Rachel Carson Quotes – We’re heading for that Silent Spring unless we wake up!

Posted on by Opher
Back in the sixties Rachel Carson sent out a strong warning to us all with her book Silent Spring, where she foresaw the death of nature through the indiscriminate use of pesticides. She described not waking to that dawn chorus of birds.
Well it is happening.
It is not so dramatic as described but is a relentless slow destruction of nature, loss of habitat, deforestation, pesticide death, animal slaughter and loss of our natural world.
Our population is out of control. We are presently destroying the planet and sending thousands of species crashing to extinction.
Time we woke up, reduced our numbers and protect what is left.
The world is a beautiful place. My nightmare is of a concrete desert and manicured lawns and flowerbeds.
Here are a few of Rachels eloquent words.:
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.
Too true. It is a spectacular place to spend a life.
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.
I wish more people loved nature.
It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.
It is a focus of rejuvenation and happiness.
Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species — man — acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
And we are busy destroying it for profit.
In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.
We are part of it.
As crude a weapon as the cave man’s club, the chemical barrage has been hurled against the fabric of life.
We are poisoning the world and all life on the planet.
For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it is a pity that you use it so little.
All we will smell is smoke and rotting corpses.

14 thoughts on “Rachel Carson Quotes – We’re heading for that Silent Spring unless we wake up!”

  1. “Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species — man — acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.” That right there is a very powerful statement and people should actually find it shocking… Man thinks he’s finally become God to a certain extent.

    1. What is most atrocious is that many people are quoting religious texts in order to justify their huge families and destruction of the natural world. Seemingly we have been told to reproduce madly and that the planet was given to us to do with as we want. Utter insanity.

      1. I have read that the size of families has gone down in the US and other “enlightened” countries. I suspect in most third world countries where sex is a pleasant past time because there’s nothing much else to do, that is not the case. It’s also the reason aids spreads so quickly in those countries. Education is what is needed. But first people have to WANT to be educated…

      2. I think there are big cultural and religious factors at work. In many cultures the nu8mber of kids is a sign of masculinity and gives status. Until people grow up we’re destined to be in the mire. Education for women is the key but they have also to be empowered. In so many cultures the men have all the power and refuse to allow the women access to medical care or contraception even when it is available. Things need to change.

      3. Just last week we had friends round, one of whom is Kenyan, who was telling us about their last visit to family in Kenya and a highly educated female librarian they met. He had a severe eye infection and was going to lose her eye unless it was treated but her husband forbade her to go to the clinic because there was contraception there. She was too terrified of him to disobey. Even when they offered to take her there without him being aware she refused. She was too frightened that someone would tell him.
        That is the attitude that needs to stop.

  4. Growing up in Kenya I was very lucky to always be around nature but as I grew up so much of it was destroyed. I’m really saddened sometimes when I look around because places surrounded by plants and animals are all being changed and destroyed. Very sad what the world is coming to

      2. If enough of us shout we might just be heard!!!! STOOOOOP!!!! Can you hear me Pooj!! All the way from England to Kenya!! STOOOOOOOOOOPPPP!!!!

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