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As one of the most celebrated women in environmental regulation, we honor Rachel Carson on the 100th anniversary of her birthday. Carson was a 35-year Maryland resident, a Biologist and Pioneer Environmentalist. Born May 27, 1907, she lived until 1964, spending most of her career in Maryland, where she received her M.A. degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and taught at the University of Maryland. She then took a job with the Bureau of Fisheries (later the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) in Washington, D.C. as chief of publications.
Ms. Carson was a marine biologist and zoologist who started the modern environmental movement and awakened America’s environmental conscience.
Best known for her critically acclaimed book, "Silent Spring," she enlightened the world to the dangers of chemical pesticides. Al Gore stated in his introduction to the 40th anniversary printing of Silent Spring, "...without this book, the environmental movement might have been long delayed or never have developed at all..."
Ms. Carson warned that DDT and pesticide chemicals contaminate humans, animals, and the entire "web of life." She wrote: "the central problem of our age has therefore become the contamination of [the] total environment."
Before Silent Spring, airplanes randomly and regularly sprayed poisons meant to kill pests on unknowing citizens, houses and fields. In seaside communities, mosquito trucks would make their daily rounds, spraying the pesticide DDT while children played outdoors. People assumed that these chemicals, since sanctioned by governments, were a helpful invention used to wipe out malaria in this country.
In her book, Ms. Carson linked the usage of DDT directly to the decline in bird populations, specifically bald eagles and osprey because the residue from DDT weakened the shells of their eggs.
Environmentalism Soars on Eagle’s Wings
Silent Spring set off such a storm of controversy that President Kennedy appointed a commission to study the effects of pesticides that deemed Carson's findings accurate. This led to the ban of DDT in 1972. Following the ban, osprey and bald eagle populations increased dramatically just as Ms. Carson predicted. These bans are the direct reason why birds such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon are now able to come off the endangered species list.
Over 40 years ago, Carson testified before Congress calling for new policies to protect human health and the environment. Her scientific work and writings led to environmental legislation that guides us to this day. Posthumously she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award.
Modern Environmentalism
Her talent of bringing to the forefront biological effects of chemicals on humans and animals led citizens to realize that there may be a downside to some of the benefits of modern progress. We are also seeing that today with global warming. The use of energy is what makes life more convenient, productive and comfortable today. Conversely, generating energy poses potential, and real threats to human health and the environment.
Rachel Carson – humanitarian, environmentalist, author, teacher, scientist, lobbyist, journalist and citizen of Maryland, we honor the 100th anniversary of your birth.
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