Environmental Awareness versus Environmental Activism

Chapter 7

Environmental awareness is the conscious effort to understand nature and its affects.  In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature, Emerson writes about how when man studies and absorbs nature that there is “a certain reverence” (Emerson, 2010) that is awaken in man.  He continues that “all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence” (Emerson, 2010) and goes on to explore the beneficial relationship that can occur between man and nature.  Environmental activism is not only understanding the benefits of nature but taking a stand against those that threaten its continued viability.  In Rachel Caron’s From Silent Spring, she writes about man’s “assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials” (Carson, 2010) and even though we’ve paid attention to the environment these last few years we have such a long way to go to ensure that we are not the cause of nature’s rapid deterioration. 

Carson, R. (2010). From Silent Spring. In M. &. Krasny, Sound Ideas (p. 569). New York:

     McGraw-Hill.

Emerson, R. W. (2010). Nature. In M. &. Krasny, Sound Ideas (p. 562). New York: McGraw-Hill.