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Nature Makes A Comeback
By Don Banning

In the decades prior to the 1960’s there was a general lack of concern regarding the conditions of our rivers, air, and land in general and also the creatures that shared the earth with mankind, but an awakening was coming and when it did occur it made a definite impact, the results of which would be felt for generations to come.

One of the first big break throughs came about in 1963 when Rachel Carson’s book, “Silen Spring”, was published. This book detailed the threat of the potent pesticide DDT and this chemical’s detrimental effect on many living things, particularly the eagles whose eggs were found to have very thin shells which led to the chicks dying before birth or being born prematurely and dying shortly thereafter.

Ms. Carson’s book was instrumental in the banning of DDT and eventually the eagles and other forms of wild life began to make a great comeback which was and still is an inspirational story and a testimonial to the effect that even one individual can have on matters that effect both humans and wild life as well.

In the late 1960’s the Environmental Protection Agency was formed as a governmental “watch dog group” whose job was to enforce newly enacted regulations targeting clean air and water issues and the creation of the agency was very timely as there was a drastic need for environmental changes through out the entire nation.