American Experience: Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

This is a fabulous tribute to a remarkable woman far ahead of her time! A woman who stood in the face of adversity and held her precious ground so that all can partake a while longer in nature at it's best. Very few bilogist showed such passion for the environment and less conveyed her opitism within nature, Rachel Carson went head to toe with the opposition but always in her manner so softly yet quite adeptly. Her voice spoke volumes on the devastation of chemcals. At times she quietly spoke to closed ears but this did not distract her from her goal of educating people on the devastating damage and danger of pesticides and other unregulated chemicals defying nature. This slight woman was visiously attacked was called both ignorant and an hysterical woman when she warned of the enviormental devastation that was to come with no regualton She spoke quietly and drank from her treasured teacup sparking a revolution in environmental policy, She created a new ecological concsiouness. I am honored to have met her through her books and her documnetary, I would have been pleased to have as my friend share a cup of teamand to walk through the woods while she jubuliantly pointed out all interesting things of the earth. I will share her legacgy with my own family and friends. Thank you Rachel Carlson for being a good sister to the earth and a good sister to us all.

Rachel Carson’s life, work and legacy are covered succinctly in this documentary, first broadcast two decades ago as part of the PBS series “American Experience.” In less than an hour, we learn the essential facts of her life as a woman dedicated both to her family and to the natural environment. Carson conducted limited field work as a marine biologist but distinguished herself as a writer and editor for the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s scientific publications. She gained initial fame for her natural history, “The Sea Around Us,” published in 1951. In the late 50’s and early 60’s she turned her attention to the widespread aerial spraying of pesticides and wrote “Silent Spring,” a cri de coeur that woke people up to the thoughtless way we spread chemicals around our environment. One segment vividly captures the contrast between Carson’s environmental spirit and the attitude of the chemical giants. While Carson speaks about understanding how all species are interrelated and the necessity for greater care in our interactions with flora and fauna, a chemical company scientist bluntly dismisses that as nonsense because in modern times “Man controls nature.” Carson’s writing was a major influence in the emergence of the environmental movement. How powerful was her message about man’s responsibility to nature? Over 50 years after her death, chemical companies still pour millions into campaigns to discredit her. The fact that she was dying of cancer during the years she defended her thesis before the public adds a poignant element to the story. This documentary shows Rachel Carson to be a woman of courage and integrity whose writing continues to inspire many today.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson helped spark the environmental movement of the sixties and led to many changes in how pesticides were used. This WGBH Public TV documentary is part of the American Experience series and includes historic footage of the indiscriminate use of DDT and other persistent pesticides after WWII. Rachel Carson was viciously attacked in the media and called a Communist, ignorant scientist and a hysterical woman for her efforts to protect the health of both humans and nature. Rachel Carson was not the first person to warn of the dangers of these powerful chemicals. She was the first person who was able to gather the documentation to make a case against widespread spraying of our countryside. Her book was a best seller and was translated into many languages. Rachel Carson was not against pesticides outright. She was against the widespread aerial spraying that killed hundreds of people, horses; and vast numbers of butterflies, bees, birds and other wildlife. DDT contaminated milk and other food items and killed important crop pollinators. DDT caused egg shell thinning and reproductive failures in our national symbol, the Bald Eagle and put this and other wildlife on a downward trend that lasted for decades due to the persistence of the nerve agents used. I believe Rachel Carson would consider the use of pesticides in the homes of African villagers exposed to Malaria carrying mosquitoes as a prudent use of chemicals to protect ones health. This is what the World Health Organization is proposing in Africa. This 55 minute DVD is a fine way to understand the significance of Silent Spring and how it changed America and led to safety standards for workers and how the chemicals were applied. It includes scientists and spokespersons from the pesticide industry who gave their side of the story in the sixties. I am thankful that then President John Kennedy listened to what this quiet woman with a passion for nature said and instituted the changes needed to protect our health and safety.

good introduction to an important American icon.

This movie surpassed my expectations . I read the book a long time ago & was not aware there was a movie out on the subject. In my opinion this lady single-handedly began the movement to be more aware of the fragile drop of soil in a vast cosmos that we live on. She made us aware that what we do effects ALL of us, everry living organism on the earth. Hopefully enough people see this & take it to heart....before it's too late!!

This documentary is for intelligent audiences. This "American Experience" documentary is really superb. Rachel Carson's personal letter to Dorothy Freeman toward the end of the program was a touching tribute - a real class act. I loved and admired the way the producer of this program handled Rachel's personal tragedies - with dignity and respect. Thank you for producing such a great documentary program. It has touched my life deeply.

Perhaps her cause was just in writing this book, but her short-sighted ignorance of the repercussions was inexcusable. Because of the ban on DDT which largely resulted from Silent Spring, the WHO has estimated that around 20 MILLION children have died of malaria. DDT was, & still is, one of the very best insecticides to control mosquitoes, the sole transporter of this deadly disease. Best of all, DDT is very NON-toxic to humans. The need for DDT is so urgent that even the Sierra Club is justifying it's use inside houses in malaria stricken locations of Africa, South America, & Asia. Way to go Rachel. Save the Birds, Kill the Children...Wake Up People!!

Excellent DVD! My favorite scientist!