Born May 28, 1917
New York, New York
Environmental advocate, antinuclear activist, and research scientist
Barry Cmmoner learned about environmental devastation first-hand as a lieutenant in the U.S. armed forces during World War II (1939–45), when he participated in the spraying of the Pacific Islands with DDT (a highly toxic chemical used to kill insect pests). Since that time he has used his scientific expertise to advocate policies that protect human health and the environment. He has campaigned against nuclear weapons testing, industrial pollution, and agricultural chemicals and has pushed for the use of renewable energy (such as solar power), organic farming, and recycling. Commoner consistently argues that scientists must educate the public about the destructive potential of technological advances and that humans must learn to live in harmony with nature.
Barry Commoner was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 28, 1917. His parents were Isidore Commoner, a Russian immigrant tailor, and Goldie Yarmolinsky Commoner. During his childhood in East New York and Flatbush (a section of New York City), Commoner demonstrated a keen interest in science. He spent his spare time scouring city parks for specimens he could examine under his microscope.
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