History Analysis
PURPOSE: In this assignment, you’ll read about the history of U.S. environmental movements by reading all the History Moments created by our class. By answering key questions about these entries, you’ll analyze this history to more deeply understand its connections and significance. LENGTH: Your answer to each of the 5 questions should be a short paragraph in length (3-4 sentences). Read over all the entries in the US Environmental History Timeline (1892-2018). Be sure to wait to complete this assignment until after the deadline for the History Moment assignment, so you are able to view all the entries. Based on the entries written by our class, answer the following 5 questions. Note: for full credit, you must: ● discuss different historical moments for each question (i.e.: you should discuss 7 different moments total across questions 2-5); ● for questions 1-5 discuss only events that are part of the timeline we created as a class through the Environmental History Timeline (i.e.: even if you know of events outside of the timeline, you can only get credit for discussing the events in the timeline); and ● avoid discussing your own topic from the History Moment SA in questions 2-5 (i.e.: you can only use your own moment in question #1). ● number your answers. You don’t have to repeat the questions, but you must answer in complete sentences. Such as …”I believe the most important policy was…….”, “I wrote about …..” Questions to answer: 1. What is the name and date of the event you wrote about in the History Moment SA? 2. Which 2 moments in our timeline do you think have been most important and why (you can interpret “important” the way that makes most sense to you)? 3. Many people have argued that there are major cultural shifts that have occurred in the U.S. as a result of the events in our timeline. From our timeline, describe 2 examples of events that shifted how people think about the environment and explain how these moments changed how people think. 4. Environmental justice advocates have argued that environmental burdens have disproportionately been located near communities of color and poor communities. Describe 2 examples from our timeline of times this has occurred, explaining who was disproportionately impacted and how. 5. Which policy in our timeline do you think was most important for the health of you and your family/friends, and why do you think it was most important? 6. Is there an event or policy that you think we should add to this timeline? This assignment will be GRADED on completeness. “Complete” means that you clearly and accurately answered all 6 questions and your answers show that you have read and thought about the history entries created by students in our class. For full credit, be sure that your answers follow the Note from Step 2. My entry: 2023 – People of the State of California vs Oil The event in question was a significant lawsuit launched by the State of California against several oil companies, specifically Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips, as well as the American Petroleum Institute for their part in climate change (Reuters, 2023). The lawsuit alleged that these entities knew about the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels but covered it up and failed to act. The lawsuit was initiated because it was the standard scientific view that the products of many of these companies had caused Global Warming and environmental harm. The California state argued that they had the know-how and wherewithal to deal with the problem but put money first and nature second (Forbes,2023). In this case, the “bad guys” are the oil companies accused of hiding the true extent of environmental harm caused to them and their goods. They are seen as prioritizing their financial interests over what is good for the planet and living things. The outcome of the lawsuits is still being determined because the case is still in State court (Reuters, 2023). Regardless of the result, the lawsuit holds significant historical significance. This poses a considerable challenge to the operational procedures of prominent fossil fuel companies. If the state is prosperous, it may lead to implementing regulations that compel companies to improve their practices and disclose their impact more openly. This may also inspire similar actions globally, resulting in collective shifts in enforcing environmental policies. The trial has the potential to influence public opinion. Recognizing the environmental impact of fossil fuels and emphasizing corporate responsibility is essential. References Forbes. (2023). California Lawsuit: Oil Companies, Global Warming, Climate Change, Deception: What The Jury Needs to Know. Part 1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianpalmer/2023/09/26/california-lawsuit-oil-companies-glo bal-warming-climate-change-deception-what-the-jury-needs-to-know-part-1/?sh=26d9a9 7b1c4f Links to an external site. Reuters. (2023, September 18). California sues oil giants for downplaying risks posed by fossil fuels. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/california-sues-oil-giants -downplaying-risks-posed-by-fossil-fuels-nyt-2023-09-16/ Links to an external site. Other Entries: 2023 – Held v. Montana The case of Held v. Montana involved a group of 16 young climate advocates who challenged a provision under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Their goal was to address climate change and secure their constitutional right to a clean environment. The core of the matter was in the MEPA Limitation, which prohibited state agencies from considering the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions or climate change in their environmental reviews. These young plaintiffs used a powerful clause in the Montana Constitution that safeguarded their right to a pristine environment. Montana was heavily reliant on fossil fuel development, a practice that had grave consequences for the planet. The plaintiffs made the case that this dependence not only accelerated climate change, but also violated their right to a clean environment. On August 14, 2023, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the limitations on considering environmental factors when deciding oil and gas permits violated the constitutional right to a safe environment. It was a victory that showcased the power of constitutional rights in shaping policy regarding the environment and holding lawmakers accountable. 1988 – West Harlem Environmental Action Founded Founded in 1988, West Harlem Environmental Action, or presently known as “WE ACT” is the non-profit organization that deals primarily in environmental justice. In April of 1986 the North River Sewage Treatment Plant was erected and began operation in West Harlem, Manhattan. The Sewage Plant nearly as soon as it opened began to spread horrible smells across the riverside neighborhood of West Harlem, and in turn exposed all the residents to health hazards. After pressuring the local government to do tests on the air in the area, it was found that the level of soot in the air exceeded the legal amount by 200%. In 1988, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority attempted to build a second bus depot in the area, further adding to the pollution to the air. The West Harlem community was predominantly minorities such as Hispanics and blacks, and as such they were given unfair treatment by authorities. The community founded the West Harlem Environmental Action, or WE ACT, to combat institutionalized racism and in 1988 WE ACT sued the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and settled the lawsuit in 1994 for 1.1 million dollars. It was during this time where community members, Peggy Shepard, Vernice Miller-Travis, and Chuck Sutton were hired to mobilize the community’s opposition to the various racially charged environmental injustices happening in the city at the time. This event is important because it is an example of the power a community can have when they are able to band together and mobilize themselves as a unified community against government policymakers and elected officials. What started as a small group of angry residents grew into a “burgeoning entity that quickly attained national and international renown is significant in and of itself” (WE ACT, 2015). Through the change they brought they were able to better their environment for the good of the citizens who live there, rather than the good of rich white policy maker’s wallets. 1987-Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol of 1987 is considered an environmental law that protects the ozone layer within the atmosphere from harmful ozone-depleting substances that can cause harm. For this law, it takes that the ozone layer was in a critical state where people started suffering from the ultraviolet radiation that causes people to have skin cancer back in the 1980s, which increased rapidly to where it caused death. This problem of the depleting ozone layer affected millions of people and deaths were expected to happen because of this situation the ozone needs to be protected and restored. This proposed law is considered to be the “most effective and innovative” by the UN where it banned certain substances that were destroying the ozone layer that has become part of other nations to take this Protocol seriously. The US was the leader of the Protocol, but negotiating on the Protocol since the very substances such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and halons were being emitted in products such as refrigerators and air conditioners in the 1980s. Until the Protocol was able to “phase out” the emission of CFC and halons from these products that the US heavily relied on, even to this day to now where every nation accepts the Protocol for the planet. The Protocol became part of the “Kigali Amendment” in 2016 and it became international for countries to follow the Montreal Protocol to make sure that all living organisms, environments, humans, and even plants do not suffer the ultraviolet radiation of the Sun within the future or even make the climate change worse. This is why the moment in environmental history became important for all to understand how important it is to protect the atmosphere by changing our actions based on this moment. 1983 Warren County Landfill In 1982 in Warren County, North Carolina which houses predominantly black and brown families that are lower income, there was a design for a hazardous waste landfill. The landfill would hold PCB which would contaminate the groundwater and soil in the surrounding areas. The community was outraged at congresses’s decision to put the landfill so close to their homes and protested. There were protests where people were getting arrested which started to get people more involved in getting the council to stop putting landfills of toxic chemicals near low-income communities. A lot of the reasons that the government was able to put these toxic waste sites near the low-income communities is due to the fact that there is a huge target on the people that are a part of certain demographics. These people don’t hold the same amount of power in the country as richer white communities. Therefore, they are unable to fight the inequalities to get the justice that they deserve. After the protests that the people in Warren County did President Clinton responded by issuing Executive Order 12898 “ Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.” This Executive order brought awareness to the health and environmental conditions of low-income, minority, and native communities. This decision is something that should have affected the way that society and the government should think about how these communities are being treated and in some ways t has and in a lot of ways there are still so may inequalities that connects to environmental racism and where people are places/ pushed that has and is affecting their health.
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