Question: THE FIVE PHASES OF RESISTANCE TO CHANGE IN ACTION
PHASE 1
In the 1970s the environmental movement began to grow. The first Earth Day was held in 1970.Widespread interest in environmental concerns subsided during the 1980s. Some political officials neglected environmental concerns, and environmentalists were often portrayed as extremists and radicals. The forces for change were small, but pressure for change persisted through court actions, elected officials, and group actions.
PHASE 2
Environmental supporters and opponents became more identifiable in the 1980s. Secretary of the Interior James Watt was perhaps the most vocal and visible opponent of environmental concerns and served as a "lightning rod" for pro-environmental forces like the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society. As time passed, educational efforts by environmental groups increasingly delivered their message. The public now had information and scientific data that enabled it to understand the problem.
PHASE 3
The Clean Air Act passed by Congress in 1990 represented the culmination of years of confrontation between pro- and anti-environmental forces. The bill was passed several months after national and worldwide Earth Day events. Corporations criticized for contributing to environmental problems took out large newspaper and television ads to explain how they were reducing pollution and cleaning up the environment. The "greening" of corporations became very popular.
PHASE 4
One example is the confrontation between Greenpeace (an environmental group) and Shell Oil. The Greenpeace group had been campaigning for weeks to block the Royal Dutch/Shell group from disposing of the towering Brent Spar oil-storage rig by sinking it deep in the Atlantic Ocean. As a small helicopter sought to land Greenpeace protesters on the rig's deck, Shell blasted high-powered water cannons to fend off the aircraft. This was all captured on film and shown on TV around the world. Four days after the incident, Shell executives made a humiliating about-face; they agreed to comply with Greenpeace requests and dispose of the Brent Spar on land. This incident, like. the Exxon Valdez oil spill, shows how high-profile cases can ignite worldwide public interest.
PHASE 5
Much of the world now sees environmentally responsible behavior as a necessity. Near-zero automobile emissions are moving closer to a reality. Recycling has become a natural part of everyday life for many people. But new ways to be environmentally responsible are still being sought.
1. Do you agree that the environmental movement has moved into the fifth phase?
2. Where do you see the environmental movement going? Stronger or weaker legislative action?
3. Will the environmental movement be worldwide or regional? Will developed nations have different responsibilities than developing nations?
4. Will there be corporate support?