MNN - Mother Nature Network

April 8, 1975: Voyageurs National Park is established in northern Minnesota. Designed to protect the many lakes in the Great North Woods, Voyageurs is mainly explored via kayak, small boat, or canoe.

 

April 8, 1985: The Indian Government sues the Union Carbide Company in U.S. Federal Court in New York City, seeking damages from the December 1984 tragedy at Carbide's Bhopal, India factory. Thousands died, and tens of thousands suffered eye and respiratory damage from a massive leak of methyl isocyanate at the plant (some survivors are seen at right, protesting in 2010). The U.S. Court quickly dismisses the suit, but India pursues both legal and criminal action against the firm for years to come.

 

April 8, 1992: The Sacramento Bee wins two Pulitzer Prizes for science and environmental reporting. Tom Knudson is honored for his series on saving the Sierra Nevada ecosystem. Deborah Blum also wins for her reporting on the ethical concerns about using primates for research.

 

 

This feature is compiled by Peter Dykstra, an MNN contributor and publisher of Environmental Health News and The Daily Climate.