Thu, 30 Dec 1999:
Thanks for posting your Utah letter - it helps motivate the rest of us to send similar letters.
Wed, 29 Dec 1999:
Thanks for your article. It clearly states the importance of "pure" habitat.
It's a coincidence that my wife and I were just discussing the concept of areas where no one is allowed. Years ago, I thought that was what the wilderness designation meant. It came up again with Clinton's roadless initiative, and the opposition to roadless becoming wilderness by mountain bike riders, which excludes them. [That is not true -- it only excludes their BIKES. Mike] It would be good to have "pure" habitat, wilderness as currently defined (no mechanized vehicles, logging, or mining), roadless (no motorized vehicles, mining, logging), national forest (no commercial logging or mining). We then have to define what management activities will be allowed in wilderness and roadless areas. And we need to add many roadless areas to wilderness.
Tue, 28 Dec 1999:
Your postings are interesting, although I see from some bike lists you are not
universally popular. :) I liked the bulldozer sport (BS) analogy. !!
Mon, 27 Dec 1999:
Subject: Re: The Costs of Mountain Biking
Hey Mike, I'm pretty much occupied with other issues for the time being, but I wanted to let you know I like what you're doing with the wilderness issue. Keep going.
Sun, 26 Dec 1999:
Hello, I saw your web page and I am totally in tune with what you're trying to accomplish. We need to protect our wild animals from humans and stop destroying the earth. What can I do to help?
Tue, 14 Dec 1999:
I am very interested in saving the environment /
living naturally.....I am an avid gardener but currently reside in Las
Vegas...leave in the Spring for Montana where I hope to stay...I also
fight to save the wild horses and the wolves.
Thu, 16 Dec 1999:
I was looking at the Java news group and saw your comments. I'm
on your side - I too believe in a world without cars and in the concept
of "pure habitat" for the other members of our biosphere. I'd be happy
to talk about helping work toward some part of this goal. It's good to
see that other people are coming to the same conclusions.
I used to be angry with the whole human race about this, but now
I realize that we have been brainwashed from an early age to
participate in a consumer society. Some people are so deeply
involved with cars and other engines of destruction (like trail
bikes!) that it is impossible for them to hear your message, or
to imagine that wildlife might be valuable enough to be worth
limiting their sports activities. One thing seems certain - either
we'll have to wise up pretty soon or we're doomed - along with
a lot of other species, unfortunately.
Tue, 14 Dec 1999:
It is good to know that someone (besides me) cares what happens to the
environment. I get very sad & frustrated at all the ignorance &
destruction. Thanks for the hope.
Mon, 13 Dec 1999:
Subject: Re: Equal Access to Our Parks
Nice to hear from you. I love it.
Mon, 13 Dec 1999:
We noticed that you have great environmental content. We at the …
community would like to be linked to your site, to provide your users with
the opportunity to participate in opinion polls, a global green event
calendar, trivia quizzes, environmental non-profit action alerts and
features, personal profiles, and environmental feature stories, and much
more. We would be happy to link your site to our … database of
environmental web sites, viewable by our 700,000+ members.
Mon, 06 Dec 1999:
Subject: Re: Some mountain bikers create illegal trails to get a thrilling ride
Hi Mike
I really enjoy your posts and receiving your email, but I haven't had the
time to participate in the newsgroups as much as I would like because of
family and job. I hope to be posting soon though. Your bulldozer post was
just as good as the whipsnake. Please keep up the good work.
Mon, 29 Nov 1999:
Subject: Re: Equal Access to Our Parks
I'm surprised not to find this cc'd somehow to the mountain bike newsgroup (though perhaps I didn't search diligently enough). It certainly rehearses all the arguments made there in behalf of off-road biking. Keep up the good work.
Sun, 28 Nov 1999:
Subject: Re: Equal Access to Our Parks
This too funny!!
Have u wreck.bike posted this?
Sun, 28 Nov 1999:
Subject: Re: Equal Access to Our Parks
Very cute letter mike
Sun, 28 Nov 1999:
Subject: RE: Equal Access to Our Parks
Mike,
That was truly great! You actually send the letter?
PS: you know, who might enjoy publishing it is Wild Earth.
Sun, 28 Nov 1999:
Subject: Re: Equal Access to Our Parks
Thank you for sending this! I really liked it. Forwarded a copy to several "similarly-focused-folks".
Keep fighting the good fight!!!!!
Sun, 21 Nov 1999:
While I don't agree with you, I appreciate your thoughts and read your posts with interest.
Wed, 17 Nov 1999:
One of the things you'll need is a broader variety of damaged areas...
which is unfortunately widely available. I hike in an area of Alberta
called Kananaskis, what strikes me is the amount of hiking damage I see
as well. Combined underfunded trail maintenance and bad trail habits
and there is human damage where there are up to 8 braids across a meadow
or an 8 ft wide morass. I'm not convinced MB's are worse than hikers,
regardless, we are ?loving? nature to death. I don't agree with you on
some things but hafta respect effort for a good cause.
Sat, 13 Nov 1999:
I've become aware of you since subscribing to the mountain bike newsgroup. I must say I agree with your views probably completely, though I wonder why you bother with agitating that particular (or any other) newsgroup. You'll never change any of those "minds," if that indeed is your object.
Brownsville, Texas (where they're tearing the hell out of the environment)
Fri, 12 Nov 1999:
I wholly share you insights about nature's inability to cope with our human
intervention. I sometimes think we humans belong in a space ship where our
insane preoccupation with sterility can be managed without destroying other
organisms in the process. That is provided the space ship could not reach
other living planets.
Thu, 11 Nov 1999:
I am an environmental science teacher for seventh graders. I try to find
articles for my students to read about the environment that are appropriate
in length and level for seventh graders. I ran across your site and would
like to use your letters and know if you know of any other sites that have
articles on the environment to stimulate the reading of seventh graders.
Mon, 08 Nov 1999:
I read your idea about creating a wildlife habitat.
I am interested in learning more about it and what I can do
to help.
Mon, 08 Nov 1999:
Subject: Re: Motorizing Public Lands
It pleases me so that you send this information to me! There are so many
fronts upon which one must stay informed to "fight the good fight".
Fri, 29 Oct 1999:
Subject: Re: The Bay Area Ridge Trail
You are right again, proving a good principle is a powerful thing and
can be applied in many places. Ridgelines are incredibly special
places that people should visit only at certain points, not often, and
leave the rest for nature. They are the upper corollary of
the lower one, which is creeks and rivers and should be sanctuaries of
and for biodiversity and natural processes.
Mon, 25 Oct 1999:
Subject: RE: Mountain Biking Is Destroying Oakland's Parks!
I find it so very comforting to know that someone else in this area besides
me and Mike is outwardly concerned about mountain bikers taking over and
ripping up all trails as their "right." I can attest to the danger of
illegal biking. Last year I was hiking in the Arboretum (on trails
supposedly off limits to bikers) with my less-than-2-year-old son who loves
to explore along the trails. I had just picked him up from a steep section
of trail when a biker came ripping down the path. If my little boy had been
where he had been only seconds before, this biker never would have been able
to stop, and I shudder every time I think of the consequences. I yelled at
him, and he never even looked up.
The Coopers Rock hiking experience that I have long enjoyed is all but
destroyed for me and my family because of this group of damaging users.
They damage more than just the trails themselves. Instead of controlling
this use, managers through volunteers are actually promoting it! Very sad.
Mon, 25 Oct 1999:
I have just received your message. I am working on pilgrimages in Algeria
and France (I compare two pilgrimages). How can I help you (I am really not
sure that I can...) ? It seems that my fieldwork is very different of
yours. If you think that I can help you, we can look forward to staying in
touch
Sun, 24 Oct 1999:
Subject: Re: The Bay Area Ridge Trail
Who's behind this project? If they're disturbing designated wildlife,
I'd add my voice to your call for BALANCE.
Sun, 24 Oct 1999:
Subject: Re: The Bay Area Ridge Trail
For once, I must agree with you on this topic. Wouldn't you also think that,
even in places not off limits to people, that most private land limited in
access to but a handful of people, is better off in that state than even
so-called "wilderness" areas where thousands might traipse through every
year? In the case of the land my family owns in Napa County, very little
human presence occurs in the developed areas, such as the houses and along
the roadways, and once or twice per year when we cut firewood in certain
areas. Developed" is about 7-8%, versus the wider exposure of many so-called
wilderness areas to people, such as those run by the East Bay park district.
No sane property owner would also want thousands of people "hiking" with
their paraphernalia through their property every year. Would you? Let alone
the impacts on wildlife...
Otherwise, on most surrounding very little human intrusion actually occurs
compared to so-called parks, for example. Cattle ranching is quickly dying
out in the North Bay due to economic reasons, more than 90% in Napa County
during the last 20 years. No loss in my book. In my family's case, we've
also banned our relatives from straying off established trails on our
property with their machinery--as a practical matter, they don't come on our
land very often with these devices, since staying on the trail isn't "fun"
by their motorhead standards.
Sat, 23 Oct 1999:
Subject: Re: Mountain Biking Is Destroying Oakland's Parks!
Keep-up the good work Mike.
Sun, 10 Oct 1999:
We need you back. … misses your posts too.
Thu, 07 Oct 1999:
Subject: Re: Definition of Sustainable; should goals be achievable?
>>I know that this has been brought up before, but existing without
>>causing harm is impossible for any creature.
>
[me]:
>Of course, but what is important is to spend time and effort finding out
>exactly what harm we DO do. I rarely hear it discussed honestly. Rather,
>people glibly talk about living sustainably without really knowing what it
>means.
>
>> Therefore, your criterion is impossible to meet.
>
>It is (let's say, for purposes of argument) impossible to be perfectly
>honest, too, but that doesn't make it useless AS A GOAL. Sustainability is
>a great concept, and a great GOAL. I would rather not lower our goals, just
>because we don't yet know how to achieve them. ... The PROCESS of trying
>to live more sustainably, and learn what that is, is what is important.
>But simply saying it isn't possible, and defining something ELSE as
>"sustainable" seems cheap.
>
>> Therefore, it is not useful to me. But, if I can think
>>about not causing harm for about 200 years, and then the next
>>generation thinks about the next 200 years, etc. , perhaps we can
>>make a go of continuing on the planet.
>
>Maybe you just don't understand what I said. If you can live without
>causing harm for even ONE DAY, then I think you have the idea of
>sustainability. Then all you have to do is repeat it. The hard part is
>finding out, and facing, fearlessly, all the kinds of harm we do, and
>trying to excise them from our lives.
** I was going to argue in favor of …'s view, that any goal should
have at least a hope of being achievable, and that knowing your goal to be
impossible would be so depressing that it would be nearly useless,
ineffective as a goal to work towards because the knowledge that you could
never succeed would sap your energy and commitment.
** However, I read out the above exchange to my wife (before she left to
catch the bus to her work lecturing to physics students at Auckland
University), and she said she agreed with Mike.
After we had discussed it for a minute or two, she said "It's a bit
like a Christian trying to live without sin; you know you will probably
backslide, but you keep trying anyway".
Thu, 7 Oct 1999:
I enjoy your posts. Thanks.
Sat, 2 Oct 1999:
Hello, Mike!
I was searching the green pages, and really just by chance found your mail
here and all your other articles...
I agree very much with you.
I'm choosing my topic for some research - I'm post diploma student in
Ecology school here in Slovenia. I was thinking right about that - here in
our town we have some wetland - mixed river and sea water wetland, that is
extremely precious habitat for some very rare birds and some special very
rare halophyte plants. The nearest town Koper was very much against, they say
it is a source of mosquitoes and the drained land could be used for the port.
Some civil organizations had made a big effort so the State had protected a
piece of it as a natural park. But I'm afraid - when i saw the plans - they
are going to do some natural park for humans out of it that brings the
paths directly to the heart of the wildlife.
I'm going to write about that, so I'm looking for the bad and good
examples now in internet. Slovenia is so beautiful country, not very
polluted and populated, we still have big old forests with bears and wolfs
and all other animals, we have good laws and civil pressing for protecting
the nature, but I'm afraid there is not enough practice and knowledge to do
it right.
Sat, 18 Sep 1999:
Subject: Closing of Roads
I'm with you Michael. There is so precious few wildlife left in this
world we need to shut down a tremendous amount of back woods
roads. Twenty or thirty years ago I would take my family and head for the
mountains fishing. I used to drive way back in the woods where no one
else would hardly go. Oh, what a nice time we had. But the State barred
this roads and I was angry. Later I realized that that was the only way
to preserve nature and its environment. ----So, this is a letter saying
to keep up the good work.
Fri, 10 Sep 1999:
Subject: Preserving Culture vs. Preserving Biodiversity
Good thinking again as usual....
Wed, 07 Sep 1999:
Subject: Re: mtb free
BRAVO MIKE!!!!! For standing up and saying what needs to be said.
Fri, 03 Sep 1999:
Subject: Re: Sacred Lands and Human-Free Habitat
Dear Mike,
I think your idea is great, but premature. Right now, it's all we can do to save 5% of land for nature in the world (1% in India). The Resistance -- even to that -- from the social justice left and the wise use right -- is unbelievably strong and effective politically. Your idea is perfect for the 22nd Century, when the population is 1/5 of the current. Right now, I fear it will be counterproductive. I realize that this won't stop you.
I also like your idea of a ritual with infants. To me, that sounds more constructive, given the politics.
Keep on thinking.
Sat, 04 Sep 1999:
May I reprint your replies on the site?
I am going to add some of the others' too ….
Yours are exceptional. Thank you, Mike.
Fri, 03 Sep 1999:
I agree with you. What exactly do you want me to do?
Fri, 03 Sep 1999:
Thank you for your mailings--they provide an interesting perspective (and one much more in tune to my own thinking) from the greenwire service and other daily e-mail services. I hope you will continue to do so.
The message from the native american gentleman was quite stereotypical, and my own background in cultural studies twinged at his few hints of truth regarding our species-cides. Yet the makah hunting practices can never be justified in their methods. Years ago I linked native american to environmentalist, but I no longer draw this own stereotype. The times are a changing and all cultures from makah hunting to asian aphrodisiacs must be altered.
Fri, 03 Sep 1999:
>Subject: Re: Sacred Lands and Human-Free Habitat
Of course I'm interested. Tell me how I might help.
Tue, 31 Aug 1999:
I've had cat's run over BY CARS, paid out hundreds fixing them back up, I've had cats taken off me and put down (exterminated). I hate cars, I can't stand their fucking guts! Exhaust fumes and power plants freak me out, I tried like you to do something about it. Now every fucker in Britain is driving on "unleaded environmentally friendly petrol". I accomplished sod all I HATE CARS! Two of my cats have been run over, one died the other I paid to have his bone fixed and he got exterminated! Life is mad.
Sun, 29 Aug 1999:
Mike,
You are the man. Seriously, I think you're DAMN funny, and no one else seems
to appreciate your humor. Oh well, just thought I'd let you know. Talk to you
later!
Sun, 29 Aug 1999:
Subject: Re: A Wolf's Point of View
>From: …
>
>A wolf's point of view: I am Wolf. I am as old as
>the mountains I call home. I have walked this
>earth long before human beings. I have seen
>mountains grow from small hills, valleys form
>from small ravines and rivers born of trickling
>streams. I have walked with the great ones of
>eons ago, the Great Mammoth, Saber Tooth
>Tigers and many others who have long been lost.…
>~
>I have seen the beginning of mankind....
>~
>I am Wolf. I am a predator. A hunter. I hunt for
>food. I do not collect trophies to be mounted on
>the walls of my den. I do not hunt for enjoyment
>but out of necessity … for survival. I hunt to feed
>my children ... so they can one day walk upon
>Mother Earth and become part of the Circle of Life.
>~
>I am Wolf. I have watched for many years my
>hunting grounds diminish ... trees replaced by
>buildings ... game replaced by humans. I have
>been driven higher and higher into the mountains
>... yet the humans still come ... and I'm driven
>even farther from the hunting grounds of my
>father's father and his father's before him.
>Yet I survive. My children survive.
>~
>I am Wolf. I am a loyal, devoted and loving parent.
>Our children are our future ... just as human children
>are the future of all humans beings. I am protective
>of my children and take my responsibility of their
>nurturing as seriously as any human parent.
>I provide food for my children and provide them
>with a safe home until they are ready to walk
>their own path.
>~
>I am Wolf. I do not choose to hunt in the
>presence of humans, but I have been given no
>other choice. My land has been taken from me,
>and now so shall my life ... and the lives of my
>children and in doing so … our future is doomed...
>we will go the way of the old ones ... only in
>memories of distant pasts shall we live again.....
>~
>I am Wolf. Wolves are beauty without vanity ...
>innocence without naivete ...
>~
>We are one of the Creators children … and deserve
>to live our lives in peace…. We were created for a
>purpose ... and it was not to be hunted down
>and slaughtered.
>~
>I am Wolf. Tonight I will lay and sleep beside my
>mate and our children.... This may be the last
>night we will share together upon Mother Earth ...
>for tomorrow many of our brothers and sisters will
>be slaughtered and perhaps ourselves as well....
>Our songs will be only a distant memory ... fading
>into the past.
>~
>From,
>The heart of a Wolf...
>(Written by WeepingTree)
>~
>The End
Mike, thank you so much for this wonderful piece.
Best Regards and my congratulations to you on your determination and fortitude.
Sun, 29 Aug 1999:
>>[me] How can you detect when a mountain biker has no brain activity? When
>>their eyes are open? I have been trying for 6 years, but haven't been
>>able to detect any brain activity yet.
>
>LOL Please keep up the good work.
[me] Thanks. I think that humor is probably our most effective tool. It cuts through the Gordian Knot of "scientific" BS.
Mon, 23 Aug 1999:
I just wanted to tell you what a great job you are doing. Thank God there are people like us in this world. I am just now getting out here to read your articles. Keep up the wonderful work that you do!
the sidewalks, and make this place whole again.
Mon, 23 Aug 1999:
I am designing a web site now and I would love to put links on my site back to yours. I agree with your work.
Sun, 22 Aug 1999:
Mike, your efforts, and anecdote today, are deeply heartening to me.
For a long time -- and I have felt lonely in my viewpoint since most with whom I shared this view smiled as if I were silly -- I have wished that entire areas, such as Glacier National Park, could be closed to ALL humans.
For a long time, I have felt that I do NOT need to see the animals. All I need is to KNOW that they have their own spacious, free area.
Often, as I walk the sidewalks of Seattle, I imagine the wildlife -- the bears, birds -- and the trees and fauna -- that were here before the sidewalks. And I wish the earth could swallow
Fri, 20 Aug 1999:
My work with harbor seals at the mouth of the Russian River at … has convinced me of the need to create human-free habitat. I support that completely. What can I do?
Thu, 19 Aug 1999:
I would like to help you fight mountain biking, as a staunch Sierra Club supporter. I feel that it is the duty of everybody that gives two craps about this planet to do something about it. I have seen their kind in action and feel that they are a pall on the environment. Please tell me
Tue, 17 Aug 1999:
Certainly, I'd love to help. I have been trying to educate as well as agitate on the environment for years (thus involvement with the Greens) now I am running for City Council here in … (we are trying for a Green majority this year).
what I can do to help.
Sat, 14 Aug 1999:
You are a visionary of a survivable future. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the good work!
Sat, 14 Aug 1999:
I checked your two websites listed below - I like them. Why not add them to my list of science links on my … website (then you can give them a title of your choice, etc.)? I certainly need ecology links- most of the stuff is human biology thus far.
I think my colleague, who is big into ecology and environment, would be interested in your project, as I am more of a human biologist. His name is …. He might also help with grant ideas, etc.
Fri, 13 Aug 1999:
I wrote:
>Is it really a matter of precision? If so, "deep ecologist" seems fairly
>precise to me, at least as precise as deep ecology. What was his motivation?
I'm with you, Mike! Language changes. Language is not owned by anyone. We can refer to how different people use language, but it is always changing and growing, or it is dead.
Deep ecology, too is growing and changing. Deep ecologist brings certain thoughts to my mine - and that is the purpose of language. Language belongs to the people!!!!!
Fri, 13 Aug 1999:
Thank you for not driving a car!
Tue, 10 Aug 1999:
I guess I would say that I am trying to see the world from the
point of view of life in general. What is alive would prefer not to be
killed, I imagine. Death is part of life, however, and even a requirement
for the sustainability of life. We kill when we eat, take a breath, etc.
Life is a constant exchange of life for death, death for life (I like what
Gary Snyder has to say on this). So, Life is always in flux; but, in a
healthy state, there is a certain continuity and equilibrium--one that
depends on the flux. Well, this balance is upset. There is too much death
of everything. I see things from a human position but I don't think I put
humans at the certain of creation. I don't see why humans should be the
cause of so much death--of species and ecosystems. I don't see why we
should fetishize ourselves.
As for human-free habitat, I don't know and at this point don't care
whether this is the ultimate solution. My common sense tells me that the
more is protected, the better. Why should humans be everywhere, particular
in our current numbers and capacity? I don't know why people seem so
offended by this idea of human-free areas. Even if they are not perfectly
free from human impact (ie. pollution, acid rain, etc), isn't some
protection better than none? How else are we going to move in any positive
direction? So, I approve of your idea/project. I never go into wilderness
areas and rarely into semi-wild areas. I don't go out in nature much, come
to think of it, because I would like it to be there for its own sake and
there are too many people going already. So, I make the sacrifice. I walk
around areas of vegetation in my neighborhood and sometimes go to
State Parks, when there are few people there. I miss nature, and when I
feel really deprived I go replenish my senses.
I chose not to have children for analogous reasons. I do feel there are
too many of us, so I did the common sense thing. Is it a sacrifice? Yes,
in some sense it is. Do we think we are going to get out of this mess
without sacrifices?
I am a literary and film critic trying to get other people like me to think
and talk about the real important things: the preservation of the biotic
community. I am very well read in deep ecology, and in environmental
ethics, and all other approaches to radical ecology, but I cannot speak
from a scientific perspective. I know what I feel, what I believe, and I
would like to take action: to preserve ecosystems, to decrease human
population, to dismantle industrialization, to shatter globalization, to
establish small communities that live within the capacity of their
bioregions. These are my goals. IF they are achievable, it will take may
generations. But, it would be arrogant and dangerous of me to try to plan
out what life ought to be like in 50-75 years. I only know what I don't
like about the present and what I fear will happen if we continue on this
course. I don't know how to show others what I feel and believe.
I fully support your ideas--pure habitat, fighting auto dependence and road
construction--those are excellent and simple places to start. But I
suspect they represent too much of a sacrifice for people who, ultimately,
would like to be environmentalists without changing much about the way
they live.
Mon, 09 Aug 1999:
I wrote:
>I think that the best that we can do is to remove all
>nearby roads & trails, making access as difficult as possible, without
>added expense.
This is now practice in Tasmania for about 20% of the state (?) also add:
- non-publicity of wild areas.
- non-repair and non-replacement of structures.
I absolutely support the idea of human free wilderness.
Mon, 09 Aug 1999:
The ... Wilderness does help to protect native wildlife that is part of
the … ecosystem that straddles the … border. Most
of the area is protected fire origin or "virgin" old growth forests.
Portions of the ... Wilderness are, in fact, off limits to the general
public. Primitive management areas over parts of the wilderness where only
a handful of humans are allowed into annually, and those people are
required to jump through some very serious hoops to get in...
Much of the rest of the land area of this wilderness is de facto off
limits. Since most humans travel this area by canoe, and cross country
travel through these forests is nearly impossible for even the experienced
hiker, people do not get into 99% of the interior forests. By protecting
habitat, we are protecting wildlife. Sure, humans use it, but only in
limited numbers subject to quotas, permits, etc....
The ... Wilderness is managed under the 1964 Wilderness Act and 1978 ...
Wilderness Act. It is not managed as a US FWS wildlife refuge or wildlife
sanctuary. Maybe it should, maybe it should not.
But, take a look at some of the evidence. The ... Wilderness, in the
early 1970's, was the last place in the lower 48 where eastern timber wolf
lived. Now, we have over 2,500 wolves across … and they have
migrated to …. Other animals are doing very well here as well.
You cannot use mountain bikes in the ... Wilderness. They are illegal as
are any type of motorized or mechanized mode of transit other than canoes
and motorboats on a couple of lakes the area's lakes. Our group is
trying to eliminate those motorboats as well.
Sun, 08 Aug 1999:
I would also like to contribute my 2 cents to the ongoing discussion by
mentioning a book which I am reading by Scott Russell Sanders called
_Terrarium- in which one of the themes is the isolation of humans from the
rest of the biotic community so that it may "heal" from the poison dumped
on it by humans. The novel is frame as a Sci-Fi story taken place in the
1st half of the 21st century. All humans live in a human-made and
controlled environment called the Enclosure. One of the designers of this
brave new world had as her secret purpose the isolation of humans in this
artificial bubble so that the rest of nature, outside, might have a chance
to come back to health after it had been so used up and polluted by the
human cultures (civilization, as Daniel Quinn would put it) dominating the
planet in the 20th century. In a sense, this isolation of humans inside
the enclosure created the "pure habitat" of which we have been speaking on
this list.
The way I see it, this is not a perfect solution, but also perhaps one
hopeful action among many other types of hopeful actions that we
can/need to undertake. For me, the reasons to support the creation of
"pure habitats" are more compelling than the reasons to oppose it. I think
the Wildlands projects (updates on it come up frequently in Wild Earth)
is trying to achieve this. So, while I don't think that humans are
separate from nature, and while I do agree that the problem we are facing
to today can be expressed in terms of our disconnection and alienation, I
also think that we need to save habitat, ecosystems, biotic communities,
so that when/if our paradigm has changed from one of domination to one of
integration we may have a place to live. I also feel a great deal of pain
for the other lives on this planet and am so distresses that humans have
had the degree of negative impact on these lives that we have.
You probably will not encounter anyone who is more (or much more, at
least) of a neo-luddite and critique of the scientific paradigm as I am.
However, I think that what we need now most urgently is for folks like us,
that is, folks who are compelled to join such a list as this one, to find
commonalities, not differences. Imagine, if it is this difficult for
people like us to agree on what to do about our current ecological
holocaust, what must it be like for the politicians and other power
holding members of this uno mundo or ours?
Mon, 02 Aug 1999:
Great web Page. I am particularly interested in your book review of Forester.
Sat, 31 Jul 1999:
Yup, I check it [my home page] out and you've got some great stuff there!
Thanks for your webpage and all of your work.
Fri, 30 Jul 1999:
Great plan, how can I help? I am an Earth First! fighter displaced to the Midwest from the north coast, trying to get Mississippi River Revival (mostly water quality work) going in Illinois, has been going in
Minnesota and is doing a lot in Iowa, but really want more wilderness!
Fri, 30 Jul 1999:
I have 22 acres of land in what is rapidly becoming not country living. They are building all around us. I have 4 acres that are cleared around the house and out buildings. The rest remain in their natural state for the wildlife.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999:
I think what you are trying to do is great. There should probably be some natural areas on Earth that are, at least for the most part, free from man. Especially for those animals that struggle the most when present in the same ecosystem as man.
Wed, 21 Jul 1999:
Thanks for sharing your ideals throughout the mountain bike newsgroup (where
I first caught the link to your web site). I'm always tossing and turning
over the many issues regarding tread-lightly recreation, no-use wilderness
(Foreman's diametric ideas of core wilderness/primitive use/agriculural use,
expanding ever-so outward from that inner circle.), "educational wildlife"
and conflicts in captive-breeding programs. Every time I read the discussions
regarding climber's bolts and mountain biking ignorance, it sickens me that
those most connected to the outdoors speak and defend their right to simply
"play" so rigorously. Sort of like killing off and refusing to reintroduce
top-notch predators and claiming that "cleaning-out" deer populations by
hunting permits are the ONLY means. …. May I link to your web site from mine?
Mon, 19 Jul 99:
Your efforts are righteous; keep it up.
Thu, 15 Jul 1999:
Thank you so much for responding to my question about Japanese car industry and the environment. In the message that you wrote to me on July 12th, you asked me if I would want to help you creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans. Could you tell me how I can help you?
Wed, 14 Jul 1999:
I've been reading newsgroup flames directed at you for some time now...
and assumed, like everyone was saying, you were a crackpot. Interested,
I checked out your web page, and read many of your articles... and I can
find very little to disagree with. In fact, I feel exactly the same as
you on many of the issues, and learned quite a bit from their articles.
The problem: it was probably more happenstance than anything that I
went to your site. As I said, I assumed you were off your rocker based
on what the newsgroups were saying. Don't you think you are hurting
your cause more than helping by your posts. You have something valid
to say, yet you invalidate yourself to people right off the bat by, for
instance, applauding someone's injury.
I can understand that these issues are emotionally charged, and it is
tempting to respond in anger... but I really think that you'd get your
message to people a lot more effectively by being a little less
offensive. I also understand that there are some people, no matter how
logical and polite you are, refuse to listen to reason... perhaps you've
encountered one too many of these folks in your lifetime... but these
people aren't worth the keystrokes you waste on them... you only succeed
in alienating the bystanders reading the posts.
At any rate, I applaud your work... and have learned from you... I hope
you'll allow others that opportunity...
Wed, 14 Jul 1999:
I guess I see your angle... I don't know if it is the best one, but I
understand it... I don't presume everyone is honest (usually the opposite,
unfortunately) just as I don't presume everyone is intelligent and
reasonable...
I just think that someone entering a newsgroup and sees 4 or 5 messages in
a row giving instructions on "How to block MV posts" will get a first
impression about you from which they will never recover.
I share your frustration with off-road mountain bikers, ATVers, and
snowmobilers... I don't necessarily think these people have bad
intentions... I usually assume they are ignorant
I also see the struggle with trying to convince someone that conventional
thinking is sometimes wrong... how do you convince somebody that
auto-dependence is wrong who has no interest in listening to you because
they have 2 cars in their yard... I've tried, in person... and failed I
think... but I think a bigger failure would have been to piss those people
off, and have them immediately discount what you have to say from that
time forward... perhaps a newsgroup is a different forum than one-on-one
communication...
Anyway, I suppose neither of us has the communication solution, but at
least we recognize the problem.…
Mon, 12 Jul 1999:
I am doing a major assignment for the school certificate on the damage
in the bush, possibly linked to mountain bikers. I was wondering, is there
any information, links or contacts you could give me?
yours,
Sun, 11 Jul 1999:
I'm glad there are people like you who "do" instead of just talk
environmentalism.
The part I play in this task is embarrassingly small compared to you. I
just take a trash bag with me when I walk in the woods, by river banks,
etc.
In past years I thought technology was the answer for the future, now
I'm scared of it too.
If YOU really want to be scared, check out the search for anti-gravity
machines. A Finnish scientist named Podkletnov came up with the
potentially ultimate earth destroyer.
(Maybe you shouldn't, I think you're carrying too much now)
Please don't be so hard on others though. Their thinking may be linear
and less logical, but they mean well.
A sometimes admirer
Sat, 10 Jul 1999:
Subject: Re: Mountain Bikers Think Violence Is the Answer to Every Problem
You are so fast and so funny. The first thing I do when I get on the internet
is to check out your posts. Thanks for all the entertainment and I, for the
most part, agree with you.
Fri, 09 Jul 1999:
I would love to help. I checked out your sites and it would be appreciated if
you send me some more information how to help your idea for the animals
(pure habitat).Please write back, I'm am very interested in helping.
Fri, 09 Jul 1999:
Subject: Areas which are off limits to humans
Just wanted to say that I totally agree with your views on this subject,
although I am only young and often called naive, it is mine and future
generations who will be able to bring these views to life, if society
will change with the changing views, and learn not to be so selfish!
How we decided that we owned this planet is beyond me and I think
it is about time we returned some of it to nature. If there is anything
I can do to help you on this crusade, e-mail me on
Mon, 05 Jul 1999:
Subject: I have had the pleasure of reading your ideas on the net
before the webtv net
I read the issues that face us
I really think you need to work for zoning for rugged areas
places where the public does not intrude
like forest rangers we need to preserve our wildlife
it takes a real brain to see clearly
what laws need passing
Fri, 02 Jul 1999:
Your web page rules
We have a problem here in …. The highway people are getting $250 million from the federal govt to renovate the I-25. There's a bicycle underpass that i and others use to get from uptown to downtown. They want to shut the underpass and send us a few miles uphill and around. Fuck that.
I'm a lawyer (used to do transactional work, now I represent accused criminals, some very, very bad drivers), but I have zero experience in highway litigation; I would like to get hooked up with other attorneys or groups or anyone who ha been involved in highway litigation.
Can you please point me in the right direction?
Thu, 1 Jul 1999:
let me know what I can do to help you out.
Fri, 18 Jun 1999:
I just read your article forwarded to one of the Makah Whaling chat
groups regarding jet skis. I agree.
When I lived in Colorado (1975-1990) I questioned snowmobiles in the
wilderness area.
I am frustrated by how busy our nation has become and how indifferent to
our environment especially all animals. I work in a group who promotes
animal disaster preparedness and first aid CPR for domestic animals and
livestock. I had to push to get anyone to agree that we also need to
address wildlife in our education as they will also be affected. What I
have encountered while doing public education is that basically the more
responsible an animal owner is period, the more likely they will to care
and plan. I have been reading sociology books on how to affect behavior
change as I know my road is a long one.
We have become a nation of "now" and "entertain me" and no consequences.
It is a disposal word to many, including our wilderness and wildlife.
How affective have you been in your campaigns and generically what have
been your hurdles and victories?
Thank you for your work.
Wed, 09 Jun 1999:
I am in general agreement with you, not with Michael.
I was a very active environmentalist in southern Utah during the 70s. I
am opposed to turning federal land over to private entrepreneurs. The
land is owned by all citizens of the U.S., not the politically connected
folks in Utah, and should remain that way. As an environmentalist I
engaged in several battles over wilderness and wildlife (I think I had a
lot to do with the ban on -- was is compound 1080? -- anyway, the coyote
killer. I was about to establish a list of species that were actually
being killed by the baits, as opposed to the theoretical success in
nailing coyotes. Just about the time I was to obtain data to that
effect, the ban was announced.
Anyway, I'm pretty impatient with theoretical matters. I have put my
weight behind pro-environmental issues in the past, not without success,
and may do so again. But I'm not inclined to discuss God's will, or
argue with my son. The latter accomplishes nothing at all, nor for that
matter does the former.
At any rate, keep up the good work.
Wed, 09 Jun 1999:
You're right about this. The evidence clearly shows that virtually every
time humans have colonized a new geographical area (especially islands, but
also continents) this colonization has been accompanied by a wave of
extinctions.
Mon, 07 Jun 1999:
I am with you philosophically on most of the points you make.
Mon, 07 Jun 1999:
Michael: Thanks for the in depth comments. I personally agree with most of
your points.
Sat, 05 Jun 1999:
I love your contributions. Poked around your site again the other day.
Expanded my description of your site a bit on the members site list on the
http://www.stopwhalekill.org Web site.
If you ever want to add one of your articles, statements, etc. to the site,
let me know.
Fri, 04 Jun 1999:
my name is …, i largely lurk, and enjoy your commentary very much.
Sun, 03 Jan 1999:
Message: You are on the right track. You annoy people. I guess that is good.
Many species of plants and
animals could benefit from an admission of the truth, that is that we humans are
now overpopulated. Therefore we destroy habitat. Therefore we extinct
100-200 species each and every day. Does that bother you?
This never ceases to amaze me. How simple it would be if we could make this
one fundamental and necessary step. Without this admission as the starting point, nothing
substantive can be done.
Human Overpopulation is the cause.
Why is it so difficult to admit?
I have been waiting thirty some odd years. I am not optimistic that anything will
change except that the rate of destruction will increase.
Thu, 03 Jun 1999:
I saw your photos. Did you teach at the school? You look as if you are teaching. You are smart and must have many things to teach.
Tue, 1 Jun 1999:
I am very curious to learn more about your wildlife habitat. What are you
doing to create this? Where would this be?
Mon, 31 May 1999:
Mike's arguments take the high ground. And the attitude he cites, "Humans
always come first!", is especially frustrating to me. It is egocentric and,
ultimately, incorrect. From my observations and reading, animals have it
over us in most categories of behavior and emotion.
Mon, 31 May 1999:
You've got a great site with lots of information
Sun, 30 May 1999:
Would you like to write something for the magazine? Or submit a previous
letter/article you've written? :)
Wed, 26 May 1999:
Thanks for your e-mail. I have wandered around a bit
on your site, and I find your articles interesting. We
are going to set up a resource for a car-free city
here in Gothenburg, Sweden. When we are finished, we
can link to you.
Wed, 26 May 1999:
Now, there are so many links that I could not see whether you added us, but
if you check the bottom of the main page for our site,
http://sunsite.auc.dk/sound_transport/, you will see that you are there.
Tue, 25 May 1999:
Vandeman is a self-described "deep ecologist" somewhere to the left of Dave
Foreman.
Tue, 25 May 1999:
Your posts are always worth reading, and I even like writing
comments when I think they are useful to authority figures.
So, yeah, keeping areas roadless is an interest of mine--
Sun, 23 May 1999:
I think your cause is worthy and no doubt one day will grow rapidly when
people wake up. I presume sooner or later people will wake up.
I'll add a link to you, too, when I update my links.
Wed, 19 May 1999:
As for support. . .I think it's more a matter of tolerance than support, really. He understands my love of nature and shares it to a certain extent, but he's a suburb boy at heart, and while I grew up in the 'burbs, I'm definitely a country girl at heart. That's why it's so nice to "talk" with you - you're the first person I've "met" who seems to feel as passionately as I do about these things. While people I talk to agree about the need for preserving wildlife/nature, it's always in the form of "as long as it doesn't impinge on my 'right' to build this or that, destroying this wetland on MY property or tearing down these trees to have a lush green lawn so I can spend every Saturday manicuring it, putting poisons on the grass to make it green." Thanks for letting me know that I'm not alone in my thinking, which makes it less likely that I'm crazy! (smile)
If there's anything you can think of that I can do to make these dreams a reality - locally, or otherwise - fill me in. I've begun training (minimally) for riding across America for fundraising, but my vision is a LONG way from becoming a reality. For one thing, I'll have to wait until I'm done with school (in 2 1/2 years). But, I'd like to start doing things now, if you have any ideas, or can think of any way I can help you in your endeavors to educate the world (literally!).
Take care. Keep in Touch (KIT). I'd like to know who things go in Scotland.
Tue, 18 May 1999:
Still have an ad for you up on the community notice board.
Keep up the good work.
Tue, 18 May 1999:
I do believe this is what people call a recognition of your soul mate. . .I read your article "Wildlife and Ecocity" from your web page and just laughed at how passionate you are, because you said exactly what I've been preaching for years - at least since I was in high school. Unfortunately, it's been mostly to deaf ears and I have been accused of being idealistic by the kindest of my critics and stupid or crazy by the blindest of them.
Just some things that struck me from the article:
By the way, I wonder why vegetarians feel that killing animals is worse than killing plants. - my sentiments exactly!
For its sake, I hope that we never find life on other planets! - I must admit, I'm interested in finding out about other life that I know must be out there, but like you, hope we never find it, because we have no idea how NOT to destroy life.
in Australia, aborigines help manage the national parks (in conjunction with the federal government) - of course, we have put our native peoples onto reservations to live in poverty and not encourage them to use their gifts to help us (and vice versa)!
Only research will tell, but since we really don't have time or resources for all that research, erring on the side of caution (i.e., disturbing wildlife habitat as little as possible) would seem to be the wisest approach - Unfortunately, nearly everyone says, in the name of "progress" we must do it unless someone can prove to us that it will be harmful (of course by that time it's too late).
the most disabled human is still better off than many species of wildlife, which are going extinct - most definitely!
why fill up our parks with the very things (humans and human artifacts) that we go there to get away from (seeking respite from)? - Exactly! And it's not just in parks that people do that - they move out to the country to get away from it, but then complain about not having the bike trails, the curbs and sidewalks, etc., and make the country into the suburb that they said they wanted to get away from, leaving no room for those who really do want to get away from that garbage.
should not be killed unnecessarily (i.e., without good cause) - Of course, you must be aware that everyone has a different idea of what good cause is - most people think good cause is killing an animal because it ate their leaves (which is what the animal was designed by God to do!!!) IDIOTS
The Diversity of Life - a book we used in my college curriculum
Should Trees Have Standing? Toward Legal Rights for Natural Objects - a book on my shelf
Anyway, your article cracked me up because . . . it's me! In answer to your question, I'm in Virginia. By the way, my husband and I did the same thing in our backyard - only it was the entire yard that we let run wild, untouched by man. What happened? We got a letter from the town that neighbors complained that the yard would bring rodents and should be cut (idiots!). It wouldn't have bothered us, except that the letter was sent to the owner of the house (we were renting) and she insisted it be cut. But, I actually read in a book or magazine about some woman who let her yard grow naturally and the neighbors came and cut it when she wasn't around. She sued them for destroying "her property" (I agree, we cannot own land or animals - that's an insane idea - they are gifts entrusted to our care), which had rare plants and flowers growing on it. She won!!!
Just for your encouragement!
Mon, 17 May 1999:
nice site
Mon, 17 May 1999:
Read a post of yours on ba.transportation, and looked at some of your web
page essays. Glad to find another car-free person. You would think in the
Bay Area, where we have BART and mild weather, there would be more of us.
Alas...
I would love to create wildlife habitats that are off-limits to humans. The
question is - where to start?
Sun, 16 May 1999:
I'm glad to know some people are already working in that direction. I'm
not alone anymore. We should gather each other and organize some huge
meeting downtown large cities to make gov't move.
Sun, 16 May 1999:
I just got hooked up to the internet two days ago and don't really know much
(anything about it), but I saw your note on the newsgroup regarding creating
habitat that was off limits to humans and asking for help. So, I thought
I'd give this internet/e-mail thing a try and respond to something that
really hit home.
I got the idea about three years ago to buy a bunch of land somewhere and
create a Christian wildlife refuge that would be off-limits to humans.
There would be one building on the edge of the refuge to bring hurt animals
that would be rehabilitated by a volunteer corps/vet to be released into the
refuge. The refuge would be funded privately by Christians of all
denominations. Recently, I got the idea of how to raise the funds - have a
bike-a-thon from coast to coast, giving talks and raising funds at churches
across America and having a hike-a-thon along the entire AT doing the same
thing. It's a somewhat complicated schedule, etc., but that's the gist of
it. The long and short of it is - I am interested in your endeavor to
create a wildlife habitat that is off limits to humans.
My background: I have a BS degree in wildlife science and am working on my
Masters of Divinity (working towards ordination). I'd love for you to send
me information on your work towards helping the animals and the environment.
Wed, 21 Apr 1999:
As soon as I start spending more time on my tiger site I'll be sure to add
some info about your pages and information. I think it would be nice to see
more people take a look at your ideas.
Tue, 20 Apr 1999:
I must say, I am truly amazed at all the speeches you have done over the
years! And the number of useful links you have is absolutely incredible. I
wish I could say I put even a little of the effort into environmental
concerns that you do. I'd love to help in any way I can, just let me know.
Unfortunately for my own site, I don't seem to have much time to keep the
information up to date these days...which means I have no web links I can
share with you.
I'd love to hear more about your specific project of creating a human-free
wildlife habitat. Do you have any information I could look at?
Mon, 19 Apr 1999:
Yes you can add the … web page to your links list and when I
get around to doing our I will add yours as well. As you can see I am late
in e-mail responses. Cheers and keep up the good work.
Fri, 16 Apr 1999:
My deepest sympathy for the loss of Bob. Bob and Joe sound like my
sister's cats Mr. Tubby (Green Cat) and Bruce (Orange Cat) and your
site made me a little emotional (I've had too much to wine this
evening) - I hope Joe is well!
Sun, 18 Apr 1999:
I like your web pages, you were right!! Please feel free to link to us
and if you would be so kind as to contact … and give him the
information he would need to link us to you. I think we have a mutual
goal in sight. Also another good contact is LandWatch at landwatch.org.
Fri, 14 May 1999:
Subject: Re: Fighting Mountain Biking?
Mike, I would be interested in knowing a little more about what you have
been working on.
Sounds interesting.
Sat, 10 Apr 1999:
Subject: Re: Creating Human-Free Habitat, the Hard Way!
great article Mike. Thanks.
Mon, 5 Apr 1999:
Keep fighting the eco-vandals ....!
Just read your diatribe re bicycles. Give 'em hell.
Wed, 31 Mar 1999:
I moderate another List, the EcoSpirituality Network. I freely use many
thoughts and ideas that I learn from all of you Deep Ecologizers. I know
Mike will probably hate this but I often see him as a prophet of old. They
all had big mouths and all said unpopular things and most of them were
hated and (sorry Mike) most of them (we live in better times) were even ut
to death.
Because Mike is constantly determined and unchanging and uncompromising, he
finally gets through to many of us who sit and listen. I have changed many
of my views over the months as a result of his doggedness. I don't think
that I could take him as a friend but he is the type of prophet I prefer.
Careful Mike! Day after tomorrow is Good Friday! :<)
Wed, 31 Mar 1999:
Anyway, thanks so much for continuing your support for wild spaces and
wild creatures. A little more wildness (and a lot less of this false
civility we hide behind) wouldn't hurt any of us.
I just want you to know that I, too, like …, have learned from you, and I appreciate your contributions to the listserv for that reason.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999:
I agree with you 100%!
Sat, 27 Mar 1999:
With this missive, I'm asking my engineer to build a link to your
Web site. I hope that will help your cause.
Fri, 26 Mar 1999:
good for you and thank you for doing it
Mon, 29 Mar 1999:
would, of course, love to hear more about your habitat project. carry on!
Sun, 21 Mar 99:
I really could relate to the message you sent me on Wildlife needing habitat
off-limits to humans. Through the years I have often thought of man's
backwardness in having the foresight in this area and wishing we could turn
back the clock to plan a connecting wildlife system. I also recall when I was
on the Board of Directors Nominating Committee back in 1994 and we interviewed
David Foreman. We got into a long, very interesting conversation about
connecting wildlife corridors across the United States and how it wasn't too
late to attain this goal. In fact, did you see the "Wild Earth" Winter 98/99
issue where the publication is dedicated to...."A Wilderness Revival"? David
Foreman is also a part of the "Wildlands Project" and the publisher of the
"Wild Earth" publication. In all of their issues there are fabulous ideas and
articles on this very topic. If you haven't seen the publication and would
like to...I could try and have a copy forwarded to you.
These are just the things I want to see the Sierra Club join forces with other
groups to promote. Just yesterday I chaired a networking meeting her in
Western Michigan with the other environmental groups. One of the areas we
are moving forward in to make a difference here in … is the issue
of Urban Sprawl. One statistic brought out yesterday in our discussions was
the blacking of America rather than the greening of America. I was astounded
to hear...that for every one car that is owned by us here in the States...
..there are 7 parking spots to go with it. How disturbing...that we have
given such priority to this asphalt wasteland in our society. It is the
vision of John Muir, David Brower, Dr Ed Wayburn, Dave Foreman...and many of
us working on the grassroots levels to further the inspiration of working
towards a contiguous inter-connecting habitat to protect our wildlands for
wildlife preservation....which ultimately also promotes man's existence.
Thanks again for your informative article. Sorry I wasn't able to answer
right away but I've had so many calls and email messages to respond to....in
regards to my bid for the Board of Directors. But this is good...that in-
individuals are interested and are making educated votes in selecting our Board
members.
Sun, 21 Mar 1999:
Great letter, did you write it or is it from someone else?
I totally agree with human free spaces. I think a few things mentioned in
your letter are questionable like that bears avoid going on roads, I keep
seeing bear shit on roads when in bear country. Its a long letter ya!
I was not left with an idea of how to enforce human free Zones and how much
space. I would want to give them all the space but that would mean that we
all die first :-)
We are having the same response from cyclists against car free spaces. they
say that its impossible in already developed cities, we say there are many
examples that we could use if we wanted to in the first place. I checked
out your web and its great work.
What is your solution to people who like to mountain bike in nature? they
say they are fixing trails, I don't know if they can do that in a friendly
way. Is zero tolerance an option? What does WC2 Wilderness Committee say
about this issue?
When I see a bike on a trail I see big splash and erosion follows. Not to
mention what it does to the machine. What does Allison Sydor say about this
issue? She might give you some campaign money.
Sun, 21 Mar 1999:
We always find the information that you are filtering to be really
interesting. Your focus has to do with our issue in that we also take an
ecosystem view of the problem we are facing here outside of Yellowstone,
which is that buffalo are not protected on their critical winter habitat
outside of the park.
Sun, 21 Mar 1999:
I really appreciate your sendings, even though I have such a cluttered life that I haven't been able to participate/contribute.
Keep em coming & some day soon I'll have my life sufficiently in order to do
something more than print off your best communiques.
Fri, 19 Mar 1999:
Good luck with your work.
Thank you for your tireless effort to help preserve our natural environment.
Fri, 19 Mar 1999:
We're focussing on positive environmental success stories that we discover
as we cycle the planet. You'll notice that we added a link to your webpage a few years back.
Tue, 16 Mar 99:
Dear Goddess!
Do I read this right??!! I am so sick of hearing about saving endangered
species, while slaughtering other wonderful beings, like cows and
chickens, and justifying it because there are so many of them. Each and
every life is one that I hold sacred. And now I have scientific evidence
for the rightness of my view? I go to bed a happier woman.
Bless you!
Tue, 16 Mar 1999:
You may remember that we once corresponded long ago!
I am still an admirer of your commitment and work and I am asking now
if you could provide me with the latest details on your 'reclaim the
wilderness' (as it were) campaign.
Specific questions being what is your stance on biosphere reserves?
What do you define as wilderness?
What is your overall goal in roadless ATV free areas?
I ask because I am preparing a seminar on biosphere reserve systems
and I would like to incorporate your work into a perspective on
biospheres and preservation of wilderness qualities.
If you could do this soon I would be happy!
Tue, 16 Mar 1999:
Thank you for your prompt response. We now have you placed in the position
of honor on our "Top Dogs" page for the recipients of our Earth/Animal
Friendly Site Award. You can view your link at: … Thank you for being
such a concerned individual.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999:
I agree with the setting aside of wilderness areas for wildlife alone
where human encroachment is prohibited
Sun, 14 Mar 99:
The first line that comes to mind is "We're not the only species on
earth, we just act like it." The idea that somehow we have the RIGHT to
go anywhere and do anything and because we are natural creatures then we
are part of nature and it is okay is exactly the message that Rush
Limbaugh was spouting a few years back. Our capacity for destroying the
entire planet is staggering. Other living beings on this planet have the
same RIGHT to live unencumbered by humans that Blacks have to live
unencumbered by Whites.
I see AIDS and ebola and other such illnesses as Mother Nature's attempt
to fight back. These diseases weren't there until we started destroying
the jungles in South America and Africa. There are just too many of us,
we are too destructive, and war doesn't seem to be an effective
population control factor anymore. As long as Marie Osmond can get on
television and brag about being pregnant with her seventh child and not
be screamed off stage by people who are incensed that she is so selfishly
using up the planet's resources, we as a species are in trouble and are
troubling. Other species have a natural territory. We had better stick
to our territory and leave other's territories to them.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999:
The continuality of a sustainable society troubles me. The achievement of a sustainable state is one thing yet its continuality seems assured only by that continual presence of a population that is continually aware of and concerned with acting on its maintenance.
I agree with your observation that our presence is most destructive to wild life. Yet somehow it seems every generation will need the experience of individual interaction in order to continually reaffirm its emotional importance to it and its responsibility to that maintenance.
Have you given any thought to how the assurances of continuality might be put in place?
Can a respectful level of interaction be maintained?
Mon, 08 Mar 1999:
Subject: Re: "Go ATV'ing in Mongolia !"
I agree. What shall we do about it?
Mon, 08 Mar 1999:
Thank you for you recent messages.
I like your message to the "Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable
Development," especially the statement about the importance of wildlife.
Good job!
I thought that your observation about a tree and its dead leaves was
profound. The lesson there, as I see it, is that human communities can only
be sustainable for a long period if humans participate in a world that
includes all of Nature's processes, instead of separating ourselves from
Nature and working against it. The more we stifle Nature, the more our own
lives are diminished and our futures compromised.
Sat, 06 Feb 1999:
You are doing wonderful things and have made a lot of sacrifices.
Fri, 29 Jan 1999:
thanks for your information. I will pass it on to our students, who will
be interested in your work.
Wed, 27 Jan 1999:
I have read a few more of your articles and so far have found nothing with
which I can disagree. It's refreshing to meet someone who stands up for what
he believes in and is not afraid to express his views to others. I will use
some of your material to add to my letters including one to the … Park
administrators here about mountain bikes. As I said, I never really saw
bikes in quite the way I had seen jet skis, ATVs, cars and etc. Fortunately,
many of the places I hike cannot be used by bikes. I have also likened some
of our national parks to "Disneyland" like as well. I participated in the
Grande Canyon study to eliminate cars there and hopefully this will happen.
Unfortunately, this Grande Canyon Village atrocity meant to replace activity
on the S. rim is clearly going to be an even worse "Disneyland" than is
there already. A relatively new park called "Canyonlands, Island in the Sky"
in southern Utah, is quite primitive. A limited # of cars are allowed, but
no RVs or other motorized vehicles. Only tent camping is allowed. I was
amazed at just how remote and un-Disneylike this park was. It was there I
saw my first bighorn sheep. I'll never forget that experience!
... I also saw pictures of a lovely little cat on your website. Is this your
cat? I have three cats and my life revolves around these wonderful
creatures. In fact, the main reason I now work part-time is so I can spend
more time with my cats. Most people find this a bit strange, but I wanted to
spend as much time with them before they die (since some cats don't live
that long). However, I did have one that I had to put to sleep at 25 years!
… (my newest stray) are the joy of my life and a
welcome relief from the anxieties of this increasingly depressing
anthropocentric world.
Thanks again for the insight.
P.S. I also work for scorpion rights. People actually go out in Phoenix with
black lights at night to locate them and smash them with hammers. I rescue
them whenever I can and try to educate people about scorpion rights. Other
animals like these usually have no advocates since they are not considered
"cute". I also make a point to refer to non-human animals as "other animals"
so as to remind people that we are also animals.
Wed, 20 Jan 1999:
I friend told me about your web site and I've been reading some of your
comments. I agree with you and am deeply concerned about autos and their
impact on our lives. I am also a bicycle advocate as well and am trying
to switch over to my bike exclusively. Getting others to appreciate this
is most difficult. However, the problem as I see it is human
overpopulation. The impact of humans, whether it be with the numbers of
autos or number of mountain bikes on the hiking trails is all tied to
numbers of our own arrogant species - Homo stupidiens. The problem for
all other animals (and for us) is too many of our own anthropocentric
species. Until this problem is addressed, I cannot see the impact of
autos (due to increasing numbers) and our other destructive habits on
our environment lessening.
In educating others, I focus on this human overpopulation issue and come
at it from an evolutionary perspective. People feel disconnected from
"how things came to be this way" and often, if you can make them see how
they evolved, they begin to see things differently. I usually start by
handing them a copy of "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn and simply saying "read
this". If this starts them thinking, then I recommend others such as
"The Arrogance of Humanism" by David Ehrenheld and ultimately, Garrett
Hardin's works which are excellent (i.e. "Tragedy of the Commons").
Amazingly, I have had some luck in changing people's attitudes about
other animals and their environment, and have even had converts to
vegetarianism after just a little indoctrination.
Changing the way people think is a difficult task, but understanding why
we think the way we do is a good starting place. E.O. Wilson understands
this best and conveys the ideas brilliantly in his newest book
"Consilience". Behavior can often be tied to brain wiring and I am sure
you can appreciate this being in psychology. It may be a fixation with
autos now, but this may well be an exhibition of a behavior that
evolved over the last 4 million years. I do not hold much hope, but my
concern for other animals and the pain I suffer due to their suffering
is so great, I can only keep trying.
I am always pleased to find others out there who feel the same way I do.
Tue, 19 Jan 1999:
Mike, I've got 2600 acres permanently closed to vehicles and machines and another 800 coming on line during the next 2 months.
Sun, 10 Jan 1999:
if interested I should check out your site?? or you will email me more
details on what you do to help these cats... I'd definitely like to put
a link on my page to you.
but of course, if there is anything I can do to help, I would like to!