September 27, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. The book awakened the public to the dangers of DDT and other pesticides. But many weren't ready to listen. Her opponents called her "an hysterical woman." Even people who could see the effects of the products on songbirds couldn't believe that something so harmful would actually be on the market. But Rachel Carson - and others who followed her - persevered. In 1972, DDT was banned for agricultural use in the US. Over time, bird populations recovered. Silent Spring - and Rachel Carson - improved the world for birds, and for people.
