LECTURE 21: ENVIRONMENTALISM  AND ITS DISCONTENTS
 
 
 

Last week: we examined the rise of environmental movement, arguably the most popular of 1960s and 70s social movements.  Today, according to polls, 60-80% of Americans describe themselves as "environmentalists" or as "sympathetic" to the environmental movement.

Yet the definition of "environmentalism" remains slippery, allowing people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds to claim the "environmentalist" mantle--and also giving many people something to dispute about "environmentalism."

This lecture: focus on critiques from within and without environmental movement in years after first Earth Day.

The critique from within:

Expansion of federal role in environmental protection in 1960s and 70s lead to corresponding centralization of environmental movement in DC.  Number of registered environmental lobbyists in DC go from 2 in 1969 to 88 in 1985.  Many organizations expand DC offices; some even move to DC, such as Friends of the Earth, which in 1985 transplants itself from San Francisco to DC.

Cautionary tale for some of developing too close a relationship with federal government.  Campaign against construction of dam in Dinosaur National Monument by Sierra Club in 1950s and 60s.  Sierra Club, led by David Brower, oppose dam; succeed, yet allow dams in other sites, Brower even express willingness to cooperate with plans for nuclear energy in region.  Result: 1963: construction of Glen Canyon Dam on Colorado.

Earth First: focus frustrations on Glen Canyon Dam.  Edward Abbey and THE MONKEYWRENCH GANG.

The critique from below:

Environmental justice movement: workers and people of color face worse environmental conditions; need to force new federal bureaucracies like the EPA to take a more aggressive stance in protecting them.

Classic story: Love Canal and Lois Anne Gibbs.

Love Canal: neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York.  Canal originally built in 1890; become a repository for waste from local chemical companies, especially Hooker Chemical.  Between 1942-52, Hooker dump more than 21,000 tons of chemical wastes at site.

1953: canal full.  Site sold by Hooker to town of Niagara Falls school board.

LOVE CANAL HOMEOWNERS COMMITTEE (1978)

After successful effort at Love Canal, Gibbs go on to found Citizen's Clearing House for Hazardous Waste; now calls itself Center for Health, Environment, and Justice.

Outcry over Love Canal: lead to creation of Hazardous Waste Enforcement Task Force and Superfund Act in 1979.