Rachel Carson, an American biologist, writer and conservationist, with her Sea trilogy explored the whole of ocean life from the shores to depth. In the late 1950s, she turned her attention to conservation and came out with ‘Silent Spring’ (1962) that dealt with the problems caused by synthetic pesticides and the ways and means to solve these problems. Actually this book brought environmental concerns to the American public and that led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970s. Thus, ‘Silent Spring’ Sparked the global grass roots environmental movement in 1962 by proclaiming as humans are dependent on their living environment, the environment’s protection is inevitable.
Carson begins with the
description of an idyllic American town with beautiful plant and animal life,
with abundant birds and fish and with wildflowers, oaks and maples. Thus drew
admiration from travelers and delighted locals. Suddenly, 'strange blight’ stroked
the area. Birds were found dead, trembling violently.
Inexplicable illness among both adults and children puzzled the town’s doctors.
Apple trees bloomed, but without bees to pollinate them there were no fruits.
The fairy tale villain was none other than the poisons that the humans created.
Many of the changes Carson described had taken place over just the previous 25
years. Thus the vibrancy of spring was replaced with stillness and silence. The spring became silent.
During the World War II
the scientist involved the chemical warfare, discovered many substances to kill
enemies. So, later they were used as pesticides and insecticides to protect crops.
But according to Carson actually they were biocides as they could not target
unwanted pets and insects selectively. By spraying the pesticide over 885,000
acres of Woodland to kill the Bruce budworm, they also killed the natural
predators of Spider-Mites. Carson says that there are two groups of harmful
synthetic pesticides: chlorinated hydrocarbons including DDT and organic
Phosphorus insecticides. Modern industry makes the chemicals
without understanding its side effects. So, all use them everywhere all the
time. So, all the people are surrounded by the 'Elixirs of death' throughout
their lives and they can't avoid exposure. Carson provides evidence of DDT in
fish and birds that were not in the areas where the pesticides sprayed.
Pesticides penetrated everywhere and in everything. Not only waterways even
underground water too had been contaminated, as they infiltrated and persisted
in soils.
Carson talks about the
campaign to replace sage brush with grassland in New England, that caused death
of fish and loss of mammals that depended on the sage for food. Similarly
the campaign against Japanese Beatles in Michigan results in many unintended
victims from dead birds to sick humans. Thus the efforts to control fests
actually remove the best controllers of pests, the nature’s own safeguards or
policemen. Thus Carson proves that when humans destroy nature
no doubt they tried to destroy themselves. The chemicals that enter into the
body damage the cells production of energy. The genetic information in the
cells too destroyed that causes chromosomal damage and mutations. This is
similar to put a crowbar into the spokes of spinning wheel.
Carson says that the
insects are much better equipped to become resistant than humans. The scale insects
have already developed resistance to lime sulphur. The house flies body lice
malaria spreading mosquitoes have also become resistant. So, according to her,
humanity's use of weapons against pests and insects have turned into a war
against the earth. So, either we have to stop the use of dangerous chemicals or
exploring alternatives to these dangerous chemicals. One such promising
alternative is the 'Male Sterilization' technique for insect control. Another
is the use of lures or attractants. Using sound for insect control and using
insects’ natural enemies are also the other techniques. Thus Carson has armed the reader with the
ammunition of information and asks to speak out against the uncivilized and
immoral acts otherwise she warns that nature will take its course, “Striking
back in unexpected ways.”
------Thulasidharan V
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