Happy Earth Day

2. 1972 Notorious Toxic Chemical Banned

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a colorless, nearly odorless insecticide that was widely used in the post-war era to increase farm productivity and fight mosquitoes. Although a Nobel Prize was awarded for its discovery, scientists eventually realized that DDT was causing problems in the environment, including thinning the shells of birds. Rachel Carson popularized this research in the 1962 book Silent Spring). After DDT was banned, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and many other endangered bird species returned from the brink of extinction.

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This is a story of triumph and tragedy. The triumph occurred in the middle part of the 20th century, when the larger part of mankind finally succeeded in overcoming the ravages of malaria, the deadly infectious disease that had afflicted the human race since the dawn of time (and which, by one estimate, had killed approximately half the people who had ever lived on earth). But within three decades, the triumph would give way to tragedy when leftist ideologues, professing concern for the integrity of the natural environment, collaborated to ban the use of the pesticide best known by the acronym DDT—the very substance that had made it possible to vanquish malaria from vast portions of the globe. By means of that ban, environmentalists effectively ensured that, over the course of the ensuing 30+ years, more than 50 million people would die needlessly of a disease that was entirely preventable.

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Deuce said:

NatGeo's website apparently refuses to allow use if you have an adblocker turned on.

They can go **** themselves.

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Fletch said:

Why don't they call it "Alarmists Day" or "Chicken Little Day?"

Lol, 'dire threats' You are too funny.

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Lord of Planar said:

No.

We just need to tell the Chicken Little's they are not welcome to Earth day.

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MrT said:

There is plenty to be worried about in regards to the Environment, including one of the most dire threats that our global population will ever face in Climate Change. But today is the 46th Earth Day, and I want to celebrate by posting this link to celebrate a lot of the good that the Environmental Movement has accomplished.

46 Environmental Victories Since the First Earth Day

And today we are going to add another accomplishment because of the Climate Change Deal that was signed last year in Paris. Today, that climate change agreement is open for countries to formally sign. And as many as 170 countries are expected to sign, including the two largest polluters in the world in China and the United States.

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Deuce said:

NatGeo's website apparently refuses to allow use if you have an adblocker turned on.

They can go **** themselves.

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MrT said:

For future reference, if you run across a website like that will initially load, then check your adblocker and prevent you from doing anything else - just stop loading the page after the content and before the adblock check and you will be good to go.

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