Rachel Carson – Environmentalism

For my final blog, I want to focus on the Portrait of Rachel Carson on page s1166-1167 titled, “Pioneer of Environmentalism”.

Carson was an educated women; she went to college, received a graduate degree in biology and then became a marine biologist in the United States. She was quoted to have said “much of nature was forever beyond the tampering hand of man” (page 1166), however shortly after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she began to question whether or not nature could withstand the damage humankind was doing to her.

Her life’s work shifted from marine biology to what we would now call the study of Environmentalism; specifically, she studied the impact of pesticides on the Earth’s natural ecosystems and human health. After her data collection, Carson wrote her book Silent Spring and began to criticize the use of pesticides and the government agencies for “their negligent oversight” (page 1166) and allowance of such chemicals.

Carson received backlash from the chemical companies and social organizations, but their responses not only criticized her professionally, but they took shots at her on a personal level saying she was a spinster and un-American. During this time, around 1958, Carson was continuing her battle with cancer and other health conditions and was dealing with the loss of her mother. She did receive a lot of support as well, however…and I feel this may have outweighed the negative attention. She was a guest speaker on CBS News, was cited by the Science Advisor Committee and shortly following her death, the Environmental Protection Agency was formed and the insecticide DDT was banned in 1973.

Here is a wonderful example of a strong, educated, powerful and determined woman who took on the world and won. During this time when women were still fighting for equal rights (face it, we still are), she faced her adversaries and paved the way for permanent change. Many environmental groups were formed and grew through the release of her book, and today we continue to stand with Carson and fight for change; change to improve the environment and human health.