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Rachel Carson
I first read Carson's landmark book, Silent Spring, in JC when I was doing a review of it for Bio S class. To use the terminology of Richard Dawkins, whom I'm reading now, this book was absolutely crucial to environmental "conscious-raising" in the 1960's. Faced with immense negative pressure from both publisher and pesticide companies, Carson spoke out against the excessive use of DDTs, highlighting their detrimental impact on health and the environment. Though she did not live to see DDT banned, she devoted the rest of her life to her cause, and can be considered one of the originators of the environmental movement.
I really admire her, for her commitment to her cause and dogged perseverance through financial difficulty, sexual discrimination and family tragedy. And it resonates with me that her training was in Science, but she continued to love writing, and she managed to successfully lead a life that involved both.
Personality of the Week (PoW) will be taking a break for 1 or 2 weeks while I'm off on my travels. Till then, stay curious about the world around you and don't lose your sense of wonder!
Labels: Personality of the Week
