Can the environment be "rightfully" owned?

Question

I believe its is this erroneous attitude that has led to the destruction of our environment and not only is fowling our nest but that of other species as well.

When I think of this issue I remember that great American Indian quote "The earth does not belong to us but we belong to the earth."

Answer 1

I feel nature has the only right to own the environment =)

Answer 2

it is a common good and needs to be internationally recognised as such and protected. fat chance under capitalism.

edit;

oh, here we go, 'eek! reds under the bed!' so cherly, you think i'm a socialist because i have a sense of fair play? hmmmmm

edit 2 stewards? yes of course, sorry that goes without saying. i'm a gardner; if i plant a tree its for the lands sake because it seems a good place to put one,  i wont get the benifit of it for long...

Answer 3

When I think of this issue I remember that great American Indian quote "The earth does not belong to us but we belong to the earth."

And you see where that kind of thinking got them don't you?

As far as you silly question, Yes I own my 'environment' it has been passed down from generation to generation every sense my ancestors TOOK IT that's right the forcible took it and made it worth something.  And I will pass it down to my children .

Answer 4

Yes totally,-------------- by its inhabitants.



same as you can be the owner of your house

so a squirrel can be the owner of his  tree

only he shares it with a whole bunch of other creatures

like birds the odd snake ,monkeys etc.

But only for as long as it is alive ,

After its death come other squirrels

so temporary Guardian is A BETTER NAME.

and you are absolutely right

we are components of the Environment or should be

, same as all life is ,

The flora and fauna are the building blocks of an Eco system

All are interrelated

so in fact the earth owns us.

Christians wont agree with that

they think that God has given the whole world to them

forever and ever

Answer 5

Yes I own 1/6billionth you wanna buy it from me

Answer 6

Ownership by the government is not a better system.  If you want to see real destruction of the environment, go to communist nations where your theory is put into practice.

Answer 7

Well, I seem to remember an old slogan, "Ownership is Theft."

Native populations without concepts of ownership pretty routinely had most everything stolen from them by more "civilized" people who had finely honed notions of ownership and better weapons.

Having achieved "ownership," the next step was "profit," whereby it becomes a right of the "owner" to use up whatever he can to add to the things he "owns" and then toss whatever waste  is left over back into an environment that inevitably becomes a trash heap.

So, finally getting around to an answer, I'd say: No the environment cannot be "rightfully" owned, only "wrongfully."