[OPE-L:3987] Re: Critiquing exploitation and nature

Ian Hun (Ian.Hunt@flinders.edu.au)
Tue, 14 Jan 1997 17:51:18 -0800 (PST)

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I also made the point that nature can be used. I agree with you that nature
can be harmed by human use (exploitation) although there is a debate among
environmetalists as to whether 'harming' nature involves defeating the
interests of extra-human life or defeating the interest present and future
humans have in nature. I think it is clearer to speak of human interests in
nature while recognising that those interests can be very broad, including
an interest in seeing natural environments flourish. Given this
understanding, I believe we are defeating our and future generations
interest in nature and that the situation is rapidly becoming critical. I
don't know whether to be pessimistic about what workers will perceive their
interests to be even in a socialist society. I do see a need to be
concerned about how a socialist society will address environmental
problems.