How to Be Green? Stand in Spirit with Rachel Carson in Her Fight Against a Silent Spring

The Book-of-the-Month Club edition of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

How Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Ignited the Fight for Safer Chemicals

September marked the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s influential book, Silent Spring, which introduced the idea of a synergy between humans, our planet and our health.  Carson's Silent Spring told Americans the story of the harmful effects of the pesticide DDT in the environment and food chain and it was the start of where we find ourselves today in the fight for safer chemicals.  As Carson saw it, the federal government was part of the problem and they still are today - but we can do something to change that.

Just How Far Have We Come in Fighting Toxic Chemicals in 50 Years?

Thanks to Carson's science, which was revolutionary at the time and still today defines the problem with using unregulated chemicals in our lives, the last 50 years have brought a desire among consumers to find a way to live in harmony with safe chemicals.  Although today toxic chemicals are still pervasive in our lives due to lax federal laws which allow untested and unregulated chemicals in our consumer goods, air and water, through five decades of questioning and study, consumers are getting the answers they need to live more sustainably.

Rachel Carson Conducting Marine Biology Research with Bob Hines
who was an American wildlife artist who had a long career
with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Today it is easy to see the alarming rise in illnesses linked to chemicals from childhood cancer, infertility, learning and developmental disabilities, birth defects, early puberty, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and certain types of cancer.  Although the 2011 President's Cancer Panel Report points to environmental factors for the increase in cancer, there are obviously genetic reasons for illness as well.

Still, since we know that removing toxic chemicals and heavy metals from our lives works to help keep us safe - such as when we removed harmful lead from gasoline and the lead levels in Americans took a drastic drop - we must take action now to create a more sustainable, healthy future for consumers and our planet. 

Consumers Have Never Been Closer to a Life Free from Toxic Chemicals

As you can imagine, the chemical industry is spending unprecedented amounts of money lobbying Congress to block the Safe Chemicals Act, a bill that would increase the safety of chemicals used in our consumer products and would drastically reduce the amount of toxic chemicals we’re exposed to on a daily basis.

Obviously we are making progress with our grass roots efforts and consumer awareness.  Just look at the effect of our 35 stroller brigades which culminated in our first National Stroller Brigade this May which I participated in and helped spur the first vote in 36 years to update our toxic chemical laws.  Obviously the only way we, as consumers, can fight against Big Chem's deep pockets is to let Congressional candidates know how important this issue is, and what is at stake.

Rachel Carson in a 1940 Fish & Wildlife Service
employee photo

Are You With Us?

Rachel Carson, who died from a heart attack caused from complications from her breast cancer treatments, would most certainly be proud that her work has culminated in the Safer Chemicals Agenda.  Still, we can't let her work remain in vain.  We cannot let our future generations down now that we are so close to passing new laws which will help keep us, our environment and our wildlife safe from harmful, toxic chemicals. 

And although some politicians may try to push the agenda that “regulation” is a dirty word, a poll from July of 2012 shows bipartisan support for protection from toxic chemicals.  Obviously Americans, regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on, believe that regulating toxic chemicals is something the government should be doing already and we need to make our voices heard today!  

Here's What You Can Do Today

We need all congressional candidates to know that the American public cares deeply about increased regulations on toxic chemicals and we need you with us out there in this fight. Today is the day to stand up and be counted in this fight against an unhealthy future for your family.  Now is the time to reject Big Chemical's invasion into our lives and environment and it couldn't be easier.

Ask your Congressional candidates to reject the chemical industry’s agenda and support the Safer Chemicals Agenda by signing the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families petition.  Once you do, you will be shown how to easily spread this message in an eamil to your Congressional candidate and through sharing on Facebook and Twitter.

There is no other choice than to stand in spirit with Rachel Carson to create a sustainable future.  We must work together to create a future full of the most uproarious Springs.  Springs filled with the beautiful sounds of children playing, birds singing and mothers and fathers breathing huge sighs of relief because they fought for our future that will be healthy and sustainable for our planet as well as their families.

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P.S.- People always ask me where I get my organic food and personal care products and I love to tell them about The Green PolkaDot Box! Backed by the Organic Consumer's Association and EnvironmentalBooty.com, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online.  It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living! You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. Enjoy!



Photo Sources:  Wikipedia, WeAreBothRight.com