Go
Green with Green Living
Whether
you turn on the television, radio, computer or even read
a magazine, or newspaper you are more than likely hear
or read about the need to “Go Green.” In order to
fully understand the need to “Go Green,” we only
have to look as far back as the energy crisis of the
1960s and 1970s.
It
was during the 1960s and early 1970s are that we first
became aware of the impact insecticides and pesticides
have on our entire environment, and because of the
outcry of the American people DDT was banned in the
United States. It
was also during this time that such environmental groups
as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth were formed.
However,
the oil crisis of 1970s is what truly caused the United
States government to take a serious look at conserving
energy. A
National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph was imposed in
order to reduce consumption of gasoline. The National
Energy Act of 1978 was also a response to this crisis.
Individuals
and businesses alike were impelled to conserve energy,
and everywhere you looked, from billboards, newspapers,
television commercials you saw slogans by the
Advertising Council such as "Don't Be "Fuelish"
and “Last Out, Lights Out."
During
the 1970’s many pieces of environmental legislation
were also past, including the National Environmental
Protection Act also known as NEPA, which created the
Environmental Protection Agency and a Council on
Environmental Quality.
Other pieces of legislation past were the Clean
Air Acts of 1970 and 1990; the Water Pollution Control
Act, as well as other laws that regulated noise levels,
pesticides, toxic waste, and ocean dumping.
In addition many other laws were passed protecting
endangered species, wilderness, and rivers.
Sadly
however, as the economy improved and gas prices
stabilized, people did not see a need to conserver
energy any more. Because
of this new attitude, during the 1980’s under
Presidents Ronald Reagan’s and George H. W. Bush’s
administrations, many environmental protection acts were
allowed to expire.
In addition, the National Maximum Speed Limit of
55 mph increased in some areas to over 75 miles per hour
on some stretches of highway and interstates across
America.
Today
as we witness the effects of global warming, the need
for everyone to conserve energy is becoming more
apparent and the new battle cry of environmentalists is
“Go Green.”
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