“Earth Without People” by Alana Weisman: Article Summary and Reflections Essay

Summary

The article under consideration called Earth without People is written by Alana Weisman and is dedicated to the problem of environmental pollution and its impact on humanity. In particular, Wiseman attempts to predict what would happen if people were gone from the planet. What is more important, he assumes the Earth would have a better ecological situation on this condition.

The author starts the investigation of these questions from the consequences of this assumption for the Earth. Considering the above, Weisman researches first the proposed situation in North Korea that witnessed the greatest destructions imposed by the military actions and farmers’ activities.

At the beginning of the article, the author analyzes the connection of human activities with the flora and fauna extinction. Hence, Weisman concludes that the Earth would have three times more species but for the influence of humans. Thousands of tons of rubbish and dangerous chemical substances have been emitted each year in New York thus destroying its natural landscapes.

Further in the article, the researcher makes some approximate calculations of the renewal period on the planet should humans disappear. The analysis shows that the gradual extermination of people would return the planet to its primeval appearance where cultivated plants would revert to their wild forms; this also concerns animals. Within thousand years, the planet would experience the destruction of buildings and other constructions. In the end, Weisman estimates that natural and climate conditions would be rearranged within twenty thousand years. People’s cruel attitude to nature is explained by their ignorance of a veritable destination of the natural resources granted by nature to humans.

Reflections

It should be stressed that the article discloses an unconventional approach to the study of the ecological situation on the planet. The author provides a detailed examination and accurate calculation of species growing on the condition of people’s participation in natural processes. In that way, he tries to prove that a human has become separated from nature by technological advancement. Therefore, I believe that the article’s main idea lies in the fact that humanity’s actions are getting to be more dangerous for other species, as the natural balance should be observed.

The historical investigation reveals the origins of species on the Earth, which are hardly understood by people. With the help of the latest technological achievements, it is possible to pursue the history of the biological evolution of species. This examination fosters people’s comprehension of their place in this world. However, the reluctance to realize their biological roots has led to the abuse of natural resources.

The analyzed article also presents the way people’s intrusion influences the biological process and the environmental situation. An interesting assumption can be made about the analysis of people’s means of survival on the Earth, as they are, perhaps, the least designed creatures for living in the wild conditions. Unlike other species, humans have been more adapted to the conditions they created themselves whereas other species have managed to create other survival methods.

The above shows that the main value of the article lies in the necessity to take a closer look at the perspective of human development from the biological and historical angles. Additionally, the article also involves the author’s naturalistic position where all species should be equal in terms of living conditions thus emphasizing humans’ extreme indifference to natural laws.

Works Cited

Weisman, Alan. Earth Without People. Discover. 2005. Web.