In the essay “The Obligation to Endure”, the Author Rachel Carson tells the readers how harmful and how dangerous modern industrial pollution is. She also states the consequences left by the deadly toxins being released into the environment around us. To structure her essay, she uses a passionate tone, horrific examples, a passionate tone, and factual evidence to express how much harm is being done to the earth. There are many different kinds of pollution, and many different ways the earth gets polluted to the venomous pesticides sprayed on plants, to toxic chemicals released into the air. “She States that chemicals come from our “laboratories in an endless stream; almost five hundred annually find their way into actual use in the United states alone”(Carson)
Firstly, Carson uses horrific examples to grab the attention of her audience. She tells her readers about chemicals, such as pesticides, that are destructive and how they are used on all kinds of foods as well as how they are used to kill bugs. Carson explains in her essay how the war on bugs may never be won. She states “…insects, in a triumphant vindication of Darwin’s principle of the survival of the fittest, have evolved super races immune to the particular insecticides used, hence a deadlier one
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Carson wants the public to know what’s going on with the environment and the effects of harmful chemicals on the earth itself. Many of Carson’s audience more in likely didn’t know much about some of the destructive things going on earth. Carson effectively delivered great knowledge with supportive evidence to inform her readers what humans have been doing to the earth in the past, the present, as well as the future. Carson states, “Future historians may well be amazed by our distorted sense of proportion. How could intelligent beings seek to control a few unwanted species by methods that contaminated the entire environment…?”
Carson appeals to the arousal of the basic emotions, such as the arousal of fear in the public. Carson also appeals to pathos, or the emotions, by questioning the “highly intelligent” creators of these pesticides. Carson believes irrational bad decisions based on faulty evidence threaten the future existence of mankind. “Along with the possibility of the extinction of mankind by nuclear war, the central problem of our age has therefore become the contamination of man’s total environment with such substances of incredible potential for harm-substances that accumulate in the tissues of plants and animals and even penetrate the germ cells to shatter or alter the very material of heredity upon which the shape of the future depends.” However, the statement supports Carson’s intention to present a persuasive, and logical point of view without confusing the reader; suggesting she ment to go against a patient audience rather than an impatient one.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a scientific biography written by Rebecca Skloot. I usually do not find myself reading this specific type of genre, but I found myself to really enjoy this book. When I first looked at the cover, I was not expecting to learn about a woman that has changed medical research forever. The famous picture of Henrietta with her hands on her hips made her look like an average woman that may have lived to be an old age. The first chapter confirmed that my assumption was incorrect and that this book consisted of the journey of an important woman that has allowed the medical field to achieve its accomplishments.
In The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury warns specifically of human greed which causes environmental damage. In other words, humans strive to fulfill their own needs and wants, overlooking the environmental consequences to achieve this. Furthermore, this can be seen in the real world with pollution which is a by-product of cars, planes, factories, mines, and human waste. For example, in an article from Newsela which documents concerns of polluted mine water, they point out: “About 3 million gallons of water filled with cadmium, lead and arsenic poured into tiny Cement Creek and from there into the Animas River. Colorado and New Mexico officials cautioned people to stay out of the water” (“After Years of Holding Back” Newsela)
In Susan Wolf’s article “The Meaning of Lives” she argues a meaningful life is engaged in positive projects to some degree of success. She also believes that the pursuits with meaning have an objective value that connects with the rest humanity. Susan Wolf’s did not write about her thoughts on the concept of plugging oneself into an experience machine like described by Christopher Grau in “Bad Dreams, Evil Demons, and the Experience Machine”, but her argument for what gives meaning to a life makes it clear that she would argue someone should choose to not plug in. The reason a person would choose to plug into an experience machine is because they could live out all of their fantasies and avoid all the discomfort experienced in real life. But
Bill McKibben and Derrick Jensen were born in 1960 in the U.S.A., and both have accomplished successful academic backgrounds. McKibben graduated from Harvard University in 1982, and Derrick Jensen graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Mineral engineering in 1983. Both are environmental activists and have written many articles and books. Two of their articles “Waste Not, Want Not” by Bill McKibben and “Forget Shorter Showers” by Jensen are published in the Bedford Reader book (557-567). When we analyze these articles both authors agree on consumers contribution to environmental pollution, but they have different points of views concerning whether individuals or industrialists cause more environmental pollution.
Al Gore Jr. was the forty-fifth vice president of the U.S. and is well-known for his environmental advocacy work and his famous writings on environmental issues (Weisser 101). In his article “Climate of Denial”, he describes how the world is very uneducated on the environmental issues of today. Through his article, he uses ethos, pathos, and logos to make his point. He also clearly expresses his purpose, the conflict, and his audience. Despite these proficient skills, if we unveil the true Al Gore, we will witness a man driven for greed, wealth, and power.
Carson is spreading the word about pesticides to anyone who wants to know because she believes that its the people right to know and that the governments and organizations should not be hiding information about them. Towards the end of Chapter 7 I feel as if this quote is directed right at the public “The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized. ”(98). Another example of Carson’s tone is that there are many places throughout the book that shes use the word “our” as referring to everyone in the world.
During the Cold War era from 1945-1980, the environment took priority in American society. Awareness about the need to preserve the planet culminated in a nationwide Earth Day which proved the growing worry about the lack of sustainability found on Earth. Other environmental factors required immediate action to be taken before the detrimental effects of humans and their role in society would be too much for this world to handle. Although there are a variety of factors that raised awareness about the dangerous environment on earth, it was ultimately the implementation of the first Earth Day, tempting climate in the Sun Belt, and the environmental movement by Rachel Carson that brought the awareness to harsh environmental factors in the late
Our environment had been endangered of becoming unsafe, threatening, and even deadly. “The water we drink, the food we eat, the very air that we breathe, are threatened with pollution. Our parks are overcrowded, our seashores overburdened. Green fields and dense forests are disappearing.” Johnson stresses that the health of people and environment is at risk because Americans have allowed for the destruction of nature to get out of hand, and causing both the Earth and human health at risk of becoming an ugly America, due to –as Johnson references- the “Ugly American” (“Great Society”).
The article also points out the long-term damage that can be done to children, stemming directly from the pollutants as well as considering the indirect negative impact that can occur, such as decreased school attendance. They reason that these pollutants can be significantly reduced through the implementation of policies that reduce pollution and, by proxy, health problems in children. I can use this source to present further evidence of the dangers of pollutants to children and their livelihoods. This can resonate within my audience as, not long ago, they themselves were children. Larr has completed a master of public health degree from Columbia University, while Neidell is an associate professor at the Department of Health Policy at Columbia University and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Imagine having so much pesticides in use that people and animals were actually dying from it. In the 1950’s the overuse of pesticides was a serious problem. Rachel Carson was an activist who was against the use and overuse for these pesticides. She wanted to address this problem to the government and the public and warn about the harmful effects pesticides have on the environment and the people. In “A Fable For Tomorrow”, Rachel Carson utilizes ethos, logos and pathos in order to bring awareness to the overuse of pesticides.
In today’s world, there are many people creating new chemical substances that has negative effect to our world. Rachel Carson, in her article "The Obligation to Endure" argues that the pesticides and other chemicals we use are harmful to more than just the environment. I agree with Carson in her article, in that we should reduce most of the harmful chemical use and instead use technological inventions. Carson is a person who seems very passionate about the environment and is very concerned of its inhabitants. It is hard to believe that intelligent human beings would use bad chemicals substances that would affect the environment and themselves negatively.
Karin 20/08/2014 English 8A Nearly everyday in our lives, we see banners, magazines, newspapers, as well as posters telling us to be environmental friendly and to stop pollution. But do people listen to the advices? Do people realize that pollution is one of the biggest global killers? Pollution is the number 1 cause of death in the developing world; it kills approximately 10 million people every year. It’s hard to tell when and where pollution began.
This is what makes it approachable not only to the Scientifics but also to general public. Rachel Carson directs to the popular audience and not only the limited scientific one. She knew that for a complete society change regarding the use of pesticides, the general public is as or more important than the specific scientific public. A big effort had to be made in order to accomplish this goal.
A Case Study on Polluter’s Dilemma I. Background/Point of View On a small plastic manufacturing, Jonica Gunson works as an environmental compliance manager. The company where she is working with is now facing a serious situation that needs to have a fast and decisive decision, decision whether to invest or not to invest money on new technology that will help decrease or as possible eliminate the level of toxic in the water which is flowing from the back of the factory up to lake. Though the company is compliant with the levels of emissions set by the Environmental Management board, the manager sees that environmental procedures for this specific toxic are sheathing behind logical evidence, particularly that there is a protest from a certain scientist that is publish in the newspaper.