"Tree-hugger!" A term that is often met with disdain and resentment. For years in the United States the environment was simple seen as a toolbox for human development. Not much attention was given to preservation or conservation of land or natural resources. As a matter of fact, most people had little regard for the natural world. Industrialization and expansion were much more important. However, as the human world began leaving a bigger footprint on the natural world it became obvious that "mother earth" was suffering.
The first president to notice was Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s. The "rough rider" took early steps towards conservation by creating national parks and starting to regulate industry, although laws had little environmental impact initially. Most of the rest of the years from 1908 to 1960 in the United States was spent worrying about World Wars, economic disaster, the Cold War, and economic expansion. However, in 1962 at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, which chronicled the effects of the pesticide DDT on the environment. This book, many argue, started the modern environmental movement. By 1970 Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and it appeared the United States had developed an environmental consciousness. However, economic problems in the 1970s pushed the environment into the background and many to this day believe that environmental protection has economic consequences and will not take the risk of harming the economy. How true is this? Hard to say.
In recent years there has been an environmental revival, now called the Green Movement. More Americans are buying products that are considered eco-friendly and corporations are beginning to market "green" products to meet buyer demand. Although the environmental impact of the Green Movement is hard to measure at this point, it appears that it is here to stay. Even in Walworth County, events like EcoFair 360 have attracted area businesses and patrons. America's environmental conciousness appears to be at a tipping point. Green products and building techniques are becoming commonplace and standardized. It is entirely possible that the Green Movement could even lead to economic growth as the industry becomes more widespread.
Personally, in the past I never had much of an environmental conciousness. Did not even cross my mind for the most part. The reality is that there are only so many things that we can use on the planet and it is the only home we have. I encourage you to become educated about the issue as it impacts us all.
