Environmentalism is an ethical and political movement whose main agenda is to protect the natural environment and improve its quality. The movement has different objectives including changing people’s attitude towards the environment and enhancing safe activities that help in conserving the natural environment. Environmentalism has a history that dates back to the early 1800s. History is critical as it gives an insight into challenges and achievements regarding the environment and public health issues in the present world and the future. Environmentalism's history began in the early 1800s in Europe. The birth of environmentalism ideology was due to another idea- Romanticism. Unlike the name, Romanticism had nothing to do with intellectual and artistic movements focusing on romantic love. The core idea behind romanticism was emotion. Romanticism had the concept of environmental beauty protection at its center stage. The primary purpose was to influence people to appreciate the beauty of nature and to protect the growth and development of different tree species ( Bourg & Erkman, 2017). The environmental movement was born from the romanticism idea. It grew strongly in the late 1800s, mostly in countries such as Britain where the industrial revolution was rising. During the emergence of the industrial revolution, there were fewer regulations concerning the environment, and as a result, pollution from industries was on the rise. The factories went as far as polluting the water sources and invading the beautiful farmlands. The high rate of pollution caught the attention of people, and as a result, the cry for people calling for the protection of water sources and wildlife spaces was on the air. The people’s reactions toward the massive pollution led to the establishment of different environmental conservation organizations such as The National Trust for Places of Historical Interest or Natural Beauty in the year 1894 and The Society for the Protection of Birds of the year 1889. John Muir was an environmentalist whose effort led to the introduction of the environmental movement in North America. Due to John's effort, Congress came up with a plan to establish Yosemite National Park with the aim of conserving the Valley. A Series of environmental protection and conservation efforts were underway after Congress set the pace. In the year 1916, the National Park Services came into existence under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson. The president was in gruel support of the environmental conservation movements in the country and the entire world. The support later developed in many countries. In 20 th and 21 st centuries, different governments came up with a variety of environmental laws whose aims were environmental protection and conservation to reduce pollution, and conserve different animals and plant species. An example of a government and personnel that gave this idea a priority are the several Nazis from Germany whose primary quest was to protect the German Forests. The environmentalism history is of significance to public health with regard to environmental issues in the present world. First, the struggle to protect the environment from pollution during the industrial revolution has been at the core of driving the people to continue the fight towards environmental cleansing in the present world where industrial pollution is on the rise. Further, history led to the continuation of the struggle to ensure a safe environment today (Sheldon & Oreskes, 2017). As a result of such a history, the government has come up with different strategies to control pollution and reduce public health issues that stem from environmental destruction. Such strategies include reducing occupational exposure, low application of carbon in energy generation industries, emphasis on the use of public transportation, increase access to safe water, and environmentally friendly fuel ( Armiero & Sedrez (Eds.), 2014). Such strategies are playing a critical part in ensuring that people stay safe from public health concerns as a result of environmental destruction. The future looks brighter with constant innovation and the invention of new ways of managing environmental issues positively. In the future, different governments may come up with new ideas, strategies, and comprehensive regulations to protect flora and fauna.
References
Armiero, M., & Sedrez, L. (Eds.). (2014). A History of Environmentalism: Local Struggles, Global Histories . A&C Black.
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Bourg, D., & Erkman, S. (2017). On the history of industrial metabolism. In Perspectives on industrial ecology (pp. 35-45). Routledge.
Sheldon, M. P., &Oreskes, N. (2017). The Religious Politics of Scientific Doubt: Evangelical Christians and Environmentalism in the United States. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Ecology , 348-367.
