Steve--
I live in Utah. One of the major debates in Utah is over wildlife, in
particular cougar hunting and bear baiting. The cougars in Utah have
(rightfully) learned quite well to be afraid of humans. The problem is,
we build our houses higher and higher up in the mountains, invade deer
habitat, and therefore invade cougar territory---I know, I have had an
encounter with a cougar, and I have never been more frightened in my
life. But I'm willing to bet the cougar was just, if not more, terrified
of me. I presented no threat to it. I could have been food. Unlike
you, I do not find my ideal death between the jaws of this beautiful,
terrifying, enchanting predator. I find my ideal death protecting this
predator from death by a sport hunter. I find my death in climbing a
tree and placing myself between a semi-automatic weapong (which they use
to hunt cougars in Utah), howling dogs, and paid hunter/guides who have
trapped the cat and the terrified cougar.
Can we start applying all of these ethical discussions to real-life
environmental issues? It's impossible to determine if the earth is
sentient---I doubt she would tell us if she was. In Utah, we are
struggling with a Cowboy Caucus state government who says their for
state's rights, then protect big business and big hunters. Recently,
Utah adopted a 2/3 majority rule for any bill introduced that pertains to
wildlife management. This not only takes rights away from voters, but it
makes it impossible for any issue presented by environmental groups (and
responsible citizens) to be made law. I live in this insanity, and I'm
trying to change it. Arguing theory is great, and I enjoy doing it. But
theory, in order to be useful, has to be applicable to the real-world.
I don't believe current society is mature enough to realize the sentience
of the earth and use that knowledge to help reverse the grave injustices
that have been done. I know, I've been trying to do it for several
years. In this Mormon-saturated society, when I try and discuss this,
I'm usually looked at as if I were insane. In order to change minds, we
have to learn, understand, and in some ways accept those we disagree
with.

Jerusha


On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 09:33:56 -0700 "Steven Bissell" <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John Michael <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 4:48 PM
>Subject: Re: Is Altruism consistent with environmentalsim?
>
>
>(snip)
> The cougars
>>apparently lose the natural fear of humans while feasting on domestic
>>animals such as horses and dogs. My neighbours lost two dogs and a
>horse on
>>two separate ocassions.
>
>Why do you think cougars have a "natural" fear of humans? I would
>judge that
>to be unnatural. One of the reason big fierce animals are so wonderful
>is
>because they remind us of the fact that death can come so easily in
>nature.
>I wouldn't give a hoot for a cougar or bear who was "naturally" afraid
>of
>me, that sounds like a zoo animal. I fully expect a hungry cougar with
>the
>opportunity to try and kill me and eat me. To do otherwise may be
>"unethical" (I forget all the signs, so I put that in "." to indicate
>that I
>don't really mean that the cougar makes a choice between right and
>wrong in
>a cognitive sense). An "ethical" cougar is one who follows
>ecological/evolutionary rules and one of those is killing and eating
>suitable prey. Nothing in nature says humans aren't suitable prey for
>big
>fierce animals. I've been a professional wildlife biologist for about
>30
>years and I've always thought that an appropriate death, in a few more
>years
>hopefully ;-) would be to be eaten by a bear or shark or something.
>
>In BC we have a good deal very good records on
>>pepper sprays and the sprays have really been effective. However on
>the
>>Alaska highway recently a bear was repeatedly sprayed as it munched
>on
>>garbage at a roadside rest stop. The bear kept coming back after
>spraying.
>>One variety on the market was pulled of the shelf due to
>ineffectiveness.
>
>I guess if these pepper sprays give you the feeling of safety, they
>are
>alright. However, I wouldn't depend on them to save my life.
>
>Bissell
>
>

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