Earth Day, Then and Now
Earth Day, 1970
Rachel Carson's bestselling book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962.
Carson’s well-researched book predicted doom with the continued and indiscriminate use of agricultural chemicals, specifically DDT.
As the title suggests, the book proposed the chemicals would pollute the water, damage birds and wildlife and ultimately, create severe health problems for humans.
We have the technology. We need the will. (Environmental work, public domain photo, source US govt. manual at Wikimedia Commons, file USMC-110328-M-DB277-002)
The book served as a wake-up call to many who previously seemed only mildly irritated about increasing pollution and the declining quality of public health and the environment in general.
With motivation from Carson’s book, that irritation grew into a call to action resulting in the first official Earth Day in April of 1970. They insisted on beginning to heal a sick earth.
An estimated 20 million Americans, about 10% of the U.S. population at the time, took part on that first Earth Day. The power of those people working together became a force that Congress reacted to.
Within two years, Congress created the EPA, OSHA, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The environment began to bend in a more healthy direction.
Earth Day, 2024
Rachel Carson, where are you?
While we made some improvements, numerous new challenges have replaced DDT.
Many fall under the ‘climate change’ umbrella but none the less, can be conquered individually…plastic pollution, deforestation, food waste, soil degradation and water insecurity to name a few.
Just as 20 million Americans did in 1970, we need to come together and act. Now!
The latest update to the United Nations comprehensive climate change report indicates changes are coming more rapidly and intensely than previously projected. The report proposes we are past the point for incremental adjustments and calls for large scale shifts.
Conversely, the report gives hope by suggesting that if we take action now to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C, the worst of the climate impacts may be minimized.
Together, we can get it done! Rachel Carson did her part. Now it’s our turn.
May we find motivation and action in this quote by Margaret Mead:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
(C) 2024 by author Garth Strand, former candidate for Kansas House 104 in Reno & McPherson Counties.. Written for the “Voices” section by invitation of the Food and Farm Caucus and used by permission.. Views expressed by Mr. Strand are his own and do not necessarily represent those of all members of the Harvest Blue cooperative.