On Thursday, March 25 at
7 p.m. in the Gateway
Auditorium, renowned
actress Kaiulani Lee will
speak about her experience
writing and starring in the
film, “A Sense of Wonder:
An Evening with Rachel
Carson.”
Carson founded the modern
environmental movement
with the publication
of her book, “Silent
Spring,” in 1962. She criticized
the chemical industry’s
use of DDT, a synthetic
commercial and agricultural
pesticide harmful
to animals and the animals
that eat them, including
humans.
The title of her book is
derived from the claims
she made that not only
were birds dying from
DDT poisoning; their population
was declining
because of reproductive
problems and the instability
of the shells of their
eggs due to DDT. Spring
would become “silent”
without the presence of
songbirds.
DDT also causes premature
birth, miscarriage developmental
problems in children
exposed to the chemical
in the womb, and possibly
even cancer.
Rachel Carson was an
“amazing woman,” said
Natalie Kaye, director of
Educational Enrichment
Programs, who planned the
coming event as a part of
Women’s History Month.
“The chemical industry
tried to discredit her work,
but in the end she prevailed,”
and Carson
became a heroine for her
courageous actions against
government negligence and
unchecked corporate interests.
Kaiulani Lee, known for
her over 35 years of experience
in film, television,
and theatre, will reveal
what inspired her to create
the documentary and the
extensive research she
undertook in writing it.
She will also allocate time
to take questions from the
audience.
The film, “A Sense of
Wonder,” was shot on location
in Maine, where
Carson had a summer
home. The story follows
Carson, played by Lee, in
the last year of her life, as
she remembers, with equal
parts resentment and
humor, her experiences
with government, industry,
and the media.
Despite these obstacles,
Rachel Carson managed to
alert the world to the
destruction humans wreak
upon the natural world.
Said Natalie Kaye, “She
reminds us that we each
have, not only the ability to
make a creative difference
in this world- we also have
the responsibility to do so.”
For we students at Bucks,
there are a number ways
that we can contribute to
the upkeep of a healthy
environment: use the recycling
bins and trash bins
are located around campus
to conserve resources and
eliminate litter; and, only
smoke in the designated
smoking areas as well as
safely disposing of cigarettes
and sparing nonsmokers
exposure to secondhand
smoke.
At home, we can limit our
electricity and water usage,
and dispose of hazardous
chemicals appropriately so
they do not end up in our
water or air. While these
actions may not seem like
to amount to much on an
individual basis, collective-
ly they can make a significant
difference.
Everyone, students and
people from the community
alike, is invited to attend
Kaiulani Lee’s presentation.
“We believe it’s very
important for students to
find out about history,
especially women’s history,”
said Natalie Kaye. “So
we try every year to honor
Women’s History Month
by providing programs of
historical content to enrich
learning experience.”

Natalie Kaye asks students
to let her know if they have
ideas for interesting programs.
She can be reached
at (215) 968-8015 and at
[email protected].