Sandra Steingraber speaks at UW

Life has been a bit crazy lately, so I'm catching up on the development of this blog. In the near future I hope to post almost every day. But, for now, I return to a great event from last Tuesday...

I was thrilled to learn that author Sandra Steingraber was visiting the University of Washington, and presenting a public lecture. Steingraber can be considered "the new Rachel Carson." She is a cancer survivor, and traced her cancer to pollution in the book Living Downstream. I am more familiar with Having Faith: An Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood, which I read when my research professor was pregnant back in 2005. I read the book out of curiosity and the desire to read something by Steingraber. While I wouldn't suggest reading it while actually pregnant, it was an eloquent story intertwining personal experience with evolutionary biology, chemistry, and environmental toxicology. As an environmental educator, I view my job as taking complexing concepts (like global climate change) and explaining them in ways people of all ages can understand. That is exactly the kind of work Steingraber creates.

Steingraber spoke openly of her experience with cancer. She told us that she in a waiting period, unsure whether or not her cancer has returned. Diagnosed with bladder cancer at just 20 years old, her story reminded me of an aquaintance. My friend recently shared with me that her brother's girlfriend (also 20 years old) has been diagnosed with cancer. The story of Steingraber's experience gave me hope for this wonderful young woman, who may inspire someone else one day.

As an Environmental Studies student, one often becomes overwhelmed with doom and gloom statistics about what is happening in nature. Steingraber spent some time on these facts, referencing her feelings regarding a woman's right to reproductive health unimpeded by toxins. She also touched on the REACH program of the E.U., which requires that products be proven safe for use. The program changes the burden of proof from the government to business, unlike the U.S. version which assumes safety until proven otherwise.

So, if I already know so many of the facts, why do I continue to attend events? Isn't it preaching to the choir? My answer: I go in search of inspiration and new ideas. Steingraber certainly met this need. She really came to life during the Q&A session, and seemed to let her thoughts flow honestly and openly. I admire that kind of eloquence. Likewise, she wasn't afraid to push limits - both in policy/advocacy, and in her personal life. How could you not admire a woman who can stand tall while facing cancer, present her own breast milk in a talk for the United Nations, and give her full attention to educating a small group of people in a lecture hall at the University of Washington?

Thank you, Sandra Steingraber!