Sandra wrote:
> Gene GeRue wrote:
> > It is arrogant to think that we can harm Earth. She will be here long
after
> > all evidence of our species has disappeared.
>
> Agreed. Although I don't often hear anyone else who has this point
> of view.
I agree that the Earth will be around long after humans. I also think that
life will be around long after humans. So in a very large sense, looking
at a scale of hundreds of thousands of years or more, I suppose you could
say that the harm that we inflict on the Earth is insignificant. But I
think it is going too far to say that we can't harm the Earth. I assume
that is what you mean by, "It is arrogant to think that we can harm Earth."
If "Earth" includes plants and animals, as surely Carol intended with her
original "Mother Earth", then causing the extinction of many many species
could certainly be considered harm. The rapid degradation of ecosystems
(forests, wetlands, savanna, etc.) is also harm. Wounds may heal, but that
does not negate the fact that harm was done.
Eric Storm
