Greta Jimenez
The People's Climate March (PCM) was a large-scale activist event that took place on September 21, 2014, in New York City, with the goal of advocating for global action against climate change. Described as an invitation to change everything, the march was called in May 2014 by the global advocacy group Avaaz and 350.org, an environmental organization founded by writer and activist Bill McKibben. The event was conceived as a response to the scheduled U.N. Climate Summit of world leaders in New York City two days later. With an estimated 311,000 participants, it became the largest climate change march in history. The movement against climate change and pollution has a long history, with notable events such as Earth Day in 1970, when millions of people across the country protested against environmental pollution, and the Great March for Climate Action in 2014, which mobilized people to raise awareness and demand action on anthropogenic climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | People's Climate March (PCM) |
| Date | May 2014 |
| Organizers | Avaaz, 350.org |
| Participants | 311,000 |
| Location | New York City |
| Purpose | Advocate global action against climate change |
| Description | An invitation to change everything |
| Notable Speakers | Oscar Olivera, Josua Mata, Erica Violet Lee, Naomi Klein |
| Related Events | Earth Day 1970, Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament |
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What You'll Learn
The 1970 Earth Day protest
On April 22, 1970, millions of people across the United States took to the streets to protest environmental destruction and demand action from their government. This event, known as the first Earth Day, marked a significant turning point in the environmental movement and brought the issue of environmental protection to the forefront of political discourse in the country.
The idea for Earth Day was conceived by Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin. Inspired by the antiwar teach-ins on college campuses in the mid-1960s, Nelson envisioned politically charged discussions about the degradation of the environment. He believed that if Americans paused to reflect on the issue of pollution, they would be compelled to take action. Nelson's strategy was to allow non-politicians to take ownership of Earth Day, empowering organizers to plan events and activities as they saw fit. This approach proved effective, with over 12,000 Earth Day events and tens of thousands of organizers, many of whom dedicated their lives to the environmental cause after the protest.
The first Earth Day took place at tens of thousands of locations across the United States, with an estimated 20 million participants. The nation had recently witnessed the devastating Santa Barbara oil spill and seen the first photographs of the Earth taken by astronauts, highlighting the contrast between the beauty of the planet from space and the reality of environmental destruction on the ground. The movement was not without its critics, as some far-right ideologues and politicians dismissed Earth Day as a communist plot. However, the protest succeeded in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, including Republicans and Democrats, who recognized the need to address environmental issues.
Earth Day 1970 had a profound impact, with many participants reflecting on their personal connection to the environment and their willingness to make sacrifices for its protection. It sparked a wave of environmental activism and contributed to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency by Congress in December 1970. In the following years, Congress passed numerous laws aimed at improving air and water quality and conserving natural resources. The movement also evolved to address emerging challenges, such as climate change, and expanded its reach to include communities from over 190 countries. While the first Earth Day protest laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement, it built upon a history of environmental activism, including the civil rights movement's efforts to address environmental disparities.
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The 2014 People's Climate March
The People's Climate March (PCM) was a large-scale activist event that took place on Sunday, September 21, 2014, in New York City. The march was orchestrated by the People's Climate Movement to advocate for global action against climate change. With an estimated 311,000 to 400,000 participants, it was the largest climate change march and environmental protest in history.
The march was called in May 2014 by the global advocacy human rights group Avaaz and 350.org, an environmental organization founded by writer and activist Bill McKibben. It was endorsed by over 1,500 organizations, including international and national unions, churches, schools, and community and environmental justice organizations. McKibben described climate change as "the biggest crisis our civilization has ever faced" and called for a massive demonstration to show the world the magnitude of the climate justice movement.
The New York City Climate Convergence, a coalition formed by two political activist environmental organizations, System Change Not Climate Change (SCNCC) and the Global Climate Convergence (GCC), held plenaries and workshops during the weekend of the march. The plenaries featured prominent speakers such as Bolivian water rights activist Oscar Olivera, Philippine trade unionist leader Josua Mata, author and activist Naomi Klein, and others. The workshops and plenaries focused on the economic causes of climate change and ways to alter the system to prioritize "people, planet, and peace over profit."
The march in New York City was accompanied by a series of companion actions worldwide, with protests taking place in 150 countries. The global scope of the event demonstrated its international implications and the unified demand for urgent action on climate change. The diverse group of participants in New York included environmentalists, politicians, musicians, students, farmers, celebrities, nurses, and labor activists. The organizers arranged the march into different contingents, with indigenous groups leading the way.
The People's Climate March was a significant event that brought together people from all walks of life, united in their call for global action to address the pressing issue of climate change. It served as a powerful statement and a catalyst for further climate activism and awareness.
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The 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act
On June 30, 1948, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the FWPCA, was passed by Congress. This act was the first piece of legislation to establish federal regulations for water quality in the United States. The passing of the act was a significant milestone in the country's efforts to address water pollution issues.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 authorized the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service to work with other federal, state, and local entities to develop comprehensive programs aimed at reducing or eliminating pollution in interstate waters and their tributaries. It also sought to improve the sanitary conditions of surface and underground waters. Additionally, the act empowered the Federal Works Administrator to provide assistance to states, municipalities, and interstate agencies in constructing treatment plants to prevent the discharge of inadequately treated sewage and other wastes into interstate waters.
Over the years, the original statute of the act has been amended multiple times to expand the government's authority in water pollution control and to address emerging environmental challenges. Amendments were made in 1956, 1965, and 1972, with the latter resulting in the law being commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Clean Water Act established a comprehensive framework for regulating pollutant discharges into US waters, including setting wastewater standards for industries and maintaining water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters.
The Clean Water Act also made it unlawful for any person to discharge pollutants from a point source into navigable waters without obtaining a permit under its provisions. This act provided funding for the construction of sewage treatment plants and established partnerships between the EPA and states to address water quality needs. The amendments ensured that the act remained adaptable and relevant as the country's understanding of environmental issues evolved, demonstrating a continued commitment to protecting and improving water quality.
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The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
The spill originated from a blow-out on Union Oil's Platform A, situated six miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in the Dos Cuadras Offshore Oil Field. Over a ten-day period, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 barrels of crude oil spewed into the Santa Barbara Channel and sullied the pristine beaches of Santa Barbara County. The spill stretched from Goleta to Ventura and even reached the northern shores of the four northern Channel Islands.
The environmental consequences were devastating. Approximately 3,500 sea birds perished, along with dolphins, elephant seals, and sea lions. The spill occurred between two large Pacific storms, which broke up the oil and facilitated its rapid dispersion. The unique characteristics of Santa Barbara Channel crude oil, with its high density and minimal solubility in water, also contributed to its swift sinking, exposing marine life to its toxic effects.
The economic effects of the spill were profound, particularly in 1969. Commercial fishing was halted in the affected area, tourism took a significant hit, and most ocean-related industries suffered. The property damage along the shoreline was extensive, as the storms washed oil beyond the normal high-tide line. The spill sparked outrage among the local community and led to the formation of grassroots groups like Get Oil Out! (GOO!), advocating for an end to drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel. Both governmental entities and private individuals filed class-action lawsuits against Union Oil, seeking damages.
The Santa Barbara oil spill gained national attention and brought the issue of pollution into the spotlight. It inspired the creation of Earth Day, which first took place on April 22, 1970, when millions of people across the United States took to the streets to protest environmental pollution. The spill's legacy extends beyond the immediate aftermath, as it spurred numerous pieces of environmental legislation that now form the foundation of modern environmental regulations in the United States.
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The 2013 Great March for Climate Action
The Great March for Climate Action, also known as the Climate March, was launched on March 1, 2013, by former Iowa lawmaker Ed Fallon. Inspired by a meeting with environmental activist Bill McKibben, the non-profit organization planned to mobilize a thousand people to march across the United States to raise awareness and inspire action on anthropogenic climate change.
The march began on March 1, 2014, in the Wilmington neighborhood of South Los Angeles, California, and ended on November 1, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Participants traveled through several states, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. The route also focused on the Keystone Pipeline in Nebraska.
Throughout the march, participants engaged with the general public and elected officials to address climate change. They conducted interactive workshops focused on climate change, the anthropogenic impact on the environment, and potential solutions. Participants and volunteers shared daily chores such as setting up camp, food preparation, and clean-up. They also researched sustainable methods to manage their food and energy needs and human waste, such as solar cookers and composting toilets.
The Great March for Climate Action aimed to raise awareness and inspire action on climate change, with a particular focus on the impact of human activities on the environment. It was a non-violent and socially transformative movement, demonstrating the commitment and passion of those involved in advocating for global action to address the climate crisis.
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Frequently asked questions
The first national observation of Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, when an estimated 20 million people across the country took to the streets in protest against environmental pollution.
The People's Climate March took place on September 21, 2014, in New York City, with an estimated 311,000 participants.
The People's Climate March was a large-scale activist event advocating for global action against climate change. It was conceived as a response to the U.N. Climate Summit of world leaders taking place in New York City two days later.
Climate change is "the biggest crisis our civilization has ever faced," and the march will be "the largest demonstration yet of human resolve in the face of climate change."
The Great March for Climate Action, also known as the Climate March, began on March 1, 2014, in South Los Angeles, California, and ended on November 1, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Other notable marches include the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913, Gandhi's Salt March, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Selma to Montgomery marches.
