People who advocate for the protection of the natural environment and sustainable practices.
From French environner meaning 'to surround' + -ment + -al + -ist. The term emerged in the 1960s during growing ecological awareness, particularly after Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring'.
The word 'environmentalists' captured a revolutionary shift in human thinking—the recognition that we must actively protect nature rather than simply exploit it. The term's emergence coincided with the first photographs of Earth from space, which gave humanity a new perspective on our planet's fragility.
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