Silent Spring Lives On
The recent 50th anniversary of Silent Spring's publication brought the book back into the public eye. Although criticism resumed as well, many people revisited its positive influence on American society.
"Carson’s grace and fervor struck a powerful chord...In a focused, persuasive way, she had thrown down a moral gauntlet, asking readers to reconsider the consequences of rapid technological progress." -from a 2012 New York Times article by Nancy F. Koehn
Today, the environmental movement is focused on different causes than it was during its youth. But the lasting impact of Silent Spring is still there. Before Rachel Carson and Silent Spring, there was no concentrated effort on the part of the American people to ensure environmental safety - in fact, there was no such thing as 'environmentalism' at all. The fragments existed, but it took one scientist to unite them in a common cause. It was a turning point that launched a global movement, a movement that continues to push for a safer world.
"Protecting the environment and public health began as a bipartisan effort to protect all Americans. That is the legacy that Rachel Carson began, and a legacy that needs to continue to keep Americans safe today."
from a ThinkProgress article by Arpita Bhattacharyya