The environmental movement did not slow with the passing of the sixties as many feared. In fact the momentum would continue through the 1970s and not show signs of waning until the Reagan era of the following decade. In an almost symbolic gesture the seventies were ushered in with the inaugural Earth Day on April 22, 1970, observed by 20 million Americans. That celebration of our planet persists today. Shortly thereafter President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency to, of all things, protect the environment. It is still around and still trying to do its job in the face of much political whining.

During the seventies Congress passed nearly two dozen environmental laws, most of them to strengthen previous clean-air and clean-water legislation by providing more funds and broader mandates. In 1972 DDT was finally banned in the United States. Most other first world countries would reluctantly follow suit.

Also in 1972 the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in response to widespread publicity of dolphins and sea turtles drowning in fishing nets and when caught by longlines. The following year would see passage of the landmark Endangered Species Act, the first effective bill of its kind, anywhere, anytime. And in the same year an International Whaling Commission was established which promptly banned whaling worldwide in response to seriously declining numbers. When Japan failed to comply a moratorium on trade was issued by the Commission. The emperor had a sudden change of heart.

The world at large joined the environmental fracas in 1975 with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which the U.S. became a signatory of. Almost immediately the white rhino was declared endangered and protected from international commerce. Unfortunately poachers don't play by the rules and the white rhino remains critically endangered today. (next photo)