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Module 1.1 - A Turning Point Event for Environmental Science Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

 

      1. Point of View

PBS's video covering Rachel Carson's Silent Springs aims to remain as neutral as possible covering the history of what was once regarded as one of the great scientific discovery during World War 2.The video does sound protective of Carson's opinion as they say she was only raising the question that the US should be cautious in its use of DDT.

      1. Purpose

The purpose of this video is to recount the history of how pesticides became popular in the US, and how a decorated author raised a question no one was asking about these chemicals.

      1. Questions at Issue
The problems presented in this video is the treatment of Carson, malaria, and the environment. After publishing the ground breaking book Silent Spring rhetoric around the book Silent Spring became very controversial having Rachel Carson being labeled a communist and having her work heavily criticized by fellow authors.

Information

For the facts the video uses the video makes use of direct quotes from people directly involved in WW2 and major news outlets to recount the history unbiased.

      1. Interpretation and Inference

CBS's has the conclusion left up as while DDT was a massive help in saving many peoples lives from disease there was already quick evidence that there was a cost Environmentally, and that they need to be careful in how much they use and when to use it.

      1. Concepts

For theories the video video theorizes the how much the pesticides will effect nature and to what degree. One of the most prominent laws following the DDT became popular was The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976.

      1. Assumptions

I think the video takes for the granted the time in which they used these amounts of DDT as it was used to cure many people of sickness and prevention during WW2 (Explain the video’s presuppositions, assumptions, those things taken for granted.)

      1. Consequences

As for consequences after releasing Silent Spring Carson's was now labeled a very controversial figure. However this book did change a lot of rhetoric around the use of such chemicals making people ask about the safety of the Environment. 





Citation

"Chapter 1 | Rachel Carson | American Experience | PBS." Youtube, uploaded by American Experience | PBS, 17 Jan. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJNRaE11A0.

Wu, Y. (2022). 60 Years after Silent Spring Warned Us, Birds—and Humanity—Are Still in    Trouble. SCIAM. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from                     https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/60-years-after-silent-spring-warned-us-birds-and-humanity-are-still-in-trouble/.


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