There is
only
one planet Earth. It is amazing that there is even this one such
planet. It took billions of years for particles out in space to be
attracted to one another due to gravitational pull in order to form
this planet. And Earth just so happened to form at the exact distance
from the sun that would allow all of humanity to enjoy everything it
has to offer. But if the population continues to pollute it at the
current rate, this planet will not be as enjoyable for future
generations. The carbon emissions from cars, gas heaters and stoves
and other gas-powered machines is causing an over-abundance of
greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere. Plastic is filling our
oceans. What can be done? The human race is having an alarming
detrimental impact on our planet that could negatively impact future
generations, but works of fiction and nonfiction can help to mitigate
the negative effects by cultivating awareness and motivation.
Not
everyone in the United States is aware that global warming is
happening, and others deny its existence. While some might claim that
there is not evidence of human-caused global warming and even claim
the Earth is more in danger of global cooling (Jayaraj),
according to data analysis done by NASA “97
percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree*:
Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due
to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific
organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this
position” (par. 1). When ninety-seven percent of experts agree on
something as significant as human-caused planetary warming and the
fate of our planet and future generations, it is time for people to
wake up and take it seriously. But what can be done to mitigate
human-caused planetary warming?
According
to a 2010 publication titled Limiting
the Magnitude of Future Climate Change
produced by the United States National Research Council, individuals
and industrial entities are going to need to severely curb the carbon
emissions they are responsible for releasing into the Earth's
atmosphere. They state that while there are some things like planting
trees “on suitable land” will “enhance the biological uptake of
CO2” it will not be “enough to make up the needed emissions
reductions if the United States falls short in reducing CO2 emissions
from energy sources.” And they list getting past “social
resistance” as one of the major barriers. (5) Cutting back on
emissions from energy sources is the primary necessary course of
action to reduce the GHG that is causing global warming. And getting
the majority of the population on board is one of the major barriers.
Individuals
need to take decisive action and play a more active role in making
these reductions in GHG emissions happen. While most scientific
experts agree that human-caused global warming is currently occurring
and action must be taken, there is not an exact agreement on what the
long term effects of global warming on the planet will be (Hodson,
par. 2). But really the long term outcome will also be largely
determined by the actions of the population over the next so many
years and decades. And this is a game of Russian Roulette that
humanity can not afford to lose.
Cutting
back GHG emissions of course largely the responsibility of industrial
entities, but it is also largely a responsibility of each and every
individual. The United States is the second largest nation in terms
of annual GHG emissions.
There
are numerous approaches individuals can take to personally make a
difference in GHG emissions. If individuals do not monetarily support
big polluters and take an active stance by voting with their
purchases, big polluters are more likely to change their practices.
And each individual also needs to take into consideration what they
can do to limit their own GHG emissions. When an individual decides
to purchase an electric appliance instead of a gas-powered one, they
are making a difference in GHG emissions. When they opt for solar
energy, they are making a difference. If they choose to walk, ride a
bike or take the bus rather than drive somewhere, they are making a
difference. When they buy an electric or a hybrid car instead of a
truck that gets seven miles per a gallon of gasoline, they are
helping to reduce GHG emissions. If they do not leave their vehicle
engine running while sitting parked in a lot, they reduce emissions.
But many of the worst individual polluters are not even aware of
these factors or the impact they can have.
Another
great current detriment to our planet is the plastic particles
proliferating in the oceans and all over our planet in general. These
plastic particles do not biodegrade. More plastic has been produced
over the last decade than in the previous century, and about half of
it is single-use plastic that is only used one time and then tossed
in the trash. And much of this plastic ends up in our oceans
(D'Alessandro). Many people do not even think about this issue. Much
of the population does not spend time thinking about alternatives to
the plastic products they are using or purchasing. And they do not
think about how these purchases are producing ample pollution. Using
plastic products and just throwing them in the trash has become the
norm in the United States.
But
there are actions that can make a huge impact. If a person carries
reusable utensils instead of taking a plastic fork from a vendor,
they make a difference. If they use a reusable water bottle, they are
cutting back on plastic waste. Many people are not aware that there
are bamboo toothbrushes, reusable wax paper to replace plastic food
wrap and numerous other such alternatives to plastic goods.
But
the population does not need to remain ignorant, and positive action
can be taken. And if more people were aware of these issues, they
could at least make significantly more informed decisions. Also maybe
if more people were aware of the severity of these issues, they might
be motivated to make changes in their usage of plastics and in their
usage of energy sources that emit GHG.
There
is a rich history of inspired authors making use of fiction and
nonfiction literature to bring awareness to issues of concern.
Historically literature has affected change and progress better than
any other vehicle. If John Locke had not written his political
essays, we might not have had the Declaration of Independence and
everything that proceeded from that work of literature. Fiction has
also had a profound impact on society. Works of such impactful
fiction include Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia
and
Jonathan Swift's A
Modest Proposal. These
works inspired individuals to consider and talk about societal norms
that deserved some serious scrutiny. They brought about change in
thought and change in society. Works of fiction can often bring
awareness and drive a point home quite well.
Fiction
has been used successfully in the past to inspire environmental
conscientiousness. In the late 1960's and early 1970's many American
consumers were not thinking about the impact that rampant consumerism
would have on the environment. The majority of American citizens were
not pursuing college degrees or reading scholarly articles, and much
of the information they were fed came from television, radio and
advertising. But Dr Seuss's The
Lorax got
the attention of much of the population.
According
to Matthew Teorey who is an English professor and author of the
scholarly article “The Lorax and Wallace Stegner: Inspiring
Children’s Environmental Activism” Seuss's work of fiction was
actually inspired by an essay ‘‘Conservation Equals Survival’’
that was published by Wallace Stegner who was one of Seuss's longtime
acquaintances. Stegner's essay was quickly forgotten. But Seuss wrote
The
Lorax only
a few months afterward and in doing so was able to bring so much
seriously needed awareness to the general public of American
consumers (325).
According
to Teorey both works of literature made use of the same tone and the
same content. He states:
Both
texts begin by describing how America’s over-industrialization and
wasteful consumerism has led to habitat annihilation and species
extinction. Both are highly creative, using humor as well as pathos
to make their arguments. Both make an appeal to readers’ emotions,
urging love for nature and anger for greedy businessmen who build
factories in pristine landscapes, create markets for frivolous
products, and then, ignoring environmentalists’ warnings, proceed
to over-harvest trees, fill the air with smog, and dump deadly toxins
into nearby waterways. Finally, after sharply criticizing the
exploiters and polluters, both texts challenge readers to accept
responsibility for raising awareness and working for a better future.
(326)
These
similarities highlight the real significance and importance of each
work. While Stegner's essay was quickly forgotten, young children
wrote to Dr Seuss about how his story moved them to take action such
as pick up litter on their street (326). This signifies the long term
impact of Seuss's work. But both works did in fact have a tremendous
impact on the environmental outcomes in the decades to follow, for
had Stegner's essay not impacted Dr Seuss and inspire him the way it
had, there would not have been all of the positive effects regarding
species conservation and protection of natural habitats that were the
lasting result of Dr Seuss's writing of The
Lorax. And
the effects of both of these works will continue to ripple throughout
time and space.
The
positive impacts from The
Lorax are
varied and vast. Dr Seuss addressed a number of issues in this short
work of children's fiction. According to Emma Marris “It packs in
a lot of sophisticated concepts for a picture book, from the
interconnectedness of ecosystems to the effects of industrial
pollutants on freshwater systems” (148). What a powerful thing it
was to draw young readers' awareness to such important concepts.
The
book also discussed conservation of resources when it addressed the
alarming concern of the the depletion of “Truffula Trees.” Marris
goes on to point out that story “The Lorax also complains about the
unregulated Thneed factory, which belches out smog and dumps into a
pond an astonishing quantity of industrial by-products known as
Gluppity-Glupp and Schloppity-Schlopp” (148). This drew attention
to air and water pollution.
And
the rippling effect of drawing attention to all of these alarming
concepts such as deforestation and air and water pollution and how
much this heightened awareness has positively affected the outcomes
of so many environmental factors over the last so many decades is
virtually unimaginable. How many environmental regulations did it
inspire can be conjectured. The impact which this work of literature
alone had on the planet as we know it today and the planet future
generations will know in the coming centuries is profound.
Another
example of literature having a profound impact on environmental
outcomes is Rachel Carson's Silent
Spring
which was published in 1962. According to Rob Dunn, at the time of
Carson's work the United States Department of Agriculture was using
air planes to spray pesticides over thousands of hectares, and this
was leading to the depletion of many species of birds (578). The use
of chemicals was being touted as modern and sophisticated. The
propaganda of the time made the average person very unlikely to
question the government's practices. Carson was bold to write such a
book and question the norm. Dunn asserts:
It
was a beautiful book written by a scientist at a time when scientists
were not 'supposed to' write beautiful books. It was about
pesticides, chemistry and society - by a researcher who studied fish.
And it concerned the perils of excessive use of pesticides at a time
when pesticides were widely believed to be part of the progress of
civilization. (578)
And
if it had not been for Carson's boldness, what would have been the
outcome? It is impossible to say how far the proliferation of
chemicals would have gone. How many different chemicals might have
been explored without question? And what would have been the
long-term detriment caused by the hypothetical chemicals? But thanks
to the courageousness of this one author, we know the benefits of
literature and the positive impact it can have on the environment
rather than knowing what would have been.
Increased
understanding and awareness is what the American public desperately
needs now and what would really provide such long term benefit to the
future generations that will inherit this planet; what the planet
needs right now to help provide this understanding is more Seusses
and Carsons. So much of the information about plastic pollution and
climate-change is being ignored by mainstream media. So much
information is being blurred by special interest groups. What the
world needs now is someone to speak for the planet the way the Lorax
so eloquently spoke for the trees. David S Reay said it well when he
wrote:
Increased
public awareness and understanding of climate change is vital if we
are to effectively tackle this greatest of all threats, but too often
the reporting of climate science is blurred by self-interest or the
need for an eyecatching headline. What’s urgently needed is a
Silent Spring for climate change: a book that will do for the fight
against global warming what Rachel Carson’s 1962 book did to
protect the environment from chemical pollution. It will need to set
out the history, science and politics of climate change in a way that
is truly accessible to the public while steering clear of
sensationalism and vested interests. This is a lot to ask. (27)
And
while this is a lot to ask, there is so much at stake and so much
good that could be accomplished. It is a worthy task if there ever
was one. The world is in desperate need of inspired and talented
authors that are as daring as Carson and as convincing and motivating
and as eloquent as Seuss. There
needs to be a resounding works of literature on climate change and
plastic pollution that will have the same significant impact that
Rachel Carson's Silent
Spring had
on curbing chemical pollution.
This
is no small matter. The quality of life on this planet in the coming
centuries and millennia is dependent upon the day-to-day and
moment-to-moment choices that each and every individual makes. But
many people just do not realize this. Informed individuals have a
better potential to make conscientious choices. While literature all
on its own will not solve the problem, it can and does bring
heightened understanding. The rest is up to each individual. But the
best hope that future generations have for an enjoyable future on
this planet is to have authors that care enough and are brave enough
to write literature that inspires every individual to care enough to
make the choices that will leave this world a better place.
Works
Cited
D'Alessandro,
Nicole. “22 Facts About Plastic Pollution (And 10 Things We Can Do
About It)” EcoWatch. 7 Apr. 2014. Web. 22 Aug. 2019.
Dunn, Rob. “IN
RETROSPECT: Silent Spring.” Nature, vol. 485, no. 7400, Nature
Publishing Group, May 2012, pp. 578–79, doi:10.1038/485578a.
Hodson,
Richard. "Climate Change."
Nature,
vol. 550, no. 7675, 2017, pp. 1.
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doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1038/550S53a.
Jayaraj,
Vijay”Global Cooling: The Real Climate Threat.” American
Thinker. Ed.
Thomas Lifson. 14 Mar. 2019. Web. 20 Aug. 2019.
Limiting
the Magnitude of Future Climate Change. Washington, D.C: National
Academies Press, 2010. Print.
Marris,
Emma. "IN RETROSPECT: The Lorax." Nature,
vol. 476, no. 7359, 2011, pp. 148-149.
ProQuest,
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/884797738?accountid=8289.
NASA.
“Scientific Consensus: Earth's Climate is Warming.” NASA
Global Climate Change. n.d.
Web. 8 Aug. 2019.
Reay,
David S. "A Silent Spring for Climate Change?" Nature, vol.
440, no. 7080, 2006, pp. 27-28. ProQuest,
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/21454269?accountid=8289.
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Teorey,
Matthew. “The Lorax and Wallace Stegner: Inspiring Children’s
Environmental Activism.” Children’s
Literature in Education
45.4 (2014): 324–339. Web.
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