Carson describes, “In the town the doctors had become more and more puzzled by new kinds of sickness appearing among their patients”(154). Many pesticides used are very harmful to humans and animals. What would happen if pesticides were not used to control insects? The food will become infested with insects and funguses that would end up ruining the products. Pesticides are also used to treat plants and grass from insects. I was thinking that the grass used at parks where children play should not use pesticides. But then I wouldn’t want my children to be bitten by an insect that could possibly be more harmful to them than the pesticide. Can the US government control what types of pesticides other countries use? This question is very scary for me to think about. I know the US government regulates what kind we use here. We use pesticides that are less harmful to humans, animals and the environment. I live in New Mexico and a lot of the fruit and vegetables that I buy at the store come from other states and probably from other countries. Carson states, “There had been several sudden and unexplained deaths, not only among adults but even among children, who would be stricken suddenly while at play and die within a few hours”(154). Pesticides are more harmful to children and older people. Should schools and daycare centers focus on a pesticide free school? This means only organic food used and the playground free of pesticides? I don’t think that it should be pesticide free as long as we are testing the amounts used. I think everyone should get in the habit of washing the fruits and vegetables very good with soap and water. If schools and daycare centers went to organic products it would take away money from the teachers, staff, equipment and supplies that many schools need to run. It would also take away money from building more schools desperately needed in New Mexico. Organic products are very expensive.
Is organic food better? There are three reasons why I think organic food is better. One is that it is not harmful to humans especially children and older adults. There are not any pesticides in organic food or on the ground it is grown on. This is best for children and older adults because their immune system is not developed or it is weakened. Many adults have become immune to antibiotics because we depend on them to treat the products we grow or raise. My son’s doctor does not give him antibiotics for minor problems. He thinks other doctors give children antibiotics when they are not needed. The second reason that organic food is safe for the environment. Pesticides are very harmful to the ground. The pesticides destroy our plants and trees. There are many bugs that eat plants and threes that in fact useful to us, but there are many other bugs that eat those bugs. Pesticides do more harm to the environment than bugs do. And finally the third, it tastes better. Pesticide free. Fruits and vegetable taste fresh. Does organic food cost more than regular food? Not everyone can afford organic food. There are a few stores in Albuquerque that sell organic food and it is very expensive. I have bought organic fruits and vegetables a few times. I would like to buy them all the time but I just do not have the money to do so. At Wild Oats, I will stop and eat a salad or a pizza from there once in awhile. It always tastes like they just brought it to the store or they just made the pizza from scratch. The fruit and vegetables always taste fresh.
Rachael Carson speaks of a place that is not known to mankind of where pesticides killed of all living things within a few days. Carson states, “This town does not actually exist, but it might easily have a thousand counterparts in America or elsewhere in the world”(155). But somewhere in the world one of what she talks about has became a reality. There are many different pesticides available, but they are all very harmful to everyone and the environment. Organic food may be best, but it is very expensive. Everyone should become aware of pesticides and limit their intake of it. By washing fruits and vegetables this limits the intake.
Works Cited
Carson, Rachael. “A Fable For Tomorrow” in The Mercury Reader. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2001. 153-155.
EPA: Pesticides. [America Online] Available
, March 20, 2003
