There is a prevalent need within our society to recognize the gift that our planet is. The only way in which to sustain our existence is to recognize and respect the planet which gives us life. In honor of that sentiment and Earth Month, here are six environmentalists you should know about.
1. Erin Brockovich
In 1996, Brockovich championed and won the largest direct-action lawsuit in history, to the tune of 330 million dollars, as a law clerk with no formal degree or training. The suit was against Pacific Gas and Electric, which Brockovich discovered had been leaking known carcinogens into the drinking water of residents in Hinkley, California. She continues her activism against environmental contamination to this day.
Image by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders via Newseum
2. Ansel Adams
Adams’ photography was instrumental in drawing attention to the importance of environmental conservation. His works capture the awe-striking and intricate beauty of wilderness landscapes within the United States, specifically within the Golden Gate and Sierra Nevada areas. Adams tirelessly lobbied to politicians for added protection and respect of America’s wilderness.
Photo by Martha Casanave via Photography West Gallery
3. International Indigenous Youth Council
These youths played a major role in the fight against the North Dakota Access Pipeline. The construction of the pipeline not only served as a threat to their drinking water but also their tradition, as it threatened many sacred areas. They led a prayer run from Cannon Ball, North Dakota to the Army Corps of Engineers Washington, D.C., headquarters to hand deliver documentation of their opposition to the pipeline. This run then catapulted into the multiple prayer camps set up around the perimeter of pipeline construction, sites that gained national attention for the crowds and opposition garnered. More can be learned about their mission and continuing struggle from their website.
Image by Evan Simon via ABC News
4. Rachel Carson
Carson worked as a marine scientist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, her main duties being that of a writer and editor. Her books discussed sea life, climate change and misuse of organic chemical pesticides. Carson received international acclaim for her works and became the voice that ushered in the current environmental movement.
Image via the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections & Archives
5. Chico Mendes
Mendes’ work as a rubber tapper led to his spearheading the first tropical rainforest conservation initiative. His work within this cause led to the protection of Brazil’s Amazon through reserves that locals reside in and upkeep. This progress drew anger within groups wishing to use the land of the Amazon for ranching and led to Mendes’ murder in 1988.
Image by Denise Zmekhol via MoralHeroes
6. Wangari Maathai
Maathai was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree and founded the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement aimed to reduce poverty and promote environmental preservation through community-based tree planting. She was a 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate and was named a UN Messenger of Peace.
Image by Ricardo Medina via The Weekend Edition
Let’s learn from these activists to give the Earth some love this month and work to preserve the world which we inhabit, collegiettes.