Historically, there are a number of people who worked for sustainability. Their work is recognized internationally in their specialization. Here, we will discuss those legends who contribute to sustainability through environmental actions.
Among all heroes, there is the name of Sir John Muir (1838–1914) from Scotland. He has hiked more than 1,000 miles from Indianapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. His tireless efforts include work for conservation areas like Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. He was the founder of the Sierra Club, a conservation organization. The slogan of the organization was ‘to make the mountains glad’. He sets a new trend in conservation history.
The second name is from Pennsylvania, Madam Rachel Carson (1907-1964). She was the founder of the modern environmental movement. She wrote one of the famous books, ‘The Sea Around Us’. She worked for the environment, but unfortunately faced criticism and controversies when she presented the view regarding the devastating environmental impact of pesticide. She referred to them as biocide-killers of life. She believed in the organic pattern of production; therefore, the undesired action by the chemical companies, her observation proved correct.
Pennsylvania has another reward of Sir Edward Abbey (1927–1989). He was the most dedicated and outrageous environmentalist. Abbey got a huge fame from one of his seminal work of the environment by writing the book ‘Desert Solitaire’. Later on, ‘The Monkey Wrench Gang’ became ill-reputed with the allegation of eco-sabotage. Surely, every fame has a defame, a true reality. But he still keeps a distinguished identity for his passionate defense of the deserts.
The United States has a series of those environmentalist whos work astonished the workld among them Madam Jamie Margolin (2001 to date). She is a climate justice activist and founded a youth climate organization. She initiated movement with the name of Zero Hour. She took milestone activities to combat the climate crisis after experiencing the devastating effects of a wildfire in her home. She caught national attention through Zero Hour, as it led dozens of youth marches in which Margolin was at the forefront. She captured more attention by writing a book, ‘Youth to Power, Your Voice and How to Use it’.
Among the series of sustainability profession from the United States, Sir George Washington Carver (1864-1943). He was an inventor for making dyes, plastic, fuel, and more out of humble peanuts. He discovered/invented 300 use of peanut to boost the profit of farmers. His work was unique and set a new trend in the recycling industry. Because of his enthusiastic efforts peanut business reached the worth of $200 million annually in the 1930s. Later on he was appointed as head of the Division of Plant Mycology at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sir Aldo Leopold (1887–1948), also from the United States considered as modern ecologist. He was considered the godfather of wild conservation. He was literally asked to kill bears, cougars, and other wild on the high demand of local ranchers for their self-protection. He adopted a holistic approach to wildlife management and gained fame for this. “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
Now mentioning the name of Madam Winona LaDuke (1959 to Date) from United States is injustice. She worked on environmental justice and founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project. The purpose of this project was to buy back indigenous land from non-Natives. She created thousands of jobs for First Nations peoples and cultivated wild rice, a traditional Ojibwe food. She became vice president with Ralph Nader on the Green Party ticket twice in 1996 to 2000.
Sir Henry David Thoreau(1817–1862) and Madam Julia Hill (1974 to Date) from the United States also played their role for environmental cause. Thoreau was one of the first US philosopher-writer-activists who gained his fame posthumously. His two years of utter simplicity was considered as an inspiration for “Walden, or Life in the Woods” as meditation between life and nature, became must read for all environmentalists.
Madam Hill, famous as ‘Butterfly’, dedicated her life to work for sustainability. She focused on nature based solution. Butterfly lived in the ancient branches of a redwood tree in Northern California to save it from being cut down. The tree was 200 feet long, vacated by Butterfly after a deal with Pacific Lumber Company. All trees with 200 feet buffer zone were preserved with an amount of $50,000 were donated to forestry research purpose. She worked for 15 years on environmental causes, then she withdraws her from public eyes.
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