Earth Day 2010
Spring of Change and Hope
Our country is at a crossroads of change and hope, as awareness grows of the need to work with, not against nature. State governments, religious organizations, and some corporations are joining citizens’ groups calling for nature-based solutions to our current problems. Rachel Carson’s vision of a world in which humankind recognizes the importance of other life on the planet still awaits fulfillment – and, indeed, becomes increasingly critical with each passing year.
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A Gardener Alert! UPDATE
Two chemical herbicide active ingredients, clopyralid and aminopyralid are so persistent that they can poison compost and make it hazardous for use on any non-grass plants (those with broad leaves)There have been several recent developments in the "Killer Compost" story.In November of last year, we announced our "Gardener's Alert" in response to reports from Great Britain that herbicides, including aminopyralid had the potential to contaminate compost and kill garden plants. More...
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EPA Endocrine Disruptor Tier 1 Screening Program
On April 15th, 2009 the EPA published several notices relating to its Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). In particular, the EPA published its final list of chemicals that will be tested under the Tier 1 screening program. This list includes 58 pesticide active ingredients and 9 inactive Ingredients. Additionally, the EPA published revisions to the guidelines that the EDSP will be using to test these 57 chemicals. More...
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Issues and Impacts -2009
The Rachel Carson Council recently released Issues and Impacts 2009, a publication that reports on pesticide related issues from 2009. The publication discusses how Rachel Carson's legacy is still relevant. A wide variety of topics are covered including, Children and Pesticides, Parkinson's Disease and Pesticides, and other issues. View the publication here.
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EPA Announces Increased Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Control Products
The EPA recently announced that it would increase its evaluation of whether or not further restrictions are needed for spot-on pesticide products used on pets. The EPA lists seven active registrations and 46 specific products that it will be examining. More here.
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Rachel Carson Science and DDT. 47 years after Silent Spring.
In June 2009, Dr. Diana Post, the Rachel Carson Council President gave a presentation to the Special Library Association Annual Meeting. In which she discussed the Rachel Carson's legacy and the impact of Silent Spring. You can view a PDF of the presentaton here.
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RCC Memorial Ceremony at the Rachel Carson Grave Site 4-14-09
On April 14, 2009 a special group met at the Rachel Carson grave site in Rockville, Maryland to commemorate the 45th anniversary of her passing and the continuing vitality and importance of her efforts on behalf of the environment. The ceremony involved Rachel Carson Council, Inc., staff and board members as well as girls from an after school program, who have been studying Rachel's life and work under the guidance of a supportive adult. More here.________________________________________________________________________
The Barona Creek Golf Club in San Diego,CA recently announced that it would make the effort to “go green” by reducing the amount of turf on its golf course. This action drew an insightful commentary from the Radio Business Report. More here.
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An Open Letter to President Barack Obama
- Global Warming Health and Agriculture
- Science and the Role of Ecosystems
- Vulnerable Populations and the Hazards from Chemicals, Including Pesticides
- Providing Role Models-- The White House, Education and Rachel Carson
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Clean Water Act Upheld In Court Decision:
EPA’s Exemption Regarding Pesticide Usage is Cancelled
On Nov. 27, 2007, the EPA ruled that pesticides applied in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA, are exempt from the Clean Water Act’s permitting requirements. A suit opposing this ruling was decided on January 7, 2009, when the court declared that “the EPA’s Final Rule is not a reasonable interpretation of the [Clean Water] Act.” This affirmed the position of an alliance of groups concerned with the protection of water from chemical contaminants (“Court Cancels EPA Clean Water Act Exemption for Pesticides,” Environmental News Service, Jan. 7, 2009).
The Court “ruled that pesticide residues and biological pesticides constitute pollutants under federal law and therefore must be regulated under the Clean Water Act in order to minimize the impact to human health and the environment.” More here.
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A Family Alert: publication from the Rachel Carson Council about the potential hazards of chemicals found in everyday items.
“A Family Alert” aims to represent Rachel Carson’s legacy in three ways:
Part A, “Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products…” provides information on 12 types of potentially hazardous substances that may be found in household items. We believe, as did she, in your “right to know” about the possible presence of such contaminants and the type of hazards associated with them.
Part B “Options...” discusses how you can replace the sources of hazardous substances with safer alternatives (following Carson’s “The Other Road” approach in Silent Spring’s last chapter). “Exciting Adventures...” encourages you to help keep alive children’s inborn “sense of wonder” by concentrating on ways to share the enjoyment of nature. Rachel Carson’s 1965 publication, The Sense of Wonder, gives a delightful exploration of this topic.
Reports about imported toxic toys and the industrial contaminants found in body tissues (including a recent study of Maine residents), show that we can’t count on governments to keep us safe from a variety of avoidable hazards. In the recent past, lack of public awareness combined with lack of regulatory enforcement of existing laws, lack of effective regulations for contaminants, and industry negligence have contributed to poisoned people and pets. More here.