8/1/2014

Environmental History Profile 2014: Barry Commoner

Barry Commoner born May 28, 1917

And raised in the suburbs of Brooklyn
Can only be defined as someone very keen
And not mention good lookin.

In high school he became interested in biology

And this led to him to study science in college.
At Columbia, he majored in zoology
And at Harvard he gained even more knowledge.

Mr. Commoner served in the Navy during World War Two

And afterwards set up a Center for Biology at Queens
This changed his world view
And led him to become an activist of environmental greens.

Known for being upfront, direct, simple and precise

Commoner showed the public environmental threats of modern science.
He challenged the use of pesticides, toxic chemicals, and the nuclear device;
It was pioneering in the realm of status quo defiance.

His work changed not only the minds of the population

But the lawmaker too
Influenced 1963 Test Ban Treaty which forbade underground radiation
And the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 which was long overdue.

On September 30, 2012 Barry Commoner died.

Known as the Paul Revere of Ecology,
His impact was everlasting and worldwide,
As he forever changed mans use of technology.

MLA Sources

Cornwell, Rupert. "Barry Commoner: Scientist Who Forced Environmentalism into the World's
Consciousness." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 06 Oct. 2012. Web. 04
Aug. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. "Barry Commoner (American Biologist)."Encyclopedia
Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2013. Web. 04 Aug. 2014.
Egan, Michael. Barry Commoner and the Science of Survival: The Remaking of American
Environmentalism. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2007. Print.
Nader, Ralph. "Barry Commoner: The Greatest Environmentalist of the 20th Century." Common
Dreams. Common Dreams: Breaking News and Views, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 04 Aug. 2014.