The American Environmental Non-governmental Organizations In 1960s And 1970s

Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) are important forces in American environmental movement and they have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the environmental protection course. They rose and acted at a stage in American history in 1960s and 1970s. The thesis analyzed the roots of the rising of ENGOs, the general situation, the main activities and the roles they played in 1960s and 1970s. And it pointed out the thriving of ENGOs was the outcome of the democracy of American type.The roots of the rising of ENGOs.ENGOs were not without foundation, they were the result of the development of American society. The serious pollution and damage caused by the development of modern industry was an essential reason which leaded the ENGOs to come into being. With the development of modern industry, American society came through transition and came into affluent society in 1960s. The people's material living standard improved, and they had a willing to enjoy more spiritual experience. This was the economical root of the rising of ENGOs. The turbulence of international and domestic situation of American and the surging of society movement in 1960s caused the changing of pepole' s social values. This was the social root of the rising of ENGOs. Historically, American environmental ideology came through germination development maturity and popularization of evolvement process and shaped ecological environment view in 1960s. This was the ideological root of the rising of ENGOs. With a long history and development near 100 years, ENGOs had established the deep history foundation in 1960s.The general situation of ENGOs.On the whole, ENGOs can be classified the main environmental organizations (including traditional conservation organizations and new environmental organizations) radical environmental organizations and grass roots groops. The main environmental organizations were the most active in 1960s and 1970s, which based on Washington and leaded the environmental movement. With the movement went deep into developing, ENGOs' system became increasingly perfect and some professional staffs joined into them. The organizations got professionalized and institutionalized. Whereas most of the members of the main environmental organizations are white middle class who are considerably better educated, more likely to have high incomes. And they can't represent the opinions and beliefs of the poor and the people of color. The fund of ENGOs came from society, donation tax-exempt. About the relationship of the government and ENGOs, they parallel reinforce supervise and cooperate each other.The main activities and roles of ENGOs.The third section based on the main activities of ENGOs and analyzed the main roles of ENGOs to American environmental causes. The first is the role of publicity and education. ENGOs spreaded environmental consciousness and popularized environmental information through various means, and made the environmental protection became a part of the Americans' life. The second is the role of legislation and litigation . According to American democracy process, ENGOs participated in making legislation and litigation and established a considerably consummate suit .of environmental law system, which guaranteed the environmental protection in law. The third is the role of public-opinion and supervision. Through the momentum of the public opinion of election, ENGOs brought pressure in the authority and forced them make policies propitious toenvironmental protection. The forth is the role of international participation. Using the non-governmental characteristic, they participated in global environmental protection, and excluded the influence of the national diplomatic policy and ideology.The characteristic and appraisement of ENGOs.Through the comparison of the way of environmental protection between American and Western Europe, the thesis points out that ENGOs are unique form that American people participate the environmental protection. The rising of ENGOs embodied the demo...