While “The Obligation to Endure” by Rachel Carson, “Medieval Planet” by Christopher Kemp and “The Ends of the World as We Know Them” by Jared Diamond cover all topics related to environmental issues, each author conveys their message differently. Kemp's article in New Scientist explains humanity's environmental effects by imagining a world in which we never existed and hypothesizing how it would look and function in our absence. Carson's essay describes a frightening reality about the current state of humanity and the environment. It warns readers about how we are the only species that possesses the ability to disrupt and even destroy the Earth's natural patterns. Diamond articulates his work with an unusual twist, using examples of historical civilizations that became extinct due to their own progress or poor relationship with the environment. The main message conveyed in Diamond's essay is that today we are just as capable of suffocating ourselves by our own actions, as were historical civilizations that suffered the same fate. Despite the different focuses, each article agrees that humans are exceeding the limited amount of resources the Earth can provide. A delicate symbiotic relationship between life and the environment has been maintained over time. Life on Earth has been shaped by the constantly changing climate and environment. However, humans have gained the ability to transcend this relationship. Through our ingenuity and industrialism, we have separated ourselves from natural restrictions. Because of this progress, we are destroying the natural cycles of the Earth's environment and continue to do so at an alarming rate. Humanity has become an infection of the Earth, ravaging the world... middle of paper... act as a species. The rise of humanity has become one of the most extreme events in Earth's history. We have altered nature to suit our desires. However, at this rate, we will end up suffocating under our own weight. We are beginning to devour more than the Earth and nature can provide. Unless we reduce our dependence on the Earth's resources, our way of life is almost certainly doomed to fail. We are the culmination of billions of years of evolution. It would be a shame to see us fade away so early in our existence. Works Cited Carson, Rachel. “The obligation to endure” 50 essays. 3rd edition. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Boston: Bedford, 2011. 83-90. Print.Diamond, Jared. “The Ends of the World as We Know Them” 50 essays. 3rd edition. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Boston: Bedford, 2011. 98-104. Print.Kemp, Christopher. "Medieval Planet" New Scientist 16 November 2013: 34-38 Print.