“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.” — Rachel Carson
America’s forests, mountains, and prairies are among our greatest resources. Rachel Carson believed that we have a duty to protect these finite, invaluable ecosystems, not only for the joy and wonder they provide us but for their vast array of climate and ecological benefits.
Water
“Water must be thought of in terms of the chains of life it supports.” — Rachel Carson
Everyone deserves access to clean water. Too often corporate greed and industrial production have resulted in water pollution in low income communities and communities of color. We advocate for stronger and broader regulation and enforcement to protect public and environmental health.
Air
“The most alarming of all man’s assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials.” — Rachel Carson
Access to clean, breathable air is a basic human right. Too often, marginalized communities have borne the brunt of polluted air because powerful industries have set up shop in their backyards to cut costs. We fight corporate polluters and support improved monitoring and enforcement to ensure clean air in every community.
“It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself.” — Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson believed we are inextricably bound to our oceans no matter the distance. We have an obligation to protect the endlessly diverse life they host, the natural solutions to the climate crisis they present, and the recreational, economic, and cultural benefits they provide to coastal communities.
Sustainable Agriculture
“If we are going to live so intimately with these chemicals eating and drinking them, taking them into the very marrow of our bones- we had better know something about their nature and their power.” — Rachel Carson
Industrial agriculture harms the workers who grow our food, animals, and the environment. It is also a massive source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is a more just way to put food on the table: local and regional food systems, relying on fewer chemical inputs, and treating farmworkers and animals with respect.
Climate Change
“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’ ” — Rachel Carson
Climate change represents an existential threat to humanity and the planet. No one will escape the climate crisis unscathed, but marginalized communities are already facing its most severe effects. It’s time to start demanding those in power hold big polluters accountable for their reckless emissions and endangerment of public health and the climate.