On June 22, 1969, a river caught fire. Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River was so full of chemicals and garbage, it burst into flames.
People were upset. They demanded change. Soon, new laws were passed. They helped clean filthy rivers, reduce air pollution, and protect endangered species. Today, water and air in the U.S. are cleaner. A few endangered animals, like the bald eagle, have bounced back. But Earth’s health remains shaky. There are no easy fixes for overpopulation, urban sprawl (the spread of housing and business to less developed areas), and global warming. Some even doubt these are problems at all. Sadly, it may take an event more shocking than a burning river to prove them wrong.
