Environmental Ethics -- fair share for the non-human?

[SpheresOfBalance]

The fundamental equation for sustainabiity is usually shown as:

Total ecological production = per capita standard of living (consumption) times number of persons (population)

But are we humans really entitled to the entire eological production of the planet? None left for the rest of Nature? So I propose the ethical question for us to discuss. What fraction of the total ecological production should we humans be taking and thus what fraction left for the rest of Nature? Sure, there are SOME species that do well in the human modified landscape, even thrive in it. But most do not.

I suspect that we have a wide range of opinions on this, because of course, there are implications for the maximum product per capita consumption times population. If we choose to leave a fraction for wild Nature, then that product is reduced.

I'll start off by proposing 50%, that we humans take half and leave half for the others. After all, we are only one species among many. The planet doesn't belong JUST to us.

To decide on a percentage is folly. The best course is to understand the bigger picture, and play steward/shepherd for the entirety of our symbiotic biosphere, watching and balancing as it stands the test of time.

[Walker]

Question to AI
What was the Four Pests Campaign?

Answer:
The Four Pests Campaign was a public health initiative in China from 1958 to 1962 aimed at eradicating rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows, which led to severe ecological and humanitarian consequences.

Consequences
However, the campaign had disastrous ecological consequences. The extermination of sparrows, which also preyed on locusts, led to a significant increase in locust populations. This imbalance contributed to widespread crop failures and is considered one of the factors leading to the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961), during which millions of people died from starvation. Estimates of the death toll from the famine range from 15 to 55 million

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Human Comment:
Wind turbines kill a lot of eagles.
Eagles are protected under federal law.
Doublethink permits messing with Mother Nature.

[Walker]

Question to AI:
How many have died from malaria since DDT was banned?
Answer:
30-60 million

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Current status of DDT:
https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pe ... and-status

DDT is one of 12 pesticides recommended by the World Health Organization for indoor residual spray programs, particularly for use in African countries where malaria remains a major human health problem. It is up to individual countries to decide whether to use DDT. EPA works with other agencies and countries to advise them on how DDT programs are developed and monitored, with the goal that DDT be used only within the context of Integrated Vector Management (IVM). IVM is a decision-making process for use of resources to yield the best possible results in vector control, and that it be kept out of agricultural sectors.

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The fork in the road:
- If you do use the DDT, you’ll get the Big-C.
- If you don’t use the DDT, you’ll scratch yourself bloody from mosquito bites and die of malaria, but at least you won’t harm the critters.
- According to WHO (no question mark), individual countries make that ethical decision about the fork.

[SpheresOfBalance]

Question to AI
What was the Four Pests Campaign?

Answer:
The Four Pests Campaign was a public health initiative in China from 1958 to 1962 aimed at eradicating rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows, which led to severe ecological and humanitarian consequences.

Consequences
However, the campaign had disastrous ecological consequences. The extermination of sparrows, which also preyed on locusts, led to a significant increase in locust populations. This imbalance contributed to widespread crop failures and is considered one of the factors leading to the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961), during which millions of people died from starvation. Estimates of the death toll from the famine range from 15 to 55 million

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Human Comment:
Wind turbines kill a lot of eagles.
Eagles are protected under federal law.
Doublethink permits messing with Mother Nature.

Trumpians only ever mess with mother nature, the global warming deniers they are! Unfortunately Mother Nature hasn't ruled the earth for many centuries, it's the stupid Humans that rule from their selfish pulpit. It's not the pursuit of money that's the root of all evil, it's human selfishness that's the root, they often use money for their selfish deeds, it's just not necessarily required.