Greg 454, Your statements seem contradictory. You say that we humans are part of the food chain. I agree. But if we are, why are some people upset about bears eating people? If we're part of the food chain, let's accept the implications of that, and stop complaining when those man-eating Michigan deer snatch someone off the street and eat them. I live in NJ, and unfortunately we have not had any bears attack people yet. Sooner or later, one of them will eat a cute little pre-schooler, or someone's grandma, but so what? Grandma eats chickens, and bears eat grandma. I'm all for it. Like you, I think it's fine if bears hunt people. It's only fair, and it's part of our obligation as part of the food chain to occasionally be food. Right?
Greg, an ecologist is someone who studies all the connections in nature. It's not a political position, it's an academic specialization. Environmentalism is a social and political attitude. Many of us environmentalists are hunters and fisherman. I enjoy both. I've even killed a bear, (NY State), a few deer (no Michigan maneaters, though), and vast numbers of fish, ducks, pheasants, quail, etc. My environmentalism, which is basically a commitment to preserving the natural wild environment, developed as a result of being a hunter and a fisherman, and also a diver. I oppose those elements that contribute to the destruction of forests and reefs, including too many people, too much construction, and the excessive consumption of things like land, oil, electricity, forest products, food, etc.
I think 'Treehugger' is a derogatory term invented by people who want to act like pigs. In fact, it's so inflammatory and disturbing that it may violate Scubaboard's Terms of Service. I'm not a punk, though, so I won't complain to management.
