SILENT

SPRING
Rachel Carson

A Spring in which no birds sing

Presented by Alex Bashair Matthew Showna

 Ethical Personal
Overview Criticism Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective

RACHEL CARSON
May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964

Marine Biologist, Ecologist, Writer

• Overview
• Ethical Issues
• Critique
• Personal Perspective
• Improvements
• Conclusion
  ”The book that birthed
modern environmentalism”

“This book was a shaft of light that for the

first time illuminated what is arguably the
most important issue of our era.”
- Al Gore

Ethical Personal
Overview Criticism Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective
• Insecticide & Pest Control
• Ground & Water Contamination
• Imbalance of Ecosystem
• Resistance & Danger to Humans
 1
Efficient Food Production VS. Animal Health

2
Efficient Production VS. Human Health

Ethical Personal
Overview Criticism Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective
 3
Insect-borne Disease Control vs. Acute Insecticides Poisoning
• Case for use of DDT to combat Malaria in 3rd World Countries
• Acute Insecticide Poisoning as a result of continued exposure of use
of pesticides
• Creation of super strains and resistance for insects and diseases

4
Hunger VS. Increased Agricultural Production

Ethical Personal
Overview Criticism Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective
 “Rachel, Rachel, we’ve been hearing,

{ }
All the dread words that you’ve said,
Were they true and Spring was silent,
Then I’m sure we’ll soon be dead.”
- National Pest Control Association

1) Carson’s argument for cancer related to DDT has no

strong Scientific support
2) Some of Carson’s statistics are out of context and
unreliable
3) Negative consequences associated with the ban on
DDT
4) Arguments are one-sided and intentionally avoid
counter points
 • Improve the Reliability of Statistic and Context
• Raising More Feasible Alternatives
• Consider From All Perspectives

Ethical Criticism Personal

Overview Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective
 Ethical Personal
Overview Criticism Improvements Conclusion
Issues Perspective
Questions&Comments

Thank You.