Editor:

With regards to Ted Dubasik's column, "Hug People, Not Trees" (April 26), I'd like to address a common fallacy that many people have a problem identifying. He states: "People are more important than animals and trees; this planet has many natural resources, which are here for the use of man..." This simply isn't true.

First of all, people are animals. We are primates, which are mammals, which are animals. Hominids in general have only been on earth for a few million years, and homo sapiens for even less than that. Nowhere is it written that people are more important than animals and trees, and I see no justification for such a belief.

Secondly, where is it bluntly stated, with complete truth, that natural resources are here for the use of man? Natural resources are here simply because they are, and any creature that walks or sits on the face of the earth has a right to use them or benefit from them. Besides, extraction of natural resources can be very harmful for the rest of the earth, which as Dubasik so foolishly points out, may harm "...our water..." or "...our air." How do humans own air or own water? Dubasik manages to dredge up another stupid comment: "...we cannot destroy the Earth, even if we wanted to, because Mother Nature is simply more powerful than us." He goes on to contradict himself and say that we can, and that the Earth "will return to its habitable self."

While this is probably true, many species would be eradicated, along with ourselves. Life would go on, and would adapt on earth, because it doesn't make a difference if we are here or not. Many species have gone extinct, which is the natural way of things, as life cannot exist or diversify without death. (I am not promoting the extermination of species, or saying that protecting endangered species is foolish.)

The main point is that human beings are not better than any creature on this earth, are not more advanced, or have not been given the right to selfishly mangle the world for our sole benefit. This is an age-old, incorrect philosophy, and people on this world need to realize this.

Giana A. Gelsey
ecology and evolutionary biology and geosciences sophomore