“The salvation of our en­vironment requires that we overcome our divisions and the pressure of temporary, local interests.”

—  Andrei Sakharov

Progress, Coexistence and Intellectual Freedom (1968), Dangers, Pollution of Environment
Context: The problem of geohygiene (earth hygiene) is highly complex and closely tied to economic and social problems. This problem can therefore not be solved on a national and especially not on a local basis. The salvation of our en­vironment requires that we overcome our divisions and the pressure of temporary, local interests. Otherwise, the Soviet Union will poison the United States with its wastes and vice versa.

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Andrei Sakharov 57
Soviet nuclear physicist and human rights activist 1921–1989

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