Fifty-five years ago, on this day, February 11th, 1970.
Two things on this day.
One is a European Conservation Year event with Prince Philip and Anthony Crosland, who was still the relevant Secretary of State as reported in The Spectator by one Stanley Johnson (the wife beater).
And
Showing of Shell-Mex and BP film “Environment in the Balance” – (see issue 2 of “Your Environment”)
Here’s the beginning of a review from the second issue of Your Environment…
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 324ppm. As of 2024 it is 422ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that everyone had started wringing their hands about conservation issues, and the European Year of Conservation Year had been announced and was providing an opportunity for this sort of nonsense. Then in the evening in London, there was a showing of a BP film “Environment in the Balance.” BP had been making so-called educational films – you could also call them propaganda – for years. And this film was typical hand-wringing, pushing the responsibility on to individuals.
What we learn is that everyone was running around at this point, saying that “something must be done.” And that would go on for a couple more years, until they stopped saying it because they were bored, hearing themselves say it, and because it was clear that nothing was going to be done.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
February 11, 1993 – Liberal Party plans would not meet climate goals, says expert
Feb 11, 1994 – President Clinton proclaims the end of environmental racism. Yeah, right.