Stanley Johnson: video interview

Synopsis

Stanley Johnson discusses the environmental movement in Britain during the late 1960s and 1970s. He recalls returning to the UK in 1969, coinciding with the first American moon landing, which sparked a new awareness of the planet's fragility. Johnson highlights the impact of Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' and the environmental consequences of DDT on wildlife. He also mentions the Torrey Canyon disaster, where a cargo ship crashed near the Scilly Isles, prompting Prime Minister Harold Wilson to order RAF bombers to address the situation. This period marks a significant shift in environmental consciousness, leading to Johnson's role as the Conservative Party's first environmental research officer, where he aims to articulate the party's stance on the whole environment.