(snip-complete message from George, follows) > We *DO NOT* have some "right" to be here --regardless of what you > see on the Jeep SUV ads on television. George, It would seem that since we are also creatures native to this planet (no flames from those who think we descended from space aliens :-) we have as much right to be anywhere on the earth as any other creature. Because we have a "big" brain just gives us the added responsibility of making sure we don't infringe on the rights of the other creatures. If we don't have this right, who is responsible for parceling out the favor of visiting a certain place? I sure hope it's not your organization. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder. Dave Baughman San Francisco Bay area -------------------George's complete message------------------------- We *DO NOT* have some "right" to be here --regardless of what you see on the Jeep SUV ads on television. Let's remember that it's impossible to paddle ANYWHERE without making an ecological impact. Waterfowl flee from kayaks when we're half a mile away. Sunday Dave and I were standing behind a grassy bank, fairly well concealed and perhaps three-quarters of a mile away from two eagles and other wildlife. A wide channel of water separated us. The animals all became aware of us and fled the area. Wildlife flee the area just like war refugees flee an invading army. Like refugees, they give up their homes and neighborhoods. The invading armies destroy the area and make it uninhabitable. We CANNOT move through an area without having an impact. We DO NOT have some intrinsic right to invade habitat. One may think one's paddling is stealthy and careful, but that attitude is demonstrative of the arrogant mindlessness of those "caring" types who don't think they're having an impact on the ecology. NO. . . it's not an oil spill, strip mining, hydro-electric dams, or whaling. But kayaking is hardly habitat friendly or ecologically nurturing. Getting past this denial is a first step toward recovery. Excuse me if this sounds like a flame. It's meant to sound like a nuclear warhead. "Ecotourism" is a god-damned oxymoron. -------------------George's complete message------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 22 1998 - 14:35:34 PDT
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