09 - Pennsylvania, Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is noted as the start of Modern Environmentalism.
Pennsylvania was the seventh state to ratify on June 24, 1919.
In 1962, Rachel Carson released Silent Spring with reviews by government leaders stressing this is “…the most important chronicle of this century for the human race.” (SCJ William O. Douglas) Today it is noted as the start of modern environmentalism. Mrs. Carson’s mother, a life tutor, encouraged her to observe and learn from nature. She studied marine biology, and was the first scientist of the U.S. Biological Survey (now the US Fish & Wildlife Service). She wrote three books of the sea, sharing the scientific lessons in creative and eloquent writing. Silent Spring was her final book. The acclaim and response started the environmental movement.
The research started later in her career as friends drew her to the effects of airplanes dropping chemicals, specifically DDT used to control mosquitoes and insects, on fields. She investigated pesticides and deduced that overuse was poisoning the Earth. One thread of research is the story of bird populations that suffered directly from the result of DDT. The chemical created thinner shells that broke in the nest. In 1967, the Environmental Defense Fund originated with a group of diverse experts that testified against DDT, finally getting a full federal ban of the chemical in 1972.
Throughout the time of writing the book, Mrs. Carson was undergoing metastatic breast cancer and had a mastectomy right as the research was starting. Understanding the importance, and her drive and passion for connecting the science together pushed her to persevere. This insistence made a change in how we perceive human impact to our fragile Earth. She passed away 18 months after publishing Silent Spring.
Why this woman?
As a fighter for Earth where I can, I see her persistence inspiring. She didn’t scream and shout. She didn’t force people to listen to her. She provided facts and reality. She gave people no excuse to turn away from them. That is the poise of women as leaders making change.
For those that know my love for bald eagles ... they are all over the North Cascades, my home away from home. A survivor story. I didn’t know the impact of the DDT to their eggs right back to their nests! Now, bald eagles are a constant reminder to me that we can stop what we have done to the Earth. With change. As we approach 2030, a milestone architects and researchers use to drive change, I hope our message is equally told. Push the message, and stand up for the need. With grace. Then we may be heard.
Pennsylvania was the seventh state to ratify on June 24, 1919.
In 1962, Rachel Carson released Silent Spring with reviews by government leaders stressing this is “…the most important chronicle of this century for the human race.” (SCJ William O. Douglas) Today it is noted as the start of modern environmentalism. Mrs. Carson’s mother, a life tutor, encouraged her to observe and learn from nature. She studied marine biology, and was the first scientist of the U.S. Biological Survey (now the US Fish & Wildlife Service). She wrote three books of the sea, sharing the scientific lessons in creative and eloquent writing. Silent Spring was her final book. The acclaim and response started the environmental movement.
The research started later in her career as friends drew her to the effects of airplanes dropping chemicals, specifically DDT used to control mosquitoes and insects, on fields. She investigated pesticides and deduced that overuse was poisoning the Earth. One thread of research is the story of bird populations that suffered directly from the result of DDT. The chemical created thinner shells that broke in the nest. In 1967, the Environmental Defense Fund originated with a group of diverse experts that testified against DDT, finally getting a full federal ban of the chemical in 1972.
Throughout the time of writing the book, Mrs. Carson was undergoing metastatic breast cancer and had a mastectomy right as the research was starting. Understanding the importance, and her drive and passion for connecting the science together pushed her to persevere. This insistence made a change in how we perceive human impact to our fragile Earth. She passed away 18 months after publishing Silent Spring.
Why this woman?
As a fighter for Earth where I can, I see her persistence inspiring. She didn’t scream and shout. She didn’t force people to listen to her. She provided facts and reality. She gave people no excuse to turn away from them. That is the poise of women as leaders making change.
For those that know my love for bald eagles ... they are all over the North Cascades, my home away from home. A survivor story. I didn’t know the impact of the DDT to their eggs right back to their nests! Now, bald eagles are a constant reminder to me that we can stop what we have done to the Earth. With change. As we approach 2030, a milestone architects and researchers use to drive change, I hope our message is equally told. Push the message, and stand up for the need. With grace. Then we may be heard.
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