Tuesday, October 2, 2012
50 Years after Silent Spring, Chemical Industry Still Trying to Deny Science Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson helped launch the modern environmental movement with the publication of Silent Spring. She was a woman ahead of her time who saw before others the urgent need to rid our nation, our bodies, and our ecosystems of toxic chemicals. When she first raised the alarm, Carson was vilified by the chemical industry and the Agricultural Department and called “hysterical and unqualified.”  Her information was described as ”oversimplified” and “filled with downright errors and scary generalization.” Thanks to Carson’s fortitude and people’s outrage, the truth prevailed, and Congress finally banned DDT. Yet five decades later, industry-funded attacks on science continue unabated. Read more in Frances Beinecke’s blog. Send a message: Urge your senators to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act. Photo: Smithsonian (flickr)

50 Years after Silent Spring, Chemical Industry Still Trying to Deny Science

Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson helped launch the modern environmental movement with the publication of Silent Spring. She was a woman ahead of her time who saw before others the urgent need to rid our nation, our bodies, and our ecosystems of toxic chemicals.

When she first raised the alarm, Carson was vilified by the chemical industry and the Agricultural Department and called “hysterical and unqualified.”  Her information was described as ”oversimplified” and “filled with downright errors and scary generalization.”

Thanks to Carson’s fortitude and people’s outrage, the truth prevailed, and Congress finally banned DDT. Yet five decades later, industry-funded attacks on science continue unabated. Read more in Frances Beinecke’s blog.

Send a message: Urge your senators to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act.

Photo: Smithsonian (flickr)

Posted at 6:41 AM 49 notes Tags: nrdc frances beinecke environment environmental activism rachel carson chemicals toxic chemicals Safe Chemicals Act

Notes

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    This chick still rules. Rachel Carson. If you haven’t read Silent Spring give it a try. It’s a short book that will help...
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