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Re-Thinking Rachel Carson

Now, I haven't read "Silent Spring" yet, but that's the person we're talking about. I saw a PBS show about her. [PBS? Just fill out your Democratic Party membership card now.--ed.] It was fascinating. In broad strokes, the debate surrounding DDT pitted progress and economic development against long-term sustainability.

The aspect of her viewpoint that struck me the most was her argument that we are part of our environment. We are its masters, perhaps, but if we damage the biosphere, we damage ourselves.

How much of the inability to hear environmental advocates' concerns is because of abortion? Those hippies care more about birds than defenseless children. 

 Why choose?

And Dr. Naomi Oreskes was on the special, discussing and defending Carson's major themes. Carson may have gotten more strident as powerful interests came after her,--and as her fatal illness progressed--but I was struck by her utter lack of theatrics or sensationalism. I need to read Carson's book. And I would be happy to read Dr. Oreskes on geology or climate change.

And I want to talk to Dr. Cross about this.
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