The Hysterical Crusader

When Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, she was called a prophet, and others called her a hysterical Crusader. The words 'silent' and 'spring' don't make much sense. Why then would a gifted author and respected scientist link them in the title of a book? The answer is to deliver a warning to the world. This is her contribution to the world around us, as well as creating an awareness for the environment.

Her book awakened a whole nation when she issued the warning that people were poisoning the air, the water, the earth and its creatures. She envisioned a time when spring would not bring the rebirth of flowers, trees and the songs of birds, but a bleak, silent landscape.

To many, especially the chemical industries, she was just over acting. Not even ten years later after the publication of her book, the callous the peregrine falcon was not to be found, gone from the land. It was nearly extinct ; the victim DDT! This pesticide had been absorbed by the systems of these birds, and caused that they could not reproduce.

Ms Carson was neither a prophet nor a hysterical Crusader. Neither did she see the future through some supernatural power. She was a scientist. She knew that elements of nature are interesting - related. That which happens to one thing often affects many others. If a disturbance occurs, it may upset the balance of all parts of nature working together. This balance sustains life.

As a scientist her first interest was the world of sea and shore. With this in mind, she became a marine biologist for the government. She recorded facts about the sea's plant and animal life, their unique characteristics and the nature of their environment. In 1951 she authored the book, 'The Sea Around Us'. This brought her honors, fame and respect around the world.

Ms Carson then devoted herself full - time to research and writing. The main thing on her mind was the effect of modern technology on the natural environment. Fuming smokestacks, atomic waste in the air, pollutants dumped into streams, exhaust fumes pouring from cars and pesticides sprayed across the land. She knew that this could not continue without far - reaching, disastrous results, but no one seemed to be doing anything about it.

A distressed friend wrote and described that a plane spraying DDT had flown over her yard and the next day several birds lay dead. Carson decided to act. This was in 1962 when she wrote 'Silent Spring'. She attacked the practice of using pesticides to kill insects, as these poisons contaminated the environment. The birds and other insect - eating animals died of this poisonous insect spray. It further contaminated the food that humans eat and can remain for years in soil rivers and humans.. Insects though develop an immunity to pesticides.

She fervently recommended biological control of pests. People listened and many acted.
This was the beginning of a drive to change things. Government and private citizens passed laws to ensure that the environment would be protected. There had been successes and failures. Much has to be done still. Pesticides can cause irritability, memory loss and poor concentration among other disabilities that we don't know yet.

Let's remember Rachel Carson words : "I think that we are challenged like we never have been challenged before to prove our mystery, not of nature, but of ourselves". Let's take heed of this woman of courage and her contribution to the world around us and create an awareness for the environment, our home. Too little is being done. Green peace, other similar organizations and governments have to come together to propose plans and act upon it. IT'S CRITICAL.

Sources : Students book of Study, Rachel Carson Silent Spring, Pixabay, Google images.