Date: Fri, 20 Feb 98 7:33:35 EST From: boddhisatva <kbevans-AT-panix.com> Subject: Re: M-TH: Marine biodiversity and soil fertility To whom..., Again and again and again I reiterate. One *must* distinguish between the effects man has that do *harm* and the effects man had that *change* the environment. One must further distinguish between those behaviors that are socially necessary and those behaviors that are both socially unnecessary and environmentally destructive. For example, there is no earthly reason to leech-mine huge fields of rock for gold with cyanide, or use mercury to extract sluiced gold. These are insane abuses of the environment that cause long-term damage. On the other hand, ecologists have lately taken to decrying the introduction of exotic species due to international shipping. International shipping is very necessary. The number of species actually driven into extinction by it is debatable in number and relative importance to man. The problem with ecologists is that they live in ivory towers and when forced out become, frankly, opportunists. They pick the easy fights and then throw up their hands at a world gone mad. That's fine because they are scientists, not engineers. Naive scientists are more curious scientists and science is better for its ivory towers. Marxists, however, are social engineers. We have a responsibility to analyze the data rationally and make choices. peace --- from list marxism-thaxis-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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