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an essay about who's rachel carson
an essay about who's rachel carson
how has rachel carson changed the environment with the silent spring
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Rachel Carson has forever changed the very dynamic of the United States. Her books brought environmental issue to the forefront of public concern. She advocated fiercely and passionately for a change in the government’s policy with the environment. Her work and tireless effort centered on the growing problem of insecticides and pesticides in the general public, namely DDT. The chemical itself was extremely prevalent in the domestic markets but also a popular insecticide used during WWII. In one of life’s great ironies, the creator of DDT, Paul Muller, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine 1948. DDT left a gilded imprint on America’s memory but Rachel Carson was to show the opposite was true. The publication of Silent Spring sent a wave of support for environmental activism through the general public. Her book became a catalyst for ecological change. Her message could not discriminate and disseminated quickly through the US. The word spread far and wide enough to where it reached the highest levels of government, including then President-elect John F Kennedy. Carson led by a powerful conviction, advocated both to Congress and to the public for change. By sheer conviction alone her calls were answered, and in more ways than one. Rachel Carson left behind a truly enviable legacy of charisma, passion, and dedication. But what I believe to be her most important legacy was the fact Rachel Carson proved that one person can make the difference for everyone. As in her case to dramatically alter the way American’s view their environment and the stance of the Federal government on nature.
Rachel Carson worked at the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a marine biologist. While at the FWS, Carson produced three books on the ocean’s ecosy...
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...s able to do what many people can only dream of completing. While not only fighting a losing battle with breast cancer, Rachel Carson still wrote Silent Spring and continued to campaign against unbearable odds to find success. As one person, she lead the charge against pesticides but was unable to witness much of the advancements she had helped fight for. From one voice came a call, a plea, to rethink our lives as humans and the interaction we have with the earth. The legacy Rachel Carson leaves for all is the example by which others may follow to fight for change because if she could accomplish so much in such little a time frame by herself, just imagine the possibilities if the rest of us followed in her footsteps of advocacy.
Works Cited
Sideris, L. H., & Moore, K. D. (2008). Rachel Carson: legacy and challenge. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Many women scientist upheld and defended their positions as learned, scientific individuals. Marie Meurdrac, a French scientist, in a foreword to a publication stated clearly that women’s and men’s minds, if thought in the same manner would hold no difference.(Doc 2) Similarly, Dorothea Erxleben understood and explained why men and women alike look down on her for studying science because they feel that it is an insult.(Doc 9) Her experiences as a female scientist led her to truly grasp why her persecutors acted as they did towards her although this document shows no signs that she thinks the same. Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, discussed some of her scientific practices that encompass her dedication and fascination with science.(Doc 5) Another example of this whole-hearted dedication comes from Marquis...
To conclude, Rachel Carson is a skilled writer who employs many different rhetorical strategies and formats her information in a deliberate way to maximize the effectiveness of her argument. She appeals to emotion, but supplements her points with facts, examples, and expert opinions. Her book, Silent Spring, surely convinced many of the dangers of poisons like parathion, and inspired some to seek alternatives to aerial
In 1962, the publication of Silent Spring Rachel Carson captivated the American public. Carson wrote about the harmful effects of chemical pesticides in the environment, and her writing was very reflective of the events occurring at the time. There is a strong connection between Carson’s writing and the Cold War. In fact, if it were not for the war, the American public may not have responded in the same way to Carson’s writing. Carson used tone and content as methods of getting her point across to the public. Silent Spring shined a light on the damage done to the environment as a result of the Cold War, and this issue was finally being recognized by American public.
Her work as a writer, scientist, and ecologist became the heartbeat of the movement. According to a biography written by Linda Lear found at the website rachelcarson.org/bio, Carson was always a lover of nature. Studying marine biology, she attended and graduated from college at the Pennsylvania College for Women. She went on to receive her masters in zoology from Johns Hopkins University in 1932. She was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. From there she worked in the federal service as a scientist and editor. In 1936, she was haired as the "Editor-in-Chief of all publications for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Lear)." This gave her years of experience and provided a background of credibility that would aid her in the years to come. In 1941, Carson published her first book titled, "Under the Sea-Wind." This was followed by her second book, "The Sea Around Us" published in 1952. That same year she resigned from the government to spend more time on her writing. In 1955, she published her third book, "The Edge of the Sea." These books made a name for Carson and developed a better understanding of the interworking 's of the ocean. Carson 's work and research made waves in society and its culture. However, what is arguably Carson 's greatest accomplishment was the publishment of her fourth book titled "Silent Spring." Published in 1962, "Silent Spring" focuses on Carson
... Sylvia. Darlene Crist. Gail Scowdoft. James Harding. World Ocean Census. New York; Firefly Books Ltd. 2009. Print
He delves into the history of the word “environmental” as well as the history of environmental activism. He pinpoints the beginning of the movement to Rachel Carson. According to Quammen, she began the revolution by publishing her book Silent Spring. He says the negative connotations of the word began with her book, pairing “environment” and “the survival of humankind” as if they go hand in hand. This played a major role in the distortion of the word and the intentions of environmentalists.
Rossiter, Margaret W. (1982). Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press
In the introduction of “Silent Spring” written by Rachel Carson in 1962, more than 50 years ago the writer attempts to warn us that human beings will end by destroying the earth in the opening quote. She shows that human beings are causing harmful effects to the environment and the environment becomes polluted day by day. First, to lead to the issue, the author starts with a fable. She describes a beautiful natural town, but then the appearance of human beings brought a strange blight and everything began to change. Stillness, illness, disease, and death emerged in the town. Although the town in this story is not a reality, but the events in this town is happening truly around the world. The author uses points through the introduction of the book to explain, support main idea. Time is one of the important themes in this reading. She says that “time not in years but in millennia”, it took a long time to produce the life that now inhabits the earth, for life adjusts and balance has been reached. However, the earth changes rapidly due to the impetuous and heedless pace of man. People bring toxics to the earth that would require time on the scale and life of generations to adjust these things. People create chemicals, synthetics that introduced along with radiation harm the environment and organisms. The toxic productions are introduced to the environment but people hardly know about the devils of their own creation. These productions cause negative effects such as kill vegetation, sicken cattle, and cause the polluted air. People use chemicals to control the insects but this method has had only limited success. Day by day, insects adapt these chemicals to survive, become stronger and more difficult to control. In the end, the chemicals lose. The writer also says that monoculture (single-crop farming system) does not take advantage of the principles by which nature works, people is simplifying the nature that has introduced variety. Rachel Carson suggests using polyculture (grow many crops in a field) 50 years ago. People also have to face with the modern insect problem. Because of the isolation from one continent to another, insect developed many new species. These species began to move out into new territories that is receiving considerable assistance from man. Although people know the necessary knowledge - chemicals, synthetics are harmful for the earth and human beings - but they do not use it.
Rachel Carson, a noted biologist, published “Silent Spring” in 1962, and isn’t shy to express her feelings about the violent interactions between man and nature. In the passage, it is clear that her purpose was to emotionally engage the reader with vivid descriptions, and to appeal to logic by reporting facts and exposing the death resulting from pesticides.
She has received the Bruce Medal, Dickson Prize, gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, and National Medal of Science awards. Vera Rubin and other scientists that have been written off in history, show that science is science, and a person's race, gender, or even sexual preference should not have an impact on their discoveries and work, especially if it's scientifically proven right. Both Rosalind Franklin and Vera Rubin did not let others opinions prevent them from being successful and enjoying their work, would
Birds dying, leaves covered with deadly powder, chemicals floating through the air. These were all issues faced globally in the 1950’s and 60’s due to the use of dangerous pesticides such as DDT, chlordane, and heptachlor. Though several scientists conducted studies that proved the issues with pesticides, the first person to make a lasting impression on America was Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. Her writing not only discussed the environmental issues that Americans faced in the 1960’s, but also served as the catalyst for the environmental movement as we know it today.
Race and gender play a role in how people are treated in almost every aspect of society. Banu Subramaniam’s Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents is a story that is meant to shed light on the issue of how women and more specifically women of colour are treated within the scientific community. It is intended to help create understanding of the challenges facing women of colour who attempt to enter the sciences. The author describes a world which is intended to be an allegory and parallels the actual reality of scientific exploration. Subramaniam uses the template of the fairy tale Snow White to show the hierarchy that exists within science. This story works better as a vessel to help foster understanding in individuals who are already interested in learning about the disparity in the experiences of women than it does at creating understanding in those who do not see or query the lack of women of colour in science because what they do not see they do not question.
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring revolutionized the American point of view concerning the environment. It rejected the notion that pesticides and chemicals are the right choice for “controlling” various animals that are seen as an inconvenience. Carson writes about the dangers of pesticides, not only to nature but man himself.
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
Through her book, Rachel Carson spoke out against the use of pesticides and technology to control nature. At the time, her book was revolutionary and her words had the power to cause a shift in public awareness about the environment. This one person speaking out helped start the environmental movement that impacts so many areas of our life today.