Barry Commoner

Date of Birth: May 28, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: September 30, 2012

Biography

Barry Commoner was a prominent American biologist, college professor, and eco-socialist. Known as one of the pioneers of the modern environmental movement, Commoner dedicated his career to studying the intricate relationship between living organisms and their environment. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was an influential figure in raising public awareness about environmental issues, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. Commoner founded the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems in 1966, which aimed to address environmental and public health concerns through scientific research. He was also a prolific author, publishing several critical works including “The Closing Circle” in 1971, which outlined the fundamental principles of ecology and critiqued the prevailing industrial practices that were harmful to the environment. Throughout his life, Barry Commoner was a vocal advocate for sustainable practices and social justice, arguing that environmental issues were deeply interconnected with economic and social policies.

5 Interesting Facts about Barry Commoner

1. Barry Commoner was a candidate in the 1980 U.S. presidential election, representing the Citizens Party, which he founded.

2. He was a key figure in the anti-nuclear movement of the 1950s and 1960s, highlighting the dangers of nuclear fallout from weapons testing.

3. Commoner was a critic of the excessive use of synthetic chemicals in agriculture, advocating for organic farming methods.

4. He was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as a “genius grant,” in 1981 for his contributions to environmental science.

5. Commoner played a significant role in the development of the “Four Laws of Ecology,” which emphasize the interconnectedness of all natural systems.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Barry Commoner

1. “Everything is connected to everything else.”

2. “The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it.”

3. “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.”

4. “There is no such thing as ‘away.’ When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”

5. “Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we’ve been ignorant of their value.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Barry Commoner’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as he was more focused on his scientific and environmental advocacy than on personal wealth accumulation.