Word: earthly
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...there be no illusions. Taking effective action to halt the massive injury to the earth's environment will require a mobilization of political will, international cooperation and sacrifice unknown except in wartime. Yet humanity is in a war right now, and it is not too Draconian to call it a war for survival. It is a war in which all nations must be allies. Both the causes and effects of the problems that threaten the earth are global, and they must be attacked globally. "All nations are tied together as to their common fate," observes Peter Raven, director...
...become a thing of the past. We must recycle more, procreate less, turn off lights, use mass transit, do a thousand things differently in our everyday lives. We owe this not only to ourselves and our children but also to the unborn generations who will one day inherit the earth...
...ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, between 10 and 30 miles up, is vital to the well being of plants and animals. Ozone molecules, which consist of three oxygen atoms, absorb most of the ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. And ultraviolet is extremely dangerous to life on earth...
...small amount that does get through to the earth's surface inflicts plenty of damage: besides causing sunburn, the rays have been linked to cataracts and weakened immune systems in humans and other animals. Ultraviolet light carries enough energy to damage DNA and thus disrupt the workings of cells, which is why excessive exposure to sunlight is thought to be the primary cause of some skin cancers...
This week's unorthodox choice of Endangered Earth as Planet of the Year, in lieu of the usual Man or Woman of the Year, had its origin in the scorching summer of 1988, when environmental disasters -- droughts, floods, forest fires, polluted beaches -- dominated the news. By August TIME knew it was no longer enough just to describe familiar problems one more time. "The new journalistic challenge," says managing editor Henry Muller, "was to help / find solutions, and that by definition meant international solutions." So we invited a distinguished group of scientists, administrators and political leaders from five continents...