In an effort to save the human race, humanity has almost been lost. Humans destroy nature in a futile attempt to conquer it, by doing so they begin to lose their own humanity and their natural connection to the environment. While some believe that attempts to control the environment, such as pesticides, affect only the desired nuisance, the truth of the matter is that they affect everyone. Barbra Kingsolver, author of “High Tide in Tucson,” Aldo Leopold of A Sand County Almanac, and Rachel Carson of Silent Spring agree that the way many humans treat nature is worsening and needs to be reexamined.
Humans often abuse and mistreat nature. By harmfully affecting one specific part of a habitat, many other portions are often affected. These effects are often unforeseen results due to human intervention. Kingsolver discusses the problems caused by removing an animal from its natural environment. She wrote of her experience with a hermit crab, in which she accidentally removed it, and the depression and sickness it experienced as a result (Kingsolver, 1995). This is an example of how her direct contact with a living creature significantly lessened its overall quality of life. Humans harming nature may not seem exceptionally important; however every action has countless unanticipated affects, many of which are far reaching into a human’s lives. The life of a hermit crab may not seem extremely important, but it just displays how the smallest change in an animal’s life can have such detrimental effects. The hermit crab did not have any physical damage done to it, but nevertheless was hurt. If such a small change occurring in the crab’s life nearly killed it, then the damage humans are causing every day must be wreaking havoc on the entire ...
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...ironment, especially with pesticides is provided by Carson. In a different way Kingsolver imparts a more personal account with a great passion for the subject that puts a force behind her words. Leopold brings heart and fervor to the subject in a desperate effort to make the reader aware and understand. No matter which way it is done, the point is the same, to save humanity, people must become aware of the problems they are causing, and it is essential that they become a part of the solution.
Works Cited
Kingsolver, B. (2000). Predators, Old chestnuts. In Prodigal Summer
Kingsolver, B. (1995). High tide in Tucson: Essays from now or never. New York: lllllllllllllllllllPerennial
Carson, R. (1962). Silent Spring. Boston:Mariner Book Houghton Mifflin Company
Leopold, A. (1949). A sand county alamanac.
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The Bean Trees. New York: HarperCollins, 1988. ___. High Tide in Tucson: Essays From Now or Never. New York:.
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