Latest news with #RachelCarson
LeMonde
3 days ago
- Science
- LeMonde
'Petrified,' by Joshua Wodak: Facing a global climate rupture
Most of us are now frighteningly familiar with the genres of writing devoted to the topic of climate change and ecological collapse: any number of excellent, intelligent and well-researched books from the last decade back to Silent Spring [by Rachel Carson, published in 1962]. They told us what we needed to do, then what we should have done, then what we actually did, and now what we must do, if we wish to have any hope at all of survival. I suspect many of us stopped reading them years ago, not because we do not care and not because we do not recognize the problem, but because we simply can no longer cope with this collapse that seems so far beyond our individual power to change. Petrified. Living During a Rupture of Life on Earth, by Joshua Wodak, a lecturer on ecology at several Australian universities, is not one of those books. It summarily bypasses the idea that we can now somehow salvage what we have put in motion and also assumes that our future desperate attempts to save ourselves will not engender any fundamental changes to the anthropocentric attitudes that got us here in the first place. Instead, it asks us a simple question: How, as sentient humans, do we want to live here at the end of life on earth as we know it? How can we come to terms with both our collective guilt and our individual remorse? How can we face down the imminent collapse of the ecosystems that support us and every other lifeform on the planet and remain humane, sane, optimistic and kind? What useful, compassionate posture can any human being adopt now that we are already this deep into the rupture? And why, in fact, does our posture matter? Culture pop Petrified is a highly unusual meditation, part science, part philosophy, part pop-culture acid trip, on how we as humans might choose to live during the current rupture. It almost entirely ignores both the academic and popular vocabularies we have become accustomed to when discussing the Anthropocene, rather taking the reader on a sometimes disorienting and sometimes exhilarating rollercoaster ride that swerves from traditional and pop-cultural foreshadowing of this and other ends-of-the-world to hard science and philosophy and back again to our real, lived experience of the rupture as it unfolds.
CBS News
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Roberto Clemente Bridge, Mon Wharf to close this week for film shoots
The Roberto Clemente Bridge and the Mon Wharf will be closed at various points throughout the week due to film shoots. The Clemente Bridge will be closed on Monday morning. Filming is set to take place between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The Rachel Carson Bridge will also be closed for inspections, though, so drivers are asked to use the Andy Warhol Bridge to get to and from Downtown and the North Shore. Crews will also be filming at the Mon Wharf parking lot during the week. People who normally park there should find somewhere else to park in the meantime; nearby options include the Third Avenue, Wood-Allies and First Avenue garages.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: Will the ‘Abundance' agenda change politics?
Every few generations, a controversial book is published that sparks a dramatic shift in political trajectory. Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' (workplace and food safety reforms), Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' (environmental activism), and Milton and Rose Friedman's 'Free to Choose' (the Reagan Revolution) are a few examples. We suggest that 'Abundance,' authored by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, may be such a tome. 'Abundance' dissects how progressivism has crippled innovation, housing and essential development. The liberal authors artfully recommend a liberalism that protects and builds. Although causing a rift in the Democratic Party, could this signal a shift in the trajectory of national politics? COWLEY: Reminiscent of Princess Leia's plea to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Abundance agenda is Democrats' 'only hope.' Government is getting in their way, stifled by layers of self-imposed regulatory burdens. Government should be judged by its outcomes, not the rigid principles it follows. Process has been prioritized over product. Stymied public projects are merely symptoms of a larger illness within the Democratic Party. They have countless militant factions, each fighting for their niche issue to be pervasively included in all facets of government. Environmental activists demand prairie dog protection from new transmission lines. Clean air advocates want mass transit to be carbon-neutral. Even Biden saw how his infrastructure spending bills didn't have a meaningful impact because a large chunk was gobbled up by red tape and compliance costs. Imposing restrictions on their own desired outcomes results in money spent, time wasted and little to show for it. They cannot be all things to all people. Leadership is sometimes saying no. Although not entirely the fault of Democrats, upward mobility and the American Dream are becoming relics of the past. In 1940, children had a 92% chance of out-earning their parents. By 1980, it fell to 50%. If we don't build and innovate, economic opportunity dwindles. AI is the next frontier for discovery and development. This global race is one that Americans cannot afford to lose, and both parties should be paying attention. PIGNANELLI: 'The formation of ideological factions within political parties — starting among intellectuals and writers — is a staple of American history.' — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic I remember when Friedman's program promoting the free market aired on PBS (that's right) in January 1980, when President Jimmy Carter was beating Ronald Reagan 65%-31 %. In November, Reagan won in a landslide. Ideas have power. Abundance philosophy has existed for years. But this book compiled supportive documentation into a mass communication vehicle. The well-intentioned government programs established 50 years ago are crippling housing and the implementation of technological innovations. The authors argue that progressives are focused on process and litigation rather than achieving results that benefit society. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden passed massive legislation to fund projects in healthcare, technology and alternative fuels that were impossible to initiate due to regulatory barriers. Severe left-wing opposition to abundance advocates underscores their fear of losing influence. Indeed, pundits predict a civil war within the Democratic Party between the far left and moderates eager for a new ideology. This demand for competent, efficient government can attract independents and moderate Republicans. America is amidst a major political realignment, and abundance is a new dynamic. We are witnessing history. Utah is well governed. But are there aspects of 'Abundance' that could be utilized to promote the objectives of our state officials? COWLEY: Utah understands that less is more when it comes to government. The Legislature is actively removing government barriers to innovation. For example, Utah's regulatory sandbox allows entrepreneurs to seek regulatory relief in their businesses while serving as laboratories of innovation. Look at the speed with which nuclear power is coming to Utah. Yet, more could be done on permitting and zoning to address Utah's significant housing shortage. PIGNANELLI: Gov. Spencer Cox appropriately notes that Utah has performed DOGE-like functions for years. Senate President Stuart Adams is promoting clean nuclear energy. Speaker Mike Schultz and lawmakers pursued a similar objective by mandating that the Utah Higher Education reallocate 10% of state funds to more productive uses. Despite public grumbling, insiders are grateful for the political protection that compels them to readjust resources. These goals also apply to conservatives to discourage their policies that inhibit housing and economic development at the local government level. Abundance should not be beholden to any political party, but rather a mindset that if government is used, it must be practical and not an interference. Will 'Abundance' be a campaign issue in the future? COWLEY: The Abundance agenda may help Democrat candidates become more appealing to Utah voters as the battle between progressives and moderates wages on. The real question is if they see the existential crisis befalling them and what will they do to avoid extinction. Staying the course doesn't have an upside. There is no drama-filled Twitter spat or blunder big enough that Trump could commit for the millions of Americans who voted for him to suddenly support the progressive agenda. Democrats need to loosen the stranglehold activists have on their party in order to rack up wins. PIGNANELLI: Abundance will be weaponized against moderate Democrats by left-wing progressives in internal battles. Democrats and Republicans in swing districts will advocate for this philosophy.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- General
- New York Times
Frank Graham Jr., Nature Writer Who Updated ‘Silent Spring,' Dies at 100
Frank Graham Jr., who wrote eloquently about the natural world and conservation for Audubon Magazine for nearly 50 years and published a book that updated Rachel Carson's groundbreaking 1962 exposé, 'Silent Spring,' which had warned about the dangers of pesticides, died on May 25 at his home in Milbridge, Maine. He was 100. David Seideman, a former editor in chief of Audubon, the magazine published by the National Audubon Society, confirmed the death. The subjects of Mr. Graham's writing 'ran the gamut,' Mr. Seideman said in an interview, 'from the tiniest creatures, like spiders — about which he was a self-taught expert — to giant sandhill cranes on Nebraska's Platte River. There wasn't a creature that didn't interest him.' He added, 'I'd visit him in Maine, where he had a little island, and we'd be eating plants, and he'd also be picking spiders out of his kayak and identifying them.' In addition to birds and insects, Mr. Graham wrote about threats to the environment. Ed Neal, the outdoors columnist for The San Francisco Examiner, described Mr. Graham's 1996 book, 'Disaster by Default: Politics and Water Pollution,' as 'a damning indictment of what industry and indifferent government have done to the nation's waterways.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Times
How to find out the levels of plastic in your bloodstream
In 1962 a Maryland biologist raised a loud alarm about the toxic effects of everyday chemicals in an eye-popping book. Rachel Carson — today regarded as the grandmother of modern ecology — linked the use of agricultural chemicals to the demise of insects, birds and trees. She also speculated on some of the cumulative effects of these 'poisons' on us as they enter our bodies. Ironically for such a noisy intervention, the book is titled Silent Spring. Carson died from breast cancer shortly after publication, so she never got to experience the future she predicted. Silent Spring has never been out of print and it would be wonderful to say humanity heeded her warnings. But, spoiler alert: we just got more toxic. This isn't wholly surprising. Take plastic — the material with which we are most often in contact. Today 16,000 chemicals are available for manufacturers to choose from, ranging from fillers to finishing chemicals that make plastic bendy. About a quarter of these chemicals have been shown to be hazardous to human health and the environment so far. These chemicals can be endocrine disruptors (aka hormonally active agents), and some are associated with cancers and reproductive system disorders. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue While we may have safety data on individual chemicals, toxicologists warn that we don't know the true impact of combinations, which is called the 'cocktail effect'. Accumulating in us, these toxic chemicals form what's known as the 'body burden'. But how heavy is this burden? It is estimated that we eat, drink or breathe between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year, and a recent study suggested the average brain could harbour a teaspoon's worth. So we could all be scared — and freeze. But instead it might be more practical to get testing. That's because toxic chemicals and microplastics are so ubiquitous that we can't hide from them. Neither can we predict their precise impact on our health; while plastics are associated with a host of serious diseases and illnesses, more research is needed to make conclusive connections. What is known, as toxicologists are fond of saying, is that 'the dose makes the poison'. So minimising your exposure to toxic chemicals makes sense — but to do this you're going to need some data. There's an emerging market in home-testing kits. For instance, thanks to developments in detecting and identifying the type and origin of tiny bits of plastic, now offers the first microplastics blood-screening test kit (£144). A dried-blood microscopy test is provided and you return your samples using the prepaid label back to SV Biotech in the Netherlands. If microplastics are detected (unless you've been hatched from an egg, this is likely), your results will be emailed within 2-4 weeks, providing detailed information on concentration levels and sizes. Next you'll want to get a grip on those associated chemicals that make plastics bendy and turn up in sunscreens, such as phthalates, parabens and oxybenzone (also known hormone disruptors). For $299, will dispatch a urine collection cup with instructions and packaging for the return shipping. Its lab will test for 13 hormone-disrupting chemical metabolites. Helpfully, it won't leave you stewing with the results: the price includes personalised follow-up recommendations on toxic-free lifestyle changes. The long-term effects of PFAS, or so-called forever chemicals, which make things stain-resistant and heatproof, are causing a lot of concern. Traditionally tests have only been carried out in clinics and tend to be reserved for those with known exposure, such asfirefighters (firefighting foams contain high concentrations of PFAS). But the first pin-prick home tests are appearing, notably a 16-chemical test from costing $279 that indicates how many PFAS have entered your system over time. • The truth about microplastics: what the problem is and how to avoid them Dr Tamsin Lewis, the founder of Wellgevity and the longevity lead for Solice Health, a concierge medical service, would like to see more standardisation around biomarker tests. She makes the point that the jury is still out on 'healthy' limits for concentrations of environmental pollutants such as microplastics: 'Do we measure this in your urine, your hair, your spit, your blood? What is the definable norm range, and for whom? Should we have age standard or sex standard limits? We're not there right now.' However, she acknowledges that we are on the crest of something big. 'Awareness is key and we're moving into a really interesting industry where we're not far off knowing what environmental pollutants we need to arm ourselves against and what supplements we need to take to protect ourselves against unavoidable exposure,' she says. But what should we do when tests come back showing high concentrations? 'I encourage people to have a lot of dark, leafy greens in their diet' — research suggests chlorophyll may improve the liver's ability to excrete harmful toxins — 'and once every six weeks, some people like to take a glutathione [injection]. This is an antioxidant produced in cells,' Lewis says. But for a really easy way to offload the toxins, keep it simple: 'Sweating is one of the best ways to encourage toxin burden relief,' she adds cheerfully. 'It's a highly effective means of reducing heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, tin and lead, and aluminium, which we're all exposed to.' In which case — keep your test results in perspective, but do sweat the small stuff.
