Legacy: Mother of the Modern Environmental Movement
"Silent Spring planted the seeds of a new activism that has grown into one of the great popular forces of all time. When Rachel Carson died...it was becoming clear that her voice would never be silenced. She had awakened not only our nation but the world. The publication of Silent Spring can properly be seen as the beginning of the modern environmental movement."
- Former Vice President Al Gore, Introduction to 25th anniversary edition of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- Former Vice President Al Gore, Introduction to 25th anniversary edition of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Carson’s lasting legacy is the societal shift that she affected in our nation. Beginning with her book in 1941, we can trace a slow but certain progress from conservationism to environmentalism. Rachel Carson, now a national icon, continues to inspire citizens through her writings. New legislation and regulations control human actions rather than focusing only on the protection of endangered species and areas. Advances in agriculture emphasize judicious use of chemicals while maintaining the ecological balance. An international awareness has opened cross-cultural conversations on issues such as clean energy, organic foods and climate change. |
"Environmentalism evolved to become a multifaceted movement in the United States...It impacts business practices, art and the media, education and health in the United States. There is still a great deal of environmental activism, but in the past five decades environmental concerns have become more ingrained in the consciousness of the American population. " - Gordon, Erin L. "History of the Modern Environmental Movement in America.",American Center, Mumbai. |
"Whether our great-great grandchildren look at us as wise or as latter-day Nero's, fiddling while the planet burned, is a fate that's going to be decided by what we do in the second Century of the environmental movement." -
Edward Norton, "Earth Day 2012", Huffington Post, April 21, 2012
Edward Norton, "Earth Day 2012", Huffington Post, April 21, 2012