Earth's degradation

Speaking in absolutes and quoting numbers without sources can be a dangerous pasttime - please don't let the horrid examples of "debate" that are shown on television guide your speaking and writing habits.

That said, I do not think the world would be better off without us, because I have a strange affection for my family, my friends, and myself.

Throughout history, humanity has done some incredibly awful things to the environment, to animal populations, and to each other. On occasion, this destruction was for noble reasons; more often, the damage was for practical reasons. The remainder of the destruction can be chalked up to ignorance and prejudice.

If you consult Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_heirarchy_of_needs) - you'll note the base level of the hierarchy involves basic needs for survival, to include food, warmth, and shelter. Until comparatively recently in human history, the easiest means to ensure you and yours remain alive was to kill animals to eat and skin and to use wood for building and burning.

Now that humanity has survived long enough to have the luxury to debate and discover alternate means of living - this time WITH the environment, rather that IN the environment; humanity is slowly starting to change its ways. No wholesale societal changes (that requires effort, sacrifice, and accepting responsibility for self - all three seem to be in short supply, according to the news), but a steady progression to a better world.

I guess it boils down to hope. Hoping and working towards a better life for my children and thier children.

For a glimpse at an online community of people who think similar thoughts, check out www.zombiehunters.org - ignore the zombie stuff, and focus on the self-suffiency portions of the forum.

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace” - Thomas Paine