The LoraxObjective: We will analyze the need for and the

creation of environmental regulations

Objective: We will analyze the need for and the creation of the environmental

regulations

• What is the objective today?– Can you put it in your own words?

• What are environmental regulations?

• Why would we need to create a law to protect the environment?

• Is the environment something that needs to be protected?

APK

• Conservative

• Liberal

• Environment

• Which of these two do you believe would be in support of environmental protection? Why?

Lorax

By: Dr. Suess

1971

Random House Books

Environmentalism

• In 1962, Rachel Carson wrote a book titled Silent Spring.

Why do you believe the book was titled Silent Spring?

Environmentalism• Silent Spring warned against pesticides

– Explain what a pesticide is to your neighbor

• Pesticides poisoned the very food they were intended to protect, and killed many birds and fish.

Environmentalism

• Carson’s book was an early warning about the danger that human activity posed to the environment.

Gardner

Food

Effects on the body

Earth Day• On April 22, 1970, America celebrated the

first Earth Day.

• Celebrated in San Francisco first

Why do you believe the Earth Day was started in San Francisco?

Earth Day• Nearly every community in the nation

hosts some type of environmental-awareness activity, and spotlighted such problems as pollution, toxic waste, and the earth’s dwindling resources.

What is the goal of Earth Day?How does having a day help create awareness?

EPA

• In 1970, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA• The EPA sets and enforces pollution

standards, conducts environmental research, and assists in pollution control.

What is the goal of the EPA?How does America justify the need for the EPA?What would to the US if the EPA was not around?

EPA affects your Life• Energy Star

• Fuel Economy– Better gas mileage = less pollution– Gas guzzling Tax = more money for more gas

• Air Quality– 12/31/11 – 1/5/12

EPA affects your Life• Drinking Water

– Nitrates in Tulare water basin (ABC 30 3/14/12)• The study, ordered by the state Legislature, shows chemical

fertilizers and livestock manure are the main source of nitrate contamination in groundwater for more than 1 million Californians in the Salinas Valley and parts of the Central Valley.

• Nitrates are found naturally in some foods, but scientists have linked high levels of nitrates to "blue baby syndrome," reproductive disorders and cancer. Infants who drink water that exceeds the nitrate standard could become seriously ill and die, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Nuclear Energy• During the 1970s, as America realized the

drawbacks to heavy dependence on foreign oil, nuclear power seemed like an attractive alternative.

Nuclear Power Benefits• the energy produced per amount of material

consumed is the highest available

• costs are competitive with coal

• uranium, the source material, is abundant

• plutonium, a by-product of commercial nuclear plant operation, can also be used as a fuel

• the amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process

Nuclear Energy• However, nuclear wastes were dangerous

to humans and the environment.

• Used fuel must be stored underground and underwater

• Long half-lifes – 220,000, 15.7 mil, 2 mil, 24,000 years

Nuclear Energy

• On March 28, 1979, a nuclear reactor malfunctioned at a plant on Three Mile Island, in Pennsylvania.

Nuclear Energy• Low-level radiation spread over the region.

• 100,000 residents were evacuated from the area.

• Rated a 5 on a 7 point scale

• Cost $1 Billion to clean

Nuclear Energy• As a result, the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission strengthened its safety standards and inspection procedures.

• What is required to America to continue to use Nuclear Energy?

• Should we?

Other Nuclear Problems

• Chernobyl – 1986– Nuclear meltdown – Explosion

• First 4 years – 350 registered abnormal births – (Farms)

– Level 7

Other Nuclear Problems

• March 11, 2011– Earthquake and Tsunami caused 3 reactors

to go to full meltdown– Level 7

Global Warming

• Today, scientists agree that human activity has contributed to the gradual warming of the earth’s atmosphere, posing serious dangers to plant and animal life, and the future of our planet.

- Is global warming something that people should be worried about?- Do you believe there is any embellishment of the truth to make the problem seem worse than it is?- What purpose would it serve to embellish?

Global Warming – Basic idea

• Carbon Dioxide release helps to keep heat in the atmosphere

• Raising water temp = melting ice

• Rising air temp = hotter and differing weather pattern– More rain in dry areas, less rain in normal

areas– More deserts in sub tropics (our area)

Against Global Warming• Solar Activity

• Cycles of the earth

• More clouds reflect heat

• Shift of the earth in orbit