What makes our planet so special is the existence of life in it. But today the same life is contributing in deteriorating the natural environment of the planet! There is a direct impact of human activities on the environment. Over use of natural resources, overpopulation, pollution, deforestation and the list goes on. These activities are subscribing to water crisis, climate change, acid rain and a number of other environmental issues. This is directly or indirectly affecting all forms of live. It won’t be long when earth will not be fit to sustain life in it.
What can we do to save the environment, for our future generations and the other living creatures? Small steps can make big differences. Adopting sustainable development, planting trees, conserving rain water are simple choices we can make to save our environment. Here is a list of ten environmentalists who have adopted and advocated policies to make world a happier and healthier place.
- JOHN MUIR
John Muir was a Scottish American environmentalist, naturalist, author, botanist and zoologist. John was born on April 21, 1838 and died on December 24, 1914. Muir made it a mission of his life to preserve and conserve the environment and wildlife. John Muir is known as the father of our National Park system. He established the Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park in California. Muir was one of the first people to request the federal government to adopt forest conserve policy. He used his words and writings to put forward his stand. Muir wanted that forests to be preserved completely without being exploited by people for industrial interests. In early 1892 Muir along with Professor Henry Senger founded a local Alpine Club for mountain lovers and then Sierra club to preserve and protect the environment. In 1908 the US government Muir Woods National Park in his name at Marin County, in California.
- GAYLORD NELSON
Born on June 4, 1916, Gaylord Anton Nelson was an American politician and environmentalist from Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate, as a governor of Wisconsin, in the United State Senate. He Persuaded, the then president, John F Kennedy to go for a national speak tour to promote environmental conservation. He founded the Earth Day on 22 April 1970, and started to educate people regarding the environmental issues. Since then his legacy is being followed. With the end of his political career, Nelson became a counselor of the Wilderness Society, a nonprofit land conservation organization. Nelson had an institute of Environment, an elementary school, Gaylord Nelson wilderness and Governor Nelson state park in Wisconsin named after him.
- THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The 26th president of America, Theodore Roosevelt was elected in 1901. In addition to being a politician he was conservationist, naturalist, historian and a writer. He worked and succeeded in the preservation of 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves five national parks and used executive powers to establish 121 forest reserves. Roosevelt also used his words to educate people on the importance and methods of conserving the environment. In the year 1903 Roosevelt prohibited the practice of decorating hats with the feather of exotic birds and formed the first federal bird reservation. He also contributed in establishing the Yosemite National Park along with John Muir.
- WANGARI MAARTHAI
Wangari Maarthai was a Kenya based socialist, environmentalist and political activist. She was born on April 1st 1940 in Ihithe, Kenya. Wangari has a list of accomplishing several things in for the first time creating history for her community. Maathi was the first women from Africa to gain a doctorate (in biology), t he first professor in her home country kenya and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Her influence was so strong that in December 2002, Professor Wangari Maarthi got elected to the parliament with a majority vote of 98%. She was appointed by the then President of Kenya as Assistant Minister for environment, natural resources and wildlife. Maartha was also the founder of the Green Belt movement, an environment optimization empowering communities, specially women to conserve environment and improve their life.
- GRETA THUNBERG
Born on 3 January 2003, Greta Thunberg is an 18 year old Swedish environment activist. She is known for challenging and criticizing the world leaders for not taking immediate action of the climate crisis. At the age of 15 she started protesting outside Swedish Parliament to implement strong steps against climate change. Greta practically initiated school climate strike and at such a tender age her words and actions are influencing millions to take action against the climate issues. Thunberg also addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference and 2019 UN Climate Action Summit. Great has been nominated three consecutive times for the Nobel Peace Prize (2019–2021). Even during the global pandemic of Covid 19 she continues to advocate her believes virtually.
- ALDO LEOPOLD
Aldo Leopold is an American author, environmentalist, scientist, forester and philosopher. Leopold was successful in developing modern environmental ethics on nature and wildlife preservation. He also developed the science of wildlife management. Leopold emphasized on preserving the forest and wildlife. He published various books expressing the intimacy in the nature. To honor his contribution and endeavors, Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System– a nonprofit conservational organization, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System are few places named after him.Devoting to the nature, Leopold of heart attack at the age of 61 while tackling a neighboring wildfire.
- EDWARD ABBEY
Edward Abbey was an American Author and a keen environmentalist. He worked for the United States National Park Service at Arches National Monument. He explored the Southwest deserts at a young age of 17. He found solace in nature and was a great nature writer. On March 14,1989, Abbey died at the age of 62 and his body was buried illegally in the Cabeza Prieta Desert in Arizona, because he wanted his body help fertilize the flora.
- WINONA LADUKE
Winona LaDuke is a 61 year old American writer, economist and environmentalist. Her work focuses on tribal land claims and preservation, promotion of sustainable development. She is the co-founder of a native environmental advocacy organization called Honor of earth. The organization promotes sustainable development and works for the climate change, food system and environmental justice. She was also a Vice-President candidate for the Green Party and has been working on the White earth recovery project. Winona LaDuke is a global name and is working to protect Indigenous plants and heritage foods.
- JULIA BUTTERFLY HILL
Born in Missouri, United States on February 18, 1974, Julia Lorrain is an American motivational speaker and environmentalist. She lived in a tree for 738 days undertaking civil-disobedience in order to prevent the clear-cutting of giant redwoods in Humboldt Country. She published her first book THE LEGACY OF LUNA named after the 6 by foot tree she dwelled in for 738 days. Later she wrote books like Shamejoy and One Make the Difference. Julia was honored with Presidential Citation for her magnificent contribution to environmental activities.
- CHICO MENDES
Chico Mendes was a Brazilian environmentalist. Since his primary profession was Rubber Taping, he started his activism by fighting to save rubber trees and eventually fought to save Amazon rainforest. Mendes was awarded with the Global 500 Award and Protection of the environment Medal in 1987 for his efforts for preserving the environment. He started world’s first tropical forest conservation initiative taken ahead by the local forest people. At the age of 48 he was brutally murdered by Darly Alves da Silva, on 22 December, 1988.
