Unit 1
Unit 2
Environmental Sustainability
Pressure groups often grow from the influential writing and presentations made by international experts. People like David Suzuki, Jacques Cousteau and Sir David Attenborough have made the world more aware of the intricate relationships which exist between the various ecosystems that occupy our planet. It is through people like this that pressure groups have evolved.
1. International Organisations
Greenpeace
In 1971, a small group of activists travelled to Alaska to watch as the United States government conducted underground nuclear tests. These tests caused incredible environmental damage; the activists became the core group that ultimately resulted in the formation of Greenpeace. This organisation refuses all funding from government organisations, and in this way seeks to maintain their independence. They are involved in campaigning for sustainable agriculture, for the protection of endangered species, and for the development of an energy generation and delivery system which can be used without environmental harm.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
The WWF was established in 1961 to provide a voice for the world’s animals. Today they employ over 4,000 people around the world, and at any one time they can be involved in as many as 2,000 different conservation projects. (There is some confusion over the name – when the organisation was established it was the World Wildlife Fund. As their projects took on a much wider focus, the name was changed in all countries except the United States of America. Today the initials are used to try and avoid any misunderstandings.)
In 1971, a small group of activists travelled to Alaska to watch as the United States government conducted underground nuclear tests. These tests caused incredible environmental damage; the activists became the core group that ultimately resulted in the formation of Greenpeace. This organisation refuses all funding from government organisations, and in this way seeks to maintain their independence. They are involved in campaigning for sustainable agriculture, for the protection of endangered species, and for the development of an energy generation and delivery system which can be used without environmental harm.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
The WWF was established in 1961 to provide a voice for the world’s animals. Today they employ over 4,000 people around the world, and at any one time they can be involved in as many as 2,000 different conservation projects. (There is some confusion over the name – when the organisation was established it was the World Wildlife Fund. As their projects took on a much wider focus, the name was changed in all countries except the United States of America. Today the initials are used to try and avoid any misunderstandings.)
2. Australian Organisations
Friends of the Earth
In 1974, a nuclear reactor was proposed for a site in Victoria. A meeting was held at the site to try and stop the development of this reactor. This was the beginning of the Friends of the Earth group. This organisation now focuses on environmental justice, indigenous land rights, and the possibility of creating a sustainable future through the establishment of responsible businesses.
The Australian Conservation Foundation
For over forty years, this passionate group has dedicated its efforts to ensuring that the Australian government manages the environment in a sustainable way. They put pressure on the government to ensure that decisions made about the management of our oceans stocks and the generation of electricity are done in a way that will minimise our environmental impact.
Clean Up Australia
Did you know that over six billion plastic bags are given out in Victorian shops every year? And that most of these bags end up as landfill that will take hundreds of years to break down? If you are aware of these facts, it is because the message being transmitted by the Clean Up Australia group is being transmitted very clearly. Since 1990, annual "Clean Up Australia Days" have been held, and the impact on our environment has been dramatic. Ian Kiernan, the creator of Clean Up Australia Day, was ultimately awarded the title Australian of the Year in 1994 for his efforts with this group.
In 1974, a nuclear reactor was proposed for a site in Victoria. A meeting was held at the site to try and stop the development of this reactor. This was the beginning of the Friends of the Earth group. This organisation now focuses on environmental justice, indigenous land rights, and the possibility of creating a sustainable future through the establishment of responsible businesses.
The Australian Conservation Foundation
For over forty years, this passionate group has dedicated its efforts to ensuring that the Australian government manages the environment in a sustainable way. They put pressure on the government to ensure that decisions made about the management of our oceans stocks and the generation of electricity are done in a way that will minimise our environmental impact.
Clean Up Australia
Did you know that over six billion plastic bags are given out in Victorian shops every year? And that most of these bags end up as landfill that will take hundreds of years to break down? If you are aware of these facts, it is because the message being transmitted by the Clean Up Australia group is being transmitted very clearly. Since 1990, annual "Clean Up Australia Days" have been held, and the impact on our environment has been dramatic. Ian Kiernan, the creator of Clean Up Australia Day, was ultimately awarded the title Australian of the Year in 1994 for his efforts with this group.
There are many other groups, both local and international, that also contribute. With so many people willing to be vocal about any bad decisions that are made, governments are put on notice that the people of the developed world recognise that the environment is important.
And it needs our help.
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