The Environment - WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT - 1969

Sep 29, 2026

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An environmental address discussing how society should respond to environmental problems with urgency, clarity, and practical action rather than rhetoric. It examines misconceptions shaped by pollution coverage, explains the emotional charge of “environment,” and frames scientific backlash as contributing to a renewed interest in ecology and the “balance of nature.” The speech argues that modern life is reshaping human access to nature, and that natural systems do not operate as a benign, hands-off policy; humans must interact responsibly to support survival and improve outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

The Environment

What to do about it

Setting the environment in perspective

Nature worship, technology, and accessibility

“Environmentally uptight” public perception

Misunderstandings and policy implications

The “balance of nature” debate

| TWICE A MONTH
VOL.XXXV,No.17
JUNE 15,1969
50 cents per copy
$10.00 A YEAR | | --- | By Dr.Glenn T.SeaborgChairman,U.S.Atomic Energy Commission—Page 515 # The Environment WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT By Paul Findlay # United States Foreign Policy Congressman from Illinois—Page 520 ARE FREQUENT WARS NECESSARY The Military-Industrial ComplexBy Murray L.WeidenbaumAN ECONOMIC ANALYSISProfessor of Economics,Washington University-Page 523 Technology And SocietyBy Cornelius E.GallagherTHE RIGHT TO PRIVACYCongressman from New Jersey—Page 528 Take AModest StepBy Gianluigi GabettiINDIVIDUAL EFFORTPresident,Olivetti Underwood Corporation—Page 533 Business InvolvementBy Donald M.KendallHIRE FIRST,TRAIN AFTERWARDSChairman,National Alliance of Businessmen—Page 535 Building CommunitiesBy C.E.Peck$1.5 TRILLIONOwens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation—Page 537 SoulMusic And PoetryBy Bayard RustinTHE EASY WAY OUTExecutive Director of A.Philip Randolph Institute—Page 541 Murder,Mayhem And The Mother TongueBy Wallace CarrollA PSUEDO-LANGUAGEEditor and Publisher W inston-Salem(N.C.)Journal and Sentinel—Page 542 AUTHENTIC CONSTRUCTIVE IMPARTIAL THOUGHTOFTHEBESTMINDSONCURRENT NATIONAL QUESTIONS # The Environment WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT By DR.GLENN T.SEABORG,Chairman,U.S.Atomic Energy Commission Delivered at a meeting of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Solid State Sciences Panel,Argonne National Laboratory,Argonne,Illinois,May 5,1969 segment of the concerned public that should be tempered to amore rational outlook toward environmental problems—whileof course retaining the necessary sense of urgency aboutsolving them.Working along these lines let me point outsome of the current thinking and misconceptions and try toput some of these matters in a different light. VERYONE TALKS about the environment but nobodydoes anything about it.”This is one way we mightupdate that popular old complaint about the weather.But while such an expression might become timely and popu-lar,it would hardly be true.More is being done todaythan at any time in human history to understand our naturaland man-made environments and bring man and nature into amore harmonious relationship.Surely we are experiencingmore "confrontations"with nature than ever before.But it isalso true,as I hope to show later,that we are also conductingmany more promising "dialogues"with her. To begin with,many of us in this country are entering whatmight seem like a new era of nature worship.As an ardenthiker and nature-lover myself I can appreciate this attitude.Inour increasingly urban and technological society,a return tothe "great outdoors,"enjoyment of the natural surroundingsand a new respect and fondness for wildlife are,understand-ably,growing.Of course what is usually overlooked is theextent to which technology has made nature accessible to us asa friend to be understood and enjoyed rather than a foe to beovercome.Time,money,good transportation—not to mentionmodern agriculture and industry—make this possible.The newconservationist often reaches the wilderness in his campertrailer via a new interstate highway.He "roughs it"on his ownterms with a good supply of "store bought"items at hand.Buthe invariably forgets a great deal of this in his attacks on histechnological society. Before I go into detail on some of our environmentalproblems and some of the ways we are trying to solve them letme spend a few minutes calmly attempting to put theenvironment in perspective.This may be difficult,as"environment"has become an emotionally charged word thesedays—almost on a par with words like "crime in the street,""student revolts”or "Raquel Welch,"depending on whichemotion you want charged.Perhaps I risk some criticism if Ispeak at all lightly about this subject,but sometimes I feel thata good portion of the public has been so saturated by ourexcellent pollution press coverage that they are now what wemight call “environmentally up

FAQs

Why does the speaker say more is being done today about the environment than in the past?

The speaker contrasts earlier public complaints with modern efforts to understand natural and man-made environments and to bring humans and nature into a more harmonious relationship.

What does the address suggest about the public’s view of environmental issues?

It argues that the public has been saturated by pollution press coverage, leaving people overly anxious—an attitude described as “environmentally uptight.”

How does the speaker respond to the idea of a “hands off” balance of nature?

The address rejects the notion that natural balance is totally benign under laissez-faire; nature does not play favorites, and humans must interact with natural processes to support survival and progress.

Sep 29, 2026

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