TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ – STOP USING UNNECESSARY PESTICIDES
Rachel Carson is best known now as the author of Silent Spring. This was a best-seller in 1962 which highlighted the massive impact of unregulated chemical use, in particular pesticides. The book, Silent Spring ignited the modern environmental movement, and critically it led to the formation of the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
Today, Carson’s book is as important as it was then. The chemicals are different, but there are still many critical issues in our water that relate to the use of chemicals that have an impact on ecosystems and humans. Chemicals like Roundup, that we use on our paths and lawn edges – contains “glyphosate” that we need to remove from use. Other herbicides used for weed control are difficult to remove from our water supply, so we need to find replacements that are not harmful. Like Carson, we ask that scientists and writers to stand up to pesticide producers to get them to stop producing chemicals that impact our water supply. This is a huge business, that provides products that support plant growth at scales necessary to feed populations. However, there are products that we don’t need – if we are to increase biodiversity and protect our water supplies.
Now is a great time to look at removing and reducing chemical use at a global scale before things go back to “normal”.
So, in the words of Bob Dylan, Times they are a-changin’
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’