“It reflects a prevailing myth that production technology is no more amenable to human judgment or social interests than the laws of thermodynamics, atomic structure or biological inheritance.”
Barry Commoner“What I have experienced over time is that environmental problems are easier to deal with in ways that don't go into their interconnections to the rest of what we are.”
Barry Commoner“By adopting the control strategy, the nation's environmental program has created a built-in antagonism between environmental quality and economic growth.”
Barry Commoner“Earth Day 1970 was irrefutable evidence that the American people understood the environmental threat and wanted action to resolve it.”
Barry Commoner“The environmental crisis is a global problem, and only global action will resolve it.”
Barry Commoner“The wave of new productive enterprises would provide opportunities to remedy the unjust distribution of environmental hazards among economic classes and racial and ethnic communities.”
Barry Commoner“The environmental crisis arises from a fundamental fault: our systems of production - in industry, agriculture, energy and transportation - essential as they are, make people sick and die.”
Barry Commoner“In every case, the environmental hazards were made known only by independent scientists, who were often bitterly opposed by the corporations responsible for the hazards.”
Barry Commoner“Environmental quality was drastically improved while economic activity grew by the simple expedient of removing lead from gasoline - which prevented it from entering the environment.”
Barry Commoner“The most meaningful engine of change, powerful enough to confront corporate power, may be not so much environmental quality, as the economic development and growth associated with the effort to improve it.”
Barry Commoner“Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented.”
Barry Commoner