In the essay “A Planet for the Taking,” David Suzuki describesCanadians’ odd appreciation for this great natural bounty we call our own.
Heis an internationally acclaimed scientist who is concerned about the welfare ofCanada. Suzuki’s intended audience is the Canadian population that does notrealize the grave danger they are instilling upon themselves by haphazardlytaking our resources without looking at the subsequent repercussions of theiractions. The essay is persuasive and informative. He compares various facetsof science and gives reasons why none of these fields can explain why we aredestroying nature. The organization of the essay supports the author’s views well. Itbegins with general opinions about the Canadian population and is followed bymore detailed explanations.
The general opinions in the beginning are well-chosen considering the audience. Suzuki’s tone is evident when he states “Wehave both a sense of the importance of the wilderness and space in our cultureand an attitude that it is limitless and therefore we needn’t worry. ” Thesewords suggest that we are willing to reap the rewards of our vast resources butwe fail to see the harm that we are doing, and will continue to do if we do notstop these actions. Although his approach for explaining his beliefs changes, Suzuki’s toneof great concern remains consistent throughout the essay. After his views arepresented, Suzuki begins to tell us what we have done to our country and how weare destroying it. Present day Canadians are compared to native Canadians whichsuccessfully serves its purpose in illustrating how, for centuries, people livedoff the natural resources in Canada.
With the development of science andtechnology, we have developed better ways of mass harvesting resources but thesemethods are taking at a faster rate than nature can sustain. Science suggestsmeans of replacing these resources we are taking but there is no quickreplacement for ecosystems that have taken thousands of years to evolve. Following his explanations of how we have destroyed nature, Suzukidiscusses science and how society deals with it, “I believe that in large partour problems rest on our faith in the power of science and technology. ” Thisstatement and the following sentences are used to describe how people deal withgreat developments in science and technology.
Because there have been so manygreat advances in these fields in the past century, people are comfortableplacing their faith in science though scientists are still far from discoveringall of the secrets to the universe. Scientists interfere with nature withouthaving a complete understanding, subsequently harming it. All sciences attemptto explain nature but are unable to do so. Therefore, following the discoveriesof science may be more harmful than helpful.
This idea about science is one ofSuzuki’s main goals in writing this essay. He wants to create an awareness thatjust because scientists have had many great successes, they cannot determine howto deal with everything else on the planet. Suzuki creates a good relationship with the reader from the start. Hemakes general statements about Canadians which most of the audience eitherbelieves or can relate to. The writing is persuasive but the arguments arepresented in a non- offensive manner which creates a good rapport with thereader.
When Suzuki explains the scientific parts of his argument, he does soin a simplistic way which puts the reader at ease but serves its purpose inprovoking thought. The author is quite serious and certain about his topic. These feelingsare evident through his powerful writing and diction. “We need a very profoundperceptual shift and soon.
” This is Suzuki’s closing sentence for the essay. His suggestion for a change in people’s perceptions is clear and direct, leavingno room for misinterpretation; he does this consistently throughout the essay. Discussing the topic with such seriousness makes it an effective, persuasiveessay. The essay does not contain much powerful, descriptive imagery butSuzuki’s powerful examples serve the same purpose. Supplying the reader withexamples to support his arguments is a valuable means of persuading the reader. By giving examples, the audience can relate to the topic and see what they havedone to nature.
Examples of the various types of sciences also help theaudience to relate. Suzuki provides the reader with examples of theshortcomings of all the fields of science, helping to make the reader second-guess science. Some powerful images he does use, however, are present when hedescribes the terminology that society uses for plants and animals, “We speak ofherds’ of seals, of culling’ harvesting,’ stocks. ‘” These images support thetheme of the essay because they show the way that humankind has taken overnature and how we feel as if we can control everything. It makes it seem as ifwe do not care about the environment; we are merely concerned with making moreand more money.
Imagery, when used successfully, can support the aims of theessay and create more persuasion for the reader. By writing this persuasive essay, David Suzuki wanted to convince hisaudience that we are destroying our planet for our own greed. It is no longer amatter of subsistence, humans are raping the land and if they do not learn tocontrol this, it will lead to the downfall of humankind. Canadians act as ifthey are proud of their large, abundant country but then turn around and destroyit for their own wealth.
This essay is persuasive, yet eloquent. It satisfiesthe author’s aims in an informative and interesting manner.
