This Moment on Earth: on Environment

John F. Kennedy: Investigated claims against DDT, which led to its ban

Readers flocked to her cause, and "Silent Spring" reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Her critics were ultimately silenced when President John F. Kennedy ordered his Science Advisory Committee to look into her findings and propose recommendations for the use and regulations of pesticides. Their report was issued on May 15, 1963, and it cautioned against the blanket use of toxic chemicals, calling for research into the potential health hazards they posed. DDT was eventually banned.

John Kerry: Consumer convenience costs the planet a price

The disposable diaper was convenient and gave millions of American parents a new sense of freedom. But what did the introduction of the disposable diaper mean for the planet? Diapers are now the 3rd-largest single contributor to solid waste at landfills, where they may take as long as 500 years to biodegrade.

The same can be said of most of the products we make and use today. Even today, few manufacturers or consumers are concerned about what happens to something once they have thrown it away.

The manufacturers and consumers of these products did not set out to create vast amounts of waste, fill our landfills, or poison our land. But, nevertheless, the planet has paid the price for our convenience. Now is the time when we have to confront a crucial question: If that is not our intention, then what is?

John Kerry: EPA limits on mercury emissions made sense

The connection is very clear: Out-of-date, low-tech, coal-powered plants can gravely injure children & adults alike, even miles and states beyond where they are located. But we know something else. Controlling mercury emissions from power plants--especially our oldest and dirtiest power plants--can result in reduced mercury levels.

[In 2001, Bush & the GOP overturned] the Clinton rule on reducing mercury emissions, and in its place the president proposed a policy allowing power plants to emit more than 3 times as much mercury than under existing law. An EPA analysis noted that this revision to the act allowed more than 100 power plants to actually INCREASE mercury emissions.

John Kerry: Minority communities more likely polluted than white areas

A 2005 investigation found that people of color were 79% more likely than whites to reside in communities where pollution posed the highest health risks. In the most polluted areas, 1 of every 6 people lived in poverty.

The practice of local governments encouraging the placement of noxious industries in poor neighborhoods goes back to the early part of the 20th century, where minority communities were zoned as “industrial” while white communities were zoned “residential.” The trend continues today. Poor & ethnic communities are often assumed to be politically powerless & therefore are targeted wen it comes time to locate a new power plant or toxic dump.

John Kerry: Minority communities more likely polluted than white areas

The practice of local governments encouraging the placement of noxious industries in poor neighborhoods goes back to the early 20th century. The trend continues today. Poor and ethnic communities are often assumed to be politically powerless and therefore are targeted when it comes time to locate a new power plant or other polluting facility.

John Kerry: CWA is bedrock protection; but today it's in decline

Despite the achievements of the Clean Water Act, today, for the first time since its passage, water quality has begun to decline. Today's water pollution is different but no less damaging than the water pollution that occurred in the past. It stems primarily from what are called "non-point sources." Pollution is no longer usually caused by a direct release from one point of origin, such as a pipe from an industrial operation. Instead, pollutants are carried to our bodies of water indirectly & from many different sources--including our own backyards.

Most water pollution today, however, can be directly linked to agricultural practices. Pesticides & manure are frequently washed [away] by rain, contributing 60% of the pollutants in our water today.

John Kerry: Live by "Precautionary Principle": first, do no harm

We are paying an extraordinary price for our unwillingness to live by the precautionary principle other nations have adopted: First, do no harm. But common sense can prevail, and Americans in every state are making a collective statement about right and wrong: It is right to take precautions against scientifically predicted disaster; it is wrong to suffer disease and danger because polluters are allowed to call the shots.

John Kerry: New environmentalists motivated by personal stewardship