Michael Pollan wrote this article in the year 2008. In the article, Pollan argues that our planet is at risk from the effects of global warming (Pollan, 2008). He asserts that people are aware of these impending dangers and have done nothing to alleviate the situation. According to the author, humans are prevented by their passive attitudes from saving the planet (Pollan, 2008).
The author believes that everyone should contribute to the fight against the effects of global warming. However, he is concerned that individuals are making little contributions to this fight. He believes that specialization is a major challenge to environmental conservation.
Through specialization, people have been made to play single roles in society (Pollan, 2008). As such, individuals believe that they should spend their time on their specific roles. Through these perceptions, the task of conserving the environment has been left in the hands of environmental experts. The author urges the public to discard this mentality. Instead, he wants them to play independent roles in conserving the environment.
Pollan believes that the effects of global warming can be reversed if we go green on personal levels. The article suggests other means of reversing these effects. These means are walking to work, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, consuming local meat, and using efficient power bulbs.
Of these ways, the author maintains that going green by owning a garden is the most efficient means of reversing the effects of global warming. According to him, if an individual initiates this move by owning a garden, more individuals will be motivated to follow suit. Through this process, more individuals will own their gardens. He equates the process to a chain reaction (Pollan, 2008).
After reading the article, I realized that I have a huge role in reversing the effects of global warming. Before, I used to believe that my contribution was insignificant compared to the effects of global warming.
As the author suggests, I thought that the task of conserving the environment was the responsibility of the environmentalists. If I initiated an individual effort to recycle products such as fine paper, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans, I would be part of the smart individuals trying to salvage our planet from the effects of global warming.
Over the last decade, several going green campaigns have been launched (Rogers & Kostigen, 2007). Through this initiative, every business, school, organization, and government agencies have adopted the initiatives to prove that they are concerned about the effects of global warming.
However, it is sad to note that despite this enthusiasm, many individuals have not linked the initiative to any definite action in their daily lives. Similarly, it is interesting to note that so many individuals are talking about going green, and none of them bothers to give details about what it means.
In the fight to reduce the effects of global warming, I have noted that some individuals do not believe that man is to be blamed for the catastrophe. It is surprising to note that famous scientists are among the pessimists. As the author asserts, I believe that humans are doomed if they do not act to reverse the situation (Pollan, 2008). Regardless of whether we are responsible for the situation or not, I believe that we are accountable to preserve the planet by going green.
References
Pollan, P. (2008). Why bother?
Rogers, E., & Kostigen, T. (2007). The green book: the everyday guide to saving the planet one simple step at a time . New York: Three Rivers Press.