Why Bother By Michael Pollan Analysis

Do people really know what they are buying at the store? Do they know that most of the fruits and vegetables have pesticides in them? Do they know that there are some everyday activities that can help the environment? In Derrick Jensen and Stephanie McMillan “As the World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial,” they talk about how everyone can help save our planet. For example, changing the light bulbs in the house to fluorescent light, riding bikes instead of driving, and recycling can also help. In Michael Pollan’s article “Why Bother,” takes a different approach and talks about how gardening can not only help save our planet but can also benefit the population. For example, gardening can help lead a healthier lifestyle by

Whenever people drink cans of soda they are not only harming the Earth, but they are hurting their bodies as well. Jensen and McMillian try to illustrate to their readers how manufacturers are just trying to make money, and how they do not worry about it is harming the earth and the population. The aluminum the manufacturers are using to produce these cans can be used to save energy. According to Jensen and McMillan “a single aluminum can, can save enough energy to power a television set for three hours” (Jensen and McMillan 695). This is trying to show people that it is better to recycle than not recycling at all. There are little activities in daily routines that can help the environment rather than harm it. Jensen and McMillian mention that many business manufacturers harm the dams and rivers because they are tearing them up to mine and make money (Jensen and McMillian 695). They are trying to mention to the reader how big manufacturers companies do not care for recycling and will do whatever it takes to make money. Jensen and McMillan stress about how the population as a whole should save the planet, not just one individual. All the toxic metals in the cans are harming us if we just throw them away. We can acquire diseases such as diabetes, malnutrition, Alzheimer’s, and even obesity from the cans (Jensen and McMillian 695). This is trying to inform

Even though many might say that driving is more convent, it is actually more harmful to the Earth. Biking or walking to places nearby can help cut down the carbon produced in the air. According to Jensen and McMillan, we can save about “575 million tons of carbon dioxide” if we cut down driving (Jensen and McMillan 706). This is telling us that if we try to cut back on the driving the air can be much cleaner because it is reducing how much carbon dioxide is exerted. Cutting back on driving is one of the many solutions that can help cut back on carbon dioxide production. For example, changing out light bulbs to the fluorescent ones, lower shower heads, adjusting the thermostat, and much more are other solutions that can also help contribute the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Similarly, Pollan talks about how gardening can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air because we are limiting how many times we have to go to the grocery store. Growing most of our own foods mean “CO2 free and dollar free” lunches (Pollan 768). This is saying that if people garden they are reducing the CO2 in the soil because of the compost they are using, which in return they are getting carbon dioxide free and dollar free lunches. Another way reusing our compost helps reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is that, the compost trucks are not having