Theo Colborn, an environmental health
analyst who was best known for her studies on the effects of endocrine
disrupting chemicals, died on December 14, 2014. Theo was featured in the films
"Dear Governor Hickenlooper" (Mountainfilm 2014) and "Bag
It" (Mountainfilm 2010). Fractivist Shane Davis worked closely with Colborn during
recent years and wrote this letter in her memory.
Dear Theo,
It’s with many tears that I write these
words to you about how you and your work changed the course of my life. I will
always honor our times together, discussing new theories over tea—you sitting
in your chair with your leg propped over the side laughing about silly things
or discussing the more serious topics of endocrine disruption, someone’s new
scientific study and, of course, the fracking industry and its systemic effects
on environmental and human health through the misuse of chemicals.
When we met years ago, you put me
through a rigorous test to ensure I was capable, which allowed me to
demonstrate that I could protect and assist you and your work for the greatest
positive social change. Somehow I passed that test and am forever grateful just
for the opportunity—let alone the years we shared afterward working together.
Ever since I was a young boy, Carl Sagan’s
research and humanitarian brilliance tucked me into bed at night via Cosmos. Although I never met Carl, he was my most
influential mentor until I met you. You both shared the tenacity of truth, a
way of exploring facts without personal bias and without giving up on the
journey. You imparted a deep sense of faculty in uncovering the truth and using
it to protect our environment and those who are naturally determined to thrive
in it.
As one of many leaders in the
anti-fracking-turned-civil-rights movement, your scientific studies were at the
tip of every spear used by grassroots organizations to arm themselves with the
best science available regarding air chemistry near fracking industry
operations.
I cited your research at hundreds of public
presentations nationwide and recall that when I gave lectures on fracking, you
would send me a note that read “Knock their socks off, Shane…”
I enjoyed every bit of work I did with you,
Theo, and am honored to have helped you in any small way that I could. But far
more importantly, I learned that “deep inside everyone, there is something
bigger and stronger than we are aware of at this time that cannot be suppressed
by man-made chemicals—something that will prompt some very exceptional
leadership to step forward with the courage to turn off corporate control of
the government and the world and take back for society what it needs to
thrive.”
As Carl Sagan said, “We are all made of star
stuff.” But you, Theo, are made of the finest star stuff the universe has ever
created—you are a universal treasure.
I will always see you in the stars.
Shane Davis is a data-miner, activist,
biologist and the founder of Fractivist.org, an anti-fracking
investigative organization. His research has empowered dozens of grassroots
organizations and public debates nationwide. He was featured in the
collaborative film Dear Governor Hickenlooper (Mountainfilm 2014).
