Blog #9

Explain your view on deep ecology.
How can you relate these views to your lifestyle or society? Which principle do you agree most with and which do you agree least with? Why? What concerns do you have about Deep
Ecology? 

My view on deep ecology is that we, as humans, are fundamentally connected to and members of the natural world. However, I do realize that my lifestyle probably reflects more of a shallow ecology view, since I say things like “protect the environment” as if it were a separate entity from me. Also, I feel like I have this altruistic, separating attitude towards most environmental issues. Even the fact that I just called them environmental issues signifies this. I agree with a lot of the principles of deep ecology, but I would not say that I transform these beliefs into action very often. However, I am now realizing the importance of pairing learning with action, which we are doing in this class through our green action projects. So, I suppose that my involvement in the Food Systems Team, the Green Learning Community, and my studying Environmental Health are all ways that I am drawing closer to relating my views to my lifestyle. I agree most with the principle of diversity and symbiosis, because I feel that all people should work together and that each person is valuable and equal in dignity. However, the principle that I agree with least is the local autonomy and decentralization. I think that this principle is important, but that it is an ideal, and in our current society, we cannot effectively achieve this because of the social structure set in place. I am mainly concerned that deep ecology will be unable to go mainstream, because shallow ecology is so embedded in our language.