John Berlau Environmentalism

In the year 1991, Vaclav Havel, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, delivered a speech at a university called The Quiver of a Shrub in California that discussed the environmental problems of a small country in Europe and how humans as a species need to become more aware of the situation that is arising, and do something about it. Havel declares this speech in order to, inform people and make them more aware of the situation that is occurring in his home country. This situation being that all around, the environment is crumbling under the oblivious eyes of the people and that as a race humans need to realize that though they believe that being humans makes them superior to every other living creature. There is a need

Not all of America responded kindly to FSA’s photos and documentaries, or to the New Deal for that matter. Many claimed photographers and filmmakers along with Eastern bureaucrats sensationalized and “exaggerated the damage of the Dust Bowl, had vilified an entire region in order to score political points for the Roosevelt administration” (Dunaway, 2005, pp. 54-55). Though many alleged FSA photos were politically driven, Stryker held steadfast to his ideals and denied they served as government propaganda (Gordon, 2006; Brennen & Hardt, 1999; Stange, 1989). Some have argued the photos themselves were not propaganda, but became propaganda because of how they pushed a specific ideology on the public. Carlebach explains:

In the article, Limbaugh characterizes environmentalist into two groups, socialist and “enviro-religious fanatics”. The socialist thinking environmentalist favor an intrusive government and central planning. Whereas, the enviro-religious fanatics are willing to sacrifice wealth and live in poverty like third world countries. Limbaugh acknowledges the understanding on average americans and the want of a clean planet, it is easy to understand that someone does not want to destroy where you live. Later in the article, he even agrees that the environmental hazards that really worry environmentalist are that are caused by businesses and man-made things. Limbaugh exclaims that private property rights will not be curbed in this country for the efforts of preserving wetlands to save species like the spotted owls. He does try to leave the article on a much lighter note at the end, ensure the readers that the earth, which is capable of rejuvenation, will fix itself.

Humans have become desensitized to pollution and degradation of the environment. The use of non-recyclable materials and disposing of waste irresponsibly has become something that we see every day, and we do not acknowledge as something harmful, because it does not directly affect us. However, there are both fictional and nonfictional examples of excessive use of resources and the misuse of materials that we do have, that can bring to the attention the damage that we are really causing. Two examples of this are Dr. Suess’ The Lorax, and Easter Island. Although very different, both the inhabitants of the town in the Lorax and Easter Island both contributed to degradation of the environment.

The second half of the essay begins with "The Ecological Conscience". Starting off by stating “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land” and going on to describe how our fight for land is improving it is moving far too slow. This transforms into the

Richard Louv, a novelist, in Last Child in the Woods (2008) illustrates the separation between humans and nature. His purpose to the general audience involves exposing how the separation of man from nature is consequential. Louv adopts a sentimental tone throughout the rhetorical piece to elaborate on the growing separation in modern times. Louv utilizes pathos, ethos and logos to argue that the separation between man and nature is detrimental.

With human advancement, technology has taken on a life of its own. The current American society’s reliance on digital support has caused it to forget the importance of its humanity. The novelist, Wallace Stegner, wrote in a letter to argue for the preservation of the wilderness in order to help restore the spirituality and historical values of America, which he sent to David E. Pesonen, a research assistant for the Wildland Research Center at the University of California. His claim relays that the remaining wilderness needs to be preserved as much as possible because American society needs to remember and appreciate its ancestral roots. While he used primarily pathos as his method of persuasion, his argument lacks factual information and mentions minimal credibility.

Satire can make a passage more entertaining in the way it makes the reader laugh, more informative in the way it contrasts the heavy subjects, and more of a riveting read. Edward O. Wilson uses satire to do these things, drawing in on the two stark sides of environmentalism, illustrating the impossible ridiculousness of such discussions. He uses satire to poke fun at the opposing sides, writing as a radicalist on either the far right or far left. With his use of satire, Wilson draws in the reader, gets them laughing, and then brings up some both very true and very important issues, deluding them through satire as to not turn away the reader, conveying just how meaningless environmental squabbles are.

Unlike humans trying to reconnect back to nature, we rather seem to want to create an artificial nature in our cage of industrious lives. Regrettably, this author 's call to save the environment has not been fully applied, as of today humans are still releasing toxins into the environment at the highest rate in history, occupying forests with building in the name of owning something, in places such as Antarctica, the polar bears are starving, even worst humans had it illegal to feed them while they are exploding and destroying their homes, the seas-fishes are iced up, just to name a few reasons why connecting back to nature is critical. Although green activists such as Ecosia have been working on restoring the environment, however, more needs to be done. We must see to it that nature bounces back to its full

In “The Birth and Death of Meaning” by Ernest Becker he is making an argument on the problems of man (Becker, 1971). Becker makes an argument on the reasons why people act the way that they do (1971). In chapter 10 Becker lists six of the common problems with humans (1971). The first question with the problem with humans is “what is the relation of man to nature?” (Becker, 1971, p. 114). The second question with the problem with humans is “what are the innate predispositions of men?” (Becker, 1971, p. 116). The third question with the problem with humans is “what types of personality are most valued” (Becker, 1971, p. 116). The fourth question with the problem with humans is “what are the modes of relating to others” (Becker, 1971, p. 116).

In his passage from “Last Child in the Woods,” Richard Louv uses various rhetorical strategies in order to make his audience more supportive of his argument. The passage discusses the connection, or really the separation, between people and nature. On this subject, Louv argues the necessity for people to redevelop their connection with nature. His use of tone, anecdotes, rhetorical questions, and factual examples all help develop the pathos and logos of his piece.

Each person has the power to influence the world. David Brodwin (2015) in the article “Unsustainable America” describes the situation of American consumers toward sustainability compared with other consumers from other countries that are interested about this issue. Thus, Brodwin explains the reactions of the people in some countries about the sustainably produced. In fact the article has interesting points with cataleptic and objective tones, but the author has biased through the benefit for America.

This paper has great ethos, it gives an example of what is to come if we do not care for our environment and people. The paper states, “Once the battle is lost...man can not wonder at nature; his spirit will wither and his sustenance be wasted” (Lyndon B. Johnson).

The following poems all teach readers the importance and significance of wildlife and the horrible treatment they too often receive from human beings. As everything becomes more modern, we can not help but stray farther away from nature. This increasingly insensitive attitude can have detrimental effects on the environment. Although the elements of poetry used in the following poems vary, Gail White’s “Dead Armadillos,” Walt McDonald’s “Coming Across It,” and Alden Nowlan’s “The Bull Moose,” all share one major conflict; our civilization 's problematic relationship to the wild.

In recent years, the topic of saving the Earth from Humans has shown itself in many conversations amongst the people of the public. Saving the World will be an issue we must solve in the near future because we are causing a mass extinction for animals, and we are harming and killing humans, but we can resolve it by using technology to reduce global warming and setting aside reserves. The most important thing humans must do in regards to this topic is begin to educate themselves and others on how drastic we must be in regards to it.