Chapter 7 NEEDLES HAVOC

Chapter 7:NEEDLES HAVOC
Carson argues humanity’s goal of conquering nature has left needles destruction of
life in it’s wake. Even worse she claims, is a new king of havoc, the direct killing of birds, fishes,
mammals, and indeed practically every form of wildlife by chemical insecticides.
Carson presents two conflicting views wherein conservationists say one thing, and the
government agencies and chemical industries say another. Carson say’s the expert “the
professional wildlife biologist’ is the one to trust.
Carson provides an example of heedless destruction of unchecked use of pesticides.
She describes the Michigan Department of Agriculture which sprayed inexpensive but toxic
and dangerous Aldrin to rid the Japanese Beetle in 1959. Walter Nickel, a known Michigan
naturalist, declared he had seen no rise in beetles, the whole operation kept secret. The
spraying of Aldrin was caused a mass of death of animals and birds, both local and migratory.
Unfortunately, this included citizens with symptoms of vomiting, dizziness and chest pain.
When biologists studied the area after the spraying, the amount of death was massive. Grub
eating birds were annihilated and other birds were killed from bathing in the water found had
obvious signs of death by poison.
It is proven that parasitic insects and bacteria can be used to kill and stabilize the
Japanese beetle population. The truth is insecticides have to be used repeatedly and cost to
the environment and human health is much more expensive.
Carson ends this chapter debating on weather “civilization can wage a war on life
without killing itself and losing its humanity in the process.
Reaction:
This chapter of silent spring is very helpful to all the people who read this.
They become aware that there’s a direct killing of animals using dangerous
chemicals. And because of those chemicals human can also experience some
illnesses. Nowadays, some communities in our countries are using chemicals to kill
animals like chicken, birds and dogs. Some farmers view animals as a pest because it
destroys crops in their farms. They made a decisions that they don’t know what is
the consequences of their actions. People nowadays abused using chemicals for
their own good but they don’t know they are creating more problems to solve.
Carson awaked her readers about losing humanity’s and killing of wildlife must be
stop.
CHAPTER 11: BEYOND THE DREAMS OF THE BORGIAS
Spraying is not the only threat of environmental contamination. Across the life span,
humans are subjected to repeated exposures to chemicals, leading to a progressive build up
in the body and most people are unaware on those toxic chemicals such as DDT and
Dieldrin. Warning labels are placed in the obscure places in such fine print that few people
take the time to read of follow them. However, poisonous chemicals are commonly used in
home. In the kitchen, much food has been exposed to DDT; washing and cooking does not
negate the effects of the poison. Chemical residue on food is another tragic topic. People
before 1942 had no DDT in their bodies. The general population since then lives with
pesticides in their tissues. Animal fat have the highest concentration and cooking does not
destroy them. Milk is the only food in which the FDA allows no pesticides.
Carson proposed solution is to stop tolerating the use of highly toxic chemicals. She
suggest the sufficiently staffing governmental agencies so they can adequately look out for
the safety for the public. In addition, she calls for the education of the public concerning the
dangers of chemicals and research into alternatives.
Reaction:
This chapter is realistic, excellent and very helpful. Nowadays, if you noticed some of
the products in grocery stores has a small prints and its warning labels are at obscure places
were the costumer cannot read and notice it easily. Some industrial companies are
intentionally doing those tactics so that their products will be sold. Carson enlighten us how
dangerous the chemicals that we are using in our home. And our body was exposed on
those chemicals that can affect our tissues and it can cause illnesses and some malfunctions
in our body. Carson gave us information that can help us to think wisely and she deliver us
in real world. I agree what Carson told, that the government should educate the public
concerning the dangers of chemical and research alternatives. So that the lifespan of an
individual will increase and it should be not decreasing.
CHAPTER 17: THE OTHER ROAD
Carson proposes humanity has two choices in its efforts to subdue nature. The first is
easier choice, a smooth life which it progress with great speed and to indiscriminate
chemical use which will result to a disaster. The other choice is a slower process wherein,
exploring an alternatives to chemicals. This choice is healthier for both human and the
preservation of our environment. Carson argues, readers need to “assert our right to know”
and do not accept risks rather to insists the exploration of alternatives.
One such promising alternative is the “Man sterilization technique” for insect
control. Another is the use of lures or attractants. Many biological processes could be used
in a way that would make chemical control obsolete, as the biological process is a chemical
control with a true function. A variety of these processes are potential alternatives to
harmful chemicals such as DDT. The “control of nature” is a phrase conceived in arrogance,
born of the Neanderthal age of biology and philosophy, when it was supposed that the
nature exists for the convenience of man”, states Carson in closing. She argues humanity’s
use of weapons against insect has turned into a war against earth.
Reaction:
This chapter is relevant, informative and very helpful to us as a human. Carson

enlighten us on the road where we moving now, wherein there’s a lot of malfunction in our
world. Even though it progresses very fast it can cause a big destruction in our environment,
that we are the one who will suffer. Carson awakened us in a very long time sleep and now
we gain more knowledge about the chemicals that we use and we should do our best not to
use it, for our own good and for the next generations. Carson had a good purpose that’s
why she created this book, to awake all the people and do something to prevent the
breakdown of our mother earth. I can see her courage to voice out all the things that she
discover to enlighten all the people about the bad effects of chemicals in our environment
and in our daily lives.

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This chapter is relevant, informative and very helpful to us as a human. Carson

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