel, 1969

– 235,000 gal. over coastline, 800 sq.mi. of ocean

– Kills 1000s of birds & animals, several grey whales

A River Burns!

Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River fire, 1969

Environmental controversies

– Alaska pipeline, 1969-1973

– Supersonic Transport (SST), 1969-1971

– Everglades Jetport, 1969

– Cross Florida Barge Canal, 1969-1971

A New Ecological Awareness

– Focus changes from human needs to nature

– Back to nature

– No plastics or chemicals

– Natural foods, natural fibers, natural products

– New edition of Nearings’ Living the Good Life, 1970

– New “Waldens”: the rural commune movement

– Explosion of backpacking, camping, outdoor activities

Thinking Ecologically

– Living responsibly

– René Dubos: “Think globally; act locally”

– Recycling centers established

– Energy-efficient houses

– Buying gas-efficient automobiles

– Back to the bicycle

– Bringing back public transportation

– Amtrak, 1970

– Technology for the people

– Whole Earth Catalog

– The personal computer

Skyrocketing  membership

– National Wildlife Federation: largest, richest

– 1970: 30% hunters; 20% opposed to all hunting

– National Audubon Society

– 1965–75: 8X growth; PR & glossy magazine

– Sierra Club: Most influential & best-known

– David Brower steers club to national prominence

– Sierra Club Books: Ansel Adams & Eliot Porter

– $10 million total sales by 1969

– Couldn’t delegate, overspent, ignored directors, lost tax-exempt status which hurt large contributions

– Ousted 1969

– Founded Friends of the Earth, John Muir Institute for Environmental Studies, & Earth Island Institute