THE SILENT SPRING RACHEL CARSON

The chemicals and their impact: 1 of 2 The American government’s “predator" and "pest" control programmesThe American government’s “predator" and "pest" control programmes (DDT) dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane(DDT) dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane dieldrin, parathion, heptachlor, malathion and other fearful compounds many times stronger than DDTdieldrin, parathion, heptachlor, malathion and other fearful compounds many times stronger than DDT a startling wildlife mortality in the wake of a mosquito-control campaign near Duxbury, Massachusetts, followed by a pointless spraying of a DDT/fuel-oil mix over eastern Long Island for eradication of the gypsy moth.a startling wildlife mortality in the wake of a mosquito-control campaign near Duxbury, Massachusetts, followed by a pointless spraying of a DDT/fuel-oil mix over eastern Long Island for eradication of the gypsy moth.

The chemicals and their impact: 2 of 2 an all-out war in the Southern States against the fire ant did such widespread harm to other creatures that its beneficiaries cried for mercyan all-out war in the Southern States against the fire ant did such widespread harm to other creatures that its beneficiaries cried for mercy the spraying of cranberry plants with aminotriazole, which led to an Agriculture Department ban against all cranberry marketingthe spraying of cranberry plants with aminotriazole, which led to an Agriculture Department ban against all cranberry marketing Then came Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962.Then came Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962.

Carson’s catchy words "There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings... Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change... There was a strange stillness... The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of scores of bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.""There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings... Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change... There was a strange stillness... The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of scores of bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh."

Counterattack and the Ban A huge counterattack was organized and led by Monsanto, Velsicol, American CyanamidA huge counterattack was organized and led by Monsanto, Velsicol, American Cyanamid It was duly supported by the Agriculture DepartmentIt was duly supported by the Agriculture Department However, Silent Spring became a runaway best seller. It is still regarded as the cornerstone of the new environmentalism.However, Silent Spring became a runaway best seller. It is still regarded as the cornerstone of the new environmentalism. In the summer of 1972, virtually all uses of DDT in the U.S. were banned.In the summer of 1972, virtually all uses of DDT in the U.S. were banned.

Criticism Popular author Michael Crichton states in his novel State of Fear: “ Since the supposed ban, two million people a year have died unnecessarily from malaria, mostly children. The ban has caused more than fifty million needless deaths. Banning DDT killed more people than Hitler.”Popular author Michael Crichton states in his novel State of Fear: “ Since the supposed ban, two million people a year have died unnecessarily from malaria, mostly children. The ban has caused more than fifty million needless deaths. Banning DDT killed more people than Hitler.”

Death and legacy Carson died on 14 April 1964, at the age of 56.Carson died on 14 April 1964, at the age of 56. In 1980, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the USA.In 1980, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the USA. The Rachel Carson Prize was founded in Stavanger, Norway in 1991, and is awarded to women who have made a contribution in the field of environmental protection.The Rachel Carson Prize was founded in Stavanger, Norway in 1991, and is awarded to women who have made a contribution in the field of environmental protection.