A very good question.
"Arne Naess first differentiated 'deep ecology' from the more prevalent
'shallow ecology' at the Third World Futures conference in Bucharest in 1972.
In that particular context he clearly defined 'shallow ecology as a fight
against pollution and resource depletion: Central objective:health of the
people in developed countries'; while deep ecology was 'rejection of man-in-
environment image in favor of the relational, total-field image.' Among the
more important objectives: 'Every form of life has the right to live and
blossom:diversity and symbiosis; and local autonomy and decentralization.' "
-Sacred Land, Sacred Sex, Rapture of the Deep-Concerning Deep Ecology and
Celebrating Life, by Dolores LaChapelle
I highly recommend this book.
Naess was the originator of the phrase Deep Ecology. He had first used
ecosophy, but eventually felt it was too abstract.
For me, deep ecology refers to an understanding of the patterns of
relationships (Gregory Bateson) that comprise the web of life, and all the
potentialities therin. Hmm...many words.
