#pro-nature

This was our first unit. We tackled the role that humans play in the environmental crisis: hint - we play a big role. We started by reading Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. 

I enjoyed Silent Spring a lot. I had heard about it before from one of my friends, and the book did not disappoint. Silent Spring is a unique piece of writing, because its genre is ambiguous. I had never come across a book like this, where scientific facts are so seamlessly blended with engaging writing. Carson’s book falls under a category called toxic discourse. Discursive hybridity is a style used a lot in environmental discourse. Combining the environmental discussions with an easy to follow narrative is helping everyday people like me understand what is going on. Now environmental issues are being represented in articles in magazines, not just academic papers. This month I was pleasantly surprised to see that Elle Canada put out an issue called “Eco Era” with articles from female activists. I think Carson would be proud. 

While reading this book I felt many emotions. It took me a few pages to adjust to the style, but once I was settled in I really started absorbing the information. It shocked me how careless people can be! How is it possible that at one point DDT (or dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethan if you speak Science), was being thrown around as if it was as harmless as baking soda. On crops, in houses, in rivers. Everywhere. The double edged sword of science is that we can develop ground breaking tools and conduct research to help us move forward, but we can also create deadly substances. In the mid 20th century, these chemicals that we now know are lethal were praised for their effectiveness in warding off pests. Crops were blanketed with DDT, and as a result animals, humans, and the environment were greatly impacted. Carson writes that “we are rightly appalled by the genetic effects of radiation; how then, can we be indifferent to the same effect in chemicals that we disseminate widely in our environment?”. Thankfully, stricter laws were put into place to regulate the use of chemicals in the farming industry. But the damage has already been done and will take many years, if not an eternity, to be eradicated.

Silent Spring was not written with the intention to create anxiety. Although I have become much more diligent about washing my fruits and vegetables since reading this book, I am also comforted by the ecological solutions offered by Carson. Shedding light on the web-like structure of the ecosystem, Carson offers suggestions for deterring pests. One is planting vegetables that work together as a defence system, another is avoiding overpopulating an area with one species. These answers are so simple it makes me wonder why we are so determined to destroy instead of cooperate with nature. 

In order to move forward in a sustainable way there needs to be an open narrative between large corporations and consumers. When half of the story is hidden, progress becomes regression. We watched a documentary called Merchants of Doubt which focused on the cigarette industry in the late 20th century. The documentary revealed the lies that the cigarette companies and other largely influential companies tell/pay for in order to stay in business. I was deeply disturbed by the deception in court cases, in marketing, and the extent companies will go to in order to profit. The documentary also covered the debate between climate scientists and skeptics. It was frustrating to watch as concrete facts were mulled over by people blinded by their own unwillingness to listen. I will never know why skeptics are so closed off to the facts. It made me feel like I was living in an alternate universe. The documentary was a reminder that we have a long way to go. 

In “Life on a Shrinking Planet”, an article from the New Yorker, Henry Holt details why our contributions are so detrimental. He writes about how rapidly we produce carbon dioxide. Even though there were four other periods in time where there was more CO2 in the atmosphere, we are pumping it out at the fastest speed. Always in need of more. There is a rush to produce goods, and so the environmental considerations are thrown out the window. I will have a post about another unit called “Making Time” where I will go into depth about time and the expectations that we have created for ourselves to produce faster and faster. 

I see a lot of 'Pro-Nature' people being against all hunters. But did you know, some hunters themselves are actually pro-nature? Hear me out, - Australia has had many introduced species come into Australia, which have bred, and spread throughout the land. Many which have actually cause incomprehensible damage to either the land and / or other species. - Feral Introduced Cats cause alot of harm to species of birds and lizards, killing MILLIONS of each per year.  - The Introduced Indian Myna bird has actually caused many Australian small birds and a few other bird species to the brink of extinction, due to it's invasive behaviour and aggression. (Such as plucking the eyes out of young birds of other species & destroying their nests).