WOMEN IN HISTORY
U.S. Celebrates
Women’s Contributions
By Louise Fenner
T
he world-renowned marine biologist, author and envi- Every March in the United States, National Women’s His-
ronmentalist Rachel Carson is the inspiration for the 2009 tory Month celebrates the contributions of women to the
National Women’s History Month theme, Women Taking nation’s history and culture. This year’s theme “honors
the Lead to Save Our Planet. women who have taken the lead in the environmental or
Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring focused the world’s ‘green’ movement,’” according to the National Women’s His-
attention on the harm to human health and the environment tory Project (NWHP), an educational nonprofit group based
caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Its message in California. Rachel Carson is “the iconic model” for the
was that mankind’s growing reliance on these chemicals car- theme.
ried real and not fully understood risks.
She did not urge a ban on all pesticides, but called for UNITED STATES ALSO CELEBRATES
more research on their safety, more careful and moderate use, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
and tighter regulations. The federal government conducted a Each year, the president issues a proclamation calling on
review of pesticide policies and, in 1972, banned the pesticide all citizens to observe March as National Women’s History
DDT in the United States. Carson and her book are credited Month, as well as a separate proclamation on International
with launching the modern environmental movement. Women’s Day, March 8. The worldwide celebration, begun in
Sandra Polaski Sworn In
S
ecretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, on April 27th
announced the appointment of Sandra Polaski as deputy
undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs
(ILAB).
“Sandra’s extensive experience with labor, employment
and trade issues will make her an excellent leader and a
great asset to the department,” Secretary Solis said.
Previously, Polaski served as a senior associate and direc-
tor of the trade, equity and development program at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Before that, Polaski worked at the U.S. Department of
State as the secretary of state’s special representative for
international labor affairs. In that job, she integrated labor
and employment issues into U.S. trade and foreign policy
and served as the lead advisor on labor provisions in the
U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Cambodia
Textile Agreement.
Her job experience also includes work as the director of
research at the secretariat of the North American Commis- the University of Wisconsin and the other from the Nitze
sion for Labor Cooperation. School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins
Polaski has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Universi- University.
ty of Dayton. She has two Master of Arts degrees, one from For more information, visit
www.dol.gov/ilab/. PWM
62 PROFESSIONAL WOMAN’S MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE
www.professionalwomanmag.com
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