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<br /> <br />lions have ,I glotlal ;mp:tc( (m human health and <br />wcHare in direct and indirect way!>. and on the <br />generations to rollow. <br /> <br />The wave of indignation ahout problems of <br />air ;1111..1 water pollution which cresled in the bte <br />1960's ha:io led our ~ocicty 10 the di!>Covery that <br />we ;lr~' defX'lllkllt on and part of an ceo-system <br />that we Jid not invent and must not dc!>troy, <br /> <br />Thi... rcalil.ation h;ts forced us to ask ourselves <br />MIme h'ry fundamcntal 4ue~:tillns. Where and <br />how Jo .....e want economic and urban growth? <br />Ilow can we bc!>t use and reuse our natural <br />re~ources? I h)w can wc adjust our priori lies to in- <br />~un.. that we fulfill uur energY. tran<;.porlat;on, <br />huusing, recreation. and fX'rson;11 consumer needs <br />wilhout intensifying enviwnrnental problems we <br />Jid 1101 anticipate ;lI1d do not w:.lm? <br /> <br />~lore and more pcopk: within our society want <br />10 parlkip.lte in the development of a new en- <br />vironlll~'ntal elhic-a way of life which will allow <br />us 10 r.:tatn and ItlJprove the life-.:nhancing fe;t. <br />tur~'~ uf tl'chnology without rq~a!ing and inten- <br />sifying the Illi~t;lkes of the pas!. A centra] role <br />of the United States Envimnm~ntal Protection <br />"g~'ncy is III \UPport this nation a] eUort and to <br />hdp change thme habits ;lIld those obsolete <br />viewpoints whieh h:lve kd to our current con- <br />frontation with gross pollution and threats of ir- <br />rewrsihk environmental damage. <br /> <br />It will not he easy to eh<lnge our habits, some <br />of which have gune unquestioned for generations: <br /> <br />throwing things away instead of repalTJng or <br />recycling them. dumping our wastes into the water <br />and air, and wasting irreplaceable resources. It <br />is up to Americans of this decade to develop a <br />l)~'\\ pallern of environmental management. \Ve <br />must hecome the first generation to work with <br />natur.... instl.'ad of against her. <br /> <br />There is a generation of hard work 3head. <br />Each of us must make his own contribution, But <br />the task willl>eem less arduous if WI;': focus on those <br />~lpporlUnitics for bcttcrllll.'nt which present them. <br />~l.'Ives from day to d;lY. The combined efforts of <br />individuals, industries and governments at all <br />lewis-though they may seem small when viewed <br />in isolation--can make an cnormous eolleclive <br />impact. ^ national con~mitment. involving each <br />,\maican, will not only lift !he wil of pollution <br />frorn our side!> alld cleanse our turbid waters, it <br />could help propel this nation toward a new era <br />of l>ocial amenity far transcending the proud <br />achievements of the past. <br /> <br />If we act wisely and with sp~ed. we can extract <br />]nng-range social dividl.'nds from our resources <br />as well as short term private convcniences, We <br />can elevatc the quality of life as well as expand <br />the quantity of gOlxls. Wc can !oct an example for <br />thl.' world hy turning from exploitation to prcser- <br />v3tion, from growth at any cost to growth for a <br />purpo~e. <br /> <br />siz <br /> <br />William D. Ruckelshau\. Adminislra!or <br />United States Environmental Prolection Agenq. <br />September 1971 <br /> <br />- <br /> <br /> <br />,,-. <br /> <br />r <br />'" <br />" <br />