Week 9 - Ecosystems & Deep Ecology

1. the "Eight-point Deep Ecology Platform" - How do I think about it?
2. Explain why ecosystems are both "strong and fragile".
3. How would you assess the "end goals" of Social Ecology?

1.
I agree with the proposed ideas but upon discussing them with my friend, we both found number 5. to be particularly narrow in it's view of the possibilities of the situation. We both felt that these points are assuming a moral stance that is basically unnecessary - "Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs" - How can we say who has or does not have a right to be or do something? Perhaps it isn't about whether or not we have a right but more about how our interconnectedness and mutual engagement with our world and ourselves reflects our view of ourselves in the world. How we are in the world becomes how are world is for us.

Also troubling is the idea that human life is required to be reduced in order for non-human life to flourish. Couldn't we alter our way of being in the world to allow for us all to enjoy abundance and health? Yes, we need to alter our lifestyles on a massive scale but I question the idea that this change also includes a reduction in our numbers.

These ideas have come out of a very Christian, god-the-great-judge view of reality that almost wants to reverse upon itself and completely punish humanity for its path. This is based on guilt and shame and quickly becomes anger, frustration, and self-righteousness. I think that these ideas have since evolved into a more egalitarian, impartial, and open view of our situation. If not, then I would hope to see people critiquing these ideas.


2.
Eco-systems are both strong and fragile:
Strong:

• dynamic living meta-systems of micro-systems that can handle fluctuation and variation
• embedded in the natural world, which is self-sustaining and highly proficient in processing materials and various forms of energy

Fragile:

• dynamic and interconnected living system in which the damaging of one element can harm the well-being of the entire system
• passive and 'help-less' systems of living and non-living beings that cannot protect themselves from massive environmental changes brought on by human activity

3.
The end goals of social ecology (in my own conception/interpretation) :

• to realign the human being within its cosmological and environmental context such that it co-exists to generate harmonious relationship; to heal
  
• to navigate the human species and the living and non-living world through the extreme disruption and change caused by human presence within the Earth-Gaia system; to steward
• to re-educate and increase awareness of the human impact on surrounding living and non-living systems; to inform
  

This is my assessment and reinterpretation of the 'endgoals of deep ecology'.