Historical Events That Help Shape Our Environmental Conscience

In this entry, you will be highlighting 2 to 3 major events throughout human history that have helped shape our planet positively or negatively with respect to the environment. For example, I will choose TWO specific events, actually books, that have been critical to helping start an environmental conscience in the modern world. Some people may view these choices as insignificant on a larger scale of global impact, however I disagree due to the fact the two books below increased awareness of the human role in nature and the impacts we have on ALL living and non-living systems. Not only do the books speak to the layperson, but they also speak to the scientific community as a whole, sparking new debates and new ideas.

Book 1: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. The book was first published in 1962 and has since been reprinted numerous times. Carson was a scientist by academic standards and a passionate observer of the natural world around her. She began noticing declines in bird populations and while discussing this among colleagues from around the U.S., she began pulling research from multiple sources to prove the cause of bird decline was the uncontrolled use of pesticides, particularly DDT. Her book is really a scientific paper and novel hybrid, which she meticulously cited all her sources of information and placed at the back of the book for ease of reading. She had been criticized for this form of publication, but the audience was the public, not just the scientific community. Her book help inspire the modern environmental movement that has spread throughout the globe. If given the chance, you should read Silent Spring.

Book 2: Our Stolen Future: are we threatening our fertility, intelligence, and survival? A scientific Detective Story. By Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers. First published in 1996, the group of researchers focused on the development of endocrine disruptors and wrote the book in narrative form similar to what Rachel Carson did in Silent Spring. The book Our Stolen Future is one of frightening context in which hormone mimicking toxins are described in detail. The fear that can be generated from this book is palpable as it clearly chronicles the types and amounts of toxins found in everyday items and how they enter and interact with our bodies. The content of the book can be a bit heavy to read but it is explained well enough for most people. Since the book's publication, the U.S. has changed governmental policy to aid in the research of endocrine disruptors. If you are looking for a modern (yes it is still modern even for a 1996 book) look at what chemicals affect the human population of the earth, please read the book. It has a high probability to change your life. For more information about the book and the research, go to http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/

Have a good read.

Mr. Bittle

Welcome to Environmental Studies

Here is your opportunity to comment of current events that affect our world. We will be visiting this site throughout the term as a source of discussion outside of class time. You are expected to be professional and factual in your discussions. Please add your Ecological Footprint data/assignment below. Thank you in advance for your attention to DETAIL. Enjoy.


Here's my data in graph form. It really needs to be lower!

Try a Footprint quiz for yourself http://www.myfootprint.org/

Mr. Bittle