Post by rex on Apr 25, 2006 10:16:32 GMT -5
I recently read Al West's article titled "One man's opinion" in the latest issue of NYSTA's "Trap - lines". I agree with some of the points made in the article. Some groups associating themselves with the environmental movement, such as animal rights and other groups with policies of exclusivity and non - use, are mostly obstructionists and are ignorant regarding the "big picture" of sustainable use of the environment.
However, I think that many modern "sportsmen" have taken things a bit too far as well, regarding what they "must have" in order to enjoy themselves while afield. At sportsmen's shows, items like four wheelers, GPS units, Big boats with bigger engines, electronic tracking devices, and electrical and plastic gizmos of all types are increasingly being promoted instead of traditional hunting and trapping skills, plant and animal identification, and protection of the environment to provide for healthy wildlife populations.
Having to own comforts and conveniences like a wheeler to make access easier, a cell phone because you can't wait to call home, or some other plastic gizmo that will eventually wind up at the landfill and will take a million years to biodegrade, not to mention the chemicals and energy to power up all of these, comes with a price. That price is pollution and destruction of the environment on a scale never seen before. The use of this stuff is not renewable or sustainable in the long term. The people and companies that market all of this stuff to us know this due to their research, but could care less about us or the environment. Dollars are the bottom line here. Maybe sportsmen and environmentalists do have some positive knowledge that they can learn from each other.
Here's a link to an article about sportsmen and "greens" being an environmental majority. Have a look.
www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/greens060420.cfm
However, I think that many modern "sportsmen" have taken things a bit too far as well, regarding what they "must have" in order to enjoy themselves while afield. At sportsmen's shows, items like four wheelers, GPS units, Big boats with bigger engines, electronic tracking devices, and electrical and plastic gizmos of all types are increasingly being promoted instead of traditional hunting and trapping skills, plant and animal identification, and protection of the environment to provide for healthy wildlife populations.
Having to own comforts and conveniences like a wheeler to make access easier, a cell phone because you can't wait to call home, or some other plastic gizmo that will eventually wind up at the landfill and will take a million years to biodegrade, not to mention the chemicals and energy to power up all of these, comes with a price. That price is pollution and destruction of the environment on a scale never seen before. The use of this stuff is not renewable or sustainable in the long term. The people and companies that market all of this stuff to us know this due to their research, but could care less about us or the environment. Dollars are the bottom line here. Maybe sportsmen and environmentalists do have some positive knowledge that they can learn from each other.
Here's a link to an article about sportsmen and "greens" being an environmental majority. Have a look.
www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/greens060420.cfm