I remember well Earth Day 1970. That year I was teaching Earth Science in Klamath Falls, Oregon. People all around the USA (& probably elsewhere) were joining the Environmental Movement. The EPA was created. As well as a number of other environmental laws, the Clean Air Act was passed. In many regards, it was a time of optimism. It seemed to be a paradigm shift for the better.
Except for a small number of countries/areas around the world (the USA is NOT in the exceptions), fifty-two years later we have the following:
1) in general, GDPs continue to expand, and that correlates directly to increasing ecological damage;
2) men like Putin apparently possess almost zero knowledge of ecological principles (never mind ethics);
3) like most other countries, the USA has no Fed Dept of Sustainability;
4) Biden is re-opening drilling for fossil fuels on public land;
5) cleanup on the most toxic sites in the USA (Superfund sites) practically is at a standstill;
6) the petrochemical industry is pumping out more single-use plastic items than ever before;
7) the climate situation continues to deteriorate;
8) instead of being proactive and thus addressing the ecological causes of pandemics, governments continue to be reactive when fighting disease;
9) the Powers-That-Be are not adequately addressing biodiversity loss and numerous other eco-problems, most likely because they don't understand such problems are an existential threat to humans; and
10) there still is no permanent solution to the problem of millions & millions of gallons (or in many cases, pounds of solid material) of nuclear waste, which now is being temporarily stored in every State in the USA. [Some of it is escaping into the soil, the water, and the atmosphere. Such waste will remain radioactive for thousands of years.]
Given the above, one wonders if perhaps we should change the scientific name of humans (Homo sapiens) to Homo moronicus. 😕
To all the exceptions I mentioned, keep going with your good work. It must be discouraging at times, but you can prevail. Sustainability still has a chance. KUDOS, and thank you for your efforts.
.........................................
Not only my opinion. Be Well
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginning-of-the-path-to-human-extinction-and-how-to-get-off-it-scott-haley/1141364431?ean=2940160947181
