#RachelCarson

[mbari-blog]

"To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be." —Rachel Carson⁠⁠

Today we celebrate biologist, author, and environmentalist Rachel Carson's birthday. Carson's book Silent Spring, published in 1962, is widely credited for launching the environmental movement in the United States.

MBARI's research vessel Rachel Carson, named for the famous environmentalist, started her life as an oil field supply vessel operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Following a 22-day transit from La Rose, Louisiana to Alameda, California, and extensive refitting, she was christened by Julie Packard on July 21, 2012, at MBARI’s Open House celebration. The R/V Rachel Carson is MBARI’s coastal vessel, capable of supporting operations of ROV Ventana, multiple Dorado class AUVs, moorings, and many other oceanographic instruments. ⁠ ⁠ The R/V Rachel Carson will support MBARI science and ocean engineering efforts for many years to come.

[illuminatingfacts]

‘In nature, nothing exists alone.’ 🌿✨ A beautiful reminder by Rachel Carson of the interconnectedness of all living things. 🌎

[giftideasfromaycaramba]

Rachel Carson once wrote, “It is not half so important to know as to feel.” What do we know about clouds? There are three basic types: stratus, cumulus, and cirrus. Some are fleecy and fair-weathered while others portend storms. But clouds are more than pretty or ominous backdrops. They’re the vehicle of water between sea and land, land and sea, in a cycle without end or beginning. They are the writing of the wind on the sky, a language all their own.

[mrblogjangles]

Celebrating Earth Day: A Brief History and Top Five Ways to Participate

Every year on April 22nd, people around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day, a time dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainability. But where did Earth Day originate, and how can you participate in this global movement? In this blog post, we'll delve into the history of Earth Day and highlight the top five things you can do to join the celebration. The History of Earth Day: Earth Day traces its roots back to the 1960s, a time of growing environmental awareness in the United States. In 1962, Rachel Carson's groundbreaking book, "Silent Spring," shed light on the dangers of pesticides and sparked a national conversation about environmental conservation. Then, on April 22, 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson spearheaded the first Earth Day, mobilizing millions of Americans to rally for environmental protection. This historic event marked the beginning of a global movement, inspiring people worldwide to advocate for a healthier planet. Top Five Ways to Participate: - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: One of the simplest yet most effective ways to participate in Earth Day is by adopting the three R's - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on waste by minimizing single-use plastics, opting for reusable products, and properly recycling materials like paper, glass, and metal. By embracing sustainable practices in your daily life, you can significantly reduce your ecological footprint. - Plant Trees: Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Take part in reforestation efforts by planting trees in your community or supporting organizations dedicated to forest conservation. Not only will you help combat climate change, but you'll also create habitats for wildlife and enhance the beauty of your surroundings. - Advocate for Change: Use your voice to advocate for environmental policies and initiatives that promote sustainability and combat climate change. Write to your elected officials, participate in local environmental campaigns, and support organizations working towards a greener future. By speaking up for the planet, you can contribute to meaningful change on a larger scale. - Engage in Sustainable Practices: Embrace sustainable habits in your everyday life, such as conserving energy, reducing water consumption, and supporting eco-friendly businesses. Switch to energy-efficient appliances, install solar panels if feasible, and practice water-saving techniques like fixing leaks and using low-flow fixtures. Small changes can add up to make a big difference in preserving our planet's resources. - Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about environmental issues and spread awareness within your community. Take the time to learn about pressing environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction, and share your knowledge with others. Host educational events, organize eco-friendly activities, and engage in discussions about sustainability to inspire positive action and empower others to make a difference. Conclusion: As we celebrate Earth Day, let us reflect on the importance of protecting our planet for future generations. By participating in Earth Day activities and adopting sustainable practices, we can all play a part in building a healthier, more resilient environment. Together, we have the power to make a positive impact and create a sustainable future for all living beings on Earth. Read the full article

[sante-enfants-environnement]

« Qui a placé dans un des plateaux de la balance les feuillages que le scarabée aurait volés pour se nourrir, et, dans l’autre, les pitoyables amoncellements de plumes multicolores, les dépouilles des oiseaux victimes de l’aveugle furie des poisons insecticides ? Qui a décrété – qui a le droit de décréter au nom de légions de personnes que l’on n’a point consultées – que le bien suprême est un monde sans insectes, même s’il doit être aussi un monde stérile, privé de l’aile gracieuse d’un oiseau en vol ?

Un tel choix a été fait par quelque esprit autoritaire, détenteur temporaire du pouvoir, profitant d’un moment d’inattention de millions d’humains pour qui la beauté et le monde ordonné de la nature ont encore une signification impérative et profonde. […]

Pour chacun de nous, comme pour le rouge-gorge du Michigan ou le saumon du Miramichi, il y a là un problème d’écologie, de relations mutuelles, d’interdépendance. Nous détruisons les phryganes de la rivière, et les saumons se raréfient et disparaissent. Nous empoisonnons les cousins du lac, le toxique remonte le long du circuit alimentaire, et tue les oiseaux du voisinage. Nous traitons nos ormes, et les rouges-gorges cessent d’enchanter le printemps, parce que le poison franchit une à une les étapes du sinistre voyage : feuilles, ver de terre et oiseau. […]

Il existe aussi une écologie du monde à l’intérieur de nos corps. Dans cet univers caché, d’insignifiantes causes peuvent produire de puissants effets ; et, qui plus est, des effets souvent sans relations apparentes avec leur cause. »

Extrait de Printemps silencieux de Rachel Carson (1962), un conseil de lecture donné par Isabelle Troussicot Malinge au cours de notre entretien : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuiJ7XWLPVI&list=PLZtx9MSBfaAD8gBefC8zQgBapmGJNhpja&index=5

#rachelcarson #printempssilencieux #pesticides #santeenvironnement

[sheilammyers]

What Would Rachel Do?

Get off Social Media

As famous as she was from winning the National Book Award for The Sea Around Us, Rachel was averse to public speaking and aggrandizement, much to the chagrin of her agent. When The Edge of the Sea hit the New York Times Bestseller list in the fall of 1955, she had numerous requests to speak at public events and declined most of them. 

She was a solid "NO" to the numerous requests from magazines to run a profile on her as well. Rachel didn't see her author life as a brand and didn't seek the attention. I'm not sure if she was afraid of the scrutiny she would receive by allowing the press into her personal life, or her natural shyness, but it doesn't mean she wasn't focused on the success of her work.

Indeed, The Edge of the Sea and another book about life at the sea, albeit, a non-scientific and philosophical take, Anne Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea exchanged places on the top ten list throughout 1955-56 on various news outlets. Rachel takes note of it in letters to her friend, Dorothy. 

"...I truly-even now-don't expect The Edge (The Edge of the Sea) ever to reach #1 spot, but I'd be happy that it is Mrs. Lindbergh's book and not something sensational or trashy."

Trashy included the book about a woman who under hypnosis discovers she'd lived another life decades earlier. After years of being at the top ten, Rachel doesn't hold back on her disdain for losing rank to Bridey Murphy (1956) which hit #1 on Chicago Tribune in 1956. "I think this silly Bridey Murphy thing is going to scoot right up and crowd Mrs. Lindbergh...The Edge by the way is No. 6- up one." And then weeks later,  "That wretched Bridey Murphy thing has displaced Mrs. Lindbergh! That is really a blow. "

Rachel didn't have to deal with today's social media spotlight that casts rays well beyond the reach of newspapers or magazines of her time. And she wasn't in a position to write anything with a pseudonym like Elena Ferrante, you don't get the chance to write a biography of the sea, and a scathing indictment against the chemical industry anonymously. Yet, her detachment from public scrutiny allowed her to write one of her most challenging work of all--Silent Spring (1962).  And then all hell broke loose. 

With that in mind, I've gotten to 7k words in this novel set in Maine that has Rachel as a 'macguffin' in the story. And I'm thinking with the holidays coming, this might be time to shut down my own social media, and detach myself from that public for a few weeks so I can keep writing. 

Happy Holidays everyone! See you in the New Year. 

Sources: William Souder. On a Farther Shore. The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson. 2012. 

​Always, Rachel. The Letters of Rachel Carson And Dorothy Freeman. 1952-1964. Edited by Martha Freeman.

[blueaestheticsdaily]

"The winds, the sea, and the moving tides are what they are. If there is wonder and beauty and majesty in them, science will discover these qualities... If there is poetry in my book about the sea, it is not because I deliberately put it there, but because no one could write truthfully about the sea and leave out the poetry." - Rachel Carson @_rachelcarson Follow @relatable_poems_quotes for more! #relatablequotes #relatablepoems #rachelcarson #rachelcarsonquotes #winds #seastheday #tides #tidesquotes #beachphotography #wavequotes #wavephotography #tidesinn #followforfollowback #follow4followback #likeforlikes #likesforlike #likeforlikeandfollow #likeforfollowers #likeformention #photgraphy #photooftheday #photographylovers #photographyeveryday #photoquotes #phototherapy #photoquotes #photographers #blueshades #blueaesthetic #aesthatic #shadesofblue (at Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEy1zXvFWdr/?igshid=zs4efjhmmzfn

[goodbearblind]

"Fino a che punto gli esseri umani hanno il diritto di spingersi nel loro dominio sui non umani? Hanno il diritto di ridurre la vita a una pura esistenza che non è vita? Hanno il diritto di porre fine a queste esistenze infelici con metodi che sono arbitrariamente crudeli? La mia risposta è un categorico no. Credo che l’essere umano non sarà mai in pace con i suoi simili finché non accoglierà l’etica schweitzeriana che implica la considerazione della dignità di tutte le creature viventi – una reale venerazione per la vita." (Rachel Carson) -I Filosofi e la questione animale- . . #rachelcarson https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4azYNK99f/?igshid=gzxez69v1eaf

[scientificphilosopher]

We are storytelling machines. As a species, we are addicted to seeing the world in beginnings, middles, and ends. Terry Pratchett captured this nicely when he wrote, “The anthropologists got it wrong when they named our species 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘪���𝘯𝘴 (‘wise man’). In any case it’s an arrogant and bigheaded thing to say, wisdom being one of our least evident features. In reality, we are 𝘗𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴, the storytelling chimpanzee.”⁣ ⁣ Our insistence on slicing up reality into convenient narratives has its upsides. It makes us powerful storytellers, it helps us quickly make sense of complex information. It has helped us survive. But this simplification process also compels us to miss some important facts about reality. When we’re committed to the idea that our lives are meant to have a tidy narrative arc, then we are left with an entitled sense of indignance when things don’t work out how they’re ‘supposed to.’ It causes us to miss the fact that reality is a dynamic, jumbled mess of ever-changing stuff, complex and muddy beyond imagination. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. A messy, arbitrary reality conflicts with how we’re predisposed to see and understand the world—as a story that makes sense. This means that it takes hard work and training to even begin to see nature—and our place within it—in all its chaotic, helter-skelter glory.

[wenaturalists]

One day to go. Stay Tuned Naturalists! Nature is peace. Nature is health. Nature is life. Imagine a place where you can share your love for nature with everyone! We are coming up with an ultimate destination for you, which will not only change the way you interact with nature, but also give a new outlook to your passion.

[megblairnichols]

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.

Rachel Carson

[doodlesinabox]

Happy Birthday, Rachel Carson Today is the birthday of Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964), an American marine biologist, popular author and conservationist whose 1969 book, Silent Spring, brought environmental issues into the mainstream and helped kickstart the global environmental movement. If you’ve been following me for a while, you may have noticed that environmental conservation is one of my recurring subjects. It isn’t easy to find humour in such a serious topic but I try my best. My interest in raising awareness on environmental issues may have been fuelled by my wife, who works in this field, but the earliest influence came from my father. My father, who is now retired, studied Plant Pathology in Taiwan back in the late 1960s. As a landscape officer with JTC, he made significant contributions to the greening efforts of Singapore in her early years of independence, including the development of the Chinese and Japanese Gardens at Jurong Lake (which used to be a river). He introduced me to the idea of reusing and recycling long before it became popular in Singapore. A few years ago, when I discovered the writings of Rachel Carson, I was pleasantly surprised to find on my father’s shelf, a Chinese translation of Silent Spring. He had purchased it in Taiwan back in 1971, when he was only 24 years old. Like most of his books, it is well-worn and annotated with his handwritten notes. He had even decorated the content page with a tiny sticker of Oscar the Grouch (get the symbolism?) from Sesame Street, a show that had debuted the same year the book was published. On this special day, I’d like to share with you some photos of my father’s old book as a tribute to both Rachel Carson and my father. #RachelCarson #environmentalism #SilentSpring #conservation #Connect2Earth #Singapore #myfather #environmentalscience #womeninscience #womenpower #nature #senseofwonder (at Rachel Carson Homestead Association) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsN7-9Htp7/?igshid=1h7owcgerh8or

[aberenbak]

“The winds, the sea, and the moving tides are what they are. If there is wonder and beauty and majesty in them, science will discover these qualities... If there is poetry in my book about the sea, it is not because I deliberately put it there, but because no one could write truthfully about the sea and leave out the poetry.”   ― Rachel Carson  

[aurorawatcherak]

Consequences of Simplistic "Solutions"

Consequences of Simplistic “Solutions”

Reading with an open mind.

I’ve been rereading Rachel Carson’s Silent Springand am amazed at what I’m finding there. When I was in high school and then in college, it was required reading in some classes and I admit it, I read it for the environmentalist message that I was expected to regurgitate in class and kind of ignored whatever didn’t fit that narrative, but on this “for my own…

[naturamatematica]

8 marzo: un post per ricordare alcune delle più grandi scienziate della storia.

[yourenotsofaraway]

Today’s writing view. Writing about the environment while surrounded by the luscious environment. #amwriting #climatechange #kidlit #rachelcarson #pnw #coast #grateful #savetheearth https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXP-R2gjFD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pdq54mqi5zpp