Dust Bowl Of The 1930s Essay

In the 1930s, poor land management and neglectful farming practices led to severe soil erosion in the mid-western farming regions of the United States. Several non-eco-friendly farming practices led to severe topsoil erosion and depletion of minerals in the soil needed to maintain plant life. Without windbreaks to protect dry soil, lack of root systems to hold the soil into place; winds swept through the barren fields creating dust storms that carried precious topsoil across the country.

The dust bowl of the 1930s initiated one of the first wide-scale conservation efforts in the United States. Through legislation proposed by President Franklin
D. Roosevelt, programs were set into motion to revive mid-western farming regions and provide aid to
Realistic Consequences

A more realistic approach to consequential legislation would be a blend of positive and negative consequences to gain control over environmental behaviors. Lower the price of mass transit and place maximum free usage limitations on fuel. People who fall under the free usage limits would gain rebates for conservation and people exceeding the limits would face fines for excessive use. By placing limitations on fuel consumption, this type of legislation would encourage and stimulate local markets, an increase in virtual workspaces, and create a move toward mirco-communities.

Technological Impact

Technology permits humans to harness the wind as electricity, convert UV rays into storable current, and to purify water for consumption. It also permits humans to connect through virtual environments (virtual classrooms, chat rooms, support groups, and virtual teams). According to Steg (2013) technology has the
“potential to promote sustainable use of the environment surrounding us” (p.