Carson

"Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has this one species--man--acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world."
 Sometimes I wonder, if there really was a god, which I don't think there is, if god were asleep since the dawn of man, and came to earth, to see all of what we have created, would god be horrified? Would god be ashamed? Proud? Progress is an interesting concept that man has created. We change the natural world for the sake of progress. Progress...toward what? What is the ultimate goal here? Does all progress require deforestation? Does all progress require species irradiation? Does all progress require skyscrapers, satellites, & overpasses? What would god think of a prairie or forrest turned into a highway? Hm.

"The figure is staggering and its implications are not easily grasped--500 new chemicals to which the bodies of men and animals are required somehow to adapt each year, chemicals totally outside the limits of biology experience."

I understand what Carson is saying here, but I don't like the way she uses 'chemicals.' Environmentalists frequently use the 'chemical' in a derogatory manner, when chemicals are literally everything. Every single thing in the known universe is a chemical compound. Some chemicals are man-made, or are only found in certain areas and get introduced into other areas. This may be good or it may be bad. But you can't simply make the claim that "chemical"=bad.

"I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically patent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm."

Here here. I completely agree with this statement, and contend that we continue to do so, just not as blatantly has we once did. Companies still dump hazardous waste into the environment since it's cheaper than disposing of it properly. Some people do this as well, usually out of ignorance, as opposed to maliciousness. Then again, I'm an environmental engineer, and waste-site remediation is a big part of Environmental Engineering, so if people stopped poisoning the land, air, and water, I'd be out of a job....



All I can think about as I'm doing this is...

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1541306/thumbs/o-WALKING-DEAD-POSTER-570.jpg?6

Do I get points off for the picture being off topic?