Re: [Paddlewise] PWCs

> Date:          Wed, 15 Jul 1998 22:38:42 -0700
> From:          Brian Heath <bheath_at_televar.com>
> To:            Paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:       [Paddlewise] PWCs

>     The issue is the purpose of a National Park, not whether or not jet
> skis have motors or whether their owners are irresponsible.  The
> National Parks in most countries exist to preserve and protect and make
> available to humans the diversity of the natural world.  If  human
> inventions do that, they are accommodated or at least tolerated.
> Examples:  River rafts to assist people looking at the Grand Canyon;
> Jet boats to assist people looking at Hells Canyon; Cars to assist
> people exploring Yosemite -- looking from the car and driving to trail
> heads;  Kayaks and Canoes to assist people exploring various places;
> Snow mobiles to make exploration of the natural diversity possible in
> Yellowstone in the winter.  I do not agree that all these are the best
> or even reasonable ways to learn about and enjoy the natural
> environment.  But I believe that is their justification.
> 
>     Now a device -- a jet ski -- is invented for the sole purpose of
> going zoom.  National Parks do not exist for people to go zoom.  If jet
> skiers could convince us that their devices were necessary to get to
> trail heads, or to watch grizzley bears, they might be able to make a
> case.  But the best case I hear is that the Park is a nice backdrop for
> going zoom.  Well National Parks are also nice backdrops for golf,
> skiing, football, drag racing, summo wrestling, hang gliding, target
> practice, steel manufacturing, and war games. We could build golf
> courses and football stadiums and factories in Yosemite and Yellowstone
> and Jasper.  But being a nice back drop is not sufficient
> justification.  The activity has to relate to the park's natural
> environment and or to humans relating to that environment.
> 
>     I agree that jet skis might be great fun and can be used
> responsibly.  That does not justify their use in a National Park.  It
> probably does justify their use in what in the USA we call National
> Recreation Areas, which are run by the Park Service.  Those areas should
> 
> give the Jet skiers and hang gliders and sail boaters plenty of places
> to play.  Motors may intensify conflicting uses.  But the presence or
> absence of motors is not the deciding factor in their use in National
> Parks.
> 
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>      If Gengis Khan and Attila the Hun were alive today, they would 
have jet skis and snowmobiles, and would take them to our national 
parks.
         Brad Crain
**********************************************************************
Bradford R. Crain                             E-mail: brad_at_mth.pdx.edu
Dept. of Mathematics                          Phone: (503) 725-3127
Portland State Univ.                          FAX:   (503) 725-3661  
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Or. 97207
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