Rachel Carson’s mother fostered a life-long love for the natural world, which had a major influence on Rachel's writings and her decision to study marine biology (Lear, Rachel Carson’s Biography).
During her career life, Rachel wrote informative pamphlets on conservation and natural resources that she transformed into lyric pose in her spare time. She mastered her ability to combine scientific insight with poetry in her prize-winning novel, “The Sea Around Us.” Not long after her work entered the public eye, Rachel left the government service in order to devote herself to writing.
After World War II, the use of chemical pesticides rose, which prompted Rachel to shift the focus of her writing to warning the public about the dangers of these pesticides. Her views stirred controversy in the chemical industry and was seen as a threat by some individuals in the government. However, Rachel’s love for nature and deep concern for humanity’s place in the ecosystem did not waver. In 1963, she bravely testified before Congress and called for policies that would protect both human health and the environment.
Though she passed away 50 years ago as of this year, her influence hasn’t faded. To this day, people still read her works and remember the beauty and integrity of the living world she fought to preserve. So next time you look at the turning leaves or a still, clear lake, take it in all of its glory and remember Rachel Carson’s call to keep it beautiful.
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Lear, Linda. “Rachel Carson’s Biography.” The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson. 1998. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.