Smog+and+Disasters+Spurred+the+Laws+Trump+Wants+to+Undo

America Before Earth Day: Smog and Disasters Spurred the Laws Trump Wants to Undo, A New York Times Article, written by [|Livia Albeck-Ripka]  and [|Kendra Pierre-Louis]


 * [|__https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/climate/environmental-disasters-earth-day.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWater%20Pollution&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection__]



Summary: The article, published just one day before our country’s celebration of Earth Day, allows the reader to see the progress made when millions of Americans were “calling for air, water and land in the country to be cleaned up and protected.” However, with the current Trump Administration, one is also able to see the elimination of federal regulation as a priority to continue the conservation and protection on our global environment that began in 1970. This article has forthright tone, where it describes 5 environmental disasters within our country: Santa Barbara Oil Spill, Love Canal Disaster, Cuyahoga River Fire, Smog-filled skies, and the Near-Extinction of the Grey Wolf. The use of flashback paints the image of the United States without federal regulation and intervention, a country filled with much pollution and environmental degradation. The urgency of public awareness to protect our environment is felt through this article.

Relation to APES: This article relates to AP Environmental Science in response to our recent learning of some of specific environmental disasters mentioned above. Through our readings of Solid and Hazardous Waste and Water Pollution, we have read of human activities and other processes that pollute our bodies of water as well the harm the surrounding wildlife. Our air pollution chapter covered the different types of smog and its formation through various types of chemical within our atmosphere. However, we have learned about the different legislation to combat large scale pollution and environmental degradation, for example the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, while learning of communal ways of becoming energy efficient and reducing waste.

Opinion: After my recent learned knowledge, I believe that our current administration’s actions that eliminate federal regulation and protection cause for increased public awareness and concern. An emphasis of our environment needs to be seen in response to our everyday actions that slowly pollute our Earth and harm our wildlife. The time is now to advocate for change through better legislation.

Law: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, requiring comprehensive evaluation of the associated environmental impact of an human activity, relates to this article. The act needs to be executed in response to our current administration’s action of opening our most of our coasts for oil drilling. Passed legislation mentioned within the aritcle include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act as well as the Endangered Species Act; these seminal acts showcase the cooperation of Americans to protect our enviromment.